Jim Goulart

LHP Zach Braddock has been activated from the West Virginia DL and is starting today -- the Power roster is again full at 25.

Earlier we linked to the web updates we had found on some of the later draft picks, here are the updates for the earlier picks from Day 2 on Friday, hopeful that everyone's enjoying learning about the future Brewer signees (or non-signees). If nothing else, we're providing our friends in the media in Helena and West Virginia with plenty of human-interest material when they begin writing feature stories for the locals: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=52

Huntsville wins, Tennesse loses, Stars finally alone in first place again -- nice! Details later...

Bet these battery mates from the Cape Cod League last summer didn't realize they'd be draftmates for the Crew in 2007 -- here's 6th round LHP Dan Merklinger and 10th round catcher Eric Fryer. Below is a link to a cool article and photo montage on a day for Merklinger while on the Cape. http://www.capecodlife.com/articles/livingthelife/DAY_000A.jpg A Cape League Player Has His Day in the Sun I keep telling colbyjack that my family would entertain his during any visit he makes out to the Cape -- some day, Patrick...

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Round 10 -- Link to CSTV.com "I am real excited about the opportunity to perform at the next level," said Fryer. "A lot of hard work went in to getting to this point. I want to thank Coach (Bob Todd) and the coaching staff for helping me grow as a player. I was pretty raw when I got to Ohio State and the coaches refined my skills and helped me tremendously." Fryer was tied for fifth on the team in hitting at .322, first in doubles (16), second in RBI (50) and third in hits (74). He started 61 of 62 games on the year and was a second-team All-Big Ten choice this season. Fryer was a second-team All-Big Ten and All-Mideast Region pick as a sophomore. ***In the Dugout with Eric Fryer - May 22, 2006 Before every game sophomore catcher Eric Fryer always checks the stands for his biggest fans: his grandparents, his mom, his dad and his two younger brothers. They have always been a driving force, not only in his baseball career, but all through his life. Every time he sees his family at his games, he always wants to do everything he can for them. Fryer's strong family life has helped him become a leader for the Buckeyes and help the team out in what ever way he can. When the Reynoldsburg, Ohio, native steps on the field, he never forgets how lucky he is to be living his dream of playing for Ohio State. He always is reminded by his family in the stands who are always there to watch him. What other sports did you play when you were growing up? "In high school I played baseball and basketball. I only played basketball through my sophomore year. In middle school I played basketball, baseball and football. Baseball is it for me though, I trained all through the winter for it and played in spring and summer leagues." What made you choose baseball? "Well I was better at baseball then anything else. The camaraderie is great. The guys in the locker room are great and you get to know your teammates a lot more than in other sports because it is a longer season. What is the toughest position for you to play? "It would have to be DH. I would much rather be out on the field playing catcher or first base. It is very different from anything else. If you have a bad at bat you don't get the chance to make it up in the field. When you have a bad at bat it will stick with. I would say in some ways it is even harder than playing in the field. You have to be really mentally tough because not being on the field can sometimes take you out to the rhythm of the game and keep focused all the time." Is there any special reason that you wear No. 33? "I wore No. 11 all through high school, but when I came here it was already taken. So first they gave me (No. 3) to wear but I had to change my number again for whatever reason. I looked at it and I did like the '3' I had been wearing but I still had a thing for an odd repeater, so I went with 33 and have been wearing it ever since." What do you like to do away from baseball? "I like to hang around with the guys (on the team) the most. I really like to go bowling. I used to go a lot in high school and I was pretty good I bowled about 215-220 most of time. However I really haven't gone in a while now so I'm probably pretty awful now. Also in the summer, my family and I always go up to Michigan and go hunting and fishing." What influence has your family had on your baseball career? "We have all been real big Buckeye supporters throughout. My dad and I used to play baseball in the backyard growing up. My mom would travel around with me to all my games and they would bring my two little brothers, Matt and Tim, along with them. Matt is a great baseball player and Tim is very good at football. My parents never pushed me though when it was time to pick a school. Ohio State was just a great fit for me and it was the place I always wanted to go to when I was growing up." Do think being an older brother has helped you become a leader in the club house? "When I was back home, I'm not so sure if I was leading them more or less than I was bossing them around. Sometimes I think I was a little tough on them. Now, though, it is fun to teach them what I know and help raise them a little. I really enjoy teaching Matt what I know about baseball. Tim has really always been into football and I have really never had to help him out. He is really good about working things out himself. Leadership really comes from just being with the guys over the summer and just letting that carry over into the spring." Does your family come to a lot of your games? "They come out all the time they come out as much as they can. When my brothers get done with practice or a game they come on over and watch me play. My dad coaches my brother Matt so sometimes for the bigger games, Matt's practice might end a little early so they can make it to the stadium to see most of my game. I get really pumped up to see them in the stands. My mom and my grandparents make it to just about everyone of my games but when I see them in the stands it is all the motivation I need to go out there and do my best."

In progress: Huntsville 6, West Tenn (Mariners) 1, top of the 9th in Jackson Brendan Katin just ripped a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double to center to break open a tight game; we'll be glad when the Stars return home this week -- the audio quality from West Tenn has been tough to cope with... In progress: Omaha (Royals) 10, Nashville 4, top of the 8th in Omaha Tim Dillard opened with three scoreless innings before getting knocked around...

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Round 13 -- Schoolmates picked by Brewers, White Sox Jim Parker Windsor Star (Ontarion, Canada) Saturday, June 09, 2007 Major League Baseball came knocking for a pair of local prospects Friday. The Milwaukee Brewers grabbed catcher Chris Dennis of Windsor in the 13th round of the draft while Villanova schoolmate Mitch Delaney of LaSalle went to the Chicago White Sox in the 21st round. Both are teammates with the London Diamonds of the Inter-County Baseball League and quickly had to put the celebration on hold to pack up and head for a game. "I'm excited," Dennis said. "It's right where they projected me to go. I'm just glad I didn't drop down." The 18-year-old Dennis was a 38th round pick by Tampa Bay last year, but turned down a $15,000 U.S. signing bonus to go back in the draft. He was rewarded by going in the 13th round and 728 picks higher than a year ago. "I have to talk to the Brewers and see what their plans are for me, but (with where he was taken) they'll definitely be offering (a deal) I can sign," Dennis said. FAMILY SACRIFICES The six-foot-one, 215-pound Dennis is known more for his left-handed bat. A member of Canada's bronze-medal winning world junior team a year ago, Dennis has an offer to attend Connors State College in Warner, Okla., if he doesn't sign. "I was happy I got drafted last year, but I wasn't happy with where I went," Dennis said. "My family's sacrificed a lot and it's been a lot of hard work the last year. I went out and got bigger and stronger." Unlike previous years where teams had until the start of the school year in September to sign a player, Major League Baseball clubs are under a much tighter deadline this year. Clubs must sign draft picks by Aug. 15 or they go back in the draft next year.

Final: Brevard County 7, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 4 Brevard County Box Score: Mat Gamel now over .300, significant in this league... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: Go-ahead run scores on a wild pitch, Alcides Escobar doubles in two insurance runs... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

Trying to hold a 4-3 lead in the 9th, Palm Beach scratches across a run to tie the game aginst closer E.J. Shanks when Mat Gamel muffs yet another routine ground ball, and then on a routine fly ball that would have ended the game, Lorenzo Cain simply dropped the ball as Mike Bell crossed in front of him, allowing the tying run to score. Shanks did a nice job to limit the damage, and we go to extra innings. Will the 'Tees be up by 2 1/2 games or just 1/2 a game at end of day? We'll see...

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Round 15 -- Brewers pick Blaine?s Paciorek in 15th round DOUG PACEY, Bellingham Herald Joey Paciorek is following in his father?s and uncles? footsteps. The Blaine senior was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Friday. ?Definitely, it?s kind of cool,? Paciorek said of playing pro ball like his father, Jim, and uncles Tom and John. ?They tell me you get to play every day.? The Brewers project Paciorek as a third baseman, though he mostly played shortstop and pitched at Blaine. ?He?s a big, physical high school kid who?s ready to handle professional baseball,? said Brandon Newell, the Brewers? Northwest scouting supervisor. ?Additionally, he?s a great hitter with great genes.? Paciorek will report to the Brewers? short-season rookie ball team in Maryvale, Ariz., after he signs, Newell said. At Blaine this season, Paciorek broke the school record for batting average he set last year by hitting .516. Newell said the Brewers liked that Paciorek played three sports ? football, basketball and baseball ? and the organization is looking forward to seeing what Paciorek can accomplish when he?s only playing baseball. ?He was successful in all three sports,? Newell said, ?and that?s without focusing on just one.? Paciorek, who was all- Northwest Conference in the three sports, anticipates improvement, too. ?I haven?t had much time to work on baseball in the offseason because of the other sports,? he said. Paciorek said the Brewers showed the most interest of any team, though he did have ?a couple? workouts with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was in Milwaukee, Wis., last weekend to work out for the Brewers. ?I?m glad to be with the Brewers,? Paciorek said. ***Paciorek worked out In Milwaukee prior to draft Paciorek in first televised baseball draft by Jack Kintner, Blaine (WA) Northern Light One reason Sehome high school dominated this year?s county high school all-star baseball game last week, putting pitcher Jordan Chambers and shortstop Kai Hatch into the state all-star game, was that the best athlete wasn?t even on the field. Blaine?s Joey Paciorek, who excelled as a pitcher and shortstop and was the leading hitter this year among all county schools, was back in Milwaukee, Wis., as one of the Brewers? top 20 prospects for this year?s draft. Paciorek?s been seen by most of the Brewers' front office, and the group he was invited to join ? which included both high school and college players ? is expected to form the core of this week?s amateur baseball draft, the first ever to be televised live. The connection between the Brewers, arguably the best team in baseball this year, and Blaine is two-fold. Paciorek?s dad Jim was the Brewers eighth-round draft pick in 1982, although he spent most of his major league career playing in Japan, a country he first visited while an undergraduate at the University of Michigan (class of ?81). He?s served as an assistant baseball coach to Gary Clausen for the past few years. Blaine high school principal Dan Newell?s son Brandon Newell, northwest scouting coordinator for the Brewers organization, invited Paciorek back to Milwaukee Stadium for the tryout. ?He swung the bat very well, showed them what he had,? said Newell, ?The apple doesn?t fall far from the tree.? Indeed. Three of Joey?s uncles and three cousins have all played professional baseball, including long-time Seattle Mariners outfielder, first baseman and DH Tom Paciorek. ?They?re known chiefly as good hitters,? Newell said. Joey?s uncle and Tom?s older brother John, in fact, has the highest major league batting average ever recorded, a perfect 1.000, earned in the only major league game he played in when he went three for three for Houston in 1963. ?What Joey has is a good combination of size and agility. I?d compare him to [Cardinals third baseman] Scott Rolen or [Phillies outfielder and DH] Pat Burrell,? Newell said. ***Four-year Blaine standout Joey Paciorek provided a hint of how well he could perform with a wooden bat. Paciorek pounded two doubles and later singled with two outs and a full count, scoring Kai Hatch with the winning run in the last inning to give Post 7 King Nissan a 5-4 senior American League baseball victory over the Langley Blaze on Thursday at Joe Martin Field. Paciorek is looking to make a different kind of move today during the second day of the Major League Baseball entry draft. ?I hope I?ll be chosen (today),? Paciorek said. ?Last week I went to Milwaukee for the Brewers? pre-draft workout.? After a highly productive career with a metal bat at Blaine, Paciorek is savoring the thought of using wood bats in the pros. In a recent workout, he cracked five balls out of spacious Joe Martin with a wood bat. ?I?ve only used wood a few times,? said Paciorek, who has signed to play for Lower Columbia College. ?I would have a tough decision to make if I?m drafted, but I can?t go wrong either way.?

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Round 18 -- Here's the video report on the story below Tomorrow's Leaders April 4, 2007 Rice junior pitcher Bobby Bramhall is pretty sure that things happen for a reason. He's not always sure why, but he's thankful that he can at least see, literally see that is, a bigger picture. Only a short time ago in his freshman season when he also doubled as an outfielder/left-handed hitter, Bramhall noticed a disturbing trend. When playing in the outfield he began to have more and more trouble seeing the ball come off the bat, or picking up the horsehide sphere in an overcast sky or at night under the stadium lights. How can this be? Only the semester before Bramhall underwent the laser surgery procedure to correct a case of far-sightedness and astigmatism that sometimes effects young adults. In Bramhall's case however, the procedure soon began to have the reverse effect and his vision started getting worse and worse with every passing week. Just barely 20 years old at the time, Bobby Bramhall got the frightening news. "The doctors said that if I hadn't come in when I had and undergone a second surgery, one to correct the first one, it really would have been difficult to correct," Bramhall said. "It was scary for sure, but you have to have faith in God to watch over things and help the doctors do their work. "I can see fine now," Bramhall said, still with a sense of relief even two years later. "I feel like I am blessed that things worked out. It's made me look at things, and I guess you could say 'see things' in a whole new way." With his vision cleared, the 5-foot-11 College Station native has had two outstanding seasons for the Owls' prestigious baseball program. In 2006 he went 4-2 on the mound and maintained a 2.36 ERA in 53.1 innings. He saved some of his best for last and, when the team needed him most, pitched a career-long 4.2 innings of two-hit relief at the College World Series in Omaha. Bramhall is having an even better 2007 season as one of the team's first options out of the bullpen. He filled a vital role when fellow left-hander Cole St.Clair, a first team all-America selection from a year ago, was sidelined before the start of the season. Bramhall has quickly picked up three wins and three saves in 10 appearances. He has maintained a 1.75 ERA and struck out 31 hitters in 25.2 innings. Overall, Bramhall has faced 92 opposing hitters and held the foes to a composite .163 batting average. The success on the field is impressive enough, but there's still another side to Bramhall that separates him from a number of other college students and student-athletes. The lefty is one of the leaders of Rice's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), as well as some of the community service efforts taken-up by Rice student-athletes. Bramhall has helped spearhead a number of off-field projects ranging from visiting hospitalized children in the nearby Texas Medical Center, to clothing drives for the needy, to helping the FCA "huddles" organize the weekly meeting process which gives student athletes fellowship and motivation. Bramhall has been witness to many different motivational speakers, but it's hard to imagine that any visitor in that role would quite have anything as inspiring as his own story of nearly losing his sight, but coming back to be one of the pitching and off-the-field leaders of the nationally-ranked baseball program - all while having a big part in a myriad of community service duties.

In progress: Brevard County 2, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 2, bottom of the 6th in Palm Beach Will Inman's final line -- 5 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 K, waiting on official pitch count while enjoying Kirk Agius' audio call UPDATE: Brevard County 4, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 3, bottom of the 7th in Palm Beach Mike Bell just hit a huge first-pitch, two-out, two-run HR to put the 'Tees up, after Palm Beach had taken advantage of three Kevin Roberts walks to take the lead 3-2.

Looks like the recent lengthy thread on the Major League Forum on this topic has already rolled off -- Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 African-Americans becoming more rare in baseball, but why? Sunday, June 10, 2007 By PAUL GATTIS Huntsville Times Sports Staff paul.gattis@htimes.com Gord Ash sat on the top row of the stands at Joe Davis Stadium, safely shaded from the afternoon sun as he watched the Huntsville Stars and, in a sense, the future. Ash is the assistant general manager of the parent club Milwaukee Brewers, a former executive with the Toronto Blue Jays back in their championship days of the 1990s and a veteran of more than 25 years in major league baseball administration. Such experience authorizes Ash to speak with undisputed credibility on the changes he sees in his game. "We're just not getting athletes into our game," Ash said on that May afternoon. "The elite athletes are choosing to play other sports." If the Steroid Era tarnished baseball's recent past, how alarming should Ash's perspective be for baseball's immediate future? The context in which Ash spoke between pitches that afternoon concerned the dwindling numbers of African-Americans on major league rosters. Those numbers have become a national story this season, sparked by the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking major league baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers. When Robinson died in 1972, 20 percent of baseball rosters were made up of African-Americans. Last year, that number shriveled to 8.4 percent, according to an annual report by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports. On their 24-man active roster, the Huntsville Stars have just two African-Americans: Pitcher Corey Thurman and outfielder Mel Stocker. Neither are billed as top-line prospects soon to be in the majors, though Thurman pitched in 49 games for Toronto in 2002-03. "To be honest, baseball is not as glamorous as it used to be, considering the LeBron Jameses of the world," Thurman said. Another opinion, another red flag for baseball. James is 22 years old, a three-year NBA veteran, a millionaire dozens of times over and has led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals for the first time in its history. If you are the LeBron James of baseball, at 22 years old you're likely still riding buses in the minor leagues. A perfect example is 23-year-old Prince Fielder. Fielder's father, Cecil, was an all-star slugger and Prince was the seventh overall pick in the 2002 draft. And he's now in his second full major league season, he's tied with Alex Rodriguez for the major league home run lead. But Prince Fielder - despite being the son of a former star, despite being a first-round draft pick, despite becoming an instant millionaire when he signed with the Brewers - spent parts of four seasons in the minor leagues, including parts of two seasons with the Huntsville Stars. Meanwhile, it took James just three years to jump from high school to the NBA Finals. "The prevailing thing is that it's just not as appealing to the African-American community to play baseball any longer," said Stocker, who was one of only two African-Americans in his Little League in Tucson, Ariz. The other? His brother, Bruce. Multiple theories Indeed, it is a multi-faceted issue not easily summarized and not easily explained. Theories seem boundless: The NFL and the NBA are simply more popular sports than baseball and have been for some time. Athletes can get full college scholarships in football and basketball, but not in baseball. The influx of Latin and Asian players have had a negative impact on the number of African-Americans. Baseball is more costly, from equipment to necessary instruction to reach an elite level. Then there are the anti-mainstream opinions, such as the one expressed recently by Detroit Tiger Gary Shef-field. In an article in GQ magazine, Sheffield said that Latin players are more appealing to teams because it's easier to "control them" than African-American players. But while Sheffield's comments were deemed offensive by some in baseball and met with rolling eyes by others, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen - a native of Venezuela who in 2005 became the first Latin manager to win the World Series - agreed with Sheffield. Guillen told the Detroit Free-Press he was "happy" Sheffield said what he said, adding that inexperienced Latin players "are afraid to talk." Still, according to the University of Central Florida report, Latin players made up 29.4 percent of major league rosters last year. "It's a hard thing to put your finger on," Thurman said on the lack of African-Americans. "I just don't know why, personally. I do see interest. "But looking around the minor leagues, I don't see many African-American ball players that we play against. It's a disturbing trend." As Thurman spoke, he occasionally cast an eye from the dugout toward the field, where the Montgomery Biscuits were taking batting practice. On that day, the Biscuits did not have any African-Americans on their active roster. "I think he would be a little disappointed," Thurman said of Jackie Robinson. "It's almost like he did all that. ... and there are more Latin ball players, true, and more minorities in the game. But the African-American ball player is dwindling." While still looking for the elusive answers, Stocker has a unique perspective. In college at Arizona State, he did research papers that focused, in part, on the African-American athlete. "You look at football, you think big, strong, fast guys," Stocker said. "If you look at the predominance throughout history from different groups, pretty much that's where the African-American community fits in most - they're big, strong, fast and have great jumping ability. "A lot of people say that's sort of a racist-type of issue. But with the research papers I've done, there hasn't been anything proven otherwise - just because of the origin insertions of muscle groupings and how they work in coordination. It comes from gatherers, hunters, always outside, constantly carrying and lifting and doing things. So genetic backgrounds are going to be made up of that." The focus has been on the racial and ethnic breakdown of rosters, of course. But maybe the game has changed and maybe that was the first domino to fall. Like Ash, Sandy Guerrero speaks from an authoritative position. He is in his fifth season as the Stars' hitting coach and climbed as high as Triple-A in his playing career. He won a batting title in 1998 in Taiwan. His father, Epy, is the legendary Latin America scout who has signed dozens of Latin players to contracts and pioneered the development of Latin players into pro prospects. His uncle, Mario, played eight years in the majors and brother Mike is the manager of the Brewers' low-A club, the West Virginia Power. "The game is so good today," Guerrero said. "Before, it took special ability to play. But right now, the game is so good, guys who were in the game before may not be in the game now. That's how good the game has developed. "There is no doubt this is the best game of the world. You don't have to be a certain height, a certain weight, skinny or big. You have to be special because you have to have the ability to hit a 95 mph fastball and adjust to an 80 mph curveball." It's no stretch to see the parallels, to see the drop in African-Americans in baseball as well as the rise in Latin American players. And if baseball these days has a fading appeal to African-Americans, as Thurman and Stocker said, it's evident that no sport fascinates the Latin countries quite like baseball. "Baseball is more important that politics, more important than gas prices, more important than education," said Guerrero, a native of the Dominican Republic. "You can be a good student and the first thing they are going to ask you is, 'Hey, can you play good?' " Not unlike Alabama or Auburn football, Guerrero said it's common sense in Latin countries to schedule parties or weddings around baseball. Otherwise, don't expect anyone to show up. "If the Yankees have a big game and (Roger) Clemens is pitching, nobody remembers economics," Guerrero said. "You see everybody in their house at 8 o'clock and people say, 'What happened to all the people?' " They're all semi-circled around a television, absorbing and embracing the sport that claims to be the American pasttime. So where is it all leading? Ash said the drop in African-Americans has been a topic of discussion within baseball "for five or six years" and the sport is attempting to address the issue. He pointed to baseball's first Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif., near Los Angeles. It opened in 2006 and this year players from both the Angels and Dodgers have served as instructors at clinics. A similar academy is planned for Washington, D.C., while Philadelphia and Miami are potential sites on baseball's radar. "The Compton academy has been well-received and not just in terms of players," Ash said. "They're also talking and teaching kids about working in baseball - whether it be a groundskeeper or an administrative job or trying to develop umpires. "It's not just players. It's full of opportunities." Still, Thurman said that's not enough. "I like what they're doing with that," he said. "But there's got to be something else, but I don't know what it is, just to bring back the interest in the African-American community." But Thurman's teammate, Stocker, doesn't foresee a rise in African-Americans in baseball. The times, he said, have changed. "It was a big drive when Jackie Robinson was coming up because that was the big thing," Stocker said. "Nobody was really doing that. Now it's 'Been there, done that, let's take over basketball and football.' " Stocker's viewpoint, though, is hardly a consensus. Members of Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition met with Atlanta Braves officials last month, complaining about the lack of African-Americans on the roster this season. The Braves have only one African-American on its roster, outfielder Willie Harris. And Harris, a marginal prospect not unlike Stocker and Thurman, has played surprisingly well since being called up in April from the minor leagues. Otherwise, the Braves might have no African-Americans on their roster. Echoing the sentiments of Ash, Braves general manager John Schuerholz said that the demographics of the game are incidental to putting together a roster that can win a championship. "You go where the talent leads you," Schuerholz said to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. The counter-argument, of course, is that the talent is in the United States. "The fact of the matter is that if they put their resources into recruiting here in the United States. ... there are talented players here," Joe Beasley, Southern Regional Director for the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, told the Atlanta newspaper. All-time home run leader Hank Aaron agreed with Beasley. Aaron has been tapped by baseball commissioner Bud Selig to study the decline of African-Americans in baseball. "I think somehow we have slackened in looking for talent in this country," Aaron said at a press conference last month announcing the Braves' sale to Liberty Media. On that sunny May afternoon, Ash watched as the Stars played the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. The Diamond Jaxx featured a third baseman named Matt Tuiasosopo, who last week was second on the team with a .300 batting average with two homers and 19 RBIs. His father, Manu, played football at Southern Cal and in the NFL while he has two brothers playing in the NFL. Somehow, though, Matt found his way into baseball. "That's the exception to the rule," Ash said with a certain tone of resignation. "Most go the other way." It's players like Matt Tuiasosopo that baseball needs, Ash said. It's players like Dave Winfield, who was drafted in football and basketball before choosing what became a Hall of Fame career in baseball and, more recently, wrote a book on how to address the myriad of problems facing baseball. "It's not an African-American problem," Ash said. "It's a problem attracting a lot of players because they don't want to put the development time into it. So we lose players to some of the other sports - not along racial lines, just along athletic lines. "They see a quicker road and a combination where they can get an education (in college) and play at a highly skilled level. Baseball doesn't really offer that." Robinson's legacy But if the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's baseball debut is the backdrop to all of this, there should also be some celebration. The walls Robinson knocked down in becoming baseball's first African-American player paved roads for other minorities, too. It paved roads for Ozzie Virgil, who in 1956 became the first Dominican to play in the majors. It paved roads for Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Japanese pitcher for whom the Boston Red Sox last winter paid more than $100 million to acquire. "Jackie Robinson didn't just open the door for African-Americans," Guerrero said. "He opened the doors for the rest of the world. People now realize there is talent all around (the world). "I know people say he has a tremendous impact. But they don't really understand how tremendous the impact is."

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Round 19 -- Link by Will Heath, dailyhome.com 06-09-2007 Childersburg?s Zealous Wheeler is living a dream. After putting up eye-catching numbers in his sophomore season at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Wheeler received a pleasant surprise Friday when the Milwaukee Brewers called him to say they?d grabbed him with the 581st overall pick in this year?s 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. ?I?ve been doing a little work, and they called me and told me,? he said. ?They got me by surprise.? The 5-10, 220-pound Wheeler became the 19th pick of the draft by the Brewers? organization. The Brewers also grabbed Jacksonville State?s Donovan Hand earlier in the draft. ?It feels good,? Wheeler said. ?All my hard work has paid off. I give thanks to my mom and dad for raising me, to come up and get my lessons and play ball, keep me straight.? This season was a banner one for Wheeler, whose team finished with a final record of 40-10 before losing to Chattahoochee Valley 1-0. Playing 50 games at third base, Wheeler finished with a batting average of .412, and a slugging percentage of .701. He had 73 hits, 10 home runs and 19 doubles. For the season, he drove in 51 runs and scored 59. He attributed this past season?s success to more experience. ?Last year, come in as a freshman, just step right in the fire,? he said. ?It was alright, but this year was just a lot of experience. It just came easy.? Wheeler, who has already signed a full scholarship to UAB for his final two years of school, says he isn?t sure whether he?ll enroll in school or pursue his dream of pro baseball. His high school head coach believes he can do whatever he wants. ?It?s always good to see a guy you?ve coached go on to do bigger and better things,? Childersburg head coach Chad Slaten said. ?Every kid in Childersburg, their dream is to play pro baseball. Zealous has that chance and I know that?s been a lifelong dream of his. ?I really believe he?s got a chance to make it to the big leagues, just because he?s a great hitter, and he has a great work ethic and he?s such a great person. ?It all comes back to his mama and daddy. They?ve done a great job of raising two wonderful boys. There?s so many kids that year in and year out with great ability, but they don?t have the work ethic, and he?s got it.? ***Wheeler brothers taking baseball world by storm by Will Heath, dailyhome.com 06-10-2007 Friday was a pretty good day for the Wheeler brothers. I caught up to Zealous and Bryan Friday afternoon, right after reading about the elder going to the Milwaukee organization in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball draft. ?Caught me by surprise,? Zealous said, a little giddy. It was a banner spring for Wheeler, who finished the 2007 baseball season ? his second and final one at Wallace-Hanceville ? with a batting average over .400, including 10 home runs and 19 doubles. For the season (50 games), Wheeler drove in 51 runs and scored 59. Those numbers were good enough to get Zealous noticed by the Brewers, who grabbed him with the 581st overall pick on Friday. Less than 15 seconds later, I was chatting up little brother Bryan, who sounded a little stunned to find out he?d been named Player of the Year in 4A by the state?s sportswriters. In this particular conversation, ?a little giddy? isn?t quite descriptive enough. ?Oh ... man, really? Wow ... I don?t even know what to say.? No matter. Bryan?s actions did most of the talking this past spring. The Tigers? center fielder had a season for the ages, finishing with 65 hits, 74 RBIs, 12 doubles and 17 home runs. His final batting average was .471. He stole 13 bases. And he was a part of a Childersburg team that scored 107 runs in 10 state playoff games, on its way to claiming the 4A state title. By the way, Bryan Wheeler?s got a year of high school left. ?It?s nothing you can say about that,? he said. ?I got a chance to do it again next year.? The relationship between the two brothers has already been pretty well documented. Neither of them gave even a hint in an earlier interview that a rivalry could exist between them. ?No rivalry,? Bryan said. ?I love my brother to death.? ?I love my brother,? Zealous said. ?He?s working hard and it?s paying off for him. We love each other. I want him to do good and I want to do good.? But imagine this: what if you could get them on the same team? What if UAB ? which has signed Zealous for the next two years, assuming he doesn?t go off to chase his professional dreams ? goes hard after Bryan next winter, and the two of them suit up as Blazers for the spring of 2009? Obviously, the age difference would be a factor, as would be the adjustment level from high school to Division I (substantial). Still, having those two bats in your lineup couldn?t hurt you in a tight spot ? I?d hate to have to walk one, knowing the other was on deck. Not to mention, reporters covering the games would have quite a time trying to interview the two of them at the same time. Especially when they?re both taken by surprise.

From Buck Rogers, Manatees GM in his newsletter -- Class move of the night: Manatees Catcher Angel Salome had a good night at the plate and after crossing the plate one young mentally handicapped fan really cheered for him all the way back to the dugout. Angel didn't miss a beat when on his way back he handed the kid his batting gloves with a smile. Made the kid's night! Good job, Angel!

Standings through Saturday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 36 25 .590 - 18-9 18-16 L2 Nashville 35 27 .565 1.5 21-10 14-17 W2 Omaha 31 31 .500 5.5 23-12 8-19 L2 Memphis 27 36 .429 10.0 17-15 10-21 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 33 28 .541 - 17-13 16-15 L1 Tennessee 33 28 .541 - 14-14 19-14 L1 West Tenn 28 35 .444 6.0 18-15 10-20 W1 Chattanooga 27 36 .429 7.0 17-18 10-18 L2 Carolina 22 41 .349 12.0 13-15 9-26 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 35 27 .565 - 21-10 14-17 W2 Palm Beach 33 28 .541 1.5 16-15 17-13 W2 Daytona 30 31 .492 4.5 19-12 11-19 W1 Vero Beach 28 33 .459 6.5 18-12 10-21 L2 Jupiter 27 34 .443 7.5 12-18 15-16 L1 St. Lucie 27 34 .443 7.5 14-17 13-17 W3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 43 16 .729 - 20-10 23-6 W6 Greensboro 33 29 .532 11.5 20-9 13-20 W2 Delmarva 30 29 .508 13.0 19-12 11-17 W9 Lakewood 29 30 .492 14.0 14-17 15-13 L3 Lake County 29 32 .475 15.0 17-14 12-18 L1 Lexington 27 35 .435 17.5 15-19 12-16 L3 Hagerstown 25 36 .410 19.0 14-14 11-22 W1 Hickory 24 35 .407 19.0 11-14 13-21 W1

Link while active, text follows: kentucky.com/271/story/93644.html Too much power, mound finesse 'ruffs' up Lexington BREWERS' NO. 1 PICK SHUTS DOWN LEGENDS By Mark Maloney MMALONEY@HERALD-LEADER.COM The Lexington Legends have gone to the dogs. The aptly named West Virginia Power spanked the Legends for the third straight game, 10-0 on "Bark at the Park Night" at Applebee's Park. If only Jake the Diamond Dog had been allowed to help the busy Legends fielders. Jeremy Jeffress pitched five innings of four-hit ball. J.T. King and Jared Sutton mopped up in a combined six-hitter. Jeffress "made some pretty good pitches," Legends Manager Gregg Langbehn said. "It became pretty obvious to us why he was drafted No. 1 in their (Brewers) organization. He's young, he's got an explosive arm, a quiet delivery. The ball comes out of his hand good. He's gonna have a pretty promising future." Including Friday's seven-run eruption in the last two innings, the Power scored 17 in a span of nine innings. The first five in the Power order scored the 10 runs. West Virginia finished with 12 hits. Jimmy Mojica and Chuckie Caufield each went 3-for-4 and walked. Mojica scored twice and stole two bases. Caufield scored three runs and drove in one. West Virginia has won six in a row and 12 of 13 games, with no signs of coasting after clinching the division title Thursday. "We've still got work to do," Caufield said. "We're still trying to get better. Hopefully it rolls over to the second half and on down the road." Chris Johnson had two of Lexington's six hits. The Legends' best opportunity came in the second. Two singles and an error filled the bases with one out. Jeffress (2-0) struck out Drew Holder and Nick Moresi with mid-70 mph breaking balls after a steady diet of fastballs that topped out at 97 mph. "When he has his control, he's about as tough to hit as anybody," Caufield said of the 19-year-old from South Boston, Va. "He's a pretty relaxed kid. Even though he let those guys get on base, he was still calm and relaxed. You could tell by his body language, and he was able to keep control of himself and get the job done." West Virginia scored all it needed with two in the first. Mojica singled and Brent Brewer walked. On a double steal, catcher Ralphie Henriquez threw the ball into left, allowing Mojica to score. Brewer came home on Andy Lefave's groundout. Things could have been worse, but the Legends turned double plays in the first, fifth, sixth and ninth innings. West Virginia added four runs in the third, one in the fifth and three in the seventh. Legends starter Sergio Severino (1-4) lasted only 21/3 innings, giving up six runs, five earned.

Link while active, text follows: www.omaha.com/index.php?u...id=2399726 PCL: Nashville pitcher tough on Royals BY ROB WHITE OMAHA WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER Adam Pettyjohn has been through scarier things than a little five-run rally the Omaha Royals put together in the eighth inning on Saturday night. Five years ago the Nashville left-hander didn't have the energy to talk and didn't have the strength to walk without a walker. In six weeks the 6-foot-3 former Fresno State star had dropped from 200 pounds to 135 because of ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory condition of the bowel. The former second-round draft choice had it under control in 2001, but his medication ran out about the time he got his first major league callup, and he didn't follow up on it. He didn't worry about it as his symptoms got worse during the offseason. Sure, Pettyjohn survived to get the win in an 8-5 victory before 5,294 at Rosenblatt Stadium. But he had to survive a long ordeal just to get healthy first. "I was hoping my body would heal itself naturally," Pettyjohn said. "I didn't know how serious it was. I was 24 years old. I figured I could kick it." He was thinking he could get back by spring training, but his condition had gotten too bad. He said he went from going to the bathroom six to 10 times a day to going every 45 minutes all day and all night. Eventually he had his colon removed. "The doctor said he's been doing this for 20 years, and that was by far the worst colon he'd ever seen," Pettyjohn said. "The nurses said my body was literally days away from just shutting down. It was at that point it dawned on me how serious it was." Pettyjohn was back pitching again the following season, but it took until the end of last season before he felt like his arm strength had fully returned. Even last season had its adventures, though they weren't health related. He opened the year with San Antonio, Seattle's Class AA affiliate, and was third in the Texas League with a 2.91 ERA when he was called in for a June 21 meeting. He was released. "I would have been less shocked if they told me I was going to the big leagues at that point," Pettyjohn said. "I thought maybe they were going to send me to the bullpen and wanted to explain themselves, or that maybe I was going to go up and help out in Triple A for a while. It's one thing to get released, but when you don't deserve it . . . I felt betrayed." He said his age (29), and velocity (83 to 85 mph fastball), and making way for younger prospects, were given as reasons to get packing. "From day one, you know how hard I throw and you know my age," Pettyjohn said. "Just release me in spring training." He spent time in independent ball and filled in with Class AAA Sacramento before signing with the Milwaukee organization in the offseason. After going 4-2 with a 4.45 ERA for Class AA Huntsville he was promoted to Nashville and is now 1-0 with a 5.54 ERA in two starts. "It's been a long road, but I'm a lot better off than I was a few years ago," Pettyjohn said. For the second straight night, Omaha trailed 8-0 before coming to life in the eighth. Jorge Padilla got the Royals on the board with a two-run homer, then Billy Butler hit a disputed three-run shot to make it 8-5. It led to the ejection of Nashville manager Frank Kremblas, who argued that the ball hit the top of the outfield wall - not the bleachers - before bouncing back onto the field. After being tossed, Kremblas jogged nearly all the way to the warning track to take a look at where the ball had hit before heading to the clubhouse. "He (Pettyjohn) got ahead in the count, made them swing the bat and had some movement on his pitches," Kremblas said. "He got a ball up to Mr. Butler, but Mr. Butler is a good hitter and if you get it up he's going to hammer it."

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Huntsville Stars notebook Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times Covering the bases The Stars bullpen has been frighteningly unable to hold a lead. But in a weird coincidence, the Stars have been able to hold onto first place. On May 30, the Tennessee Smokies lost to West Tenn and the Stars shelled Montgomery 19-4. The next nine days, going into Saturday night's play, it was a game of me-and-my shadow. If the Stars won, the Smokies won. If the Smokies lost, the Stars lost. Both teams went 6-3, all their wins coming the same day, the losses coming the same day. (Note: both teams lost Sunday as well -- Mass) Had it not been for shaky bullpen work, that trend might not have happened. It was a maddening five-game stretch in Chattanooga for the Stars. Game one: up 5-2 after three innings, then yield four runs in the eighth (with two hit batsmen) to lose. Game two: up 5-1, hold on to win the tying and winning run in scoring position. Game three: up 6-0, the bullpen gives up five runs, but holds on to win. Game four: up 4-3 in the seventh, give up six runs in the bottom half. Game five: up 6-0, have to hang on to win 8-4. "It's a concern," said manager Don Money. "We haven't been able to stop the bleeding. The pen was outstanding until this week." ... As feared, pitcher Mike Jones has undergone Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and will be lost for the season and likely 2008 as well. He also missed the 2005 season after surgery and has pitched in only 85 games in a star-crossed pro career that began in 2001, when he was the Brewers' No. 1 pick. ... "Making adjustments" is a key phrase at the Double-A level, and much of that has to be through self-discipline. That some players haven't been able to do so, whether through making delivery changes on the mound or taking a different approach at the plate - especially, say, against a sinkerballer like West Tenn's Justin Thomas, who had six strikeouts and 10 groundouts - has cost dearly. ... Outfielder Ruben Mateo could be ready to return from his hamstring pull when the Birmingham series opens Wednesday. ... As in the five games at West Tenn, the final five will use designated hitters, since the Stars are playing American League affiliates. While Manny Parra is an exceptional hitter, the rest of the staff is batting .138. ... The Stars continue to trail the league in home runs, with 29. Birmingham is in ninth place, at 35. Jacksonville leads the league with 55 ... The Stars raised $4,415 for the American Cancer Society with their jersey auction. Around the league Gotta love Mississippi manager Phillip Wellman's quote that was in Sports Illustrated after his huge outburst last week: "Once again, my mother is very proud of me, and my wife and kids are creeping around in disguise." ... Wellman was suspended three games by the Braves and Southern League President Don Mincher said he'd been fined "an unspecified amount" for the tantrum, which was hardly his first. ... Lost in the shuffle, there were four other ejections in that game and Wellman claimed he was defending his players. ... According to The Birmingham News, Mississippi players weren't allowed to discuss Wellman's escapades. ... As funny as it may have been to watch the first couple of times, it was blatant disrespect for the game and the umpires. The Southern League umps, for the most part, are good. They need to merely become consistently good - ironically the same thing that can be said for the players whose games they officiate. ... Though Tennessee lost starter Sean Gallagher (7-2) to a promotion to the Cubs' bullpen, his roster spot was taken by a pitcher with Triple-A experience, Paul Schappert. Brewings Triple-A Nashville Sounds (34-27 before Saturday's play, second place in Pacific Coast League American Division): P Luther Hackman 2.45 ERA, 9 saves Single-A Brevard County Manatees (34-27, first in Florida State East Division): P Will Inman, SS Alcides Escobar, OF Cole Gillespie selected for Florida State League All-Star game Single-A West Virginia Power (42-16 first in South Atlantic League Northern Division this half): Team clinched first-half title on Thursday, with 11 games remaining in the half. On deck The Stars continue at West Tenn today and Monday, then open a five-game homestand Wednesday against Birmingham that closes out the first half. Friday will be "Bat Night." ***Lou Palmisano in the photo here: www.jacksonsun.com/apps/p...006/SPORTS

MiLB.com: Salome sparks Manatees Angel Salome went 4-for-4 with three doubles and an RBI as Brevard County rallied past visiting Lakeland, 5-3, on Saturday. Salome opened the scoring with an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning. He doubled again leading off the fourth and stroked his 11th two-base hit of the year in the sixth. The 21-year-old catcher also delivered a leadoff single to spark a three-run eighth as the Manatees (35-27) erased a 3-2 deficit and earned a split of their four-game series with the Flying Tigers (27-33). Salome was lifted for pinch-runner Freddy Parejo, who scored on Mat Gamel's team-leading 21st double to forge a 3-3 tie. Cole Gillespie followed with a go-ahead RBI double before Michael Bell capped the scoring with a run-scoring single. Josh Wahpepah (5-4) struck out one in a perfect eighth to pick up the win and E.J. Shanks pitched around a walk in the ninth for his first save since a promotion to Brevard. Brevard County starter Mike McClendon allowed a run on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts over six innings. Jacob Ramos (4-2) took the loss after surrendering three runs on three hits without retiring a batter in the eighth. Starter Burke Badenhop yielded two runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 frames. Cameron Maybin went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Lakeland. -- John Torenli/MLB.com

From our Draft Forum, more on the first signee: SIGNED Round 20: Cameron Robulack - 1B 6'3", 220, L/R - Silverthorn Collegiate Institute http://www.perfectgame.org/images/profilepics/06mwt75.jpg NOTES & INFO: Per BA Draft Blog, signed 6/8/2007 for $75,000. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/ NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Draft Prospect Q&A By Frankie Piliere, Scout.com May 25, 2007 As a Canadian player, left-hand hitting Cameron Robulack may not get quite the hype he deserves as a very strong draft prospect. However, the slugging Ontario native is drawing significant interest from teams as a 3rd to 5th round pick. We recently caught up with Robulack for a Q&A session. Scout.com: First of all, how do you feel about how you've shown yourself this spring and basically what are your general thoughts on your performance? Cameron Robulack: I've showed quite well. I had a good spring and our season started late since we are in Canada but since it's started I've done well. Scout.com: Compare yourself to last fall or last summer. How are you a different player and what have you improved in your game? Cameron Robulack: I think the biggest difference in my game is maturity in all aspects, body development, size, hitting, hitting with power and mentally in my approach to the game. Scout.com: Looking ahead, what parts of your game would you like to improve on and how do you plan to do so? Cameron Robulack: To become a major leaguer I need to keep improving all aspects of my game, and this is done through hard work and determination. Scout.com: You're a player that has really flown under the radar so to speak, at least among media outlets. Do you like playing to exceed expectations and what are your thoughts on the expectations of you as a player? Cameron Robulack: It's not a bad thing that every kid is not always seen by everyone, but to those that know me I've fullfilled the expectation of a good power hitter with a good average and alot of RBI. I understand that I have still alot of projectability and look forward to catching up with it. Scout.com: How would you describe yourself as a hitter and what is your approach at the plate? Cameron Robulack: I feel I am a tough out at the plate. I am a good power hitter and a big time run producer. I have equal success against right handed and left handed pitching and am always thinking of hitting the ball hard. Scout.com: If you had to compare yourself to a big leaguer player in terms of style, who would it be and why? Cameron Robulack: Justin Morneau. I feel coming from Canada we play the same type of game and style of play. I am a big impact player who much like Morneau hits with alot of power, hits well for average and is the type of player that everyone doesn't want to face with base runners. Scout.com: What are your expectations of a pro career for you? In other words, how do you feel about possibly turning pro and what do you expect that experience would be like? Cameron Robulack: I want to play pro ball. Baseball is my only focus and I will enjoy the opportunity to work at the sport I love to play everyday. Scout.com: Your known as a very good power hitting prospect. Where do you think that power comes from? Cameron Robulack: Hard work, good coaching as a youth and my determination to be great. Scout.com: What are some of your major goals for the next six months? Cameron Robulack: My goals is to have a great season and to keep taking strides to become a major leaguer. Scout.com: What are your thoughts on going pro versus going to college? Cameron Robulack: I love the game of baseball, want to play pro ball, and I play baseball to become a great major leaguer. Scout.com: If there was something a pro scout may not notice about you just by watching you play, what would it be? Cameron Robulack: My knowledge about the game of baseball.

I realize Jeremy's 103 was likely not from tonight's game, but we really need to distract ourselves from the big league boys, thus tonight's thread title.

More on the Power from MiLB.com: Dog Days Set in: Power Drub Legends Lexington was soundly beaten by the visiting West Virginia Power, 10-0 at Applebee's Park on Saturday Night. Jeremy Jeffress, said to reach speeds of 103 miles per hour on some radar guns, shut down the Legends for five innings, and three pitchers entered from the bullpen to preserve the shutout. Meanwhile, Lexington's pitching staff allowed runs early and often, augmented by three errors made in the field by the Legends' defense. 6,825 people (and more than 300 dogs) witnessed the massacre. Some say that one of the joys of baseball is seeing something new every time you come out to the park. Legends fans got that experience and more Saturday night, as four zany plays occurred during the game's first four innings. In the first, Jordan Parraz was called out on the basepaths when he was hit by Chris Johnson's line drive. In the third inning, already up 2-0, Jimmy Mojica hit a single and Andrew Lefave walked. With Chuckie Caufield at the plate, Lefave took off for second base. However, Mojica faked toward third and retreated to second. The throw from catcher Ralphie Henriquez went down to third, and Lefave ran back toward first. Trying to get Lefave, Koby Clemens threw across to Chris Johnson, who dropped the ball. The runners advanced to second and third base on the error. The Power moved on to score four runs in the inning off starter Sergio Severino (1-4). The inning ended when Steve Chapman hit a two-run double into the left-field corner. Kenny Holmberg, who had reached after being hit by a pitch, attempted to score from first. However, he slipped and fell rounding third. Clemens took the relay throw and ran Holmberg down as he tried to get up. In the bottom of the fourth, the Legends had something going when Clemens walked and Jhon Florentino reached on Mojica's bobble. Henriquez came to the plate and lined a shot to Mojica. He couldn't glove the ball, and ended up getting a double play, stepping on the bag and tossing to second for the second out. That concluded the blooper reel, but wasn't the end of West Virginia's fireworks. They added a run off Bryan Hallberg in the fifth, and three more against Victor Garate in the seventh to put the game firmly out of reach. Jeffress (2-0) got the win for his effort, striking out three and walking two.

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

Link for West Virginia video feed ($3.95): web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t495