Alumni Thread -- Tim Bausher traded

[craigharmann]

Ryan Anderson...not Franklin...my bad

[Jim Goulart]

On obscure former Brewer farmhands to the bigs week, in addition to Saul Rivera to Washington, middle infielder Luis Figueroa, 32 years old, (Indianapolis 2004) was promoted to Toronto. It's his first trip to the bigs since 2001 with Pittsburgh.

[mls4]

I noticed Pat Borders retired. Amazing that he stuck around so long...

[mls4]

Looks like Eliezer Alfonzo was called up to San Fransisco and will make his major-league debut.

[Jim Goulart]

December 1999: Brewers acquire RP Juan Acevedo, minor league SP Matt Parker, and minor league C Eliezer Alfonzo from St. Louis for 2B Fernando Vina

 

Just for those who forgot -- Alfonzo was released a couple of seasons back by the Crew, toiled in independent ball, raked there, and was "found" by the Giants -- good for them (and Eliezer)

[Team Canada]

Anyone heard anything about "Little Unit".

 

Funny you should ask

[Jim Goulart]

Jared Lester, who is with the staff of the independent Can-Am League's Nashua (N.H.) Pride, provided this update for us:

 

We recently had Kade Johnson and Elliot Ayala on our team, and I am friendly with Jose Mieses who was on last year's team.

 

Kade Johnson played for us for about a week, and this weekend felt extreme discomfort in his throwing arm, and Sunday morning came in and notified the club he was retiring. He flew back to Houston this morning and will be going back to school in the fall as well as giving lessons and running catching clinics.

 

Elliot Ayala is playing well and is about to come back from a hamstring injury.

 

Jose Mieses is taking a year off from baseball to work and spend time with his family.

 

We'll have to remind Jared that Mark Hamilton, Dan Reichert, and Nic Slack are other former Brewer farmhands now with the Pride.

 

By the way, I owe you kids updates for players in the Frontier, Can-Am, and Golden Leagues as all six independent leagues nationwide are now underway.

 

Also still on the "to-do" list is constructing the Player Index pages for all the recently signed draft picks.

[Jim Goulart]

Brandon Gemoll with a big night on a big league field, if not a big league uniform:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp

[Jim Goulart]

Final: Columbus (Yankees) 8, Pawtucket (Red Sox) 2

 

No, not some mis-guided Link Report post.

 

Enjoyed a lovely night in Rhode Island this evening, and saw alumni Tommy Phelps pitch a gem for the Yankees squad, with Matt Childers following Phelps. For the PawSox, lefty Craig Breslow (who's been outstanding all season) and righty Tim Bausher put in relief efforts.

 

Alejandro Machado teamed with Dustin Pedroia on the most spectaular double-play I've ever seen in person, and that covers a lot of baseball games.

 

Long night for the home team, but a spectacular evening for the kids despite the score.

[mls4]

Jason Romano has signed a minor-league contract with Tampa Bay and is assigned to AAA Durham.

[Jim Goulart]

From the independent Atlantic League:

 

LHP Andy Pratt is with Somerset (N.J.).

 

Long-time and long-ago Brewer farmhand Bobby Darula had his contract purchased by Atlanta (AA Mississippi).

[mls4]

From the 1999 Louisville pitching staff:

 

Aaron Small, just demoted to AAA Columbus by the Yankees.

Joe Borowski, closer for the Marlins.

[Jim Goulart]

Always nice to see a former Brewer farmhand re-join affiliated ball after toughing it out on the independent league circuit:

 

SCHAUMBURG, IL ? For the second time in as many weeks one of the Schaumburg Flyers starters has been picked up by a major league organization. Flyers starting pitcher Kenny Durost?s contract was bought by the Oakland A?s earlier this week.

 

Kenny?s first stop in the Oakland organization will be at high Class A Stockton of the California League.

 

This year for the Flyers Durost went 3-1in seven starts with a 2.03 ERA. He led the team in strikeouts with 43 and was the second highest ranked pitcher in the Northern League, leading the league in strikeouts.

 

Durost came to the Flyers after a three year run in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, most recently with the Brevard County Manatees. He was a 28th round selection in the 2003 draft by the Brewers.

 

Durost was the second Flyers starter to be picked up by an affiliated club, R.J. Swindle was picked up by the Yankee?s organization earlier this season.

 

http://www.flyersbaseball.com/admin/team_news/images/Kenny_Durost.jpg

[Jim Goulart]

I should be able to go through and update all the links for the alumni this week -- still owe you a bunch of indy ball links, too...

[deeswan]

Pretty sure I saw that Mike Adams was claimed on waivers by Cleveland and sent to AAA.

[Jim Goulart]

Congrats to LH reliever Craig Breslow, on the AAA All-Star team for the International League Wednesday, and had his contract purchased by the Red Sox today and was added to the 40-man roster. Breslow remains the only Brewer farmhand in many years who was released by the organization at a lower level (High Desert, 2004), and fought his way to the major leagues elsewhere (San Diego, 2005). Breslow, the native New Englander, was interviewed during the Red Sox pre-game show Thursday night, some of you with the MLB.com audio package may want to check that out.

[mls4]

Was a short stay for Breslow this time, but I bet he'll be back. I don't think the Red Sox are done tinkering.

[ItsCotter]

From MLB.com and many, many other sources ...

 

San Diego Padres

Acquired RHP Mike Adams from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for RHP Brian Sikorski

 

 

Boy ... Mike Adams' stay in the Indians organzation was brief

[Jim Goulart]

Winnipeg Goldeyes (Independent Northern League) Press Release:

 

Sain Fills Void At First Base

 

What better place to introduce infielder Greg Sain to the Northern League than against Winnipeg's fiercest rivals in their own ballpark.

 

Goldeyes manager Rick Forney announced today the signing of Sain. He joined the club in Fargo last night and is expected to be in the line-up this evening when the Goldeyes face the RedHawks in game two of a four-game series.

 

Sain, 26, arrives after seeing action this season in the Brewers and Yankees organizations, where he batted a combined .168 in 61 games with 10 home runs and 32 runs batted in.

 

Drafted by San Diego in 2001 following his junior year at the University of San Diego, Sain played for five seasons in the Padres system, bating .260 in 548 games with 89 home runs and 334 RBI. He was twice an all-star, including 2004, where he led the Southern League in home runs and helped the Mobile Bay Bears to a share of the league title.

 

I'll do what I can to update the initial post in this thread soon -- long overdue.

[Jim Goulart]

Link while active, text follows:

 

news.bellinghamherald.com...004/SPORTS

 

Taubenheim settles in for Blue Jays

DOUG PACEY

THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

 

SEATTLE - It's 2:26 p.m. on Monday when Ty Taubenheim emerges from the visitor's clubhouse at Safeco Field. The major league pitcher with the body of an NFL tight end walks out of the tunnel and climbs the dugout steps.

 

Taubenheim gazes around the park, taking in a 360-degree view of the empty Seattle stadium - the gates won't open for nearly three hours - before pulling out his cell phone.

 

Hey, the 2001 Lynden High School graduate had to tell some folks he'd arrived.

 

"I called my brother, my fiancée, my agent," Taubenheim said. "Just a bunch of friends."

 

Actually, Taubenheim, who's been in the big leagues for more than two months, had seen his family on Sunday night after the Blue Jays arrived in Seattle at around 10 p.m. But those few steps from the clubhouse to the dugout and to the field were something special. Taubenheim was wearing a Major League uniform in the same park where he'd seen more than 20 games, not to mention the dozens he saw in the Kingdome.

 

"I've seen a lot of games here," the 23-year-old said. "Being able to come to Safeco as a player on a Major League team is something else, a dream."

 

There was only one thing wrong with this dream: Taubenheim couldn't play.

 

On the disabled list, he was stuck on the bench for at least one more day. He's eligible to come off today, though, and will throw a simulated game this afternoon. If he pitches well, he could be activated.

 

Even if he's not, Taubenheim isn't worried about not playing in front of family and friends in his home state.

 

"I'm thinking to myself this isn't the first and last time I'm going to play in Seattle," he said.

 

Taubenheim was sent to the DL on July 10 with a staph infection in his left little toe. He spent five days in a Toronto hospital where doctors lanced the top of his toe. He was released on July 17 but didn't throw off a mound until Sunday. He says the toe doesn't bother him, he feels fine and that he's ready to return to the field.

 

When that happens, he'll likely go back to the bullpen as a middle-relief pitcher. Taubenheim was given a starting spot in the rotation when the Blue Jays called him up in late May, but he struggled, going 1-5 with a 4.89 ERA in 35 innings and seven starts. He got his ERA under 4.00, but a rough outing at Kansas City shot it back up.

 

"It would have been nice to take advantage of that opportunity of being a starter," said Taubenheim, who has received the least run support of any Toronto pitcher at 3.6 runs per start. "But if the Blue Jays think I'd be better off in the bullpen, then OK. I think they might have had a plan all along that the bullpen was what I was best suited for."

 

Toronto pitching coach Brad Arnsberg said Taubenheim's biggest downfall is his lack of experience.

 

"We didn't expect him to come in here and win 15 games," Arnsberg said. "He's young. He doesn't have enough Major League innings.

 

"A year ago he was facing Single-A and Double-A hitters. Now he's in the big leagues."

 

Arnsberg said Taubenheim has good breaking pitches, but must get better command of his fastball. Sometimes, when he tries to pitch down and away, the ball will run up and in, the coach said. But the veteran pitching coach with a dozen years of experience didn't sentence Taubenheim to a career as a reliever, though.

 

"He's got the body size and arm strength to be a starting pitcher," he said. "He just needs the innings."

 

Taubenheim knows as much. Pitching in the same division as offensive juggernauts like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, he's learned quickly how advanced the game is at the major-league level.

 

"There are no easy outs," he said. "Every batter has the potential to hurt you in various ways. If you're not throwing strikes they'll take their walks with pleasure. They're going to make you come to them and they're the judges of the strike zone for the most part.

 

"I say it all the time, you have to get ahead early and challenge hitters; otherwise they'll just sit up there and take pitches. The mental side of it is so much more different because they know what they're doing. They can all adjust to you."

 

Taubenheim had to do some adjusting of his own in December when the Milwaukee Brewers packaged him in a trade to the Blue Jays with All-Star first baseman Lyle Overbay, a Centralia native. At the time, Taubenheim didn't know what to expect from Toronto. He was invited to spring training, but began the season at Triple-A Syracuse.

 

Soon after, he became a big leaguer.

 

"That was the best thing to ever happen to me," said Taubenheim, the second-youngest Blue Jay on the 40-man roster. "You never know, but I'm pretty hard-pressed to say that I would have gotten this opportunity this soon with the Brewers. That's just how it works."

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

news.bellinghamherald.com...004/SPORTS

 

Lynden, Washington gives pitcher hero's reception

DOUG PACEY

THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

 

SEATTLE - Dozens of Lynden residents made the 100-mile trip from Lynden to Safeco Field on Monday. They caravanned and carpooled, navigating traffic snarls on Interstate-5.

 

All to see a player whom they knew wouldn't play.

Toronto pitcher Ty Taubenheim may have spent the 7-5 loss to Seattle on the bench - he's on the disabled list - but to the folks who made the trek south, seeing one of their own in a Major League uniform made the trip worthwhile.

 

"It's exciting," said Cory White, who was Taubenheim's high school baseball coach. "I went to Denver to see his Major League debut, but seeing him here in Safeco Field against the Mariners, it's awesome."

 

Jim Taubenheim, Ty's father, said about 50 friends and family were at Safeco Field on Monday night. More than a dozen met Ty after the game near the dugout.

 

"It's a party down here," said Jim, beaming. "Everyone's here and it means so much to Ty and his family. We're all thrilled."

 

Ty may have an even larger fan club at tonight's game.

 

"My brother-in-law (David Zapien) is bringing a busload of people from his church down," Jim said.

 

Ever since Toronto promoted Taubenheim to the big leagues in late May, folks in Lynden have been looking forward to this week. He's eligible to come off the DL today and will pitch a simulated game this afternoon.

 

"He may not play," White said, "but he's still in that dugout with a Toronto uniform on."

 

Most of Taubenheim's followers are long-time Mariners fans. But some, like Jim, have adjusted their allegiances in the last couple months.

 

"Toronto is No. 1," said Jim, sporting a Blue Jays cap, "and Seattle is No. 1A."

[Jim Goulart]

Ryan Knox recently released by the Devil Rays' organization...

[mls4]

The re-appearance of Wayne Franklin, called up by the Braves.

 

Just want to mention the nice season Eliezer Alfonzo is having with the Giants; he could be up for surprise Alumni of the Year.

[And That]

Ryan Knox recently released by the Devil Rays' organization...

 

Knox had a horrific year at the plate and may be done in pro ball.

 

That said, he was a good guy to have in the organization for so long, and outplayed many more talented players. Of the group he was drafted with, I would have bet money either Will Ford or Steve Truitt would have lasted much longer, but Ryan proved to be a much better ballplayer.

 

Good luck to you in all your future endeavors, Knoxy.

[Jim Goulart]

Forgot to mention that RHP Brett Evert, a recent Huntsville release, landed in AAA Pawtucket (Boston).

[mls4]

Craig Breslow back up to the majors with Boston. Chris Michalak is now up with the Reds.