Jim Goulart

Plenty for you to follow tonight: Hunter Morris' debut in the Dominican Another nice start in Puerto Rico by RHP Jorge Lopez RHP Eric Marzec is looking to build on his strong Venezuela season Luis Jimenez has hit his 4th HR, Orlando Arcia's in action again, 40-man roster catcher Juan Centeno, too. All the details in the AM.

If we find an article or two from late in the season that provides some insights, we'll post it during the offseason -- August 21st -- DSU alumnus Bubba Blau talks Brewers

Venezuela Box Score SS Orlando Arcia, 1-for-4, R, K

Mexico Box Score RHP Manny Barreda's best outing in some time, though not without drama -- Navojoa Top of the 6th Genaro Andrade singles on a ground ball to center fielder Rico Noel. Pitching Change: Manny Barreda replaces Marco Camarena. Alejandro Gonzalez out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Manny Barreda to second baseman Garrett Weber. Genaro Andrade to 2nd. Jose Guadalupe Chavez walks. Rolando Acosta singles on a ground ball to right fielder Eric Farris. Genaro Andrade to 3rd. Jose Guadalupe Chavez to 2nd. Tim Federowicz strikes out swinging. John Lindsey pops out to first baseman Jorge Vazquez in foul territory. Navojoa Top of the 7th Eliseo Aldazaba singles on a line drive to left fielder Maxwell Leon. Carlos Orrantia out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Manny Barreda to second baseman Garrett Weber. Eliseo Aldazaba to 2nd. Tim Fedroff strikes out swinging. Genaro Andrade strikes out swinging.

Happy 20th Birthday Friday to promising Dominican/Maryvale RHP ! Fangraphs' Eric Longenhagen also has video of: LHP OF and again OF - also and SS - also and OF C OF IF 1B/C

Taylor Jungmann nets a couple of mentions in this Baseball America analysis -- Performance Context For 40-Man Roster Additions

Puerto Rico Box Score Yadiel Rivera (.633 OPS, 63 AB's, 14 RBI) playing third base, 0-for-3, Omar Garcia makes his second pinch-running appearance in two days, but their club lost 1-0. *** Dominican Box Score Hector Gomez, playing third base, 0-for-4, one fielding error *** Dominican Box Score Luis Jimenez, seeing a lot of time at DH this winter, was 1-for-5 (RBI groundout, RBI single) in his team's 9-0 win. *** Venezuela Box Score SS Orlando Arcia finds a way to contribute nearly every night (.887 OPS), 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored here; his 7th fielding error (37th game, don't worry about that). *** RHP Greg Holle made 15 relief appearances in Venezuela, but as per his own tweet, is on his way home. Safe travels!

AUDIO 11/26: Adam McCalvy on WSSP talking Ryan Braun

Have learned the reason Pena was not eligible for free agency was because he had signed his contract for 2015, and he could be assigned under the terms of that new contract. If he is not re-added to the 40-man at some point, he will be a minor league free agent after the 2015 season. And no, sorry, nothing new to mention on the injury front...

Via friend of Brewerfan Josh Flickinger -- Lucas played with some of the best

First news for the 2015 season via Mike Berardino's column -- Former Class A Fort Myers pitching coach Gary Lucas has signed on in the same role with the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Midwest League. The Milwaukee Brewers’ affiliate is based in Appleton. Lucas makes his offseason home in Rice Lake, Wis. “Good opportunity with the Brewers organization and close to home and family,” Lucas said in a text message. Lucas, a former big-league reliever, spent the past 15 seasons as a pitching coach in the Twins organization, including a six-year run in the Midwest League. His contract was not renewed in September as the Twins shuffled their roster of instructors. *** Not sure if 2014 coach Elvin Nina will be re-assigned, Brewers normally wait until all staff is in place before formal announcement. Lucas, now 60, was a 6'5 LHP for three org.'s from '80-'87. Was coaching at High-A in FSL for Twins (Baseball Reference)

Excellent write-up here via Baseball America - Notable Players Available In The Rule 5 Draft

Puerto Rico Box Score Yadiel Rivera started at third base, made a late switch to first base in his team's 4-3, 11-inning win, and tripled and singled in five at-bats, driving in two. Santurce Bottom of the 6th Jonathan Rodriguez grounds out, shortstop Angel Rosa to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Jorge Padilla walks. Reymond Fuentes singles on a fly ball to right fielder Edgardo Baez. Jorge Padilla to 2nd. Yenier Bello singles on a fly ball to left fielder Trever Adams. Jorge Padilla to 3rd. Reymond Fuentes out at 3rd on the throw, left fielder Trever Adams to third baseman Sergio Miranda to shortstop Angel Rosa. Yadiel Rivera triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Edgardo Baez. Jorge Padilla scores. Yenier Bello scores. Pitching Change: Luis Gonzalez replaces Derek Blacksher. Emmanuel Marrero pops out to second baseman Luis Mateo. 24-year-old 2014 Huntsville starter Jacob Barnes has done a nice job in each of his four starts, now posting a 2.51 ERA. Here's his line - 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K, GB:FB 7:4 Santurce Bottom of the 1st Delino DeShields strikes out swinging. Jack Lopez grounds out, second baseman Luis Mateo to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Jordan Lennerton strikes out swinging. Santurce Bottom of the 2nd Jonathan Rodriguez flies out to center fielder Henry Ramos. Jorge Padilla flies out to center fielder Henry Ramos. Reymond Fuentes grounds out, pitcher Jacob Barnes to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Santurce Bottom of the 3rd Yenier Bello grounds out, third baseman Sergio Miranda to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Yadiel Rivera singles on a fly ball to center fielder Henry Ramos. Emmanuel Marrero doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Trever Adams. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd. Delino DeShields grounds out, third baseman Sergio Miranda to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Jack Lopez grounds out, third baseman Sergio Miranda to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Santurce Bottom of the 4th Jordan Lennerton doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Edgardo Baez. Jonathan Rodriguez walks. Jorge Padilla grounds into a force out, second baseman Luis Mateo to shortstop Angel Rosa. Jordan Lennerton to 3rd. Jonathan Rodriguez out at 2nd. Jorge Padilla to 1st. Reymond Fuentes singles on a fly ball to center fielder Henry Ramos. Jordan Lennerton scores. Jorge Padilla to 2nd. Yenier Bello flies out to right fielder Edgardo Baez. Yadiel Rivera flies out to left fielder Trever Adams. Santurce Bottom of the 5th Emmanuel Marrero pops out to shortstop Angel Rosa. Delino DeShields reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Angel Rosa. Pitching Change: Derek Blacksher replaces Jacob Barnes. With Jack Lopez batting, Delino DeShields steals (6) 2nd base. Jack Lopez grounds out, third baseman Sergio Miranda to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Delino DeShields to 3rd. Jordan Lennerton flies out to left fielder Trever Adams.

Dominican Box Score Hector Gomez, playing third base and batting 3rd, was 0-for-4 with a walk (two K's), but his team coasted 9-0.

Venezuela Box Score SS Orlando Arcia singled twice in five at-bats and scored a run in his team's 5-2 win. No end in sight for the young man's winter, and he's now sporting an .893 OPS after 140 AB's (.286/.365/.529).

Mexico Box Score At best RHP Manny Barreda's winter has been "uneven", batters hitting .328 against him and 11 walks in 17.1 innings, another rough, brief outing here -- Navojoa Top of the 7th Pitching Change: Manny Barreda replaces Salvador Valdez. Carlos Orrantia singles on a line drive to center fielder Daniel Hinojosa. With Fernando Flores batting, Carlos Orrantia advances to 2nd on defensive indifference. Fernando Flores strikes out swinging. Alan Sanchez doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Joey Meneses. Carlos Orrantia scores. Jose Guadalupe Chavez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Daniel Hinojosa. Alan Sanchez scores. Pitching Change: Amauri Sanit replaces Manny Barreda. Rolando Acosta walks. Jose Guadalupe Chavez to 2nd. Tim Federowicz pops out to second baseman Sergio Gastelum. John Lindsey strikes out swinging.

It all has to do with signing date. Even though they both have played four pro years starting in 2011, RHP Milton Gomez (who is actually younger than RHP Orlando Torrez) was signed in July 2010, while Torrez was signed after in February 2011. Gomez' 2010 year counts against his service time even though he did not play that year. Similarly, 2014 counted as a service time year (in terms of Rule 5) for Gilbert Lara. As for protection limits -- > 38 at AAA > 37 at AA > 35 everywhere else So the Brewers could assign nearly all their Rule 5 eligible players (now 40 with Ariel Pena) to the AAA level, making them ineligible to be taken in minor league rule 5.

Brewers outright RHP Ariel Pena (Greinke deal). Out of options and with a late season balky elbow, you could pretty much see this coming. Although this is his first outright assignment, it's unclear whether Pena can choose free agency. A pro since 2007, he has eclipsed the seven professional years necessary to earn that right, with eight under his belt. Roster now at 39.

Tweet from the Brewers with Rule 5 eligibles We do have a question in about the inclusion of RHP Milton Gomez and the non-inclusion of RHP Orlando Torrez, but we're talking about rookie baller's and DSL'ers, so it's just me comparing to the original list we provided to begin this thread. They list 39 players, I'm double-checking on how many can be protected at the highest level (35, I believe). This would mean the Brewers, if they wish, could protect the vast majority from being taken in the always-exciting minor league phase free-for-all, no restrictions, of Rule 5.

Via David Laurila of FanGraphs -- good stuff here!

Tweet and article link via FanGraphs' Carson Cistulli Brewers SS prospect, 20-year-old Orlando Arcia, has produced most impressive batting line in Venezuelan Winter League "Among those players who appear among the Caribbean Leagues’ top-10 hitters, Milwaukee’s Orlando Arcia is the one most readily regarded as a prospect. As just a 19-year-old this past season, Arcia (younger brother of Minnesota outfielder Oswaldo Arcia) exhibited above-average control of the plate (producing walk and strikeout rates of 7.7% and 11.9%, respectively) while also stealing bases on 31 of 42 attempts (74%). Meanwhile, he’s considered at least an average defender at shortstop, as well. A promising collection of skills, that."

Puerto Rico Box Score 40-man roster Yadiel Rivera, playing third base here, had a perfect night at the plate, with a double and three walks. *** Puerto Rico Box Score 40-man roster catcher Juan Centeno (DH'ing here), was 0-for-4, in his first game in eight days. Maryvale 20-year-old youngster Joshua Torres tossed a perfect inning -- Mayaguez Top of the 8th Pitching Change: Joshua Torres replaces Eddie Camacho. Andrew Velazquez grounds out, pitcher Joshua Torres to first baseman Rene Rivera. T. J. Rivera flies out to right fielder Jon Garcia. Daniel Ortiz called out on strikes.

Dominican Box Score Quiet night for DH Luis Jimenez until he capped a four-run rally with a walkoff single to nicely cap a 1-for-5 night. Luis Jimenez singles on a sharp ground ball to third baseman Maikel Franco. Aneury Tavarez scores. Gustavo Nunez to 3rd. Junior Lake to 2nd. Elian Herrera, playing second base, was 2-for-2 (line drive, bunt), was caught stealing after being picked off, and exited in what did not appear to be an injury-related move.

MiLB.com: Ben's Business Blog with plenty of insights from Buck Rogers