Jim Goulart

Thanks Jason, I'll email your EZ Board Inbox here momentarily so we can spare everyone else from the exciting details http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

We'll be hearing about this debate until ground actually breaks: Link while active, text follows: www.tennessean.com/apps/p.../1092/NEWS Many good questions raised over Sounds deal By GAIL KERR, the TENNESSEAN The Nashville Sounds deal was formally filed yesterday and is now in the hands of the Metro Council. Two taxpayers raise questions that probably will frame the coming debate. Stan Scott of Bellevue and Bob Malone of Madison responded to a column I wrote a couple of weeks ago on the pro-Sounds buzz around town. They want to know: ? Is this the best use for this valuable piece of riverfront property? ? Should the city lease land to a private business? ? Should the city allow the deal to hinge on special financing, where future property taxes pay off their bank loan? ? Should taxpayers guarantee the Sounds $500,000 in annual maintenance costs? ? Should the city make a deal with a private for-profit organization, which not too long ago had trouble paying its rent? ? Should this deal go forward without an overall riverfront plan? Malone wrote: "I have no problem with the Sounds having a new stadium. I just think they, like any other business, should use their money to start the business, not public money. Wasn't it just last year they couldn't pay the rent on Greer Stadium?" He adds: "How can you possibly justify this boondoggle in light of forcing the closing of schools and firing school employees?" Scott questions whether it is legal to use taxpayer money to maintain a private facility. And he offers this opinion: "As usual, we have hodgepodge development with no foresight for what is best for downtown Nashville." Peter Heidenreich, a lobbyist with Hall Strategies who will be working to persuade the council to pass the Sounds deal, said those questions will be addressed. "We've been waiting until the legislation was formally filed," he said. "We're going to begin to approach the council folks on an individual basis to discover what their questions are and what their issues are. We think we have answers." The council's budget and finance committee also will meet with the Sounds and Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, the developer of the adjoining apartments and shops. The Nashville Downtown Partnership has embraced the Sounds deal, with merchants rallying behind it. They see it as a way to bring people downtown for 70 or more games. They plan on lobbying council members, too. At least one councilman is going to be hard to convince. Councilman David Briley said the two citizens raise good questions. He has one more. "The bigger question for me: Is this a good investment for the city?" Briley said. "What else could we invest the real estate and the tax increment financing and the cash flow in? And does this make the most sense of all the possibilities? "At this point, I'm not convinced that it does. I think there are a lot of things that make more sense than investing in the Sounds. The rest of it, the mixed-use development, that seems to make a whole lot of sense. I'm not in any way opposed to that. The Sounds? They've got a lot of explaining to do for me to be convinced that's a good thing for the city to do. Their business model certainly hasn't been very successful. It makes me real nervous." The questions raised by Briley and the two residents are good ones. This Metro Council ? often criticized and made fun of ? has a golden opportunity to get answers. Now is their opportunity to carefully and responsibly debate the future of one of Nashville's prime pieces of property. It's in their hands now. Game on.

With thanks to the incredible Nashville Sounds site: LHP Jason Kershner - The left-handed reliever, who will be 29 on Opening Day, has spent the last five seasons at either the Triple-A or big-league level, including stops with San Diego (2002) and Toronto (2002-04). Kershner -- who is 12-4 with a 3.08 ERA all-time in PCL play (77 app. over two seasons) -- split the 2005 campaign between Pawtucket (AAA-Red Sox) and Portland (AAA-Padres) and compiled a cumulative 5-4 record, three saves, and a 3.76 ERA (33er/79.0ip) in 61 relief outings. LHP Jason Kershner Career Statistics: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...hner.shtml Kershner's Career Transactions Analysis from Rotowire: www.rotowire.com/baseball...tm?ID=7240 Unfortunately, MLB.com's stats site doesn't include "vs. LH batters" as a split for Kershner. From 2002 (Kershner's big league debut with San Diego): Padres manager Bruce Bochy said that Kershner is more of a pitcher than a hard thrower. "He's got a good fastball, but his best pitch is a changeup," said Bochy. "We're going to put him in the bullpen for now and he'll be our long reliever." "I'm not going to really blow by too many guys," Kershner said. "On occasion I might, but I'm not going to be one of those guys who will throw it right down the middle. I'm going to try to get ahead, keep the ball down, and keep the ball out of the middle of the plate. "I rely more on my off-speed, my changeup, occasionally my slider. I do throw my fastball a lot, but I try to make it where I don't have to get in a fastball count. I try to get ahead and use my stuff."

2005 Brevard County Manager John Tamargo won't be back in the organization in 2006, as he will manage Tampa Bay's AAA team in Durham: www.dbulls.com/team/press...=949966319 With Manatee hitting coach Tony Diggs now the Brewers' assistant director of player development, only Brevard pitching coach Fred Dabney's status is in question regarding the Manatees' 2005 staff. The Brewers usually announce their entire minor league field management team in one press release, most often in January or even early February. Guessing the only reason we know about the return of the entire Huntsville staff is because the Huntsville Times' Mark McCarter likely picked up the phone and called Don Money himself after the Brewers' organizational meetings in Milwaukee last month.

Jesse Levis managed the Mets' Appalachian Rookie League short-season club in Kingsport, Tennessee in 2005. He lives in the Philly area, so coaching / scouting -- either way, away from home quite a bit, although scouting is certainly more of a full-year gig: K-Mets manager Levis back where he started - in the Appy League Author: JOHN MOOREHOUSE, Kingsport Times-News Date Published: June 18, 2005 KINGSPORT - Foreshadowed by a trip to the movies, Jesse Levis' stint as a player in the Appalachian League lasted only a few weeks. Expect him to stick around for the duration this summer. In his first managerial assignment, as the new skipper for the Kingsport Mets, Levis' coaching career has led him right back to where he started as a professional ballplayer. "I started in this league 17 years ago and I've come full circle," said Levis, who played for the Burlington Indians in 1989. "I'm excited to get going." He just hopes the road accommodations have improved. In an interview Friday, Levis recalled a nightmarish trip to Bluefield to face the Orioles. "The hotel was horrible," Levis said. "The lights didn't work at the stadium, there were rats, it was awful." Levis spent three weeks in the Appalachian League before getting promoted - all the way to Triple-A. "There was an injury, and the major league team was playing an exhibition game and the front office wanted to see me play," Levis recalled. "I had a good game and went right back to the Appy League. ... Two weeks later they did send me to the Carolina League, though." It wasn't the last time Levis changed addresses - not by a long shot. He went on to play 16 seasons for seven different organizations: the Indians, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets. Levis saw time in the big leagues in nine seasons - mostly as a backup catcher - before a shoulder injury forced retirement. It wasn't the first significant injury for Levis, just the last. His first rotator cuff injury halted a promising string of three straight seasons in the majors - all with Milwaukee. "I guess you can call me a journeyman after that," Levis said. "It was hard because I had established myself almost as a platoon player. Mike Matheny and I were catching in Milwaukee and I was doing well at the time of the injury. It was really a depressing time when you get hurt like that. "Like I always tell the kids, if you're a backup player, you're not a superstar, don't get injured," he said. "It's very hard to work yourself back into the role you had because there's a guy behind you ready to take your spot." Rather than go sell real estate or open a restaurant or sit by the pool, Levis got right back on the diamond as a coach for the Mets. "Once I was done they had me working with the catchers in Florida," said Levis, who was with the Mets' Triple-A Norfolk team at the time of his career-ending injury. "When I have time off, it's not good for me. I really like to continue the baseball aspect. Baseball's been a big part of my life for 30 years now - since I was 5." Whatever role a K-Met finds himself in this summer, chances are Levis has been there himself. He's been healthy and he's been hurt. He's been promoted and he's been demoted. He's been released and he's been re-signed - making two stops in both Cleveland and Milwaukee. "It seems like he knows how we feel," said Kingsport outfielder Cory Wells. "He's just real relaxed and he wants us to go out there and just play our hardest." It's left Levis with a firm belief of what's really important to succeed in baseball. Here's a hint: It has little to do with bulging biceps or 98 mph heaters. "I believe the mental makeup is so important, the toughness," he said. "There's so much failure in this game that you really have to maintain a positive attitude and stay focused on your ultimate goal." That can be a tall order at the rookie league level. "I always tell the kids the player that handles the adversity the best is gonna move. Because everybody's pretty even talent-wise," Levis noted. "If you can handle the adversity, the ups and downs of this game on a daily basis, be able to keep your composure and keep getting better, you're going to move on." To help that process, Levis is taking at least some of his cues from a pair of former mentors. He credited Houston Astros manager Phil Garner, who skippered the Brewers during Levis' first stint there, for the way he treated role players. "He would make it a point every day to say hello, even though I wasn't starting," Levis recalled. "I really appreciated that and I definitely will make sure that I do that to the guys who aren't playing regularly." Then there's family friend Steve Kolinsky, who helped Levis keep his emotions in check on the diamond. "I was friends with his sons and he really propelled me to college and professional baseball," said Levis, who grew up in Philadelphia. "I was a baby when I was younger as far as really showing my emotions. After he had a positive influence on me, I really became a really levelheaded ballplayer. I think that helped as far as taking me to the next level." After years of fighting for playing time, all of Levis' K-Mets will have a chance to showcase their skills. That's the usual order of things in the Appy League, which stresses development. "They're gonna learn how to do things the right way at this level," he vowed. "If they can't do it at the rookie level, there's no way they're gonna be able to do it at the next level. They're gonna have to learn how to play the game. "Hopefully they'll get better fast - and I think they're pretty good right now - but hopefully we'll see them get more and more adjusted to this league and hopefully that'll result in wins." So here he is, back in the league where his playing career began. This time, however, any cinematic harbingers are absent. Shortly before the 1989 amateur draft, Levis went to see "Major League," the classic baseball comedy. "I saw the movie and I said ?Wow, it'd be tough getting drafted by those guys.' Two weeks later, there I was - an Indian," said Levis, who was attending North Carolina at the time. "At the time I was like ?Wow, this is horrible.' But then I realized there was an opportunity to move up fast. "Then in '94, when ?Major League II' came out, all the Indians at spring training got to go to a premiere in Winter Haven, Fla.," he said. "That was a cool moment right there." There won't be such pomp and circumstance for Levis' managerial debut Tuesday against the Johnson City Cardinals - but he wouldn't mind seeing his coaching career end with some big league-level red-carpet treatment. http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/unc/sports/m-basebl/auto_action/115130.jpeg

MILB.com: "Mayo's Mailbag" Nothing overly insightful... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp Just dropping you a line to ask about Corey Hart. I wasn't able to keep tabs on him in the AFL; how did he finish and do you think he'll be ready for everyday playing in the Majors? -- John, Milwaukee John, I think he's ready now, to answer the second question first. The question is where? He went to the Arizona Fall League and did very well there with the bat, hitting .353 in 68 at-bats with five homers and 14 RBIs and stole four bases. He's the best base runner in the Brewers' system. He played a bunch at third, where he hadn't played in a while, but he also played first, left and a little bit in right field. There's a lot of talk when discussing the Brewers' system as far as Hart and Nelson Cruz, who is just about ready as well to play a corner outfield spot. Hart, by most indications, is slightly ahead of Cruz on the depth chart. He got some big league time earlier in the year, while Cruz got a late September call-up. Both helped Nashville win the PCL title. I think Hart could be the kind of guy who ends up moving around a little bit. Maybe they gave him a shot -- he played the outfield the past two years -- he can hit and he can run. I don't think there's anything wrong with having him play some right field and having him play some third base, as long as he can handle the transitions. There's no room for him at first, with Lyle Overbay and Prince Fielder there, so we'll have to wait and see what happens next Spring Training. There's no room for him at first, with Lyle Overbay and Prince Fielder there, so we'll have to wait and see what happens next Spring Training. Well, there will be plenty of room to spell Prince against tough lefties once Lyle is moved....

Apparently disregard the detailed post earlier in this thread regarding South African infielder Jonathan Phillips being back in the Brewers' fold. While his name had re-appeared for a while on MILB.com's roster page for the Maryvale Brewers, that seems to have been in error.

28-year-old Brent Abernathy's Career Statistics: Only a .622 OPS in 868 big league AB's; Abernathy also recently had surgery to repair a slight Achilles' tear... www.thebaseballcube.com/p...athy.shtml 30-year-old Mark Johnson's Career Statistics: A .625 OPS in 931 big league AB's -- very Abernathy-ish; you're a true Brewerfan-maniac if you know who Milwaukee acquired when Johnson was dealt to the Cubs last spring -- answer at the bottom of this post.... www.thebaseballcube.com/p...on-1.shtml 32-year-old RHP Jared Fernandez's Career Statistics: Considering all those many early years in the Red Sox system, this will be Fernandez' 4th National League organization since then; some industrious team really should open up a knuckleball camp and just have massive tryouts -- what harm? www.thebaseballcube.com/p...ndez.shtml Trivia answer: Brevard County outfielder Travis Ezi...

Helena staff has rolled out a 2005 card set including Ryan Braun, Will Inman, Angel Salome and others -- that looks like a pretty good holiday season investment for your Brewer fan. I'm not a collector (OK, if you don't count my misguided every Allen Levrault card ever set) -- but I would think that rookie ball cards are more valuable than let's say, AAA card sets, nothing against our friends with the Sounds. www.helenabrewers.net/cat...58dae42d31 The Power's web site is promoting their merchandise as well this time of year, so keep in mind that our Brewerfan home page contains buttons to the Brewerfan affiliate pages, which in turn, include the official team web site links. The Manatees site doesn't seem to have an up-and-running store. We'll roll out our yearly affiliate web site review this winter, and post it on some frosty January night when the home page is in need of something fresh http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . And oh yeah, I seriously did accumulate the entire local-boy Levrault set, majors and minors, save one elusive card. His first, from the 1996 Helena set -- I had asked past Helena management to rummage around their attic, but they never did pull a '96 set out of the rafters. Maybe the new regime will have better luck for me http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif .

From Adam McCalvy of MLB.com: milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com...p;c_id=mil ...the Brewers shook up their baseball operations staff. Five officials were formally given new positions: Jack Zduriencik as special assistant to the general manager and director of amateur scouting, Tom Flanagan as director of administration for player development and scouting, Tony Blengino as assistant director of amateur scouting, Scott Martens as business manager for player development and Minor League operations and Tony Diggs as assistant director of player development. The club also announced formally that player development director Reid Nichols would re-locate to Phoenix, where he will work out of Maryvale Baseball Park and focus on the lower levels of the organization. Nichols said last week that assistant GM Gord Ash would focus on the Double-A and Triple-A levels. "The Milwaukee Brewers place the highest priority on scouting and player development," GM Doug Melvin said in a statement. "All of our efforts begin with the work of an outstanding staff, and today's moves speak very highly of all of the individuals involved." Zduriencik is one of the most highly regarded scouting directors in the game and has engineered each Brewers draft since 1999. In addition to the First-Year Player Draft, he will take on the added responsibility of Latin American scouting. *****Congrats to all. Tony Diggs' new position would mean that Brevard County will be assigned a new hitting coach for 2006. Blengino's rise in the ranks was hinted at earlier this spring when he was "in the war room" for the June draft. Hey, I'm up for the newly-opened Area Scout for the Northeast if the position is available http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif . You wonder if Fernando Arango, Milwaukee?s Latin American scouting supervisor, will still be around given Jack Z.'s new Latin responsibilities.

MLB.com: Signed six players to Minor League contracts with Spring Training invitations: INF Brian Dallimore, INF Brent Abernathy, C Mark Johnson, C Mike Rivera, RHP Jerome Gamble and RHP Jared Fernandez. We reported Dallimore's signing earlier, and had notified you that Mike Rivera and Jerome Gamble had re-signed earlier. Gamble's spring training invite is a bit of a surprise and must have been a carrot for enticement. Catcher Mark Johnson returns to the system, making a Johnson / Rivera AAA tandem almost a sure thing. We'll post more on Brent Abernathy in a bit -- quite the glut of veteran minor league 2B / 3B types all of a sudden. We'll also post more on Jared Fernandez, a knuckleballer with some fairly significant pro experience.

I am an aspiring right-handed pitcher in the eighth grade. I play on an AAU team and my question is: What kind of pitches do you look for from an amateur pitcher when making draft decisions? -- Kyle Jack Zduriencik, Brewers scouting director: It's an interesting question with many variables. Some of what I will say is based on years of experience and a trained eye, but probably the most common answer would be velocity, simply because you really can't teach it: It's either there or it isn't. Pitchers have developed velocity over time, and in other cases velocity can be lost in time. It is, however, a starting point to begin to gauge a prospect. What then ties into the equation or evaluation would be factors such as: 1. Fastball movement; 2. The breaking ball, what type, how sharp; and 3. The ability to control and command one's fastball, as well as the other pitches. Then you get into a pitcher's body type, the looseness of his arm action and how well his arm works. You can also talk about the arm speed of a pitcher, as well as how well the ball comes out of his hand. Other issues that play into an evaluation are his age and how you see his body developing in the future (or not developing). Is this pitcher athletic or non-athletic? How much has he pitched? Is he a multiple-position player? Is he a multi-sport athlete with limited dedication to being a full-time pitcher? You then have the considerations to what makes a pitcher complete, such as: Is he competitive, poised, under control of his actions and himself, does he know how to pitch, execute, have a plan? You sometimes judge pitchers or players differently depending on age or the level one is competing against. As an example, you'd most likely judge a 17-year-old high school kid differently than a senior in college. You might judge a player differently if he lives in Florida as opposed to living in Vermont. In conclusion, there are many factors to consider, but the most important advice I would give to any young player is to maximize what you are. Work hard, seek good instruction and play as much as you can without being overworked to the point of risking injury. Listen, read, watch and realize that pitchers come in all shapes and sizes, and you can be successful in different ways. Greg Maddux pitches differently than Roger Clemens, and Steve Carlton was different then Bobby Shantz. Some pitchers win because of velocity while others because of other factors, but they all executed and perfected what they were able to do, very well. They understood who they are and what they had the ability to do, and then did it to the best of their capabilities. Good Luck, work smart and work hard. The entire article with responses from others in baseball can be found here: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp

Brian, Toby, Patrick, and Michael, I've mailed you the latest excel sheet from Scott Martens. If you're brewerfan mail is giving you problems, Toby, let me know if you need another send when fixed.

One last move to report today in terms of comings and goings -- the Brewers have released RHP Simon Beresford, the 6'6" Aussie, and the team's 32nd round pick in 2002. Beresford had a decent run for such a late pick, but needed to start this season in high-A after his 2004 Beloit stint. When that didn't happen, and he struggled early this year with West Virginia, he at least got the chance to participate in Helena's no-hitter with fellow Aussie, LHP David Welch, among others. RHP Simon Beresford's Career Statistics: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...ford.shtml It's little secret that Simon's dad, Ian, has been a regular frequenter of our forums. He and I have been occasional email friends, and I trust I'll do Ian no disservice by including only a tiny statement from his latest note: I need to note that Si's experience over his four years in the States has been outstanding, having met a lot of wonderful people along the way. No doubt he will continue to do so in his new life. We count you amongst those people, it has been humbling that you would care for our "boy" as you have. All the very best to you and your family, and may many other players' families experience the delights that we have through your and others devotion to Brewerfan. No Ian, it's humbling that folks like you let us fuss over your boy like we do, while accepting our fascination and grand hopes for all. Take care, mate.

I'm not a big fan of the word "bust" when it comes to baseball draft picks, although certainly there are many. In baseball in particular, draft busts might be even harder to define considering the minor league chain avoided in the NFL or NBA. Yet, I suppose, in my mind I've always placed an arbitrary limit as through the 5th round for this subject, and only if there was never even a glint of prospectdom on the radar throughout the player's career. 2001 3rd round RHP Jon Steitz was a bust, for instance. 2002 4th round OF Nic Carter was a bust both on and off the field, from all reports. After all, there's no such thing as a 43rd round bust. The Brewers have released 2000 4th round pick LHP Eric Henderson, who pitched for the University of North Carolina. Henderson did not pitch at all in 2005 while rehabbing a rotator cuff injury. While struggling on the mound with High Desert in 2004, Henderson's bat showed enough promise in workouts to warrant 27 AB's. Baseball America had reported Henderson's 2000 signing bonus at $275,000. LHP Eric Henderson's Career Statistics: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...rson.shtml But always keep the player himself in mind when tossing around a term like "bust". Here's a very cool article from this past August. Kudos to Eric Henderson and the other Brewer prospects in Maryvale. I know a lot of people review the Transaction Thread -- here's hoping all will read this. Good luck Eric, in your post-Brewer life... Link while active, text follows: www.azcentral.com/arizona...d0821.html Stars' hospital visits lift patients' spirits Andrew Bagnato The Arizona Republic Professional athletes and sick children have provided irresistible story lines. Think of the legend of Babe Ruth promising to hit a home run for a bedridden youngster named Johnny Sylvester - and then delivering. The story, which may be true, was retold in the 1992 movie The Babe. In real life, the relationships between professional athletes and children with illnesses often go beyond choreographed photo opportunities. And the facts can be more compelling than a scriptwriter's invention. At a time when many pro athletes are widely - and accurately - criticized for being greedy and self-centered, those who take the time to meet with sick children project a different image. Their efforts provide a welcome contrast to recent headlines chronicling sports stars' bad behavior - from Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers' suspension for allegedly assaulting two television cameramen; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens being sent home from training camp amid a contract squabble. "What the athletes bring to it is their celebrity, but also their humanity," said John Cary, executive director of Milwaukee-based Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. "I think that's a side that a lot of people don't see." The Valley's major pro sports teams don't log every request on behalf of children with illnesses. But they estimate that they receive several dozen every year. Skeptics may ask whether athletes are using the children to generate publicity. That's a cynical view, but as athletes' salaries have risen, so has cynicism about their motives. "Do some guys just show up because the team tells them to and because the cameras are there? Sure, that goes on," said Milwaukee Bucks television analyst Jon McGlocklin, who founded Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer in 1976. "But there are all the others that are doing the good things, and they're there with no cameras and they're there for the right reasons." Who benefits most? The uninitiated may be skeptical about the impact of an athlete's visit on a sick child. How much could an hour of conversation and an autographed jersey help a youngster facing a serious illness? Plenty, parents and medical professionals say. "In terms of having athletes visit kids, I think that the public can intuitively understand that kids with illnesses tend to be isolated and to feel very different and scared," said Mary McLellan, associate professor of educational psychology at Northern Arizona University, in an e-mail response to a question. "Having famous people visit is a 'kick' for any kid, but when kids are ill they can get a nice boost to their egos. Anytime the kids feel better about themselves, they tend to do better medically." Wendy Pauker, a child life specialist at Phoenix Children's Hospital, said pro athletes visit the facility 20 to 25 times each year. She has witnessed countless visits. "For a lot of these kids, their days are very dreary," Pauker said. "People are coming in and out of their rooms poking and prodding. These visitors can give them a sense of hope and inspiration. It temporarily takes them away from being in the hospital." Ardin Tucker confirms that. Her son, Nathan, 10, was rushed to Phoenix Children's after being struck in the head with a golf ball July 9 in Glendale. He suffered a seizure when he arrived at the hospital. Doctors found a blood clot on the brain that had caused paralysis on the right side of Nathan's body. As Nathan began his recovery, hospital staff learned that he was a star Little League pitcher and a fan of the Milwaukee Brewers. It just so happened that Eric Henderson, a Brewers pitching prospect, had been leading teammates on regular visits to Phoenix Children's. Rehabilitation had been difficult for Nathan, especially walking. One day, Henderson and his friends showed up in the intensive care unit and sent word to Nathan's room: We're waiting down the hall. Nathan climbed out of bed. "I don't think he had smiled like that until they came in," Ardin Tucker said. "It really lifted his spirits. He forgot, for a while, that he was injured. "It means a lot to the kids, more than Mom and Dad saying, 'Come on, get up and do it,' " Ardin Tucker said. "It means a lot more when an athlete says that." Nathan has since gone home and enrolled in school. He's in physical therapy and hopes to return to the ballfield next spring. Every few weeks, eight to 12 Brewers farmhands show up at the hospital with Henderson. "They think we're pretty cool because we're professional athletes," said Henderson, a minor leaguer who spent this season rehabbing a rotator cuff injury at the club's Maryvale facility. "These kids are way cooler than we are. Day in and day out they're fighting a battle that is so much more important than what we do every day. We think it's a war to strike out a hitter. But these kids are battling for their lives." Sense of perspective Sometimes it takes only a moment with a hurting child to make an athlete realize how good he has it. The athlete is there to provide inspiration for the child - but it often turns out to be the other way around. Some may have thought they were strong because they can hit a baseball 425 feet or because they can run over a 325-pound defensive tackle. Then they meet a child who is bravely facing a long and frightening series of doctor visits. "I think our players feel like they're the ones who benefit," said Luis Zendejas, the Cardinals' director of community relations. "The kids get an autograph. Big deal. Our players walk away and they're feeling great about being able to help." Diamondbacks outfielder Shawn Green said, "Kids in the hospital lots of time have a better perspective on life than anyone. They're kids, and kids tend to be dreamers, optimistic, and just enjoy all the little things. It's pretty moving when you go there and you see the outlook these kids have, and these are kids with very unfortunate circumstances." Green and his wife, Lindsay, recently made $100,000 donations to the Craniofacial Program at St. Joseph's and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Phoenix Children's. There was a personal reason for the gifts: The Greens' first child, Presley, was hospitalized for two weeks with a chest cold shortly after her birth in December 2002, Green said. Many encounters between athletes and sick kids occur on teams' holiday hospital visits, which have become as much a part of the sports calendar as Opening Day and the playoffs. The routine is familiar: trailed by handlers from the team, the athletes mingle with the young patients, offering hugs and high fives and handing out hats and jerseys. Minicams from local television stations record the event for a 10-second spot on that evening's newscast. When the klieg lights are shut off, the athletes return to their luxury cars and the children to their hospital rooms. Sometimes that's the end of the experience. But often the players are touched in ways they may never have imagined. "We have the world by its tail; we have everything," said Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, whose First Things First Foundation sponsors hospital visits. "But when you see someone that age that has to struggle with what they struggle with, and they struggle on a daily basis, it's an inspiration to me." Visit guidelines Pauker of Phoenix Children's said the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League has been the most active local team, with weekly visits during the season. It's not uncommon to see several hulking Rattlers hanging out in the "teen room," making bead bracelets or singing karaoke with the kids. When athletes come in for a visit, Pauker goes over a few basic rules. They're told not to ask how the child is feeling or when he's getting out of the hospital. "For athletes, we say, 'Have you ever seen me on TV? What sports do you like?' " Pauker said. In rare instances, the athletes have their own ground rules. After Warner signed with the Cardinals last spring, a representative of his foundation called Phoenix Children's to arrange a visit. Pauker wanted to make it happen. But then she was told Warner would insist on bringing Bibles into the children's rooms. At Phoenix Children's, Bibles are allowed in rooms only with patients' consent. "They wanted to come into each room with a Bible," Pauker said. "We have very strong policies because we're a non-denominational hospital. They wouldn't budge with that." Arranging a visit Most of the time, the visits aren't that complicated. Typically, they are arranged by the team's community relations office and a hospital or the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona. Other visits result from informal contact between a parent and the team or athlete. Some of the requests are as urgent as they are heartbreaking. A few weeks ago, Make-A-Wish officials in British Columbia told the Suns that a terminally ill girl there had requested to meet Steve Nash, according to Stephanie Clarke, the Suns' community affairs manager. When it comes to charity, contractual requirements vary according to each sport's collective bargaining agreement. Visits with ailing children aren't specified, but Clarke said players rarely, if ever, say no. Karen Conway, the Diamondbacks' director of community affairs, also said visits with ill children are arranged on a case-by-case basis. "When you tell an athlete it's for a kid in a hospital, most of them are going to say, 'When do you need me there?' " Conway said. The Cardinals have had a long connection with Phoenix Children's Hospital, with players showing up in bunches to hand out toys at the holidays or making one-on-one visits on Tuesdays - their day off during the regular season. "It's not built into your contract that you have to do this or do that, but if you know, deep down in your heart, that you can help someone as a human being, then it shouldn't be too much to give up an hour or two of your day," said Cardinals defensive end Bertrand Berry, a frequent volunteer. "Sometimes we kind of are shielded from what's going on in real life," Berry said. "This really brings you face-to-face with real life. "I think it's a great test of character to the guys who do it. I think they're better off for it, and I know the kids get a lot out of it. It's a win-win for everybody."

The "homework for colbyjack" post: The contract of 2005 RHP Justin Stires, the Brewers' 2005 21st round pick who signed too late this summer to make his pro debut, has been voided. We know nothing of the circumstances. Stires, 21, played at Saddlebrook Community College in California. Not sure at this time if he'll still be eligible as a draft-and-follow later next spring. On another note, however, the Brewers have added two RHP's from their Latin efforts to the Arizona rookie roster, Santo Manzanillo and Guillermo Salinas. We likely won't know anything about these youngsters, including country of origin (the Dominican or Venezuela) until the Brewer media guide is out in late March.

3B / LF Josh Brady, recently turned 25 years old, has signed voluntary retirement papers with the Brewers. He'll continue to appear on the Brewerfan Player Index as Brewer "property" for now, but don't expect to see him competing in 2006. The Texas Tech product was 23 when drafted in the 19th round in 2004, so he needed to impress quickly this spring after his rookie season in Helena in his draft year. Things just didn't work out when jumped to high-A Brevard County to begin 2005, prompting a move down to West Virginia. Josh Brady Career Statistics: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...rady.shtml Brewerfan wishes Josh well down the road...

Pretty good news in that the Brewers and RHP Brett Evert have come to an agreement on a minor league 2006 contract. First signed in May of this year by the Brewers after being released by Seattle, the now-25-year-old Evert appeared in 44 games (three starts) with Brevard County, Huntsville and Nashville, contributing nicely down the stretch in Nashville's championship run. He became a free agent on October 15th, but has since re-signed with the Crew. The long-time Braves farmhand has logged 40-man roster time with both Atlanta and Seattle. Brett Evert Career Stats: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...vert.shtml Brett Evert Career Transaction Analysis from Rotowire: www.rotowire.com/baseball...tm?ID=6923 Not sure if you noticed on that Evert page, but Brewers' Northeast Area scout Tony Blengino (signed or drafted Mark Rogers, Angel Salome, Steve Garrison, Darren Ford, Derek Miller, others) is linked as a Rotowire contributor prior to his employment by the Brewers in the "Double-A Litmus Test" column linked here: www.rotowire.com/baseball...gino_3.htm Anyway, nice job on the Evert signing, one I was hoping for prior to the earlier free agency deadline...

The Brewers have signed 32-year-old 2B/3B Brian Dallimore as a minor league free agent. He has appeared briefly in call-ups with San Francisco the past two seasons. Brian Dallimore Career Stats: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...more.shtml Dallimore's Rotowire transaction history, with commentary: www.rotowire.com/baseball...tm?ID=8241

Baseball America has an AFL chat scheduled for 11:00 AM Central Friday... www.baseballamerica.com/t...intro.html

Wow, talk about a long and winding road -- remember this? June 13, 2000: Milwaukee Brewers: Acquired RHP Matt Parker and C Eliezer Alfonzo from St. Louis as the two players to be named in the Fernando Viña deal. From Rotoworld today as the San Francisco Giants finalize their 40-man roster prior to Rule 5: Giants purchased the contracts of 1B Travis Ishikawa, OF Nate Schierholtz, RHP Kelyn Acosta, LHP Jon Coutlangus, LHP Jesus Reina and C Eliezer Alfonzo. Ishikawa and Schierholtz are two of the Giants' better prospects, and Acosta and Coutlangus throw hard enough that there's a chance someone would have selected them in the Rule 5 draft. Alfonzo's addition is shocking. He's always been able to hit, but he turns 27 in February and he's never been looked at as a prospect. Eliezer Alfonzo career stats: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...onzo.shtml

Certainly a bit Off-Topic (OK, a lot Off-Topic), but posted here in case any of the players reading recognize their "Host Mom": www.foodnetwork.com/food/...39,00.html You'll want to click on Mariela's name (# 4) to view her video. She needs some help with the vote tally... Helena Press Release: Helena Brewers Host Mom and Season ticket holder, Mariela Petroski, has her sights set on having her very own cooking show on Food Network TV. Mariela entered the contest a couple weeks ago by sending in a quick three-minute video to the network for their new show, "The Next Food Network Star". Her video was chosen from thousands entered making her a semi-finalist. Mariela needs your help to make her a finalist! On Food Networks web site you will find the five semi-finalists and their video applications. One of these five women will be chosen to be the final contestant on the show. The show is basically a Survivor style contest in which the last cook standing will be rewarded with a one year contract with the Food Network and their very own show. Please support Mariela and help her represent Helena Montana on National Television with your votes! You can vote once a day, for each day of the voting period. Gee, I always pictured "Host Moms" as being 60-ish, with all their own children long gone from the coop. Guess that's not the case...

Here's a notes article from MLB.com: brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/ml...p;c_id=mil Here are final numbers for the Brewer representatives. Because the stats link lists only current Javelinas, we'll also list the players who left early separately: Corey Hart, Vinny Rottino, Alcides Escobar, Steve Hammond, Brian Wolfe: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;cid=490 Mitch Stetter: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...pid=449777 Prince Fielder: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...pid=425902 Dana Eveland: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...pid=445968 Mass Haas' grades: Hart: A 1.051 OPS, played the corner spots both on the infield and outfield, and get this, didn't complain publicly about his AFL assignment! Escobar: B+ Still not yet 19 years old, a reasonable five errors in 24 games, only struck out once every six at-bats, ran well -- the kid did everything but walk and hit for power, the two things that come easiest with age. Alcides really bailed the Brewers and his squad out with his performance. Way to go, young man! Rottino: B Nine walks pushes the OBP to .400; Vinny didn't catch, but did play in 13 games as a late addition. Wolfe: B A 15-to-1 K/BB ratio in 16.2 IP was nice; reliever ERA's in that sample size mean little, but we'll take Wolfe's 3.24; one thing for sure, he's on the radar, and may be given a shot at closing in Nashville. Hammond: B- The four HR's allowed in 15.1 innings covering four relatively effective starts is a bit troubling. The guy just completed his first professional season in the AFL, not bad, huh? Stetter, Fielder, Eveland -- incomplete, or in some cases, indifferent -- see you boys in Maryvale in February. J.J. Hardy -- hope that foot's OK, and that second-half swing is intact. Hope evryone enjoyed the AFL updates, kind of one big off-season Link Report. Over 16,000 page views -- nice!

You can watch all of Steve Hammond's performance via this video link: mfile.akamai.com/10869/wm...ho_350.wmv

The Javelinas (17-13) host Surprise (16-15) Thursday afternoon, 2:05 PM Central, no audio. This wraps up Peoria's season. The Javelinas will not be in the championship game, having lost the division to Phoenix. Corey Hart is starting at first base, Vinny Rottino third base, and Alcides Escobar shortstop. The updating box score / game log is here: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...n_perwin_1 Go to the AFL site home page to make use of the Advanced Gameday Feature: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p?sid=l119