Joseph Zarr

Very very cool to see the Shuckers add so many faces to their staff for 2023! Will Schierholz heads up to Double-A to work with the Shuckers' pitching staff after a fantastic first season of work in Wisconsin in 2022. He's joined by former Rattler's hitting coach Nick Stanley (bench coach in 2023), 2022 ACL Blue pitching coach Josh Spence (bullpen coach in 2023), and Christian Correa who will get his very first season in the affiliated coaching ranks after a championship season playing in the American Association (just a notch below the Atlantic League in terms of competition). I'm excite!

Man, this was an incredible interview overall. I especially loved the early remarks from Brustoski: "...I saw some deer on the way up here. Kind of got the 'Devil Eye'..." Oh man, I know this eye Mr. Brustoski. 🤣

Yes indeed, @CheeseheadInQC. That was @ARobsBrewCrew back in the early going of 2022 when he was walking everyone and their grandfather in Carolina. AND, it's true. His stuff, when it actually gets over the plate is just nasty. He has a super violent compact delivery and his fastball rips with what appears to be a high-spin four-seamer - which, historically is important in this case as Brustoski was a 2-seamer prior his TJ surgery. BUT (and this is discussed mid way through the pod) his new arm slot is very kind to the 4-seamer and last year it was really his first year using that version of the fastball. Coupled with the fact he definitely isn't afraid to come inside (unfortunately, often a wee too far inside) and he has the make-up IF it actually came together to be a high-leverage inning guy. Remember the nasty (I know Jim posted this above...but I'm going to post this again): His frame is a bit like that of the Vogelbach of relievers. But, the man can absolutely sling some heat. He has some off-speed stuff as well. I love watching when he takes the mound - considering how many games I watch in my Man Shed tinkering around I absolutely knew when Brustoski came to the Hill I might see an absurd sequence of punch outs or I might see 3 hit batters and a bases loaded situation with a walked in run. As a Minor League afficionado, that's the sauce - granted, the obvious addendum here is I would much much rather he harnessed his tools and became an Ace. That potential is there. I'm hoping for bigger and better things in 2023. IF I were to build my Minor League Brewsers bullpen, tho, based strictly on 'stuff' and the ability to be dangerous and imposing on the mound...I honestly wouldn't think twice for a Brustoski add. He needs more of Meeker's control. If he had that? He'd be in Triple-A on the doorstep waiting for a call-up.

@Mass Haasand @damuelle, you are the real Minor League off-season heroes. I never knew I would have been spending evenings curious to see what Arnaldo Hernandez was up to! It's somewhat funny in that he definitely showed some 'stuff' in Biloxi in 2022 despite his unsightly stat line overall - his numbers just really blow up because when he got hit he was prone to really rough innings. New seasons make for new stories and what Hernandez (and C Alex Hall) were up to this winter filled me up with an unexpected Minor League super fix. Thank you both for covering so adroitly and consistently.

Good news here in early February: 1B Jon Singleton has re-signed a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training. He will be starting his 2023 season (most likely) with the Nashville Sounds. This is fantastic! Also in that tweet thread is the update that C Jeferson Quero has been invited to Spring Training. The rise and recognition in the organization continues its lofty trajectory - rightfully so. Lastly, OF Antony Gomez was assigned to the DSL Brewers 1.

So, when we reflect back to when broke he broke his hand in such timely fashion back in 2021 do we call that punch a 'screwwall'? Asking for a friend (who is also a dad).

Something I don't see pointed out in that thread, but something alluded to on more than one occasion by Nasvhville manager Rick Sweet in 2022, is the batting stance adjustment made to Turang's hands in the 2021-2022 off-season. Notice how much further back the old hands are. He has centered them directly over his base and aligned to his core. Everything is more compact upper body opening up those lower body and center pivot power centers. It's a beautiful maturation and just beginning. It's a key reason why I kept pointing out: He is just tapping into his power. Can he maintain that consistency at the highest level? Knowing his work ethic and his overall vastly underrated athletic profile, I'm guessing yes and it is just a matter of time.

Hear ye, Hear ye. Good stuff! Love the arm discourse - an extremely important but oft overlooked quality of a player. Though his arm is probably a notch below Adames (naked eye observations from Sounds games), Turang indeed benefits from a solid ability to toss the white rat with decent velocity. I continue to hope last year's impressive showing from Cam Devanney was just the beginnings of what could be a long career. That is the best infield arm in the system - yes, better than Eduardo Garcia. An absolute cannon that is so fun to watch. He's knocking on the door at Nashville and I hope he can open it and show his wares.

'MLB the Show 2022' agrees with you @Matthew Trueblood. However, they add a real wrinky dinky to the whole schtick: he throws a Screwball and a Change. Whoa nelly! It's almost too hot to handle! Considering I recently lost to the Angels, 4 games to 1, in the World Serious (super likely) they're now adding further intrigue to my baseball soup: I am currently facing the Philadelphia Phillies in an early 2023 season home series where recently acquired Brewer Minor League Free Agent, INF Josh VanMeter (Spring Training invite - he'll play for the Sounds), is their starting 3B. It's all so gossipy and unfathomably cutting edge. All this is to say: Welcome aboard! We're happy to have you.

Let's make a run for that coveted ACL championship babayyyyy! From a competitive standpoint, this will make a difference - there were several times last season we brought up the: "Man, if we combined the talent we'd probably be in the top 3 overall." But, as @CheeseheadInQC says above, this will impact the overall opportunities for the increasing wealth of talent we are seeing in the lowest levels of Brewers ball. My general thinking, given this development, is they might be prioritizing only the most advanced of DSL players - limiting overall opportunities but increasing validating criteria and further emphasizing the importance of the facilities and staffs 'South of the Border', so to speak - and, it also may hint at their continued emphasis on their juggernaut work in the Indy Ball circuits. Perhaps, continuing to use the ACL as a means of incubating faster promotions for these players and new draftees. I was quite impressed by the output I saw last season (on paper) from both the Indy signings and the 2022 draftees.

I'm a fairly huge Black fan. I put him in the tier with Quero and Logan Henderson in terms of outright tenacity on the diamond - they all have that competitive fire that is hard to put a finger on. I think Black's bat-to-ball skills are elite and his power will come (in off-season interviews he speaks to this: power is next on his list of 'To-Do's' in the Batters Box). I don't know where he'll end up on the diamond defensively, but I think wherever that is it will be fine. Nothing elite there, obviously, but I don't see a net negative result overall. I don't know (and, personally, I don't care) where he's ranked on average in these prospect rankings but I know I am absolutely thrilled to watch him develop. He's a true joy to watch play baseball.

It seems like just last early summer when I (sniffles...grabs tissue) was clamoring for people to start recognizing leaving C Jeferson Quero out of the Top 10 Brewers Prospect Lists was sacrilege. His AFL just solidified what was becoming apparent in his late Mudcats games well before he was raking in Wisconsin: He is a flat out stud. The first Joe Ayrault interview I watched (post-promotion) further cemented my sentiments. I am so excited to see what Quero shows us in 2023!

Brewers and Carolina Mudcats staff promotion connection: Good luck, Daniel!

Welcome back, OF Monte Harrison! The Brewers have officially signed Harrison to a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training. He was assigned to the Nashville Sounds where he will help add depth to an already talent-laden pool of young outfield prospects. After spending 2021 with Jacksonville and the Jumbo Shrimp in the International League, Harrison spent last season in the Angels organization and the PCL with their Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake. He did grab some cups of coffee with the Big Club in late June into July where he was given a grand total of 14 AB's. Regardless, I'm excited to see Harrison back with the organization! More In-Depth Analysis Here (MLB Trade Rumors write-up)

I absolutely love the 49ers meltdown. It's almost an annual occurrence at this point. They are obviously super talented and they obviously suffered some unfortunate and untimely qb injuries today, but seeing the Shanny pouty face and watching the 49ers self combust with penalties is the chef's kiss.

I have a very hard time (personally speaking) envisioning LHP Russell Smith being selected in Biloxi over RHP TJ Shook - who ended his Double-A season on a decent note. I saw very little to any consistency from Smith deserving of a promotion to a League consistently demonstrating it is quite tough to pitch in. Let Smith prove he has honed his control and his overall arsenal for 2-3 months in Wisconsin before considering a move that could be considered strictly related to draft position over demonstrable results, imho. Thanks for the effort and reflections here!

Add Skye Bolt to the treasure trove.

OF Skye Bolt and familiar face RHP Colin Rea have been invited to Spring Training on Minor League contract deals: More details HERE

The Brewers have officially released 1B Jon Singleton. He had been designated for assignment to Nashville when INF Brian Anderson signed with the club as a FA. More details here: Big Jon Takes His Talents Elsewhere in 2023

Love's 5th year, from my understanding, is roughly $19.5Milly. Rookie contract QB Pro Bowlers, like Joe Burrow ($30.4 Milly - been to a pro bowl), make the money you are suggesting. So, the Packers have to decide whether they are on board with fully guaranteeing this money by May 3rd. This being said, even if they pick up that option, my understanding is his 2023 cap hit will still be roughly $3.9Mil. Anywho, the great context and conditions of all this is simply not ideal. At all. And, so it goes. It will certainly be interesting to see what they ultimately decide to do.

I am generally in favor of trading Aaron Rodgers as it is the 'sensible' long-term and organizationally sound thing to do. I'm also intrigued by the potential of Jordan Love and what he'll do running the actual Petals offense and bringing a jolt of young athleticism to the pocket again (knowing full well it will most likely be highly inconsistent results and the regression might be steep - so be it.) I think it's also important to remind ourselves, in addition to playing with an injured thumb for the majority of the season; the loss of his coveted top 2 NFL WR weapon in Davante Adams in the off-season; the loss of his previous offensive strategy minds in Getsy and Hackett; a rotating cast of young and/or injured or coming off of injury OL; not having Christian Watson for half the season and the majority of Training Camp etc... Rodgers also suffered from the 2nd highest drop rate in the entire NFL in 2022 even while leading the NFL in on-target percentage: Anyhow, I bring all this up pointlessly to state: It would be the absolute most modern Packers thing ever to trade Aaron Rodgers while stubbornly and inexplicably holding onto Joe Barry as the DC.

Following up: Shears will begin his affiliated season at High-A Wisconsin. A short journey North for the fireballer.

Just a brief and random late January reminder: RHP Dylan File will be playing in the KBO this year (season begins April 1st). He will take his talents to the Seoul where he'll play for the Doosan Bears.

Just following up here, Fernández was officially assigned to the Nashville Sounds today (1/24/2023).

Ahhhhhhh that sweet and sour taste of seeing beloved prospects fade into the wispy halls of baseball's Honorable Mentions. I can only hope this current round of blue chipper can find more success. As a kiddo, I fondly recall being enthralled when hearing Robidoux's name on the radio. He would have made a fine opening act for a country headliner at Alpine Valley.