Jim Goulart

Yeah, I know this is a heck of a thread bump -- hopefully David Riske is on to something here (hey, it's slow news around the holiday): Donatelli begins treatment with an evaluation that includes muscle testing, flexibility testing and balance testing. He will then develop exercises to pinpoint target areas. It's a method Donatelli said is not often used in sports rehab. Case in point, Donatelli recentely took on Milwaukee Brewers pitcher and Summerlin resident David Riske as a patient. He said Riske had rehabbed injuries with position players in the past and later developed back and elbow injuries. But Donatelli put him on a program specific for pitchers and the pitcher's condition greatly improved. Riske may be timing his appointments to match Natalie Gulbis' http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

Within this Lisa Winston Thanksgiving list at MiLB.com, Lisa reflects on Lorenzo Cain. If you click his name below, you'll see the oringinal 2006 interview which she refers to. L. Lorenzo Cain: One of the great joys of my job is watching players blossom and bloom. When I met the Brewers outfield prospect in 2006 in West Virginia, he shyly told me I was the first interview he'd ever done. Now, after his AFL campaign, he is a superstar in the making and still the same wonderful down-to-earth kid he always was.

In one of the possible ones that got away category, is Kanekoa Texeira (2004 - 31st Round), who was selected in the 22nd round by the White Sox in '06, and was just traded to the Yankees as part of the Nick Swisher deal. He was just named MiLB.com's top Class A ball reliever for 2008. Kanekoa Texeira (22) of Kula, Hawaii, converted 20 of 23 save opportunities for the Winston-Salem Warthogs before being promoted to Double-A in July. Texeira went 3-1 with a 0.93 ERA and fanned 36 in 38 2/3 innings while with the Warthogs. The Chicago White Sox picked him out of Saddleback (Calif.) Junior College.

Edit -- moved to proper thread -- my error, not DHonks...

This Twins blogger did some nice minor league free agent analysis.

Lisa Winston of MiLB.com with this July 2007 feature story on Jason Bourgeois.

OF Mel Stocker was signed by Jack Z. and Seattle (minor league deal), according to BA, which cited Jack's familiarity. 33-year-old Kevin Barker re-signed with the Reds organization. He was their AAA co-MVP in '08.

Tampa won Iwamura in a bidding process, much like the Red sox with Dice-K. Iwamura had to go with the Rays based on that bid, so Tampa didn't tempt him in a true free agent sense of the word.

Although part of the 2004 draft class with Rogers, Cain was a draft-and-follow, and signed a contract prior to the 2005 season.

Per Baseball America: The Brewers have released 26-year-old RHP E.J. Shanks. The extreme submariner and former Padre farmhand had more success in 2007, his first season with the Brewers after being rescued from independent league ball, than he did in '08. Also released was 1B / OF Curt Rindal, the 35th round 2007 pick out of the University of Washington. Rindal turned 24 just after his first pro season in '07, and like several other older late-round college draft picks the Brewers make each year to fill the Helena roster, Rindal just didn't show enough in his second season in low-A to justify staying on board for a third season. Our best to both.

Young outfielders are among the toughest to carry for a full season, was Jay Gibbons the last success story in Rule 5 outfield lore? Brian Barton with St. Louis last year, I guess, off the top of my head. Perhaps that's why the focus on pitching, with Cain not added.

Scarpetta, 20, was an 11th round pick in 2007 and normally wouldn't have to be protected. But, after signing, his contract was voided because of a pre-existing finger injury. By signing Scarpetta to a different contract, he became eligible for the Rule 5 draft and the Brewers didn't want to lose him. It certainly doesn't help the Brewers that Scarpetta will have no options remaining as of spring 2012. I can understand why he was eligible, but if the Brewers knew this was going to be necessary, don't showcase him in Hawaii. Who could have possibly carried him all year on their 25-man? Sign him to another one-year minor league deal for a bit more cash and save the 40-man spot and the option. Bizarre.

LINK to Home Page Great job, really enjoyed it! Phone interviews aren't easy to transcribe, thanks for all the hard work.

Link while active, text follows: Brewers must make decision on Rogers BY PAUL BETIT Portland (ME) Press Herald After spending the last two summers recovering from shoulder surgery, Mark Rogers may soon receive a new lease on his baseball life. The Milwaukee Brewers, who made Rogers the fifth pick in the 2004 draft, must decide by Thursday whether to put the Orr's Island native on its 40-man roster. If the Brewers don't add Rogers to their major league roster, he will become eligible for the Rule 5 free agent draft, which will be held Dec. 7 during the baseball's winter meetings in Las Vegas. "We either have to place him on our 40-man roster or he gets exposed and another team can claim him for $50,000," Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin explained, in a recent telephone interview. No matter what happens during the next three weeks, Rogers, a right-handed pitcher who signed a $2.2 million contract five years ago following his graduation from of Mt. Ararat High School, intends to return to the mound next season. "I'm not done," he said. "I'm either going to be with the (Brewers) or with somebody else." Rogers, who was in Maine for a recent visit, hopes he will be able to stay with Milwaukee. "I really want to stay with the Brewers," he said. "We've come a long way together, and I have a lot of trust in them, and I hope they feel the same about me." Melvin, who was running the Brewers at the time the club drafted Rogers, remained noncommittal. "We won't know until next Thursday," he said. "We need to get some more input from our staff." Rogers, who turns 23 in January, has not pitched in a baseball game since July 2007 when he injured his right shoulder while playing for the Brevard County Manatees in the Class A Florida State League. The following January, he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and tighten a loose ligament. Last June, Rogers underwent arthroscopic procedures to remove scar tissue that developed after the earlier surgery. "A lot of people will have this kind of surgery and the scar tissue will break up naturally over time, and mine didn't," he said. "It was a real easy surgery, so I came back and I instantly felt a hundred times better. I had full range of motion and a full arm path, and I just felt like I did before the surgery." In early August, Rogers, whose fastball has been timed in excess of 100 miles per hour, began throwing a baseball again. When play in the fall instructional league ended last month in Arizona, where Rogers lives, he was up to throwing 45 pitches per session. "I haven't seen him throwing to hitters, but from a rehab standpoint he's done well," Melvin said. "He's worked hard." Melvin is impressed with how optimistic Rogers has remained through nearly two years of physical rehabilitation. "The toughest part is the psychological part for a young player is not to get discouraged," he said. "He's starting to see some progress." If Rogers is exposed to the Rule 5 draft and isn't claimed by another major league team, the Brewers retain the rights to him. If another major league baseball team does claim Rogers in the December draft, it must assign him to their 40-man roster and he must spend the first 90 days of the next baseball season with the major league team. Note: Unless there's been a change in the CBA, that fact seems incorrect. -- Jim "It's hard for me to be in this position because there's nothing I can do," Rogers said. "The only thing I can control is what I can control. For the last year and a half, it's been rehab and showing that I am healthy now and can get back on track to where I was before."

RHP Alex Periard was rocked again today -- eight hits and four walks led to six ER in 3.2 IP. In nine appearances (four starts), his line is 0-3, 10.50 ERA in 18 innings, 30 hits including five HR's, 15 walks, 17 K's. Lorenzo Cain doubled and walked in five plate appearances out of the leadoff spot. Box Score

Just-released outfielder Scott Houin has already caught on with the River City (Missouri) Rascals of the independent Frontier League.

Nice job by Chris Cody, limiting the damage, Canefires trail, 2-1, as one inherited runner scored. - Roger Kieschnick grounds into a force out, first baseman Miles Durham to shortstop Brian Friday. James McOwen scores. Buster Posey to 3rd. Yonder Alonso out at 2nd. Roger Kieschnick to 1st. - Todd Frazier strikes out swinging. That's it for me for now.

Running commentary -- can Chris Cody bail Cody Scarpetta out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam? (Cody relieved Cody.) Waikiki Top 3rd - Marquez Smith grounds out, third baseman Tyler Henson to first baseman Miles Durham. - Tony Thomas singles on a ground ball to left fielder Kyle Peter. - With James McOwen batting, Tony Thomas steals (1) 2nd base. - James McOwen singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Gregory Burns. Tony Thomas scores. - Buster Posey walks. James McOwen to 2nd. - Coaching visit to mound. - Yonder Alonso walks. James McOwen to 3rd. Buster Posey to 2nd. - Coaching visit to mound. - Pitcher Change: Chris Cody replaces Cody Scarpetta.

Cody Scarpetta gets the start in the HWL Championship Game, nice honor. He's playing with fire early, but double play balls have bailed him out of the first two innings. One run allowed thus far in the 3rd inning, still on-going. Caleb Gindl is starting in right field, batting third.

The Hawaii Winter Baseball game between the West Oahu CaneFires and North Shore Honu tonight at Hans L'Orange Park has been cancelled due to heavy rain. The game will not be made up. Championship still scheduled for Sunday, though (6:00 PM Central). Wonder if Chris Cody will see action, as he was scheduled for Saturday.

This is why (linked here, relevant text below) One might say that Jake Peavy is the poster boy for why pitchers may not want to participate in the World Baseball Classic during spring training. He pitched for the American team in the inaugural event in March 2006, after competing for an ERA title in 2005 and finishing with a 2.88 mark. He was 1-3 with a 5.17 ERA in his first five starts of 2006. He struggled mightily through June and July before getting it together in August and September. He went 6-4 and posted a 2.64 ERA over the final two months to finish 11-14 (4.09). For pitchers, spring training involves getting mechanics and pitches in working order, things that take time and repetition. "We're routine-oriented people," says Gary Lucas, a former big league pitcher who is a minor league pitching coach. "If you mess with that, the physical and mental preparation for a season is compromised. It's an extremely competitive work environment." Peavy wasn't the only WBC participant to scuffle in 2006, particularly at the onset of the season. Only six of the 25 pitchers who worked the international event posted ERAs below 4.00 over the first four weeks of the season. Among those who struggled in April were Johan Santana, Freddy Garcia, Esteban Loaiza, Miguel Batista, Gustavo Chacin, Oliver Perez, Bartolo Colon and Peavy. Most of them were back on track by the middle of May. Colon, the reigning Cy Young Award winner last spring, made three starts for the Dominican Republic and worked a WBC-high 14 innings. He was 0-2 (7.07) in his first three starts for the Angels before landing on the disabled list in mid-April with shoulder inflammation. He made just 10 starts in all before a rotator cuff tear ended his season. It's impossible to document a direct link between working the WBC and regular-season performance or injuries, but teams might want to think twice about having their aces participate in the next event in 2009.

Not sure we should all welcome this report. Do the Brewers honor the request if Yo formally makes it? (Yo was born in Mexico but grew up in Fort Worth, but only moved to Texas at age four, I believe.)

Look for Vinny Rottino in December -- Rottino catches his breath BY PETER JACKEL Racine Journal Times Vinny Rottino has been picking up his sister's kids at school in Racine and working on nephew John's left-handed swing. Jason Jaramillo has been spending time with his girlfriend in Oklahoma City and doing some light workouts. And both have been recharging their batteries for another shot at the big time in another three months - Rottino with the Milwaukee Brewers and Jaramillo with the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies. It was a long, hot summer for these two catching prospects from Racine County who share similar visions. And after each played in at least 115 games, not counting spring training, both are taking a step back this fall with the idea of taking two steps forward next spring. No taking foul tips. No setting up pitchers. No strapping and unstrapping catching gear. No warily scrutinizing a would-be base stealer. No willing themselves though nine innings of 90-degree heat. Jaramillo, a 2001 Case High School graduate who turned 26 Oct. 9, has been dealing with disappointment in addition to wear and tear. When major-league teams expanded their rosters to 40 players Sept. 1, Jaramillo was not called up despite a productive season for the Class AAA Lehigh Valley (Pa.) Ironpigs. Instead, Jaramillo had to watch as the Phillies promoted Class AA Reading (Pa.) catcher Lou Marson, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2004 - the same year Jaramillo was selected in the second. And when the Phillies made their charge toward what was only the second World Series championship in this franchise's history, Jaramillo was on the outside looking in. "It was hard," Jaramillo said. "It was a little disappointing that I wasn't one of the guys who got called up. Mentally, it still hurts a little bit, seeing all those guys out there that I know fairly well - and I'm happy for them - winning the World Series and wishing I was a part of it." But while Jaramillo was disappointed, he's not bitter. He plans on intensifying his training pace in the near future after clearing his head this fall. "I just want to rest from a long season," he said. "I caught 115 games and it really took a toll on me this year. I feel I just need to rest and recuperate, get back in the gym and get ready for next year." That much Jaramillo can control. And he's aware that the rest is in the Phillies' hands. "I'm happy to be given the chance, but I just feel like I've done my part and I've continued to work hard and progress," he said. "Everywhere I've been, I've been an All-Star and a gold medalist. Hopefully, my time is coming soon, whether it's with Philly or somebody else." Meanwhile, Rottino is taking one of his first extended breaks from baseball since signing with the Brewers organization as an undrafted free agent in January 2003. Rottino declined an offer Monday from Jean Giraldi, general manager of the La Romano Toros in the Dominican Republic, to report in early November instead of Dec. 1. Rottino loves baseball as much as he ever has. It's just that he recognizes that it would be counterproductive to resume playing so soon. "He wants me down there now," said Rottino, a 1998 St. Catherine's graduate who turns 29 April 7. "They have catching issues. I said, 'Listen, Jean, catching wore me out a little bit last year and I need to get a rest. I can't come down until Dec. 1 and I completely understand if you need to get somebody else.' "It feels good to be away from the game a little right now. It feels real good just to recharge the batteries. Just to get away from the game mentally feels good." Rottino appeared in 118 games for the Class AAA Nashville Sounds last season, most of which were at catcher. He was promoted to the Brewers for the third straight season when rosters expanded in September, but only had one plate appearance. While the Brewers are established at catcher with veteran Jason Kendall and have looked long term at that position by drafting Brett Lawrie in the first round of last June's First-Year Player Draft, Rottino doesn't concern himself with any of that. All he's interested in is catching his breath and then throwing everything he has once again into one day drawing a regular paycheck from the Brewers. "What I feel deep down is that as long as I have a uniform, I have a chance," he said. "I'll be 29. I think Damian Miller finally broke in when he was 27 or 28 and played 10 years in the big leagues. And Chris Coste, the backup catcher for the Phillies, played 12 years in the minor leagues and his first four in the Independent League. He played 'A' ball at 26. "I feel that I am extremely blessed just to be able to play this game in the first place and, as long as I got a uniform, I have a chance to play in the big leagues. All you need is an opportunity and then you have to take the opportunity and run with it."

Last year, there was a day or two on the schedule where games were cancelled because not enough pitchers were available on proper rest. Perhaps this was the case here.

Former Brewer farmhand RHP Ryan Trytten is profiled in this detailed and interesting story about his experience thus far this offseason pitching in Australia.