Jim Goulart

Brad Nelson is one strong dude -- hopefully a three-run blast to left will spawn more in-game posts and discussion than this once the regular season begins. I was hoping to see the real lineup since it is televised. I kind of disagree, it's nice to get a chance to see McGehee / Lamb, Nelson (as just indicated), and maybe some of the minor league backups later on...

MLB Network Game! Gameday Video /Audio Link for MLB Subscribers Box Score / Gameday Link Media Notes Link includes the following -- ON THE MOUND: Also pitching (subject to change) is RHP Carlos Villanueva, LHP Mitch Stetter, RHP David Riske and RHP Mark DiFelice. MINOR DETAILS: Joining the team from minor-league camp is OF Caleb Gindl (#97), OF Lee Haydel (#96), OF Erik Komatsu (#91), INF Brett Lawrie (#99), OF Adam Stern (#90), INF Zelous Wheeler (#98) and INF Steffan Wilson (#93). CF Tony Gwynn Jr. LF Chris Duffy 1B Casey McGehee 3B Bill Hall RF Brad Nelson DH Mike Lamb C Mike Rivera 2B Hernan Iribarren SS Alcides Escobar RHP Dave Bush

Brevard County downed Kinston, 6-5. Caleb Gindl continued his hot hitting, collecting four hits. Mike Marseco added a two-run single for the Manatees. Lefty Dan Merklinger worked three scoreless innings in relief. Now keep in mind that rules can be easily relaxed in these games, and they were relaxed here to accommodate Mark Rogers. Rogers began both the first and second innings, and did not retire any of the seven men he faced (three hits, four walks). Apparently Kinston agreed to "roll" those innings and strand many of those runners, so you'll notice that Rogers was only charged with two runs. So it was a gift win in the end for the 'Tees, although the real story, of course, is the reminder of just how far Rogers has to go. Hey, at least he's on a mound. I try to limit the editorializing here, but there was just no way Rogers needed to be added to the 40-man this offseason -- no one was going to be able to "stash him" on a big league roster, not even Seattle and Jack Z. Hopefully there is no impact to the other 40-man maneuverings the Brewers make in 2009. R H E Kinston 5 11 0 Brevard County 6 11 1 BREVARD CO AB R H BI Haydel 3 0 1 1 Schafer 4 1 1 0 Gindl 5 1 4 1 Bouchie 4 1 1 0 BraunS 4 0 0 0 Alfonso 2 1 0 0 Paciorek 3 0 1 1 Marseco 4 0 2 2 Sanchez 4 1 1 0 2B: Bouchie, Gindl SF: Haydel Bitmap Bitmap IP H R ER BB SO TP Bitmap Rogers 0 3 2 2 4 0 33 Bowman 3 4 3 3 2 1 49 Merklinger 3 2 0 0 2 0 49 Ritchie 1 2 0 0 1 1 25

Mahoning Valley knocked off Helena, 5-1. Nick Bucci and Rigo Almonte had scoreless two-inning appearances out of the pen for the Brewers. Juan Barrini and Hitaniel Arias each doubled for Helena. Juan Duran had their only RBI. Five Helena errors couldn't have helped matters, but the staff combined to limit the damage to one unearned run. R H E Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap Helena 1 6 5 Mahoning Valley 5 6 1 HELENA AB R H BI Dykstra 4 0 0 0 Abreu 4 0 1 0 Cequea 1 0 0 0 Martinez 2 0 0 0 Chirinos 3 0 1 0 Arias 3 0 1 0 Requena 2 0 0 0 Robulack 3 0 1 0 Rodriguez 3 0 0 0 Barrini 3 1 1 0 Duran 3 0 1 1 2B: Barrini, Arias IP H R ER BB SO TP Bueno 2 4 3 3 2 1 46 Billings 2 2 2 1 0 3 36 Bucci 2 0 0 0 0 1 26 Almonte 2 0 0 0 1 4 33 Rosario 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 Morales 1 2 0 0 1 1 20

No need to apologize, I was just being a wise guy. Let's just say the boxes are a Brewerfan.net exclusive, and as far as we know, are not available elsewhere on the web. The Brevard box may be a bit late today. Wisconsin edged Lake County, 6-5. Young southpaw Efrain Nieves gave the Timber Rattlers a fine start, posting three perfect innings, striking out five. Carlos George, Erik Miller, and Edgar Trejo each collected two base hits. Cody Adams struggled with control issues in his one inning; the other five Wisconsin pitchers struck out 16 and walked only one in their eight innings of work. R H E Lake County 5 5 2 Wisconsin 6 11 1 WISCONSIN AB R H BI Miller 5 1 2 0 Roberts 3 0 0 0 Zarraga 2 1 1 1 Komatsu 4 0 1 0 Kjeldgaard 3 0 1 1 Delaney 5 0 1 0 Trejo 4 2 2 0 Vass 3 0 1 1 McPhearson 3 1 0 0 George 3 1 2 1 2B: Kjeldgaard 3B: Vass, Trejo SF: Komatsu, Vass IP H R ER BB SO TP Nieves 3 0 0 0 0 5 40 Salmon 2 2 1 0 1 2 27 McEwen 2 0 0 0 0 3 25 Adams 1 1 2 2 4 0 26 Watten 1 1 1 0 0 3 20 Jeffers 1 1 0 0 0 3 26

Akron blanked Huntsville, 8-0. Chris Cody started and threw three scoreless innings. Jonathan Lucroy and Brett Lawrie had the only extra-base hits for the Stars. A rough outing for Mike Jones -- five Huntsville errors hurt the overall cause. R H E Huntsville 0 4 5 Akron 8 12 0 HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI Caufield 4 0 1 0 Justis 3 0 0 0 Lucroy 4 0 1 0 Wilson 4 0 0 0 Hopf 4 0 0 0 Krause 4 0 0 0 Fermaint 4 0 1 0 Lawrie 3 0 1 0 Wheeler 2 0 0 0 Whiteside 2 0 0 0 2B: Lucroy, Lawrie IP H R ER BB SO TP Cody 3 3 0 0 0 2 36 Holliman 3 3 1 1 1 2 40 Jones 2 5 4 3 0 0 37 Baron 1 0 0 0 0 2 18 Hinton 1 1 3 1 1 1 24

I'm making them all up http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif. Thursday's action: Columbus defeated Nashville, 15-3. Michael Garciaparra went 3-for-3 and Chris Errecart knocked in two runs. David Johnson's one shutout inning was the lone bright spot on the mound, as Nick Green, Mike Burns, and Joe Bateman all struggled. R H E Nashville 3 11 2 Columbus 15 16 1 NASHVILLE AB R H BI Bourgeois 5 1 1 1 Garciaparra 3 1 3 0 Gillespie 4 0 1 0 Errecart 5 0 1 2 Rangel 5 0 1 0 Parejo 3 0 2 0 Maldonado 4 0 0 0 Perez 4 0 1 0 Miranda 4 1 1 0 2B: Rangel, Bourgeois, Errecart, Miranda 3B: Parejo Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap IP H R ER BB SO TP Green 4 9 7 4 3 0 74 Burns 3 4 4 4 1 4 49 Bateman 1 3 4 3 2 0 26 Johnson 1 0 0 0 0 1 13

Whoa, flying solo, I see. It's now 7-7 through five. Apparently carnage is a two-way street.

Late to the party? So are we... What you missed -- Braden Looper has a stiff neck from watching long line drives whizz by for 2+ innings. Brewers down 6-0 early.... Gameday The carnage is also available on WTMJ and via MLB audio.

The Brewers farm teams will face Cleveland in spring action Thursday. Nashville, Huntsville, and Helena will make the trip to Goodyear; Brevard County and Wisconsin will play at home. All game times are 1 pm local starts.

Kannapolis beat up on Wisconsin, 10-6. Kris Dabrowiecki received most of the damage, getting tagged for eight runs in a little over an inning of work. Evan Frederickson worked the first four innings, allowing only a run. Mike Marseco collected three hits for Wisconsin, and John Delaney added a home run and a triple. Brett Lawrie homered and singled, Steve Braun doubled twice, and Erik Miller doubled and singled. R H E Wisconsin 6 13 0 Kannapolis 10 11 0 WISCONSIN AB R H BI Miller 5 0 2 0 Marseco 4 1 3 2 Lawrie 5 2 2 2 Kjeldgaard 3 0 0 0 Trejo 1 0 0 0 Zarraga 3 0 0 0 Kemp 1 0 0 0 BraunS 4 0 2 1 Delaney 4 1 2 1 Barrini 3 0 0 0 Arias 1 1 1 0 McPhearson 4 1 1 0 2B: BraunS 2, Miller 3B: Delaney HR: Delaney, Lawrie IP H R ER BB SO TP Frederickson 4 2 1 1 1 4 55 Dabrowiecki 1.1 7 8 8 1 0 49 Rapoza 1.2 1 1 1 0 1 17 Arnold 1 1 0 0 1 2 18

Brevard County roughed up Winston-Salem, 10-2. The Manatees collected 15 hits, including three from Derrick Alfonso. Four other 'Tees (Logan Schafer, Caleb Gindl, Joey Paciorek, and Mike Vass) had two hits each. Miguel Vasquez added a home run and drove in two. Mark Willinsky, Curtis Pasma, and Robert Wooten each posted scoreless outings out of the pen. R H E Brevard County 10 15 2 Winston-Salem 2 4 3 BREVARD CO AB R H BI Haydel 5 0 0 0 Schafer 4 2 2 0 Gindl 5 2 2 0 Wheeler 4 1 1 1 Alfonso 5 1 3 1 Vasquez 3 1 1 2 Miranda 1 0 0 0 Chapman 5 1 1 2 Paciorek 3 1 2 0 Bouchie 1 0 1 0 Vass 4 1 2 1 George 3 0 0 0 Sanchez 1 0 0 0 2B: Schafer, Alfonso Bitmap HR: Vasquez Bitmap IP H R ER BB SO TP Bitmap Axford 1.2 0 1 1 4 0 47 Mercedes 1 2 1 1 1 3 42 Willinsky 2 1 0 0 0 2 20 Pasma 2 0 0 0 0 3 23 Wooten 1 1 0 0 1 2 18

Birmingham defeated Huntsville, 6-2. Jeremy Jeffress had a rocky start and was saddled with the loss. He allowed four runs in as many innings and walked five. Chuckie Caufield was the only Star to have more than one hit. Rafael Lluberes and Josh Wahpepah each tossed two scoreless innings. R H E Birmingham 6 9 1 Huntsville 2 7 1 HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI Parejo 5 0 1 0 Ash 4 1 1 0 Lucroy 3 0 1 0 Whiteside 1 0 0 0 Wilson 4 0 0 0 Caufield 4 0 2 1 Hopf 3 1 1 1 Krause 4 0 0 0 Fermaint 3 0 0 0 Perez 3 0 1 0 2B: Caufield HR: Hopf IP H R ER BB SO TP Jeffress 4 2 4 4 5 4 61 Lluberes 2 1 0 0 0 3 35 Wahpepah 2 2 0 0 0 2 31 Reith 2 4 2 2 0 1 24

Wednesday's action: Nashville knocked off Charlotte, 9-6. Eric Farris singled four times and walked once for the Sounds, as they enjoyed another solid offensive output. Johnny Raburn, Scott Thorman, and Brent Brewer added two hits each. Tim Dillard threw three innings (two runs) in his converted role of starter. Todd Coffey, over from the major league side for a day, picked up the win in one inning of work. R H E Charlotte 6 9 2 Nashville 9 16 1 NASHVILLE AB R H BI Cain 1 1 1 0 Raburn 4 0 2 2 Rangel 1 0 0 0 Heether 4 0 1 2 Gillespie 3 0 1 1 Katin 5 0 1 0 Thorman 5 2 2 0 Stern 5 2 1 1 Brewer 3 2 2 1 Farris 4 1 4 2 De La Rosa 5 1 1 0 2B: Thorman, Brewer 3B: Cain, Gillespie SF: Gillespie Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap IP H R ER BB SO TP Dillard 3 4 2 2 0 2 50 Coffey 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 Narron 3 2 1 1 0 2 36 Swindle 1 1 0 0 0 1 8 Houston 1 2 3 3 2 0 23

"Seinfeld -- four!"

What the heck, David Riske...unbelievable. Manny Parra says thanks for the three earned runs. The official whipping boy of 2009, David Riske. What'd we decide, vent thread this year? This guy deserves one of his own!

Angel Salome optioned to AAA; Jason Bourgeois to minor league camp.

Laser surgery sure didn't help Hall as he was thrown out at third needlessly on the ground ball in the hole to Furcal -- ugly, wonder how Macha greeted him the dugout.

Journal-Sentinel: Nixon released, Gamel optioned Plus... Reliever Wes Littleton cleared waivers and will remain with the team to compete for a spot in the bullpen, although that seems like a long shot. His roster spot is now open and could mean the Brewers will add Chris Duffy. That's news because I don't believe anyone had reported that Littleton had been placed on waivers. Looks like he'll be in Nashville.

Battle of lefty starters, sunny and 70 degrees ON THE MOUND: Also scheduled to pitch this afternoon (subject to change) is RHP Todd Coffey, RHP David Riske and RHP Jorge Julio. The hunt for a David Riske scoreless inning continues. Gameday Audio Link for MLB Subscribers Box Score / Gameday Link Media Notes Link 2B Rickie Weeks SS J.J. Hardy LF Ryan Braun 1B Prince Fielder RF Corey Hart CF Mike Cameron 3B Bill Hall C Jason Kendall LHP Manny Parra We'll see that top eight plus Suppan April 7th.

Doug Melvin with 540 ESPN's Homer from Tuesday Night

Wisconsin defeated Great Lakes, 9-6. Chris Dennis and Brett Lawrie had three hits apiece to lead the Timber Rattlers 13-hit attack. Cody Scarpetta struck out five in his three innings, allowing two runs. Wily Peralta bounced back from a rough debut outing, working four innings (59 pitches), allowing two runs. R H E Wisconsin 9 13 2 Great Lakes 6 9 0 WISCONSIN AB R H BI Marseco 4 1 0 0 Dennis 4 3 3 1 Lawrie 5 0 3 2 Komatsu 3 1 1 0 Kjeldgaard 1 2 1 0 Duran 1 0 1 1 Zarraga 3 0 0 1 Trejo 1 0 1 1 Delaney 2 1 2 0 Kemp 1 0 0 1 Roberts 1 0 0 0 McPhearson 1 0 0 1 Miller 2 1 1 1 2B: Lawrie, Delaney SF: Duran IP H R ER BB SO TP Scarpetta 3 3 2 2 1 5 57 Peralta 4 3 2 2 2 1 59 Lambertus 1 1 1 1 0 0 19 Tyson 1 2 1 1 1 2 25

Inland Empire downed Brevard County by the score of 8-4. Caleb Gindl was again the Manatees leading hitter, going 3-for-4 with a double. Evan Anundsen got the start for the Manatees and pitched three innings without allowing a run. R H E Brevard County 4 11 2 Inland Empire 8 17 2 BREVARD CO AB R H BI Haydel 3 1 2 0 Schafer 4 0 1 0 Gindl 4 2 3 1 Wheeler 3 0 1 0 Vasquez 1 0 1 1 Bouchie 3 0 1 1 Alfonso 1 0 0 0 Miranda 3 0 0 0 Paciorek 3 0 0 0 Chapman 3 1 1 0 Vass 3 0 1 0 Sanchez 2 0 0 0 George 1 0 0 0 2B: Gindl Bitmap 3B: Vasquez Bitmap IP H R ER BB SO TP Bitmap Anundsen 3 3 0 0 0 2 37 Luetge 3 5 3 3 0 1 45 Dickert 0.1 4 3 3 0 0 14 Sherrill 2 2 1 1 1 1 32 Morales 0.1 3 1 1 1 0 21

Huntsville played Chattanooga to a tie, 2-2. The Stars tied the game late on a Johnny Ash RBI single in the 8th. J.R. Hopf had two extra-base hits for the Stars. Bobby Bramhall needed only 40 pitches to get through the first three innings, allowing one run. Donovan Hand tossed two scoreless innings. R H E Chattanooga 2 7 1 Huntsville 2 5 3 HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI Parejo 4 0 0 0 Ash 4 0 1 2 Lucroy 4 0 1 0 Wilson 4 0 1 0 Fermaint 4 0 0 0 Krause 1 0 0 0 Barrini 3 0 0 0 Hopf 3 1 2 0 Perez 2 1 0 0 Justis 3 0 0 0 BraunS 1 0 0 0 2B: Lucroy, Hopf 3B: Hopf IP H R ER BB SO TP Bramhall 3 1 1 1 1 3 40 Hand 2 2 0 0 0 1 29 Ramlow 2 2 1 1 0 2 28 Ellison 1 1 0 0 1 1 24 McClendon 1 1 0 0 1 2 18

Tuesday's action: Nashville beat up on Albuquerque, 13-3. Lorenzo Cain was the offensive star for with a monster game for the Sounds, going 5-for-6 with a homer, triple, five runs scored, and four knocked in. Eric Farris added three hits, including a triple and double, as the Sounds pounded out 19 hits against the Isotopes. Adam Heether doubled, tripled, and drove in three runs. The Sounds pitching staff allowed only one earned run, highlighted by Chris Smith's three-inning scoreless appearance. Chase Wright allowed two runs, only one earned, in four innings despite allowing eight base hits. The five Brewer pitchers combined to strike out 12 while walking only one. R H E Albuquerque 3 12 3 Nashville 13 19 4 NASHVILLE AB R H BI Cain 6 5 5 4 Heether 4 2 2 3 Gillespie 2 0 1 2 Katin 3 0 1 1 Rangel 2 0 1 0 Thorman 3 0 1 1 Raburn 2 0 1 0 Stern 5 1 2 0 Brewer 4 0 0 1 Farris 4 2 3 0 Abreu 1 1 1 0 Maldonado 5 2 1 0 2B: Heether, Farris 3B: Cain, Heether, Farris HR: Cain SF: Gillespie 2, Brewer Bitmap Bitmap Bitmap IP H R ER BB SO TP WrightC 4 8 2 1 0 5 62 Smith 3 2 0 0 0 4 45 Sandoval 0.2 0 1 0 0 1 24 Gardner 1 1 0 0 1 1 19 Bray 1 1 0 0 0 1 13