batman

Here's the full story: www.snopes.com/sports/bas...ripken.htm Funny. ~Bill

Well the Brewers have had such wonderful luck with pitchers injuries, even pitchers with so-called fluid/easy deliveries it's a bit unsettling to go after someone with an injury. I don't think that's really relevant in this situation... Bailey already had Tommy John Surgery and presumably won't start pitching for the Brewers until he's done with his rehabilitation. Chris Capuano had TJS before joining the Brewers organization and he's been great, for example. This isn't the same thing as drafting a pitcher with a sore arm and hoping he'll be okay... this is drafting a pitcher with a transplanted elbow ligament, something a whole lot of pitchers have in today's game. ~Bill

I'm somewhat infatuated with Andrew Bailey... he seems like a guy that would have gone much, much earlier had he not had TJS. Given that the recovery rate is in the 90 percents now, I have every confidence that he'll be able to come back 100%. An accomplished college pitcher with a mid-90s fastball is a great pick in the 16th round. Do you know anything about him, Patrick? ~Bill

Who else with WI connections was drafted today? I know Ryan Rote from Vanderbilt went to the White Sox with the 155th overall pick (fifth round); he played his prep ball at Kettle Moraine HS. Who else? ~Bill

The Marlins purchased the contract of LHP Valerio De Los Santos just a week after he made his season debut for Single-A Jupiter. The former-Brewer has been out of action since last June after undergoing shoulder surgery. ~Bill

The final pick on day one is William Braddock, a left-handed pitcher from New Jersey's Gloucester Catholic HS. I'll be back later tonight with lots more articles and links... until then, I hope you've enjoyed the coverage! ~Bill

Round 18: Zack Braddock - LHP 6'3", 220 lbs - Gloucester Catholic HS - New Jersey NOTES & INFO: - His given name is William. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From the Courier-Post, 06-08-2005 (Byline Kevin Minnick): Zach Braddock got the call he'd been waiting for on Tuesday. Less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, the Gloucester Catholic High School left-hander was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round (535th pick overall) of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. "It's great. It's everything I've worked for. It's all come together at the right time," said Braddock, who's 4-1 for the pitching-rich Rams this spring. "I'm pretty sure it will be a draft-and-follow situation. I'll go to the school (Chipola Junior College outside of Tallahassee, Fla.) under the organization of the Brewers just because of the sheer timing of the surgery. I'll go for maybe a year or half a year to give my arm the time it needs to fully recover." Braddock had the surgery on June 21 of last year, receiving a ligament from a cadaver. He was then put on a strenuous stretching program. The only doubt was how long it would take to get back. "Probably the hardest thing was realizing how far I actually had gone back and how hard it was going to be to get where I was," the Southampton resident said. "But my teammates really helped me get through the whole thing." "You can imagine a 17-year-old senior heading anywhere but where he needs to be," said Bill Braddock, Zach's father. "But from the time he started rehabilitation until early April when he got to pitch, this kid worked. "He was misdiagnosed a couple of times with tendonitis. He was in great shape before the injury and it really was all biomechanics and not from throwing too many curveballs. His lower body was not in sync with his upper body." Braddock joins a long list of Gloucester Catholic players to be taken in the amateur draft including the likes of Greg Burke, Mark Michael, Kevin Kelly and Matt DeMarco. "We kind of expected it. He probably would have gone higher if not for the surgery," Gloucester Catholic coach Dennis Barth said. "He's always been a hard worker, sometimes to the point where we have to tone him back. He wanted to be a big league pitcher down the line. "He's a medical miracle getting back this fast. That's just the kind of athlete he is." Still not fully recovered, Braddock has been clocked at 88-89 mph on his fastball. He's gained about 20 pounds over the past year, which has also helped him at the plate. Barth has been using him as a designated hitter at times, but Braddock did throw a five-inning no-hitter against Deptford in his last outing. "He's swinging the bat around .500," said Barth, whose team faces Christian Brothers Academy in the Non-Public South A final today at Mercer County Park. "I may use him out of the bullpen. If we get through (today), we'll see about Saturday. He's still building up his arm." From the Gloucester County Times, 06-08-2005 (Byline Scott Chappelear): A year ago, Gloucester Catholic High School pitcher Zach Braddock was wondering when his baseball career might resume. Now he's got to decide how quickly he's going to start his professional career. The Rams senior was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round with the 535th overall pick during the first day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft -- just 12 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery to replace a torn elbow ligament. "I was talking with the Brewers scout throughout the year and had a pretty good feel for them," said Braddock. "It wasn't a surprise to get drafted by the Brewers, but it was a surprise where I got drafted." Last June, after being told once already that the arm discomfort he had experienced much of the year was nothing serious, he started the Rams' NJSIAA Non-Public A South championship game against Holy Cross -- a 9-6 defeat. Shortly afterward, the left-hander found out that the MRI he had taken days before the game revealed a slight tear in his elbow ligament. Then he found out how old the injury was. He had the Tommy John surgery, and began the long road back to the mound in Brooklawn. It was a road made much shorter by his athletic ability and a dedicated coaching staff. "Because he's so young and such a good athlete, he's come back faster than any person I've ever seen," said Rams head coach Dennis Barth. "He's kind of a medical miracle." "It took a lot of effort from my coaches working with me and keeping up with where I was (in my rehab), it really helped along the way," noted Braddock. "I really hoped (to get back), to be a part of the championship team I hope we are in my senior year. "The rehab was more tedious because of the time it took, just how long it spanned, but it really wasn't that hard. The hardest part was that I felt ready before I really was." Braddock has pitched 26 2/3 innings heading into today's Non-Public A South final against Christian Brothers, posting a 3-1 record and 2.63 ERA. He's given up just 12 hits, walked 23 and struck out 45. "It's the kind of thing where you have to feel your way through," Barth said. "You may feel fine, but you can't get too far ahead. There will be times your arm doesn't feel too good. It's a learn-to-crawl-before-you-walk kind of thing. "He's still not there control and velocity-wise, but every time out he's gotten better for the most part. He's feeling his way back, he's got a new arm really. I know he's going to throw harder than he did before the injury. I know if he hadn't gotten hurt he definitely would have been a top-5 round draft pick." "I like to say I was taken fifth overall in the 18th round, thank you," Braddock joked. "You can't be upset with this. I know it's going to take some time to get back to 100 percent, so whatever happens next year is fine." Ironically, Braddock was selected in the same position and by the same team as Vineland outfielder Darren Ford in 2004. The Catholic senior may end up following in Ford's footsteps and using the draft-and-follow option. "I think I'm probably going to opt for Chipola (Junior College in Marianna, Florida), I can get some experience in college and continue to rehab my arm," said Braddock, who could still sign with the Brewers for up to a year before becoming a free agent again. "The program's excellent. I can continue my therapy there." It seems certain though that Braddock is not only on the road to recovery, but on the road to success. "He's worked at it," Barth said. "He's had some setbacks along the way, but he's always been a hard worker. You knew he was something special as soon as you saw him, even when he was a freshman." From Philly.com, 06-07-2005 (Byline Sam Carchidi): To a pitcher, a torn elbow ligament used to signal the end of a career. That was before Frank Jobe's revolutionary surgery was performed on Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John in 1974. The surgery has saved many major-league pitchers' careers - see Jon Lieber, Adam Eaton and, of course, John, to name a few. But it has also helped fuel the hopes of several up-and-coming pitchers. Gloucester Catholic High senior Zach Braddock, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound lefthander, fits in that category. Less than a year ago, Braddock had what has become known as "Tommy John surgery" to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. The surgery was such a success that Braddock, after an off-season workout regimen, missed only a couple of weeks before being able to pitch for Gloucester Catholic this year. And, though not yet at 100 percent and still trying to regain his control, Braddock has been effective enough to have a swarm of major-league scouts on his trail. Braddock, who is 4-1 with a 2.62 ERA, is expected to be selected in the first-year players' draft, which will be held today and tomorrow. "I'm excited," Braddock said from his home in Southampton, Burlington County, the other night. "Most of the scouts I've talked to are saying I should get drafted anywhere from the 15th to the 30th round." Most likely, Braddock, 17, will be a "draft and follow." He will likely be drafted in a late round and observed when he plays this summer and at a junior college. Major-league baseball teams own the rights of junior-college players until the week before next year's draft. "If the money is right, I'd like to sign," Braddock said. A year ago, signing with a pro team wasn't foremost on Braddock's mind. All he wanted was to throw without pain. Enter Craig Morgan, a Wilmington surgeon who has operated on several pro athletes. "When you go into his office, it's like a who's who in sports with all the [photos] of people he's operated on - Curt Schilling, Jennifer Capriati, Kerry Kittles," said Bill Braddock, Zach's dad. "I figured, 'If he's good enough for Schilling, he's good enough for my kid.' " Morgan operated on Schilling's shoulder in 1995 and 1999. In the Tommy John surgery, a tendon is usually removed from the patient's wrist or hamstring and grafted into the elbow. In Braddock's case, a tendon was taken from a cadaver. James Andrews, an Alabama orthopedic surgeon who performs about 150 reconstructions a year, told USA Today that the success rate for major-league pitchers is 85 percent. Zach Braddock said Morgan told him the elbow will eventually be stronger and have more elasticity than before the surgery. The doctor didn't cut any muscle tissue, and that quickened the recovery period. In the off-season, a period in which he grew two inches and gained 20 pounds, Braddock started his rehabilitation by doing isometrics and some light weightlifting. When the doctor released his patient, he gave him three words of advice: "Stretch, stretch and stretch." The hope is that the stretching exercises will take strain off the elbow and will eventually increase the speed of Braddock's fastball. "Dr. Morgan told him that the day he stops stretching is the day he won't be a baseball player," Bill Braddock said. "He told him that if your lower-body flexibility is equivalent to the upper body, you'll increase your fastball three to five miles an hour. He has the data to support it." Braddock began throwing off a mound in March, and his fastball this spring has been in the mid- to upper 80s, topping out at 89. He pitched a no-hitter against Deptford, and he has struck out 45 and allowed only 12 hits in 26 2/3 innings. The one negative: 23 walks. Braddock estimates that he was 80 percent of his old self in April and that the number has now climbed to 90 percent. "The velocity is not quite there yet, and I'm still working on my command," said Braddock, who is hitting .500. "I'm still fine-tuning things." The fact that he is so young - he won't turn 18 until Aug. 23 - and that he has made such a quick recovery from surgery should entice scouts. On the other hand, some scouts want to see Braddock throw more breaking balls - pitches that put more strain on the elbow - before they can properly evaluate him. "I like to use my curve as a set-up pitch, but I can't yet because it's only 10 or 11 months since the surgery and the protocol for my recovery doesn't have me throwing many breaking balls for another month or two," he said. "Basically, I'm throwing a fastball and change-up right now." Braddock said his recovery was "more mental than physical. A lot of guys will tell you that. Your arm feels better than you'd think, and pacing yourself is half the battle. At the same time, you're afraid to let loose in the beginning. You just have to keep reminding yourself that you're healthy and throw through it." And thank Frank Jobe for pioneering a surgery that, in 1974, seemed like a medical miracle. From Philly.com, 06-08-2005 (Byline Sam Carchidi): Those who are selected relatively late in Major League Baseball's first-year players' draft only have to look at Vineland High's Darren Ford for inspiration. Ford was a standout at Vineland last year and was chosen last year by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round after hitting .308, stealing 38 bases in 39 attempts and being named to The Inquirer's all-South Jersey team. The Brewers called him a "draft and follow" - that is, they would follow his progress in the summer and in his first year of junior college, then decide whether they wanted to sign him. They liked what they saw - Ford hit .306 and stole 45 bases for Chipola (Fla.) Junior College - and Milwaukee recently signed him for a package worth about $200,000. Coincidently, in last night's 18th round - the same round in which Ford was selected last June - Milwaukee chose Gloucester Catholic lefthander Zach Braddock, who has made a rapid recovery from last year's Tommy John surgery. The Brewers are hoping that Braddock becomes a success story in the mold of Ford. If Ford ever makes it to the majors, speed will be his ticket. The Major League Scouting Bureau rates him as an 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale. "He has top-of-the-scale speed, and he's learning how to use it," said Brewers scout Tony Blengino during a break in yesterday's draft. "His bat is a little green, but he's performed well so far in extended spring training." Ford has played a handful of games for the Brewers' extended spring-training team in Phoenix. He will soon be assigned to one of Milwaukee's rookie-league teams, either the Helena (Mont.) Brewers in the Pioneer League or the Arizona Brewers in the Arizona League. As for Braddock, he also is considered a draft and follow - "unless he pitches lights-out this summer and forces our hand," Blengino said with a smile last night. Braddock will pitch for Brooklawn's American Legion team this summer. He then plans to attend Chipola Junior College, like Ford. The first 18 draft rounds were held yesterday and last night; the final 32 rounds will be held today. Braddock "is the kind of kid we didn't want to leave there for the second day," Blengino said. "We didn't want to give people a chance to think about him overnight." Blengino acknowledged that, because Braddock had elbow surgery last year, he was somewhat of a risk. "But we had our medical guy examine his reports and we think it's a manageable risk," he said. The Brewers also selected another South Jersey product, picking Wagner righthander Andrew Bailey in the 16th round. Bailey, a Paul VI graduate, had Tommy John surgery last month. Milwaukee hopes to sign him to a 2006 contract and it will be patient as he goes through a rehabilitation period.

The 17th round brings us Tim(othy) Smith, a left-handed hitting and throwing junior right-fielder from Midland College in Midland Texas. ~Bill

Round 17: Timothy Smith - RF 6'2", 200 lbs - Midland College - Texas http://www.midland.edu/athletics/baseball/images/IMG_7850.jpg NOTES & INFO: - He's a Canuck - native of Toronto and alum of Birchmont Park C.I. High School. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Midland College Player Profile: http://www.midland.edu/athletics/baseball/smith.htm Tim was a 2004 draft pick of the New York Mets (21st round) and a two-year member of the Team Canada Junior National team. He was the team captain of the high school team. He was selection to the provincial team as well as the Toronto Star GTA All-Star team. As a member of the Birchmount Park team, Tim and his teammates won the Prentice Cup and went undefeated that season. He was also named High School Player of the Year. Tim's many interests include training, PlayStation 2, listening to music, watching television and surfing the Internet. His favorite movie and television show are ?*61? and ?This Week in Baseball? respectively. His favorite website is www.baseball.ca and he listens mostly to hip-hop music. Tim is a fan of his hometown Toronto Blue Jays and Barry Bonds of the Giants. From the Midland Reporter-Telegram, 06-08-2005 (Byline Len Hayward): Midland College outfielder Tim Smith was selected in the 17th round, 505 overall, by the Milwaukee Brewers. Smith, a freshman at MC this past spring, hit .468 with 55 RBI and eight home runs. Last year, Smith - a native of Toronto - was a 21st round selection of the New York Mets but could not get an immigration visa in time to sign with the Mets. "He went where I predicted," MC baseball coach Steve Ramharter said. "The Brewers seemed to show the most interest and they're going to try to sign him. Of course, he's always got the option of coming back here next year."

Round 16: Andrew Bailey - RHP 6'3", 220 lbs - Wagner College - New York NOTES & INFO: - Went 3-2 with a 3.46 ERA in seven starts. Struck out 47 and walked 12 in 41 and two-thirds innings. (STATS) - Had Tommy John Surgery early in the season (so he'll be unavailable for quite some time). - Had a 94 mph fastball prior to surgery. - He attended Paul VI HS in Haddon Heights, NJ. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From MLB.com, 06-07-2005: Underwent "Tommy John" surgery recently and will be out until next spring. "We liked his arm before the surgery," Zduriencik said. "With some of these things, you roll the dice. Maybe we'll uncover something here that could be good for us." From the Staten Island Advance, 05-26-2005: The wheels started to come off when, three weeks into the season, ace Andrew Bailey suffered an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery and sending pro scouts elsewhere to look for prospects. From the MLB.com Draft Tracker: Workhorse-type body w/ potential power arm. Could be durable starter or closer depending on secondary pitches. Quick, live arm, throws FB inside effectively, Mixes in long, 10-to-4 curve. Some feel for tailing circle change. Makeup to succeed. (Video Included)

Cool, will do. ~Bill

I'm back... thanks again, Toby. Do you want me to take over? You can run with it if you want... completely up to you. ~Bill

I'll be back in a little while... thanks much. ~Bill

I need a break... can you take over, Toby? ~Bill

Round 13: Ryan Babineau - C 6'2", 190 lbs - Etiwanda HS - California http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/1130/190876.jpg NOTES & INFO: NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From MLB.com, 06-07-2005: One of 36 high school players competing in the national All-American Baseball Game on June 13 in Albuquerque, N.M. ... The only catcher selected by the Brewers on Day 1 despite a shortage of catching in the team's minor league system. "You look at the board and there's not a lot of catching up there," Zduriencik said. "You take the players where they are on the board. Catching is what it is." From the MLB.com Draft Tracker: Athletic frame. Similar to Brent Mayne. Catch and throw guy w/ good leadership qualities. Excellent student. ML starter potential w/ quick release and accurate arm. Quick bat shows future power. (Video Included) From StudentSportsBasball.com: Etiwanda senior Ryan Babineau was named to the 2005 All-American Baseball Game presented by PlayStation. Babineau joins the ranks of the country's top 36 high school baseball players competing in the national All-American Baseball Game on Monday, June 13, 2005 at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This classic East vs. West match-up, produced by NJ-based SportsLink Inc., will be televised on Fox Sports Net at 7:00 p.m. (MST). Dana Lehner, Baseball Game Director for SportsLink said, "We recognize the value of putting individual talents toward achieving team goals, and Ryan's talents make him a strong addition to the All-American team. This game will highlight his skills before a national audience. We're pleased to provide this opportunity to him and to all of the All-Americans." Babineau, a UCLA signee, is a standout catcher for Etiwanda High School and was one of 75 players nominated nationally and one of 36 selected to participate by the AABG Selection Team. "Ryan is one of the top catching prospects in the country and is especially well known for his defensive skills. He has an athletic body, advanced catch-and-throw skills, good strength and a quick arm. He has continued to develop power at the plate and is considered extremely projectable and a top-flight prospect. We're excited to have him in our game," Lehner said. From Perfect Game USA: 2004 National Showcase - Ryan Babineau is a 6'2"/190 "05" catcher from Alta Loma, CA with a physically projectable body, MLB arm strength, very athletic, runs well, hits 90's plus pitching, outstanding catcher, highest level prospect with good draft potential, very good student 2004 Sunshine West Showcase - Ryan Babineau is a 2005 C/1B from Alta Loma, CA. Top national level catcher defensively. Quick with very strong arm, Athletic, invited to PG National. Very good student. 2004 West Coast Top Prospect Showcase - Ryan Babineau (2005) is a 6-2, 195 catcher from Southern California and one of the best catching prospects in the country. Strong and quick, pop times down to 1.88. Pro level defensive skills. Still very projectable. Good bat speed with a chance to develop power. Committed to UCLA but a potential high draft pick.

Round 12: John Alonso - 1B 6'0", 220 lbs - Polk CC - Florida NOTES & INFO: - He hit .355/.464/.645 with 13 doubles, nine homers, and a 31:25 strikeout:walk ratio. (PDF Stats) - He was only a freshman this past season. He went to Bishop Moore HS in Florida. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From the Orlando Sentinel, 04-15-2004: A three-year varsity starter, Alonso's total focus is on baseball where he is looking at Polk Community College on the next level. He reveres a legendary New York Yankee outfielder, the late Joe DiMaggio, as his favorite athlete.

I finally found the MLB.com draft tracker: baltimore.orioles.mlb.com...e_A_1.html ~Bill

Round 11: Brent Allar - RHP 6'2", 210 lbs - Weatherford College - Texas http://www.wc.edu/athletics/baseball/images/leaguesite/players/BrentAllarsm.jpg NOTES & INFO: - He played his prep ball at Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas. - He majored in Political Science at Weatherford, a 5,500+ student junior college located 30 miles west of Fort Worth. - He has committed to attend Texas Christian University along with 26th-round selection and fellow Weatherford alum Jake Arrieta. - As a sophomore, he went 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA for the Coyotes. He allowed 20 hits and 12 walks in 22 innings while striking out 19. All 19 appearances were in relief. - He is currently pitching for the McKinney Marshals in the Texas Collegiate League along with Arrieta. In 10 games (1 start), he is 0-0 with a 4.02 ERA and 20 strikeouts and 13 walks in 15 and two-thirds innings. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Weatherford College Player Profile: HERE From the MLB.com Draft Tracker: Tall athletic body. Similar to Mike DeJean. Fastball sinks w/ very good velocity. Challenges hitters. Also throws circle change. (No video) From Weatherford's Baseball Website, 06-10-2005: Four Weatherford College baseball players and two WC signees were selected in the First-Year Player Draft conducted by Major League Baseball June 7-8. German Duran, Brent Allar, Chase Phillips, Jake Arrieta, Gibbs Wilson and Gary Poynter were all selected by MLB franchises in the 50-round draft. ?It?s been an exciting two days,? said Jeff Lightfoot, WC head coach. ?I think it says a little bit about the direction of our program, and where we?re heading. Plus, it?s just an exciting time in the lives of these young men.? Duran, an infielder from Ft. Worth, was a sixth-round selection of the Texas Rangers and the 189th pick overall. He became the highest draft pick in the three-year history of the WC program. Allar, a pitcher from Aledo, was chosen in the 11th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cleveland Indians picked Phillips, a WC signee from Lubbock Monterey, in the 15th round. On the second day of the draft, Plano native Jake Arrieta was chosen by the Brewers in the 26th round. WC closer Gibbs Wilson, an Abilene High School graduate, was a 36th-round pick for the Detroit Tigers. Gary Poynter, a WC signee from Flower Mound Marcus, went to the Cincinnati Reds in the 48th round. ?The fact that four current players and two draftees were drafted means a lot for our baseball program,? Lightfoot said. ?It shows we have a lot to draw top talent here?our community, our facilities and our college in general. It was a good couple of days for us.? Duran and Allar were both sophomores in the most recent college baseball season. Lightfoot said Poynter will play at WC next year. Phillips and Arrieta have yet to announce whether they will play at WC or enter the professional ranks.

How many rounds are they gonna do today? With all these breaks, it's getting rather late... ~Bill

Lots of stuff on Garrison... he's been a lot easier to research than several of the other picks. p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...=800.topic ~Bill

Round 10: Steve Garrison - LHP 6'1", 185 lbs - The Hun School - New Jersey http://towntopics.com/jul1404/sports3.jpg NOTES & INFO: - The Hun School of Princeton costs $31,350 plus $12,050 or $6,860 for boarding students. Wow. - He has a baseball scholarship to the University of North Carolina. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From MLB.com, 06-07-2005: Has a commitment to the University of North Carolina if he does not sign with the Brewers. "I'd love to play in the pros, but I'd also love to play at UNC," Garrison told the Trenton Times. "I'm kind of neutral right now. I have an idea of what it would take (to skip college). It's not so much the round I'm chosen, as much as the money and whether the team would pay for college later on." From Baseball America: LHP Steve Garrison (4) grades out third among New Jersey?s elite high school arms for the purposes of this year?s draft, but some scouts believe he may end up better in the long run than Hunt or Mazzaro. He throws strikes with all his pitches, with command to both sides of the plate. His fastball was mainly in the 86-88 mph range this spring, but it has been 90-91 in the past and scouts have no doubt it will return to that velocity, and possibly exceed it because he is athletic and has good arm speed. He also has a quality slider that he can bury under the hands of righthanded hitters. On talent, mound presence and feel for the game, Garrison would surely go in the first 10 round, but he is a signability risk of a strong commitment to North Carolina, and that could knock him down and possibly right out of the draft. From TownTopics.com: Steve Garrison may only be entering his senior year at the Hun School but he has already lived one of his dreams. In late June, the gifted lefty pitcher toed the rubber at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for Mercer all-stars in the championship game of the Carpenter Cup Classic. Garrison went three innings, giving up just two hits and striking out three as to get the win as Mercer topped the Tri-Cape all-stars 3-1 to win its first title in the 19 years of the event which showcases teams of high school all stars from various parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. In reflecting on pitching in the plush new home of the Phillies, which seats 43,500, Garrison said it was a magical experience. "It was a once in a lifetime thing," said Garrison. "We were playing at the University of Pennsylvania one game and then the next game was at Citizens Bank Park. I was so excited that we had a chance to play for the championship. I knew we had a great team and a real chance to win it." The unflappable Garrison, known for his cool-headed approach to pitching, asserted that he and his teammates weren't overwhelmed by the excitement of performing in the major league environment. "Once the game started, we were just thinking about winning, " said Garrison, who pitched Hun to the state Prep A title in 2002 as a freshman. "I was just looking to concentrate, zero in and throw strikes. I was confident we could do the job." As Garrison has developed through his high school career, he has gained increasing confidence in his stuff. "My fastball and my cutter are my best pitches right now," said Garrison, who typically batted third in the order this spring for Hun. "I'm getting confidence in throwing all of my pitches. When I'm hitting and I get ahead in the count, I look for a fastball. As a pitcher, I try to keep batters off balance by throwing breaking stuff and not giving in." Despite what he has already accomplished on the mound, Garrison recognizes that he has plenty of room for improvement. "I need to work on my velocity," added Garrison, who is currently pitching for Ewing Post 314 in the Mercer County American Legion League. "I want to get bigger and gain some weight." Garrison is hoping that his night at Citizens Bank Park was just his first taste of the big time. "My preference is to play for someone in Division I," said Garrison, who is looking at playing in the south, possibly for an Atlantic Coast Conference school. "But if I get drafted and they really wanted me, I'd have a tough time turning that down. I'll go with whoever wants me. I've always wanted to play pro ball, that's the dream of every little boy. I want to go as far as I can." Having already accomplished one dream this summer, it would hardly be surprising to see Garrison go on to achieve some of his other aspirations. From the New Jersey Herald: The third-seeded Bucs defeated arch-rival Peddie, the No. 2 seed, 6-2 in their Prep A State Tournament opener. They have a tall order on Wednesday when they meet top-seeded Hun and its left-handed stud, Steve Garrison. "I think he averages 89 (mph), and he's hitting 91, 92. He's a big lefty, he brings the gas," said Stone, whose squad beat the Raiders' No. 2 pitcher earlier this season. "They're the team to beat because of him, but the thing about a double-elimination tournament is that you can't win it with just one pitcher." From the MLB.com Draft Tracker: Well proportioned body. Lean, athletic look. Jamie Moyer body type. Live arm w/ free, fluid motion. Tight wrapped 10-4 CB strike pitch when low. Mixes in small, late slider. Deceptive change sinks and tails. Works quick and low in zone. Good feel for all pitches. (Video Included) June 15, 2005 Hun Pitcher Garrison Headed to Pros After Brewers Take Him in MLB Draft By Bill Alden, www.towntopics.com (Princeton, NJ) By all rights, Steve Garrison should have slept like a log on the night of June 6. After all, Garrison had concluded his senior year at the Hun School, having graduated three days earlier. He had a summer of American Legion and high school all star baseball to look forward to before heading to the University of North Carolina in the fall. But Garrison tossed and turned that night, realizing that the Major League Baseball draft the next day could dramatically alter the course of his life. "I didn't get much sleep Monday night," said Garrison. "I was excited but nervous at the same time." Garrison's edginess increased as June 7 unfolded. "Every round that went without me being picked, it was like "oh no,'" recalled Garrison, who was listening to the draft over MLB radio. "You are never sure what's going to happen until your name is called." The call came for Garrison in the 10th round as he was chosen by the Milwaukee Brewers as the 295th pick overall in the draft . "The Brewers had shown the most interest in me all along," said Garrison, who had been out to Milwaukee during graduation week for a pre-draft workout. By Thursday, Garrison was an employee of the Brewers as he signed with the club and decided to forgo North Carolina in order to start his pro career. This week, Garrison heads west to the Arizona Summer League to play for the Maryvale affiliate of the Brewers. The gifted lefthander acknowledged that it was tough to pass up North Carolina. "It was a very tough decision," recalled Garrison, who said he signed for "fifth round money." "They are setting up a college fund for me so I will probably go somewhere locally like Rutgers or Rider for a semester at a time." In the meantime, Garrison is primed for the education he will receive on the diamond. "We start practicing on Monday and then have games on Thursday," said Garrison, who possesses pinpoint control and a fastball in the low 90s. "It's going to be a strict routine. I'm looking forward to being pushed at this level. I want to become a more well-rounded pitcher." Garrison acknowledges that he hasn't wasted time changing his pro baseball allegiance. "I was a big fan of Mark Mulder," said Garrison with a laugh referring to the All-Star pitcher. "I rooted for the Oakland A's when he was there and then I liked St. Louis when he moved there. Now, I'm a huge Ben Sheets fan." Hun head coach Bill McQuade believes his star is doing the right thing by going pro now. "If Stevie went to college, he would be going through this at age 22 or 23," said McQuade. "He's getting a head start. It will be a big change, he is an 18-year-old going against 22 or 23 year olds. The biggest challenge will the mental grind, playing games everyday and travelling around on buses." Noting that Garrison was a star from his first start at Hun, McQuade believes the pitching prodigy has what it takes to reach the major leagues. "Stevie impressed all the scouts with his pinpoint control," said McQuade, noting that Garrison struck out 84 and walked just five in 48 innings of work this spring. "His velocity has gone for around 80 m.p.h. as a freshman to 91 this spring. He has command of all his pitches and he developed a nasty slider. As long as he stays away from an arm injury and gets a little stronger, he could jump through this quickly." For Garrison, getting the chance to prove himself at the pro level is a dream come true. "I've wanted to be a professional baseball player since middle school," said Garrison. "I'm starting what I hope will be my career." While becoming a pro has been in the back of Garrison's mind for a while, his main focus at Hun was helping the Raiders reach a higher level. "I didn't dwell on my personal goals," said Garrison who went 8-0 in his senior season at Hun and posted a career record of 25-4 in winning the team MVP all four years of his high school career. "I was with my friends. I just wanted to play with the team and help them win. As a bonus, I'm getting to go on to the next level." In McQuade's view, Garrison's humility is one of his most impressive traits. "You wouldn't know he is a star," asserted McQuade. "He talks about everyone else but himself. It's sincere, he does it from the heart." For Garrison, the relationships he has forged with his high school teammates helped land him in pro ball. "We're all brothers, we're one big family," said Garrison, noting that such past teammates as Tom Monfiletto, Matt Stillitano, Eli Obus, and Will Barrett supported him at major league tryouts this spring. "If I get there [the major leagues], they are going with me. I'll never have better friends than that." As Garrison takes the first steps in that journey, he won't rest until he makes his friends proud. JOINING THE BREW CREW: Hun School pitching star Steve Garrison fires a pitch last month in his final high school appearance. Last week, Garrison, who went 8-0 in his senior season at Hun, was chosen by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 10th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. Garrison, the 295th pick overall in the draft, subsequently signed with the team and has joined the club's Maryvale franchise in the Arizona Summer League. (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) http://www.towntopics.com/jun1505/sports2.jpg

Round 9: Carlos Hereaud - 3B 6'0", 195 lbs - Lawrence Elkins HS - Texas NOTES & INFO: - Signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Houston. - Named to the 1st Team All-Greater Houston Pre-Season team by the Houston Chronicle. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From MLB.com, 06-07-2005: The Brewers got a good look at Hereaud in Area Code Games last summer ... According to Baseball America, Hereaud's parents moved their family from Venezuela to get their children a better education, so it may be difficult to sign him away from his University of Houston scholarship. ... "He played shortstop in high school and played some third base and some second base," Zduriencik said. "Carlos, again, is a guy who we think has a chance to be an offensive player, whether he plays third, second or left field. We like the bat. The kid is an athlete and has versatility." From Baseball America: Venezuelan came to U.S. two years ago, stands out as a hitter. From the Houston Chronicle, 08-05-2004: Other players from Houston given strong consideration for the Most Valuable Player honor (for the state championship tournament) included shortstop Carlos Hereaud of Elkins High School and third baseman Trey Sperring of Cy Creek High School. Hereaud hit two home runs in the semifinal game, and for the tournament collected eight hits, including three triples and amassed a 1.000 slugging percentage. Sperring, who also had a 1.000 slugging percentage, hit .706 for the tournament (12-for-17 plus three walks) including three doubles, five RBI and eight runs scored. From Baseball America: While Johnny Whittleman is regarded as the best-hitting high school infielder in Texas, Hereaud has his supporters. Opinion is more mixed on Hereaud than Whittleman, but those who like him say he can catch up to even the best fastballs. Others say Hereaud hasn't matched his Area Code Games performance from last summer and think he has trouble with breaking balls. Like Whittleman, Hereaud probably will have to move off shortstop when he leaves high school, but he usually finds a way to get the job done with his fine instincts. He has average speed, though he has a thick lower half and figures to slow down. His arm is decent, and he may fit better at second base than at third. Hereaud's parents moved their family from Venezuela to get their children a better education, so it may be difficult to sign him away from his Houston scholarship. From the University of Houston's Daily Cougar: Hereaud was also ranked by Jason Becker's Texas Baseball News as the No. 16 prospect in the state and No. 63 prospect in the country. However he sat out the entire 2004 season after transferring to Elkins from his native Venezuela. But when he played junior varsity at Elkins, he batted .473 and racked up 11 doubles, three triples, four home funs and 26 RBI's. He was invited to participate in the prestigious Area Code Games in California. From the MLB.com Draft Tracker: Medium frame. Strong, muscular, well defined build. Similar to Edgardo Alfonzo. Compact, line drive stroke. Uses whole field. Potential to hit for avg. Runs better underway. Soft hands. Mature, polished player. Potential offensive-type 2B, 3B at ML level. (Video Included)

Round 8: Jemile Weeks - SS 5'9", 160 lbs - Lake Brantley HS - Florida http://img181.echo.cx/img181/4540/weeks4ob.jpg (Full-Size Photo) NOTES & INFO: - He is the younger brother of Rickie Weeks. - He has a commitment to play at the University of Miami. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From MLB.com, 06-07-2005: When the Brewers drafted Rickie Weeks with the second overall pick in 2003, it was an easy choice. Will his little brother prove an eighth-round steal two years later? The Brewers made 17 selections on Day 1 of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft including Jemile Weeks, an 18-year-old shortstop from Lake Brantley High School in Florida selected in the eighth round at No. 235 overall. "He's young," Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik said. "He's a high school kid, and, you know, Rickie was small and undersized. Jemile is small in stature right now, but he's got great actions. We're going to sit down and talk to the family, see what their desires are." Weeks has a scholarship offer from the University of Miami, home of the Brewers' No. 1 draft pick on Tuesday, third baseman Ryan Braun. The switch-hitting Weeks has a quick bat and, according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, at least one National League scout says he is impressed with the way Weeks handles himself on the bases. His older brother, Rickie, has been tearing through the Brewers' Minor League system. He is at Triple-A Nashville this year, batting .321 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs, all but banging on the Brewers' clubhouse door at Miller Park. "The one thing you don't want to do is have Jemile hang on to Rickie or Rickie hang onto Jemile," Zduriencik said. "They are who they are. ... The fact that they are brothers is unique, but [Jemile] was drafted for his skill level." Eighteen of the draft's 50 rounds were completed on Tuesday and the Brewers had 17 picks (they lost their second-round selection to Oakland as compensation for signing free agent catcher Damian Miller). Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik began his day by selecting University of Miami third baseman Ryan Braun with the fifth overall pick. The Brewers have never been shy about drafting high school players, but on Tuesday they slightly favored collegians (eight high school picks versus nine players from four-year, community or junior colleges). Eight of the picks were pitchers (five right-handers and three left-handers), six were infielders, two were outfielders and 13th-round pick Ryan Babenau was the only catcher. "The bottom line is you take good players," Zduriencik said. "If you draft enough good players, you'll find places for them to play." From MLB.com: Middle infield seems to be the place where families get together. In addition to the brothers Upton, the Weeks' siblings are also making this draft a family affair. Rickie Weeks, who is currently starring for Nashville of the Pacific Coast League, is a former first-round pick of Milwaukee. Jemile Weeks is a senior at Lake Brantley High in Florida and has drawn comparisons to his older brother. The switch-hitting Weeks has a quick bat and has good power to the alleys and at least one National League scout says he is impressed with the way Weeks handles himself on the bases. He's committed to the University of Miami but whether he ever plays there remains to be seen. From StudentSportsBaseball.com: Analysis (of Miami recruiting class): The Canes kept many of the best preps in Florida from leaving the Sunshine State. The success to this recruiting class is in its stockpile of pitching and athletic position players. Speedster SS/2B Jemile Weeks (Altamonte Springs, Lake Brantley FL) will be a quality lead-off hitter for the program. Top Recruit: RHP Chris Volstad (Palm Beach Gardens FL) From the MLB.com Draft Tracker: Plays w/ a lively, athletic body. Switch-hitting, line driver hitter w/ good pop. Aggressive hitter who's best when driving the ball into the gaps. Good feet and a great first step. Fields w/ sure hands and nice carry on throws. Aggressive, instinctive base runner. Brother of Rickie Weeks. (No Video) From Perfect Game USA: 2004 National Showcase - Jemile Weeks is a thin lean 5'9/150 MIF from Altomonte Springs, FL, very quick and sure handed INF, runs well, outstanding range, great hands, arm is quick and effortless, quick fluid swing, switch hitter, excellent power potential, projects big, highest level college prospect with good draft potential, good student. 2005 World Showcase - Jemile Weeks is a 2005 middle infielder from Altamonte Springs, Florida, with a strong and athletic frame at 5'9", 160 lbs. Plays the game with ease and smoothness, great actions defensively, top level defensive player, advanced hitting tools, pro level bat speed, great hands at the plate, drives balls with present raw power, great all around game.

Can't the Yankees afford a functioning telephone? That buzzing gives me a headache. ~Bill

Round 7: Michael Brantley - CF 6'2", 180 lbs - Ft. Pierce Central HS - Florida http://mas.scripps.com/TCP/2005/06/16/17SBRANTLEYSB-8911_d.jpg NOTES & INFO: - He is the son of former big leaguer Mickey Brantley. Did you know that he was traded to the Brewers on June 6, 1990 for Frank Bolick? Me neither. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From MLB.com, 06-07-2005: Brantley's father, Mickey, played four seasons in the Minors and was traded to the Brewers in 1990, but he never played for Milwaukee. ... Mickey Brantley is now the hitting instructor for the Toronto Blue Jays. ... "Incidentally, I had hired Mickey when I was Minor League director of the Mets as one of our roving hitting guys," Zduriencik said. From the Palm Beach Post, 10-04-2004: There were so many things Lanette Faustini anticipated about this school year, her senior year at Fort Pierce Westwood High School: her advanced veterinary tech classes, her trumpet solos in the marching band and, of course, graduation. But after Hurricane Frances lifted the roof off her Port St. Lucie home a month ago, Faustini's biggest concern is more basic: Where will she live? "I'm wondering if we'll be able to find a place to live (in St. Lucie County), because I really don't want to go to another school," Faustini said. Faustini's mother, Anna, a single mom who is unemployed, keeps getting turned down at apartment complexes from Fort Pierce to Jensen Beach because she can't meet the minimum income. With each rejection, the possibility of Faustini having to move in with her grandfather and enroll at Boca Raton High School grows greater every day. Faustini, 18, won't return to Westwood today, when about 22,000 St. Lucie County students will go back to 25 schools for the first time since Sept. 1. She's still splitting time between a friend's house in Lake Worth and her family in Boca Raton. "It just makes me really scared. I was a little panicked before, but I'm really panicked now," Anna Faustini said. "It's vital that she doesn't miss any more." The Faustinis plan to have Lanette back at school by Tuesday. "I'm anxious to get started, to get back to normal," Lanette said. At least for the week, they will stay with a friend in Port St. Lucie. After that, who knows? "We're just taking it one day at a time," Anna said. The month-long break is especially hard on seniors. Fall semester is when they should be meeting with guidance counselors to plan for college, taking college entrance exams and applying for scholarships. Faustini is afraid the time away from school could hurt her chances at getting financial assistance for college. Fall athletes ? football and volleyball players, golfers, swimmers ? are supposed to be showing off for college scouts. Marching bands should be perfecting their halftime shows for state competitions, and committees at each of the five high schools should be putting finishing touches on homecoming festivities and planning for the prom. "That senior year is so important to kids," said St. Lucie County School Board member John Carvelli, a former high school assistant principal. "It builds the foundation for the future and the next chapter of their lives. I just want it to be a positive experience for them." Senior year was shaping up to be expensive for Faustini: senior pictures, cap and gown, a yearbook. But the storm has left her family struggling even more. "Nobody's going to have the money to do the things that were supposed to be senior activities," said Trina Trimm, principal of St. Lucie West Centennial High. "People will have spent their money on boarding up and then on cleaning up. Who has the money to buy a homecoming dress or senior ring? Families' priorities have changed." All of those normal senior activities have been replaced during the past month by hurricane preparations and cleanup. Students attended school only one day in September and 16 days in August. They have been out for 20 days since, by far the most of any district in the state. "It's been more about how the house is doing, making sure the tarps are on," said Fort Pierce Central senior Michael Brantley, a golfer and baseball player. "All of the outside work, that's been my job. I've been up on the roof with tarps, wood, nails and screws." The unplanned break has not been fun, students say. Lincoln Park Academy senior Christa Kiernan said she and her friends have been cleaning houses all over the county with their youth group, and at night they have been flocking to any house with electricity. The countywide curfews and lack of electricity have ruined their social lives. "It hasn't felt like a vacation," Kiernan said. "I still don't have power, and didn't for two weeks after the first storm.... We don't even know how our school is." With classes resuming today at most schools ? including all high schools except Fort Pierce Central ? students will get some answers about how the rest of the year will look. Winter break has been shortened from 10 days to seven; spring break has been pushed back two weeks and shortened from six days to four. Graduations have been pushed back a week, to the weekend of June 3-5, which is earlier than Kiernan and Brantley feared. School officials want to resume the academic year so students can get as much class time as possible before they take their college entrance exams. Those scores also are used for determining scholarships and for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests, scheduled for the spring. "The concern is that we're missing vital instruction," said Owen Roberts, the school district's executive director of assessment and accountability. Although Faustini said she's eager to return to school for her vet tech classes ? students were dissecting fetal pigs in the days before Frances ? she really wants to be back with the marching band, where she was selected for a leadership position this year, so she can perform her trumpet solo. Kiernan wants to get working on Lincoln Park's yearbook and worries the time out of school may delay the book. Brantley has yet to play a golf match and is concerned his baseball season ? he hopes for a college scholarship ? will be altered. "As educators, the academic year is what we're most concerned about," Centennial's Trimm said. "But for those kids, a lot of them do well academically because they're involved in all those activities. And now they've lost some of that." From the MLB.com Draft Tracker: Great athletic frame, lean muscles, strong wrists and forearms. Makes contact, drives ball from gap to gap. Has strength for future home run power. Good reactions to fly balls, takes proper angles and routes. Aggressive on bases, has good instincts. Good looking athlete. Son of Mickey Brantley, current Blue Jays coach. (No Video) *** From the TCPalm, 06-09-2005 (Byline Lisa Riddle): Fort Pierce Central's Michael Brantley muscled through pitchers this season with a .595 batting average, catching the eye of area high school players as well as pro scouts. Selected this week in the seventh round of the first-year player draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, Brantley's hitting prowess led the Cobras into the District 14-5A final and a 22-6 season. He has proved a talented student of his father, Mickey Brantley, the current hitting instructor for the Toronto Blue Jays and a former major leaguer. Michael Brantley had 12 RBIs and scored 22 runs while serving mainly as a center fielder and pitcher. "I spent a lot of time hitting with my father," said Brantley, the Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers 2005 Baseball Player of the Year, who also stole a whopping 32 bases this year. Brantley's well-known hitting ability meant opposing pitchers often saved their best stuff for him. "It made it a little more challenging for me, but I'm always up for a good challenge," he said. Fort Pierce Central coach Bill Hicks has watched Brantley grow from a scrawny player in youth baseball leagues into a strong, powerful four-year starter for the Cobras. "It's been tremendous seeing him grow," Hicks said. "The first time I saw him, he was this polite, cute, little kid. Now, he has great ability in every phase of the game." Port St. Lucie coach Tony Malizia said Brantley's talent has been formidable. "He's just phenomenal," Malizia said. "He's got a good arm, good speed, and he's a very good outfielder." Brantley, who could have spent the season strictly in center field, also significantly contributed from the mound to help fill a team need. "I sat down with the pitching coach and counted on Michael to pitch this year," Hicks said. "His mound awareness and intelligence make him one of the best pitchers I've had." Brantley did more than just fill a void this season, he made his fastball even faster and more importantly added to his off-speed arsenal to keep opponents guessing. He finished the year with a 4-2 record and 1.40 ERA, permitting only 19 hits in 45 innings. He had 42 strikeouts. He proved he could face adversity and excel during his high school career. He was injured during most of his sophomore season because of arm overuse. Quickly making up for lost time, he made his final two years with the Cobras count and attracted the interest of a professional ballclub fresh out of high school. Michael Brantley Fort Pierce Central, senior Position: Center fielder, pitcher Statistics: Batted .595 with 12 RBIs. Known for his speed, he stole 32 bases and scored 22 runs. On the mound, he was 4-2 with a 1.40 ERA, allowing nine earned runs in 45 innings and struck out 42. Coach Bill Hicks said: "It's been tremendous seeing him grow. The first time I saw him, he was this polite, cute little kid. Now, he has great ability in every phase of the game." http://mas.scripps.com/TCP/2005/06/07/Q-brantleyFB-8013_e.jpg *** From the TCPalm, 06-17-2005: Michael Brantley turned his final high school season into a pitch, hit and run clinic. The Fort Pierce Central High School graduate, who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round of the draft June 8, was a first-team pick on the Class 5A All-State team released Thursday. A center fielder, Brantley batted .595 (50-for-84) with 22 runs, 12 RBIs and a Treasure Coast-best 32 stolen bases as Fort Pierce Central had its best season in 23 years. Brantley also went 4-2 with a 1.40 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 45 innings as a pitcher. Five other Treasure Coast players were all-state picks. Port St. Lucie pitcher Phil Rorabaugh was a second-teamer in Class 5A. Fort Pierce Central catcher Jeremy Gillan was a third-team choice while PSL infielder Mike McGee earned honorable mention. In Class 6A, Vero Beach pitcher Alex Cobb was second team and Martin County outfielder Justin Vasquez was honorable mention. Rorabaugh, a senior, was 8-1 with three shutouts and a 0.67 ERA. He allowed just 40 hits in 73 innings and struck out 86. Gillan, playing catcher for the first time since he was a pre-teen, batted .453 with two home runs, five doubles and 23 RBIs. He also scored eight runs. McGee, a sophomore, batted .402 with 24 runs and 21 RBIs. He has 73 hits in two varsity seasons. Cobb, a junior, was 8-2 with a 0.62 ERA and a school-record 139 strikeouts in 90 innings. He allowed 37 hits and eight earned runs. Vasquez, a sophomore, batted .420 and had at least one hit in 22 of 25 games.