Jim Goulart

The difference being that Maldonado would have left the organization altogether as a minor league free agent.

After five relief appearances with his most recent being a stellar 4.1 inning stint, RHP Hiram Burgos (stats page) was given his first Puerto Rico League start -- 3.2 IP (two of his baserunners were stranded upon his departure), 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 7-to-1 GB/FB Burgos' club lost, 2-1, in a seven-inning doubleheader game (box) Caguas Bottom of the 1st Jose Castro grounds out, shortstop Felix Molina to first baseman Cesar Nicolas. Luis Figueroa walks. Edgardo Baez strikes out swinging. With Javier Valentin batting, passed ball by Edwards Guzman, Luis Figueroa to 2nd. Javier Valentin grounds out, first baseman Cesar Nicolas to pitcher Hiram Burgos. Caguas Bottom of the 2nd Brahiam Maldonado doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Johan Limonta. Freddie Thon walks. Antonio Jimenez out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Hiram Burgos to second baseman Irving Falu. Brahiam Maldonado to 3rd. Freddie Thon to 2nd. Rey Navarro grounds out, shortstop Felix Molina to first baseman Cesar Nicolas. Brahiam Maldonado scores. Freddie Thon to 3rd. Alex Oliveras grounds out, shortstop Felix Molina to first baseman Cesar Nicolas. Caguas Bottom of the 3rd Jose Castro lines out to first baseman Cesar Nicolas. Luis Figueroa grounds out, second baseman Irving Falu to first baseman Cesar Nicolas. Edgardo Baez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Johan Limonta. With Javier Valentin batting, Edgardo Baez steals (1) 2nd base. Javier Valentin strikes out swinging. Caguas Bottom of the 4th Brahiam Maldonado grounds out, third baseman Jorge Jimenez to first baseman Cesar Nicolas. Freddie Thon singles on a line drive to right fielder Bobby Kielty. Antonio Jimenez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Miguel Negron. Freddie Thon to 2nd. Rey Navarro pops out to third baseman Jorge Jimenez on the infield fly rule. Pitcher Change: Benigno Cepeda replaces Hiram Burgos. Alex Oliveras strikes out swinging.

LHP Efrain Nieves (stats page) made his 5th start in Puerto Rico, facing 20 batters over four innings for a rather pedestrian line -- all his trouble came in the 1st inning: 4 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 5-to-4 GB/FO Nieves' squad never quite recovered and lost, 4-3 (box) Ponce Bottom of the 1st Danny Espinosa triples (3) on a line drive to left fielder Jesus Feliciano. Enrique Hernandez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jarrod Dyson. Danny Espinosa scores. Robinson Cancel doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Jesus Feliciano. Enrique Hernandez to 3rd. Chris Marrero singles on a fly ball to right fielder Jorge Padilla. Enrique Hernandez scores. Robinson Cancel to 3rd. Raul Gonzalez out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Jarrod Dyson. Robinson Cancel scores. Angel Molina hit by pitch. Chris Marrero to 2nd. Miguel Abreu grounds into a force out, second baseman Sergio Miranda to shortstop Radames Nazario. Chris Marrero scores. Angel Molina out at 2nd. Miguel Abreu advances to 2nd, on throwing error by shortstop Radames Nazario. Iggy Suarez pops out to catcher Rene Rivera in foul territory. Ponce Bottom of the 2nd Henry Ramos grounds out, shortstop Radames Nazario to first baseman Phillip Cuadrado. Danny Espinosa singles on a ground ball to second baseman Sergio Miranda. Enrique Hernandez grounds out to first baseman Phillip Cuadrado. Danny Espinosa to 2nd. Robinson Cancel flies out to center fielder Jarrod Dyson. Ponce Bottom of the 3rd Chris Marrero singles on a line drive to left fielder Jesus Feliciano. Raul Gonzalez singles on a fly ball to left fielder Jesus Feliciano. Chris Marrero to 2nd. Angel Molina strikes out swinging. Miguel Abreu grounds into a force out, shortstop Radames Nazario to second baseman Sergio Miranda. Chris Marrero to 3rd. Raul Gonzalez out at 2nd. Miguel Abreu to 1st. Iggy Suarez grounds into a force out, third baseman Josh Fields to second baseman Sergio Miranda. Miguel Abreu out at 2nd. Ponce Bottom of the 4th Henry Ramos singles on a ground ball to second baseman Sergio Miranda. Danny Espinosa strikes out swinging and Henry Ramos caught stealing 2nd, catcher Rene Rivera to shortstop Radames Nazario. Enrique Hernandez flies out to right fielder Jorge Padilla.

Thursday -- Erick Almonte -- 1-for-4, played LF Luis Cruz -- 1-for-4 Martin Malonado -- 0-for-2, K, now 3-for-29 -- continues to split catching in-game catching duties most appearances Sergio Miranda -- 2-for-4, 2B, BB, R, keeping busy in Puerto Rico (16-for-his-last-37, by the way)

Manatees' players can look forward to a perfectly rebuilt playing surface throughout when their season begins. Full story includes detailed video.

Logan Schafer singled, walked, and had a fielding error in CF, Hunter Morris singled in three trips as Surprise played to a 3-3 tie in an uneventful end to the AFL season for the Brewer farmhands. Until next fall, all you AFL fans...

Logan Schafer and Hunter Morris are in the starting lineup for the Surprise finale today (Gameday is underway as of 1:30 Central).

One does have to wonder about Katin's status. He goes to Mexico to start the winter season and only appears in six games in less than a two-week stretch. Obviously these guys don't commit to winter ball for months at a time, but that stint seems pretty brief -- did he get hurt? He was effective, so he likely wasn't asked to go home. His RH power is so evident, his corner outfield glove decent enough, that's a pretty good niche on a lot of MLB benches. The Brewers should at least throw a non-roster spring training invite bone his way... The Nashville site points out that Katin has taken his game from Mexico to Venezuela, although he has yet to appear in a game for his new squad, Navegantes del Magallanes.

No decision for RHP Darren Byrd, but another solid six innings in Puerto Rico, making a statement to be entrenched in Huntsville's rotation in 2011 -- 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 9-to-5 GB/FB; Martin Maldonado his catcher Not having sucess getting the "recap" to load...here's the box

Wednesday: Carlos Gomez -- 1-for-5, 2B, 3 K's -- sigh... Luis Cruz -- 2-for-4 for a second game in a row, including a double, now 8-for-39 (.205) -- only two K's, but only one walk Sergio Miranda -- 2-for-4, SB, nice season thus far, but 19 of 21 hits are singles, so some luck involved Martin Malonado -- 0-for-2, K, now 3-for-27 Erick Almonte -- 0-for-4, double, still a .384 OBP in 69 AB's for the veteran

One does have to wonder about Katin's status. He goes to Mexico to start the winter season and only appears in six games in less than a two-week stretch. Obviously these guys don't commit to winter ball for months at a time, but that stint seems pretty brief -- did he get hurt? He was effective, so he likely wasn't asked to go home. His RH power is so evident, his corner outfield glove decent enough, that's a pretty good niche on a lot of MLB benches. The Brewers should at least throw a non-roster spring training invite bone his way...

One does have to wonder about Katin's status. He goes to Mexico to start the winter season and only appears in six games in less than a two-week stretch. Obviously these guys don't commit to winter ball for months at a time, but that stint seems pretty brief -- did he get hurt? He was effective, so he likely wasn't asked to go home. His RH power is so evident, his corner outfield glove decent enough, that's a pretty good niche on a lot of MLB benches. The Brewers should at least throw a non-roster spring training invite bone his way...

13-3 victory for Surprise. Logan Schafer singled and walked twice in six trips, Eric Farris singled and walked in his six plate appearances. Lucas Luetge a scoreless frame, Mike McClendon one run allowed. Season finale for the Brewer players is Thursday, a seven-inning game. Peo Saguaros Bottom of the 7th Pitcher Change: Lucas Luetge replaces Adalberto Flores. Leslie Anderson reaches on throwing error by shortstop Pete Kozma. Henry Wrigley flies out to center fielder Logan Schafer. Andy Parrino grounds out softly, catcher Tony Cruz to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Leslie Anderson to 2nd. Ben Revere walks. Eduardo Escobar flies out to left fielder Jared Bolden. Peo Saguaros Bottom of the 9th Pitcher Change: Mike McClendon replaces Brendan Wise. Henry Wrigley singles on a ground ball to center fielder Logan Schafer. Andy Parrino singles on a ground ball to right fielder Joey Butler. Henry Wrigley to 2nd. Ben Revere grounds out, second baseman Eric Farris to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Henry Wrigley to 3rd. Andy Parrino to 2nd. Eduardo Escobar grounds out, shortstop Pete Kozma to first baseman Eric Hosmer. Henry Wrigley scores. Andy Parrino to 3rd. Chris Parmelee flies out to left fielder Jared Bolden.

Brewerfan 40-man roster page includes remaining option information

Brewerfan 40-man roster page includes remaining option information

Here's Chris with # 4. Good times...

This thread isn't all that long in terms of posts since its September inception, and if you go back and read it from scratch (suggested), contains lively discussion and arguments for all the parties mentioned. Taylor Green is probably a bit disappointed, but Dan Merklinger certainly came on in the 2nd half, even if 95% of his work was at high-A. Congrats to Eric, Dan, and Wily. Now we wait for the probable non-tenders to drop the roster down from 37 a bit.

This thread isn't all that long in terms of posts since its September inception, and if you go back and read it from scratch (suggested), contains lively discussion and arguments for all the parties mentioned. Taylor Green is probably a bit disappointed, but Dan Merklinger certainly came on in the 2nd half, even if 95% of his work was at high-A. Congrats to Eric, Dan, and Wily. Now we wait for the probable non-tenders to drop the roster down from 37 a bit.

It's still early in the game here Wednesday afternoon, but Logan Schafer and Eric Farris already pulled off a double steal for Surprise, it's the team's next-to-last game. Gameday link does include pitch speeds for review later on.

RHP Dennis Sarfate off to Japan. In an unrelated item -- BrewCrewBall reminded us of this today -- On this day in 1999, the Brewers traded reliever Mike Myers to the Rockies for Curtis Leskanic. Leskanic would go on to post a 3.01 ERA with 29 saves in 169 appearances over three years in Milwaukee. I can't help but remember every time that I see Leskanic's name that his cousin is Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves fame, and this notation -- After 25 years, "Walking on Sunshine" still nets Katrina and the Waves $1 million in royalties annually. Their guitarist wrote the song. That last link has the interesting story. Alas, poor Katrina herself stopped sharing in the royalties over a decade ago. And there you go with another off-season distraction... Oh yeah, the song.

Would love to hear from folks within this thread on how they did, share your tales of brain cell loss and the minutes of your life you'll never get back, and thanks for playing.

8. Outside of the PED-suspended Allixon Cequea, only one current Brewer has the letter "q" as part of his first or last name. Name him. "Q" is also for quit, which we'll do now, and what most of you have probably already done. Would it have helped if I mentioned there was a big league connection, or would that have made it more confusing? Brewer bullpen coach Stan Kyles' son, rookie league pitcher Marques Kyles is the answer.

7. There are currently 13 "sets" of players who share the same last name in the organization, very top (majors) to the very bottom (DSL). We're giving you three of those because they involve only DSL players -- the Pena's, the Mejia's, and the Garcia's. But that still leaves ten other sets of Brewer "brothers". How many of these sets can you name? Bonus to you if you get the one set of "triplets" among the ten sets, because it involves one DSL player joining two statesiders. Huge hint -- Wawrzasek is not one of the sets. Here's the other ten -- Braun's -- certainly you got the real brothers, Ryan and Steve, right? Almonte's -- Erick and Rigoberto Davis' -- Kentrail and Khris (that was a layup) Miller's -- Erik and rookie pitcher Matt Rivera's -- Mike and rookie infielder Yadiel Roberts' -- catchers Tyler and Mike Rogers' -- Mark and rookie slugger Jason Sanchez' -- Jose, Juan, and DSL "triplet" Ruben Shaw's -- rookie teammates Derrick and Nick Wright's -- Brae and Chase So congrats to Nick Shaw, the only player who made the trivia quiz twice.

6. You would think this would be a layup, but it's not. Name the only two current position players in the organization above rookie ball who are switch-hitters. As I already admitted, it appears to be four. My first two were Sergio Miranda and the Rattlers' Austin Stockfisch, who was profiled here. Then I realized veteran infielder Anderson Machado resigned a minor league deal for 2011. Finally, although MiLB.com still lists him incorrectly, Rattlers SS Michael Marseco is still switch-hitting, we believe. As always, correct me if mistaken, thanks.

5. If you didn't like Question 4, feel free to skip this question, no punishment. Only two players with first names beginning with "N", and only two with "F". Remember, only current players, so no Norris Hopper. Unlike Question 4, you'll need to be familiar with the rookie squads to some extent. "N" isn't too hard (hardly easy, though), "F" is extremely tough. If you got the first name "Nick", you were on your way to identifying Nick Bucci and then Nick Shaw, who performed so well in Maryvale this year. Kudos if you got Franklin Romero, Jr. and Francisco Rivero.