Jim Goulart

Jonathan Lucroy on WTMJ's Sports Central 1/23 Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy joins The Freak & The Geek to discuss the WBC, tell us what he's been up to in the off-season and talks about The Brewers On Deck event this Sunday

Nearly 17 minutes with Ryan Braun, via the D-List on 540 ESPN More audio: Chris Narveson on the Bill Michaels Show 1/23/12

Puerto Rico box -- Martin Maldonado's team evened their best-of-seven championship series at two games apiece. Maldy singled and walked in five plate appearances, and threw out the only baserunner attempting to steal. *** In the Dominican, RHP Fautino De Los Santos' club swept their way to a five-games-to-none championship in the best-of-nine championship series. His club, Escogido, moves on to the Caribbean World Series. Does Taylor Green get a ring? Green played 11 games for the team very early in their winter season.

The highlight of Tosoni's career was taking Greinke deep for a 3 run shot after the Brewers had staked him to a 6-1 lead, a game the Brewers eventually lost 9-7. The next day Marcum couldn't hold a big lead after his grand slam. Can't say I'm all that impressed with him other than that. Tosoni targets fresh start with Brewers By Dan Olson, Coquitlam (Canada) Now It isn't a long way from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Milwaukee - just 480 kilometres, to be precise. Port Coquitlam's Rene Tosoni is hoping he can own every mile of it. The one-time Minnesota Twins prospect experienced the hard facts of professional sports two months ago when the Twins decided not to offer him a new contract. The 26-year-old outfielder and his agent didn't have to look long, however, before finding someone who did. Tosoni signed with the National League's Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month, with an eye on proving that he's more than just organizational depth. "I'm excited to get this deal, to sign with Milwaukee and get things going," Tosoni told The NOW. "They said I'm a good fit for their organization and they liked what I've done." Tosoni, who last week was named to Team Canada's roster for the World Baseball Classic, has overcome his shares of bad luck and tough bounces during the past 12 months. The Twins released him after a couple of injuries kept him on the sidelines for more than half the season. The outfielder first fractured two fingers in just the third game of the season, and suffered a torn pectoral muscle a few weeks after returning from the first injury. "(The broken fingers) were more [just] aggravating," said Tosoni, who spent six years in Minnesota's farm system. "They felt jammed at the time, and it took a month and a half to get back. My pectoral injury was tough. I thought I just aggravated it and tried to play through it but we later found out it was a tear." He couldn't establish a good hitting rhythm after coming back, and in the end he played at four different levels - beginning at Triple-A, all the way down to a rookie league rehab assignment. It was a true test of character, and one he survived with the support of family and friends. Wife Whitney, a fellow Terry Fox Secondary grad, was there to keep him grounded and balanced. "I had Whitney with me and she was incredible," he noted. "She travelled with me and was with me along the way. I talked with people who had gone through these same kinds of things. There's always people around who want to help." Overall, he batted just .224 over 90 games, with four home runs and 23 runs batted in. But over his final 10 games with Double-A New Britain and having put the injuries behind him, Tosoni batted .297 with hits in nine of the 10 contests. Those kinds of numbers were more in line with what he had achieved in healthier seasons prior to his major league call-up - where he began a 60game MLB stint with a seeing-eye single. That 2011 turn in Minnesota also saw him hit five home runs and drive in 22 runs. Although his .203 batting average was less than flattering, he did close out the season with a nine-game hitting streak, including two dingers. It made the injuries and minor league struggles all the more frustrating for the 2009 All Star Future Game MVP. Still, when he was told that the Twins were going in another direction and no longer required his services, the former Coquitlam Reds felt some new pressure. "I was a little (anxious), it was something new for me," he noted. "My agent was telling me not to worry, that he'd gone through this before with other players. "You're just sitting and waiting for a job. It's part of the business, but it makes you grateful for every opportunity." Enter Milwaukee, which has a track record when it comes to Canadian content. General manager Doug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash and closer John Axford are all Ontario natives. Tosoni himself was born in Toronto and played for the junior national team. While the Brewers don't make decisions based on nationalities, it is a nice coincidence. Getting to represent Canada at the WBC this spring will be a nice feather in his cap, Tosoni said. "It's a huge honour and a great feeling to be able to wear Canada across my chest again. There is just something about playing for your country that is indescribable." As Spring Training approaches, Tosoni continues to prepare for a competition to impress Brewers coaches. It's the strategy the 36th round draft choice has taken into every training camp. "Going to a new team, a new manager, you are trying to prove yourself again. They've seen me play, but you have to show what you can do," the left-handed batter said. "I need to just work hard, show them I'm healthy and can play." While Minnesota is in the rearview mirror and just another potential opposing team, the PoCo product says his time in the Twin Cities was special. "That was an incredible moment, an amazing time," he recalled of his debut at Target Field on Apr. 28, 2011. "The Twins gave me an opportunity and you're always going to be respectful of that."

Sean Nolin featured on Bluebird Banter And yes, still have plans to tidy up thus thread and provide a complete list with comments.

VIDEO: Doug Melvin on NBA.TV (yes, NBA.TV)

1B Hunter Morris spoke with the WSSP Big Show crew

1/22/13: CBS Sports anchor Kevin Holden Kevin joins The Bill Michaels Show (WSSP) to talk about spring training and Corey Hart's knee injury.

Bianchi needs to beg off Team Italy and make his impression in camp. His only advantage is a 40-man roster spot and no options, but that obviously guarantees nothing.

Bobby Crosby not only hasn't appeared in majors since 08/2010, he hasn't been in ANY game since then.

Ron Roenicke on ESPN 540 Tuesday AM

Doug Melvin with the Big 1070 in Madison In text form, the Wisconsin State Journal has Melvin quotes.

Brewers hitting coach Johnny Narron joins WSSP's Hot Stove Weekly Mat Gamel The full show including both interviews

Need to consolidate for this AM's update -- you can see my three updates from last evening (Maldonado in P.R., Escobar in Ven., De Los Santos in D.R.) at my Twitter timeline here.

Sorry folks, correction. The Puerto Rico League Championship Series is a best-of-seven affair. Martin Maldonado's club is now down two games to none after a 3-1 loss (box). Maldonado was 0-for-4 with two K's. *** In the Dominican, RHP Fautino De Los Santos' club is up two games to none in their best-of-seven Championship Series after Saturday's 8-5 win (box). De Los Santos allowed one of two inherited runners to score: Aguilas Top of the 5th Leury Garcia singles on a fly ball to right fielder Leslie Anderson. Carlos Colmenares grounds into a force out, pitcher Carlos Pimentel to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Leury Garcia out at 2nd. Carlos Colmenares to 1st. Hector Luna flies out to center fielder Starling Marte. Manny Ramirez singles on a fly ball to left fielder Jesus Feliciano. Carlos Colmenares to 2nd. Pitching Change: Fautino De Los Santos replaces Carlos Pimentel. Miguel Tejada singles on a fly ball to center fielder Starling Marte. Carlos Colmenares scores. Manny Ramirez to 2nd. Juan Perez strikes out swinging. *** Round-robin play continues in Venezuela. Catcher Anderson De La Rosa singled in four trips for his club (box).

Dayn Perry with a Braun lovefest here. I'm sure we all can realize just the type of historic player we have in our midst.

Good baseball read: True Life: I Was a Target for a Catfisher Written by Michael Roth, U. South Carolina

Puerto Rico Box -- Martin Maldonado's Mayaguez club lost Game One of the best-of-three Puerto Rico Championship Series, 5-4. The winner of the series moves on to the Caribbean World Series against the league champions from Mexico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. Maldy singled twice in five at-bats, but his 6th inning throwing error did allow what proved to be the winning run to score. *** Venezuela Playoff Box -- In Venezuela, teams are still in round-robin play. You'll see catcher Anderson De La Rosa (0-for-3, sacrifice box) and RHP Arcenio Leon in this box. Leon nicely stranded two inherited runners, but later ran into a bit of trouble himself. *** The Dominican League Championship is underway. Although they did not see action in Game One, the teams for which catcher Dayton Buller and RHP Fautino De Los Santos play are taking part. Not sure if either player is on the current championship roster.

VIDEO: Scooter Gennett at the 2013 MLB Rookie Career Development Program, on adjusting to Double-A and playing in the Futures Game

Text from website: WTMJ AUDIO: Given the news of Corey Hart's upcoming surgery and John Axford & Carlos Gomez signing contracts, Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel joins The Freak & The Geek to preview the Brewers season. *** Focus in chat is on Hart, Gomez...

With the signing of old friend Chuckie Caufield this week, the Brewers have made their first indy league signing since August 2011, their longest idle stretch by far in the Melvin era.

This is cool. After a year in independent ball, OF Chuckie Caufield, a Brewer farmhand from 2006-2011, has been signed to a minor league deal.

Nice Q&A with Hunter Morris via MiLB.com

Venezuela Playoff Box -- Catcher Anderson De La Rosa 0-for-2 with a walk. You'll see Alex Gonzalez playing third base (deferring to Asdrubal Cabrera at SS) in the same box score.

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