Jim Goulart

AUDIO: Logan "I'm diggin' this AAA thing" Schafer's 2nd inning two-out RBI triple

September 1st

We don't have that information. Because of HIPPA laws (link), the Brewers, their affiliate staffs, broadcasters, etc., will rarely provide direct information regarding a player's health matter. Normally we do get updates if a specific injury occurred in a game situation, or in the case of 40-man roster players. In general, we share with you readers what we know, so when we don't include specific information, it's because we simply forgot to type "the nature of and severity of the injury is unknown". Sometimes we find out down the road from players' hometown newspaper articles. In some cases, we learn from players' twitter accounts these days. Each spring, the Brewers media guide details the injury for every minor league player who missed significant time. So the conformance to the HIPPA laws is extremely frustrating, because it's so inconsistent. If you can't tell us "so-and-so" underwent labrum surgery in July, what makes it OK to disclose it the following spring?

Rattler Radio Lineup and Media Notes

Huntsville Media Notes

Eric Farris back to Nashville, Felipe Lopez to Milwaukee (Major League Forum)

With that move, the Brewers 40-man roster is now full (technically, you could say it's at 41 with Manny Parra not counting (60-day DL). Mitch Stetter could easily be slid to the 60-day DL if the Brewers needed yet another 40-man roster piece.

Haudricourt tweet --#Brewers change minds and will bring INF Felipe Lopez to Milwaukee. 2B Eric Farris optioned back to Nashville.

**UPDATE: Chris Dennis was transferred from Wisconsin back to Brevard County on July 7th** , the day this feature was first released Canadian Import by Bob Brainerd, sports32.com (Time Warner Cable) On his climb up the Milwaukee Brewers farm system ladder, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers infielder Chris Dennis was showing proper scaling technique…taking one rung at a time, never rushing, eyes forward. But then, a stumble, and a demotion. “There’s definitely some disappointment, I’m not going to lie and say there isn’t,” said Dennis, who began the 2011 season at Class A Brevard County. “It was hard, but I talked to my family and they played a big part in it because they said you can take this one of two ways, either pout and be out of baseball by not performing or you can suck it up and go there with a good attitude, look at it as a fresh start and do whatever you have to do to just play baseball.” A 2007 13th round draft pick out of St. Thomas of Villanova High School in Ontario, Canada, Dennis was mapping out his future making forward progress each year in baseball. He went from rookie ball in Arizona for starters, advanced to the rookie league at Helena in 2008, and then made the jump to Class A ball in Wisconsin in 2009. After two seasons with the Rattlers, Dennis was up for another promotion, but hit a jarring snag with the Manatees that saw his 2011 campaign unravel in a hurry. “I was dealing with some injuries when I got there, then got back into the lineup and just really struggled,” said Dennis. “I didn’t really have that much of an opportunity, only 29 at bats. People will go through 0 for 30 droughts then come back and hit over .300, so I can’t say what would have happened if I would have stayed up there.” But the trip back to familiar surroundings proved to be the perfect tonic. Dennis thrived at the plate, and even opened the eyes of his former hitting coach in Appleton. “Things didn’t work out so well for him to start the season, but he came here and I think benefitted from our clubhouse,” said first year Timber Rattlers Manager Matt Erickson. “He came right in, showed up at Quad Cities and I remember his first at bat he hit a home run, but what was even more impressive was he then dumped one into left field, kind of a bleeder, and he busted out of the box and beat the throw for a hustle double. That was good to see. He wasn’t pouting coming down from Brevard County, he had something to prove, had good numbers in this league last year, and he’s been a good stabilizer in the middle of our lineup.” “The way I look at it is it’s my fault, I didn’t do my job when I was up there, and maybe it was a new start that I needed and thankfully the Brewers had confidence in me to stick with me and let me perform down here,” added Dennis. “Once I stepped into this clubhouse there’s group of great guys who accepted me right away and made things a lot easier. “I’ve never looked back since then. Things are going to go bad, things are going to go good, but hopefully I can just stay on an even keel and do the best I can.” His invigoration in Appleton helped erase his .103 batting average in just nine games played in Florida. Dennis posted first half numbers good enough to earn him a spot in the Midwest League All Star Game, where he poked an opposite field home run for the winning Western Division squad. “It definitely felt good, the guy was throwing kind of hard, 94, 95 and I caught it with a good swing and kind of knew it was gone right away,” recalled Dennis. “The All Star break was fun. You get to know other guys on the team that you normally wouldn’t have a chance to and take in all the festivities. It’s a weekend to remember and no one can take that away from you and not everybody gets to experience it.” You can trace the baseball roots of Chris Dennis back to his childhood growing up in Windsor, Ontario. The stereotypical hockey culture never really stuck with the son of Tim and Denice Dennis, and if anything, football was another option, having two uncles who played in the Canadian Football League. “I had the choice to go play on a football scholarship in the states, played a little hockey, but my dad asked me’ what do you want to do?’” said Dennis. “From a young age, it was baseball, so that’s what I stuck with. It was a baseball house. My mom was a diehard Tigers fan and my dad rooted for the Yankees being a big tradition guy who played the game right. I was taught to play baseball at a young age and loved it.” His power stroke began to blossom at Helena in 2008, when then 19-year-old Chris socked 12 home runs in Pioneer League play. How that power came to be, is another story. “When I was little and growing up, I never played Tee Ball or anything, but my mom brought me in the backyard and was throwing balls,” said Dennis. “We had this power line, and I always tried to hit the ball over the power line. My dad, who played baseball, he was a pitcher and went to school in California, said he’s going to be a hitter because he’s got power. Ever since I started playing I was hitting the ball further than the other guys. Obviously as you get older, they catch up to you, but since a young age, I was always trying to hit home runs.” Dennis is second on the Rattlers roster with eight round trippers this season, but his role back in Wisconsin has morphed into more than just providing some pop at the plate. “Coming back and knowing that I am an older guy I think it’s one of my jobs to conduct myself in a way where guys are going to look up to me and try to see that I play the game the right way,” said Dennis. “Whether it’s striking out and showing no attitude after, making an error on the field, or even if things are going good, I feel like I have to lead the way there a little bit. “Sometimes I don’t always to the best job of it, but for the most part I’m trying to set an example for them and play the game the right way.” Properly dusted off and ready to resume his climb, Chris Dennis has discovered you will fall, but you can get up. “When we had the All Star break, you miss it,” said Dennis. “It’s only been four days but you feel like you want to get back to the field. Everyone waits for the offseason and then once you’re in the offseason you’re saying I can’t wait to get back to baseball. If you don’t have that, you know you’re in the wrong thing. “It’s a grind day in and day out, but you need to have that motivation. I think everybody playing minor league baseball has to have that motivation because it’s not an easy thing to do, and I think that’s what keeps me in it and keeps me going.” PHOTOS BY BRAD KRAUSE http://www.sports32.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CDennis-sunglasses.jpghttp://www.sports32.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CDennis-hitting.jpghttp://www.sports32.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CDennis-highfive.jpg

Nashville Media Notes

Standings stuff -- Boy, that doubleheader sweep hurt Brevard Thursday. If we did an analysis of his clubs' record in all the games Rolando Pascual ever has appeared in, the winning percentage has to be .250 or below. How 'bout them Sounds? 4.5 games back. Four games remain vs. first place Omaha, on the road in late August. You know Brewers' brass really hopes Nashville or Brevard, with the best chances now, make the playoffs. Those early September minor league playoff games could be key for a rehabbing Rickie Weeks or any other player working back from injury.

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Omaha 56 49 .533 - - 31-24 25-25 4-6 L1 Memphis 52 53 .495 4.0 35 30-21 22-32 3-7 L2 Nashville 52 54 .491 4.5 35 32-23 20-31 8-2 W1 Iowa 46 59 .438 10.0 30 27-25 19-34 2-8 L1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 20 13 .606 - - 9-9 11-4 6-4 W1 * Tennessee 15 18 .455 5.0 33 9-6 6-12 5-5 L2 Carolina 14 19 .424 6.0 32 7-11 7-8 3-7 L7 Huntsville 14 19 .424 6.0 32 5-10 9-9 4-6 L2 Jackson 13 20 .394 7.0 31 6-9 7-11 3-7 L1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tampa 20 14 .588 - - 9-7 11-7 7-3 W4 Clearwater 17 17 .500 3.0 34 13-7 4-10 7-3 W1 Brevard County 16 16 .500 3.0 35 0-0 0-0 0-0 L2 * Daytona 16 18 .471 4.0 33 6-8 10-10 4-6 L2 Dunedin 16 18 .471 4.0 33 5-8 11-10 4-6 L1 Lakeland 13 19 .406 6.0 32 8-10 5-9 2-8 L3 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Kane County 19 13 .594 - - 8-9 11-4 6-4 W1 Quad Cities 19 13 .594 - - 11-6 8-7 6-4 W3 Clinton 17 15 .531 2.0 37 9-8 8-7 5-5 W3 Beloit 16 16 .500 3.0 36 8-7 8-9 4-6 W2 Cedar Rapids 14 18 .438 5.0 34 8-7 6-11 3-7 L1 Wisconsin 13 19 .406 6.0 33 5-10 8-9 4-6 L2 Peoria 10 22 .313 9.0 30 4-11 6-11 1-9 L4 * Burlington 9 23 .281 10.0 29 7-10 2-13 1-9 L9 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Missoula 24 12 .667 - - 13-6 11-6 9-1 W7 Billings 19 17 .528 5.0 E 8-9 11-8 5-5 L1 Helena 17 19 .472 7.0 E 9-10 8-9 5-5 W1 Great Falls 16 20 .444 8.0 E 8-9 8-11 3-7 L4 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Dodgers 16 14 .533 - - 8-8 8-6 6-4 W4 AZL Indians 15 14 .517 0.5 27 7-7 8-7 5-5 W1 AZL Reds 15 15 .500 1.0 26 8-7 7-8 4-6 L1 AZL Brewers 7 21 .250 8.0 20 4-11 3-10 3-7 L4 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Mariners 36 15 .706 - - 19-6 17-9 5-5 L1 DSL Brewers 32 19 .627 4.0 18 16-10 16-9 5-5 W1 DSL Cardinals 19 32 .373 17.0 5 12-14 7-18 6-4 W3 DSL Athletics 17 35 .327 19.5 2 10-15 7-20 5-5 L3

Follow Friday's action as it happens: Nashville (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Arizona Rookie (Maryvale) DSL Brewers

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! Nashville: LHP Chase Wright at Oklahoma City (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Nashville feed from the MiLB main audio page MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: LHP Dan Merklinger at Birmingham (White Sox), 7:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- It's the Barons' feed... Brevard County: RHP Nick Bucci at home vs. Bradenton (Pirates), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Bradenton feed from the MiLB main audio page Wisconsin: RHP Brooks Hall at Clinton (Mariners), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Tommy Toledo (11th round, 2011) makes his 1st pro start (3rd appearance) at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Just-turned 19-year-old LHP Will West at the Royals' complex in Surprise; 1:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league DSL Brewers: at the DSL Red Sox, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

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John Sickels re-visits his pre-season Brewers' top 20

It's not often we see the Brewers formally place young players on the disabled list at the rookie league levels, because the 35-man roster limit doesn't require freeing up spots, but Baseball America indicates that RHP R.J. Johnson, the 36th round high schooler from the 2010 draft, has been placed on the 7-day DL, and Dustin Houle, the 17-year-old 8th round catcher out of British Columbia, has been placed on the 60-day DL.

Hoover, AL – Greg Paiml collected 3 hits, 1 RBI and 1 run as the Birmingham Barons (15-18, 55-48) outshined the Huntsville Stars (14-19, 51-52), 3-2, in front of 5,648 fans Thursday night at Regions Park. The Stars took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Hainley Statia singled to left field, continued to third on a double to center field by Zelous Wheeler and dashed home on groundout by Brock Kjeldgaard. Birmingham answered in the bottom of the fourth after Seth Loman was hit by a pitch and stole second base before Justin Greene’s RBI single to right field plated Loman and knotted the game at a 1-1 tie. In the bottom of the fifth, Paiml smacked a single to shortstop and advanced to second on Alden Carrithers’ single to center field. Paiml stole third base and rushed home on a RBI single to shortstop by Jon Gilmore, 2-1. The Barons added one run in the bottom of the sixth when Jason Bour doubled to left field and scored on Paiml’s RBI single to right field, 3-1. Huntsville tacked on a run in the top of the eighth after Wheeler received a walk and stole second base. A fly out to center field by Steffan Wilson pushed Wheeler to third before a sacrifice fly to right field by Khris Davis delivered Wheeler for the final run of the game, 3-2. Charlie Leesman (8-4) earned the victory for the Barons after he hurled 7.0 IP with one earned run on 9 hits, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Anthony Carter (S, 1) received his first save of the season with 1.0 hitless IP and one strikeout. Michael Bowman (2-9) received the loss for the Stars after he surrendered two earned runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 4.2 IP. The Barons and Stars continue the series with game four of the five-game series at Regions Park with first pitch set for Friday night at 7:05 PM. Birmingham sends right-hander Terry Doyle (3-4, 3.54) to the mound and Huntsville features left-handed pitcher Dan Merklinger (6-6, 4.31).

Final: Nashville 13, @Oklahoma City 2 Sounds Beat Down RedHawks, 13-2, On Thursday In Oklahoma City Green ties club record with five runs scored in perfect evening Nashville Sounds OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Taylor Green homered twice while tying a franchise record five runs scored in a 13-2 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks on Thursday evening at RedHawks Field. Finishing the evening with a career night, Green went a perfect 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, and two walks while driving in six runs. Green became the third player in the franchise's 34-year history and second player this season to score five runs in a game, joining Adrian Brown (May 12, 1999 at Tucson) and teammate Erick Almonte (July 5, 2011 vs. Memphis). The five runs scored were a career high for Green, who also matched career bests in homers (2) for the fourth time and RBIs (6) for the third occurrence in his career. Nashville (52-54) plated at least one run in the first eight innings of the game. Including the pitcher and, every player in the Sounds lineup recorded at least one of the 19 hits on the evening. Led by Green's four hits, six Sounds had multiple hit games. Jordan Brown added three singles and three runs scored while Logan Schafer extended his hitting streak to seven games, the longest active streak on the squad. Sounds starter Frankie De La Cruz allowed one unearned run on six hits in six innings of work for the win. With six quality starts, the reigning PCL Pitcher of the Week is now posting a 5-1 record with a 2.64 ERA (18 ER / 61.1 IP) in his last 11 starts, dating back to June 6th. Nashville plated three runs in the opening frame and sent eight batters to the dish. Brown got things started with a single and scored the opening run on a Green's team-leading 28th double of the season. After Almonte walked, Edwin Maysonet singled home Green followed by Almonte scoring on an Oklahoma City throwing error. The Sounds went up 5-0 in the next inning. After Brown reached on a two-out single, Green lined his first homer of the contest to right field. Singles from Maysonet, Gindl, and Schafer gave the Sounds another run in the third. Oklahoma plated their first run in the bottom of the third on a Nashville throwing error. A one-out walk and two-out single preceded Anderson Hernandez grounding into Maysonet, but the shortstop committed a throwing gaff that allowed a run to score. Mat Gamel's two run double in the fourth was responsible for the next two runs. Green walked and Almonte singled to open the frame before Gamel blasted a line drive to right field to clear the bases. Green's second homer of the game gave the Sounds a 10-1 lead. On a 0-2 pitch from RedHawks starter and former Sound Nelson Figueroa, Green punished a towering fly ball to the second deck in right field. It was the 12th time this season that a Sounds player has gone yard twice this season and the third time for Green. Catcher Martin Maldonado became the final Sounds starter to record a hit with a sixth inning double to right center. He later scored as Schafer lofted an RBI single over the shortstop's head. Green tied a Sounds record with his fifth run scored in the seventh as Nashville moved to a 12-1 advantage. Reliever Donovan Hand began the seventh for Nashville and struck out the first batter before the RedHawks scored their second run on four consecutive singles. Nashville plated its final run in the eighth as Brandon Boggs doubled to the gap in left center. Boggs would later score on Green singled for his 6th RBI of the game. Figueroa (6-6) was roughed up for 10 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits in five innings pitched for the loss. Hand gave up one run in two innings. Jim Henderson ended the game with with a scoreless ninth. The Sounds and RedHawks will play the finale of a four-game set at 7:05 PM CT on Friday night at RedHawks Field. Left-hander Chase Wright (5-6, 6.01) takes the hill for Nashville against Oklahoma City southpaw Andy Van Hekken (5-4, 2.98). Nashville Box Score Still say the the Brewers will have no choice but to add Frankie De La Cruz to the 40-man roster this offseason to keep him in the organization -- good for him (and the Crew)... Nashville Play-by-Play Can't help but notice the corrolation between Taylor Green and 80's/90's pop diva Taylor Dayne, whose songs included "Prove Your Love", "Don't Rush Me", "I'll Wait", "I'm Not Featuring You", and "Beautiful". http://image.lyricspond.com/image/t/artist-taylor-dayne/album-taylor-dayne-greatest-hits/cd-cover.jpg But in reality, Green owes his amazing season to Emmylou Harris.

Rattler Radio Blog Final Thoughts -- indirectly, a Jerry Meals reference...

Final: @Clinton 8, Wisconsin 4 Late LumberKings rally stops RattlersBy Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber RattlersCLINTON, IA - The Clinton LumberKings scored four times with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Thursday night at Alliant Energy Field. The LumberKings would go on to the 8-4 win for their second straight win over the Rattlers. The Rattlers (51-51 overall, 13-19 second half) grabbed the lead in the second inning. Jason Rogers singled and Greg Hopkins doubled to put runners at second and third with no outs. Chad Stang's sacrifice fly to right field got Rogers home and sent Hopkins to third. An RBI grounder by Joey Paciorek scored Hopkins for a 2-0 lead. Rogers blasted a leadoff homer in the fourth inning to put the Rattlers up 3-0. Wisconsin starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson walked the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning. Then, he retired the next nine batters he faced. Julio Morban started the Clinton fourth with a bunt single. He would be erased when Kevin Rivers grounded into a force play at second. Rivers was still at first with two outs. Then, Mickey Wiswall doubled down the first base line to score Rivers. Clinton (41-61, 17-15) took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Matt Browning started the inning with a fly ball to center that was lost in the lights for a double. Nelson walked the next batter, but struck out Carlton Tanabe for the first out. Then, Mike McGee singled to load the bases. Julio Morban sent two runs home with a single to tie the game. An RBI grounder by Rivers knocked in the run to put Clinton up 4-3. Mike Brownstein singled to start the Rattlers seventh inning. He moved around to third base on a pair of wild pitches. A sacrifice fly by T.J. Mittelstaedt scored Brownstein with the tying run. Rattlers reliever Greg Holle got the first two outs of the seventh inning and the game appeared headed to the eighth inning still tied. But, the LumberKings had other ideas. McGee singled and Morban walked. Rivers singled to right and McGee was ruled safe at the plate after a strong throw home by Stang to give Clinton a 5-4 lead. Stefen Romero sent the next pitch into the left field corner for a two-run double and a 7-4 lead. Later in the inning, Kalian Sams knocked in Romero with a single off reliever Brian Garman to make the score 8-4. Tyler Blandford and Tyler Burgood came out of the Clinton bullpen and combined to get the final six outs of the game. The final game of the series is Friday evening. The Rattlers have Brooks Hall (5-3, 4.19) as the scheduled starting pitcher. Clinton has Anthony Fernandez (3-3, 3.45) as their probable starter. Game time is 7:00 PM. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40. Wisconsin Box Score This was the first time RHP Jimmy Nelson gave up more than three earned runs in a start since June 7th, nine starts ago; RHP Seth Lintz dipping his toe into full-season ball, a second single-inning scoreless appearance; Midwest League batting leader T.J. Mittelstaedt (.318, 2nd in OPS at .919 -- what a season for the previously unheralded 23-year-old) singled twice and added a sacrifice fly; big LF Jason Rogers (we're contractually obligated to preface Jason with big, hulking, and by the way, talented) singled twice in addition to his home run; 1B Nick Ramirez 0-for-4 with two K's, looking for that Helena magic, but it's only been two games; Reggie Keen 1-for-2 on the basepaths, caught stealing 3rd base in the 1st -- he's 33-for-46 in that regard... Wisconsin Play-by-Play

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Bob Brainerd has done multiple Rattler profiles this season -- we've posted some, but not all. We're going to catch up with one every day or two over the next week, so as not to overwhelm. We'll list the original posting date with each so it'll put any recent events in perspective.

Polish Rifle by Bob Brainerd, Sports32.com Blessed with an unforgettable first and last name, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Pitcher Stosh Wawrzasek lives with the lifelong hack job of his scrambled lettering moniker. “The worst it’s been butchered here is when we went to Bowling Green, he (public address announcer) pronounced my first name as ‘Steve’ and the last name was ‘War-zick,’” recalled Wawrzasek. “That’s probably the worst it’s ever been. I don’t know how you mess up Stosh with Steve, but he did.” Throw away the second W. Replace the S with a Z and it trips right off the tongue. “W-A-R-Z-A-Z-I-K would be the easiest way to spell it to pronounce it,” said Wawrzasek. “It happened every year in school with new teachers, but you get used to it.” Which brings us to that unique first name. Get ready for a new twist on the Abbott and Costello Who’s On First? routine. “Stosh is Polish, and if you translate, it’s Stanley,” explained Wawrzasek. “On my birth certificate, it’s Stosh. My father is a Stanley, but he goes by Stosh, because that’s what his mother called him growing up…that was her first language. My Mom calls him Stosh. Everybody calls him Stosh, and if they answer the phone and hear ‘Is Stosh there? Uh, which one?’ “But it’s not Junior and Senior…he’s Stanley, I’m Stosh.” Wawrzasek inherited more than just the funky family namesake. The Stosh way to play is to have fun, soak up the moment and relish the good times on the diamond. “My parents always told me if you’re not having fun it’s time to take a break, and I’ve never gotten to that point in my baseball career because I love the game,” said Wawrzasek. “I enjoy playing and I don’t think that will ever stop. I’ve just got to keep that mentality and it will rub off on other people as well.” What this 6-0, 249 pound right-hander never intends to do is rub teammates the wrong way. The former 16th round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 is cognizant of when it’s time for monkey business or strictly business. “In certain situations you don’t want to go and interfere with something,” said Wawrzasek. “Let’s say he’s having family problems or personal issues, you don’t want to interfere with something like. But if he’s just getting down from the game, if you have a bad outing as a pitcher, or go 0 for 4 as a hitter, it happens. Just come back the next day positive.” The life of the clubhouse began his baseball life growing up in Canada. Unlike many Canucks who have a hockey stick placed in their crib at birth, Wawrzasek took baby steps in a different direction. “I was born with a baseball glove on my hand,” said Wawrzasek. “Surprising enough, I’ve never been on skates, never been on the ice. I’ve wanted to, but I never have. It was basically I wanted to play baseball so that’s what I did.” For young Stosh and the Wawrzasek family, chasing your dream by chasing a puck just didn’t fit into the daily agenda in Langley, British Columbia. “When you’re younger, you always have those early hockey practices at like 4, 5 in the morning and my parents would be driving to work at that time and didn’t want to rely on another family to pick me up every single time or drop me off at practice then take me to school,” said Wawrzasek. “So I kind of just pushed hockey off to the side and stuck with other sports. I played everything else…football, rugby, basketball, soccer; lacrosse for a little bit, but baseball was my main sport.” Wawrzasek soldiered forward with his singled out passion. But pitching was not the focus early on, choosing instead a smorgasbord testing ground. “When I was younger, I would pretty much do whatever; play some first base, pitcher, any position,” said Wawrzasek. “I would play any position because it doesn’t really matter, I just want to play. I hit a lot when I was younger, but as I grew up, when I was around 16, my coach told me ‘you have a thing for pitching, you can go places with pitching but you need to make a decision…either play a position or go pitch.’ I was like, yeah, I want to pitch because I can see a future in it, and so could he.” After graduating from Walnut Grove Secondary School in Canada, Wawrzasek culled his craft with the hometown Langley Blaze of the British Columbia Premier Baseball League. More than just his consonant crammed last name drew the attention of baseball higher-ups. “At that age, I was a dominating pitcher and dominated my league, and it kind of came easy,” said Wawrzasek. “You had your select few players that were good, you had your average players which were easier to get out because they were not used to facing hard throwers, so I dominated that league. And as I grew up, I started hitting less and pitching more…I kind of forgot how to hit a ball, you might say.” One of those select players was former Brewers 2008 first round draft pick Brett Lawrie. A star in the making during his Canadian youth, Lawrie, now in the Toronto system as compensation for Brewers Pitcher Shawn Marcum, went face to face and stood side by side in the elite league with Wawrzasek. “I faced him when I was 14 and grew up playing against him when I was 11 years old,” recalled Wawrzasek. “When I was 12 years old, he ended up going up a level because he had that early birthday and I had the late one. When we were 15, we ended up on the same team on the senior level and I was on the junior level. The following year is when I played with him for two years before I got drafted by the Brewers.” Wawrzasek was committed to play at Florida International on scholarship, but decided his seasoning in British Columbia was enough of a testing ground to prepare his arm for the next level. Thus began the professional journey of a pitcher who didn’t have a defined role at the outset. “The whole decision is with the Brewers,” said Wawrzasek. “I don’t have a say in it, and in the end it’s up to them to say what they see what is best for me. When I first got drafted, I went down to Arizona and I was a starter, then the following year I was in the bullpen the whole time. Last year, I was in Helena and was a starter there and then they switched me back to relief here.” Here, is Appleton, where Stosh has set up shop as a late inning setup man with the Class A Timber Rattlers. The ping-ponging between starting pitcher and bullpen guy can rattle the brain as well as the arm. “It can, but you just have to get used to it and deal with it,” said Wawrzasek. “The biggest adjustment for me going from starter to reliever is as a starter you have your set day and five days to prepare for that one outing. As a relief pitcher, you’ve got to be prepared every day. So if I throw an inning today, I’ve got to keep my arm ready and be able to go tomorrow.” Mental preparation has kept Wawrzasek focused on the task at hand. Stosh admits that turning his brain off is the best way to keep his arm locked and loaded. “It can cause problems too much if you start thinking too much,” said Wawrzasek. “Obviously you have to go over certain situations but if you think about it too much it can just turn to chaos. “It’s natural now. As soon as I’m on the mound, I see the sign, and if I don’t want to throw the pitch I’ll shake but I rarely do that. It’s kind of a thing where I’m locked in on getting a ground ball. And the only thing I do try to think about is trying to pound the bottom of the zone to get ground balls. You’re going to stay in the game longer.” Wawrzasek has even toyed around with throwing a knuckleball, but his assignment is to perfect his arsenal of legit pitches first and foremost. When Timber Rattlers Manager Matt Erickson calls his number from the bullpen, Stosh sets a personal goal that will best suit the team effort. “Three pitches or less to each batter,” said Wawrzasek. “I want to really attack the strike zone because I don’t want to be on a mound throwing a bunch of pitches in an inning, I want to be out of there as fast as possible. That was the biggest thing (Timber Rattlers Pitching Coach) Chris Hook told me…pound the zone, three pitches or less.” It’s all still work in progress for Wawrzasek, who wants to be stingy on the bump, but also strives to have better fastball command. “That’s a big thing going to the next level, and if you can command your fastball, get in and out, side to side, you’ll be fine,” said Wawrzasek. “Because if you can hit the outside on the right-handed batters, you’re going to be fine.” Hockey’s loss is baseball’s gain, because Stosh Wawrzasek plays with passion and childhood delight. It’s no wonder that his baseball dream has been a rerun that first aired back in the early 90’s. “I’ve had that dream since I was four-years-old,” said Wawrzasek. “I got into Tee Ball when I was four and I had a blast. My dad was coaching and I had so much fun playing I never wanted to stop. I watched guys playing on TV and it made me go ‘I want to do that.’ “All my life I’ve wanted to play in the Major Leagues and have my parents be there at the game or at home watching on TV. It’s unbelievable and the best dream I’ve ever had in my life. And I have it continuously…not just when I was four-years-old but I have it all the time.” Photos by Brad Krause http://www.sports32.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Stosh-1-199x300.jpghttp://www.sports32.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Stosh-mound-300x199.jpghttp://www.sports32.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Stosh-throwing-199x300.jpg

From Time Warner Sports 32: Nick Shaw shows you why he is among the Midwest League leaders in walks, on Field Pass.