Eye Black

Final: West Michigan 6, Wisconsin 4 (13 innings) Rattlers Fall 6-4 in 13 Innings to Whitecaps By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers *** As noted in the game story the West Michigan defense made some outstanding plays in extra innings including a catch near the wall on a ball that was well hit to deep left field by Trever Morrison in the 10th that would have given the Rattlers a walk off win had it been a foot deeper. *** The game highlights include a sweet 6th inning relay from right fielder Demi Orimoloye to second baseman Trever Morrison to catcher Mario Feliciano to nail a Whitecaps runner at home. *** Wisconsin Box Score The Rattlers batters followed up yesterday's 15 strike outs with 18 more K's today. Unfortunately Keston Hiura was not immune as he was a strikeout victim three times. On a brighter note Hiura finished with two singles (2-for-6) and has now had at least one hit in 19 of his first 20 professional games. Hiura also had a solid at bat in extra innings in which he fouled off six straight pitches and faced 11 total pitches before a ground out to third base. A good day at the plate for Ronnie Gideon who was 3-for-4 with a double. He was removed in the 8th inning for a pinch runner. In hindsight it would have been nice to have his bat in the lineup for the four extra frames. Not a bad day for Timber Rattlers pitchers all around. Jordan Desguin went 4.0 innings allowing just one hit without issuing a single walk. Despite getting the loss, Daniel Brown pitched well for the first few extra innings and finished with 7 K's over 4.0 innings. Brown now has 54 strikeouts over 53.0 innings this season. Wisconsin Game Log

From the Detroit Free Press article titled Ian Kinsler to Brewers? Tigers second baseman unfazed by trade rumors thought it was interesting that he actually acknowledged some of the factors that went into his 10-team no trade list. I know many of these factors (including taxes) are well known reasoning used by a player and agent when devising a no-trade list, but it's not that often a player actually recites their reasoning for reporters. From the article... Some other slightly more abrasive answers from Kinsler as the article continues, but I don't blame him for not being thrilled with being asked how he feels about the trade rumors.

I don't have any issues with Broxton being sent to Triple-A, but I won't be thrilled if both Brinson and Broxton being in Colorado Springs bumps Brinson out of getting every day reps in center field.

Is that Tyler Badamo of Brewerfan.net fame pitching for the Triple-A Reno Aces against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox tonight? I had to do a double take when I checked out the box score, good for Tyler! A successful outing through 3 innings so far, I'll root for the Sky Sox to get the bats going immediately after Tyler exits the game.

Not much positional flexibility with Kinsler, but I guess if they are ready to give up on Villar for this year it is possible. I can't imagine he would cost much in terms of prospects since acquiring him basically saves the Tigers from having to pay his remaining salary this year and the additional $5 million buyout they would owe him to get out of his $12 million option for next year. The highest acquisition cost I can envision even if the Tigers include some cash is maybe a couple of prospects the caliber of Tyrone Taylor or Taylor Williams. EDIT: I might have been a little low on the prospect guess, but I would be frustrated if they gave up any top 20 prospect in the system for a couple of months of Ian Kinsler. Maybe Demi Orimoloye or Josh Pennington are a better representation of the best prospects I would give up.

Always enjoy your posts. My first reaction is that group of five arms is arguably as exciting of a collection of pitching prospects as the Brewers have had in the system at one time that were at AA or higher. In regards to Ortiz, I do agree that the conditioning remains a slight concern, but I still think Ortiz has the second best chance to develop into a major league starting pitcher behind only Woodruff. Regarding the AA stats according to Fangraphs Ortiz's BAA this year is now .209 following his last start. I do wish the K% and BB% were a little better, but they aren't to the point where I am overly concerned yet since as you mentioned he is in his age 21 season. It wouldn't be the worst AA season for Brewers pitcher that developed into a solid starter. Jimmy Nelson made his AA debut at age 23 and had a K% of 20.1% and a BB% of 17.7%. Ortiz is working with a good fastball and an above average slider. I know one of the primary focuses going into this season was for him to continue to work on developing a change-up, so I am hopeful that is a pitch he is continuing to perfect. We will see where his development goes from here, but based on the attributes he already possesses and the likelihood that he continues to improve, I still believe in Ortiz.

Tucker Neuhaus sustained what appeared to be a significant knee injury while being caught in a run down play after overrunning first base on a base hit. Looked pretty bad unfortunately, he didn't put any weight on his leg as he was helped off the field.

It's been a rough start to Tyler Webb's career with the Brewers organization thus far... Omaha Bottom of the 8th Pitching Change: Tyler Webb replaces Wily Peralta. Jorge Soler homers (13) on a fly ball to center field. Ryan O'Hearn doubles (19) on a fly ball to center fielder Lewis Brinson. Cam Gallagher singles on a fly ball to right fielder Nate Orf. Ryan O'Hearn scores. Cam Gallagher out at 2nd, right fielder Nate Orf to shortstop Yadiel Rivera. Frank Schwindel flies out to left fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Logan Moon walks. Corey Toups grounds out, pitcher Tyler Webb to first baseman Chris Colabello.

Last week Baseball America released a 2018 MLB Draft Watch List which includes a current top ten for both the College and High School prospects that are draft eligible next year.

The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team just completed their schedule this week. Although likely just a coincidence the Brewers have drafted the player the past two years who led the USA Baseball college team in OPS (Corey Ray and Keston Hiura). These are small sample sizes since the team only plays around 20 games each summer. This year's leader was Arkansas C/OF Grant Koch with a 1.035 OPS. Koch was limited to just 43 at bats however, among players with 60+ at bats the leader was Oklahoma outfielder (and former Wisconsin Woodchucks player) Steele Walker with a .931 OPS. Another notable USA Baseball CNT player was Clemson's Seth Beer who finished with a .672 OPS. Complete 2017 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Stats

Well Manaea was also brought up in this thread a couple of weeks ago. I think you are close with your proposal although I could see the A's asking for Brinson and Ortiz to replace Hader and Phillips in that deal. He does have some injury history and a shorter track record so I think the risk tempers some of the cost. My guess is the Brewers are likely to have to give up two of their top five prospects for him and another 1-2 prospects that are further down the list. Here would be my guess on a trade that could possibly get it done... Brinson Ortiz Dubon Harrison

With Gray making his start today it made me wonder if there has ever been a mid-game #HugWatch for a major league starter that was pitching at the time? Would assume no since if anything was even fairly close they would likely scratch the starter. Gray's next scheduled starts with the A's would be July 25th and July 30th.

Billy Beane doesn't strike me as the type of GM who says, "no, we would not be willing to discuss player X". I have a feeling if the Brewers threw out names like Brinson, Woodruff, Ray, Dubon, etc. they would at least have the A's attention.

Maybe special in the pen, but allegedly not quite as special in the clubhouse: LaTroy Hawkins says Tommy Kahnle "one of the worst teammates I've ever had in my life."

I am a big Sean Manaea fan. I was able to catch the majority of his start on Sunday and he looked much more comfortable on the mound than what I had remembered. His slider was just nasty and he was locating it well. He looked like a guy who could develop into a #2 starter on a playoff team. The 5.5 years of team control is also obviously enticing. If the Brewers are going to agree to trade either Brinson or Hader for a starter then Manaea is the guy I would love to see the Brewers acquire.

The Yankees have reportedly traded for relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle as well as 3B Todd Frazier. The return to the White Sox will include prospects OF Blake Rutherford, LHP Ian Clarkin, and presumably some yet to be announced prospects. SB Nation Link Edit: Yankees also sending reliever Tyler Clippard and prospect Tito Polo (OF) to the White Sox.

Perhaps too much of a stretch? AS http://charmcitywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/doyle.jpg

Of the 12 players in the Carolina League with 20+ doubles, three of them are Mudcats (wow, also noticed that Sam Haggerty of Lynchburg who has 20 doubles also has 11 triples, holy cow). Carolina League doubles leaders 1) Ryan Mountcastle, Fredrick - 35 2) Jake Gatewood, Carolina - 31 3) Austin Rei, Salem - 25 4t) Victor Robles, Potomac - 23 4t) Jose Sermo, Salem - 23 6t) Lucas Erceg, Carolina - 21 6t) Jesse Hodges, Myrtle Beach - 21 8t) Corey Ray, Carolina - 20 8t) LaDarious Clark, Down East - 20 8t) Sam Haggerty, Lynchburg - 20 8t) Ka'ai Tom, Lynchburg - 20

Substitute Cordell for Phillips and I think it's spot on. Cordell is a CF - he's played there more than any other position, he just doesn't play there now because of Brinson. Davies + Ray has a lot of value. Shouldn't have to include Phillips with that. I do think some of us (myself included) have a tendency to underestimate the value of Corey Ray. I know the statline isn't great, but I think he is still well thought both within and outside the organization. There are plenty of industry folks that are still high on Ray's talent. Have heard positives such as from this past Spring when he was said to have a great approach and to have taken some of the most professional at-bats of any prospect in AZ as well as the Futures Game when he impressed with his batting practice display. While I am just as guilty as many others of favoring Ray being included in a deal over many of the other top prospects, I still think he is considered a valuable commodity within the industry who could develop into a very good major league outfielder.

Final: Lansing 14, Wisconsin 2 Lugnuts Stop Rattlers Win Streak Lansing beats Wisconsin 14-2 Chris Mehring, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Cameron Roegner allowed an unearned run on one hit over five innings for the Timber Rattlers on Sunday at Lansing. *** Wisconsin Box Score The tale of two halves in today's game. The Rattlers held a 2-1 advantage until the bottom of the 6th inning when things started to unravel. Tucker Neuhaus went 3-for-4 with a home run to raise his season OPS to .771. It was his 13th home run of the season which is a nice breakout for a player that had just 7 professional home runs coming into this year. As noted in the Chris Mehring's recap it was a good effort on the mound from 2016 draft pick Cameron Roegner. Roegner has allowed just 8 earned runs over his last 8 outings (35.2 IP). I have a soft spot for the "kids" born and raised in Wisconsin, so hopefully Cam can keep it up. Wisconsin Game Log

I hope you're right because I'm not quite as high on Gray as some others, but I would do that deal in a heartbeat. To be clear I don't think it is that off base because Davies and Ray are certainly significant pieces, but to get the deal done with only losing one top prospect in the system (and that top prospect being Ray) would be a relief.

If I was a Nationals fan I would be very happy with the swap. Some much needed relief help seemingly without a significant hit to the top talent in the farm system.

Well, crap lol No relievers will be added anymore, those were only two I'd consider in first place. Does the return to the A's for those two players seem very underwhelming? Return was RHP Blake Treinen, LHP Jesus Luzardo and 3B Sheldon Neuse. Luzardo could be exciting, but he is still just a teenager (who has already had a TJ surgery).

There certainly seems to be a lot of smoke building around the Brewers interest in Gray. It is a little difficult to imagine avoiding at least a slight overpay for Gray due to the number of teams showing interest. I will be pleasantly surprised if the Brewers acquire Gray without giving up Brinson or Hader. Despite the Gray rumors I still have a gut feeling the Brewers are going to make a slightly less conventional move for a starting pitcher.

In addition to maintaining a 5.5 game division lead the Brewers have also now tied the Rockies in the Wild Card race. It's setting up to be a fun next couple of months.