Jim Goulart

Wow, once they got to the 11th inning, the teams began each half-inning with runners on 1st and 2nd, check it out. Even with that head start, Sydney couldn't score but Perth did, and both these teams are now 11-17 and won't qualify for the postseason. Click on the link for final numbers on the two Brewers -- Sydney Top of the 11th Aaron Sookee starts inning at 2nd base. Guy Edmonds starts inning at 1st base. Pitching Change: Jake Bowey replaces Cameron Lamb. With Joshua Strong batting, throwing error by Jake Bowey on the pickoff attempt, Aaron Sookee to 3rd. Guy Edmonds to 2nd. Joshua Strong grounds out, second baseman Luke Hughes to first baseman John Riley. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Michael Campbell replaces Harry Fullerton. Michael Campbell reaches on a fielder's choice out, second baseman Luke Hughes to catcher Matt Dixon. Aaron Sookee out at home. Guy Edmonds to 3rd. Trent D'Antonio strikes out swinging, catcher Matt Dixon to first baseman John Riley. Perth Bottom of the 11th Defensive Substitution: Ryo Nishimura replaces Michael Campbell, batting 9th, playing second base. Josh Diggins starts inning at 2nd base. Joey Wong starts inning at 1st base. Derek Peterson hits a sacrifice bunt. Missed catch error by second baseman Ryo Nishimura, assist to third baseman Tucker Neuhaus. Josh Diggins to 3rd. Joey Wong to 2nd. Derek Peterson to 1st. Luke Hughes reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by third baseman Tucker Neuhaus. Josh Diggins scores. Joey Wong to 3rd. Derek Peterson to 2nd.

Saturday's games -- Puerto Rico box: Team Santurce (catcher Rene Garcia, young outfielder Jay Feliciano) swamped Team Carolina (SS Ivan DeJesus, Jr.) by a 10-2 score, to grab a 2-1 series lead in the best of seven. However, it was actually DeJesus who had the big game, on base three times and productive. Click the box for details on all three. *** Puerto Rico box: In the other league semifinal series, SS Yadiel Rivera was 1-for-4 (double) in a 5-4 loss. His Mayaguez team now leads its series, but only by two games to one. *** Venezuelan box: A 16-inning game featuring 22 pitchers that took over seven hours to play? Sure! SS Gabriel Noriega's team leads the league semifinal series three games to two after a 2-1 walkoff win. Noriega was 1-for-6, caught stealing, error, three K's. *** Venezuela box: It was a poor outing for RHP Junior Rincon, his team now trails three games to two in the other league semifinal. Rincon retired only one of the four men he faced in a 13-2 loss. Caribes Top of the 7th Pitching Change: Junior Rincon replaces Javier Palacios. Luis Jimenez grounds out, second baseman Heiker Meneses to first baseman Jose Castillo. Mario Lisson hit by pitch. Oswaldo Arcia walks. Mario Lisson to 2nd. Ehire Adrianza doubles (3) on a line drive to left fielder Danry Vasquez. Mario Lisson scores. Oswaldo Arcia to 3rd. Pitching Change: Mauricio Robles replaces Junior Rincon. The bullpen then allowed those inherited runners to score, three runs allowed in all. *** Australia box: As of this post, they are in the 11th inning in a 6-6 game. For Sydney, CF Malik Collymore has been on base three times thus far, 3B Tucker Neuhaus has a double in five at-bats. Final details later today, though you'll likely know before the updated post if you click the link.

Disciples of Uecker: Catchers First Baseman

Just a matter of time before the Brewers have their first farmhand born in the 21st century. The new youngest player in the organization is RHP Ricardo Velasquez, a Venezuelan assigned to the Dominican Summer League roster. Velasquez is 17 years old, was born in August of 1999. There are five other 17-year-olds in the system, each will be 18 by April. Each saw action in the DSL last summer. Other than his age and place of birth, we only know that Velasquez is listed at 6'2", 175.

Rogers cleared waivers, and was outrighted by Pittsburgh to AAA. I may be mistaken, but because Rogers has seven pro years, he should have the right to refuse the outright and become a free agent. That should take a week or so to be worked out.

Sydney loses again, 10-8, lost an early 5-0 lead, yikes. Neuhaus, playing third base, on base four times, 3-for-4, BB, two RBI. Collymorewas 1-for-4, R, RBI, one K, outfield assist.

Making his claim pointless and possibly costing a player in the Rule 5. Just didn't make sense from the start. Geltz ended up signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers.

Well, I'm preparing for blizzard wind conditions and 18 inches of snow today, so might as well report on games from the Caribbean... Friday's games -- Dominican box: Jonathan Villar's team is now 8-1 in the round-robin postseason after a 2-1 win. Villar, playing shortstop, was 0-for-3, BB, two K *** Venenzuela box: Speaking of shortstops - well, emergency shortstops, anyway - that's where Hernan Perez played, and he committed fielding errors on two of the first three ground balls sent his way. At the plate, Perez was 1-for-4 in a 5-1 loss. His Aragua team was swept four games to none in this best-of-seven, so Perez' winter season appears to be over. *** Venezuela box: In a best-of-seven series now tied at two games apiece, Manny Pina was 2-for-4, double, run, three RBI, in a 9-2 win. On the other side of the box, SS Gabriel Noriega was 1-for-2 (HBP, one K). *** As of this early Sat. AM post, the Australia League game featuring Malik Collymore and Tucker Neuhaus is already underway, and each player is off to a quick start in the early innings. Final details later on today...check in on the box/log here.

This tweet's for you, Briggs. New client @SeanHalton11 has agreed to terms with an American League team. Stay tuned for details. #Brewers #FreeAgency #JMG Turns out to be the Tigers, congrats again.

VIDEO: Fantasy perspective on Keon Broxton

Haven't listened to this one quite yet, but will on the way home this evening - Aussie catcher Dave Nilsson

AUDIO via the "Hall of Very Good" podcast: A worthwhile 40 minutes for Rob Deer fans

Brutal walkoff 8-7 loss for a Sydney team that nearly has to win out to qualify for the postseason. Malik Collymore was 1-for-4, BB, R, his 10th SB in 14 attempts, and a 9th inning fielding error that allowed runners to move up a base, complicating things in the fateful inning. Tucker Neuhaus, still spending all his recent time at third base after a long second base stint earlier, was 0-for-5, one K.

It looks like when BrewCrewBall re-tweeted Toby's link to the above, they each un-followed. By the way, the list of 154 people/players the Brewers' account follows is certainly an eclectic mix of past and present big leaguers and farmhands.

Thursday's games -- By the way, looks like Wily Peralta will get work in starting next Wednesday in the Dominican - tweet Dominican box: Jonathan Villar's team scores five in the 8th to win 5-2. Villar was on base twice, 1-for-3, BB, R, K, SB (5th SB in eight postseason games) *** Mexico box: David Goforth is finding Mexico to his liking! He picked up the relief win here with two scoreless, and has now retired all but one of the 12 men he's faced in two outings since his arrival -- he limited the damage in a really tough spot: Hermosillo Bottom of the 6th Pitching Change: Victor Marte replaces Juan Ramon Noriega. Mario Ivan Santana walks. Jorge Flores walks. Mario Ivan Santana to 2nd. Pitching Change: David Goforth replaces Victor Marte. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Jasson Atondo replaces Mario Ivan Santana. Jason Bourgeois out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Issmael Salas to second baseman Jose Manuel Rodriguez. Jasson Atondo to 3rd. Jorge Flores to 2nd. Carlos Alberto Gastelum grounds out, shortstop Ramiro Pena to first baseman Joey Meneses. Jasson Atondo scores. Jorge Flores to 3rd. Efren Navarro grounds out, first baseman Joey Meneses to pitcher David Goforth. Hermosillo Bottom of the 7th O'Koyea Dickson strikes out swinging. Dustin Martin doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Jose Manuel Orozco. Jose Amador grounds out, shortstop Ramiro Pena to first baseman Joey Meneses. Dustin Martin to 3rd. Tim Torres strikes out swinging. *** Venezuela box: Holy pace of play! Nine inning game - five hours, 16 minutes. Rincon was one of 22 (!) pitchers to see action. He retired the only man he faced, on a groundout, stranding two runners. Wild 9th inning ending here (game log), with Manager Ozzie Guillen ejected. *** Venezuela box: Third baseman Hernan Perez 1-for-4 (BB, one K) in his team's 9-2 loss. Perez did steal two bases, he's 9-for-10 in that category in 43 winter games. *** Venezuela box: catcher Manny Pina 0-for-3, RBI, pinch-hit for in the 9th of a wild 9-8 loss. For the victors, SS Gabriel Noriega had a fine game: 2-for-4, HBP, double, two R, three RBI, one K. *** Australia box (in progress as of this post): Shaping up as a wild one, full recap on Collymore / Neuhaus later this AM

Via the Minor League Forum: AUDIO via BackDoor Sports in Baltimore: 2014 4th round OF Troy Stokes - as I noted on Twitter, the soon-to-be 21-year-old has a more than solid .751 OPS in his 1st three pro ball seasons, successful on 65 of 78 SB attempts, too The 16:00 minute interview kicks off the podcast.

AUDIO via BackDoor Sports in Baltimore: 2014 4th round OF Troy Stokes - as I noted on Twitter, the soon-to-be 21-year-old has a more than solid .751 OPS in his 1st three pro ball seasons, successful on 65 of 78 SB attempts, too The 16:00 minute interview kicks off the podcast.

FANGRAPHS: Let's Talk About That Eric Thames Projection Heck, may make us feel even more confident...

Wow, didn't realize RHP Jim Miller had such a flawless independent ball stint in 2016 after his Colorado Springs release - as noted in the post just above, has signed with the Twins. EDIT: Link fixed from earlier post...

Collymore 0-for-3, BB, K, and Neuhaus 1-for-4, RBI, two K's Actually, this is the only league where the player stat pages are still being updated (still late in the regular season).

The "Thursday" game in Australia is underway as of this post (6:00 AM Central). The box score is here. An early walk for Malik Collymore, and early RBI for Tucker Neuhaus. Summary details later today...

Wednesday's games -- Dominican box: Jonathan Villar is hitting .357 in seven postseason round-robin games, a big reason his club is 6-1. Here Villar was 3-for-5 (double, R, RBI) in a 6-1 win. Villar made a rare winter appearance at shortstop in this game, and did commit a throwing error. He's been playing near exclusively at second base. *** Puerto Rico box: Piggybacking off his fellow starter Jorge Lopez' success, RHP Hiram Burgos gave Mayaguez a fantastic start to help give his team a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. Burgos' line: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K, GB:FB 5:3 Let's combine Burgos' regular season winter numbers with this start: 11 games (all starts), 54.1 IP, 41 H, 12 R, 1.99 ERA, 2 HR, 9 BB, 46 K, 0.96 WHIP Sweet. You can see the details of Burgos' outing in the game log here. SS Yadiel Rivera was 1-for-4 (double, R, RBI, one K) for Mayaguez. *** Puerto Rico box: SS Ivan De Jesus, Jr. was 1-for-5 with a run scored in a 6-3 loss that saw his team's series even at one game apiece. For the winning squad, catcher Rene Garcia was 0-for-1 before something happened -- Ejections: Cangrejeros de Santurce right fielder Juan Silva ejected by HP umpire Carlos Rey (3rd); Gigantes de Carolina pitcher Mario Santiago ejected by HP umpire Carlos Rey (3rd); Gigantes de Carolina catcher Rene Garcia ejected by HP umpire Carlos Rey (3rd)Cangrejeros de Santurce second baseman Robert Andino ejected by HP umpire Carlos Rey (4th); Cangrejeros de Santurce catcher Roberto Pena ejected by HP umpire Carlos Rey (9th) Here's the report we can find (translated): The action heated early on the diamond in the third inning when three players were ejected after a home run by Crayfishers Juan Silva. Before the shipments of the right Mario Santiago, Silva hit the long shot and remained standing in the box of batters looking at the ball. The receiver of the Giants, René Garcia, did not like Silva's action and immediately rebuked him. And Santiago also reacted angrily and threw the glove when Silva stepped on the first base. Then both banks emptied without major consequences. The officials of the game expelled Silva, Santiago and Garcia from the game. With Silva's strike, Santurce took a 3-2 lead as part of a three-innings boule in the inning. The game was stopped for a few minutes and something unusual happened in the 'dugout' of the Giants (Garcia's team), when two players of the Giants got entangled to fight. They were separated by their teammates. It was not possible to identify the players. A fourth ejection in the night came in the fourth inning when Cangreese third baseman Robert Andino appeared to claim official Carlos Rey after a punch. Rey also expelled Robert Peña (Santurce) in the ninth inning after a punch. Just a guess, but since "Rey" is the umpire, this translated punchout (K) as "punch".

Adam McCalvy has organizational quotes on Jorge Lopez lowering Lopez's WHIP after nine starts to a league-best 0.87 and his ERA to 1.56, which ranks second in the circuit Just a reminder, and this goes for all the rest of the box score player links this winter across all the leagues, is that player pages will only reflect stats now frozen through the various regular seasons. Tuesday's postseason start (5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K) actually drops Lopez' ERA through ten starts and 39.2 IP to 1.36 and his WHIP to 0.81. Future stat updates for any player will require doing some calculations to combine regular season and postseason numbers.

Diverse yet familiar crew they are putting together -- a generational hire in Pete Vuckovich, Jr. LinkedIn provides some career background.

Just a placeholder in case we see this Venezuelan name down the road -- Brewers workout today, other teams have worked him out as well. *** Several pictures on this page.