Eye Black

I realize it is a moot point now, but this bothered me as I tried to play catchup on the thread. For the people referring to Flores as "garbage", please take a closer look at Carlos Gomez's early years. Flores is 23 years old, being forced to play out of position at an age where he is still developing and in an unforgiving market with the magnified pressure of high expectations. He has more MLB home runs in his first 200 games than Carlos Gomez did in his first four seasons (445 games). He is putting up slugging and OPS+ numbers that Gomez did not surpass until age 26. I can't predict the future, but I am willing to bet Flores' prime is still ahead of him at this point. To be clear, I am not predicting a Gomez type breakout, but I don't think anyone has enough information to just completely write him off at this point either.

If he plays he will get an incredible standing ovation when introduced and at each at-bat [sarcasm]which will probably be just the justification needed to offer Gomez a contract extension.[/sarcasm]

For.The.Win.

I have a feeling Wheeler still gets traded for a "bat" and I won't be the least bit surprised if he ends up becoming a very good front of the rotation pitcher. If the Brewers called off the trade hopefully they had a good reason to balk at it.

What a crazy turn of events. I'm actually disappointed.

Watching Parra tonight reminds me that I am going to miss him. He has played admirably offensively and is fun to watch defensively. Will enjoy continuing to follow him, now TRADE HIM already!

He has some interesting contract clauses though based on Baseball Prospectus info...

According to Rosenthal the Gomez trade market is starting to take shape. LINK

The bad news is that its a strikeout for Demi. The good news is that VIDEO exists of the at-bat in its entirety. EDIT: Just realized there is some NSFW language towards the end of the video.

Timber Rattlers’ Nathan Kirby eased back to mound Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/fe07b4234723d882e8b3da0522cf5d01292bc83a/c=327-0-3249-2197&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/07/25/Appleton/B9318210526Z.1_20150725170212_000_GDDBENOCM.1-0.jpg GRAND CHUTE – Nathan Kirby was jacked after throwing the final pitch to win college baseball’s greatest prize and wanted to celebrate with gusto. But Kirby’s instincts told him to do something else: Get out of the way and don’t get buried on the bottom of the victory dog pile. “One thing I learned the last couple years is don’t get near the bottom of the dog pile,” said Kirby, with a laugh Friday, while describing the wild postgame scene after his University of Virginia team won the College World Series on June 23. “I got out of there, circled a few times and jumped in near the top.” The former Cavaliers all-American is following the same safe and smart path of self-preservation in his first month of professional baseball. Kirby, a highly regarded left-hander who was selected by Milwaukee with the 40th overall pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, is starting his pro career with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, but the Brewers are easing him into the process following an injury-shortened college season. Kirby has yet to be activated and is working closely with Timber Rattlers trainer Jeff Paxon to rebuild arm strength and stamina after missing nine weeks of the NCAA season due to a strained latissimus dorsi muscle in his left shoulder. He won’t pitch in a game until after Aug. 1 and the Brewers’ first-year plan for Kirby is to be patient and conservative with him. “I came back pretty quickly just to get ready for the World Series,” said Kirby, who left Virginia following his junior season. “When you come off any injury like that, or any injury with the arm, the first thing you have to do is build the rest of your body up because the rehab itself is mostly for your arm. “Doing rehab and getting the arm strength back is different from throwing off a mound and using your whole body. It’s definitely coming along and I’m excited to hopefully get back out there pretty soon. The lat strain is a thing of the past. I don’t even think about that anymore.” During Kirby’s physical examination with the Brewers, a medical concern unrelated to the lat strain was also discovered and proved to be costly for him. According to various reports, Kirby had agreed to a signing bonus above the recommended slot value of $1,545,400. But once Milwaukee learned of the new medical issue, the Brewers reduced the offer before Kirby agreed to a signing bonus of $1.25 million on July 17, a few hours before the signing deadline. Milwaukee hasn’t disclosed the medical issue and Kirby politely declined to reveal it. “That’s something that has to stay between the Brewers and I, but I’m here and ready to throw,” said Kirby, 21. “I’ve told everybody that I never play the game for the money. That (money) is just something that comes with it. A lot of people don’t get this opportunity and I’m happy to be here.” Had Kirby stayed healthy last season, chances are he would have been drafted much higher. He entered the 2015 season projected as one of college baseball’s top left-handed pitching prospects and a potential top-10 pick. “I have no idea how high I might have gone,” he said. “That’s a thing of the past. The injury was frustrating because I wanted to be out there. I think I missed nine weeks, but it felt more like two years.” Limited to 12 games and 11 starts in 2015, Kirby went 5-3 with a 2.53 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 64 innings, while holding opponents to a .236 batting average. His only relief stint was the two-inning, five-strikeout World Series save he earned in clinching Virginia’s first NCAA baseball championship. “I told our coach I was just going to go out there and throw as hard as I can and hopefully it goes over the plate,” said Kirby. “It was hard to treat it like a relief appearance just because it was the final six outs of the season. It was a rollercoaster of a ride all season and it was an exciting time. I still can’t believe it happened.” Kirby had a career record of 18-7 at Virginia with a 2.83 ERA. A native of Midlothian, Virginia (just west of Richmond), Kirby was the state’s Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year his senior season at James River High School in Chesterfield County. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Kirby throws a low-to-mid 90s fastball, a slider, a curve and a change-up. “He spins the ball real good,” said Timber Rattlers pitching coach Gary Lucas. “He’s got a tight breaking ball. Sometimes it looks like a curve; sometimes it looks like a slider. He throws hard. He’s got movement and the makings of a real good change-up.” When he’s ready, Kirby will join a Rattlers pitching staff that includes young talents like Kodi Medeiros, Milwaukee’s first-round pick in 2014, and Cody Ponce, a second-round pick taken 15 picks after Kirby in last month’s draft. “He (Kirby) has stuff,” said Lucas. “We just want to make sure he’s strong and healthy and recovered from his college season. From what I’ve been told by the Brewers’ people, we need to move slow with him. He’s an enthusiastic guy and it’s good to have him here. We’ll get him going in early August.” That would be just fine with Kirby, who is seeing Wisconsin for the first time. “Whenever the time comes to pitch, I’ll be ready,” said Kirby. “I’ve been having a blast since I’ve been here and I feel this is a pretty good match for me right now. I just can’t wait to get out there and pitch.”

I think I am starting to develop unrealistic expectations of the Parra market, but this isn't helping... LINK

The Statistical Analysis forum appears among the less perused corners of BF.net these days, but for those interested in the early introductions of sabermetrics to the industry elite, this Grantland article about AVM Systems is a MUST read (click the headline below)... Before Beane The origin story of AVM Systems, the little-known company that jump-started sabermetrics and made Moneyball possible by Ben Lindbergh / Grantland

This is the exact type of deal I could see the Brewers agreeing to for Gomez. One young major league ready player, one lower minors prospect (i.e. Sisco or Reyes), and one lottery ticket. I initially didn't think the Orioles were a good match, but the speculation that they appear willing to deal Gausman immediately made me think of the Brewers as a trade partner.

Today is the annual Competitive Balance Lottery. The picks can be traded during the season, so teams like the Cardinals, Pirates, or Royals could use their pick to sweeten a trade deadline package. Reminder, the first six teams selected are given an additional pick following the first round of next year’s draft (Comp Round A) and the remaining teams are then drawn for six additional slots following the second round (Comp Round B). Below are the teams and their chances of winning that top lottery pick: Diamondbacks 18.2% Rockies 16.5% Reds 9.5% Marlins 8.9% Padres 8.9% Rays 8.9% Brewers 6.6% Indians 5.4% A’s 4.5% Pirates 4.5% Royals 4.2% Cardinals 3.9% More information on this year's draft lottery can be found in this MLB.com LINK. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe these have been the Brewers Competitive Balance selections so far since the system began in 2013: 2013 - Tucker Neuhaus (#72 selection / Comp Rd B) 2014 - Jake Gatewood (#41 selection / Comp Rd A) 2015 - Nathan Kirby (#40 selection / Comp Rd A)

I am glad Monte is keeping a positive outlook, but I am just sick for the young man. Per his own TWEET he confirms it's broken.

My 2015 Mid-Season Top 25 Brewers Prospects: 1) Orlando Arcia 2) Gilbert Lara 3) Clint Coulter 4) Tyrone Taylor 5) Devin Williams 6) Monte Harrison 7) Taylor Jungmann 8) Trent Clark 9) Kodi Medeiros 10) Michael Reed 11) Jorge Lopez 12) Tyler Wagner 13) Nathan Kirby 14) Cody Ponce 15) Jacob Gatewood 16) Demi Orimoloye 17) Taylor Williams 18) Marcos Diplan 19) Yadiel Rivera 20) Cy Sneed 21) Wei-Chung Wang 22) Miguel Diaz 23) Victor Roache 24) David Denson 25) Hobbs Johnson

Cameron Garfield released per Matt Eddy Tweet.

Baseball Prospectus provided Notes from the Field: World Team which includes additional commentary on Orlando Arcia's Futures Game appearance.

Orlando Arcia ranked #11 overall prospect in John Sickels' Top 75 MLB Prospects Mid-Season Update. Also listed is Clint Coulter at #73.

Not a particularly strong day at the plate, but Arcia made up for it with this outstanding DEFENSIVE PLAY. Video via this TWEET.

Out of curiosity, question for those who are leaving Nathan Kirby off of their lists. Are you doing so because he hasn't signed yet or because you don't believe he belongs on your list?

Well to be fair Touki Toussaint doesn't throw 96... he now throws 98 MPH (ARTICLE LINK)

Speculation from Twins beat writer Mike Berardino that they may have interest in Neal Cotts. One additional option in trading with the Twins is that their competitive balance pick can be acquired via trade. I don't think the Comp A and Comp B order is set until later this month, but I wouldn't rule out the Brewers seeking to pick up an additional draft pick for 2016.

Groome dominated at the Perfect Game tourney tonight. It's very early, but he is starting to look like a formidable candidate to go 1-1 next year...

[sarcasm]At this point it seems fair to ask... Gilbert Lara, great Dominican ballplayer or greatest Dominican ballplayer?[/sarcasm]