BrewersAA

Thornburg (1-2 with a 3.98 ERA in 8 starts) gets passed over, for a third time :-(, this time for Taylor Jungmann. Jungmann is 2-3 with a 6.37 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) at Class AAA Colorado Springs this season. The say its not just the altitude in Colorado springs that causes the ball to fly out with regularity but it also really affects the way the pitcher grips the ball, lets hope taylor is more comfortable in milwaukee.

And its Taylor Jungmann getting the start on Tuesday. Excited for Taylor, disappointed for Thornburg who pitched excellent in his last start and was definitely a candidate for this call-up

so, since the starter on the ninth cant be wagner or cravy can we speculate who it might be? The guys that would make sense that would all be rested are Lopez, Thornburg, Jungmann, & Hall. I personally am kind of hoping that Thornburg gets his shot again, he should have never lost his spot to begin with. I bet they will be watching his start closely tonight! Outside of Thornburg a part of me would like to see what would happen if they gave lopez a shot! I really dont think hes ready, but hes coming off a monster game so who knows. Besides the minor league side i am sure Blazek has a good shot to start and if he didnt have a suspension i wonder if they would consider will smith. Smith was brought in to start and since has developed a good third pitch, id llike to see what he could do.

tyler wagner too ;-) Edit- Oops, hes 24.... THAT must be why you didnt include him ;-)

Santo Manzinillo and Amaury Rivas are two guys for me who had back to back dominant years in double A Rivas in 10 and manzinillo in 11 where i started to get really excited about the brewers developing pitching. I remembering thinking that Rivas and peralta (along with rogers, mike jones, and even lamontange) could all be in a rotation with manzinillo as the electric closer... that hasnt worked out too well for me...

arcia or rivera, that is the debate.... My heart wants arcia, my gut tells me they will bump rivera and leave arcia right where he is.

I thought he was a huge reach (cap save move) when the brewers took him in the 3rd round last year. And i know, you never should even looks at a guys first season, but he has improved every number over last season so far. I know its a small sample size but he appears to have taken a big step in the control department which was his biggest knock. Anyway, he has made his way onto my "guys i follow" list. Not excited yet, but i definitely see some potential being that he throws 95. Maybe we have another tyler wagner here!

The End of April Early Reaction Prospect Rankings: 1. Orlando Arcia - Pos. SS – Level AA – Age 20 The (now) sweet swinging, defensive wiz, short stop is easily/clearly #1. Coming into the season I think he was neck and neck with Tyrone Taylor for the top spot. My (very) early reaction to the first month of the season is not that Taylor has moved down, but that Arcia has put himself onto another level and the gap between the two has widened. Arcia is still a defensive Ace at a premium position and he happens to be tearing the cover off the ball to the tune of a 1.088 OPS. Turning into a true A grade prospect, viva la revivefier to the farm! 2. Tyrone Taylor – Pos. CF – Level AA – Age 21 Taylor is off to a slow start at the plate, but in the last week his bat has shown signs of starting to heat up. Another plus defender at a premium position, like Arcia, Taylor has shown an advanced bat and premium athleticism at every level so far. With the jump to AA generally being the biggest and most difficult for young players it’s very easy to look past the slightly slow start. Taylor is still the future after Carlos Gomez leaves for a GaZILLION $$ deal. 3. Clint Coulter – Pos. RF/LF – Level A+ - Age 21 Coulter is off to a HOT start at the offensives suppressive Brevard County/FSL environment. He is pushing hard for the number 2 spot, and if he keeps up this level of power and patience he might just start to push for the number 1 spot because as we all know, chicks dig the long ball! He is the Dean Portman of the Manatees’ version Disney’s D2 The Mighty Ducks’ Bash Brothers. He is straight mashing right now and joins a fellow returning masher in Victor Roach (Fulton Reed). He is OPSing over 1.100. I wouldn’t expect Coulter to move up a level this season, especially given the Brewers usual conservative nature with promotions, but this season seems different under new scouting director Ray Montgomery so don’t be shocked to see Coulter in Biloxi sometime after the draft if he continues to OPS of 1000. 4. Tyler Wagner – Pos. RHP – Level AA – Age 24 Here we have it, the first real way to soon bump in ranking! Wagner has been amazing the last couple seasons. He has flown under the radar. He has had a cloud of “we aren’t going to rank him high because he doesn’t have the pedigree and we are waiting for the wheels to fall off, just wait till he gets to AA and that 93 (95 tops) FB isn’t over powering hitters anymore,” that seems to follow him around when it comes to prospect lists (kind of like Mike Fiers did, except Wagner has much stronger stuff). Well AA is here and he is continuing to dominate (!), time to give the man his due!!! 5. Gilbert Lara – Pos. SS – Rookie – Age 17 This is on potential alone. Reports out of spring are that he’s even further along than they thought, he plays a premium position (and the Brewers think he will stay there), and the young man will debut stateside! What else do you need to get excited about a 17 year old international signing?!? 6. Kodi Medeiros – LHP – A – Age 18 Let me just say that it’s time to start getting excited about last season’s top draft pick (who somehow seems to be getting overlooked). Why? Because, in short, it looks like the Brewers did an excellent job in evaluation (for a change). Quick hits: 2.93 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 20K in 15IP, 18 years young, Left-handedness! 7. Jake Gatewood – Pos. SS – A – Age 19 Another SS in the top ten you say. Gatewood is in this spot for me for 4 reasons 1. POTENTIAL, he has loads of it and hes young 2. He plays a premium position 3. He appears to have made nice progress over the winter 4. I am not at all worried about results, this was an aggressive move by the brewers and his struggles are entirely expected, it seems that the front office felt he would get more out of playing with the rattlers than sitting in extended spring training. 8. Monte Harrison – Pos. CF – Level A – Age 19 See above… Why rank Gatewood higher? Number 3, it looks like Gatewood might have taken a bigger step over the winter. Maybe I could have ranked them 7a and 7b. Regardless of which is ahead of the other, these to two exciting young players to follow. I believe both will be send down once rookie leagues start, but don’t worry it’s not a true demotion. 9. Luis Sardinas – Pos. SS – Level AAA – Age 21 A 4th shortstop in the top ten, seriously, really… Yes. Sardinas looks like a nice return for Gallardo in the early season. Hearing that Sweet thinks he has 15 HR potential entirely changes my opinion on this young man. Oh, and he’s hitting the ball nicely at AAA. 10. Victor Roach – Pos. LF/RF – Level A+ - Age 23 It looks like Roach didn’t like getting passed over for a promotion to Biloxi and it looks like he’s taking it out on FSL pitching!! Fulton Reed is still striking out too much, but you cannot deny that slap shot. Its nice to have this power prospect back in the top ten, lets hope he keeps it up! 11. Devin Williams – Pos. RHP – Level A – Age 20 All the potential in the world here, that’s what has him just outside the top 10. The Stuff is good and could become great as he learns to pitch. Currently on the DL, so not much to go on here. 12. Taylor Jungmann – Pos. RHP – Level AAA – Age 25 I am giving Jungmann a bit of a pass here on his current on field results for a couple reasons. The first is that he cannot possibly have taken this big of a step back, the second is that he’s pitching in Colorado springs so there obviously needs to be an adjustment period. I believe hes still viewed as the teams 6th starter, coming in outside the top 10 I think shows the progression of this system from very bad to very right in the middle of the pack. 13. Taylor Williams – Pos. RHP – Level AA – Age 23 Currently on the DL, Williams gets this spot based off past performance. I am very tempted to move him up based on reports out of big league spring training, and once he start playing, if the results are there he is probably in my top 10. This kid has potential to be a big league middle rotation pitcher and there is no shortage of people in love with his Stuff. 14. Yadiel Rivera – Pos. SS – Level AA – Age 22 WTH, what’s wrong with me, I haven’t even made it out of the top 15 yet and here’s another shortstop… Plain and simple, the Brewers are loaded at MLBs most premium position. Rivera’s glove has been ready for a couple years already and something clicked with the bat in the second half last season and early indications this year are that it’s not a fluke (amazing what getting out of BC can do for a bat). DM has built some nice collateral here. 15. Michael Reed – Pos. OF – Level AA – Age 22 This kid has developed nicely. So much to like here, but, yes there it is, the B word… he is in an unfortunate position, or plays one. Reed might not have the power to play the corners at the next level, and he might not have the elite speed/athleticism to play the middle. So much to like here let’s just keep watching this young man. 16. Brooks Hall – Pos. RHP – Level AA – Age 24 Fun/frustrating career to follow so far. I’m happy to rank him this high… finally. I’m happy hes missing bats… finally. Injuries are the main culprit here and a mysterious loss of velocity is the other. Brooks is off to a phenomenal start and it’s time for him to keep that momentum and run with it and be the guy that had me pumped that the Brewers had a steal in the 2009 4th round! 17. Jorge Lopez – Pos. RHP – Level AA – Age 22 He might not have a bigger fan than me, he was in my top 10 last year and if he makes some adjustments and comes on here soon he will quickly work his way back up my list. He has made solid strides since being drafted. He has every tool you want. He’s still just brimming with potential, but such is drafting high-school pitchers. He could flame out right here at this level, he could put it together and become a big leaguer, and he could still project out and become a top of the rotation pitcher (regardless of what anyone says, yes, he still has top of the rotation potential). 18. Brandon Diaz – Pos. CF – Level A – Age 20 This kids is very likeable. The tools are there. Can he put them to use? Stay tuned. Slow start so far at Wisconsin, but hes still young and its still early. 19. Johnny Hellweg – Pos. RHP – Level AAA – Age 26 Hes old, hes been injured (still coming back from tommy johns), he had a rocky at best big league debut. Now let’s talk about the good things. Two years ago he was a top 5 arm, how soon we forget. He has (had) a 100 mph electric fastball that topped out at 91/92 and was straight as an arrow when he was with the brewers (weird), something was up and I would love to see him get another shot. Because he could set up hitters with the fastball we never really saw if the breaking stuff could play. Believe it or not he has nearly as much big league potential as any on the list. 20. Jason Rogers – Pos. 3b – Level AAA/MLB – Age 27 Always the bridesmaid never the bride… he just might be underrated. He also might be the future at 3rd base for a while. Anxious to see how he hits MLB pitching. 21. Kyle Wren – Pos. CF – Level AA – Age 24 Solid pickup by the brewers after the braves cleaned house. 4th outfielder potential, maybe more, probably not. Hasn’t hit yet for his new club, but has shown previous seasons that he’s a prospect. 22. David Denson – Pos. 1B – Level A – Age 20 Love the power, cant wait till he hits enough to see it. 3 words, potential, potential, and potential. For some reason I feel myself starting to give up on him, tell me I’m wrong, PLEASE. Better yet, lets hope he shows me im wrong. 23. Drew Gagnon – Pos. RHP – Level AAA – Age 24 What have you done for me lately Drew. Im not sure Drew has done anything wrong outside of a slow start at AAA (shouldn’t be unexpected), and the Brewers system getting a whole lot better at the top. Still a lot to like and a potential future back end starter. 24. Hobbs Johnson – Pos. LHP – Level AA – Age 23 The Brewers just might have found a gem here. One of the least exciting draft picks for me. Falls into the “plays for a top program, obligatory middle round pick, future reliever” stereo type for me… wait, I mean FELL. The Stuff might be the worst on this list, but the man can pitch and he does it from the left side. Prove me wrong sir! 25. Miguel Diaz – Pos. RHP – Level Rookie – Age 20 He takes the last spot strictly on potential. When a guy is an international signing that repeats the DSL and doesn’t have a great stateside debut it’s hard to get excited. When you read that same guys scouting reports and words and phrases like ‘electric’, ‘upper 90s fb’, ‘misses bats’, ‘slider is an out pitch’, and ‘only getting better’ its easy to get excited. I put him here over Marco Diplan due to organizational bias . Just missed the list: Marcos Diplan Corey Knebel Wei-chung Wang David Goforth Chris Mcfarland Tucker Neuhaus Jordan Yamamoto Matt Clark Sthervin Matos David Burkhalter Joantgel Segovia Jed Bradley Ariel Pena Tyler Cravy Orlando Torrez Luis Aviles Miton Gomez Hiram Burgos Nicholas Pierre Franly Mallen Javier Salas Jorge Ortega Brandon Woodruff Angel Ortega Cy Sneed Omar Garcia Victor Diaz Dustin Demuth Damien Magnifico Gian Rizzo Cameron Garfield Troy Stokes Jacob Barnes Brent Suter Austin Ross Jose Pena Johnny Davis Taylor Brennan Elvis Rubio J.B. Kole There’s enough for a power 50 here, finally!

This was my post in the reaction thread when it happened. I am disappointed still at the price we paid for parra. I think Banda is going to be a stud and hes got a real shot to be in a big league rotation. I thought at the time that the addition may push us to the playoffs, but it didnt :-(, but it was also on the hope that 1 or both of henderson and thornburg were coming back.

Kind of sad that they gave up on Magnifico, he seemed to be putting it together last season. Suter and Ross have also both shown a lot of promise as starters.

Ouch... i really would like to see him out of the FSL. Maybe we need to start a Free Victor Roache thread.

Dont let that fool you, Denson has great power... sometimes a guy needs to start making good consistent contact before the power comes through in-game ABs. I am one that thinks/hopes that will come for Denson. He started to show a good handle on the zone last season, once that comes next is consistently barreling the ball, then the power should come. His numbers have showed that hes making those strides, could be a real nice player.

Id love to do a preseason version, but i think participation might be limited before ST starts.

The brewers have clearly made the international market a priority over the last 2-3 years. I'm with SRB that they have actual real interest, I am not saying that they are likely to sign him, but i believe they are more than kicking the tires. None of us have even a clue what this kids talent is like, and i bet the brewers do. Lets say they think hes comparable to Mike Trout, I would think the brewers would be very interested in spending 100 mil + on mike trout. What, to me, would be 'sexy' to the brewers about this potential signing is that they cant lure that level of talent to milwaukee because of the market size and endorsement opportunity in most cases, but with the international signing guys im not sure thats nearly the factor, for them i think its all about $$. So, if he is indeed what they think is super super star level talent, 100mil would actually be worth it for the brewers as they dont generally have a shot at that type of talent for many other reasons. Again, i dont think its likely, and they probably have the lowest odds of the teams involved, but i think there is maybe a little more to it with their interest.

Ogando might be a nice little steal. Not a FA until 17' and has put up two above average seasons as a starter in texas, coming off injury, but he could play in the pen or the rotation.

Cravy did not pitch much at all above AA. With that, even though I am a big fan, I dont think he has enough 'special' for a guy with limited experience above AA to get stashed in a pen, and i dont think there enough book on him for a team to think he could contribute in a pen over the guys that they already have in there system at the AA and AAA levels. The thing to keep in the back of your mind is almost every organization is going to choose their guy, that they know inside and out, over another teams guy even if the other guy might be slightly ahead. you also lose a lot of roster flexibilty with a rule 5 guy because unlike your guys he cannot be optioned. There is always a chance bradley or cravy gets picked up, I think bradley has the better chance, but there is an even better chance that they get returned if that even happens. I could see a team thats really dry on talent taking either of the two and giving them a few starts and seeing if they have it, and if not sending them back, but thats just extremely unlikely.

Trade gallardo, lohse, segura, and Kandy Khrush for Tulo. Slide tulo to 3rd with arcia is ready. Lineup: Gomez Lucroy Braun Tulo Rameriz Lind Scooter Para Garza Rotation: Garza Peralta Fiers Nelson Smith/Thornburg WINNING

:-) yeah, we might have made the playoffs. Oh well, it just seemed like a real natural fit and we seem to be good trade partners with the jays and Alex a over the years.

Bump!

I think it would be very ill advised to give up on Segura at this point. From being hit in the face like he was, to losing his son, to what is clearly a lingering quad/leg issue it's clear he's had a rough season, but he has actually started to hit a bit here recently and that's good. It's obvious that he isn't moving like he did last season, a good portion of his batting average was tied to infield hits, in which he lead the league, as well your power comes from your legs. I think healthy legs would have his average a bit higher and his power numbers also. I think Segura needs an offseason... I think he's a special player and it will show up as early as next season. I could be wrong, but I think Segura should be the SS next season and I don't see the brewers manuevering anything to change that.

Very happy with this trade, feel like the brewers won this one after coming out on the losing end of the parra trade.

I disagree with that, the kid is supposed to be an incredible athlete and very coachable, and he's played baseball his whole life. What makes you think he couldn't play the field?

I'm on it! DoU previews, like it! Get on it!! Now we should get the moderators to delete the epic collapse threads... I'm done with the self fulfilling stuff, GO BREWERS!!

Alright, I have decided to do my part to help the brewers right the ship and make a push to the playoffs. In late march I started a diet (cause I really needed it), and I ate grits for breakfast every morning until about 2 weeks ago, I started to fall off a bit, I've been at it a long time and am getting in decent shape so I have loosened up the diet a bit. Now at the exact time my baby, born in late Feb, hit 6 months old about two weeks ago and my wife packed up all the the 3-6 month clothes, including all of her brewers onesies that I dressed her in nearly every day since April... Needless to say, I broke out the onesies this morning, though I had already taken her to daycare, so tomorrow she will be back geared up. I also went and bought grits.... I'm doing my part to break the funk! Do any of you have any superstitions or things of this nature to help turn things around?? If so please share and start doing them! :-) we need to change the feeling of this thing, nothing worse then turning on the game and expecting them to already be losing...I'm changing my mindset today!

FINALLY...