Jim Goulart

Adam McCalvy: Hunter Morris looks to climb back into Brewers' first-base mix

This Haudricourt blog entry on RHP Taylor Williams worth one of your Journal-Sentinel monthly clicks.

AUDIO 2/26: Scooter Gennett via DudesOnSports.com

Wow, heading into Year 16 of Link Reporting. Would like to thank (again) last year's crew which included TheCrew07, Eye Black at Night, and bkrause2. Brad has some very exciting baseball opportunities on his immediate horizon, and while he won't be a stranger, he will be stepping down from regular day-to-day Link Report duty. So we do need to recruit those who would like to take a shot at contributing. Reminder -- what a Link Report looks like. What it involves -- simply making yourself available to take a specific night's game, and once the game is over, report the final score, link to the box score / game log, and link to and copy any game summary provided by the affiliate's web site. Are you up late anyway watching the big league club? Well, there you go... Ideally, if time allows, one or two brief comments pointing out anything of particular note buried in the box or log would be appreciated but aren't always necessary (Did a player leave the game early? Any notes on players who are particularly hot?). By volunteering, you're not committing to every night, you'll keep us posted through the forum's private messaging feature as to when you are or aren't available. Help is particularly needed once the rookie leagues kick in, in June. I'll likely once again grab the Maryvale squad at that time, with very early East Coast postings. If we end up lean on volunteers, don't worry, we'll still strive to keep this Sweet 16 Link Report season all it should be. You can reply here if interested, or if you'd rather, email me -- jgoulart "at" Brewerfan.net, thanks in advance. It's almost that time of year !

Farm Director Reid Nichols (full title: Special Assistant to the G.M./Director of Player Development/Training Center) was a guest today on MLB Network Radio's "Power Alley" with Jim Duquette and Mike Ferrin. The audio is only available to those Sirius/XM customers with an "On Demand" subscription. Thankfully, this appearance by Nichols was actually informative in spots, unlike this forgettable call-in appearance a couple of weeks ago on MLB Network. Here are some notes I jotted down as listening - Ferrin in particular is a knowledgeable and impressive interviewer, and was able to guide Nichols through a variety of player topics very quickly. In the order in which they were discussed, my interpretations italicized: First name that came up was Jake Gatewood, quickly described as "a man" by Nichols despite being just 19 (well, we did just learn he bulked up 30 pounds this winter - now 6'5", 220) Gilbert Lara, the $3M+ bonus baby signing, passes the eye test, and is one of those players where the ball makes that "different sound" off the bat. Nichols now believes Lara may be rangy enough to stick at shortstop (didn't initially), no rush to move him off that spot. During this early discussion of shortstops, Nichols was sure to add in the name of 2014 Timber Rattler Angel Ortega (6th round, 2012 out of Puerto Rico, his age 21 season coming up). Interesting comments on Orlando Arcia - his hand/eye coordination is so good that he can hit the ball pretty much any time he wants. So the focus will be on Arcia getting a "smaller swing zone", a reference to laying off more pitches outside the zone. Nichols did accentuate the first syllable of Arcia's last name, which we've heard others do as well. Next up was Kodi Medeiros, Brewer catchers finding him tough to catch with all the movement, but Nichols insisted that Medeiros' changeup made significant strides and will continue to improve. Monte Harrison's name came up quickly, but nothing special noted as the conversation quickly turned to... ...Tyrone Taylor - Nichols was gushing here, biggest improvement has come defensively on getting better breaks on balls as a CF. Otherwise, described as a "total package". (By the way, remember I had summarized a recent Monte Harrison MLB Network Radio interview here.) Clint Coulter will be working on adjusting his swing to make it "flatter". (Coming off his monster season, I imagine this work will only help line drive rates and such, and his power will still carry balls into the gaps and over the fences.) There was a Jorge Lopez segment, and Nichols was exceedingly enthusiastic about the right-hander. He indicated Lopez is definitely a future big league starter with advanced pitchability and command of four pitches. So the focus will be more on getting Lopez to sequence his pitches correctly in 2015, and Nichols even said they may push the 2011 2nd rounder harder than one might think this season. (Hopefully folks are realizing how insanely exciting this AA Biloxi team is going to be -- too bad the travel schedule will be so disjointed with the delayed stadium opening, but my goodness...) Just before Nichols discussed Lopez, Ferrin brought up Bruce Seid's name and Nichols immediately had to compose himself - there was an awkward 15-second silence, actually a weep, and it was a compelling listen because it showed that even months after his passing, just the mention of Seid's name stirred such an immediate reaction in his former colleague and friend in the organization. Of course we'd all like to have a full hour roundtable with folks like Nichols, but as far as a quick eight-to-ten minute national interview, this was worthwhile.

AUDIO 2/25: Kyle Lobner, formerly of the "Frosty Mug", via The Talking Cheeseheads AUDIO 2/26: ESPN's Tim Kurkjian via the Bill Michaels Show AUDIO 2/26: Adam Rygg of the "BrewerNation" blog and twitter feed, also via the Cheeseheads (go to the 26:45 minute mark) AUDIO 2/27: Adam McCalvy via 105.7FM WSSP's morning show AUDIO 2/27: WSSP's Tim Allen a guest on the Bill Michaels Show VIDEO: ESPN Fantasy Brief: Carlos Gomez VIDEO: ESPN Fantasy Brief: Ryan Braun *** It should go without saying the Brewers' official site (video page) and the JSOnline Brewers' page (formal beat guys and the "Peanuts & Cracker Jack" blog) should be must-view stops on your daily Brewers web journey. Depending on your subscription status, you may need to be judicious with your JSOnline clicks.

Haudricourt tweet: #Brewers minor league pitching prospect Hobbs Johnson out a couple of days with some quad tweakage. *** Also, fellow camp invitee and LHP Mike Strong has been sidelined with what is described as normal camp tightness (back).

AUDIO 2/27: WSSP's Tim Allen was a guest on sportscaster Seth Everett's blog

AUDIO 2/26: ESPN's Pedro Gomez in Brewers' camp via WTMJ's Sports Central

Initial inquiry only: Brevard County Manatees eye downtown Melbourne stadium

This thread will be used to post miscellaneous updates on spring camp updates on projected minor leaguers, until we get to the more formal team feature threads in April. Via Adam McCalvy -- Last year, Roenicke was prescient when he offered early praise of left-hander Zach Duke, a non-roster invitee who went on to have a sensational season. On Wednesday, Roenicke said he liked what he's seen so far from another non-roster lefty, Brent Leach. "I didn't know that he had that good of a fastball," Roenicke said.

As per their transactions page, the Brewers have re-signed catcher Robinzon Diaz, who has split the past two minor league seasons pretty evenly between AA and AAA with the Crew. The 31-year-old Diaz (career numbers), a right-handed bat and Dominican native who last saw big league action in 2009 with the Pirates, is hacktastic in the sense that he has only walked 29 times in 643 AB's with the Crew, but his slugging percentage fell off a cliff from 2013 to 2014, down to .339 last season. Diaz has seen limited action at third base and left field in the past. There will be potential cuts this spring, as you now have 40-man roster member Juan Centeno, along with Diaz, Adam Weisenburger, Nevin Ashley, Cameron Garfield, and Parker Berberet all ticketed for catcher duties at AAA / AA this upcoming season. There were eight Brewers minor league free agents unsigned prior to Diaz' inking. Now there are seven, you'll see them listed here, along with all those who have found work.

Non-roster big league camp invitee RHP Tyler Cravy with some nice "flow" -- http://media.jrn.com/images/540*360/USATSI_8398728.jpg

Sun-Herald: Extra $1 million needed to get Biloxi Shuckers' stadium open on time

AUDIO 2/24: Baseball Prospectus Podcast - Ben and Sam preview the Brewers' season with J.P. Breen, and Sahadev talks to Brewers play-by-play broadcaster Joe Block (at 24:16).

VIDEO 2/24, CBS 58: Day two of Brewers spring training in Phoenix

MLB.com: Is the Brewers’ Hobbs Johnson named after ‘The Natural?’ No. Did he try to make his own bat anyway? Yes. *** Journal Sentinel video: LHP Michael Strong gets first taste of big league camp *** AUDIO, 27 Outs Blog, 2/24: Within the "Listen to the Show" right-sidebar, click on the podcast titled "Max Garner Marlins" and go to the 10:00 minute mark. Brewers' farmhand Nathan Orf was a co-guest along with his former Baylor teammate, Garner.

AUDIO 2/24: Bleacher Report's Scott Miller via The Big 1070 in Madison (go to the 25:00 minute mark)

AUDIO 2/24: Tom Haudricourt via "Alex & Drew" on ESPN Wisconsin 540 AUDIO 2/24: Bob Uecker via the Bill Michaels Show AUDIO 2/24: Adam McCalvy via the Bill Michaels Show

AUDIO 2/23: RHP Tyler Thornburg on 105.7 FM's Hot Stove Weekly AUDIO 2/23: Here's the link for the full show, including Thornburg's appearance

AUDIO 2/23: More from Adam McCalvy on 105.7 FM, this time on the afternoon's Big Show *** AUDIO 2/23: Adam Rygg (@BrewerNation) via Justin Hull subbing on the Mike Heller Show (go to the 12:45 minute mark)

Jake Gatewood photos Put on 30 pounds of muscle this offseason thanks to the best trainer out there; this offseason was one to remember and can't wait to put my new body to work.

2015 Milwaukee Brewers "Unified" Top Prospect List(Compilation)

Twins Unveil New Minor League Academy / Dorm All the things we've stressed in the past -- proper meals, training, convenient housing, better supervision. Could be used for the Maryvale rookies all summer long, and the Helena kids already in the system from March until June. If/when the Brewers leave Maryvale, this has to be part of the enticement process.

AUDIO 2/23: Adam McCalvy via 105.7FM's Chuck & Wickett Show