Jim Goulart

AUDIO (12/1) - WSSP's Hot Stove Weekly is back

Dominican Box Score Luis Jimenez, back to playing third base, 0-for-4 (three K's), as his team was shut out.

Puerto Rico Box Score 24-year-old RHP Jacob Barnes made his 5th start and has stretched out to five innings, now sporting a 2.79 ERA, and gets the win here: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 7:2 GB:FB Carolina Bottom of the 1st Ozzie Martinez singles on a line drive to pitcher Jacob Barnes. Irving Falu grounds out, second baseman Rey Navarro to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Ozzie Martinez to 2nd. Jesus Feliciano singles on a line drive to left fielder Trever Adams. Ozzie Martinez to 3rd. Anthony Garcia grounds into a double play, shortstop Luis Mateo to second baseman Rey Navarro to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Jesus Feliciano out at 2nd. Carolina Bottom of the 2nd Danny Dorn walks. Masayoshi Tsukada triples (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Trever Adams. Danny Dorn scores. Cameron Seitzer strikes out swinging. Rene Garcia grounds out, second baseman Rey Navarro to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Masayoshi Tsukada scores. Jeff Dominguez flies out to right fielder Henry Ramos. Carolina Bottom of the 3rd Ozzie Martinez strikes out swinging. Irving Falu grounds out, second baseman Rey Navarro to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Jesus Feliciano hits a ground-rule double (5) on a fly ball to center field. With Anthony Garcia batting, wild pitch by Jacob Barnes, Jesus Feliciano to 3rd. Anthony Garcia flies out to center fielder Juan Silva. Carolina Bottom of the 4th Danny Dorn strikes out swinging. Masayoshi Tsukada singles on a line drive to right fielder Henry Ramos. Cameron Seitzer strikes out swinging. With Rene Garcia batting, Masayoshi Tsukada steals (1) 2nd base. Rene Garcia grounds out, shortstop Luis Mateo to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Carolina Bottom of the 5th Jeff Dominguez grounds out, second baseman Rey Navarro to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Ozzie Martinez strikes out swinging. Irving Falu grounds out to first baseman Carlos Rivera.

Brewers announce the addition (pun intended) of LHP Nick Additon (notice only one letter "I"). Additon, soon to be 27 years old, (career stats) was a Cardinals' 47th round draft-and-follow signee after a year of JUCO ball in Florida. He spent his full seven-year quota in the St. Louis system before signing with the Orioles in the fall of 2013, and then splitting 2014 between AAA and AA. 160 of his 202 appearances have been starts. Additon made two appearances in the Dominican Winter League, the most recent being November 26th, but is no longer listed on the Leones del Escogido roster. "His repertoire is modest with an 86-88 mph fastball, slider and change-up." 2009 write-up link

Brent Leach joins Will Smith (and Wei-Chung Wang) as only LHP's in Brewers system with big league experience. No other southpaw has even reached AAA yet. Good spot for him...

Via MLB Trade Rumors: The Brewers have re-signed left-hander Brent Leach to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league Spring Training, MLBTR has learned (Twitter link). The 31-year-old Leach has an opt-out clause as well as Asian buyout language worked into his contract. Leach enjoyed a solid campaign at Triple-A Nashville last year, posting a 3.28 ERA with 10.3 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 while holding lefties to a .220/.331/.330 batting line.

Hat tip to BrewFrostyMug for pointing out this Fangraphs chat with Tyrone Taylor

OK winterball fans, @DimTillard writing about it like only he can.

Via Jacob Ward, Assistant GM of the Aces -- "Kyle Heckathorn has returned to the US. The team and Kyle mutually decided that the best option for Kyle's future would be to return home at this point and take some time off mentally and physically." *** We wish the 26-year-old 2009 supplemental 1st rounder a quiet stretch up to spring training...

Venezuela Box Score SS Orlando Arcia singled in four at-bats, and now sports a .275/.354/.488 line (.841 OPS) in a whopping 160 winter at-bats (just a .534 OPS in his last ten games, however).

Dominican Box Score When he has a big game like this, Luis Jimenez merits his "Lucho" nickname reference here -- 2-for-3 (two doubles, walk), however, the DH's performance came in a 9-1 loss. *** Dominican Box Score Nice effort by Hunter Morris in his 2nd game -- 2-for-4 (line drive single, soft ground ball single) with an RBI. The first baseman did strike out leading off the 9th, though, and his team fell, 4-3. *** Dominican Box Score Hector Gomez, playing second base, was 0-for-3 but walked and scored a run as his club won, 5-0.

Sunday's action -- Puerto Rico Box Score Catcher Juan Centeno, DH'ing here, was 1-for-4 (double, walk, run) in his team's 5-2 win. SS Yadiel Rivera singled in four trips in his team's loss.

So without copying and pasting insider content, what is Jim Bowden proposing here? Thanks. http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/1129/mlb_3panel_d1_576x324.jpg Seattle Mariners | Los Angeles Dodgers | Milwaukee Brewers

Venezuela Box Score SS Orlando Arcia 0-for-4 including a GIDP in his team's 1-0 loss.

Mexico Box Score RHP Manny Barreda struck out the only man he faced in his club's 3-0 loss (wild pitch for added flair) -- Hermosillo Bottom of the 8th Defensive switch from second base to third base for Garrett Weber. Joey Meneses remains in the game as the left fielder. Defensive switch from left field to second base for Sergio Gastelum. Yunesky Sanchez flies out to center fielder Rico Noel. Adan Munoz flies out to left fielder Joey Meneses. Jose Amador singles on a line drive to left fielder Joey Meneses. Pitching Change: Manny Barreda replaces Arturo Barradas. With Jose Aguilar batting, wild pitch by Manny Barreda, Jose Amador to 2nd. Jose Aguilar strikes out swinging.

Dominican Box Score An 0-for-4 game (one K), for DH'ing Luis Jimenez, who is batting in the middle of his order each night, now at a middling .250 in 96 AB's, eight of 24 hits for XB's; eight BB's. *** Dominican Box Score Hector Gomez, playing third base, 2-for-4 with an RBI. Gomez now at 498 AB's between Nashville, Milwaukee, Glendale and Toros (DSL).

Puerto Rico Box Score SS Yadiel Rivera was 2-for-4 in his club's 3-0 win. Teammate Omar Garcia was again used as a pinch-runner. SIDENOTE: Rivera's club saw a no-hitter ruined with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. It was thrown by 34-year-old Ivan Maldonado, who last pitched professionally, as per Baseball Reference, in 2010. Through 26.2 innings, Maldonado has yet to surrender an earned run this winter. It's those types of things which give one pause when considering level of play.

Wrote about Elian Herrera leaving that game midway through on the 24th, and wouldn't you know it, Herrera hasn't played in a game since and isn't Saturday night (tonight), either. That was only Herrera's 6th game of the Dominican winter. Unlike Venezuela, there is no newspaper coverage, so until we hear more or see him re-appear in these box scores, any analysis would be speculation only.

*** Even though Eric Marzec stayed in the game to finish out the inning after the highlighted play above, the collision he had with the second baseman on that play (Yankees' farmhand Jose Pirela) injured his left knee, and he's undergoing x-rays and tests on it, article from Venezuela. Marzec is the 2nd Brewer RHP injured in Venezuela this winter. Andy Moye exited a game with shoulder pain on November 12th, that was only his 2nd appearance. We definitely wish Eric (and Andy) the best. On a brighter note, RHP Tim Dillard's box score absence (since November 13th) is because he returned stateside after that appearance, which was his 16th relief stint of the winter.

Puerto Rico Box Score San Juan catcher Juan Centeno was 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored. Just another fantastic start for RHP Jorge Lopez -- 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K, GB:FB 7:2 Lopez retired the last 11 batters he faced, including a stretch of five K's in six AB's. San Juan Bottom of the 1st John Andreoli grounds out, second baseman T. Rivera to first baseman Kennys Vargas. Ruben Gotay grounds out, shortstop Andrew Velazquez to first baseman Kennys Vargas. Rene Rivera singles on a line drive to right fielder Luis Montanez. Jonathan Mota grounds into a force out, shortstop Andrew Velazquez to second baseman T. Rivera. Rene Rivera out at 2nd. San Juan Bottom of the 2nd Christian Vazquez grounds out, shortstop Andrew Velazquez to first baseman Kennys Vargas. Juan Centeno walks. Jose Lozada doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Daniel Ortiz. Juan Centeno to 3rd. Brahiam Maldonado out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Daniel Ortiz. Juan Centeno scores. Nolan Fontana grounds out, second baseman T. J. Rivera to first baseman Kennys Vargas. San Juan Bottom of the 3rd John Andreoli flies out to center fielder Fehlandt Lentini. Ruben Gotay called out on strikes. Rene Rivera strikes out swinging. San Juan Bottom of the 4th Jonathan Mota strikes out swinging. Christian Vazquez strikes out swinging. Juan Centeno grounds out to first baseman Kennys Vargas. San Juan Bottom of the 5th Jose Lozada strikes out swinging. Brahiam Maldonado grounds out, shortstop Andrew Velazquez to first baseman Kennys Vargas. Nolan Fontana pops out to second baseman T. J. Rivera

Venezuela Box Score Saw that RHP Eric Marzec only threw two innings (one run), no indication of rain delay, ejection, etc. Aragua Top of the 1st Yangervis Solarte flies out to center fielder Ender Inciarte. Eduardo Escobar lines out to shortstop Freddy Galvis. Jose Martinez flies out to left fielder Jason Pridie. Aragua Top of the 2nd Avisail Garcia walks. Hector Gimenez pops out to second baseman Jose Pirela. Ramon Flores grounds into a force out, second baseman Jose Pirela to shortstop Freddy Galvis. Avisail Garcia out at 2nd. Ramon Flores to 1st. Teodoro Martinez singles on a pop up to pitcher Eric Marzec. Ramon Flores to 3rd. Gustavo Molina singles on a line drive to left fielder Jason Pridie. Ramon Flores scores. Teodoro Martinez to 3rd. Alex Romero strikes out swinging. Aragua Top of the 3rd Pitching Change: Jeremy Kehrt replaces Eric Marzec. *** The Venezuelan newspaper indicated that Marzec was in for the 3rd inning and allowed a three-spot. Not sure which is in error, box score/game log or the media report (most likely, the media report). Might need to follow up with Eric on that one.

Venezuela Box Score SS Orlando Arcia continues to maintain a healthy pace, reaching twice more (single, walk) in five plate appearances. Error #8 (fielding), OK, Orlando, you can slow that pace a bit - no doubt on a ball he ranged far and wide to get .

Not sure what to make of RHP Kyle Heckathorn's Australian stint as of this time. He has not pitched since November 15th, struggled in the final two of his three brief appearances, and perhaps most confusing, is no longer listed on Melbourne's roster. Is he stateside? Hurting? Not known at this time, although we have emailed the Melbourne front office and will let you know if we learn more.

Dominican Box Score Hector Gomez, playing third base, doubled in four at-bats, one RBI. Luis Jimenez' club defeated Gomez' by an 8-5 score. Jimenez (2-for-4) added a single to his HR mentioned above and has a .710 OPS after 88 winter at-bats.

Fly out, groundout, line out for Hunter Morris (0-for-3) on a tough offensive day for his team, but they won 1-0 on a walkoff single. Morris played first base, batted 5th.