TooLiveBrew

I think the transition from AAA to MLB needs to be put in context. Lyle Overbay's OPS at AAA (as a 25-yo) in 2002 was .923. Prior to getting called up in '03, it was .898. When he got called up, he managed a .762 OPS in the bigs. That's just one comparison, but I can't wrap my head around people thinking Green has a magical barrier to smash through in order to be good enough to get a shot. He can hit, period. The pitching will be tougher, but the guy he'd be replacing hasn't shown a consistent ability to hit -- you could argue really ever, but I'll leave it at this season. So just going off a really basic comparison (Overbay), some Brewers fans don't believe Taylor Green could come up & post a mid-.700s OPS & play significantly better defense than McGehee? I just don't get it; makes no sense to me. Matt Holliday's last full season MiLB slash line was .253/.313/.397/.708, as a 23-yo at AA Tulsa in '03 (the year after he posted a .766 OPS at the same level). The very next season ('04), his MLB OPS was .837. Imo you just have to be able to understand that prospects are simply baseball players, just like big-leaguers are simply baseball players. I think fans too often get caught up with the term "prospect" or the concept of being a minor-leaguer. Almost every player starts as a minor-leaguer, but everyone's just a ballplayer. Taylor Green is a good one, & the chances of him coming up & falling flat on his face just realistically aren't all that overwhelming. Brandon Allen, the D-Backs 1B who hit a ball close to 500' against the Brewers this past series, was recently called up from AAA. He sure seemed to be able to hit, turn in solid PAs, & generally play solidly at the big league level. It's too bad the Brewers are afraid that their prospects can't do the same.

Journeymen pitchers who aren't quite good enough to make an MLB roster but are organizational filler and backups "just in case". AA hitting stats are more telling and in AA Taylor Green hit .260 with a .773 OPS That was the year ('10) after he'd had wrist surgery ('09) & posted an OPS of .687 at Huntsville. It was an encouraging sign that he was getting back on track; and now, one year later, he's beating up AAA pitching. Green is legit, he'd be outhitting & out-defending McGehee but Melvin seems infatuated with Casey.

Thanks for posting the Hot Sheet updates, rams. Like you said in another post, awesome week for the Brewers on the farm. You can bet he'll be on the tip of the tongue of any general manager who proposes a trade to the Brewers next week. This makes me cringe.

I hope I don't have to be the link reporter of bad news

Congrats Khris!

Final: Idaho Falls 8, @Helena 3 Helena Box Score The Chukars took an 8-0 lead into the 4th inning, & never looked back. 2011 third rounder Drew Gagnon, in his second professional start, was beaten up & chased after just 1.2 IP. His piggyback partner Tyler Cravy didn't fare a whole lot better, allowing four ER in 6 IP. Sean Albury was perfect over the final 1.1 innings. Yadiel Rivera was officially cooled off, going 0-4. Nick Ramirez homered again, a two-run shot in the 4th; he also singled & finished 2-4 with two RBI. Kyle Dhanani, catcher Tyler Roberts, & centerfielder John Dishon were the only other Helena batters to record hits; all three players singled once. Roberts was the only other Brewers player to record an RBI. Parker Berberet walked once. Helena Play-by-Play To build off of Toby's comment on Ramirez, here are his two hits: Helena Bottom of the 4th Yadiel Rivera strikes out swinging. Kyle Dhanani singles on a ground ball to right fielder Runey Davis. Nick Ramirez homers (8) on a line drive to center field. Kyle Dhanani scores. Parker Berberet grounds out, third baseman Mark Threlkeld to first baseman Richard Espy. Tyler Roberts lines out to left fielder Chris Elder. Helena Bottom of the 6th Yadiel Rivera strikes out swinging. Kyle Dhanani flies out to center fielder Tyler Chism. Dropped foul pop error by catcher Edul Escobar. Nick Ramirez singles on a line drive to center fielder Tyler Chism. Parker Berberet walks. Nick Ramirez to 2nd. Tyler Roberts singles on a line drive to center fielder Tyler Chism. Nick Ramirez scores. Parker Berberet out at 3rd, center fielder Tyler Chism to third baseman Mark Threlkeld to shortstop Adrian Martinez to third baseman Mark Threlkeld. Promote him already.

Plus McGehee has shown nothing that would indicate he's going to return to '09 or '10 form. He hasn't had long enough of a career for me to call it 'career norms'.

Moon Man is hands down my favorite NG brew. It's probably one of my favorites overall, too.

Ack. I only saw that play on replays (got home with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th). So I probably should've just shut up about it.

Wow, that is some list. Elysian Immortal IPA/ IPA on Cask (@ Stumbling Monks) Elysian ESB Elysian Raconteur Porter Elysian Red Alaskan Kolsch ... Diamond Knot IPA EdgarDiazRocks approves

So we're replacing Carlos Gomez with someone resembling Carlos Gomez. Yeah, I had that thought as I was typing that post, actually. The only thing Carroll doesn't match is speed. No doubt an upgrade over Chris D. then, right? Headshot!

The five-man infield really didn't have anything directly to do with the outs recorded in the 9th last night, fwiw

Happy for Dean, between '10 & '11 he was certainly hitting well enough for a catcher at Helena to warrant a promotion.

The Mets' indications that they'd take on most or all of Beltran's remaining salary certainly suggests that they're not looking to get just a flyer for him. However, if no team is willing to step up & pay what the Mets hope to get, in terms of prospects, the Mets will just have to take what's out there. As Invader mentioned earlier in this thread, they can't offer him arby & get comp pick(s) for him.

He might be AAAA in terms of hitting, but his defense is absolutely top-caliber for MLB.

Now beyond that, we are obviously going to respect Stu's privacy, but we can tell you he is doing OK and his spirits are good -- Mass Haas. Man, was I glad to read this. Get well soon, Mr. Stu Paul!

Glad you had a good time! Looking forward to reading your report.

In the two years that Macha was here Team ERA under Macha: 4.71 Team ERA under Roenicke: 4.08 This team under Macha would be at least two wins better, imo, at this point in the season. No matter how much anyone didn't like him, Macha wasn't a knucklehead. Kotsay really isn't that bad as a 5th outfielder Kotsay is terrible as anything on a 25-man roster.

I was devastated to see that Gomez injury. I really can't even believe I just typed that. Carlos's defense is just *that* good. Here's hoping Brett Carroll can bring some good defense with improved offense over Go-go. Still sucks to lose Gomez, he fit pretty well with this team. Fitting, I guess, that he suffered the injury making yet another spectacular play on defense. Hang with 'em, Carlos.

Final: @AZL Brewers 5, AZL Indians 4 AZL Box Score After the Indians scored three runs in the top of the 1st, the Brewers scratched & clawed their way back for the win. There must've been plenty of sweat involved, with a sweltering first-pitch temperature of 107 degrees! After Brae Wright couldn't finish the first inning, Mike Francisco, Francisco Rivero, Manuel Ruiz, & Mitch Conner worked the remaining 8.1 innings. The quartet allowed just one more run collectively & gave the Brewers the chance to rally back for the W. Wright struck out the Indians' leadoff batter, & got the two-hitter to fly out to leftfield. However, a throwing error by third baseman Brandon Macias extended the inning & allowed the runner to advance to second base. Wright then allowed back-to-back singles, followed by another throwing error (this time by shortstop Renaldo Jenkins), and a walk... and that was the end of the day for Brae. Francisco allowed a single to load the bases, but then got the final out of the 1st; he also worked a scoreless 2nd inning. Rivero struck out five, and allowed just two hits & one walk in his 2.1 shutout innings. Ruiz lived dangerously over 3.2 innings of work, striking out six, walking five, & allowing one hit & one run (unearned). In fact, none of the Indians' four runs were earned runs. Conner was able to work around two singles with two strikeouts to keep the Indians from tying the game in the 9th. Macias atoned for his 1st inning error by going 3-3 with a home run, two RBI, & a walk. Jimmie Pharr had the unenviable task of catching in 100+ degree heat, but turned in a single & a double as a batter; he also threw out two of five basestealers. Hitaniel Arias & Matthew Franco each had two singles. Malcolm Dowell had a triple & one RBI on a fielder's choice grounder. AZL Play-by-Play The Brewers scored one in the 2nd, two in the 5th, & one in the 7th to take a 4-3 lead. After the Indians plated a run to tie things at 4-4 in the top half of the 8th, the Brewers managed to score once more to answer in the bottom half of the frame & take the lead: AZL Brewers Bottom of the 8th Jimmie Pharr doubles (3) on a fly ball to center fielder Luigi Rodriguez. Jalen Harris flies out to right fielder Hunter Jones. Rafael Homblert intentionally walks Brandon Macias. Matthew Franco singles on a line drive to left fielder Mark Brown. Jimmie Pharr scores. Brandon Macias to 2nd. With Renaldo Jenkins batting, Brandon Macias steals (6) 3rd base. Matthew Franco steals (2) 2nd base. Renaldo Jenkins strikes out swinging. Kevin Berard strikes out swinging.Mitch Conner came on to try to record the save, and was able to get the job done... barely: AZL Indians Top of the 9th Pitcher Change: Mitchell Conner replaces Manuel Ruiz. Luigi Rodriguez strikes out swinging. Jorge Martinez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Matthew Franco. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Moisses Ramirez replaces Jorge Martinez. With Robel Garcia batting, wild pitch by Mitchell Conner, Moisses Ramirez to 2nd. Robel Garcia strikes out swinging. Erik Gonzalez singles on a line drive to right fielder Steve Felix. Moisses Ramirez to 3rd. Leonardo Castillo grounds out, second baseman Kevin Berard to first baseman Hitaniel Arias.

Thanks guys. Anyone else here ever had a shiba can tell you, they're amazing escape artists, and will put all their energy and through process into figuring a way out. That's amazing. I hadn't heard that about Shibas.

Funny you mention Posey, whose OPS at Fresno was .995 when he was called up. Green's is .931. So we have to believe that .995 = surefire success & .931 = whoa, nelly?

I saw a Lakefront 4-pk. at the grocery store recently. Fixed Gear Red Ale, Bridge Burner Special Reserve Ale, Rendezvous French-style Ale, & IBA (India-style Black Ale). I didn't buy it, but I think I have to give it a try. http://www.lakefrontbrewe...rewers_series_beers.html

Even in our fenced in back yard, he's on a 30 foot run, as he's capable of climbing fences. Holy crap! EDIT: Oh yeah, and this dog is still alive & well. Made it through the seizure, and then later an inner ear disorder (similar to vertigo in humans, common in elderly dogs). She's a-ok for being 15+ -- yes, she made it to her birthday in April. I forgot to update http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Fist pump!