Jim Goulart

Brief VIDEO via Fox11 in Appleton: David Stearns

The reason McCalvy follows this guy is because he was the first to link Neftali Feliz to the Brewers at this time last year.

Here was the HighHeat19 link from last year -- Board reputation staking post. Source? Friend who "works" at MP.

Craig Mish is a Sirius/XM host who has Marlins' contacts, his was the name you saw most often during the Giancarlo Stanton saga. The tweet referred to above is here. Although Fox Sports Florida was "responsible" for the decision to terminate popular Rich Waltz in November after his 13 years in Miami, the move had Derek Jeter fingerprints. Fish Stripes is thankful for Marlins legend Rich Waltz *** Scroll to bottom of link for this text -- Fox Sports Florida is auditioning candidates to replace ousted Marlins play-by-play man Rich Waltz, and Sirius XM’s Craig Mish said the finalists are Mets announcer and UM grad Scott Braun, MLB Network host/play-by-play man Paul Severino, Milwaukee Brewers radio announcer Jeff Levering and Anaheim Angels announcer Jose Mota.　　 Todd Hollandsworth will return as the team’s television analyst. Newly added name Craig Minervini has been a Marlins studio analyst. Pat Hughes, Jim Powell, Corey Provus, Joe Block -- Jeff Levering? Big fan of Jeff, one would think he'd be a natural choice to take over full-time once Uecker retires, but the lead TV gig anywhere is a big deal.

The Brewers' recent signing of RHP Ernesto Frieri wasn't based on his 2017 Mexican Winter League season, where Frieri was raked for an 11.17 ERA over 12 appearances. Stats at the linked name.

Sunday's Brewers farmhand birthday is a 25th for RHP Wuilder Rodriguez, who appeared in eight Venezuela Winter League games back in October and November. Rodriguez, who got a late start to his pro career as a 22-year-old three years older than the competition in his native Dominican Summer League in 2015, jumped over Wisconsin to begin 2017 and posted ridiculous numbers for the Mudcats (1.63 ERA with only 36 hits allowed in 60.2 IP, 23 BB, 65 K's). Rodriguez was crushed in three Biloxi appearances, and even made a spot three-inning start for Colorado Springs, but there is still something there to follow.

Saturday's action: Venezuela Box -- In Game One of the Venezuelan League Championship Series, Junior Guerra received a no-decision in his club's 4-2 loss. His line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB (one intentional), 0 K, 80 pitches (48 strikes), GB:FB 10:3, bullpen helped, stranding two runners in the 6th Caribes Top of the 1st Rafael Ortega lines out to center fielder Elvis Escobar. Niuman Romero grounds out, second baseman Ildemaro Vargas to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Rene Reyes grounds out, second baseman Ildemaro Vargas to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Caribes Top of the 2nd Balbino Fuenmayor flies out to center fielder Elvis Escobar. Luis Jimenez grounds out, third baseman Carlos Rivero to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Tomas Telis lines out to center fielder Elvis Escobar. Caribes Top of the 3rd Willians Astudillo grounds out, shortstop Juniel Querecuto to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Alexi Amarista lines out to second baseman Ildemaro Vargas. Luis Sardinas triples (1) on a line drive to center fielder Elvis Escobar. Rafael Ortega singles on a ground ball to right fielder Henry Urrutia. Luis Sardinas scores. Niuman Romero grounds out softly, pitcher Junior Guerra to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Caribes Top of the 4th Rene Reyes grounds out sharply to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Balbino Fuenmayor lines out sharply to second baseman Ildemaro Vargas. Luis Jimenez flies out to center fielder Elvis Escobar. Caribes Top of the 5th Caribes challenged (play at 1st), call on the field was upheld: Tomas Telis bunt grounds out, third baseman Carlos Rivero to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Willians Astudillo singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Romero. Alexi Amarista grounds out to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Willians Astudillo to 2nd. Luis Sardinas grounds out, second baseman Ildemaro Vargas to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Caribes Top of the 6th Rafael Ortega walks. Niuman Romero out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Junior Guerra to first baseman Rangel Ravelo. Rafael Ortega to 2nd. Junior Guerra intentionally walks Rene Reyes. Balbino Fuenmayor singles on a fly ball to center fielder Elvis Escobar. Rafael Ortega to 3rd. Rene Reyes to 2nd. Luis Jimenez out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Elvis Escobar. Rafael Ortega scores. Pitching Change: Alejandro Soto replaces Junior Guerra. Tomas Telis grounds into a force out, shortstop Juniel Querecuto to second baseman Ildemaro Vargas. Balbino Fuenmayor out at 2nd. *** Dominican Box -- Jonathan Villar, playing shortstop, 0-for-3, BB, K; Christian Bethancourt 0-for-2, BB, threw out both baserunners trying to steal in a 2-0 victory *** NOTE from the Puerto Rico League -- Back on the 13th, in his only appearance to date, soon-to-be 20-year-old LHP Jose Alberro pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two and walking two. Those numbers mirror Alberro's 2017 season pitching for the shared Brewers/Indians Dominican Summer League team, where the 2nd year pro posted a fine 2.89 ERA over 37.1 innings in 19 relief appearances. But Alberro maintained that ERA despite walking 40 and throwing 16 wild pitches in those 37.1 frames (44 K's). Also remarkably, the Puerto Rico native only plunked one batter.

Fantastic work via @BrewersFarm via this link

The only action from Friday was in Australia with a doubleheader (actually, their Saturday). Game One Box Score - Alex Hall and Jesse Williams each on twice more Game Two Box Score - Hall gets a "rest" game as the designated hitter, and draws a walk, but otherwise a quiet game for the two youngsters Ironically, Perth lost Game One and won Game Two (no-hit bid broken up in the 7th), given the results of the Brewers' dynamic duo listed above. If you'd like to review the game logs available at the box score links, particularly from Game One, you can try to match up the video to search for the base knocks of note.

AUDIO via Brewers.com Thurs. 1/19: "When can fans expect to see Jimmy Nelson back on the mound for the Brewers? MLB.com's Matt Waymire and MLB.com executive correspondent Richard Justice discuss Nelson's rehab from shoulder surgery and break down who could be in the Opening Day rotation."

VIDEO via the MLBPA's "Infield Chatter" - Aaron Wilkerson's story

Victor Roache to the independent Can-Am League (Quebec)

From our earlier post on the players released in December: Congrats and good luck to Nunn, who signed with the Lake Erie Crushers (Avon, OH) of the independent American Association this week.

AUDIO via WTMJ's "Sports Central" Tue. 1/16: Tom Haudricourt

More VIDEO via WLOX The original "Voice of the Shuckers" Chris Harris says goodbye

Thursday's action: Puerto Rico Box -- 1B Jay Feliciano 0-for-4, K, fielding error *** Dominican Box -- Jonathan Villar, playing second base, 1-for-4, R, K Catcher Christian Bethancourt 1-for-4, one SB against while behind the plate in the 6-2 loss. *** Australia Box -- Despite a 7-3 loss, catcher Alex Hall had a super effort, 3-for-3 with a walk, a triple shy of a cycle, two RBI. The 18-year-old's 6th HR has his OPS up to .863 (29 games). Teammate second baseman Jesse Williams (.839 OPS) was 1-for-4, K. *** Australia Box (Friday) -- As of this post time, Perth leads 8-3 in the 6th, Alex Hall 0-for-3 with an RBI, K thus far, Jesse Williams idle The game is streaming live and will archive --

Wednesday's action: Puerto Rico Box -- Jay Feliciano, playing first base, 1-for-3, two K's; Feliciano has seen action at first base 17 times in his 103 rookie league games. *** Dominican Box -- Jonathan Villar, seeing time at both middle infield spots in this one, 3-for-5, a double, two RBI, but his 5th caught stealing and 6th error, each just within the postseason round-robin. In the same game, teammate catcher Christian Bethancourt was 1-for-3, BB, RBI, K, error on a pickoff attempt, his 5th of the postseason.

VIDEO via WXXV: Chris on fondest Biloxi memories

AUDIO via the Drew Olson Show Thurs. 1/19 (You will need to create a free iHeart Radio account to listen): Tom Haudricourt (go to the 70:00 minute mark) *** AUDIO via WSSP 105.7 FM's "Big Show" Thurs. 1/18: "Phil Rogers of MLB.com tells the boys why free agency has been so strange this offseason. Also why the Brewers should be even more worried about the Cubs this season." *** AUDIO via WTMJ's "Brewers Weekly" Thurs. 1/18: "Greg Matzek is in for Matt Pauley and he discusses the Brewers latest moves, dives into the MLB Free Agency stalemate, talks with radio voice Jeff Levering and more! The Levering interview can be heard as a stand-alone here. *** Hat-tip to @BrewerNation for this Eric Thames video via the MLBPA's "Infield Chatter'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB__vVy_6BQ

January 6th note -- Less than two weeks later, Sermo gets scooped up by the Royals organization, good for him. *** RHP Aaron Myers, 24, who the Brewers traded to the Orioles last July for international signing pool money (believed to be $250,000), was released by Baltimore this week. Myers, who the Brewers had inked as an undrafted player after the 2015 draft, made nine relief appearances for the Orioles A-Ball team after the trade. *** Catcher Shawn Zarraga (Brewers organization 2008 - 2014) has signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers, the only affiliated team he's suited up for in a game since leaving the Brewers in a trade involving three minor league players that didn't prove very fruitful on either end. Zarraga, about to turn 29, was in Reds' camp last spring training but was released, and had to go the indy ball route, before the Dodgers brought him back in July. Now they bring him back again.

Corbin Burnes article via Adam McCalvy

AUDIO via MLB Network Radio Wed. 1/17: Small snippet of Zach Davies' appearance (Full Sirius/XM subscribers can locate the full interview via the app.)

Enjoy those back fields in March!

Jim Henderson preparing for one more go at it