Jim Goulart

Casey McGehee update from Mexico via Rotoworld

Link while active, text follows: Brewers prospects given tour of Tent City Gary Grado, East Valley (AZ) Tribune Chad Robinson, a pitching prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers, is about to turn 21, but on Tuesday he got a dose of reality that will make him think twice about drinking too much when he celebrates. SLIDESHOW: Brewers tour Tent City Robinson and about 40 other prospects ranging in age from 17 to 22 took a tour of Tent City, the Maricopa County jail where convicted felons who are sentenced to up to year go to serve their time. "It's really sinking in since I'm turning 21," Robinson said. The Brewers, who played their Cactus League games for years in Chandler and are now in Maryvale, set up the tour for the impressionable young players, some of whom could be making big money in a few years. "You guys have a few beers and get pulled over, this is reality, this is reality in Arizona," said Frank Neville, the team's minor league medical coordinator. The players are in town for a winter conditioning program where they work out for four hours in the morning and usually spend a few afternoons a week visiting hospitals, Boys and Girls Clubs or some other community service function. The players, most of them baby-faced, walked through the jail in matching black sweat suits as inmates lounged on their metal cots wearing their black-and-white striped uniforms. Sheriff Joe Arpaio struck up a conversation with a Spanish-speaking inmate, who told the players he was there for a month for having a tiny amount of cocaine. Deputy Doug Matteson, a former professional hockey player who lost part of a leg four years ago when a drunken police officer crashed into his motorcycle on U.S. 60, gave the players advice about going to the clubs in Scottsdale and Tempe. There are "professional socialites" whose main purpose is to start relationships with athletes and celebrities, he said. He cautioned the players to be careful around strangers they're hanging with, because they may be carrying drugs. If someone associating with a ballplayer is arrested, it will reflect badly on the player and team even if he didn't do anything wrong, Matteson said. Valley police and judges aren't impressed by athletes either, Matteson said. "If you got a 10-for-10 hitting streak, it doesn't matter," he said. "You'll get 10 days in Tent City." Arpaio reminded the players that top athletes such as former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson have served time in Tent City. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/images/photos/2008/11/11/0bvrd5i8.jpg Players Wayne Dedrick, left, and Jake Odorizzi check out a bag containing an inmate meal. Phoenix. Photo by Julio Jimenez, East Valley (AZ) Tribune

Baseball America adds RHP Jose Garcia to the released list. The 20-year-old Dominican native made 29 relief appearances for West Virginia after seeing more of a starting role in Helena in '07. Catcher Carlos Pena, who saw action in 19 games in Maryvale this summer (.171 / .488 OPS), was let go. Pena turned 21 in August, he's from Puerto Rico. The Baseball America link also includes names of players who the Brewers removed from their inactive list -- players who had not seen action since 2007, or not at all. Ned Yost IV is among them -- no word on whether Yost IV will return in a coaching capacity next season.

Links point to career statistics for these released players -- The Brewers have released soon-to-be 26-year-old 2006 24th round pick RHP Travis Wendte, who struggled through an injury-interrupted season at high-A Brevard in '08. RHP Shane Hill, still just 20 years old, was an 8th round pick in '06 out of a Florida high school. He never got out of Maryvale. OF Scott Houin was signed out of independent ball in 2007. Catcher Uly Snijders eaned the backup job in West Virginia over Eric Fryer to begin 2008. Middle infielder Luis Sanchez was signed out of the Dominican Republic in '06, and debuted in '07 in Maryvale. His '07 Maryvale campaign was more successful than his '08. Venezuelan LHP Luis Ramirez appeard to be on the fast-track, appearing in 23 games (eight starts) at West Virginia in '07. He spent '08 on the team's inactive list.

Chantelle Ziemann and Douglas Davis Lillian and Arlin Ziemann of Eau Claire announce the engagement of their daughter, Chantelle Ziemann, to Douglas Davis, son of Diane and Mike Strang of Georgetown, Texas, and Marianne and Mike Davis of Sparks, Nev. Chantelle has an associate degree in paralegal studies. Douglas is a starting pitcher for Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. A Nov. 7, 2009, wedding at Paradise Valley, Ariz., is planned. PHOTO

Chance to meet and greet R. J. Seidel in LaCrosse on Sunday the 23rd. Let us know how it went if you attend... LINK Scherzer featured guest at Loggers' Winter BBQ By LaCrosse Tribune staff Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Max Scherzer, the first La Crosse Loggers alumnus to make the Major Leagues, will be the featured guest at the Loggers' 7th Annual Winter Baseball BBQ on Nov. 23 at the Best Western Midway Hotel, the Loggers announced Friday. La Crosse natives Jon Mueller (Cubs) and R.J. Seidel (Brewers), both pitchers in the minors, will also appear at the event. Scherzer, a right-hander, played for the Loggers in 2004 and was a Northwoods League South Division All-Star. He pitched for Team USA in 2005 and after finishing his college career at Missouri, he was selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2006 Major League Draft by Arizona, making him the highest draft choice with NWL ties. Scherzer made his big league debut on April 29 against Houston, pitching 4 1/3 perfect innings of relief with seven strikeouts. He split the rest of this summer between Class AAA Tucson and Arizona, working through a shoulder problem and finished 0-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 16 appearances (seven starts) with 66 strikeouts in 59 innings for the Diamondbacks. Tickets for the Winter BBQ are on sale at the Loggers' main office on Caledonia Street. Cost is $5 for adults and kids 12 and under will be admitted free. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the program begins at 6 p.m. For more information, contact the Loggers at (608) 796-9553.

Rotoworld makes note of Brad Nelson's outstanding Dominican Winter League season thus far.

Getting married this month, link to article from early October.

LINK Other than citing Mark Rogers' 2007 numbers as 2008's (Mark missed all of 2008), a decent write-up with some audio and even video highlight links for you. Ultra soft-tossing lefty Chris Cody, who will be 25 in January and was thus age-dominant in low and high A, was their Pitcher of the Year. I'm rooting for the current Hawaii Leaguer as much as anyone, but that does say something about the state of organizational pitching at this time. Second link -- 2008 Organizational Highlights

Baseball America has done a fantastic job of organizing the six-year minor league free agent list this year, including an explanation of why the list is out later than usual. LINK The Brewers' portion of the list looks like this -- Milwaukee Brewers (9) RHP: Nestor Corredor ®, Nick Ungs (AAA) LHP: Troy Cate (AAA), Erasmo Ramirez (AAA) 2B: Callix Crabbe (AAA) SS: Ozzie Chavez (AA), Chris Woodward (AAA) OF: Jay Gibbons (AAA), Mel Stocker (Hi A) I had forgotten to include converted catcher Nestor Corredor on the initial post in this thread. Also, it appears RHP John Axford and LHP Derrick Ellison are still Brewers' property. You would think INF Guilder Rodriguez would be a free agent, maybe the perpetual AA utility man has been re-signed yet again. Feel free to use this thread to also discuss which free agents intrigue you as potential future Brewers.

By the way, both MiLB.com and Baseball America are late in posting the list of minor league free agents throughout baseball. We've emailed our friends at BA, and they seem to be working on obtaining the info.

The Sounds' updated page has now removed the Nic Ungs notation; perhaps they realized it was posted in error. We'll try and follow up with them.

Capuano was re-instated at the very end of October, according to MLB's transactions page. By then, so many players had been removed from the 40-man via filing for free agency, (the 40-man roster is at 30 now), that the Capuano activation became a non-issue in that regard.

According to the Sounds' site, RHP Nic Ungs is the latest pitcher to re-sign with the Brewers, as the 2009 Nashville staff is starting to look a lot like the 2008 staff.

Back in July, we posted this: MiLB.com is listing a newcomer pitching for the Arizona Brewers, soon-to-be 24-year-old RHP Bobby McEwen. Apparently he pitched out of Gonzaga, his college career ended after '07, this looks like it will be his pro debut. It appears he's been focused on coaching and academy work (scroll on link). To be signed at that age, McEwen must have really impressed at a local tryout or such. Career stats at Gonzaga are amazingly non-impressive. Good luck to the "kid", there must be a nice backstory here somewhere. *** Anyway, here is the backstory from an August article, text follows: Local baseball player gets a second chance to be a pro Bobby McEwen thought his baseball career was over. But the Archbishop Murphy coach got a surprise when he joined the Seattle Studs and caught the eye of a pro scout By Mike Cane Everett (WA) Herald Writer Bobby McEwen had moved on. His career as a baseball player included far more achievements than most hopeful youngsters ever attain. McEwen, a right-handed pitcher, earned all-state honors at Jackson High School in Mill Creek and competed for four seasons at Gonzaga University. But last summer, after playing with a semipro team in California, the 5-foot-11 McEwen -- considered short by pro standards -- let go of his dreams of making it to the pros. He took a job as a mortgage consultant in Marysville, Washington. That was that. No more baseball. "When I played in California that was my last go at it, to give it a shot," said the 23-year-old. McEwen said he pitched well there but didn't get an offer from a major-league team. McEwen didn't throw a baseball for four months. He didn't know it at the time, but his baseball career was far from over. Back in the game These days, McEwen has his ideal occupation. Last month he quit his job in Marysville. The reason: He signed a baseball contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Through July 30 McEwen had made three pitching appearances for the AZL Brewers of the Arizona Rookie League, compiling a 1.69 earned-run average. "This is what I want to do, is be able to put all my efforts toward baseball with no distractions," he said from Arizona last week in a phone interview. "Getting paid to play, this is now my job. I want to go for it and see where it will take me." Wait. How did McEwen go from former athlete to pro pitcher? It was an unexpected, remarkably swift journey that seemingly no one -- especially McEwen -- would have predicted. Not done yet After graduating from Gonzaga in spring 2007 and playing his third and final summer season with the Santa Barbara Foresters, McEwen decided to coach, in addition to working his day job in Marysville. He guided the U13 Seattle Bombers select team and also was an assistant coach at Archbishop Murphy High this past spring. Besides throwing batting practice to Murphy hitters once a week, he wasn't pitching or working out. But McEwen got a call from Barry Aden, manager of the Seattle Studs. The Studs play in the semi-pro Pacific International League, which mainly features college players. Aden, who knew McEwen's dad, wondered if McEwen would like to pitch a handful of mid-week games for the Studs. McEwen agreed to give it a try, expecting no more than a chance to help the team and hopefully have a good time. In his first start, McEwen threw five innings of no-hit ball -- pretty good for a guy who had not started a game since April 2007, for Gonzaga. "It all just kind of clicked for me," said McEwen. Using a fastball that topped out in the 92-mph range and a new knuckle curveball that he tinkered with during spring practices with Archbishop Murphy, McEwen impressed Aden. After McEwen's successful debut, the Studs manager asked McEwen's dad a question: "Are you sure that he wants to be done playing baseball? There might be something out there for him." McEwen's second start, on June 11, was even more impressive. He notched six shutout innings while allowing only one hit against the Bellingham Bells, coached by Brandon Newell, who is also an area scout for the Brewers. Newell immediately asked Aden about McEwen. It turned out Aden was right: There was still something out there for McEwen. 'The most surreal moment' By the time McEwen traveled with the Seattle Studs to Kamloops, B.C., for a tournament in early July, he knew some pro scouts, including Newell, were interested in him. Pitching on Saturday during the weekend tourney, McEwen continued to dominate. He earned a complete-game, shutout victory as Seattle decisively defeated the Red Deer Riggers. When the game ended, Aden asked his players to stick around for team pictures. Members of the grounds crew set up a table and a few chairs on the field. McEwen was confused. He noticed a large video camera, but that didn't give away the surprise. He finally realized what was about to happen when he saw Newell, the Milwaukee scout, walk towards him with a Brewers cap. Said McEwen, "It was the most surreal moment in my life." Newell asked McEwen, just a few months removed from thinking his playing days were over, if he would like to be a professional baseball player. McEwen sat down and quickly signed the contract Newell brought. "My face, I don't think I could have smiled any bigger. I was shaking," McEwen said. "I don't even know what my signature looked like. I signed it so fast," he added. The surprise signing ceremony, witnessed by teammates and fans, totally stunned McEwen. Aden and McEwen's parents, who attended the game, were in on it the whole time. McEwen never suspected a thing. "I couldn't have written a better script," said Aden. It was an emotional moment for many, including Pacific International League secretary Steve Potter. "It was pretty cool. It brought tears to my eyes," Potter said. "It's special to watch a kid fulfill his dreams." Aden estimated that in his 19 seasons coaching the Studs he's had at least a dozen former players reach the major leagues, including Willie Bloomquist of the Mariners and Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum. But McEwen, Aden said, is just the third player he's had sign a pro contract after leaving the game. Said Aden, "That's kind of unique." After coming to the Studs with no expectations, McEwen finished with a 5-0 record, a 1.03 earned-run average and 36 strikeouts in 35 innings pitched. Older and wiser In the rookie-level Arizona League, McEwen is an oddity. Most of his teammates and opponents are four or five years younger -- players who signed right out of high school. Though he's new to the team and the pro-ball atmosphere, McEwen's confidence and experience stand out. "He's a quality right-hander who brings maturity, especially to a young staff," said Tony Diggs, first-year manager of the AZL Brewers. Previously a starter, McEwen has been used in a relief role with the Brewers. He fit right in and is already known as a hard worker, Diggs said. In his pro debut July 21 McEwen allowed one hit and one run in two innings. "He didn't seem nervous at all. He's been chewing at the bit to get the ball," said Diggs. Although McEwen did add a more devastating breaking ball to his repertoire this year, it's not like the pitcher came out of nowhere. He always had talent, but his lack of height probably limited his opportunities. Mark Potoshnik is Archbishop Murphy High's head baseball coach. He has known McEwen since the 2002 Jackson High graduate was 10 years old. "Going back to his high school times, he's always had a very, very strong arm. But as an under 6-foot right-handed pitcher it's always tough early in your career for (scouts) to want to sign you or draft you," Potoshnik said. But with the success of hard-throwing, relatively short pitchers like Lincecum (5-foot-11), more doors could open for players such as McEwen. How far will McEwen go? What other twists will his unusual story include? McEwen said he's determined to work as hard as possible and make the most of his opportunity. But even if he never gets to the major leagues, he's content making it this far, especially after thinking his career was over. "This is my goal," McEwen said, "and I've made it. Anything else is great."

Lots of quotes from Seth McClung in this article, text follows. Also doing what he can for the community here (McClung is dyslexic). McClung adjusts to changes in major leagues Gabe Whisnant November 2, 2008 - 11:47PM Pitchers at any level like to know their routine. The conditioning - and mentality - required for starting every five days is different than being prepared to come out of the bullpen. Milwaukee Brewers righthander Seth McClung seemed to be in a state of flux during the 2008 season. McClung, who attended Cramerton Middle School (formerly Junior High), conditioned himself to be a reliever last offsesason. He started the year in the bullpen for the Brewers, then platooned in the starting rotation for a portion of the season. The righty returned to the pen in August. He remained in that role the rest of the year as Milwaukee earned a wild-card berth before falling to eventual World Series champion Philadelphia. "My arm was conditioned to be a reliever. My velocity was down, and I wasn't flirting with 100 (miles per hour) like I had in the past," McClung said. "I felt like my arm was always playing catch-up." During the regular season, he pitched in 37 games - 12 as a starter. McClung finished at 6-6 with an earned run average of 4.02 in 105.1 innings. On May 24, he made his first start in over two years and picked up a win over the Washington Nationals. He hopes to enter - and finish - the 2009 season as a starter. "In the offseason, I'm going to condition myself to come in and be a starter," McClung said. "It just means longer endurance running and longer tosses." The decision on McClung's role will be in new hands next season as Milwaukee recently hired Ken Macha to replace interim manager Dale Sveum. Sveum took over late in the year for Ned Yost, who was fired after a two-week Brewer slump. Sveum helped right the ship as Milwaukee reached the postseason. "We handled it the best way possible. We didn't let it become a large issue, we just went about playing baseball," said McClung about the mangerial change. "It was the same effect for us as it was changing a starter in the field. Ned did a lot to get us there, but the GM thought we had to make a change, and we did. "Who knows if we get to the playoffs with or without Ned, but I think we would have. We just rolled with it." McClung appeared in Game 1 of the Divisional Playoffs at Philadelphia, pitching two scoreless innings of relief work. He struck out one and pitched around two hits and three walks (one intentional). Pitching in the postseason was a dream come true, but he tried to treat the opportunity like a regular game. "You just try not to overhype it because then it gets in your head," McClung said. "I just really appreciated the fact that I was in a game that was magnified. It made me hungry for more." McClung, who broke into the majors in 2003 with the Tampa Bay Rays and currently resides in Florida, said his contract will be negotiated in the coming months. He hopes to remain with the Brewers. "We've had so much turnover in the coaching staff. Before he left, Ned (Yost) promised me I would be a starter next year," he said. "Professionally, you always strive to be on a team that wins. My main thought is to be somewhere I can help win. "I would love the security, but Milwaukee has to decide on me, not me on them. "It was the same effect for us as it was changing a starter in the field. Ned did a lot to get us there, but the GM thought we had to make a change, and we did. "Who knows if we get to the playoffs with or without Ned, but I think we would have. We just rolled with it." McClung appeared in Game 1 of the Divisional Playoffs at Philadelphia, pitching two scoreless innings of relief work. He struck out one and pitched around two hits and three walks (one intentional). Pitching in the postseason was a dream come true, but he tried to treat the opportunity like a regular game. "You just try not to overhype it because then it gets in your head," McClung said. "I just really appreciated the fact that I was in a game that was magnified. It made me hungry for more." McClung, who broke into the majors in 2003 with the Tampa Bay Rays and currently resides in Florida, said his contract will be negotiated in the coming months. He hopes to remain with the Brewers. "We've had so much turnover in the coaching staff. Before he left, Ned (Yost) promised me I would be a starter next year," he said. "Professionally, you always strive to be on a team that wins. My main thought is to be somewhere I can help win. "I would love the security, but Milwaukee has to decide on me, not me on them."

Rotoworld update on Hernan Iribarren The Hurricane is out of options, the Brewers would have to waive him in the spring to get him back to Nashville, and because he has seven years with the organization, he'd have the right to choose free agency if not claimed.

(Dublin, CA. October 31, 2008) The Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that Long Beach Armada centerfielder Steve Moss has had his contract purchased by the Seattle Mariners of the American League. "Steve was key to our team reaching the playoffs this year," said Long Beach Armada manager Steve Yeager. "He was one of our leading hitters and was the best defensive centerfielder in the league. I'm looking forward to watching him advance within Seattle's organization." Moss, 24, 6-2, 190 lbs is an outfielder who was drafted out of high school in Sherman Oaks, California in the 29th round of the 2002 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. He rose through their minor league organization, playing full seasons in Double-A in 2006 and 2007 and then became a free agent. Returning home to southern California, he signed with the Long Beach Armada and became the starting centerfielder on one of the finest and most veteran professional independent minor league teams in the country. Joined by a number of major league experienced players and several first round draft picks, he emerged as one of the team's leading hitters as he hit .299 with 10 home runs in 68 games as the Armada won the second half Championship before falling to the eventual league champion Orange County Flyers in the Division Championship Series. He also was selected as a GBL Golden Glove outfielder for his outstanding defense. "Steve Moss generated interest from Major League teams all season and it's not a surprise that the Mariners have acquired his contract," said GBL Commissioner Kevin Outcalt. "He is the fourth player from the 2008 Long Beach Armada and the 22nd GBL player to be acquired by a major league organization this year."

Link, text follows: New Sounds owners begin pitch to earn fans' trust Gail Kerr, The Tennessean The new owners of the Nashville Sounds baseball club have a daunting task in front of them. They have to earn our trust. Before they ask to use city land for a new stadium, before they ask for any incentives, before they even think about breaking ground, they have to convince a skeptical fan base that they intend to do us right. Because the current absentee owner sure didn't. You can count the times he visited Nashville on half of one hand. In fact, when the Chicago-based Sounds owner Al Gordon came to see Mayor Karl Dean in February, icicles are said to have formed on Dean's desk. And yet Gordon wanted the moon and the stars, presented on a silver platter, from the city. The crying shame of the last few years is how much Nashville loves its AAA baseball team. Since Greer opened in 1978, going to a Sounds game has remained a summer ritual - as much a part of the landscape as feeding the Centennial Park ducks. But even the most die-hard Sounds fans have had enough of Gordon. The mayor certainly has. From all indications, the new owners intend to do it right. Steve Posner, Frank Ward and Masahiro Honzawa are wealthy developers who are paying cash for the team. On Friday, they walked around decrepit Greer Stadium with an engineer, listing what needs to be done. The three men are asking for exactly the same lease the city has been trying to get the Sounds to sign. The changes the current owner resisted - making the stadium wheelchair-accessible, overhauling the disgusting bathrooms and updating the ancient concession stands - they will do immediately and pay for with cash. The intention is to ask for the lease to be signed contingent on the baseball league's approval of the sale at its winter meeting in early December, which shouldn't be a problem. New stadium will have to wait Sounds fans will be asked to lunch. The new owners also intend to make the rounds of Rotary Clubs, editorial boards and grip-and-grins with community leaders. And, most important, the new guys do not intend to even talk about a new stadium for two or three years. This is smart, because now is not the time to ask any government for anything. Taxpayers will have no tolerance right now for another pro sports deal, even if it doesn't raise their property taxes. It just seems frivolous when the city and state are cutting to the bone. It's also smart because it gives the new owners enough time to show us, not promise us. Show us you will fix Greer so it's a decent family destination again. Show us you'll be there during the seventh- inning stretch. Show us that there are no scary surprises. Show us. Because we really do want to believe.

Sounds Ownership Agrees To Sale Of Franchise "We know we face many challenges," Ward said. "Assuming the city is agreeable to having us lease the stadium, we will begin renovations aimed at making it more user-friendly. We obviously would be interested at some point in reopening discussions of a downtown stadium site, but our priorities are to gain baseball regulatory approval and then upgrade Greer so that it is comfortable for Sounds fans next season."

RHP Perkins, Vince 2006-04-12 Toronto -- injury plagued minor leaguer, no longer in system, did earn big league salary for a year from Milwaukee Baseball America notes this week -- signed by the Cubs Once one of the Blue Jays' better pitching prospects, Perkins, 27, spent 2008 pitching in the independent leagues for Camden (Atlantic) and Joliet (Northern) after the White Sox dumped him in spring training.

Brewers' Gamel wins Spink Award By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com There were many "was nots" and "did nots" attached to Mat Gamel this season. While that may seem confusing or even like a bad thing, in the end, everything worked out just fine for the Milwaukee prospect. Gamel was not the highest profile prospect in the Brewers system for much of the season. He did not lead the organization in batting, home runs or RBIs. Oh, and he wasn't the centerpiece of the trade that brought C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee. That honor went to former teammate Matt LaPorta. But when the 2008 season finally came to a close, the Brewers knew just how valuable Gamel was. As important as acquiring Sabathia was to Milwaukee, the club was able to make the deal without having to part with Gamel. And sure, he didn't lead the organization in batting, mostly due to a bout of elbow tendinitis -- which he kept hidden from the club -- that hampered him over the final five weeks of the season. Folks around baseball, however, know just how accomplished a player Gamel is. To that end, it was not much of a surprise when it was announced on Wednesday that the former fourth-round selection was named as the 21st annual J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner, emblematic of the Topps/Minor League Player of the Year. Gamel hit .329 for Double-A Huntsville this season with 19 homers and 96 RBIs. He got bumped up to the Pacific Coast League for five games and even appeared in a pair of September games for the Brewers -- he hit a double in two at-bats -- before the tendinitis finally put him on the shelf for the remainder of the season. "He was a hitting machine," Milwaukee's director of player development, Reid Nichols, said. "And when you lose a big bat [in the lineup] like LaPorta, he was able to keep going and stay locked in. It says a lot for him as a hitter." The Neptune Beach, Fla., resident had hitting streaks of 16, 14 and 13 games during the season's first three months. Gamel hit .379 in April; .387 in May, when he was named the SL's Topps Player of the Month; and .381 in June. Gamel also reached base in a league-best 53 consecutive games. Nichols said that Gamel's tendinitis issue is not serious and that normal rest will take care of the problem. "It was overuse," Nichols said. "He did a lot of extra work on the infield throwing. He'll be fine. [Players] are all different. We're always teaching them that they have to let us know what's bothering them or we can't help them. "Everyone is an individual, though. Some guys don't talk about it until they have to. Mat's a tough guy, though. He'll get through it. It's just something he had to deal with." Whether Gamel gets a chance to crack Milwaukee's lineup on a more regular basis next season won't be determined until the spring. Nichols doesn't make those decisions but pointed out that if he were making the call, Gamel would get every opportunity to do so. "The talent is there and the work ethic is there," Nichols said. "I'll be pushing for it, but it's not my call." Other Spink Award winners include Cliff Floyd (1993), Derek Jeter (1994), Johnny Damon (1995), Andruw Jones (1996), Paul Konerko (1997), Eric Chavez (1999), Josh Beckett (2001), Delmon Young (2005), Alex Gordon (2006) and Steven Pearce (2007).

Blengino, McNamara join Jack in Seattle A day after he fired vice president of scouting Bob Fontaine, Zduriencik hired two men he'd worked closely with in Milwaukee, Tony Blengino and Tom McNamara. So quickly were the decisions made and announced Tuesday that titles for the two hires weren't yet determined. "I can tell you that Blengino is one of the men going to the general managers' meetings with me next week," Zduriencik said. Blengino, 42, was the Zduriencik's assistant while both were with the Brewers and McNamara was an East Coast cross-checker with Milwaukee. Blengino will be missed, hopefully Angel Salome and Zach Braddock leave a long-lasting legacy; Mark Rogers will as well, for better or worse.

Not a lot of 5'7" first baseman with short muscular arms pulling down high throws in the majors. It's catcher or bust (or DH for an American League team).

Negotiations to extend Sounds lease stalled Nate Rau, nrau@nashvillecitypaper.com Mayor Karl Dean and his administration are prepared not to have professional baseball in Nashville next season as lease extension talks with the Nashville Sounds have reached the point where, according to one official, there's no reason for more discussions. The Sounds' lease at Greer Stadium expires at the end of the deal, leaving the team possibly without a home for its Triple A franchise. The Sounds had a deal in place to build a brand-new ballpark on the downtown riverfront, but it unraveled last year. Banking on a new stadium for several years, the Sounds and Chicago-based owner Al Gordon have not invested funds into Greer for the long-term. Now, Metro is asking the Sounds to invest in renovating 31-year-old Greer Stadium, which Metro Finance Director Richard Riebeling said is not up to par. "The only viable option I see at this point in time is Greer Stadium," Riebeling said. "And there have got to be some improvements. It's an embarrassment. This is a first-class city with first-class facilities and Greer is not one of those. "I'm not sure there's any reason for any more discussions. They've not brought us any information, any ideas and there's nothing more to talk about." Sounds Chief Operating Officer Glenn Yaeger and team consultant Jeff Diamond met with the Sounds last week. Riebeling said those negotiations yielded no progress. "We're not going to do a year-to-year deal and have fans go to a ballpark that is inadequate," Riebeling said. "The Sounds have allowed that facility to deteriorate. They haven't done what needs to be done at that ballpark." He was not specific on what the Sounds needed to do to renovate Greer, nor did he offer a length of commitment the team was seeking for a new lease. Diamond said the Sounds remained committed to Nashville and hopeful a deal could be reached. "The Sounds want to be in Nashville. And we know that the fans in Nashville want the Sounds to be playing baseball here next year," Diamond said. "We're confident that we'll be able to accomplish that goal." The Sounds own the right to operate a Triple A Pacific Coast League franchise in the Nashville market. But if the lease expires, then the team would seemingly be left without a stadium. When the riverfront deal fell through last year, it embittered some Metro officials. Earlier this year the Sounds proposed a piece of state legislation, which would have allowed the team to collect sales tax generated by a new downtown stadium. "I'm optimistic something eventually will be worked out, whether it can with this ownership group, I doubt it," At-large Councilman Charlie Tygard, who supported the stadium deal last year, said. "That's the sentiment I'm feeling from folks. "I think a lot of us feel like they let us down, they can't be trusted now and if we go a year or two, the Nashville market is good enough that minor league baseball will want to be back here." PCL President Branch Rickey III told The City Paper earlier this year that the league wanted to keep the franchise in place. Rickey said it would benefit both sides to reach an agreement, because the city wouldn't want a vacant stadium going mostly unused. However, Riebeling confirmed Metro officials have met with Rickey "in the last several weeks" and conveyed their frustration with negotiations. Metro has also called on the Sounds to get Greer Stadium into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which Yaeger has promised the team is willing to do. A letter by Metro's legal department earlier this year indicated the team still had significant repair work needed in order to comply with the ADA laws. Last off-season, the team spent upwards of $1 million to build new team clubhouses and make other improvements, but Riebeling said those renovations were required by the PCL and parent club the Milwaukee Brewers and didn't improve the fan experience.