CheeseheadInIllinois

I highly doubt Fiers is on the list based on what was said when it looked like Narveson might not be ready for the doubleheader. If I remember correctly, either Melvin or Roenicke said they were looking at two AAA starters as possible replacements: Peralta and one who wasn't on the 40-man. Given the fact that I doubt Butler or Narron would have been looked at as legitimate options right now, I'd assume that second pitcher would be Fiers, and he wouldn't be under consideration if he was on the list. Similarly, I hope the talk about Maldonado being called up tomorrow means he isn't on the list.

Except most of those were guys who the Brewers already knew were fringe guys based upon past experience. It seems like most non-middle infielders, if they are good enough to stick around for several seasons at AAA, will adjust and post good stats in the PCL. That doesn't mean they are suddenly good major leaguers. Maybe I'm wrong to do so, but I put more stock in Green's numbers because he is doing it in his first AAA season. Since 2004 I believe only 11 guys, counting so far this year, have even had .800 OPS for the Brewers' AAA squads in their first extended action at AAA (Braun would have topped the list and made it an even dozen, but he didn't stick around long enough for me to count) Weeks: 1.090; Green: .993; Fielder: .957; Cruz: .872; Katin: .856; Gamel: .839; Gindl: .838; Heether: .829; Hart: .827; Hardy: .825; and Rottino: .819 Does this mean he's going to be a star, especially this year? No. Does this mean I'd give him a better probability of posting solid numbers with consistent playing time than Carroll, Almonte or Kottaras? Definitely

More fun with Taylor Green numbers. I believe his stats for June and July would be .395/.464/.686/1.150. That is one dominant two-month stretch.

On the other hand, seasons such as the one Taylor Green is having don't happen that often for Brewers minor leaguers. Since 2005, I believe only two players at Nashville have posted .900+ OPS seasons (min 50 games) their first time in AAA. Both recently started the All-Star game. Only three did it in their second go around (Hart, Cruz, Heether), and Cruz and Heether barely squeaked over the mark while thus far Green is topping .950 despite a slow start. I'm not saying that Green is going to be a star, but AAAA-type players haven't had this type of success in their first AAA season, at least not in Nashville. Whether he could succeed right away coming up in the middle of a pennant race is another story, but personally I'd be in favor of giving him a shot.

I'll take a crack at this. It sure became a lot of coin flips after the top four, though. 1. Wily Peralta: Has been putting up some stellar numbers since that disastrous May start. The fact that he's doing it at AA gives him a slight edge over Thornburg. 2. Tyler Thornburg: Has done nothing but impress. I wonder if the Brewers will follow through on the comment about him potentially seeing AA this year. 3. Taylor Green: It's been nice seeing a guy who was a top-10 prospect for the Brewers back when that meant something regaining his form. Now granted this might be a one-year fluke, but given the almost league-wide struggles for 3rd basemen this season, if he can even post a .270/.350/.450 line while playing solid defense, that would make him above average. I could see Green doing that. 4. Khris Davis: Best combo power/on-base skills in the organization this year. Hopefully he soon gets that deserved promotion. 5. Cody Scarpetta: This is where things start to get dicier. Scarpetta seems to have the talent, but he still needs to find the consistency. 6. Nic Bucci: He was able to dominate for stretches last year, too, but the blowups (which based on the couple of times I saw him when Wisconsin was in town seemed to be frustration-based) that hurt his stats for the Rattlers seem to be becoming fewer and farther between this year. 7. Caleb Gindl: As other have said, the upside might not be star-caliber, but the guy just hits. And for his size he has got some pop. 8. Yadiel Rivera: Is this an overreaction to a hot streak? Probably. Is his strikeout rate, while improving, still a bit troubling? You bet. But a shortstop with solid defensive tools who has also showcased some pop? If it comes together for him, the value of that is high enough to vault him into the top 10. I'd have Arcia up here too if I could find a few scouting reports on him that included the words "likely to stick at shortstop." 9. Logan Schaefer: Like the defense, like the average and the walk rate has become passable. Where are the extra-base hits he was racking up in Brevard, though? 10. Kyle Heckathorn: Has continued a solid climb up the organizational ladder, but for a No. 10 guy on this list has been a bit underwhelming. I'd probably toss all three of the top draft picks in ahead of him once they sign. Next 10: Arcia, Richardson, Manzanillo, Fiers, Rogers, Gennett, Ozuna, Gagnon, Halton, Komatsu.

The Cardinals fans I work with would likely cheer that trade. The way they talk about Rasmus you'd think he had Betancourt's glove and Wil Nieves' bat. More importantly, though, I wonder how highly Rasmus is valued by the Cardinals' organization. Wasn't he pretty much in LaRussa's doghouse his first year in the majors? Did he ever get out?

I've always been under the impression that 40 man guys can still be a PTBNL as well. Mass, can you please explain which it is and why?OK, on a technicality then, the players could be Brandon Kintzler or Manny Parra based on the injury factor (it's not). The other mention about waivers would imply only after July 31st. The link you provide discusses a post-July 31 situation. Hope that helps. That article, though, was talking about a situation where the PTBNL had already been decided upon, not a list and give the team a chance to scout situation as it appears to be here. It was simply saying that it would be dumb not to announce the player if he was on the 40-man unless it was one of those situations, not that it is against the rules. From what I've been able to piece together from a number of articles (including this one) it sounds as though 40-man roster guys can be the PTBNL as long as they haven't played for the Brewers this year (although some make it sound as if only players on the 25-man roster any time between now and when the PTBNLs are finalized are ineligible, so that would be even less restrictive). As for guesses, given the Mets' lack of catching prospects, I wonder if Garfield or, if 40-man guys are allowed, Maldonado are going to be part of the deal.

It appears based on the "meet the team" link off the above article on helenair.com that ... 1) Goforth and Nemeth have both signed and are ticketed for Helena 2) The Brewers aren't pushing any of the younger pitchers picked last year with Pierce, White, Johnson and Schaub all apparently headed for Arizona.

It's an interview with an NC State affiliated site. What's he supposed to say? I'm not sure I'd read that much into it.

My math might be wrong, but I think Watten has gone 12 innings without recording a fly ball out. I don't know if they have records for things like that, but I'd imagine it has to be pretty rare.

I don't know if it is a matter of struggling the second time through the lineup or tiring or just a small sample size fluke, but Wawrzasek (if my math is correct) has a 1.50 ERA with a WHIP of 1 in the first three innings of his outings but an ERA of 15.43 and a WHIP of 2.57 in any additional innings.

Looking at the milb.com roster pages, there are a couple of guys missing from either (Chad Stang, Austin Ross) and a couple of pitchers I've never heard of on Arizona (Charly Bashara, Skyler Crawford, Travis Stortz). Check out where it says Stortz is from. Obviously that page was somewhat hastily put together. Oh, and it appears Derrick Shaw has signed given he is also on Arizona's roster page.

I wonder if there is some continuing issue here. I've seen outfielders struggle before on fly balls, but never in quite the same way as he did in the games I saw last year.

This would be where all of the football-driven realignment would spiral into the non-1A football conferences. As a Missouri Valley fan, I'd love a scenario where the non-football playing Big East schools grab 7-8 of the northeastern A-10 schools and allow the MVC to poach Xavier, Dayton and St. Louis and perhaps lure their former MCC conference-mate Butler as well. Also, speaking of the non-football and basketball implications, does anyone know if the Big Ten allows associate members for individual sports? The Iowa State wrestling program is likely to be left without a home.

I've got a feeling the Big 10 is going to go to 16 just to keep up (Nebraska, Missouri, Pitt, Syracuse and Rutgers if Notre Dame opts to stay independent). Also, I've got a feeling that a new Big 12 leftovers/MWC/Boise State conference would get a BCS bid if only to appease the region's senators and keep the government from getting involved in the shakeup. Also, if the Big East dissolves, that would still leave 10 bids for 5 conferences plus Notre Dame, if they manage to become good again.