Jim Goulart

Let's keep this a Hardy thread, everyone, thanks.

I was going to bump an old Mark Rogers-specific thread, but we'll post this here. At this point in the season, it should pretty much go without saying that you should be checking in on the work of McCalvy / Haudricourt / Witrado on a daily basis -- I'm not here to comment on the quality of work, all the guys have their advocates and detractors among you, but we're hungry for info regardless. I will say overall the guys do a very nice job for us. When they make notes on minor league Brewers, we'll refer to them within our forums, we'll link only if the entire article covers the topic, and copy and paste a portion (still linking) if it's a notes "item" as part of a longer article. Tom H. with Rogers

At this point in the season, it should pretty much go without saying that you should be checking in on the work of McCalvy / Haudricourt / Witrado on a daily basis -- I'm not here to comment on the quality of work, all the guys have their advocates and detractors among you, but we're hungry for info regardless. I will say overall the guys do a very nice job for us. When they make notes on minor league Brewers, we'll refer to them within our forums, we'll link only if the entire article covers the topic, and copy and paste a portion (still linking) if it's a notes "item" as part of a longer article. From Tom H.'s notes column: Catching prospect Angel Salome, a disappointment during the 2009 spring camp because of lingering back problems that kept him out of action, seems determined to make a positive impression this time. Salome's performance at Class AAA Nashville failed to meet expectations as well, as he missed time with oblique and thumb injuries. Limited to 82 games, he batted .286 with a .334 on-base percentage, a year after posting a .360 average and .415 OBP at Class AA Huntsville. "This is huge for me," said Salome, who is looking to find innings this spring among six catchers in camp. "I know I have to show them something." A fitness freak, Salome was disgusted by his injury-plagued 2009 but said he feels completely healthy now and is determined to make up for a down year. So much so that Salome plans to stay in camp the entire spring despite having a baby on the way back home in New York. "The baby is due in mid-March or April, but if it's born while I'm here, I'm staying," Salome said. "My wife understands why I have to be here."

Scutaro was a mini-part (at the time) of this deal initially: Aug 30, 2000 - Traded by Indians with Kane Davis, Richie Sexson and Paul Rigdon to Brewers for Jason Bere, Steve Woodard and Bob Wickman. Scutaro had an outstanding 2001 season with AAA Indianapolis (career stats) .295 / .382 / .432 (.814 OPS) as a second baseman. Apr 5, 2002 - Claimed on waivers by Mets from Brewers. Scutaro went on to post even better AAA numbers in 2002 and 2003, and at least the Mets gave him some major league time in each of those seasons. Oct 9, 2003 - Claimed on waivers by Athletics from Mets. And a solid big leaguer ever since. Another Dean Taylor blunder. Scutaro certainly had his Brewerfan supporters back then, including Al of Ramblings fame, who rightfully still refers to his own Scutaro crush back in the day from time-to-time.

Pretty sure that before a trade could be worked out, Lofgren would have to pass through waivers. So if he shows promise this spring but there's no room on the Brewer 25-man, he may get claimed if someone else thinks they can carry him. If he's not overly impressive, he'd likely pass waivers but the Brewers probably wouldn't want to give up much to keep him. So, a decent topic, but not one that may come to fruition at all....

LHP Chris Narveson (easy to root for, and rightfully so) Pitching Coach Rick Peterson (give this guy his own show!) Asst. GM Gord Ash -- some pitching symposium talk

Area Scout (Northern CA & NV) Justin McCray Perhaps he'll have some Brewer (or affiliate) gear on, good luck.

Normally I wouldn't note the retirement of a player who has been playing independent ball for several seasons now, but 2003 6th round high school RHP Robbie Wooley (career stats) is interesting to note. As you can see, it was three years in the Brewer chain, three years in the indy ranks. There was probably a bit more pressure on Wooley early on simply because he was the first pitcher chosen by Jack Z. and staff in '03. Rickie Weeks, Tony Gwynn, C Lou Palmisano, OF Charlie Fermaint, and C Bryan Opdyke went in rounds 1-5. Interestingly, the next five picks were pitchers, none overly successful (being polite) -- Wooley, then RHP's Brian Montalbo and Ryan Marion, LHP Greg Kloosterman, and RHP Tyler Morrison (10th round). That 2003 draft did net LHP Mitch Stetter (16th round), trading chip (Overbay trade to Toronto) and future big league RHP Ty Taubenheim (19th round), cup of coffee major leaguers Carlos Corporan (12th round) and OF Drew Anderson (24th), and players still in the system -- IF Adam Heether (11th) and RHP Robert Hinton (40th round).

Normally I wouldn't note the retirement of a player who has been playing independent ball for several seasons now, but 2003 6th round high school RHP Robbie Wooley (career stats) is interesting to note. As you can see, it was three years in the Brewer chain, three years in the indy ranks. There was probably a bit more pressure on Wooley early on simply because he was the first pitcher chosen by Jack Z. and staff in '03. Rickie Weeks, Tony Gwynn, C Lou Palmisano, OF Charlie Fermaint, and C Bryan Opdyke went in rounds 1-5. Interestingly, the next five picks were pitchers, none overly successful (being polite) -- Wooley, then RHP's Brian Montalbo and Ryan Marion, LHP Greg Kloosterman, and RHP Tyler Morrison (10th round). That 2003 draft did net LHP Mitch Stetter (16th round), trading chip (Overbay trade to Toronto) and future big league RHP Ty Taubenheim (19th round), cup of coffee major leaguers Carlos Corporan (12th round) and OF Drew Anderson (24th), and players still in the system -- IF Adam Heether (11th) and RHP Robert Hinton (40th round).

Adam McCalvy chats with Don Money -- praise for Iribarren, Axford, and Butler (and Escobar, naturally).

Major League Forum Interview Thread -- in case you only live here in prospect-land....

Link while active, text follows: Former UCLA Catcher Brent Dean Signs With Milwaukee Brewers Two-year letterwinner inks free agent contract LOS ANGELES - Former two-year UCLA catcher Brent Dean has signed a free agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers this week. Dean compiled a .276 batting average in two seasons (2007-08) with the Bruins before serving as an undergraduate assistant coach with UCLA in 2009. After transferring to UCLA from L.A. Harbor Junior College, Dean helped lead the Bruins to consecutive NCAA Regional appearances in 2007 and 2008, including the NCAA Super Regionals at Cal State Fullerton in 2007. "I'm really excited for the opportunity to continue playing ball at the next level," Dean said. "I've been working extremely hard in the offseason, and to be able to have this chance is a dream come true." As a junior in 2008, he threw out nine of 27 attempted base stealers (33.3 percent), leading UCLA's defense to the highest caught stealing rate among all Pac-10 teams (44.9 percent). Dean played in 29 games, making 26 starts, during his junior season. Dean is expected to report to the Milwaukee Brewers' spring training site (Maryvale Baseball Park) in Phoenix, Ariz., at the end of the month. *** Good luck to the young man. That's some fuzzy "faint praise" math in the caught stealing blurb, as it would appear Dean's percentage was significantly lower than some of his teammates that season (fellow catchers were 22-of-42.) Born July 27, 1986, Dean will turn 24 during the 2010 season, so a full-season assignment in April isn't out of the question. Here's his Player Profile page from UCLA.

Here's a shout out to Kristina Serafin, a college student in Helena and Helena Brewers intern. No player detail here, but any Q&A session makes for idle reading until the fun begins this spring. Here she chats with Ned Yost IV.

We've read the quote before, which still reads awkwardly to me: Hardy knew he could have used a couple of days off to clear his mind, but he had too much pride to ask Brewers manager Ken Macha for a rest. "I never got the days off," Hardy said. "I felt like the day just sped up on me. I felt like the day was going 100 miles an hour for me." Full article details much of J.J.'s past, some of which you may have forgotten.

Blengino was the man in his all-too-brief time as the Brewers' northeast scout before moving into the Milwaukee front office and eventually Seattle -- Mark Rogers (crosses fingers) Angel Salome Zach Braddock Steve Garrison (Padres, Linebrink deal) Darren Ford (Giants' 40-man, Durham deal) All from a normally difficult part of the country to procure talent from regularly.

The Brewers could release Hart mid-way through spring training and be responsible for only 1/6th of that salary, a little closer to the end of spring training, 1/4 of that salary. At least I believe that's the case. Neither is likely.

From 2-11: Doug Melvin Dave Bush Brian Anderson

WSSP Hot Stove Audio -- "Brewers 1st-rd pick Eric Arnett can't wait to get to the bigs"

The Marlins have signed INF Mike Lamb to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

The Marlins have signed INF Mike Lamb to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

July 23, 2002 Dodgers acquired Tyler Houston and RHP Brian Mallete from the Milwaukee Brewers for RHP Ben Diggins and LHP Shane Nance

Jack Z. audio from WSSP

The Jesus Colome regime in Milwaukee ended last September -- the reliever signs a minor league deal with the Mariners.

The Jesus Colome regime in Milwaukee ended last September -- the reliever signs a minor league deal with the Mariners.

Quite the journey -- veteran indy ball lefty Derrick Ellison (Brewers 2008-2009) now one step from the big leagues.