Joseph Zarr

At the present time, I don't mean to steal your thunder here, Baez is pretty much strictly a 3B in the Brewers organization as he hits the lower levels. His defense actually improved there in the short Low-A stint. He has the arm. And, there's still a lot of growth that needs to happen there. The organization loves him - heck, he was taking meaningful innings over Luke Adams (the 3B stalwart for the majority of the Mudcats season) in the late season and post-season. I'm assuming, here, you're talking about INF Juan Baez? I personally think he's a lottery ticket - we don't really know what we have as he's really only completed a full season of ACL and we have nominal Low-A looks. If we're talking about fast-rising SS's - and strictly SS's - I would imagine you have to first lean on EBJ - hope he has an accomplished AFL season, stays healthy, starts off ripping in Double-A and is in Triple-A some time in the 2024 summer. Even that, for me, is a bit of wishful thinking.

Jackson ChourioJacob MisiorowskiTyler BlackJeferson QueroRobert GasserBrock WilkenEric Brown JrCarlos F RodriguezLuis LaraCooper PrattJosh KnothLuke AdamsEric BitontiYophery RodriguezLogan HendersonMike BoeveDaniel GuilarteDylan O'RaeJadher AreinamoEdwin Jimenez Making this list, I leaned heavier than I typically do on youth and upside. Saying this, I love the depth we have 20-30 in the system. Heck, I could give meaningful depth through 50 if I felt so inclined (I don't, I'm lazy and it's early in the morning). Needless to say, this season was immensely enjoyable to watch and the system is back to top 5 prominence nationally - as it likely should be. As per usual, my addendum is: my list doesn't mean all that much and I can give several reasons for many more players beyond my selections here that can make their mark and get a chance at the MLB level.

Jackson ChourioJacob MisiorowskiTyler BlackJeferson QueroRobert GasserBrock WilkenEric Brown JrCarlos F RodriguezLuis LaraCooper PrattJosh KnothLuke AdamsEric BitontiYophery RodriguezLogan HendersonMike BoeveDaniel GuilarteDylan O'RaeJadher AreinamoEdwin Jimenez Making this list, I leaned heavier than I typically do on youth and upside. Saying this, I love the depth we have 20-30 in the system. Heck, I could give meaningful depth through 50 if I felt so inclined (I don't, I'm lazy and it's early in the morning). Needless to say, this season was immensely enjoyable to watch and the system is back to top 5 prominence nationally - as it likely should be. As per usual, my addendum is: my list doesn't mean all that much and I can give several reasons for many more players beyond my selections here that can make their mark and get a chance at the MLB level.

RHP Justin Yeager's first inning of work since May 11th was a rough one: 1 IP, 4 H, 1 HR, 4 ER - 0 BB and 0 K. Shake that rust off and get them next time, Justin. This is only the beginning of your road back to where you want to be.

IF Counsell is in fact leaving, the one guy organizationally I'd want to lead the shift to the young Brewers takeover would be the Mudcats' Victor Estevez. I absolutely love the way he handles games. It has a less than 1% chance of happening. BUT, this is the kind of thinking I want to see. Outside the box. Youth driven. Miles to go and we shall see. Lucky for me, I can track Estevez's results this winter when he manages the 'Escogido Leones' in the Dominican Winter League. He's a rising star.

My only hope for the Brewers organization is they embrace change. I hope they actually honestly assess what is practical for the organization and they attack it with fearlessness and the vigor it demands. I do not think I can handle another decision like the Winker one(s). No more being afraid to fail. Choosing Winker was a scared decision. It had no intrepid vision. No courage. It was stale and indefensible. The karma of this series is what it is. The ball just does not lie. You have to seize these moments by meeting them and making your mark. The Brewers were owned by the moments in this series being too big for the group. I want to see fearlessness this off-season. I want to see cutting edge moves showing they have learned they need to keep evolving and honestly assess what has repeatedly failed. I want to see reasons why I should solidify my faith going into 2024. They have a fantastic foundation in the lower levels. NOW is the time to use that as the springboard for what comes next

I don't agree with this sentiment even remotely. We have premium guys literally right on the doorstep. We have an intriguing off-season of uncertainty. I think 2024 could be quite exciting.

EBJ doing his thing already tonight. BB, 2 SB, R. 1-1 score into the 4th. He also has his second Error in just 3 games. Clarke is 0-for-2 with a K.

I can feel you on this. Not bad thoughts here whatsoever.

You can't rationalize letting Frelick bat there especially considering his ongoing overall slump to end his year. Just as you can't rationalize not only rostering Winker but using him as the first PH bat when there is literally zero evidence all season long he can handle the duties. The decisions and the rationale are indefensible. They are failures. The ball does not lie.

Oh I know. I was making a joke. These Playoff fails and choices across the spectrum are so eerily Packers it's maniacal. This has infinite shades of LaFleur and Stenovich swapping out 2:3 their O-Line at Home vs Tampa. Anyhow, I am used to the pain. It is just more fuel for the fire.

Frankly, at this juncture I am just elated Couns can't go to Winker in this scenario. That'a where I am at mentally with what is going on.

Personally, I'm looking for (Ray) Ginkel and a clean pair of shorts.

What's interesting in the above amalgamated list is three of the absolute best raw stuff guys in the system (all playing at Low-A Carolina) don't even make the list. All three struggled with control and consistency - hence, they remained in a Low-A placement by year's end. But, you'd be hard-pressed to find better pure stuff guys than RHP's Quinton Low, Jesus Rivero, and Yerlin Rodriguez. The problem there, however, is their control issues often overshadow everything else. Quite a bit more so than Shears who, as you astutely point out, never really succumbed to the wild pitches; the inability of his catchers to catch and frame his stuff consistently; etc. He found ways to work around all that and get punch outs or crucial timely outs. Low and Rivero, in particular, were prone to meltdown innings. Low completely lost himself in late summer and then closed his season on the 7-Day IL from August 11th onward. Rodriguez was as lights out a Low-A closer as you get during June and July but this is surrounded by volatility. I digress. All three of the these guys (Low, Rivero, and Rodriguez) have Big League raw 'stuff'. But, as of right now, they are very much lottery tickets. This is a huge off-season for their development. Needless to say, performance aside, if I am in the player development part of an organization I likely take their raw tools from a strictly prospect and up-side perspective 7 days a week over our collective performance-based 'Honorable Mentions'. And, the addendum here as we know is none of that raw stuff matters if it can't find the zone or swings and misses consistently.

It most definitely isn't right, no. He pitched to a 3.79 ERA. Even if you eliminate the 4 ER he gave up in a piggyback role vs the St. Paul Saints - 3 1/3 IP and 8 K - on May 5th it wouldn't come remotely close to 2.85. My guess? Someone was throwing up an article and scanning the International League stats leaderboard and misplaced the Gwinnett Stripers' Allan Winans and his actual 2.85 ERA. It's a silly mistake. None the less, Gasser showcased fantastic stuff in 2023. AND, the high 3's ERA speaks more to his actual production - brilliant at times; nearly always filled with K's; still prone to walks; and also extremely unlucky at times with really weak contact. Once he came into form he was a dominant Triple-A starter. BUT, he does indeed still show reversion to the control issues. He is so close. So close to finding the best version of his pitching self.

Didn't they win last night and sit 1-1?

Honestly, I'm just surprised they didn't keep Rowdy on the roster as a spare bullpen arm. He was getting swings and misses his last time on the hill.

I'll migrate a few Game 1 notes from late last night: - EBJ's very first 2023 innings manning 2B were last night (SS was given to the Rangers 2021 3rd Rd pick, Cameron Cauley). - No OF Hendry Mendez sighting in Game 1 - No Brewers hurlers touched the mound - given the score that may have been a good thing 🤭

First thing I noticed: - Clarke game 1 slotted in straight to the clean-up spot. Noice! Aside from another HR he tacked on a triple?! The man continues to surprise in all the right ways. - The Saguaros gave up 8 runs but not a single Brewer pitched. Nice? - Eric Brown Jr. not only slotted in seventh in the order but he played 2B. Those are his very first 2023 innings at 2B. - No Hendry Mendez sighting

I'm not even mad or surprised to be honest. Truly awful news, obviously. I more just feel terribly for Woodruff who is easily one of the easiest Brewers to root for. This is such a devastating blow at this point in his career. I truly feel for him as a player and a person. This is a scary injury given what he had already come back from in 2023. Hopefully the team can galvanize around the 'Us vs Them' mentality they will need. An Ace down. A manager with an unknown Future. Do it for each other and may we as fans relish in the improbable.

- RHP Janson Junk has been recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds - LHP Eric Lauer was optioned by the Milwaukee Brewers to the ACL Brewers

- RHP Caleb Boushley was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers -LHP Clayton Andrews was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers - LHP Eric Lauer was recalled by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Nashville Sounds

Words can not express how absolutely and utterly awesome that night and result was for Caleb and his friends and family. That was storybook stuff right there. What a moment. What a beautiful bit of MLB debut work to showcase to the rest of the League, as well for his upcoming FA. That was not an ideal scenario for a first outing. He rose to the occasion and then some. It felt so rewarding to see him get that result after being the steady workhorse and 'Mr. Always Available' for Sweet and his staff in Nashville. People may not remember: Tho he didn't have the 2023 Triple-A season he would have liked (marred by his poor final month plus), he was the chosen starter for Nashville in last year's Vegas Semi-Final game vs Durham.