Jim Goulart

Link while active, text follows: www.newsargus.com/sports/...ndex.shtml Johnny Narron named manager of Brewers affiliate By Steve Roush Goldsboro (North Carolina) News-Argus The Milwaukee Brewers named Johnny Narron manager of their Pioneer League team in Helena (Mont.) on Friday. Narron, a Goldsboro native and the brother of Cincinnati Reds manager Jerry Narron, served as the advanced rookie league team's hitting instructor this past season. He replaces Eddie Sedar, who will be Milwaukee's first base coach in 2007. Narron, 55, who joined the Brewers organization in 2003 after serving six seasons as an associate scout with the Atlanta Braves sytem, also managed Helena in 2004 and was the team's hitting coach in 2003. He has also served as a hitting instructor for the West Virginia Power, Milwaukee's low class-A affiliate, and the Brevard County (Fla.) Manatees of the Florida State League. "My strength is the hitting side, but I also enjoy the managing side," Narron said Monday. "My goal is to one day be a major league hitting coach or be a minor league hitting coordinator, but I want to do anything I can to help the Milwaukee Brewers organization." Narron, a 1970 graduate of Goldsboro High, went on to play baseball at East Carolina before playing minor league baseball in the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox organizations from 1974-78. In 2004, Narron led Helena to a 39-37 record as the Brewers won the first half of the Pioneer League's Northern Division, but lost in the first round of the playoffs. "There's a lot of responsibility to managing and coaching in the minor leagues, a responsibility I take very seriously," said Narron, who still resides in the area and runs a hitting school in the offseason with his brother. "It is my duty to give the players what they need to grow and advance as ballplayers. My job is to help them succeed, which helps the organization succeed."

More from Nashville: LHP Adam Pettyjohn - The journeyman southpaw, who turns 30 in June, split the 2006 season between San Antonio (AA-Mariners), Long Beach in the independent Golden League, and Sacramento (AAA-A's), finishing with a combined 6-7 record, two saves, and a 3.62 ERA (51ER / 126.2 IP) in 30 games (14 starts). Pettyjohn, who appeared in the majors with Detroit in 2001, spent 2005 with Long Beach after splitting the 2004 campaign between Fresno and Sacramento in the PCL. The left-hander owns a 48-47 career record and 4.15 ERA in 169 career minor-league contests (136 starts). Baseball Cube Career Statistics: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...john.shtml We'll look for more Pettyjohn nuggets this evening, as a longtime pro, various stories undoubtedly are available...

For BP subscribers, a Craig Breslow interview at Prospectus: baseballprospectus.com/ar...cleid=5769

Latest, thanks to the Nashville site: www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2174 LHP Benito Baez - Baez, who will turn 30 in May, pitched for the Road Warriors in the independent Atlantic League in 2006, posting a 3-1 record and 1.27 ERA (4 ER / 28.1 IP) with 28 strikeouts and a .186 batting average against in his 27 relief appearances for the club. The southpaw missed most of the previous four seasons following a series of arm injuries that included Tommy John ligament replacement surgery in 2003. He missed the entire 2005 season and pitched in only 20 combined games from 2002-2004 as a member of the Marlins and Reds organizations. Baez, who had a cup of coffee with Florida during the 2001 season, last pitched at the Triple-A level in 2001, when he logged a 7-1 record and 3.03 ERA in 49 relief outings for Calgary (AAA-Marlins). Baez is the second member of the Atlantic League's "all-road" team to be signed by the Brewers this offseason (1B Mike Huggins). In professional ball since 1994 (age 17), Baez also pitched at Huntsville while spending his first seven pro years in the Oakland organization. Career numbers from the Baseball Cube -- we'll have a Brewerfan Player Index Page in place soon enough: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...Baez.shtml Seems like a decent loogy for Nashville to start the season, and who knows for later in 2007...

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...-Virginia/ Curtis returning to West Virginia Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter West Virginia Power Pitching Coach John Curtis and his wife recently read a newspaper story in which "We Are Marshall" director McG raved about West Virginia, particularly the kindness of its residents. McG is so enamored with the place and the people that he told The Associated Press, "I would love to buy a house there and spend as much time there as I possibly can. The people are so kind -- just the generosity and the warmth, the extended hugs and the long handshakes and the eye contact and the sincerity. It's just very specific to West Virginia and I think the world could use a lot more of it." "Those words could have come out of our mouths," Curtis said Monday during a telephone interview from Florida, "because that is exactly how we feel." Curtis and his wife, Mary-Ann Petino, currently rent a Charleston apartment, but they plan to purchase a home here. "We are interested in semi-settling there," Curtis said from Florida, where he is visiting his mother for the holidays. "We talked about it and we decided, ?Let's stay here this offseason and see what happens.' Well, nothing that has happened since then has dissuaded us from looking for a place to buy. It has just been wonderful. We are very taken by the place." For Curtis and Petino, a move to Charleston would mean trading the beaches of California for the mountains of West Virginia. They own a home in Long Beach. Some would say the baseball Curtis took to the head two years ago in a batting practice accident did permanent damage. Why else would he make such a move? "No, no, no," Curtis said with a laugh. "This is clear thinking. "It is so easy to overlook what you have in front of you. You have a yearning eye to the movie images of California. Believe me, at a younger age I fell in love with everything going on out there -- the beaches, the sunshine, the weather. "But we have been so taken with how wonderful everybody is in Charleston. Everybody has been so friendly and so welcoming. (Then, there is) the natural beauty. We do not feel we are giving anything up." The fact that Curtis will return to Charleston for another season as the Power's pitching coach this year helps, of course. Curtis will join Manager Mike Guerrero and new hitting coach Corey D. Hart (Brevard County's hitting coach this past season) on the Power staff, according to Reid Nichols, the Milwaukee Brewers' director of player development and assistant to the general manager. This season will be Curtis' third, Guerrero's second and Hart's first with the Power. Mike Lum, who was West Virginia's hitting coach last season, will be Milwaukee's roving hitting instructor in 2007. "Knowing I am coming back next year kind of takes a little bit of the rush off finding a place," Curtis said. Although Milwaukee, West Virginia's parent club, ultimately will decide where Curtis coaches from year to year, he said he would love to remain with the Power for "the next five years or so." "I have no desire to go anywhere else," said Curtis, a former first-round draft pick who spent 15 years in the Major Leagues with the Red Sox, Cardinals, Padres and Angels, compiling a 89-97 record and 3.96 ERA during his career. Some coaches want to reach Major League Baseball, but that "is not the case with me," Curtis said. "I got my time in the Big Leagues. I got to play. "In all honesty, I would go wherever the Brewers sent me. If they want me to go to Triple-A, I would not say no. They have their plans for me. I do not know what those plans are, but, as far as I am concerned, the thing I would enjoy most is staying here in Charleston. If that could be arranged, I would not be the least bit unhappy." One of the reasons Curtis loves his job is Appalachian Power Park, the South Atlantic League club's two-year-old stadium. The Power (60-78 in its first season and 74-62 in its second season) averaged 3,532 fans in 66 home games in 2005 and 3,746 fans in 64 home games in 2006. "Coming to work there is a pleasure," Curtis said. "The community support is outstanding. A large part of our affection for this area is the people we have encountered at the ballpark -- the staff, the house moms, the fans. People have been so kind to us."

Nice job by an old fan of Brewerfan, Ben Lipson, here: topprospectalert.com/ned-...erview.htm

Link? It's not in the Denver papers...

Anthony Iapoce, a Brewer outfield farmhand from '94 through 2000, is the new new hitting coach for Greensboro in the South Atlantic League (Marlins).

Latest from MLB.com: brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/ml...p;c_id=mil This could end up being a silly update, as Ron Acuna, the featured player, along with J.C. Boscan, are minor league free agents. They are listed as such at Baseball America, and the information concerning current Brewer rosters that we have access to here at Brewerfan lists neither. We'll ask specifically about Acuna, but it's clear that the writers who have been compiling these "update" lists as Specials to MLB.com are not directly associated with Brewer coverage, as Adam McCalvy has been. Corey Thurman now up to 205 innings for the year, first year back after injury issues -- you'd have to add up several prior seasons to reach that total: www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=883

Theo Epstein's on Boston radio right now indicating that the Red Sox will likely be announcing the acquisition of one, possibly two, bullpen arms, later today. Guys who are reasonably-priced (remember, reasonable for the Boston payroll) who under-performed for whatever reason last season. He used the word "acquire", so I'm guessing it's via trade. I'm just saying...

The "Hackman" is indeed Brewer property.

Latest on Ohka -- Seven Clubs Still Showing Interest

Darren Ford's Hometown New Jersey Paper -- Link while active, text follows: www.thedailyjournal.com/a...5418204686 Ford takes a well-deserved break Vineland alum home to rest after long stretch on diamond By BEN WATANABE Vineland Daily Journal Staff Writer Darren Ford returned home two weeks ago with the expressed purpose to "chill." After a short season in the Hawaii winter league, in which his team won the championship, Ford came home for a month to visit family and rest up before he reports to Arizona Jan. 3. Reached by phone one evening last week, though, Ford didn't sound like he was taking it easy. "I just came back from Stockton College," said Ford, a Vineland High School graduate currently playing in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. "I was up there hitting. I got a couple friends up there." But what happened to 'chill'? "They just told me they wanted to hit, and I wanted to hit, so I said, 'Alright,'" he said. Ford came home briefly in November for the funeral of his great-grandmother, Dorien, who died of cancer. Though he already has a strong relationship with his mother and grandmother, Ford said the loss made him appreciate them even more. There was a somewhat spooky twist. Ford wears jersey No. 15 in honor of his friend, Latrice Johnson, who died on May 15, 2004. Dorien Ford died on Nov. 15. The number 15 might possess more karma than even Ford realizes. If so, he said he's fine with that. "I'm always going to feel comfortable wearing it," Ford said. "You can't run from death. I just want to thank God, because He did so much for me." Other than hitting and throwing, visiting Johnson's parents is the only thing on Ford's "To Do" list while he's home. In a little less than a month, he'll resume his quest to reach the major leagues. His recent visit overseas is the pinnacle for now. "Hawaii was beautiful," Ford said. "Nowhere else in the world are you going to get a whole bunch of girls dancing for you. And that's all they do there."

Mariners: www.baseballamerica.com/t...62986.html

We've been following the ballpark developments in Nashville -- there have been many articles and columns written since the last update in this thread from early November. The latest indicates that the opening could now be in July 2008, not Opening Day 2008 -- still working out site cleanup issues and other details. They still have not broken ground, were hoping to do February 1st, that's now likely to be delayed. The Brewers can't be thrilled with the news, although that's an assumption here, no comment from them. www.fairviewobserver.com/...321/MTCN06

Carlin was not drafted nor was he even recruited heavily by any Division I baseball programs. Carlin managed to win a walk-on spot at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. ?[Miami] was reluctant to take him, so he had to prove himself,? his former high school baseball coach, Ed McCloskey says. ?So he broke their hitting records. Then nobody wanted him in the majors so he had to prove himself once again. ?Carlin finished his career at Miami as its all-time home run leader, with 44, and eventually landed a free-agent contract with the Pirates? Class A organization, the Hickory Crawdads. Carlin says he is motivated by the fact that nobody wanted to take a chance on him. ?I will always remember when my coach at Miami apologized to me for giving me such a hard time because he always made me fight my way into the lineup,? Carlin says. ?It really meant a lot when he finally recognized all the hard work I put in and that I really cared about baseball.? Hard not to root for the young man...

Nashville released their schedule today, so all the affiliate schedules are now available. Enjoy that road trip planning! Nashville Huntsville Brevard County West Virginia Helena

Link while active, text follows: sports.mainetoday.com/pro...ogers.html Stiff shoulder, so Rogers thinks about surgery By PAUL BETIT, MaineToday.com Staff Writer Mark Rogers, who was the Milwaukee Brewers' first-round draft pick out of Mt. Ararat High two years ago, is contemplating undergoing arthroscopic surgery to see if anything can be done to relieve the stiffness in his throwing shoulder. "It's not major surgery," Rogers said Wednesday night. A 20-year-old right-hander from Orr's Island who recently completed his third pro season, Rogers is scheduled to see a specialist in Texas next week to seek a second opinion on whether his condition warrants the arthroscopic surgery. "At this point I can't really make a comment beyond that," Rogers said. Last July, Rogers returned to the Brewers' training complex in Maryvale, Ariz., after his throwing shoulder stiffened while he was pitching for the Brevard County Manatees in the Class A Florida State League. "I'm in a situation now where I have discomfort when I throw," said Rogers, who now lives in Tempe, Ariz., during the offseason. "I think it's due to all the changes in my mechanics." In 2004, Rogers signed for $2.2 million after the Brewers made him the fifth pick in the draft following his senior year at Mt. Ararat High in Topsham. Last March, Rogers was ranked 44th on Baseball America's list of top prospects. "In my book he's had a minor setback," said Jim Rooney, Milwaukee's coordinator of minor-league pitching. "He had a little stiffness in Florida and we brought him (to Arizona) so he could get one-on-one treatment from his physical therapist." Rooney said Rogers has been participating in the Brewers' winter throwing program. "He threw on Monday and he said he didn't feel as good as he did last week," Rooney said. Rooney said Rogers has "hypermobility" in his right shoulder. "Because of his size and the violence of his delivery, he has loose shoulders," Rooney said. "Things move around in there." According to Rooney, at least two other pitchers in the Milwaukee organization suffered similar conditions this past season. "Some guys pitch their entire careers with a loose shoulder, and other guys want to do something about it," Rooney said. "If there is surgery in Mark's future, it is up to Mark and his doctors."

Given name of: Ulyses Ron Davenport, Jr.

Thanks on Barnwell. I simply didn't type his name here, although he certainly is on the list we obtained. I've added him above.

Holy smokes, nearly 200 visitors at once on a quiet first day of the meetings, plus a full chatroom. Once something significant happens this week, we'll be in explosion mode...

Hi 999555999, and thanks for the post. Folks can feel free to post in the Transaction thread if they have a post like this about a newly-signed player. Davenport is 25 years old, and has spent the better part of four of the past five seasons at high-A Dunedin in the Florida State League, where he could probably run for mayor. This signing is a lot like Ron Acuna last season, a guy who is young considering he expired all seven years of his prior eligibility with his original team, and who Gord Ash was familiar with from his Blue Jay days. It's a legitimate signing for a chance at some time at AA Huntsville, but Davenport certainly wouldn't be considered a Power 50 guy at this time, nor likely in the future, although we wish him well.

The following Brewer farmhands are protected at the AAA level this year. That means if selected, it's for the $50,000 major league phase of the Rule 5 draft that most folks are familiar with: Pitchers: RHP Khalid Ballouli RHP Steve Bray RHP Chris Demaria RHP Luther Hackman RHP Jesse Harper LHP Jeff Housman LHP Jeremy Lewis LHP Rafael Lluberes RHP Mike Meyers LHP Sam Narron RHP Luis Pena RHP Vince Perkins RHP Gerrit Simpson RHP Chris Spurling LHP Mitch Stetter RHP Corey Thurman RHP Joe Valentine RHP Matt Yeatman RHP Alec Zumwalt Catchers: Carlos Corporan Nestor Corredor C.J. Medlin Lou Palmisano Kyle Phillips Infielders: Chris Barnwell Ozzie Chavez Callix Crabbe Jeff Eure Adam Heether Brad Nelson Guilder Rodriguez Outfielders: Kennard Bibbs Ron Davenport Steve Moss Here are the players protected on the AA level (or below), available for $12,000, with no restrictions as to where they are placed within the new organization. The Brewers often gain and lose players in this phase. Just last season, among the minor league phase Rule 5 gains were RHP Steve Bray, perhaps the Brewer most at risk of being lost in the major league phase this time around. The Brewers lost promising young SS Agustin Septimo to an astute Marlins scouting department in this phase last year. Pitchers: RHP Josh Alliston RHP David Bradley RHP Bo Hall RHP Brandon Harmsen LHP Kyle Pawelczyk RHP John Novinsky (protected at high-A, $4,000 fee) Catcher / Infielder: Craig Kuzmic Infielder: Mike Huggins Outfielder: Travis Ezi This should be the year, a transition year in which every organization gained another season to evaluate many prospects before they become Rule 5 eligible, that the Rule 5 draft could be a big yawn. But with many clubs having open 40-man roster spots this year (again, due to changes in the CBA), you could see a veteran player like Corey Thurman or Joe Valentine selected. Remember, the Pirates selected Victor Santos from the Royals in 2005's draft. Also, because of the added flexibility this year, more players who would have been available in the minor league phase are now able to be protected in the major league phase, meaning the caliber of players available at the minor league level is thinned even further. Since relievers are often targeted in Rule 5 anyway, Steve Bray, as noted above, is likely most at risk of being lost among the Brewers yet to see big league action. He really should be on the Brewers' 40-man right now. It wouldn't be a shock to see former big leaguers Corey Thurman or Joe Valentine (both now impressing in winter ball), Chris Demaria, or Chris Spurling selected, particularly Thurman. The Rule 5 Draft takes place Thursday morning this week -- I mentioned Friday earlier, but it's Thursday. The Brewerfan Player Index is not being adjusted for Rule 5 placement in terms of level. For instance, youngster Rafael Lluberes will still be listed as a West Virginia Power, not a Nashville Sound, until next year's minor league rosters are finalized.

Taking a page out of Toby's book with a "tease", Brewerfan will post by this evening the Rule 5 rosters the Brewers submitted to MLB. The rosters will detail which Brewers are eligible to be plucked for both the major and minor league phases of Friday's Rule 5 draft.

The Brewers have signed former Blue Jay farmhand, corner OF Ron Davenport, as a minor league free agent. A 22nd round high school draft pick of the Blue Jays in 2000, Davenport just wrapped up seven years in the Toronto system, yet just turned 25 years old. He has nearly 500 AA at-bats under his belt. He opened 2006 with AA New Hampshire, but started 0-for-27, despite hitting the ball hard at times, according to a published report, accounting for his poor AA numbers this past season. Davenport will likely open in Huntsville. We'll have Davenport's Brewerfan Player Index Page built by Monday evening. For now, career numbers: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...port.shtml This gentleman provides further background, with 2004 a highlight: www.gerrymcdonald.ca/davenport.html