Jim Goulart

A pretty interesting line-by-line breakdown of the Roy Halladay chase from Day One, with a few Brewer mentions.

Before Chris Mehring with the Rattlers, Brewer minor league fans got their Class Low-A broadcasts from the one and only Andy "Bull" Barch. Andy is moving on as noted here, and the search to replace him may take a twist or two. Actually, the Power organization is actually similar in several regards to the Wisconsin staff, as evidenced by the creativity and such of their multimedia efforts, including this Christmas video featuring a very dapper Bull. Better though was this YouTube effort done when the Power was still a Brewer affiliate, . But wouldn't they be the Real "Women" of Genius? Anyway, we love Chris and the T-Rat folks, but we'll always have fond memories of the many "Jack-Jackety-Jack" home run calls coming from the booth in Charleston. Good luck, Andy. (By the way, here is the Rattlers' staff with "The Offseason" -- , Episode 2, and . Nice.)

Baseball America: Minor league deals: RHP Greg Aquino -- White Sox OF Laynce Nix -- Reds RHP Nic Ungs -- Marlins RHP Matt Ginter -- Astros RHP Elmer Dessens -- Mets RHP Jeff Bennett -- Rays UT Joe Dillon -- Rays Released: LHP Edwin Walker -- Yankees

Baseball America: Minor league deals: RHP Greg Aquino -- White Sox OF Laynce Nix -- Reds RHP Nic Ungs -- Marlins RHP Matt Ginter -- Astros RHP Elmer Dessens -- Mets RHP Jeff Bennett -- Rays UT Joe Dillon -- Rays Released: LHP Edwin Walker -- Yankees

LHP Chris Waters was designated for assignment in November. The Braves did the same to him earlier in his career, so he must have chosen free agency this time. This Rotoworld history will give you some perspective on his big league time. He made quite the debut back in 2008.

For reference purposes, from the Major League Forum because they received big league spring training camp invites, the Matt Treanor thread the Kameron Loe thread Our friend battlekow pointed out to us that Baseball America noted two minor league signings in their latest Transaction Update. If we find out these signings include major league camp invites, we'll link to this post on the "big board". LHP Chris Waters is a 29-year-old who made 11 starts with Baltimore in 2008, and five appearances (one start) with the Orioles in '09. He was originally drafted by Atlanta in the 5th round in 2000. *** Soon-to-be 29-year-old SS Anderson Machado hasn't made a big league appearance since 2005. He has a .224 / .333 / .335 stat line in over 3700 minor league AB's. He finished 2009 in the independent Atlantic League. At this point in the upper levels at short, Brewers' brass just wants someone to make the plays behind their pitchers. I can say Luis Cruz starting at AAA and Machado at AA. Barnstormers' Machado makes the most of his opportunity Intelligencer JournalLancaster New Era Aug 11, 2009 In 2003, Anderson Machado accomplished his dream of making it to the major leagues. The shortstop debuted in the bigs September of that year with Philadelphia. But his biggest fan was not there to see him. "My hero was my father," Machado said of his dad Gerardo, whom he honors with a portrait tattoo on his right bicep. "His dream was to watch me play in the major leagues. I made the major leagues two years after he died. But I know where he's at, he's always watching me. I just try to do my best and try to make him proud." Recently, Machado has been making his dad proud in Lancaster, playing for the Barnstormers. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound switch-hitter, who wanted to be a catcher when he was a kid, has stabilized the 'Stormers defense since his arrival on July 20. "He's been as good as advertised," Lancaster manager Tom Herr said of Machado's glove work. "The whole range of plays that top level shortstops can make for you can really change the game in your favor. "Whitey (Herzog, Herr's manager with the St. Louis Cardinals) always used to describe Ozzie (Smith) as a guy who saves a hundred runs a year. You could equate that to a guy who drives in 100 runs a year. A run's a run. So when you have a guy like Machado out there, you're saving outs. You're saving pitches for your staff. It makes everybody's job easier." In the middle of the 2004 season, Machado was traded by the Phillies organization to the Cincinnati Reds. He hit .268 in 17 games for Reds that season and defensively, which has been his strong suit throughout his career, he made just four errors in 63 chances. Machado was looking forward to the next year. "They offered me the opportunity to play every day in 2005," Machado said of the Reds. But between the '04 and '05 seasons, Machado hurt his knee playing winter ball. Instead of playing every day, he had just two at-bats for the Reds and was traded to the Colorado Rockies, where he played his final four games in the major leagues. "I'm always thinking positive," Machado said. "Things happen. There are always ups and downs in baseball. You never know what's going to happen. I just go out there, try to do my job, do my best every single night and just wait for another opportunity." After playing Double-A and Triple-A ball his last few seasons (including earlier this year) Machado landed in Lancaster. "I was sitting back home done for the year, and these guys offered me an opportunity," Machado said. In 17 games for Lancaster he has hit .268 (15 for 56) with two homers, two triples, four doubles and 13 RBIs and played stellar defense. "It's a comforting experience as a pitcher having him back there (at shortstop)," Lancaster starting pitcher Eric Ackerman said. "Myself being a contact guy, I try and keep the ball in the infield, and I rely heavily on my defense. So having him back there, everything looks routine. "To me he's just as good back there as ('Stormer shortstop) Jason Bowers was in (Lancaster's championship season) '06, who I thought was the best shortstop in this league I've ever seen. And he makes all the plays. He makes it look easy and you just have no worries when the ball's on the ground." Machado takes pride in his defense. "Even if I don't get a base hit, I still play my defense," Machado said. "That's my key. There are slumps in hitting. But even if I'm not getting hits, I still play my defense." When Machado was growing up in Venezuela he had his dad taking him to the diamond, supporting him, watching his games and feeding his dream. "I always thought when I was a little kid that I'm going to make it to be a professional baseball player," Machado said. Now in his 13th season as a pro player, Machado has two dreams, looking both back and forward at the same time. Machado wants to take his career back to where it was. "I love baseball," he said. "My goal is to get back to the big leagues. I'm not done yet." In his personal life, Machado wants to do for his son, Anderson Machado Jr., what his dad Gerardo did for him. The young Machado is a catcher and dreams of playing in the bigs like his dad. http://images.lancasteronline.com/local_new/240870/1 Photo by Marty Heisey

Well, if you don't like the $15 million bullpen, that means you wouldn't have Hawkins. Trading Coffey would mean no Hawkins and no Coffey. Hard to have it both ways. That being said, it'd be nice to see John Axford pan out and more guys behind him that could be effective and cheap out of the pen.

Colbyjack wrote: Here's how it works: Compile a list of who you feel the Brewers top 20 prospects are. Be sure not to include any player that has already accumulated 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched at the big-league level. Also, prospects over the age of 26 are also not eligible (for instance, Adam Heether is not eligible for this exercise). When done email that list (or send a PM) to me at this email address: pebert@brewerfan.net I will assign values in reverse order of the rankings, with 20 points given to every first-place vote and one point assigned to every 20th place vote. The prospect with the most points will receive the highest ranking. A reminder that you don't need to 1) post your list in this thread unless you want to and 2) you don't need to include comments when submitting your list.

Catcher Andy Bouchie, the 2006 7th round pick released after three seasons in Milwaukee's system, has found his way back to affiliated ball after going the independent league route.

Catcher Andy Bouchie, the 2006 7th round pick released after three seasons in Milwaukee's system, has found his way back to affiliated ball after going the independent league route.

Gord Ash on WSSP

Clancy, our long-time faithful reader and contributor, I don't fault you your Chris Cody pride. Rock on. Feel free to follow-up comment on your # 6 choice, I'm just guessing that he'd be the # 1 prospect on at least 1/3 of all MLB organization lists right now, if not more.

Here's another 20 minutes with Doug from WSSP -- a Benjamin Button analogy among other nuggets, Doug's going to Spain for ten days of vacation, so expect a quiet time (as is usual) during the holiday week -- goodness, I despise that week purely from a baseball standpoint.

I'll post an archive later, but Mike Cameron's Boston press conference is at 10:30 CT Wednesday AM. Listen live here. I'd imagine there will be a kind word about his time with the Crew mixed in.

Brewers' Front Office List: Baseball Analyst/Research, Dave Lawson Brew Crew Ball 2006 Interview with Dave Lawson I believe this was posted elsewhere here, but those of you doubting the Cliff Lee trade from the Seattle perspective, you will likely be swayed by this note from the highly regarded Cameron / Zumstag team at USS Mariner.

Humble Casey still doing, saying all the right things

Jack Z. getting his props from the sabermetric crowd

I've received a quick note of apology as that was an oversight that has since been corrected. Bush actually has two options remaining.

We asked the Brewers to take a look at our Brewerfan 40-man roster page and verify if we were correct on our options remaining info. So what you now see here should be correct, although it's always hard to say 100%, as even the Brewers have been surprised at times, it seems. We were very close, we did have Chris Smith with an option (he doesn't though), so that was a bit of a bummer. One point - Cody Scarpetta officially has only two remaining also. Though he probably will 'earn' a 4th option, that doesn't get awarded until after his normal three options are used up. So, 'officially' he has used 1 of 3. We had read last year about Scarpetta's "4th" option qualifying status. I've made the executive decision http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif to list Scarpetta as having three options remaining on our page, so that we don't always have to make that adjustment in our heads. Finally, when Claudio Vargas and LaTroy Hawkins get added to this page later this week, they both will have zero options.

What a hideous day for the Mets. Miss out on Lackey, not in on Hallady, and spend the first half of the next decade with Halladay in your division.

I inquired with the Brewers, and Weeks is arbitration-eligible again this year. It appears the lack of his name among all the arbitration-eligible players has simply been an oversight in reporting from all the usual sources.

Houston Scouting Director and former Brewer crosschecker Bobby Heck grabs long-time farmhand, now 25-year-old OF Freddy Parejo. Remember 2B Alejandro Machado? He was briefly on the 40-man at the end of 2003. July 10, 2003: Traded by the Kansas City Royals with Wes Obermueller to the Milwaukee Brewers for Curt Leskanic. March 29, 2004: Sent to the Montreal Expos by the Milwaukee Brewers as part of a conditional deal. The Mets signed Machado to a minor league deal.

Houston Scouting Director and former Brewer crosschecker Bobby Heck grabs long-time farmhand, now 25-year-old OF Freddy Parejo. Remember 2B Alejandro Machado? He was briefly on the 40-man at the end of 2003. July 10, 2003: Traded by the Kansas City Royals with Wes Obermueller to the Milwaukee Brewers for Curt Leskanic. March 29, 2004: Sent to the Montreal Expos by the Milwaukee Brewers as part of a conditional deal. The Mets signed Machado to a minor league deal.

Not that it would happen this way, but why would Villanueva need to pass through waivers if he were to be optioned?

Chris Duffy gets a spring training invite with the Phillies. Duffy, 29, started last season with the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting .125 with three RBIs in 19 games. He played three games with Triple-A Nashville before leaving the team for personal reasons. He has hit .262 with six home runs and 52 RBIs in 212 big league games with Pittsburgh (2005-07) and Milwaukee (2009).