Spencer and Joseph's Five-Part Minor League Pod Series: Episode 5 on the Sounds (and Mailbag ?'s) is now Available

[Jim Goulart]

 

[CheeseheadInQC]

Thanks for the Christmas present. Also, my interpretation of Areinamo’s first go around in high-A was that it was both 100% injury related (if I recall it ended as the ACL season was starting so he could go play there) and a vote of confidence because they sent him instead of two higher bonus middle infielders who were also still in extended spring training (Barrios and Guilarte).

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

Thanks for the Christmas present. Also, my interpretation of Areinamo’s first go around in high-A was that it was both 100% injury related (if I recall it ended as the ACL season was starting so he could go play there) and a vote of confidence because they sent him instead of two higher bonus middle infielders who were also still in extended spring training (Barrios and Guilarte).

Your memory is speculatively accurate in that he was 'promoted' ahead of Barrios and Guilarte. He was 2-for-23 with 1 2B. It was a super small teaser sample size. At the time, if you recall, they were working with a suddenly small rotation of Murray, Black, and Warren as really the only everyday guys in the left side of the infield after Antonio Pinero got injured. They needed an adequate 'stop gap' before they traded with the Rangers for INF Jose Acosta (who has moved on this off-season as a FA). Acosta was acquired to essentially take Pinero's spot after they placed him on the 7-Day in early June. The ACL season began. Jadher spent the entire season there and then finished in Low-A Carolina through August and September.

[biedergb]

Great listen, thank you @Spencer Michaelis and @Joseph Zarr. What a christmas present to listen to this.

Thanks for taking several of my questions - I'll try not to have so many for next time.

[Joseph Zarr]

8 minutes ago, biedergb said:

Great listen, thank you @Spencer Michaelis and @Joseph Zarr. What a christmas present to listen to this.

Thanks for taking several of my questions - I'll try not to have so many for next time.

Ask away nag dabbit! Freely and with moxy. Your questions are very welcome, doctor.

[Austin Tatious]

I’m a regular listener and enjoyed it.  Caught it on YouTube so was nice to put faces to the names.  

[duewizard]

Amazing work guys. I have a buunch of questions about the Shuckers,

1. Thoughts on the catching situation? Wood and Miller are subpar receiversr, how might his affect the pitching staff? Who do you think ends up in Nashville if Quero goes to the bigs? Can Miller handle AAA?
2. How do you think Burke will do if/when he goes to Biloxi?
3. Who stays in third and who goes to first between Adams and Boeve? Do they split time?
4. O'Rae has no power and struggled a lot in Biloxi last season. Does Areinamo jump him in the depth chart? How would you rank those 2?
5. What's next for Brock Wilken?  Do you see him improving? What will happen to his defensive position? Can he stick at 3B?
6. What to do at SS? Brown is a former 1st rounder but he looks lost at AA. Casey Martin is not much better. Eduardo Garcia has done well, does he have a role to play? How do you think Pratt will do? 
7. Can Lara make it to AA and perform well? What do you think the rest of the outfield will look like?
8. The rotation looks amazing. Who do you think will be the standout? Can KC Hunt go to AAA? Can Wichrowski improve?
9. If Yeager and Holub go to AAA, who is the new closer?

I think that's it. Sorry if its too much.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, duewizard said:

Amazing work guys. I have a buunch of questions about the Shuckers,

1. Thoughts on the catching situation? Wood and Miller are subpar receiversr, how might his affect the pitching staff? Who do you think ends up in Nashville if Quero goes to the bigs? Can Miller handle AAA?
2. How do you think Burke will do if/when he goes to Biloxi?
3. Who stays in third and who goes to first between Adams and Boeve? Do they split time?
4. O'Rae has no power and struggled a lot in Biloxi last season. Does Areinamo jump him in the depth chart? How would you rank those 2?
5. What's next for Brock Wilken?  Do you see him improving? What will happen to his defensive position? Can he stick at 3B?
6. What to do at SS? Brown is a former 1st rounder but he looks lost at AA. Casey Martin is not much better. Eduardo Garcia has done well, does he have a role to play? How do you think Pratt will do? 
7. Can Lara make it to AA and perform well? What do you think the rest of the outfield will look like?
8. The rotation looks amazing. Who do you think will be the standout? Can KC Hunt go to AAA? Can Wichrowski improve?
9. If Yeager and Holub go to AAA, who is the new closer?

I think that's it. Sorry if its too much.

Never too many questions. Love it.

We will look through and answer accordingly. Let's be honest: any and all help is appreciated for a Shuckers deep dive😂.

We were joking 'behind the scenes' we could discover a late technical issue and record the first half of the pod (video) from well behind and above us. Anyone who endured the Shuckers season alongside me knows what I'm referring to here. 

[CheeseheadInQC]

Biloxi question: With triple-A pitching spots usually at a premium at least to start the year, which of the guys who finished last season at Biloxi do you think has the best shot to start 2025 in triple-A?

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

Biloxi question: With triple-A pitching spots usually at a premium at least to start the year, which of the guys who finished last season at Biloxi do you think has the best shot to start 2025 in triple-A?

We'll have to tack this on at the beginning of the Nashville episode - we recorded earlier this evening. We do address this vicariously, however, throughout the episode. Just missed today's cut🥲

[biedergb]

@Joseph Zarr - you recorded the biloxi episode already? Look forward to it. Bummer - I was going to ask a few questions but I’m sure you both probably went over what I wanted to hear anyway

 

And looks like duewizard asked most of them too. 😃

[Jim Goulart]

Episode 4: Biloxi, is available!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td

iHeartRadio:  https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627

Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic

[duewizard]

On 12/31/2024 at 10:27 AM, Jim Goulart said:

Episode 4: Biloxi, is available!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2Td

iHeartRadio:  https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627

Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic

Just got a chance to listen. Grea stuff as always! Thanks for putting up with my dozen questions

[biedergb]

When will the Nashville podcast be recorded?

A few questions for that - first, what to make of Freddie Zamora? (He had a promotion that may not have been earned, but he did fair when there)

And do we still have Collins/Hicklen under control? What are their futures?

Will Chad Patrick be ace of AAA, or the #5 starter in Milwaukee? (With a homegrownish rotation of Henderson, Miz, Hunt and even Wichrowski at  some point)

Do we still have Tyler Jay, and if so what are we thinking he brings? I mean keeping him and losing Shane Smith is a head scratcher for me.

Abner Uribe will be back from injury - and will start in AAA I assume, so what to look out for him?

Finally - who plays in Nashville in 2025 - not many Shucker earned a promotion but some will have to move up to fill the roster I assume?

And not Nashville, but general - who are your favorite UDFA from the past few years, and favorite Indy ball signings? (I know Joseph loves Gardner). 

Last and way off topic - @Joseph Zarr - what are in your cups - looks like you have 2 or 3 cups during the podcast (you can message as oppose to answering here, or just ignore since it is none of my business).

[Spencer Michaelis]

30 minutes ago, biedergb said:

When will the Nashville podcast be recorded?

A few questions for that - first, what to make of Freddie Zamora? (He had a promotion that may not have been earned, but he did fair when there)

And do we still have Collins/Hicklen under control? What are their futures?

Will Chad Patrick be ace of AAA, or the #5 starter in Milwaukee? (With a homegrownish rotation of Henderson, Miz, Hunt and even Wichrowski at  some point)

Do we still have Tyler Jay, and if so what are we thinking he brings? I mean keeping him and losing Shane Smith is a head scratcher for me.

Abner Uribe will be back from injury - and will start in AAA I assume, so what to look out for him?

Finally - who plays in Nashville in 2025 - not many Shucker earned a promotion but some will have to move up to fill the roster I assume?

And not Nashville, but general - who are your favorite UDFA from the past few years, and favorite Indy ball signings? (I know Joseph loves Gardner). 

Last and way off topic - @Joseph Zarr - what are in your cups - looks like you have 2 or 3 cups during the podcast (you can message as oppose to answering here, or just ignore since it is none of my business).

Tentative plan is for next Thursday! Love the questions, if anyone else has Nashville questions, please feel free to add on!

Also, we will try to get to all the other unanswered "bigger picture" type of questions about the system that you all have submitted in this final episode :)

[Joseph Zarr]

44 minutes ago, biedergb said:

 

Last and way off topic - @Joseph Zarr - what are in your cups - looks like you have 2 or 3 cups during the podcast (you can message as oppose to answering here, or just ignore since it is none of my business).

LOL. No problem, I'll answer them here. I have typically finished hours of farm animal chores and chainsaw and mulching work by the time I come back into do the podcast. I am both exhausted but refreshed from a shower. As to the libations: Sometimes it is just my electrolyte lemon water with a side of an adult beverage (I have a kegerator on farm with local hard cider). This past podcast, I had my remaining coffee from the day, my electrolyte water, and a hard cider. LOL. It's funny you bring it up. Early in the pod I realized I had three different vassals going. I laughed to myself internally. It doesn't surprise me in the least you noticed!😅 And, no, I don't day drink so this is the first 'rewards' off of a day of burly farm work. 😆

[biedergb]

6 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

And, no, I don't day drink so this is the first 'rewards' off of a day of burly farm work.

lol.
Good for you. And that makes me laugh -,since all last summer that was my evening - get home - have dinner - and enjoy my adult beverage (or 2) and watch some minor league baseball.

still none of my business- but appreciate you answering!

[CheeseheadInQC]

Another great job. Loved the reminder of just how good that Shuckers bullpen was.

As for a triple-A question, McKendry, McGee, Middendorf and Stallings are all entering their age 27 season coming off years that were varying levels of disappointing. Were there any glimmers of hope that made you think 2025 might be the year one of them breaks through?

[ErnieRilesBrianGiles]

General question - what's your philosophy behind how you rank prospects - floor vs. ceiling, position player vs. reliever, how far up they are on the minor league ladder, etc. ? For example, you seem confident that players like Craig Yoho, KC Hunt or Jadher Areinamo will be major league players. What keeps them from being ranked higher than a player like Braylon Payne or Luis Pena who have yet to "prove it"?

[Spencer Michaelis]

Just a heads up, both Joseph and myself had some things pop up this week, so the final part will now be recorded some time next week. We are still taking Sounds or general farm system questions if you have them!

[Playing Catch]

On 11/16/2024 at 10:53 AM, Playing Catch said:

Questions off the top of my head...

1 - (40-man related?) What will Ernesto Martinez Jr. need to do in Spring Training to make the MLB roster, and how great would it be to see him be/become at least a serviceable left-handed 1B/DH/pinch-hitter/runner?

2 - Is the MLB roster young enough and potent enough to allow the Brewers to be more patient with their prospects? Is there any organizational benefit to "fast-tracking," prospects?

3 - My perception is that the Brewers are breaking into the enviable category of elite draft/develop organizations. Is this perception (A) accurate? (B) shared among the scouting community? Does this give an artificial "bump," in the faith that scouts have that prospects will reach their potential? If they are "elite," how long before the league catches up?

4 - Do you expect statcast-like data to become available to AA-ball, A-ball, rookie-ball soon?

5 - What free (or inexpensive) advanced data websites do you follow?

6 - Are there personal eye-test or stat-related indicators that each of you have that make you fall in love with, or mitigate your enthusiasm for, a prospect?

Not sure how related these are to your initial pod's outline, but I'll send more as I think of them. Looking forward to the series!

Just bumping my original questions post.

[Spencer Michaelis]

2 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

Just bumping my original questions post.

Yep, I've got all of these down, thank you for the reminder tho!

[Austin Tatious]

I’m sure you’re going to cover a lot of these anyway and I kind of have more general organization questions.  I’m really intrigued by your thoughts about:

1. How do you forecast the MLB futures of some of the following pitchers, and how you would stack them in that regard:

—Mis, do you think he can have enough command potential to be a MLB starter?  Are his control issues correctable?

—What’s a good comp for Logan Henderson? Can he be a back end of the rotation mlb starter? He really seems Iike a guy who knows how to pitch.

—Is Carlos Rodriguez more of AAAA pitcher or do you see enough tools to be a MLB starter (or longer relief).  He doesn’t seem to be very electric, or do you see something elite in an area that could be his calling card (command, break, movement etc)?

—Very intrigued by KC Hunt, like Henderson, what’s a good comp, is this a guy who can really emerge and surprise? 

-Wichrowski- power arm but do you like his repertoire as a starter and how do you stack him with Henderson and Hunt…he seems higher than Rodriguez to me.  

2. An aside but as a random tangent, someone  asked me what the difference is between command and control?  Thoughts?

3. What’s your overall assessment of starting pitching depth in the organization in terms of legitimate potential MLB starters with respect to organizational depth and numbers? 

—how do you see some of the high school draftees shaping up Knoth, Meccage, Letson, et al?

—where I’m going with this is we have six high draft picks and we don’t tend to deploy big money in the International market on pitching, so do you expect maybe 3 or more of the 6 first picks in the 2025 draft to go toward pitchers?

4. Tyler Black.  He seems to be a lightning rod.  I feel like he kind of stagnated last season but I think this guy can be electric or at least an ignitor.   Does he have enough arm for the OF?  At least in left?   I’d like to see a commitment to get him MLB at bats, how do you see it?

—suppose we move Frelick to third, or trade trade him for a 3B, can Black help in the OF

—any thoughts on Frelick?  Phenomenal defender but his lack of extra base pop got to be ridiculous- do you see a turnaround?  It sure would help his value

5.  OF and C depth.  I am very hopeful on Braylon Payne.  Yophery is interesting.    But with so Many high upside infielders on board, I could really see replenishing the system in the OF and C because if you look big picture over the long run, we might actually start bringing more OF to get the next wave going.  Same thing at C where the depth past Quero looks super iffy

6. Not a minors question but relates to the organization, how do you see the Brewers addressing 3B and potentially getting some more pop over there.  When you lose Adames on the left side, you’d think Ortiz is going to slide over.  Murphy is in record as saying he likes Turang at 2B.  Feels like they’re waiting for someone’s cost to come down whether in terms of trade capital required or capital for a free agent.  

[Ro Mueller]

We have Wes Clarke's Minor League rights for 3 more seasons and he had one of the highest xwOBAs on our AAA roster last year, yet he feels somewhat forgotten.

Any thoughts? Can his defense improve now that's he's a full-time first baseman? Can he blast 30 homers in MLB some day?

[BrewersRice]

This may be a system wide type question that doesn't fit in this podcast - but I feel it echos some other questions:

1.) Where to all the 3B:1B get placed to start across AA and AAA- Especially if they pick up another 3B Free Agent?  

Possible AAA?

Bauers can be included if he has a poor Spring Training and can't sign somewhere else.
Wes Clark, Ernesto Martinez,  Mike Boeve, Tyler Black, Possible Wilkens, Likely Dunn, Raynel Delgado

They are all worthy of at bats in AAA except the Wilkens has not really earned it.

Likely AA?

Brock Wilkens, Blake Burke, Luke Adams, Eduardo Garcia, Zavier Warren

2.) Also, where do all our SS, 2B prospects in AA, AAA get split up?

Zamora, Collins, Murray, Arienamo, Garcia, Dunn, Brown, Durbin, Pratt, O'Rae, Anthony Seigler.  My Guess is Pratt stays in A+. But that is still a lot of players for a few positions. Yes Garcia and Collins will likely get some OF time, but dont we need to see more of what collins can do at 2B? (PS, doesn't Garcia look more in shape in Winter Ball?)

3.) How would you rank/line up your starting rotation for AAA.  Who are the first 2 to get called up?

4.) System wide questions - As far as high ceiling/ - potential 1/2 starters. Who is next after Miss. If ceilings get reached on any of the AAA starters, are there any possible 1/2 starters besides Miss?  Dont get me wrong, most didn't even peg Woodruff or Burnes as potential 1 or 2 - did you guys? Who might we be missing that has that possibility?