Jim Goulart

Venezuela Box Score 21-year-old RHP Gian Rizzo made his 4th appearance of the winter, and his first in exactly two months, with a perfect inning. La Guaira Bottom of the 6th Pitching Change: Gian Rizzo replaces Alex Torres. Jose Martinez grounds out, third baseman Ray Olmedo to first baseman Jose Flores. Sergio Miranda flies out to left fielder Freddy Parejo. Jose Gonzalez strikes out swinging. Rizzo's team is qualified for the postseason round-robin, so maybe we'll see him again.

Puerto Rico Box Score 40-man roster catcher Juan Centeno drove in his team's only run with a 9th inning pinch-hit sacrifice fly in a 4-1 loss. For the winners, another 40-man roster member, SS Yadiel Rivera, singled in three AB's to move his line to .250/.313/.367 (.680 OPS) in 120 winter at-bats. Centeno and young RHP Joshua Torres have now completed their seasons, as their San Juan team finished 12-28, and was the only one of the five Puerto Rico League teams not to qualify for the round-robin postseason tournament. No more fun with Centeno's .127/.253/.141 line (.394 OPS) in 71 AB's.

Go to the link below for several new construction photos Shuckers will pay for high-tech video boards at Biloxi stadium By Mary Perez, Biloxi Sun Herald BILOXI -- The Biloxi Shuckers will pay for two high-tech video boards at the new baseball stadium, and will pick up the price of beverage holders and more-comfortable seats. Tim Bennett, one of the team owners, updated the Biloxi City Council on Tuesday. Under the original agreement, Biloxi was obligated to pay for the scoreboard, which Bennett said was estimated at more than $1.7 million. "We're going to take on that responsibility," he told the council. The team also will spring for a second board, for a combined value of $2.7 million. "Now the fan experience will be so much better having two boards instead of one," he said. The large board -- one of the biggest in the league -- will be along the right-field line. The secondary board on the left-field line will be used for advertising. "It allows us to create a revenue stream that wasn't there before," Bennett said. "We as a team are willing to give the city the first $100,000 of that revenue stream." The payment will offset the estimated $500,000 the city will have to pay to install the video boards. In addition to saving the cost of the scoreboard, Biloxi saved $23,000 for a change order on the suites and $57,000 for buying lighting directly instead of through contractor Yates Construction. "The next big milestone is going to be starting the field work," said Jason Gold, construction manager for Yates. That should happen in March, he said, and then the contractors can give a more-accurate and realistic completion date. For now, the date is still mid-July, he said. Bennett said the Biloxi Shuckers and parent club Milwaukee Brewers are both very satisfied with the progress of the stadium. "We want it done safely and on time," he said. The light towers and parking garage are more than half finished and crews are installing plumbing and electrical and framing the interior of the maintenance building and home clubhouse. Entertainment executives from Las Vegas flew in to check out the stadium for outdoor concerts, which the Beau Rivage and other casino will host, Bennett said. He also has commitments from teams nationally and internationally to play in Biloxi. When construction of the stadium is done, Bennett said the goal is to keep building the area north of the ballpark. "I've got interest from developers," he said.

Go to the link below for several new construction photos Shuckers will pay for high-tech video boards at Biloxi stadium By Mary Perez, Biloxi Sun Herald BILOXI -- The Biloxi Shuckers will pay for two high-tech video boards at the new baseball stadium, and will pick up the price of beverage holders and more-comfortable seats. Tim Bennett, one of the team owners, updated the Biloxi City Council on Tuesday. Under the original agreement, Biloxi was obligated to pay for the scoreboard, which Bennett said was estimated at more than $1.7 million. "We're going to take on that responsibility," he told the council. The team also will spring for a second board, for a combined value of $2.7 million. "Now the fan experience will be so much better having two boards instead of one," he said. The large board -- one of the biggest in the league -- will be along the right-field line. The secondary board on the left-field line will be used for advertising. "It allows us to create a revenue stream that wasn't there before," Bennett said. "We as a team are willing to give the city the first $100,000 of that revenue stream." The payment will offset the estimated $500,000 the city will have to pay to install the video boards. In addition to saving the cost of the scoreboard, Biloxi saved $23,000 for a change order on the suites and $57,000 for buying lighting directly instead of through contractor Yates Construction. "The next big milestone is going to be starting the field work," said Jason Gold, construction manager for Yates. That should happen in March, he said, and then the contractors can give a more-accurate and realistic completion date. For now, the date is still mid-July, he said. Bennett said the Biloxi Shuckers and parent club Milwaukee Brewers are both very satisfied with the progress of the stadium. "We want it done safely and on time," he said. The light towers and parking garage are more than half finished and crews are installing plumbing and electrical and framing the interior of the maintenance building and home clubhouse. Entertainment executives from Las Vegas flew in to check out the stadium for outdoor concerts, which the Beau Rivage and other casino will host, Bennett said. He also has commitments from teams nationally and internationally to play in Biloxi. When construction of the stadium is done, Bennett said the goal is to keep building the area north of the ballpark. "I've got interest from developers," he said.

Shuckers may shell out money for scoreboard By WLOX Staff The construction of MGM Park in downtown Biloxi is moving forward. Now a scoreboard that was left out of the original cost estimate of the project can be included. The city maxed out on funds for the project at $36 million. On Tuesday Biloxi Shuckers owner Tim Bennett told the city council that the team will pay the $1 million price tag for the scoreboard if the city agrees to pay for the installation. Bennett said that should put the city's cost for the scoreboard at $500,000. *** Did you see what they did there -- Shuckers "shell out" money...

First from the August 31st Link Report -- John Sickels has posted his top 20 for the Diamondbacks - he lists Banda under the "other" category, although the only LHP's in the Top 20 are rookie baller Cody Reed and recently-acquired Robbie Ray. 16) Mitch Haniger, OF, Grade C+: Age 24, acquired in trade with Brewers over the summer, hit .259/.324/.422 with 11 homers, in 282 at-bats, all but 15 in Double-A. Average tools across the board, has some power but hasn’t lived up to full expectations generated when he was a supplemental first round pick in 2012. Decent glove could make him a workable fourth outfielder. Here's what Gord Ash said in this Adam McCalvy December 11th article. "We have great opportunity in the bullpen, and we have great opportunity in the outfield, so I would expect to hear quite a bit from a lot of players who have been reluctant to this point. I think they look at our outfield situation with four outfielders [right fielder [b]Ryan Braun[/b], center fielder Carlos Gomez, left fielder Khris Davis and Gold Glove Award-caliber extra Gerardo Parra], but we have nothing after that. So there's a great opportunity if there's injury or non-performance." Wonder what Logan Schafer (or his agent) thought as they read that... It really pains me that considering the Brewers picked up Parra's entire salary, and that he will not be a cheap 4th OF option, that Banda had to be included in this deal. I believe Ron Roenicke will feed Parra too many starts, in particular for Khris Davis. Banda will be 21 for most of his High-A season, and it will be interesting to follow his California League numbers this season. We won't post start-by-start updates (although tempted), but we will set up a more reasonable-to-manage alumni thread this spring, which will focus on younger players recently traded by the Brewers (Haniger, Banda, Barrett Astin, Kevin Shackelford, Shawn Zarraga, Zach Quintana, Rodolfo Fernandez) that will provide easy links for folks to check in or comment on at their convenience. I'll also predict Banda is more than a lottery ticket for the D-Backs, and will surpass Haniger by quite a bit in future value. Darn you, Logan...

Dominican Box Score In a 5-1 win, teammates Elian Herrera (second base) and Luis Jimenez (DH) contributed. Herrera was 0-for-3, but had two sacrifice bunts and drove in a run. Jimenez was on base three times (2-for-3, walk, two RBI). Can't wait for the Wirfin Obispo Brewer shirseys to make their Miller Park debut -- Aguilas Top of the 8th Pitching Change: Wirfin Obispo replaces Eury De La Rosa. Juan Perez grounds out, second baseman Elian Herrera to first baseman Ed Rogers. Ricardo Nanita reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Gustavo Nunez. Manny Ramirez flies out to right fielder Jordany Valdespin. Danny Richar grounds out, shortstop Gustavo Nunez to first baseman Ed Rogers. *** Dominican Box Score It was a battle of shortstops, and Jean Segura's team bested that of Hector Gomez by a 2-1 score. Segura singled in four at-bats and stole a base. Gomez was 2-for-4.

Puerto Rico Box Score Martin Maldonado's Mayaguez club cruised, 14-3. Maldy doubled in four at-bats, scoring a run and driving in two. He began the game behind the plate, moved to first base, then was lifted late, after grounding out in the 7th with his team up 9-1. We imagine he's fine. *** Puerto Rico Box Score Clean inning for young Mr. Torres -- Caguas Bottom of the 6th Pitching Change: Joshua Torres replaces Julio Morales. Defensive Substitution: Jose Lozada replaces third baseman Ruben Gotay, batting 3rd, playing third base. Ramon Castro pops out to second baseman Alexis Pantoja. Edgardo Baez grounds out, pitcher Joshua Torres to first baseman Joseph Dunigan. Miguel Abreu singles on a ground ball to center fielder Edwin Medina. Jan Hernandez called out on strikes.

Venezuela Box Score SS Orlando Arcia doubled in three at-bats, scoring a run, as his team fell, 7-3. He continues to hit in the nine-hole since his red-hot first several weeks of winter action.

Mexico Box Score RHP Manny Barreda pitched one perfect inning in his club's 3-1 loss; he hasn't pitched in many victories, has been a low-leverage guy for his team over 28 appearances -- Mexicali Bottom of the 8th Pitching Change: Manny Barreda replaces Federico Castaneda. Dave Sappelt grounds out, shortstop Ramiro Pena to first baseman Ali Solis. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Mike Bianucci replaces Chris Roberson. Mike Bianucci grounds out sharply, third baseman Oscar Robles to first baseman Ali Solis. Luis Juarez grounds out, third baseman Oscar Robles to first baseman Ali Solis. *** Barreda's teammate Eric Farris was drafted by the Brewers in the 4th round in 2007, three spots ahead of Corey Kluber. Not sure why I analyze that to depress things from a Brewers perspective, you can make a similar line of "what if" for the majority of players. Of course, the real sadness is in San Diego, where they made this trade: July 31, 2010: Kluber traded as part of a 3-team trade by the San Diego Padres to the Cleveland Indians. The San Diego Padres sent Nick Greenwood to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cleveland Indians sent Jake Westbrook to the St. Louis Cardinals. The St. Louis Cardinals sent Ryan Ludwick to the San Diego Padres.

Dominican Box Score Hector Gomez split time between third base and short, 1-for-4 with an RBI (two K's) in an 8-2 loss. *** Dominican Box Score LHP Nick Additon allowed only one earned run over five innings despite allowing 11 baserunners -- apparently too much eggnog for me, I had incorrectly indicated earlier in the thread that Additon's club did not qualify for the postseason round-robin -- Estrellas Top of the 1st Derrick Robinson grounds out softly, pitcher Nick Additon to first baseman Wilson Betemit. Gustavo Nunez singles on a bunt ground ball to second baseman Alexi Casilla. Elian Herrera grounds out, third baseman Maikel Franco to first baseman Wilson Betemit. Gustavo Nunez to 2nd. Luis Jimenez called out on strikes. Estrellas Top of the 2nd Junior Lake flies out to right fielder Moises Sierra. Wilkin Castillo singles on a line drive to left fielder Mel Rojas. Ed Rogers pops out to third baseman Maikel Franco in foul territory. Audy Ciriaco singles on a ground ball to center fielder Francisco Peguero. Wilkin Castillo to 2nd. Michael Martinez singles on a line drive to left fielder Mel Rojas. Wilkin Castillo scores. Audy Ciriaco to 2nd. Derrick Robinson grounds into a force out, shortstop Jean Segura to second baseman Alexi Casilla. Michael Martinez out at 2nd. Estrellas Top of the 3rd Gustavo Nunez called out on strikes. Elian Herrera walks. Luis Jimenez flies out to left fielder Mel Rojas in foul territory. Junior Lake singles on a ground ball to left fielder Mel Rojas. Elian Herrera to 2nd. Wilkin Castillo walks. Elian Herrera to 3rd. Junior Lake to 2nd. Ed Rogers strikes out swinging. Estrellas Top of the 4th Audy Ciriaco pops out to first baseman Wilson Betemit in foul territory. Michael Martinez grounds out, third baseman Maikel Franco to first baseman Wilson Betemit. Derrick Robinson singles on a line drive to right fielder Moises Sierra. With Gustavo Nunez batting, Derrick Robinson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Carlos Paulino to second baseman Alexi Casilla. Estrellas Top of the 5th Gustavo Nunez singles on a line drive to right fielder Moises Sierra. Elian Herrera grounds into a force out, third baseman Maikel Franco to second baseman Alexi Casilla. Gustavo Nunez out at 2nd. Elian Herrera to 1st. Luis Jimenez doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Mel Rojas. Elian Herrera out at home on the throw, left fielder Mel Rojas to shortstop Jean Segura to catcher Carlos Paulino. Luis Jimenez to 3rd on the throw. Junior Lake walks. With Wilkin Castillo batting, Junior Lake steals (1) 2nd base. Wilkin Castillo pops out to first baseman Wilson Betemit. Herrera, playing second base, finished 0-for-2 with two walks. Jimenez, as the DH, doubled in four at-bats. Addition's winning teammate, Segura, also was 1-for-4 with a double.

Puerto Rico Box Score Yadiel Rivera has a nice game, 2-for-4 with two RBI, including a sacrifice fly. Rivera split time between third base and first base, of all places. The sac fly provided an 11th inning insurance run in a 4-2 win. *** Venezuela Box Score SS Orlando Arcia, first action in a week, 0-for-3 with three K's, did walk once.

Puerto Rico Box Score We've had some fun with Juan Centeno's line lately, but credit due here -- on base three times, single and two walks (1-for-2), and guided his pitchers to a 6-1 win. *** Puerto Rico Box Score Speaking of catchers, Martin Maldonado also saw action, but his team fell, 9-3. Maldy singled in three at-bats, exiting for a pinch-runner in the 6th. Love the random debuts you see, Jemile Weeks in this one. Each winter box score contains a random "really?" player, whether a blast from the past or a well-known MLB prospect.

Mexico Box Score RHP Manny Barreda made his 26th relief appearance of the winter (he had 47 in the 2014 regular season, the last 17 in the Brewers' organization), and he stranded an inherited runner in a scoreless four-out performance -- Mexicali Bottom of the 5th Dave Sappelt flies out to center fielder Daniel Hinojosa. Walter Ibarra triples (5) on a fly ball to left fielder Maxwell Leon. Luis Juarez grounds out, shortstop Issmael Salas to first baseman Joey Meneses. Walter Ibarra scores. Josh Whitesell doubles (7) on a fly ball to left fielder Maxwell Leon. Pitching Change: Manny Barreda replaces Marco Camarena. Humberto Cota called out on strikes. Mexicali Bottom of the 6th Xorge Carrillo singles on a ground ball to left fielder Maxwell Leon. Chris Roberson hits a sacrifice bunt. Xorge Carrillo to 2nd. Chris Roberson to 1st. Ricardo Serrano strikes out swinging. Gil Velazquez lines into a double play, shortstop Issmael Salas to second baseman Ramiro Pena. Xorge Carrillo doubled off 2nd. *** Apparently, the game never finished, still in the bottom of the 13th as of this post.

The stats on the linked Dominican player pages will no longer update during this 18-game postseason round-robin tournament. The box score averages will reflect postseason only.

Dominican Box Score Brewers galore in a 6-0 game -- Winners: Elian Herrera, playing second base, 1-for-4 with a walk and RBI; Luis Jimenez, 0-for-3 in the cleanup spot as the DH, but with two walks; and RHP Wirfin Obispo, retired two of the four batters he faced, helped by his bullpen mate -- Toros Top of the 8th Pitching Change: Wirfin Obispo replaces Edgar Garcia. Cesar Puello strikes out swinging. Esteban German grounds out, second baseman Elian Herrera to first baseman Jose Ruiz. Hector Gomez walks. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Brian Burgamy replaces Mayo Acosta. Brian Burgamy walks. Hector Gomez to 2nd. Pitching Change: Eury De La Rosa replaces Wirfin Obispo. Jose Constanza flies out to left fielder Junior Lake. On the losing side, Hector Gomez, playing second base, singled and walked in three plate appearances (1-for-2).

Dominican Box Score SS Jean Segura debuted (you knew last night if you saw my tweet), so hopefully he finds a balance between playing too much (two years ago) and not at all (last winter). Segura singled on a ground ball to center and dropped a soft fly single into right in his first two at-bats (both of those at-bats against talented young Cardinals' RHP Carlos Martinez, who pitched five shutout innings, no walks, ten K's!). He then struck out swinging twice and grounds out sharply back to the pitcher. Segura's team won, 2-1, in 11 innings.

Jake Gatewood workout Tweet/Instagram -- added 24 pounds since season's end

Puerto Rico Box Score SS Yadiel Rivera was 2-for-3 in his club's 3-2 win. Rivera's working on a six-game hit streak and has a .361 OBP in his last ten games. *** Puerto Rico Box Score Juan Centeno, who must own the team, inserts himself into the San Juan lineup again as the DH, was 0-for-3 with a walk. Centeno's squad drops to 11-25 as his average fallss to .116 (.362 OPS in 69 AB's).

An interesting tidbit photo in that last article link was this photo -- A scouting report in the home dugout at Joe Davis Stadium, affectionately known as 'The Joe', which may be demolished as part of the city's plans to expand and reinvent John Hunt Park. (Eric Schultz / eschultz@al.com) Not sure why I never realized this would exist, but the fact that, at least at the AA level and above, a Brewers farmhand can quickly get this info on an opposing pitcher at a glance, is pretty cool. And that's not to say it doesn't exist at the lower full-season levels as well... http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media/width960/img/alphotos/photo/2014/12/15/-19082e9a734d07c2.JPG

Joe Davis Stadium demolition could come within a year, making way for indoor sports facility All indications still that early-season Biloxi games will be played in the "Joe". Awkward, but a necessity, it appears.

Baseball America Ben Badler's tweet on Orlando Arcia -- Liked him since his DSL days, but love the development of Brewers SS Orlando Arcia. Talented hitter, plus tools at SS, great baseball IQ.

I've never not even once posted in the "Random thoughts that are pointless and too dumb to say anywhere else thread". D'OH!

Thought this tweet was interesting -- Corey Hart, while with #Brewers, vs. LHP - away from Miller Park -.784 OPS. He hit just 14 HR in 503 PA. Gaby Sanchez w/ #Pirates .846 v LHP *** And yes, kudos to Hart's agent! A major league spot for an NL team? The Pirates couldn't do what the Brewers did with Mark Reynolds and offer a "wink-wink" minor league deal?

Pretty amazing that this thread, which will run through the end of the Caribbean World Series in the 2nd week of February, already has nearly 16,000 views. Thanks to all! I hope seeing box scores in what, at least here on the East Coast, has been the grayest, wettest, early winter I can remember in a while, has warmed some baseball thoughts for you all. Have an awesome holiday and Happy New Year!