Wisconsin Sports Tap

The Farm Report: Position Breakdown

2010-07-29T15:00:00.000-05:00

How about some mid-season prospect rankings!

Catcher

1. Cameron Garfield - Low A

2. Tyler Roberts - Arizona Rookie League

3. Martin Maldonado - AAA

4. Shawn Zarraga - High A

5. Brent Dean - Pioneer League

Thoughts: As is generally the case when a top prospect makes it to the majors, that position runs a bit thin in the minor leagues. With Lucroy taking over starting duties for Milwaukee and Angel Salome making a position change, catcher went from a strength to a very big weakness.

Not one of these prospects jump off the page, though Garfield and Roberts are both young and have plenty of time to improve. Maldonado is defense first and has bounced around at just about every level of the minors this year. Zarraga has hit for decent average, but hasn't managed the sustained success needed to climb the rankings.

Who is Brent Dean? Filler, but someone has to be No. 5.

First Base

1. Sean Halton - High A

2. Hunter Morris - Low A

3. Cody Hawn - Pioneer League

4. Joe Koshansky - AAA

5. Chris Dennis - Low A

Thoughts: Not a strong bunch here, but improving rapidly. Sean Halton is establishing himself as a legitimate prospects but Double-A has been killing first base prospects for the Crew in recent years (See: Steffan Wilson, Chris Errecart). Next year will be telling for him.

Morris and Hawn are both relatively high round picks in this years (4th and 6th respectively) draft but have shown good potential in limited sample sizes already in 2010. Morris is hitting .270 with Wisconsin (Low A) while Hawn has seven homers for rookie Helena.

Joe Koshansky may have a shot at first base next year when/if Prince Fielder gets traded. He strikes out a ton, but has good power and deserves a look.

Second Base

1. Brett Lawrie - AA

2. Ryan Gennett - Low A

3. Eric Farris - AAA

4. Shea Vucinich - Pioneer League

5. Nick Shaw - Arizona Rookie League

Thoughts: A definite position of strength for Milwaukee's farm system, headlined by the organization's top prospect. Brett Lawrie is having a great year, leading the Southern League (AA) in total bases.

Ryan "Scooter" Gennett is the real breakout star in this bunch. After not playing in his rookie season he has raked this year, he is first in the midwest league in total bases, third in batting average, third in runs, first in doubles and first in hits. Not bad.

As for Farris, he is a singles hitter with great speed and a terrific base-stealer. He could be a stop-gap solution for the big league club while the team waits on either of the previously mentioned prospects.

Third Base

1. Mat Gamel - AAA

2. Taylor Green - AA

3. Cutter Dykstra - Low A

4. Gregory Hopkins - Pioneer League

5. Allixon Cequea - Dominican Summer League

Thoughts: Another position of strength for the Crew, especially with Casey McGehee seemingly entrenched at third base with the big club. Gamel has hit the ball well with Nashville, batting .300 with a .383 OBP.

Green is an up and down prospect, but it's doubtful he'll hit for enough power to stay at third base. He makes more sense as a backup infielder unless he finds a consistent power stroke. He does lead Huntsville with 25 doubles however.

Cutter Dykstra is back on the map with a solid year for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He's batting .299 with a .413 OBP. Good numbers, he'll be one to watch over the next couple of seasons.

Shortstop

1. Zelous Wheeler - AA

2. Josh Prince - High A

3. Luis Cruz - AAA

4. Carlos George - Pioneer League

5. Michael Marseco - Low A

Thoughts: Not a good group here, not by a long shot. Wheeler is not a shortstop, he is a third baseman playing out of position so both he and the previously mentioned Taylor Green can play every day. He's a solid hitter with a very good eye at the plate as is evidenced by his .378 OBP. His defense has been terrible since the position change.

Josh Prince could be worth watching, but he has been inconsistent in his second professional season. For the year he's hitting .239 with a low .290 OBP - he can steal bases though, 36 in 43 tries.

The rest of the group? Not even worth mentioning.

Outfield

1. Lorenzo Cain - AAA

2. Kentrail Davis - Low A

3. Caleb Gindl - AA

4. Khristopher Davis - Low A

5. Logan Schafer - Low A

6. Erik Komatsu - High A

7. Brendan Katin - AAA

8. Scott Krieger - High A

9. Brock Kjeldgaard - High A

10. Angel Salome - High A

Thoughts: Cain is the headliner and for good reason. He hit .324 in Huntsville and since his promotion he's batted .328 for Nashville. Brewer nation got a look at him in a brief stint with the big club when he managed three hits in five at-bats.

It's been a lost season for last year's minor league hitter of the year Logan Schafer. Due to various injuries he's only managed 23 at-bats this season and probably won't see anymore. This happened to Cain last year, so hopefully Schafer can bounce back in 2011.

The similarities between Katin, Kjeldgaard and Krieger are impressive. All three have big power and strike out a ton with limited contact. If any of them can cut down on strikeouts and make consistent contact they could be a big time prospect.

Angel Salome might have been an above average hitter as a catcher, but so far he is a below average outfielder. His value is gone, which is evidenced by the successful removal from the 40-man roster, so expect the Brewers to give him a real shot at the outfield.

Starting Pitcher

1. Amaury Rivas - AA

2. Kyle Heckathorn - High A

3. Jake Odorizzi - Low A

4. Mark Rogers - AA

5. Michael Fiers - AA

Thoughts: Not a bad bunch at all. Rivas has followed up a stellar 2009 with a very solid 2010. He has an ERA of 2.63 and a WHIP of 1.12, which is superb for a starting pitcher.

Heckathorn and Odorizzi have both had solid years with Low-A. Heckathorn has earned a promotion to Brevard County, the team's High-A affiliate. Odorizzi is still with Wisconsin where he leads the team with 111 strikeouts in 90.2 innings pitched.

Relief Pitcher

1. Jeremy Jeffress - High A

2. Mike McClendon - AAA

3. Brandon Kintzler - AAA

4. Jonathan Pokorny - Low A

5. Daniel Meadows - High A

Thoughts: Jeffress is the headliner, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him pitching in Nashville by the end of the season. How does that bullpen look, featuring Zach Braddock, John Axford and Jeremy Jeffress. Those are some very live arms that Brew Crew fans may not be used to seeing.

Another player that catches the eye is Jonathan Pokorny with Wisconsin. Pokorny has a 1.10 WHIP and has struck out 66 batters in only 45 innings, he has only walked 15 on the year as well.

Don't Blame Carlos

2010-07-23T00:00:00.001-05:00

For some reason, Carlos Gomez has recently drawn the ire of more than a few Brewer fans. It may have to do with his .240 batting average, or the 10 double plays he's grounded into (second on the team), or it could be the .364 slugging percentage. But more likely, its his comments that he only needs to be hitting .260 to be considered a good player.

But really, it's not his fault. He should have never been put in this position anyways. Let's place the blame squarely on the shoulders of J.J. Hardy, where it belongs. Had Hardy not had such a poor season in 2009, Gomez would never have been on the Brewers this year. If he had played to the level of even an average offensive player the value Milwaukee received back would have been astronomically better.

If you compare their stats this year, Hardy and Gomez are pretty much a push. Actually, Gomez leads Hardy in every offensive category except for doubles and batting average. Both have spent time on the disabled list, although Hardy has never really been challenged for playing time by any other players.

Just think, he could have torn it up and landed the Brewers a starting pitcher. That would mean Chris Narveson would never have had the chance to pitch as poorly as he has. Or Doug Davis and his 7.51 ERA might never have been signed. So in a way, the Brewers pitching deficiency can be blamed on Hardy too.

Had the Brewers not been *forced* to give up their one-time all star shortstop for Gomez, then we would likely have seen top prospect Lorenzo Cain earlier, whether he was ready or not. Or Milwaukee could have pursued a free agent like Rick Ankiel for $3.25 million, or Coco Crisp for $5.25 million. That's not money that could have been better spent anywhere else.

No, when your frustration at Carlos Gomez starts to mount, think carefully. Is it really his fault? When he strikes out don't throw things and shout about how bad he is. When his approach at the plate insults even the most casual fan - remember - it's not his fault.

When he loses his starting spot to Lorenzo Cain and is moved to an exclusively backup role and fans continue to be disappointed that all their former star could bring back was a pinch-runner and fourth outfielder, don't blame Carlos Gomez.

Remember: Blame J.J. Hardy.

Sunglasses at Night: A Tribute to Corey Hart

2010-07-22T00:00:00.004-05:00

I wear my sunglasses at night, so I can swing at three sliders in the playoffs. Corey Hart isn't trying to draw a walk, he's trying to get hits and drive in runs. It doesn't matter if not one of those pitches were anywhere near the strikezone and the previous batter walked on four straight.

So I can watch you weave then breathe your story lines. Ever wonder what promises the Brewers made to Jim Edmonds to convince him to sign and stay with Milwaukee? After the complete ineffectiveness of Corey Hart in 2009 and late 2008 it was pretty clear that all faith had been lost. Jim Edmonds was going to start in Right Field and Hart was going to have to earn his chances.

And I wear my sunglasses at night, so I can carry the team? There was a time when Corey Hart had all the potential in the world, but after watching him struggle with the breaking ball away it was pretty clear that his future would not be what Brewer Nation hoped it would be. And then, out of nowhere, doubles become home runs and Corey Hart is the most consistent hitter on the roster. It's safe to say that was a bit unexpected, but it's the truth. Where would the 2010 Brewers be without Corey Hart?

So I can keep track of the visions in my eyes, hopefully better than the the fly balls. Look it's not like Hart is a bad defender, for a guy that came up through the minors playing first base, third base, left field, center field and finally right field he is a pretty good defender. But sometimes you see him take a route to a ball or play something in such a way that really makes you wonder what he was thinking. Still, he isn't a liability out in right and most of the time he is a well above average defender. But he sure isn't going to win any gold gloves anytime soon.

While she's deceiving me, it cuts my security. Let's be real here, very few players actually want to be on the trading block. It means uprooting your life and when you have been in the same place for as long as Hart has there is a comfort level. That said the fans don't really want to hear from an opposing teams general manager that you don't like it. This is probably more of a dig on Padres GM Jed Hoyer, because all Hart did was answer his question. So what's the deal Jed? What purpose does it serve to let the media know Corey Hart doesn't like being on the trading block? I'll stop short of calling it amateurish, but there are other, less appropriate words I could use.

She got control of me, I turn to her and say... Talk about a rocky relationship with the fans, although has it been really? The Crew fans got frustrated and often times irritated with Corey, but it never reached Suppan-esque levels. Hart struggled but frustration only mounted in the fanbase when his attitude went the wrong direction. No Brewer fan will forget that at-bat in the playoffs, but it was Hart's comments afterwards that really grated people.

Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh no. Whenever Hart decided fans didn't like him anymore, it always seemed like he made it a point to let the media know. And the times it did happen it just seemed awkward and forced. Even for those that really didn't like him, there was always someone to draw the ire more so. Whether it was Bill Hall or Jeff Suppan, Hart flew under the radar. He struggled at times but he was one of the young guns, a part of the organization's core that gave us players to cheer for. Unless he got to be J.J. Hardy bad, Hart was a role player so the expectations weren't the same as they were for the big contract players.

Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh no, lack of power in the minors doesn't mean much when you attempt to translate those numbers to the big leagues and Hart is a prime example of that. Aside from 2002 with High Desert (when he had 22, but everyone hits in High Desert), Hart never hit more than 17 home runs in a minor league season. Then in his first full big league season he hit 24, followed by 20 and this year he has 22. They aren't making minor league parks smaller after all.

I can't believe it, you got it made with the guy in shades, oh no. But don't get him wrong, Hart would love to stay put. Even if he has also said he wouldn't mind being traded to a contender, but then what athlete doesn't want to win? He would love to stay in Milwaukee, but he also didn't have an interest in an extension when the team approached him with one a few seasons ago. Money talks, sure Corey would like to stay but there will be millions of reasons for him not to.

I wear my sunglasses at night, so I can, so I can, forget my name while you collect your claim - What real value can Corey Hart bring back though? It's not likely that he can increase his value with another season in Milwaukee, since he will then only be under club control for 2011. His value is as high as it will ever be, so what can he bring back? If the Brewers stop dragging their feet in trade talks they should be able to pull in a major league pitcher or near major league pitcher who can help the club for a few seasons to come while lowering payroll. Wade Davis? Probably not. Jonathan Sanchez? That would be fair. The Padres could use a right fielder that can actually hit. His value isn't going to increase, not unless teams start bidding for him and that is as likely as a playoff run.

And I wear my sunglasses at night, so I can, so I can, see the light that's right before my eyes... Corey Hart is a good player, not a great player. He will never lead a team to the world series, he won't hit 45 home runs and drive in 150. That is just not going to happen. But he will hit 20-25 home runs, drive in 80-100 and play an above average right field. His tenure in Milwaukee has been something of a roller coaster, but if he is traded it will be sad to see him go. Not Geoff Jenkins leaving sad, or even Jeff Cirillo sad. But I for one will be sorry to see him leave. Some good, some bad but he's been there since the rebuilding began. To keep the the cycle going it's his time to go and a replacement to be brought up. Lorenzo Cain? Caleb Gindl? Will one be the next Corey Hart? Or something better? It's time to find out

The Farm Report: July 20

2010-07-21T00:00:00.005-05:00

I haven't been slow or lazy on the Farm Reports, no idea what you are talking about. I will maintain that prospects who play well in the Arizona Rookie league really don't mean much, the first real chance to show any good performance is Helena of the Pioneer league so we will be adding in one more team into this edition of the Farm Report.

Helena Brewers (Rookie)

Shea Vucinich - IF - Let's start out with the Crew's 24th round pick in 2010, because he is off to a very nice start. Vucinich leads Helena with 61 total bases and 21 runs scored. He is also tied for the team lead with four home runs.

Cody Hawn - 1B - Hawn was drafted in the 6th round by Milwaukee this year as a third baseman. He's seen most of his time with Helena as a first baseman and has hit the ball well. Hawn shares the team lead with four homers and is tied for second in the Pioneer league with 27 runs driven in - all while batting an even .300.

Matthew Miller - SP - A big righty (6'6") drafted in the fifth round out of the University of Michigan, Miller has been very effective through his first five starts. He's pitched 25 innings and struck out 24 while walking only five.

Best of the Rest: Tyler Thornburg (P, 3rd Round) has struck out 11 batters in six innings... Reggie Keen (OF, Non-Drafted Free Agent) is batting .348.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low A)

Kentrail Davis - OF - After a much needed demotion, Davis has shown why the Brewers drafted in him as a compensatory pick a year ago. Davis is batting .373 with a .475 OBP. Even more impressive are his 49 total bases in 22 games, he may not be long for the Timber Rattlers if he keeps hitting at this pace.

Ryan Gennett - 2B/SS - For a guy who didn't play in the minors in his draft year, Gennett has been a star this season. How good has his year been? He is third in the league in average (.329), second in total bases (172), third in runs scored (68) and first in hits (114). Not bad for a 20-year-old.

Khristopher Davis - OF - The other K. Davis on the Rattlers might be on his way to being named the organization's hitter of the year. Kristopher Davis has been a model of consistency and is posting his best month of the season in July. For the month he's hitting .379 with five home runs and 14 driven in.

Cutter Dykstra - INF - Cutter has played his way back into the discussion for Brewers prospect lists, in large part due to the .301 batting average and very impressive .415 OBP. He may not be in the organization's top ten, but he has shown that it was unfair to write him off after a poor 2009.

Jake Odorizzi - SP - Despite getting touched for four runs in six innings his last time out, Odorizzi is still having a very fine month of July. His ERA in for the month is 2.25 with 24 strikeouts in 20 innings. Odorizzi, fifth in the Midwest league in strikeouts, should be promoted but probably won't be.

Maverick Lasker - SP - After a stellar month of June - 0.89 ERA in 30.1 innings - Lasker has struggled here in July. He's only made two appearances and in ten innings he has an ERA over six. He will likely be a station to station guy and a full year with Wisconsin is not a bad idea.

Best of the Rest: Jonathan Pokorny (P) has struck out 62 batters in 43.1 innings pitched... 4th round pick Hunter Morris (1B) has 13 extra base hits in 27 games.

Brevard County Manatees (High A)

Sean Halton - 1B - It may not be a stretch to call Halton the Brewers top first base prospect, especially with the performance he's put in with Brevard County this year. On a team where no player was hitting for power Halton has hit nine long balls and driven in 50 runs after an early season promotion. Add in a .289 average and .354 OBP and you've got yourself a legitimate prospect.

Erik Komatsu - OF - There may not be any numbers that jump off the page at you, but Komatsu's numbers have been consistent from month to month. He has hit no lower than .313 in any month and no higher than .320. Komatsu's 142 total bases are sixth in the Florida State League.

Josh Prince - SS - Without improvement, Prince will likely fall off the next edition of the Farm Report. He is batting just .220 in the month of July and has seen his season average drop to .245, not good for a lead-off hitter. His base stealing has been a bright spot though, Prince has swiped 31 to lead the team.

Wily Peralta - SP - It's not like Peralta is having a bad year, it's just that those who saw him pitch a year ago expected him to have a much better year than he has so far. In 2010 he has an ERA of 4.13, a WHIP of 1.40 and 71 strikeouts in 98 innings. All slightly above average numbers, but nothing spectacular.

Cody Scarpetta - SP - Scarpetta has had a similar story to Peralta except for a dominating stretch he had in the early part of July. Prior to his last outing Scarpetta went three starts without giving up a run, striking out 25 and walking four. Utter domination. If he can pitch like that with any degree of consistency he would be a top five prospect. Even so, his 98 strikeouts are fifth in the Florida State League.

Kyle Heckathorn - SP - To me, Heckathorn and Eric Arnett will always be connected because of how close together they were drafted. So far one of them has stunk it up and managed to be demoted (Arnett) and the other has been consistent and pitched his way up a level (Heckathorn). Not bad for a guy that many thought would turn out to be a reliever. He hasn't pitched yet for Brevard County but his numbers at Wisconsin were very good - 2.96 ERA with 67 strikeouts and only 23 walks.

Best of the Rest: Daniel Meadows (P) has a 2.98 ERA and hasn't given up a run in July... Sergio Miranda (Apparently a 2B now) is tied for the team lead with 53 RBIs despite having hit zero home runs.

Huntsville Stars (AA)

Brett Lawrie - 2B - After scorching the ball in June (he hit .360), Lawrie has struggled a bit in the month of July. For the month he's hit only .246 with a .310 OBP. His season numbers still impress though, he leads the Southern league with 174 total bases and 11 triples.

Caleb Gindl - RF - Gindl is having a good month hitting the ball, even if his power numbers don't show it. He's batting .377 for July with more walks (8) than strikeouts (7). The left-handed hitting Gindl has also maintained his early season success against southpaw pitching - he's hitting .351 against lefties.

Taylor Green - 3B - It's still hard to figure out what to make of Green. In the first three months of the season he managed only three home runs. In his last ten games, Green has four home runs. Still a lot of question marks around the former Minor League Player of the Year, but success is always good for the organization.

Zelous Wheeler - 3B/SS - Wheeler is playing out of position at shortstop to keep Green and Lawrie in the lineup every day and his defense has suffered accordingly, although he wasn't exactly a gold glover to begin with. One thing that hasn't suffered, though, is his offensive production. He's swinging the bat as well as he has since April, with a .290 batting average in July.

Amaury Rivas - SP - It's easy to say Rivas should be promoted to Triple-A... because he should. Rivas has a 2.58 ERA in 101 innings pitched, no other Huntsville starter is near that. He also has a team high 73 strikeouts and has allowed only three home runs.

Mark Rogers - SP - If Mark Rogers makes an appearance with Milwaukee before the end of the season, it won't be as a starter. The organization seems to still be watching his innings pretty closely, he rarely makes a start more than five innings even when pitching well. It's understandable, but at some point the Brewers will have to take the kid gloves off Rogers.

Michael Fiers - SP - Fiers made his third start of the season for Huntsville on Tuesday after a promotion from Brevard County. He left the game after pitching two scoreless innings so hopefully there is no injury, but no word yet. His ERA with the Stars was 4.15 through 13 innings.

Best of the Rest: Andre Lamontagne (P), who started his year with Wisconsin, continues to climb the ladder. He has pitched eight innings in Double-A, striking out eight batters with an ERA of 1.13. So far he has made an Axford-esque climb through the ranks.

Nashville Sounds (AAA)

Mat Gamel - 3B - Acceptable numbers from Gamel thus far, considering what he's been through since Ken Macha tried to ruin his career. The third baseman is batting .266 with a .364 OBP and 13 extra base hits in 43 games. Nothing spectacular about those numbers but nothing absolutely terrible either. Just getting back and playing is all you can really hope for from Gamel this year.

Brendan Katin - RF - If and when Corey Hart is traded, especially if it happens during the season, Katin should be given a chance in right field. He's an all or nothing hitter with big-time power, which fans can always get behind. Katin has seen his walk rate improve in each of the last two seasons and has 13 home runs in just 50 games this year. Give the guy a look.

Josh Butler - SP - If he stays in the strike zone, Butler has a chance to be an effective No. 4 or 5 pitcher for the major league club. He's been promoted to Triple-A for now and will certainly get a call-up when rosters expand in September. His numbers at Double-A were mostly good until a blow-up start his last time out. But honestly, he wouldn't be any worse than Manny Parra or Chris Narveson.

Best of the Rest - A handful of home-grown relievers have done a good job with Nashville, Donovan Hand (P) has finally earned a promotion to Triple A... Mike McClendon (P) has a 0.90 ERA in July... Brandon Kintzler (P) has carried over his Double A success and posted a 0.75 WHIP through 13.1 innings.

Some Monday Shots

2010-07-19T09:54:00.002-05:00

As many of you probably haven't noticed, I haven't been writing very much. I could use the classic blog excuse of, "I've been busy", but that is a cop out. So, I'll just tell you all that I have been in Vanuatu on a Peace Corp Mission. I tell you what, it almost makes me tear up thinking about how I brought smiles to young children!

Well, I'm back, for now, and here are some of my thoughts on some various topics:

The Milwaukee Brewers
Going into the break, they were 9 games below .500. Certainly not what I, or most of us, expected. That 9 game losing streak is really what is biting them in the ass, that and Trevor Hoffman. Since they've snapped out of that horrible start to the year, they've managed to play, well, average. The problem with that is that they need to go on a tear to get back in a striking position. However, I think it is safe to say that we have a large enough sample size of our starting pitching to realize, that getting into a striking position, is an unlikely scenario. Am I saying sell? Well, I am, sort of. See, if we sell, I think there needs to be an immediate impact ( I have big hopes for 2011 still). I don't think any of what I just said was very earth shattering, but you read it anyways.

Lebron James
I think I am the one person who doesn't have a problem with Lebron bolting for Miami. I agree that he handled it about as childishly as possible, but still the man wants a ring. So many of us sports fans complain that athletes seem to care more about getting more money than they are about winning championships, but the moment an athlete leaves a city for a great shot at a title, and turns down extra cash to do so, we lambaste him. I don't get it.

Here's what Lebron should have done. Told the media that in one hour he was going to hold a press conference. At the press conference talk about how he has nothing but love for Cleveland, the Cavs fans, the state of Ohio. Thank them all for the support, apologize he couldn't bring them a championship....then, say that his primary focus is to win a title and that he feels his best chance to do so is in Miami, with DWade and their recent signing of Chris Bosh.

In that scenario, he doesn't lead the city of Cleveland by a rope for weeks on end, just to crush them.

Ken Macha
Sorry folks, but it would appear that Kenneth is the Brewers manager for the rest of the year. The only scenario where he might get let go, is if Doug starts bringing up more of the prospects and Macha doesn't play them. Who do you want for your 2011 manager? I'm sticking with Willie Randolph, but Sveum or even Don Money are very good possibilities.

Lindsay Lohan
Send this snob to jail. Her going to rehab isn't a true effort to clean up, it is just a PR ploy to try and not go to jail. Sadly, I don't think she even understands why she is being sent to jail. She has a drug problem, and a crazy mom that doesn't help. Unfortunately, I'm sure she'll get processed, then released because the jails are "too full". I personally am hoping for at least 45 days in the clinker.

The British Open
Talk about anti-climatic. I was more intrigued watching Sunday morning cartoons with my niece than I was watching the finishing holes of the British Open. Well...maybe not quite, but I did play a fun yard version of frisbee golf. I finished 2 under par, in case you care. Congrats though are in order for, Oust...Ousth....Oosthui......that guy who won it!

Jonathan Lucroy
Did I call it, or did I call it (hint: I called it)? Lucroy has all but guaranteed his spot as the future catcher of the Brewers and I couldn't be happier about it. How nice will it be to not have to worry about the catcher position for some time? He hits well, he defends the plate well, and unlike our other catcher, he can throw people out. I truly believe that one of the reasons that the Brewers' pitching was so horrid at the start of the year, was poorly called games by Gregg Zaun, I have no way to prove that, but I like to think it.

As long as Lucroy breaks camp with the Crew next spring, and there is no reason to think he won't, then I think I'll be purchasing his jersey. Like how Miller Park Drunk has latched onto Rickie Weeks, I decided I'm latching on to Lucroy. Now he better not disappoint me and make me look foolish.

Aaron Rodgers
Do you like famous movie quotes, do you like the Packers? Well then, why aren't you following Aaron Rodgers on twitter (@aaronrodgers12)? Seriously though, the guy is hilarious, he has an amazing attitude, and what else? Oh yeah! He's one of the premier quarterbacks in the league! If there was to be a guy, who could help the blinded Favre faithful come back to being, Packer fans, instead of, Favre fans, it is Aaron Rodgers. He was given a tough assignment, but has handled it amazingly. Because of him, it is for the first time in a few years, that I'm super excited for football season to begin. GO PACK GO!

Corey Hart
Trade him NOW! Every hour that passes and I don't hear that we traded Hart, I get upset. Hart is playing phenomenally, no doubt, but he also has burned a lot of bridges with Milwaukee fans throughout the last few years. There is no reason to think that we can't get a Major League ready pitcher for him.

Vuvuzelas
Listen, in my day, they were just called, beer horns. You fill it with beer, bong it, then blow the horn to announce your accomplishment (of bonging a beer). Well, anyways, I have a thought. Since Tony LaRussa is the apparent ambassador of baseball and we all hate that about him, why don't the Brewers do an all fan vuvuzela giveaway when the Cardinals are in town? Oh, I can just imagine how steamed LaRussa would be as Miller Park buzzes when Albert Pujols comes up to the plate. Get on this Brewer promotional team!

American Idol Auditions
American Idol has chosen to come to Milwaukee to hear our pretty voices. Am I going to audition you wonder...nah, in fact I'm not going anywhere near downtown for a few days. While, my voice has certainly been blessed by the hand of Satan, I think I'll let someone else have their glory. I'm considerate like that. However, I do want to say, that I think it is great for the city, and I look forward to laughing at everyone who did try out. I hope to see some people I know. I wonder if Lange is trying out, after all, the man can run fast. .... WHAT?

Well, that's all I have for now. I could put pretty pictures in, but, I'm not (use your imagination).

The Farm Report: Where are they now Edition

2010-07-12T00:00:00.006-05:00

Ever wonder what happened to those prospects the Brewers have traded away to make a playoff run in recent years? Who did the Crew give up for Felipe Lopez again? Scott Linebrink? Are any of those guys doing so good that Brewer nation wants to vomit? Well let me answer those questions for you.

Matt LaPorta - 1B/OF (for C.C. Sabathia, 2008) - The centerpiece of the C.C. Sabathia trade, LaPorta has bounced between Triple-A and the majors in the last season-plus but is now getting his chance as the everyday first baseman for Cleveland. So far in 2010 he's batting just .255 but in his last ten games the slugger has hit .371 with four homers and 11 driven in. Yea... he can hit.

Michael Brantley - OF (for C.C. Sabathia, 2008) - Some would say that Brantley might end up being a better major league player than LaPorta. I am not one of them, I guess I am not in love with a player who has never had more than six home runs in a professional season. Anyhow, Brantley opened the season with the Tribe and struggled, then hit .315 for the Indian's Triple-A affiliate. He's back with Cleveland now, but his numbers are still poor. He's hit just .118 in 2010.

Rob Bryson - P (for C.C. Sabathia, 2008) -Bryson has been good in A-ball for Cleveland this year, striking out 55 in only 31.1 innings with an ERA of 3.16. After a lost 2009, Bryson only pitched three innings, injuries are a concern however. He's currently on the Disabled List.

Zach Jackson - SP/RP (for C.C. Sabathia, 2008) - One player that hasn't made any strides is the lefty Jackson. He struggled to stick in the majors with Milwaukee, Cleveland and now finds himself back with the organization that drafted him, Toronto. In 53.2 innings for the Jays Triple-A team Jackson has an ERA over five and more walks than strikeouts.

Cole Gillespie - LF (for Felipe Lopez, 2009) - The better of the two prospects that the Crew sent to Arizona for Felipe Lopez, Gillespie has split time between Triple-A and the majors in 2010. In the minors he's hit .289 with 17 extra base hits and a very nice .417 OBP. That hasn't translated to the majors yet though, where he has posted just a .282 OBP and struck out 20 times against only four walks. He should see plenty of playing time down the stretch for the D'backs though.

Roque Mercedes - SP/RP (for Felipe Lopez, 2009) - So far Mercedes has yet to carry his success with Brevard County to the next level. He's been pitching with Arizona's Double-A affiliate since being dealt and has posted a mediocre ERA of 4.73 in 32.1 innings this year. His command has been pretty good, striking out 32 against just 15 walks. He's only 24, so he'll get his chances but so far there is nothing to write home about.

Hernan Iribarren - 2B (Claimed by Texas, 2010) - I'd like to see Iribarren make it in the big leagues, but at this point that looks like a long shot. He's not really a utility player, able to only play second base well and he is struggling at the dish in 2010 - Iribarren is only batting .243 for Texas' Triple-A team. He has shown signs of coming out of it though, hitting .289 in the month of July.

Vinny Rottino - UTIL (for Claudio Vargas, 2009) - Some day Rottino might find his way onto a major league roster as a backup catcher. It's starting to look like he may end up as a coach sooner though. Rottino is now in the Florida Marlins organization, with the team's Triple-A affiliate. For the year he's hit .283 with a .366 OBP. Crash Davis anyone?

Darren Ford - OF (for Ray Durham, 2008) - The speedy outfielder looked poised to break out after a very good 2009, he hit .300 with 35 extra base hits and a .386 OBP but then he bumped into some legal troubles. Ford had earned his way onto the Giants 40-man roster but he's only hit .233 in Double-A and now baseball is the least of his concerns.

Dana Eveland - SP/RP (for Johnny Estrada, Claudio Vargas, 2006) - Eveland has seen time with Arizona, Oakland, Toronto and now the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is still only 26 so will likely continue to get his chances in the bigs. He's pitched 54.1 innings in the majors this season and has an ERA of 6.79. Yea, Dana Eveland is still around.

Joe Thatcher - RP (for Scott Linebrink, 2007) - Thatcher seems to have established himself as a major league reliever. He's spent time in the Majors in each of the last four seasons. In 2010 he's seen time in 26 majors league games, with a 2.04 ERA. A solid left-handed specialist, worth a few months of Scott Linebrink?

William Inman - SP (for Scott Linebrink, 2007) - The higher rated of the prospects sent to San Diego for Linebrink, Inman's climb has been slower at the higher levels. He doesn't throw hard but had been producing in Triple-A this year prior to a June injury, with a 3.61 ERA through his first 11 starts. He's a fly ball pitcher who would not have enjoyed pitching in Miller Park.

Steve Garrison - P (for Scott Linebrink, 2007) - The third player sent to the Padres for Scott Linebrink (seriously, three pitchers for Scott Linebrink?) was Garrison. He's pitching in Triple-A now, though he has failed to impress. Garrison has given up 16 runs in 21.2 innings.

Jorge De La Rosa - SP (for Tony Graffanino, 2006) - Let's be honest, when the Brewers sent JDLR to Kansas City he had to go, he was out of options and the team had a need at second base. That said, he seems to have figured it out. Last year with the Rockies he won 16 games while striking out 193 batters in 185 innings. De la Rosa is fresh off a stint on the disabled list but the Rox are counting on him down the stretch.

Nelson Cruz - RF (with Carlos Lee, for Kevin Mench and Francisco Cordero, 2006) - It took him a few years, but Cruz has established himself as one of the better power hitters in the game. He hit 33 home runs a year ago and has only been slowed down by injuries to this point. There was no way the Brewers could keep both Cruz and Corey Hart and to this point Hart has had the better career.

Adam Heether - 3B/UTIL (Claimed by Oakland, 2010) - The Brewers let Heether go for nothing earlier this season and he hasn't done much since moving on to a new organization. Heether is batting .253 for Sacramento with only one home run. He does have an impressive OBP of .392 though, with 21 walks in 31 games.

Arrested Development

2010-06-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

The talent inside the Brewers farm system is clear and tangible, but the development of that talent is an unclear process. The Crew is widely considered to be one of the best at growing their own stars, using the farm to continually make the big club better - whether by promotion or trade. That said, there are problems with the way the Brewers are developing their prospects - some philosophical, some bad decisions.

Scarce spots

Management of the 40-man roster is always hit or miss, there will be players that hold a spot on the roster for reasons of depth or for reasons that no one can quite understand. Players will be removed and be lost to another team for reasons that only management can rationalize. There are two names that come to mind that illustrate a couple of odd, confusing and downright stupid decisions that management made in regards to this season's 40-man roster.

The first name that stands out is Adam Heether, a super-utility player that can play six positions around the diamond. Heether was coming off a career year for Triple-A Nashville in which he hit .296 with 18 homers and a .396 OBP. He got off to a slow start with Nashville this year and when Mat Gamel came off the 60-day disable list Heether was dropped from the 40-man roster to make room. He was claimed by Oakland and now plays with their Triple-A club.

But why does this move make sense? With Gamel in Triple-A and Zealous Wheeler and Taylor Green in Double-A the team must have thought they didn't have a need for Heether. But none of those three players have the same level of versatility, combined they can play three different positions (3B, SS, 2B) but that still doesn't match up to Heether. Also, Wheeler and Green aren't even on the 40-man roster, so if needed they won't be able to help the big club this season anyways.

What's worse is that this move came at a time when Jeff Suppan was still taking a roster spot as well. Utility players like Heether don't come around often and letting him go for nothing makes absolutely no sense.

Another prospect that is wasting a 40-man roster space is under-performing pitcher Alex Periard. Pitchers who have done much more have not found their way onto a big league team's 40-man roster. So what, exactly, has Periard done to place himself on the 40-man?

A 16th round pick in 2004, he has failed to pitch well above A-ball. His best years came in 2007 and 2008 before he was promoted to Double-A. In those two seasons he posted an ERA of 3.55 and 3.51. In his stints in Double-A he posted an ERA of 5.68 (8 games in 2008) and 4.71 this year. There was nothing in his numbers to indicate he deserved a 40-man spot and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who would put him on a top ten prospect list for the Brewers - even top twenty might be a stretch.

But he's there, burning option years and underwhelming the competition.

Lacking Promotions

It can't be said that Milwaukee doesn't promote prospects in season, Jonathan Lucroy is an excellent example of that being false, but it's not the promotions that do happen that surprise (usually) it's the advancements that don't.

In this season I will point to a pair of prospects that play for the Crew's Double-A affiliate, the Huntsville Stars. The first member of that squad I will point to is Lorenzo Cain, a player who, had he not been injured last season, might have vied for a starting spot on the Major League roster this season. In 2010 Cain is hitting .325 with a .408 OBP in 58 games. He's stolen bases (19 in 21 tries), gone for extra-bases (He has 100 total bases) and scored runs (43 in 58 games).

So what possible reason could the organization have for slowing his development when an outfield spot in Triple-A is populated by 30-year-old Adam Stern, a player who on a good day is a step behind Brady Clark? Certainly there isn't one that makes sense.

Another player who could stand a promotion is starting pitcher Amaury Rivas. Last year's Minor League Pitcher of the year, Rivas has had a very good 2010. He's posted an overall ERA of 2.96 and struck out 65 batters against 29 walks. Not dominant numbers but good enough numbers that he should receive a chance at Triple-A.

Rivas is on the 40-man roster and thus is using an option year to pitch in the minors. The thought should be get him near the Majors as quickly as possible, especially if he is pitching well enough to earn that promotion.

Another player that is performing superbly is top prospect Brett Lawrie, while I am for promoting Cain and Rivas, I am against promoting Lawrie - at least this early in the season. Because Lawrie skipped Advanced-A ball a full season with Huntsville is not a bad idea, even if he does lead the Southern League in total bases.

The examples of Rivas and Cain are just a pair, the station to station promotion of prospects has been something that has chaffed fans for the entire Doug Melvin era. When pitchers or hitters are effective and dominant, keeping them at a level where their opposition is clearly over-matched does no good for anyone.

That Seems Cold

Why did Milwaukee release Mike Jones exactly? It's easy to point to his high walk-rate and say he just wasn't cutting it in Triple-A, but if a roster spot was needed why was Jones the one to go when the organization decided to keep 35-year-old Marty McLeary who has already given up more runs in 8.1 innings (11 earned) than Jones did in 12.2 innings (one earned).

This move hints at a problem I have with the Brewers overall approach to Triple-A this year, but even so makes absolutely no sense. The team waited out injury after injury to Jones before he finally pitched his way to Triple-A and was promptly released because he walked 13 batters in 12.2 innings. Not a fair sample size. What adds to the absurdity of this move is that McLeary (again, 35 years old!) has allowed 90 hits in 45.2 innings this season. 90! The guy makes Jeff Suppan look like Cy Young!

Why give Mike Jones so many chances and when he finally looks like he's started to turn a corner as a pitcher you release him? It's ridiculous, someone should tell the front office that Crash Davis was a fictional character.

Triple Age

You know what I like to see at a minor league baseball game? Top prospects. That's why I have absolutely no interest in seeing the Nashville Sounds play. The only legitimate prospect that the Brewers have placed with their Triple-A affiliate is Mat Gamel. One player on a team of 25. Oh a case can be made for Brendan Katin or (if you're really pushing it) Tim Dillard, but the only player on that team seems to have a strong chance at the Majors is Gamel.

This is a trend that Milwaukee has year in and year out but they are not the only ones. It's a common practice to load up the highest level of the minors with veterans who have major league experience or at least a ton of minor league experience. This year the Brewers have taken that practice to another level though.

The outfield features Trent Oeltjen, Adam Stern and Brendan Katin. Stern hasn't had a hit in the majors since 2008 and Oeltjen has only 70 big league at-bats under his belt. Katin hasn't even had a chance to play in the big leagues, despite huge power potential (and even bigger strikeout potential).

The infield isn't much more awe-inspiring, featuring never-been's such as Joe Koshansky at First Base, Luis Cruz at Shortstop and Rey Olmedo at Second Base. It's not that having a few of these guys on your Triple-A team is a bad idea, they can step into a major league role in a pinch, but an entire roster composed of scrubs like this does little for the future of a franchise.

It's been said that pitchers and hitters learn the most in Double-A and Triple-A, so what are prospects learning when they aren't even playing at the minor's highest level? There is no argument that can be made that says the franchise is better off by letting Lorenzo Cain dominate Double-A rather than face a higher level of competition in Triple-A.

When you see a pitcher like Rick Porcello or Mike Leake shoot up the ladder and contribute to their drafting club quickly you can't help but wonder if the Brewers will ever have a pitcher do that. Under the organization's current philosophy that will not happen. That is not a fair approach, performance should be rewarded more than it is.

Yes, this is not true across the board. Ryan Braun and Yovanni Gallardo climbed the ladder quickly, as did Jonathan Lucroy and Rickie Weeks. But three of those players are position players and the Brewers difficulty in developing pitchers is well documented. Why should pitchers spend more time in the minors than position players, if they produce they should be given the same chances.

Milwaukee has done a very good job developing their prospects into players. The bottom line, however, is that they could do better.

A Princely Sum

2010-06-22T00:00:00.003-05:00

The Milwaukee Brewers are mired in a longtime slump in the development of young pitchers and Prince Fielder's time under club control is running short on time. I've delayed in making my decision about Big Prince's future with the Brew Crew but that's a choice that's become more and more clear in the early part of this season.

It's not about the 2010 Brewers anymore, it's about 2011 and beyond. For the future of the franchise, one of the biggest stars on the Milwaukee Brewers has got to go. So what makes now the right time? Why make this deal now rather than wait until the end of the season?

Fielder is on pace to drive in his lowest number of runs since he came into the majors. He's also on pace to have his lowest home run total since his rookie season and lowest doubles total in a full season since he came to the majors. That won't last, but the Brewers are making due without his RBIs and have players approaching in the minors that can take his spot in the near future. Between Brett Lawrie and Mat Gamel you will have an acceptable replacement.

The closest precedent for this deal would have to be when the Texas Rangers traded Mark Teixeira to Atlanta at the trade deadline. In that deal Texas landed a 100-MPH arm in Neftali Feliz, a future gold-glove winning shortstop in Elvis Andrus, a serviceable pitcher in Matt Harrison and a high-ceilinged bat in Jarrod Saltalamacchia. That's four players who have had some degree of success in the major leagues.

Will the Brewers be able to bring in the same haul of players and prospects? It's hard to say, Teixeira is a gold glove winner. There is a school of thought that says teams will give up more during the season and another school that says they won't. One thing that is for sure is that whoever does give up their prospects will want to keep Fielder for as long as possible. Much like Doug Melvin dealing for C.C. Sabathia well before the trade deadline, the market will be better for Prince the further the team is from trade day.

The market is there, teams will have an interest in Fielder. He's the left-handed bat and power hitter that teams will covet, not to mention he's still only 26 years old. There are a number of different teams that have the need, the entire American League West for example.

What the Crew will ask for back - and the only thing that they can reasonably accept - is pitching. Any pitching will do, ideally major league ready or near-major league ready but the development of position players has never been a problem.

A small market team like the Brewers can't have the percentage of payroll tied up in one player that it would take to keep Prince in Milwaukee. That's the bottom line.

The Pros of Ken Macha

2010-06-11T01:10:00.001-05:00

With the Brewers stumbling through the first two months of the season, there have been many voices (mine included) calling for Ken Macha's release from his managerial duties. However, I'm a reasonable person (not really), and I feel like maybe I should look at some of "Pros" of Ken Macha. Without further ado, here is my list:

Pros of Ken Macha:
-Successfully managed the Oakland Athletics, a smaller market club, into the ALCS. He really knows how to manage in the American League. (Side note, I happen to think a drunken chimp could manage the AL)

-That accent of his, is unbelievable! For a man from Pittsburgh, who spent some time in California, it's a true modern day miracle that he speaks with a slight "Yooper-like" accent. Helps to really connect to the Northern Wisconsin fan base.

-He is old, and has been around baseball for a long time. That can only mean he has some awesome stories to share. Why, I bet he has some doozies about Ty Cobb. I can just hear the story that starts out like, "Honus Wagner was a bitch, why the fuck is his card worth so damn much" or "Shoeless Joe Jackson, now there was an American". Also, I like to imagine this whopper, "In my day, we didn't use steroids, that stuff is for pussies...no, we would just smoke tobacco and have sex with the local whores to enhance our performance..............oh Fran...Fran, Fran, Fran".

- He looks like he would be a nice grandpa. Why yes Ken, I will have a Werther's Original.

-He's not Tony LaRussa. That guy, while a good manager, is just a prick.

-He's not Dusty Baker. I know Yovanni Gallardo is thankful for that.

-He likes "whipping shitties" in the Miller Park parking lot with Doug Melvin in a 1969 Chevy Camaro

- He would easily win a "look disinterested" contest.

- Is the inspiration for a mildly amusing twitter character: @notkenmacha.

The Farm Report: May 25

2010-05-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

Let's open the Farm Report this week by checking in with some players who are rehabbing their way back to the Majors or a higher level of the Minors. This group turned out to be a bit bigger than I expected so let's get to it.

Rehabilitation

Chris Capuano - SP - AAA - Capuano gets all the publicity and deservedly so. His future with the Brewers will be determined very soon and we'll have more on that later this week. But in the mean time, Capuano has made three very good starts for Triple-A Nashville, striking out 13 while walking only three and putting up a sparkling ERA of 2.14.

David Riske - RP - AAA - Also pitching for the Sounds is the forgotten man, David Riske. Riske was alright with Brevard County and has been good in two appearances for Nashville. His minor league numbers this year are mediocre, a 6.00 ERA and seven hits allowed in six innings. All of those hits and runs came in A-ball though.

Mat Gamel - 3B - High A - Finally, the Brewers top third base prospect has found his way onto the field. His start with Brevard County has been slow, but to a certain extent that is to be expected. In his first five games he's gone 2-for-17 with four walks and six strikeouts.

Josh Butler - SP - High A - Butler is easing his way back into the swing of things in 2010. He's made a pair of appearances for the Manatees, one good and one bad. In his first outing he went two scoreless innings. In his second, he went two innings and gave up seven runs on nine hits. We'll keep an eye on him as he works his way towards either Double-A or Triple-A.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low A)

Ryan Gennett - 2B/SS - 'Breakout Season' may not begin to describe what Gennett has done this year with the T-Rats. Gennett will be flying up the prospect rankings this summer if he can maintain his early production. In 42 games he's batting .348 (4th in the Midwest league), he has 79 total bases (6th in the league) and has 15 doubles (tied for the league lead). Not bad for a middle infielder.

Chris Dennis - OF/1B - Dennis has picked up his production since we last checked in, in his last ten games he's batting .316 with nine runs driven in and a .422 OBP. For the year he is tied for second on the team with 25 RBI's.

Khristopher Davis - OF - A new addition to the farm report, it's hard to leave a player off that has been as consistent as Davis. In 2010 he is batting .322 with 75 total bases and a .411 OBP. Solid numbers all-around but what you would hope to see from a college hitter.

Cutter Dykstra - IF - Back on the list is Cutter Dykstra, whether or not he stays in the Farm Report is up to him, but he's been solid in his second stint with the Timber Rattlers. Dykstra has played in 17 games and scored 12 runs while batting .288 with a .391 OBP. He's back in the mix.
Nicolas Bucci - SP - If the list gets longer it means prospects are playing well, so let's welcome Bucci to the Farm Report. He leads all Rattlers pitchers with three wins and has the best ERA of any starter, at 1.82. Also impressive is the 1.18 WHIP, best of any starting pitcher.

Eric Arnett - SP - More of the same from Arnett, he's been below average at his best and awful at worst. In his last two starts he has given up two and seven earned runs. Hard to say what is wrong with him precisely, his command is improving but he's still walked three or more in four of his last five appearances.

Jake Odorizzi - SP - His last time out Odorizzi was roughed up, giving up four runs in five innings pitched, but his command hasn't left him. In his last two starts he's struck out 12 while walking four. The Highland, Ill. Native has also struck out 45 batters in 33.2 innings, not too shabby.

Kyle Heckathorn - SP - Let's forget about Arnett for a minute and focus on the other hard throwing pitcher the Brewers drafted high last year. Heckathorn has had two very promising outings in his last two appearances, he's pitched 13 innings and given up only one run.

Best of the Rest: Andrew Lamontagne (RP) has a 1.82 ERA in 24.2 innings pitched.

Brevard County Manatees (High A)

Erik Komatsu - OF - Still rolling, Komatsu has been a model of consistency for the Manatees in 2010. In his last ten games he's hit .310 with six driven in. For the year he's batting .326 with more walks (15) than strikeouts (14).

Josh Prince - SS - With more playing time, Prince's numbers have continued to improve. In his last ten games he's batting .318, for the month of May he's hit a very fine .309. One area he needs to improve is his walk rate, in his last ten he has no walks and for the month he only has three. Unacceptable from a leadoff hitter.

Kentrail Davis - OF - Davis finds himself mired in a pretty deep slump, in his last ten outings he's batting .132. While he's struggled to hit the ball he hasn't struggled with his plate presence, in that same stretch he's walked eight times to give him a .313 OBP.

Michael Fiers - SP - Good and bad for Fiers since we last checked in. His last time out he gave up three runs and only lasted 3.2 innings. His previous outing was spectacular however, when he struck out 11 in six innings while walking none. A 1.03 WHIP from a starter is impressive, but I doubt we'll get a sure read on Fiers until he gets promoted to Double-A.

Wily Peralta - SP - Peralta was roughed up his last time out, giving up eight runs in four innings to see his ERA rise to 4.44. Peralta also gave up his first home run of the year in that loss as well. His command has been solid though, with only 15 walks in 46.2 innings. Maybe too many strikes though, he's given up 50 hits in those 46.2 innings.

Cody Scarpetta - SP - More of the same from Scarpetta, inconsistent with his command and generally not sharp. His ERA has climbed to 4.91 and he walked four in his last outing. Scarpetta will need to show more consistency in the strike zone if he wants to have a better summer than spring.

Best of the Rest: Daniel Meadows (RP) has an ERA of 2.53 in 32 innings... Shawn Zarraga (C) is hitting .326 through 24 games... Sergio Miranda (DH) leads the team with 31 RBI's.

Huntsville Stars (AA)

Lorenzo Cain - CF - It's just a matter of time before Cain is promoted to Triple-A or even the Majors this season, he's been good enough and deserving. Back and healthy, Lo Cain has hit .265 in his last ten with ten walks and his second home run of the year. Cain has been a perfect leadoff hitter for the Stars, batting .343 on the year with a .444 OBP.

Caleb Gindl - RF - A poor month of May has continued for Gindl, who is only hitting .222 this month. He did hit his third home run of the season since our last report and his season average is an acceptable .270. Still, you'd like to see more consistency from a player considered to have MLB potential.

Brett Lawrie - 2B - It's been a much better showing from Lawrie since our last report. Batting .361 in his last ten, the Canadian slugger is downright hot. In that time period he has nine runs batted in and five extra base hits (two triples, two home runs and a double). More importantly he struck out only four times and walked six.

Zelous Wheeler - 3B - Wheeler gets the nod here in place of fellow third base prospect Taylor Green for two reasons. First, Green is injured and has landed on the disabled list and second, Wheeler is having a better season in many ways. For the year he sits at .270 with a .388 OBP, most impressive may be that he has more walks (23) than strikeouts (16).

Amaury Rivas - SP - Last season's minor league pitcher of the year continues to be the ace of the Huntsville staff. His last two starts have been quality, including one very good outing. In Rivas' last start he pitched six innings giving up three runs. The appearance before however he pitched eight innings of one run ball, striking out five. Rivas is already on the 40-man roster so it would not be a surprise to see him with the big club sometime this year.

Mark Rogers - SP - There are some signs that Rogers might be getting into a grove of late. He's gone five innings in each of his last three starts (that's good for him), two of which were scoreless outings. His last start might be most promising though, he struck out six while walking just one and gave up no runs. Interesting split, of his 25 walks 19 have come against left-handed batters.

Best of the Rest: Brent Brewer (SS) is batting .275... Brandon Kintzler (RP) has eight saves and still hasn't given up a run in 18.1 innings.

Nashville Sounds (AAA)

Adam Heether - 3B/UTIL - After a slow start, Heether has come out of his slump. In his last ten games he's batted .306 with nine driven in. On a team wracked with injuries and lacking offensive firepower it's good to see him swing the bat. If he can hit with little protection this season he should be primed to win a spot on the big league roster either later this season or next spring.

Tim Dillard - RP - The month of May has not been kind to Dillard, after putting up an ERA of 1.93 in April, his May ERA sits at 8.68. His new delivery is a work in progress and what you have to like is his much improved command, even if he is currently throwing too many pitches in the zone. In 23.1 innings he's only issued two walks.

Mike Jones - RP - The move to the bullpen has been a good one for Jones and it now sees him pitching at Triple-A. I have a suspicion Jones' isn't done with his chances as a starting pitcher but a bullpen role might see him in the Majors sooner than later. In three innings pitched he has yet to give up a run with the Sounds.

Best of the Rest: Mike McClendon (RP) has an ERA of 0.37 in 24.1 innings split between Huntsville and Nashville... Trent Oeltjen (OF) is batting .281 with 14 doubles.

Major League 2010

2010-05-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

Zaun and Parra? Is that you?

Fun fact: The movie Major League was filmed at Milwaukee's County Stadium, the former home of the Brewers. While most Brewers fans already know this, its possible that the sudden transformation into the movie's Cleveland Indians has been missed. And it goes beyond the humorous inability to put together what is known as a winning streak in some more successful baseball cities (it has happened). Observe the comparisons:

Jake Taylor = Greg Zaun - This one is too easy. Over the hill catcher is brought back for one more go round. If he drops an RBI bunt down after calling a shot over the left field fence, I'll pay Rene Russo myself to show up at Miller Park with a newly-bare ring finger.

Jeff Suppan = Eddie Harris - Soup might actually benefit from Harris's secret snot-ball, and after the past four years, isn't it fun to imagine him taking a flying bat to the head?

Ryan Braun = Roger Dorn - On the surface there's no comparison in terms of age, position, and quality of player, but when you consider Dorn's obsession with marketability and outside business ventures, you'll see it.

Alcides Escobar = Willie Mays Hayes - Escobar, with his sub-.250 BA and sub-.300 OBP, has incredibly frustrating for such a speedy guy, thus calling to mind this gem of a quote from the movie: "You may run like Mays but you hit like sh*t."

Ken Macha = Lou Brown - Well, to be honest, this one doesn't work all that well, and you should be glad. If the players walked in and found a cutout of Mark Attanasio with removable pieces of removable cardboard clothing pasted onto his body to be removed after a win, you can bet your life you're looking at a 100 loss season.

Manny Parra = Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn - An emotional loose cannon with great stuff who is horribly inconsistent. Someone get him a pair of thick black-framed glasses and I'd be happy to sing that horrible song when he warms up.

Prince Fielder = Pedro Cerrano - Big men who strike out a lot and play with a LOT of intensity. The intimidation factor is definitely there, but when you try to imagine Prince wanting to sacrifice a tofurkey before a big game, things fall apart. It just doesn't have the same oomph.

Albert Pujols = Haywood - The player who beats the living tar out of the ball on a regular basis and is hated by the home crowd. I desperately wanted this to be that meat head Carlos Zambrano, but 1) he's a pitcher (though so was Pete Vuckovich, but that's beside the point) and 2) he's terrible this year. So Poo-Holes it is.

Of course I haven't forgotten the most obvious one of them all...

Bob Uecker = Harry Doyle - The one and only. There is a slight problem, however--he hasn't been calling the games lately, which quite frankly has made this recent slide all the worse for those of us without cable. But here's hoping he returns quickly, healthy, and brings with him a pennant run much like the one the Cleveland Indians made in that classic movie. Seriously, how great would it be to hear Uecker scream over the airwaves, "The Brewers win it! The Brewers win it! Oh my God, the Brewers win it!" after Manny Parra strikes out Pujols in the top of the 9th and Zaun drops down a bunt to score Escobar in the bottom as the Brewers beat the Cardinals in a one game playoff at the end of the season?

Breaking Ken

2010-05-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

There is a problem with the Milwaukee Brewers through the first two months of the season. Call it inconsistency, call it velocity, call it whatever you like. The fact of the matter is, something needs to change and soon if this team wants to consider itself a playoff contender.

Some want to blame General Manager Doug Melvin for the current sub-par performance of the team, the only problem with placing the blame on him is that he has done the best with the resources available to him. Is it his fault that the pitchers he's signed aren't living up to their numbers? No.

Is it his fault that not one but two Center Fielders have been hurt, leaving Jody Gerut as a very unfortunate starting option? No.

Is it Doug Melvin's fault that Prince Fielder hasn't repeated his success of a year ago, when he set a club record for RBI's in a season? No.

It's not Melvin's fault, but it's not Ken Macha's fault either. That said, Macha still needs to go. The Brewers are not living up to the talent level of their team. Doug Davis' ERA is three runs higher than his career average and Randy Wolf's is a run higher, that says players aren't producing.

When a team has talent but isn't producing you change managers. Melvin won't be overhauling the roster in season so if he truly believes in the players he has assembled he needs to give them a chance with a manager that they appreciate and respect.

Give them someone they want to play for. Ken Macha is not the Manager for this team.

It shouldn't matter, opponents will say. And that's true - some groups of players that maybe aren't as tight knit or with different personalities might thrive under a Manager as stoic and passive as Ken Macha, but they might not also.

As fans we don't like Macha for his seeming indifference to what goes on in the game. He sits in the dugout like a tired old man with a passing interest in what goes on in front of him and doesn't seem to have any impact on the field of play. You can pick apart his lineup choices and bullpen use and can find valid mistakes that he has made but his attitude is what bothers people the most.

So what will happen? What will the front office do with Macha?

If the team finds some mojo or just plays to their ability they can make their way back into the wildcard in what looks like a mediocre National League chase. If they do manage to remain in contention for that fourth playoff spot then Melvin has no choice but to stick with Macha through the duration of the season.

The question is, does a slim chance at the playoffs make it worthwhile to stick with a team loaded with average veterans? If your answer is yes than you have to stick with Macha. This team, as assembled, is Ken Macha's team.

But if things continue to fall the way they have that needs to change. Parts need to be moved and replacements found. The Brewers would need to go young and young means so long Ken Macha. If you watched Mat Gamel's time with the big club a year ago the last thing you want to see is Macha handle any of the team's brightest young stars.

Does selling off some replaceable parts mean giving up on the season? Start with the Manager now, if you keep losing move some players that are likely on their way out anyways. Gregg Zaun won't be back next year, not with the emergence of George Kottaras and the continued strong play of Jonathan Lucroy in the minors.

Other names that could draw interest to contending teams would be Corey Hart and Jim Edmonds. Edmonds certainly won't want to play out his Indian Summer for a team slowly falling out of contention. Hart is the interesting one, as a player who should be - ideally - in his prime he could actually bring back a couple of prospects that can help the team.

I've danced around some ideas but what it comes down to is this: firing Ken Macha won't make this team worse. Promoting Willie Randolph or Dale Sveum may not necessarily make this team better but it won't make them any worse than they currently are. At the very least you will be sending a message to your fan base that mediocrity won't cut it.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

2010-05-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

Time Marches on, that's how Metallica follows up the chorus to one of their greatest songs and one that may apply more than Hoffman's other rock favorite - ACDC's Hell's Bells. But time has marched right past future Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman. While it would be an understatement to say Trevor Hoffman is off to a bad start in 2010, it would not be an overstatement to say he has been an ineffective closer.

Hoffman has only blown more than five saves twice in the last decade and both seasons he coughed up seven chances. This year he has five blown saves and it's only May.

Hoffman has never given up more than seven home runs before July in his entire career. He's given up seven through his first 14 appearances. That's more home runs than every other pitcher that has made an appearance for the Crew this season, except Randy Wolf and Dave Bush... both starters.

In his career, Hoffman has never had more hits than innings pitched. Through his first 13 innings of work he's given up 21 base hits.

Hoffman's ground ball to fly ball ratio is .41. That is the worst he has had since the stat began recording in 1999.

In only six of his 14 appearances, Hoffman has pitched a scoreless frame. He's also had to use 15 or more pitches eight times.

Hoffman has allowed hitters to slug .881 off him. That is not only shocking but nearly unbelievable. No Milwaukee hitter is slugging higher than .564.

Those numbers should be enough to give Manager Ken Macha pause before sending him out for another save opportunity. Will they? Probably not, Macha will sink with the ship he is captaining, but that talk is for another day.

Hoffman simply doesn't have it anymore. He looks like Jerry Rice with the Broncos or Michael Jordan with the Wizards. He's become a shell of the pitcher he once was but he remains in a position to hurt the team more than any other single player can.

But what can the team do? How do you pull the plug on a Hall of Fame career? The way this season is progressing, there will come a point where General Manager Doug Melvin has to make some players and likely the Manager very unhappy. That point may come sooner for some (Macha, Jeff Suppan, Doug Davis) and later for others (Hoffman, Gregg Zaun, Jim Edmonds), but if things don't turn around quickly it will arrive soon.

Who does Milwaukee go to then, if Hoffman pitches his way into middle relief. The options don't look great. Todd Coffey had been solid before getting lit up on Monday night. Carlos Villanueva has been, for the most part, spectacular - but his velocity strikes fear into the heart of no batter. Latroy Hawkins is hurt, and has struggled mightily as a closer in the past. Manny Parra might have been an option, except he's found his way back into the starting rotation.

So who does that leave? Chris Smith has been spectacular for Nashville, saving 13 games with an ERA under two but if you saw him pitch last year you don't want to see him closing out games in the big leagues.

Next on the list would have to be one of two prospects, Zach Braddock or John Axford. Both pitchers throw hard and have shown very good command in 2010. Axford has already made it to the big league roster and is well liked by the organization.

Braddock has been outstanding aside from one very rough outing, but there are questions about his durability. He may be viewed as a future closer by some but he's had trouble staying on the field throughout the minors. Even this year in Triple-A he has yet to pitch on back to back days. I have no doubt he could help the team but can he close yet? That I do doubt.

The other question regarding both of these young pitchers is whether or not the team would be willing to put the ball in the hands of a rookie during a season the Brewers have playoff aspirations. My guess is no, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
The most likely course of action will be to move to a closer by committee, riding the hot hand while giving Hoffman a chance to work out whatever problems he has, if they are fixable. That would give Coffey, Villa and anyone else pitching well a chance to help the team.

I'd like to see what the rookies can do. A hard throwing closer can give the fans something to get excited for while getting a feel for what young players can bring to the table in years to come.

Ernest Hemingway borrowed from John Donne when he titled his book "For whom the bell tolls." The line is followed with "the bell tolls for thee" - Donne was talking about death, so that doesn't apply to Hoffman, but it may apply to his career.

The Farm Report: May 11

2010-05-12T00:00:00.006-05:00

Has it been two weeks already? It appears so, which means it's time for another trip to the farm. But first we check in with an old friend.

Chris Capuano - SP - Let's talk about Cappy. He and his twice repaired elbow were absolutely lights out for the Brevard County Manatees in his three rehab starts. He pitched 14.2 innings, struck out 17 batters and walked none. He also only allowed two runs for a paltry 1.23 ERA. Capuano has been promoted to Triple-A Nashville where he will continue to start, here's hoping he continues to pitch well because who knows how long Doug Davis is going to last in the Brewers starting rotation.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low A)

Peter Fatse - IF/OF - Fatse has found himself in a pretty deep slump since his hot start, over his last 10 games he's batting just .182 and hasn't had an extra base hit since May 2. His home and away splits emulate the big club, he's batting just .200 at Time Warner Field and .359 on the road.

Chris Dennis - OF - The Canadian outfielder has also struggled since we last checked in, though not as much as Fatse. Dennis is batting .235 over his last ten games but does sport an OBP of .333 during that stretch. His four homers lead the team.

Ryan Gennett - 2B/SS - Scooter Gennett, on the other hand, has been making a name for himself. Over his last ten he's batted .378 to up his season average to .356 and he leads the T-Rats with 12 doubles. Throw in an impressive OBP (.443) and you have the teams best hitter so far.

Jake Odorizzi - SP - Odorizzi has struggled since we last checked in, he had a couple of short starts where he gave up three and four earned runs consecutively, but his command has been on overall. In his last outing he struck out eight batters in 5.2 innings while only allowing two runs.

Eric Arnett - SP - Last year's first round draft pick has managed just one good outing so far this season, a rain shortened three inning appearance a week ago when he allowed no runs. In every other appearance this year he's allowed no less than four runs.

Kyle Heckathorn - P - Thorny's last two outings have been a mixed bag. On May 1 he gave up four runs in 3.1 innings and walked a trio. He followed that up with a four inning appearance in which he struck out five, walked none and gave up two runs. Interesting split: in games that Heckathorn didn't start his ERA is a full seven runs lower. Don't read too much into that though, it's still early.

Best of the Rest: Khristopher Davis (OF) leads the team in total bases with 55; Damon Krestalude (SP) has a team low WHIP of 0.95 and Cutter Dykstra (2B) is hitting .286 in his second stint with the Rattlers.

Brevard County Manatees (High A)

Erik Komatsu - OF - Komatsu continues to be the bright spot in an otherwise poor offense for Brevard County. He may not be hitting for power (nobody on that team is) but he is hitting for average (.330). His ten doubles lead the Manatees as well.

Kentrail Davis - OF - Davis is back and in the lineup every day and he seems to be settling in. I doubt we've really seen what he can do yet, but he had hit in every game since coming back healthy going into Tuesday night. We should have more to say about him two weeks from now.

Josh Prince - SS - Hey remember this guy? A third round pick a year ago, Prince is playing every day now for Brevard County with the promotion of Brent Brewer. He's done well since being inserted into the starting lineup, hitting .306 in his last ten.

Michael Fiers - SP - Fiers had his first truly bad start on Monday night, when he gave up five runs in 4.1 innings. His season numbers are still solid though, his ERA sits at 3.32 and his WHIP is a low 1.08.

Wily Peralta - SP - Peralta on the other hand has been consistently average since we last checked in. He's given up runs in each of his last three appearances but no more than three. Basically, he's been fine but not great.

Cody Scarpetta - SP - The breaking ball specialist, Scarpetta has been much improved over the last two weeks. Over his last three starts he's given up zero, one and two runs while lowering his season ERA to a respectable 3.45. He seems to have recovered his command that he struggled with in the early part of the season.

Best of the Rest: Nick Green (RP) is sporting a 1.54 ERA; Shawn Zarraga (C), who is starting in place of the promoted Martin Maldonado, is batting .396 through 12 games.

Huntsville Stars (AA)

Lorenzo Cain - CF - He most certainly is injured and has not played since our last Farm Report. It doesn't appear to be serious but the team is going to be very careful with the highly touted Lo Cain.

Caleb Gindl - RF - The diminutive slugger, Gindl has been quiet his last 10 outings batting just .250. But he hasn't seen his numbers against left-handed pitching suffer at all, on the year he is hitting a very impressive .474 against southpaws. That's important because a year ago the left-handed hitting Gindl's biggest weakness was hitting lefties.

Taylor Green - 3B - Green has been quieter over the last 10 games, batting only .200 but his plate patience hasn't suffered at all. Through that stretch his OBP is .300, unimpressive by itself but very good to see with his scuffles at the dish.

Brett Lawrie - 2B - Some good and some bad for Lawrie, I'd say more bad then good. His 52 total bases lead the team and 13 walks is tied for the most on the Stars but 46 strikeouts in 32 games is completely unacceptable and borderline absurd. That's 25 more than anyone else on the team. You can see the potential, but Lawrie still has a way to go.

Amaury Rivas - SP - Rivas is quietly showing why he could be considered the top starting pitching prospect in the Crew's system. In five of his six starts he's given up one or less runs; he has been so effective that his last outing (in which he gave up five runs) raised his ERA to a still very low 2.10. His strikeouts are down, but his WHIP is very good for a starter at 1.19.

Mark Rogers - SP - After a pair of poor starts in which he gave up five runs in 2.1 innings and three runs in four innings, Rogers bounced back with one of his better starts of the year. His last time out he pitched five shutout innings of one-hit ball. Very good, not so good is that he's walked more batters (21) than he has struckout (20) in 2010.

Mike Jones - SP/RP - It seems more and more likely that Jones future chances will come as a relief pitcher. He made a couple of spot starts this year and struggled mightily, in his two starts his ERA is 9.00. But in 17 innings of relief Jones has a very nice ERA of 2.65. Personally I just want to see him make it to the majors, the role is unimportant.

Best of the Rest: Martin Maldonado (C) is hitting .296 and has 10 RBIs in 19 games; Brent Brewer (SS) is batting .346 since his promotion (I am shocked by this) and Brandon Kintzler (RP) has yet to give up a run or a walk while striking out 15 through 13.2 innings.

Nashville Sounds (AAA)

Jonathan Lucroy - C - The former Ragin' Cajun has cooled off after a hot start to his Triple-A career. In his last ten games he's batting just .244 and has struckout a surprising (for him) nine times. There is a reason players shouldn't skip Triple-A, but Lucroy will be just fine. He hit his first home run of the season last week against Round Rock.

Eric Farris - 2B - Just as he was starting to swing the bat well, Farris landed on the Disabled List. He hasn't played since April 29, John Raburn has seen most of the playing time in his place.

Adam Heether - 3B/UTIL - Heether seems to be coming out of his April slump, in the month of May he's batting a solid .286. He's also hit safely in eight of his last nine games. On this team it seems worth mentioning that he's managed to stay healthy.

Tim Dillard - RP - He's given up some runs of late, his ERA now sits at 3.93, but his command has still been impressive. Through his 18.1 innings Dillard has struckout 17 and walked only one.

Zach Braddock - RP - Braddock had his scoreless start end in spectacular fashion on Sunday, when he gave up eight runs in .2 innings. That disastrous outing saw his ERA climb from 0.00 to 5.14. Well, it had to happen sometime. Braddock has 24 strikouts in 14 innings.

John Axford - RP - On the other hand, we have John Axford - who hasn't given up an earned run since April 16. He has been a very consistent reliever for the Sounds and his command has been good. He's walked five against 17 strikeouts, he has to be high on the list if the Brewers need to call up a relief pitcher this season (as long as it isn't David Riske I'll be happy).

Best of the Rest: Chris Smith (RP) has an ERA of 0.71 and 12 saves; The sounds starting rotation of Marco Estrada, Chris Waters, Chase Wright, Kameron Loe and Chuck Lofgren boasts no ERA higher than 4.26 and Trent Oeltjen (OF) is batting .281.

The Farm Report: April 27

2010-04-28T00:00:00.001-05:00

It's time for the first full-fledged farm report of the 2010 season. The sampling size is large enough to get a good feel for how the Brewers prospects are playing through the seasons first month. There are some status affirming performances (Jonathon Lucroy, Lorenzo Cain) and even a few early disappointments. Let's get to it.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low A)

Peter Fatse - IF/OF - He may not have a position yet, but the 2009 24th round pick is off to a very hot start for the Timber Rattlers. In the 11 games he's played Fatse has 3 triples and 2 home runs while batting .417. He did see some extended time with the T-Rats a year ago so a hot start isn't that surprising, but this good of a start warrants notice.

Chris Dennis - OF - Dennis saw some time last season with Wisconsin, but was hampered by injuries. In limited time in 2009 he hit .312 with four homers and a .404 OBP, so far this season he's done well to prove those numbers weren't an aberration, batting .310 with an impressive .459 OBP.

Ryan Gennett - 2B/SS - Gennett signed late last year, he was a 16th round pick, and saw no playing time in 2009. In his first taste of pro ball he's gotten off to a nice start, batting .320 with a .446 OBP. Keep on eye on him if you head up to the valley, at 5'9" he'll probably be easy to spot.

Jake Odorizzi - SP - The highly touted Odorizzi has the good fortune of being overshadowed by last year's first round pick (Eric Arnett) in the rotation with him. Having taken a back seat to the hype Arnett will draw, Odirizzi has been the T-Rats best starter. He has an ERA of 1.50 and a minuscule .75 WHIP. Throw in 19 K's in 12 innings and you've got a terrific April.

Eric Arnett - SP - Speaking of last year's first rounder, Arnett has been bad. His command has been there, he's only walked two against nine strikeouts, but he's been hit around a ton. Arnett's WHIP is 1.63 and he's given up four long balls, most on the team.

Kyle Heckathorn - P - Heckathorn has been much better, his ERA is 2.25 and he's only given up 6 hits in 8 innings. It's still undetermined whether he'll be a starter or reliever but as long as he pitches well he's got a good chance at the majors.

Best of the Rest: Caleb Thielbar - RP - has an ERA of 2.63 in 13.2 innings, Kristopher Davis - LF - is batting .317 through 16 games and is tied for the team lead in hits with 20

Brevard County Manatees (High A)

Erik Komatsu - OF - The 5'10" Komatsu is off to a nice start, he's second on the team with a .338 average and has nine extra base hits in 16 games, he also leads the Manatees with 33 total bases. His problem of late has been staying healthy and on the field, it would be nice to see what he can do in a full season.

Kentrail Davis - OF - Davis is a very high ceiling player and was considered advanced enough that the Brewers assigned him to High A for his first professional action. In the seven games he's played he is batting .333. Keep an eye on him, he could climb the ladder quickly.

Wily Peralta - SP - The righty Peralta has had a mostly good 2010 so far. His overall numbers are solid, an ERA of 3.00 and 21 strikeouts in 21 innings but his walks are a bit high, he's given the free pass to 10 batters already. That's an area he will need to improve on as the season marches on.

Michael Fiers - SP/RP - Seriously who is this guy? Fiers burst on the scene last year with impressive command as a reliever and is now starting for Brevard County. He has done very well for the Manatees too, sporting a 1.88 ERA and WHIP of just .92. If he keeps it up a promotion to Double-A is inevitable.

Cody Scarpetta - SP/RP - Not good. A 1.92 WHIP and 6.00 ERA pretty much sum up Scarpetta's April. His command has just not been there yet this season but there is plenty of time to turn it around.

Best of the Rest: Nick Green - RP - has an ERA of 1.04 in his rebirth as a closer, Lefty Daniel Meadows - RP - has continued to pitch well, he has an ERA of 2.70 in 13.1 innings.

Huntsville Stars (AA)

Lorenzo Cain - CF - It appears Cain was as disappointed with his 2009 as the rest of us were and he is determined to bounce back in a big way. Through the first 17 games of the year he's hit .380 with 19 runs scored. There have been reports that he's been placed on the DL with a hamstring injury so we'll keep an eye on that.

Taylor Green - 3B - Green is another guy looking for a bounce-back year, after preseason wrist surgery caused him trouble in 2009. He's batting .328 on the young season and has hit 10 doubles all while driving in 13, which is tied for the team high.

Caleb Gindl - RF - He can hit and he continues to prove it. Gindl is batting .299 and is tied for the team lead with 13 RBI's. Also his two homers lead the team. What is most promising are his early returns against left-handed pitching, Gindl has six hits in 13 at-bats giving him a .459 average. For the left-handed Gindl, hitting lefties would be a big step forward.

Brett Lawrie - 2B - Good and bad so far for Lawrie. The good: He's got 3 triples and has driven in 12. The bad: Lawrie is only batting .225 and has struck out 23 times in 18 games. Keep in mind he hasn't played at High-A so he's skipping a level of the minor leagues by playing at Huntsville this year.

Amaury Rivas - SP - You might like to see longer starts out of Rivas but his performances have been very good so far. Through four starts Rivas has a .78 ERA and holds a 3-0 record. He's walked 11 batters so far, which is something he'll need to improve on, but last year he was far more impressive in the second half of the season.

Mark Rogers - SP - Same complaint as Rivas, you'd like to see more innings out of Rogers (he's made three starts and pitched 13.1 innings) but it is early in the season so it's not a major concern. Rogers isn't strikeout:walk numbers aren't as strong (12:10) but he's kept his ERA down (1.98) and has plenty to improve on as the season progresses.
Best of the Rest - Zelous Wheeler - 3B - is batting .306 with a .433 OBP, Jim Henderson - RP - has an ERA of 1.35 through 13.1 innings.

Nashville Sounds (AAA)

Jonathan Lucroy - C - After raking in Double-A (he hit .452) Lucroy was bumped up to Nashville to start in place of Angel Salome, who has landed on the Temporary Inactive list. What has Lucroy done for the Sounds? Oh just bat .400 through his first six games. So yea, Gregg Zaun, how about that.

Eric Farris - 2B - Another second baseman who has skipped a level of the minors, Farris made the jump from Brevard County to Nashville in 2009. He has held his own so far, batting .278 through 19 games. A stolen base expert, Farris has swiped four without being caught.

Adam Heether - 3B/UTIL - Heether is hitting for power in the early part of the season, he has five home runs, but his average is painfully low at only .205. Heether does have 13 RBI's though, expect to see that batting average go up.

Marco Estrada - SP - The waiver wire claim has been the best starter in the Nashville rotation in the season's first month. His WHIP is a very impressive .83 and he's kept his ERA under three (2.74).

Tim Dillard - RP - His new delivery has really seemed to settle in since the Triple-A season started. Dillard has yet to walk a batter through 14 innings and has an ERA of 1.93. He'd be better than Jeff Suppan.

Zach Braddock - RP - I think the word you would use to describe Braddock would be "dominant." He's been lights out, striking out 17 and walking only two in 9.2 innings and has yet to give up a run. Braddock will see time in the majors this season, the only question is when. Yea, he'd probably be better than Suppan too.

John Axford - RP - Seems like the choices in Triple-A are pretty good for relief pitchers. Axford is also off to a good start, his ERA is 3.24 and he's struck out 12 while walking only three. If he can keep his command he'll likely see time with the big club before long as well. Also better than Suppan.

Mitch Stetter - RP - Not really a prospect, but Stetter was sent down to make room for the 14.5 million dollar man, Jeff Suppan. For the Sounds the Brewers only lefty specialist has pitched 6.1 innings and has yet to give up a run. Should I say it? Yea... better than Suppan.

I think what we've learned is that Jeff Suppan has no business being on the major league roster and there are plenty of minor league pitchers that could do his job better than he can.

Farm Report: Who to Watch

2010-04-13T00:00:00.001-05:00

We all know the Major League season is in full swing, but the Minors are also underway. With a handful of games under their belts, it's time to take a look at who to watch for level by level in the Milwaukee Brewers farm system here in 2010.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low A)

For the second straight season the Brewers home state affiliate will feature some of the top pitching prospects in the organization. Along with a strong core of high potential pitchers there is a smattering of position players who could make this a very interesting team to watch this year.

Five to Watch

1. Eric Arnett - RHP - The Brewers top pick in 2009, Arnett will start his first full professional season with Wisconsin. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him finish the year in Brevard County, but he'll need to perform in Low A first.

2. Kyle Heckathorn - RHP - The second pitcher the team drafted in 2009, Heckathorn will also be pitching for the T-Rats this season. Heckathorn is a two-pitch pitcher at this stage in his career and will need to improve his off-speed stuff if he's going to stay a starter.

3. Jake Od0rizzi - RHP - A compensation pick in 2008, Odorizzi is considered more of a long-term project. In a few years some think he could be a stud starter but as a high school pitcher it's hard to really know what he brings to the table. Definitely one to keep an eye if you head to Time Warner Field.

4. Cameron Garfield - C - Another high pick from the 2009 draft, Garfield hit .248 for rookie level Helena a year ago. He's going to get the majority of the playing time behind the plate and it'll be interesting to see how he improves in year two.

5. D'Vontrey Richardson - OF - A two sport athlete at Florida State, Richardson will be a full-time baseball player this year. Considered very athletic, he's a project nonetheless. It may take a while but if he does develop he could be an entertaining player.

All Eyes On - Eric Arnett - You'll hear about Odirizzi and Heckathorn and a few other players but Arnett is a first round draft pick and as such, he'll be the focus of attention while he is with Wisconsin. Arnett made his debut with the Rattlers on Monday and gave up four earned runs in 4.1 innings. He didn't walk anyone, but he'll need to be much better.

Sleeper - Sean Halton - Halton (left) hit the ball very well at two different levels in the Crew's minor league system last season. At 6'5" he's certainly got the size and he hit .345 in 69 minor league games in 2009. A 13th round pick, a big year in 2010 could put him on the map as a first base prospect.

Brevard County Manatee (High A)

The pitching is what really stands out on the Brevard team. The Manatees will feature most of the good young pitchers that stood out for the Timber Rattlers a year ago. Mix in a few interesting hitters like Brock Kjeldgaard and Kentrail Davis and you've got a chance to see more than a few players who could find their way to the majors in the next several seasons.

Five to Watch

1. Kentrail Davis - OF - Milwaukee is very high on outfielder Kentrail Davis, so high, in fact that he's made his professional debut with the Brevard County club, bypassing low A entirely. Davis has drawn high praise and is off to a nice start batting .333. Keep an eye on him, his path to the big leagues could be short.

2. Wily Peralta - RHP - Peralta was eye catching if you saw him pitch for Wisconsin a year ago. He throws a mid-90s fastball with good secondary stuff. If he continues to improve he could be one of the top pitchers in the system. His first appearance was fantastic, he gave up only four hits over six innings while striking out eight.

3. Cody Scarpetta -RHP - The clock is already ticking on Scarpetta's option years, due to an invalidated rookie contract. He'll be making it to the big leagues sooner than later. He needs to be more consistent with his command, his first start was disastrous, walking six and giving up four runs in 2.1 innings.

4. Jeremy Jeffress - RHP - Make or break time for Jeffress. Once he comes off his second substance abuse suspension he'll have to show immediate improvement and a commitment to the game. Beyond that, he'll have to stay on the field. It remains to be seen whether or not he truly is over his drug problems but you have to hope, for his sake, that he is.

5. Brent Brewer - 3B/SS - The most athletic player in the Brewers farm system has to be running out of chances. He's heading into his third straight season with Brevard County and saw his batting average drop from .251 to .222. He'll need to show marked improvement to stay in baseball much longer.

All Eyes On - Jeremy Jeffress - A $100 million arm and five cent brain, that might be one way to describe the physically gifted Jeffress. Still, since his 100-game suspension he's said all the right things and appears to be making the right decisions. It's up to him now to find out whether he is going to be a future star, or another 100 mph arm that never panned out.

Sleeper: Michael Fiers - Fiers showed off his impressive command in climbing to Brevard County in his first pro season last year as a reliever. This year the Brewers seem interested in giving him a chance to be a starting pitcher. We'll see how he does in year two of his professional career.

Huntsville Stars (AA)

The Stars might be the team to watch in the Crew's farm system. Loaded with pitching and hitting prospects, this has the potential to be a very entertaining team to watch. The Brewers minor league hitter of the year will be headed there once he is off the DL and last years minor league pitcher of the year (Amaury Rivas) is already there.

Five to Watch

1. Brett Lawrie - 2B - The Canadian hitter was deemed advanced enough to bypass a second year of A-Ball entirely. Whether he stays at second base or finds himself somewhere else on the diamond he started his 2010 season off with a bang, he finished a double shy of the cycle in just his third game.

2. Lorenzo Cain - OF - After an injury filled 2009 campaign Cain saw his stock fall in the eyes of many. But, 2010 is another year and a fine spring has put him back high on the Brewers top prospect list. He's on a talented team with Huntsville this year and with a strong season could find himself with the big club by the end of the year.

3. Jonathan Lucroy - C - So Lucroy goes from having the chance to win a major league roster spot to being sent back to Double-A for a second season. Nothing like helping a players development by keeping him out of the level of the minors where players learn the most (AAA). Still, Lucroy did have some areas to improve on from last year, notably power and run production. He's the catcher of the future and with Gregg Zaun's 0-18 start the future may be sooner than later.

4. Mark Rogers - RHP - If Rogers has a big year in Double-A he could climb to the top of the Brewers pitching prospect lists. Two things need to happen for him to help the big club this year or next, longer starts and health. Here's rooting for the kid from Maine.

5. Amaury Rivas - RHP - The 2009 minor league pitcher of the year for the Milwaukee Brewers, Rivas has taken a while to develop but the Crew's patience was affirmed. If he can build on his outstanding '09 campaign with another big year for Huntsville, the dire state of pitching in Milwaukee's farm system suddenly becomes quite the opposite.

All Eyes On - Jonathan Lucroy - C - Lawrie might be the higher rated prospect (by a lot) but there are no bones being made about him contributing to the Major League team this year or even next, though 2011 might not be out of the question. Lucroy, on the other hand, could be the starting catcher by the end of the year. The pressure is on the former Ragin' Cajun and a down year in his second stint in Double-A would greatly dampen his chances.

Sleeper - Steffan Wilson - 1B/RF/LF - Who is Steffan Wilson? That was the question being asked when the first baseman/corner outfielder was added to the spring training roster. Well Wilson has quietly put up solid numbers over his three minor leagues seasons. Over that time he's hit .288 with 44 home runs and 200 driven in. He turned some heads in spring training and he could turn even more in Huntsville this year.

Nashville Sounds (AAA)

The Nashville roster isn't quite as prospect-laden as Milwaukee's other affiliates, but there are a few prospects to keep on eye on. Most of the players with the sounds this year seem well poised to step in with the big club in case of injury or ineffectiveness.

Five to Watch

1. Zach Braddock - LHP - A hard throwing lefty with pinpoint command, Braddock is one of the top young arms on the Farm. If he can stay healthy he's viewed by many as a possible future closer. At one time there was thought he could be a starter but injury troubles have put that thought out of mind.

2. Mat Gamel - 3B - Everything that could go wrong for Mat Gamel seems to have gone wrong in the last month. He showed a level of commitment that the front office likes to see this spring but was sidelined by a shoulder injury. It's not likely he'll be able to step right in and produce until he's fully healed, but when he does he'll need to rebuild his stock. With Casey Mcgehee's production with the big club it would seem Gamel's route to the big leagues is blocked. It would seem.

3. Angel Salome - C - Similar to Gamel, Salome had a chance to establish himself last year but injuries and defensive questions hampered his 2009. He'll need a big year to prove to the front office that he can be the catcher of the future of Lucroy, but at this point he would seem more like trade bait.

4. John Axford - RHP - Another player that impressed this spring, the 6'5" Axford is viewed very favorably by management and the coaching staff. Axford throws hard and when he can maintain his command he can be a dominant relief pitcher. He'll see time with the big club before the season is over.

5. Adam Heether - 3B/UTIL - If Heether can repeat his success from a year ago he will put himself in talks for a roster spot this year (in case of injury) and next year. He plays multiple positions and hit for average (.296) and power (18 HRs) a year ago. Putting those numbers up in back to back years would be impressive.

All Eyes On - Mat Gamel - Many will be interested in Braddock's performance in 2010, but he has less to prove. Braddock will be making his first appearance in Triple-A. Gamel on the other hand, had success in the majors and minors last year then fell apart. He'll need to re-establish himself as one of the best minor league hitters in the organization.

Sleeper - Brendan Katin - OF - With the confidence lost in Corey Hart at the major league level, one has to wonder if Katin finally figures out how to draw a walk that he could get a shot at the big leagues. He's off to a great start this year, with four walks and three home runs in the first four games of the year.
Keep an eye out, the Farm Reports have begun anew.

How The Brewers Spend April Fools Day

2010-04-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

It is a well established fact that baseball players are known pranksters. So, on the holiest of days for pranksters, April Fools, what sort of shenanigans do ball players pull? I recently didn't sit down with some of the Brewers player, but if I had, here is what they might have told me.

Ryan Braun
Oh man, I L-U-V me some April Fools Days, and I am the master. Just this morning, I replaced Corey Hart's clothing with some crap I bought from Wal-Mart. Well, I didn't buy it, I paid some kid to, Ryan Braun doesn't step foot in a Wal-Mart! Anyways, Corey doesn't even realize he's been walking around wearing clothing from Wal-Mart! HAHAHA, oh man, I got him hella good. I don't think he even noticed that he is wearing, Wr (laughs), Wrang, (laughs), WRANGLERS!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Prince Fielder
I like to keep it simple, basically all day I just pretend like I'm going to punch Manny Parra. Let me tell you, he flinches so much every time, it's great! I also called a left a threatening voice mail to Russell Martin of the Dodgers.

Rickie Weeks
This morning first thing I did was call Doug Melvin up and told him I fell last night and re-injured my wrist. I don't think he liked that actually......I should probably avoid him.

Corey Hart
I hung a dead opossum in Jim Edmonds' locker, and also filled his Nalgene bottle with some straight Kentucky moonshine. He'll get a pleasant surprise after his morning workout when he goes to take a drink of "water". I also deflated Jim's tires and egged his house. Oh, it's April Fools Day? Didn't even realize. Well, that still doesn't explain why someone would give me these sweet new threads? I mean, this might be the nicest shirt and jeans combo I've ever owned.

Alcides Escobar
I promised my ex I'd send child support.

Craig Counsell
April Fools? Oh, I have a good one for you, watch this:

Counsell: "HEY BRAUNIE, ass-sphincter says what?"
Braun: "WHAT?"
Counsell: "AAAA HAHA, April Fools!"
Braun: "Good one Craig, 1992 called and would like their joke back."

Jeff Suppan
I don't partake in such childish things. I'm busy today, trying to figure out how I can donate $12.5 million dollars back into the Milwaukee community. ... ... ... APRIL FOOLS! Nah, yeah, I'm keeping that money.

Trevor Hoffman
Shhh, keep this quiet, but before Coffey goes out to pitch, I'm putting some heat into his underwear.....I bet he sets a new sprinting record to the mound!

Ken Macha
Ohhh, I suppose I could fool these boys. I think that maybe I'll go argue a call, make them think I'm actually going to get thrown out of a game. Then, right as I'm about to get run, I'll just turn around and walk back to the dugout. I never cease to amaze myself.

Position Shakedown

2010-03-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

The position battles rage on for the 2010 Milwaukee Brewers. Although some in the professional media would have you think the bench spots are all but sealed, here at the Tap we don't think it's over until the keg starts spitting. So, 14 games in and this is where they stand.

Backup Catcher

T-1. George Kottaras
T-1. Matt Treanor

The Skinny: That's right, this is now a two-man race. While I would rather see Angel Salome or Jonathon Lucroy I would also rather see them as starters and Gregg Zaun will be preventing that. So with all due respect to the rookies, it's between Kottaras and Treanor.

So with the two most veteran options fighting for the backup role, who has the edge? The inclination of the Brewers media is to say that Treanor is a better defensive Catcher while Kottaras provides more upside as a hitter.

By the Numbers: It's a fair expectation that both players will get plenty of at-bats over the next week and a half. So far, Kottaras is 5 for 14 with three walks and two strike outs. Three of his hits have gone for extra bases (two doubles and a home run).

Treanor has been no slouch either, he's 4 for 13 in the seven games he's played. At the same time, he has yet to walk and has struck out five times. Treanor does have a pair RBIs but half as many total bases (5) as Kottaras has (10).

The Decider: Flip a coin, that's about how good your chances are to pick who will win this spot. One day you might think Kottaras is the guy, the next you see Treanor winning the role. Essentially, it's too early to tell. But one thing is certainly true, whichever player doesn't win the backup job won't be in the organization when the season starts.

Bench Hitters

T-1. Joe Inglett
T-1. Jim Edmonds
3. Adam Heether
4. Trent Oeltjen

The Skinny: This would be the position that many consider to be as good as claimed. Edmonds has done a terrific job and demonstrated an ability to play more than just center field. Joe Inglett can play multiple positions and has a .293 batting average in over 700 big league plate appearances.

Still, I refuse to just concede that both of these spots are won. If Jim Edmonds doesn't get another hit this spring will the team honestly not consider Oeltjen? The role isn't won until the rosters are set. Both Heether and Oeltjen have played very well this spring as well.

By the Numbers: Edmonds (left) has had a solid spring both defensively and offensively. He's hit .316 with an OBP over .400. He's also driven in three and hit a home run.

Inglett has shown an ability to play several positions well, but his offense has been just okay. He's hit .222 but he has walked six times in 18 AB's.

Adam Heether has had a very nice spring, which is one good reason to not count him out just yet. Heether has hit .250 with a .400 OBP, three of his five hits this spring have been doubles.

Lastly, is the hard luck Trent Oeltjen. Considered a contender for the fifth outfield spot, Oeltjen was hit on the wrist with a pitch in his very first game this spring and has had his playing time limited. He's had some good moments, but will need to really take off to have any sort of chance.

The Decider: As much as I'd like to see Adam Heether win a roster spot, all signs are pointing to Edmonds and Inglett filling out the Brewers bench.

Starting Pitcher

T-1. Jeff Suppan
T-1. Dave Bush

The Skinny: It appears that we will find out just how bad Jeff Suppan has to be to not make the team. Manager Ken Macha can talk all he wants about Chris Narveson and Manny Parra also competing for a rotation spot, but that's just smoke screen. Parra will make the rotation and there is no way the team will go into the season with four left-handers in the starting rotation.

So who will it be? If Dave Bush has a near perfect spring and Suppan pitches like we are all used to (that would be terribly) who gets the roster spot? It's likely the most important question the team faces this spring.

By the Numbers: In 6.2 innings pitched, Bush has yet to walk a batter and has an ERA of 2.70. He's also kept the ball in the ballpark and struck out four.

Suppan has been the pitcher we all know and love, in nine Cactus League innings he's given up five gopher balls and 12 hits. On the plus side, he's only walked one... so... yea... there's that.

The Decider: Just how bad does a $12.5 million pitcher have to be to get released from the team? This is something that the Brewers will have to ask themselves as spring winds down. Suppan has been absolutely terrible and it's very unlikely he'll get better.

Bush has been quite the opposite, if he pitches like he did before his injury last season the front office will have a hard time explaining to the fan base why they kept Suppan in the rotation.

Bullpen

1. Chris Narveson
2. Bush/Suppan loser
3. Chuck Lofgren
4. Scott Schoenweis

The Skinny: It's safe to say that the final member of the Brewers pen will be coming out of this group. The more you look at the options available the more it looks like the final member of the bullpen will also be a left-handed pitcher. Whether it's Narveson or Lofgren (if he really has a chance) or the veteran Scott Schoeneweis.

But the more you see Chris Narveson dominate this spring the less likely it is the loser of the Bush-Suppan battle will wear the barley and blue on opening day.

By the Numbers: Narveson (left) has been outstanding, giving up just one hit and two walks in his two starts. If he maintains his production it will be nearly impossible for the team to keep him off the roster.

Lofgren has done everything he possibly could to make the roster but it's hard to see how he can make the roster without the team making some pretty big changes. Lofgren hasn't given up any runs in his four appearances and even logged a save.

Last we have Scott Schoeneweis, the most veteran member of the bullpen competition. He's been mostly good but has an ERA of 9.00 due in large part to one bad outing. At this point he seems like a long shot for the roster though.

The Decider: Bold prediction time, Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan will not both make the opening day roster. That may not actually be that bold but it seems to be the path the team is headed down. The last bullpen spot has to be Narveson's to lose.

You really have to feel bad for a guy like Chuck Lofgren though, he's done everything right and been productive but may not have any real shot at the opening day roster. If the team is lucky, maybe the Indians won't want him back and they can keep him in Triple-A, but that seems very unlikely.

This Week in Green Bay

2010-03-14T15:30:00.001-05:00

Football season is up, and we're right in the midst of March Madness with baseball right around the corner. But that doesn't mean the Packers are hibernating for the summer. Here's a quick look at what's been going on in Green Bay this past week:

Long term deals for all! - Three major resignings: LT Chad Clifton, DT Ryan Pickett, and FS Nick Collins. While two of the three were no brainers, the Clifton one I wasn't thrilled with until I learned the structure of the deal. Heavily front-loaded, the deal indicates Clifton has one more year as a starter, and then they'll start working in a younger replacement. Should no one emerge, the hope is likely that Clifton's knees hold up until the following draft. Also, as JSOnline's Brian Carriveau observes, Ted Thompson is using the uncapped year to his advantage, front loading the contracts and gearing up for the potential return of the cap in 2011.

At least someone thinks he's valuable - One player who didn't receive a new contract: Daryn Colledge. And his agent isn't happy. Reports are he is "strongly considering" holding his client out of offseason workouts to express their unhappiness with Daryn's contract situation. Good thinking. Your client was part of an offensive line who gave up as many sacks as any team in the NFL last year, and in several games he was the weakest link. If anyone on that line needs to attend offseason workouts its Colledge, and should they follow through on this threat he could find himself in a back-up position come training camp.

Happy trails Aaron Kampman - The Packers lost their first free agent of the offseason, as Aaron Kampman signed Jacksonville Jaguars. While its sad to see him go--he embodies what every Packer fan loves in a football player--its good to know he's returning to the 4-3. Everyone who hoped he'd work out as an OLB in the 3-4 (myself included) had to have that nagging feeling that the move was like teaching a dog to use a litter box. It'll work, but its a really bad idea. Happy trails Kampy, and best of luck from the Tap.

Packers sign Charles Dillon away from the Spokane Shock - After trying to figure out why the Packers would sign a WNBA player named Charles (Juwanna Mann?), I realized that the Shock are actually an Arena Football team. I can't decide if this is actually news or not, considering he's a wide receiver and the Packers aren't exactly short at that position, but if he can provide a spark in the return game then welcome aboard!

New Threads for the Pack - Following in the recent trend of throwback alternate jerseys, the Packers have unveiled their own: a reworking of the old Acme Packers uniform. While I'm a little surprised that a team often referred to as "The Green and Gold" by their fans is adopting blue and yellow, I'm a fan of the new design. The blue number set in a yellow circle on the front and back of a blue jersey is sharp, and going with the traditional and understated white pants was a nice touch for a working class team. But most of all? I'm glad they didn't use their secondary color as the jersey base color a la the Bears or Seahawks.

Lombardi to get Hollywood treatment - ESPN has announced their first feature film: Lombardi, a movie detailing the rise of the Green Bay Packers in the 60's based loosely on Jerry Kramer's biography, "Instant Replay." And they've cast the perfect man for the legend: Robert De Niro. Try to think of someone in Hollywood who would do a better Vince Lombardi. Just the thought of the inevitable scene of him giving an impassioned pregame speech to a locker room full of Packer greats makes me giddy. The film won't be out until 2012, but with De Niro as Lombardi we can rest assured it'll be worth the wait.

That's the majority of what mattered. Did I forget something? Let me know below.

Open Competition

2010-03-10T00:00:00.001-06:00

The charge for the few open roster spots on the 2010 Milwaukee Brewers is on. With so many established players on the roster, open slots are few and far between. No starting position player spots are available and competition for the final two rotation spots is expected to be tight. Here are the spots up for grabs.

Hitters:
Backup Catcher
(2) Bench Players

Pitchers:
Fifth Starting Pitcher
One Bullpen Pitcher

Let's dispense with the roster predictions, since every other spot is basically filled. It's time to focus on these five position battles as spring marches on. No stats just yet though, with only five game down the sampling size is just far too small.

Backup Catcher

The Competitors: Gregg "Triple G" Zaun was signed to be the starter, which leaves a mix of prospects and veterans duking it out for the right to be remembered with the likes of Keith Osik and Chad Moeller. On the veteran end, we have long time Florida Marlin Matt Treanor(right), who is best known for being married to gold medalist Misty May (who should be way hotter than she is with a stripper name like that). Treanor is 34 and has never played in more than 67 games in a season.

Also landing closer to the veteran end of the spectrum (though not really a veteran at all) is former Red Sox backup George Kottaras. Kottaras has only played 48 games in the big leagues, but at 27 is the second oldest competitor in the field.

Bringing some youth to the group are the Brew Crew's top two catching prospects. The diminutive Angel Salome (he's 5'7") and the Ragin' Cajun Jonathan Lucroy, of whom I am an unabashed cheerleader. The front office says that all four of these players have a chance to win the spot, so if you believe that then this should be a good group to watch.

The Front Runners: The more you look at it, the more you have to think this is really just a two man competition. The leaders of this pack are likely to be Treanor and Kottaras, the two most experienced. So as the competition rolls on those two will lead the way.

Where they Stand:
1. George Kottaras
2. Matt Treanor
T-3. Jonathan Lucroy
T-3. Angel Salome

Bench Hitters

The Competitors: Two spots available, five players (realistically) competing for them. In the perfect world you take one more outfielder and one more infielder. The oldest member of this group is Jim Edmonds(left). Joining him as a pure outfielder is the Aussie Trent Oeltjen.

There are also a pair of players that can be considered true utility players, in the form of prospect Adam Heether and the recently well-traveled Joe Inglett. Both players can play nearly every position on the diamond. Heether has yet to play in a major league game but opened eyes with a big season in Triple-A a year ago. Inglett has played parts of four seasons in the big leagues and is a career .293 hitter.

And there is also one pure infielder in the bunch as well. Hernan Iribarren, the slap-hitting second baseman is out of options and vying for a roster spot. There were hopes that Iribarren would be able to contribute as a utility player but he is really only defensively apt at second base.

The Front Runners: It's probably better to say who is on the outside looking in for this group of players. This seems to be an open competition, in part because Heether(right) could give the Brewers their only right-handed option on the bench and the fact that Edmonds has showed up in good shape and his early returns have been outstanding.

The guy who looks like he has the least chance is Hernan Iribarren, which is unfortunate. Iribarren has hit at every level he's played and paid his dues in the minor leagues. It's doubtful that Iribarren would clear waivers if he fails to make the opening day roster, but stranger things have happened.

Where they Stand:
1. Joe Inglett
2. Jim Edmonds
3. Adam Heether
4. Trent Oeltjen
5. Hernan Iribarren

Fifth Starter

The Competitors: This one is easy, there are really only two competitors for this spot, Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan. Both of which stunk last year. Yes, there will be some talk about Chris Narveson but it's very unlikely the team would want to go into the season with four left-handed starters. Some facts to remember, Bush's $4.125 million salary is not guaranteed unless he makes the opening day roster. Suppan's $12.5 million salary and $2 million buyout will be paid no matter what. Read into that what you will.

The Front Runner: *Deep Sigh* Suppan, purely for financial reasons. For Bush to win a spot Suppan would have to have an absolutely horrid spring while Bush must be near perfect. While that is a very real possibility, Jeff Suppan would be a very costly reliever (without mentioning the fact that he could be taking a bullpen spot from a more deserving pitcher).

Where they Stand:
1. Jeff Suppan
2. Dave Bush

Bullpen

The Competitors: With David Riske slated to start the season on the disabled list it takes him out of the equation. So the group of players that realistically have a shot at the 2010 bullpen is a fairly young bunch but with some interesting options. Lefties Chris Narveson(left), Chuck Lofgren and Scott Schoenweis (the token veteran) will all compete for the spot.

Joining them in open competition are right-handers John Axford, Chris Smith, Kameron Loe and maybe even the loser of the Bush-Suppan rotation battle. There are some other names that could be thrown in there (Chris Capuano and John Halama come to mind) and you may even hear some love for prospect Zach Braddock but their chances to start the year with the big club are minimal.

The Front Runners: With lefty-specialist Mitch Stetter already in the fold, it's likely the team will be interested in taking the best pitcher available. Chris Narveson wouldn't clear waivers after his performance a season ago. While he struggled in his first call-up he went down, tore up Triple-A, came back and pitched very well as a starter in September. He's got the lead for that final bullpen spot.

Where they Stand:
1. Chris Narveson
2. Jeff Suppan/Dave Bush
T-3. Scott Schoenweis
T-3. Chuck Lofgren
5. Everyone Else

The Brewer Twitterverse: Part 1

2010-03-07T11:15:00.001-06:00

The Milwaukee Brewers are notoriously thin in the twitter world, in fact the only people connected to the organization that do have accounts is new pitching coach Rick Peterson. But then I read the Weekend Mug over at Brew Crew Ball and it got me thinking... what if there was a stronger Brewer presence in the twitterverse?

Here's how I think it would go:

@Dukie39: Great to get out and pitch without restrictions! It's been a long time, feeling good!

@TheMachster: @Dukie39 aren't you a little old to be a batboy?

@BigStick8: lolz, hey MKE, think I will go 30/30 this year?

@SunglassesAtNight: I hope the other kids don't make fun of my new glasses

@BigStick8: @SunglassesAtNight not anymore than we made fun of your pitch selection

@CrownedPrince: Started practice counting the zeros today, can't wait til the season starts!

@Dukie39: @TheMachster I'm on your team? I won 18 games in 2005? Didn't @MustacheMan tell you?

@TheMachster: @Dukie39 Yea, and I took Oakland to the playoffs twice. Your point?

@BigStick8: We got new d-signs up on the remetees! check it out! store.remetee.com

@JJ07: @BigStick8 I'm so glad I'm not your teammate anymore and don't have to wear those godawful shirts.

@BigStick8: @JJ07 aww why you gots to hate! lolz, i kno ur jking me!

@JJ07: @BigStick8 those new ones really put Ed Hardy to shame

@BigStick8: @JJ07 lolz, great arnt they... how was ur getaway w/@joemamaTC

@JJ07: @BigStick8 awesome, we grew beards together

@CrownedPrince: HAHAHAHAHA RT: @JJ07: @BigStick8 awesome, we grew beards together

@TheMachster: Have been really impressed by @TripleG this spring, he's so old he must be good.

@MustacheMan: Hey #brewers fans, I really am sorry about @DaSoupMan i blew that one. My bad.

@DaSoupMan: @MustacheMan don't worry, I won't change my approach this year.

@BrewCrewManager2011: Hey guys, make sure you work hard on base stealing this season, we'll be running in '11

@TheMachster: @BrewCrewManager2011 Willie? Is that you? Or is it Dale? Damnit! You could at least wait til I get fired.

@MustacheMan: @BrewCrewManager2011 @TheMachster it's like he's psychic! lol lol

@Dukie39: What happened to Tomo?

@GoldenSpikes: Am I excited to be healthy this year! I'm feeling big things!

@CrownedPrince: @GoldenSpikes rickie in the hooooooooooooooouse, missed you last year

@GoldenSpikes: @CrownedPrince me and my dreads are back to stay

@BigStick8: hey wisco! closing in on a new bar/grill... RB's mountainside grill in Wausau... should open by 2018!

@Stettelator: @BigStick8 can't wait! Already got reservations at your MKE place

@BigStick8: @Stettelator I don't talk to relievers

@GoldenSpikes: I think I have carpal tunnel

To be Continued...

The Many Faces of Bo Ryan

2010-03-03T16:21:00.006-06:00

Bo Ryan Reacting to Publishers Clearing House Showing Up to His Door

The Bo Ryan Jersey Shore Fist Pump

Bo Ryan Waiting to Get on a Ride at Six Flags

Bo Ryan After Just Knocking Someone Out

Bo Ryan Enjoying the Great Circus Train

Bo Ryan Doing the Macarena

Bo Ryan Applying Hand Sanitizer

Bo Ryan Blaming Someone Else For Farting

Bo Ryan Telling a Fishing Story

Bo Ryan Striking a Pose For Coin

Bo Ryan Cat-Calling the Ladies

Bo Ryan Going "BEEYAH"

Spring Training for the Rest of Us

2010-02-22T05:00:00.000-06:00

The time has finally arrived, pitchers and catchers have had a couple of days warm up, and now the first full team practice is today! People, welcome back to Major League Baseball! Now hopefully you took my advice I handed out last fall to help the winter pass by, but now, you need to start getting in "game shape", just like the players do.

I understand that spring is still a month away, and not everyone will be able to attend the Brewers spring training in Arizona, but there is nothing wrong with some cold weather training. So, in order to get yourself ready for the April 5th home opener, here are some tips:

Break Out Smokey Joe (Unless Your Name is Lange & Someone Stole it)

If you listened to my winter tips, you should have perfected your experiments on a grander grill scale, but what about on your trusted tailgate companion? Are your knees and back in good enough shape to constantly be bending over to flip your feast? Do you remember just how much charcoal is needed to get the perfect temperature for your grill? The answer to both of these questions is, NO! You can do all the leg exercises you want, but that doesn't get you in game shape. Warm up by dusting off your lawn/tailgate chair, planting your ass in it, then just simply reach over. Slowly work your way to a full standing position, and bending your knees and back. You'll be thankful for this advice come April 6 when you don't feel like you just collided with Prince Fielder ala Todd Greene.

Drink, Drink, Drink

I understand what you are thinking. "Dustin, I'm a Sconnie, I don't need to practice drinking!" Well, if you think that, well, as Charlie from It's Always Sunny would say, "Then you're so stupid!" You've been drinking indoors, in perfect conditions, and have you really been pushing yourself? Also, are you able to handle yourself around families and kids? Here are a few steps to get you ready for tailgating at Miller Park.

Step 1: Shotgun, shotgun, beer bong, shotgun. Rapid consumption is a staple in the parking lots, you don't want to pass out before game time because you couldn't handle 5 beers...even if it was consumed in 3.2 seconds.

Step 2: Weather training, April weather in WI is bipolar, it could be 70 and sunny, it could be 30 and snowy, it could be 50 and raining. Get yourself ready for all situations. Cold = wear flip flops, shorts, and your favorite brewers jersey (might be a good time to give a personal farewell to those Hardy jerseys), head outside while it is still February. Drink until you obtain a body temperature of 94 degrees...repeat as necessary. You should build a tolerance eventually (disclaimer, I base that on nothing, and in fact I recommend that you don't do that. It doesn't really sound too healthy). Heat = find a sauna, drink (remember to hydrate). Cold rain = Grab your favorite Miller product, turn your shower on as cold as possible and drink until you look like an 85 year old prune (for any 85 year old readers...drink until you look 125).

Step 3: No one wants to be the person who ruined a family's trip to the ballpark. We all have those memorable childhood moments of being a the ballgame and everything was just perfect, peanuts, soda, no one spilling beer or yelling profanities the whole time. Don't be the jerk that ruins those moments for kids nowadays. Sure, there is the Kohl's Family Section, but let's be realistic. You'll need to start getting buzzed and going to public places where all types of people exist (ex. shopping mall). Remember, voice down, profanity to minimum, and walk without ramming into 23 people. As with any training, start your BAC low and build it up. Congrats, you are a now a sociably functioning drunk!

Train your Bladder

Nothing worse than getting a bad parking spot nowhere near the front where there is easy access to the Sausage Haus, Halfaer Field, or the hill and river. You are now forced to a tailgate near the port-a-johns. This is a true test of endurance, don't be the one pissing yourself because you couldn't hold it for an extra 5 minutes due to a slow moving line. Starting immediately, when you have to go...hold it for as long as possible. Not sure if there are health risks here, but if your bladder bursts on the inside, at least it isn't as embarrassing as it would be if it were on your outside. You'll also want to prepare for emergencies. So, guys AND GALS, from time to time from now until April, practice finding safe, yet still public, spots. This is a last ditch effort, we'd all prefer if you kept that private and not where others can step. (We here at the Tap, don't actually condone illegal activity)

Play Catch With No Glove

Ballhawking, thanks to d-bags like the Happy Youngster, is heavily frowned upon in modern society. While, there is nothing wrong with wanting to catch a foul ball or even better, a home run, if you are 18 or older with a glove in tow, then you might give off the wrong impression. So, ditch the glove (you'll need both hands free for two fisted slopping anyways), and start snagging fly balls barehanded. Once you get used to using two hands, take one away (by holding a beer) and catching them one handed. Come game time, if you snag a ball one handed, not only will you not spill your beer, you'll get a roar from the crowd guaranteed to be louder than any roar Jeff Suppan will get this season. If you want bonus points and cheers, hand the ball off to a kid (I personally will not be doing this until I at least catch my first ball).

Bust Out Tailgate Games

Practice is the key, we all know that. So, get a head start on your opponents by setting up all your tailgate games. Bags, Ladder Golf/Testicle Toss/Dirty Balls, and Washers are the three most prevalent. You can take care of two things at once by practicing while developing a tolerance drinking in the cold weather.

Now, I expect to see you in prime shape come April 5th.

Central Roundup: St. Louis

2010-02-19T00:00:00.004-06:00

If you look closely, you'll notice that I released the Central previews in the reverse order of how I expect the Brewers competition to finish in the division, with the Pirates being undoubtedly the worst, followed by Houston, Cincinnati, Chicago and finally the St. Louis Cardinals. The wildcard in all this would have to be where will the Milwaukee Brewers finish?

St. Louis Cardinals

But we aren't talking about the Brewers (yet), we're talking about the Cardinals and the offseason that they had. And oh what an offseason it was, the Cards brought in a staggering one player to bolster their hopes in 2010. Complacency be damned, St. Louis must be doing something right otherwise last year would have been fluke and that's not possible... right?

Those guys are good

Four players are the St. Louis Cardinals. Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. A bad injury to any of these four would greatly effect any postseason hopes. Pujols is the most important, without him this offense is mediocre at best. Carpenter and Wainwright missing time would be absolutely devastating. Of those four guys Holliday would be the easiest to cover for, but the Cards would still be hard pressed to replace him.

There's nothing new to be said about this bunch of players, but more than ever their health will be a determining factor for the Cardinals success in 2010.

That's a problem

One huge concern for St. Louis has to be depth, everywhere. Let's start with the pitching staff, where, after the previously mentioned Carpenter and Wainwright, the Cardinals are set to feature free agent signee Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse. After those four it's a crap shoot, but I can't imagine Tony LaRussa is seriously considering going to a four man rotation. With the injury history of Penny, Carpenter and Wainwright that would be asking for trouble.

Lohse had a good first season with St. Louis before a return to form of sorts last year. He put up a career year year in 2008 (15-6, 3.78 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) but 2009 saw him settle closer to his career averages. Lohse has a career ERA of 4.68 and a career WHIP of 1.41. People love Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan, but 2008 was a fluke and Lohse's numbers will be more 2009 (4.74 ERA, 1.37 WHIP) than 2008.

As far as Penny goes, he is a notoriously poor finisher. It'll be up to Duncan to change a trend that Penny has had his entire career. Also, at some point during the season, he will get hurt and miss time. It's what he does. Penny has pitched more than 200 innings only two times in his ten-year career. How an already thin rotation deals with that will be something to watch.

That's it. If there is an injury the Cardinals will be forced to tap into the plethora of inexperienced and under-talented minor leaguers that make up one of baseball's worst farm system. The Cardinals don't really have any bright spots on the farm after trading away Brett Wallace last year.

Pitching depth isn't the only problem this team faces, they're set to open the season with 26-year-old rookie David Freese starting at third base. In four minor league seasons Freese hit .306 with a .384 OBP and 68 home runs. Solid numbers all-around, but a rookie is a rookie. Even if Freese does well an injury could cause major problems. Julio Lugo will be their chief bench option but he's not a good defender and he's 34, could be worse but it could also be much better.

Can lightning strike twice?

In nine major league seasons Ryan Franklin never had an ERA lower than three. Than, out of nowhere, he becomes closer of the Cards and puts up an ERA of 1.92 while giving up less home runs than any other full season and converting 38 saves. All at the age of 36. The year he had in 2009 is absolutely out of nowhere and will be hard to repeat for anyone, let alone a player that will be 37 in March.

The Cardinals have to be hoping for a repeat performance though, because their other options at closer leave a lot to be desired. Jason Motte would likely be the number one backup and he struggled mightily with his control at times last year.

Speaking of lightning strikes

Another player that will be under the spotlight will be starting shortstop Brendan Ryan. It took Ryan seven seasons to get out of the Minor Leagues and when he did get called up it was mostly by necessity. He took the opportunity and ran with it but he'll need to have a few good seasons before he can be considered a sure thing.

I'm not saying Ryan won't be successful, his defense alone was outstanding a year ago and there's no reason to think that will suffer. But I'm not willing to pencil him in for a .290 average over 150 games just yet.

I hate that man

If I'm writing about the Cardinals, I have to work in some reference to how much I dislike Tony LaRussa. I hate his old man sunglasses, I hate his mullet haircut, I hate the way he manages his pitching staff, I hate his arrogance, I hate how he thinks everyone is out to get his players and I hate how he tries to irritate the hell out of opposing players. I cannot stand him and his approach. Period. For a more expansive look at the Cardinals, look back to this piece I wrote during last years playoffs.

Almost forgot

About Mark McGwire. There's not much I can say about the McGwire as hitting coach thing that hasn't really been said, so I'll sum it up with a brief, vehement, statement. Mark McGwire is a cheater, a liar and a black spot on the game. He doesn't belong in the hall of fame and he shouldn't be allowed around the game.

When it all hits the fan

I'd love to rip the Cardinals apart and I've done my best to highlight their weaknesses and question spots but this is a good team. As is the case with good teams the only thing that can really hurt their chances at a division title would be injury or just a complete disaster of a season from the Cards top players. The division seems to be theirs to win, which so often ends up as a reason to lose.

Central Roundup: Chicago

2010-02-18T00:00:00.001-06:00

The bottom half of the National League's Central Division has been sufficiently previewed, which brings us to the Brewers chief competition for a division title. Today the Chicago Cubs, tomorrow the St. Louis Cardinals. I rarely have anything positive to say about the Cubbies and the moves General Manager Jim Hendry makes and it's doubtful that will change today.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubbies have had a fairly quiet offseason, as has been their motif since the spent freely on Alfonso Soriano, Ted Lilly and Mark DeRosa a few years ago. They brought in some spare parts and one player they expect to produce but we'll see how that works out for them. Smart money is on not well, they are the Cubs after all.

That's new

The biggest signing the Cubs made would have to be veteran outfielder Marlon Byrd. This signing just screams of Jim Hendry. A 32-year-old coming off a career year in a hitter's park? Sign him to a three year deal. Byrd hit 20 home runs, 43 doubles and drove in 89 runs, all career highs. He won't be a Milton Bradley type flop but it's unlikely he'll repeat those numbers.

The only other signing the Cubs made was corner outfielder Xavier Nady. This is a risk-reward move, it will be interesting to see how he does in spring training considering he had Tommy John surgery after just seven games a season ago. The team hopes that Nady can platoon with Kosuke Fukodome in right field, but it's hard to predict how a hitter will respond to major elbow surgery.

Addition by subtraction... and addition

The best move the Cubs made this offseason was getting rid of Milton Bradley. Bradley was a cancer and everyone knew that move was going to blow up in Chicago's face. In return for Bradley the Cubs got back an awful, awful pitcher, Carlos Silva, who also has two years left on his contract. Silva will likely waste a roster spot for the Cubs and he will also be owed $3 million more over the course of his contract than Bradley would have.

In the end, no Bradley is the best Bradley for the Cubs. But Carlos Silva is not a good player by any margin.

It's a toss-up

The Cubs pitching staff is a complete enigma, but I think 2009 shed some realistic light on a couple of their pitchers. Ryan Dempster the starter has had many different incarnations and 2009 is probably much more indicative of what he is than 2008. Dempster saw his ERA rise from 2.96 to 3.65 last year. He will likely have an ERA just under four and put up very solid peripheral numbers.

Carlos Zambrano is what he is, a mostly good pitcher with terrific stuff who is prone to mental and in-game blow-ups. That's been the book on him his entire career and it's not likely to change anytime soon. Ted Lilly is a good pitcher, but he's not getting any younger. He's 34 and you have to wonder if his numbers will start to show age.

Next up is Randy Wells, who quietly was one of baseball's best rookies in 2009. For a guy that never had an ERA under 4.00 in two-plus seasons at Triple-A, the year he put up last year was very surprising. He's always had good command but it will be interesting to see how he deals with hitters as they adjust to him in his second season.

The fifth spot is one where there has to be massive amounts of concerns. As it stands now, The aforementioned Carlos Silva will be competing with the underachieving Jeff Samardzija and former Pirate Tom Gorzelany. The early leader might be Gorzelany who had the best ERA at 5.55 and best WHIP at 1.31. So it's either the horse shit, cow shit, or dog shit, good luck with that.

A fan's favorite word.

Ah yes, the platoon. That looks to be where the Cubbies are headed at second base in 2010. Mike Fontenot was given a chance to be the everyday starter a year ago but he failed to distinguish himself, hitting just .239 and .212 against lefties.

Sharing time with him at second will be one-time Colorado Rockie Jeff Baker. He hit .305 in 69 games for the Cubs after a trade last year. Baker may not be an all-star, but some combination of he and Fontenot should be an acceptable improvement from last year. That is, unless someone gets hurt and both players have to play an extended amount, in which case the Cubs are screwed because they have zero infield depth.

Moley Moley Moley

I'm not saying Kevin Gregg was a better choice but Carlos Marmol needs to be better than he was in 2009. Yes, a 3.41 ERA is fine and yes, he converted 15 of 19 save opportunities but he allowed way too many baserunners. He had a WHIP of 1.46 and walked 65 batters in 74 innings, closers shouldn't play with fire like that.

Yea, that's worked out.

Eight years and $136 million for Alfonso Soriano is looks just plain stupid. And for the next five years of his deal he'll make $18 million per! That's for a player that his seen his seen the following numbers go down every year since he signed: Home Runs, Runs, Hits, Total Bases, Batting Average, Slugging Percentage and OPS. He's 34-years-old and has five more years on his contract. Way to go Cubs, way to go.

Keep an eye on

Geovany Soto. The 2008 rookie of the year, after testing positive for marijuana in the World Baseball Classic, was terrible last season. He hit .218 and saw his home runs drop from 23 to 11. Just not very good in any way. Whether it's the pot, the work ethic or just a good old-fashioned sophomore slump, keep your eyes on him as spring roles around.

Not Getting any Younger

I wonder if Chicago's locker room smells like Bengay and tears. Take a look: Soriano - 34, Lilly - 34, Dempster - 33 in May, Derrek Lee - 35 in September, Fukudome - 33 in April, Aramis Ramirez - 32 in June, Byrd - 33 in August. Do you hear that? It's the sound of the Cubs window closing.

It's the Cubs

At the end of the day, you can throw out statistics and player moves. Projections are pointless because the Cubs will do what they've done for the last 101 years. They'll blow it. Sure they could push for the division but it's far more likely that they will just choke away a good (on paper) team and they won't win squat. After all, it's the Cubs.