Jim Goulart

Yes, please see the two posts starting here from Tuesday's Link Report. Anything I'll be posting this week pertaining to minor league free agency or Rule 5 eligibility has been confirmed by the Brewers, and yes, Arcia's Rule 5 eligible.

Let's not lose sight of the fact that from a baseball development standpoint, Arcia is just 19 years old (yes, actually 20, soon-to-be 21), but he lost all of 2012 (his age 17 season) with his fractured ankle.

Yes, this is exactly what happened. For those with an MiLB.TV subscription, go to the one hour, 37 minute mark for the beginning of the at-bat. Arcia was fooled badly on down-and-away pitches, including the final strike. Arcia responded by throwing down his bat and chucking his helmet, then ambling down the first base line removing his shin protector to prepare for taking the field. Meanwhile, the final pitch was in the dirt and had squirted away from the catcher, but as the Montgomery announcer astutely mentioned, Arcia was having a "pity party" for himself instead of running to first base, and Manager Carlos Subero likely wasn't happy, thus the removal.

It did pain me when Lucroy listed that they haven't won since 2011. Well, the players and the organization put themselves in position to win in 2014, and then they (mostly the players) completely chunked that opportunity. He kind of glossed over that part.

Hey, Helena didn't lose!

New weekly feature page from the Biloxi Sun-Herald

Rare bright spot on this particular day for Devin Williams, who had been so strong as of late --

Biscuits' Rickard walks into record book Rays prospect doesn't swing bat in six plate appearances, scores twice By Kelsie Heneghan / MiLB.com When Joey Rickard left the plate after his first time up on Tuesday night, "Walk it Out" blared on the sound system at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. And after the second, and again after the third. At that point, Biloxi first baseman Taylor Green leaned over and said, "That's three walks." "He was asking me if I had swung the bat yet and I said no," Rickard recalled. "He says, 'That's unbelievable.'" The Rays outfield prospect continued to keep his bat upright as he drew a Southern League-record six walks in the Biscuits' 10-7 win over Biloxi. "I'm usually the guy that doesn't walk a whole lot," Rickard said. "Tonight, the game just called for me to take a pitch and that just led into me taking another one and I just kept getting ahead and shrunk the zone and the balls kept coming and I just kept laying off of them." Rickard took six called strikes without swinging the bat in six plate appearances. The 24-year-old hadn't walked in his previous three games but drew entertaining attention from teammates past and present. "The joke going around was, 'You didn't have to bring a bat today,' [and] 'You didn't have to take BP.' Just little stuff like that that definitely makes it more fun," he said. "I definitely heard it from them and [Rays No. 2 prospect] Daniel Robertson, he had some fun with it over Twitter." Rickard's record-breaking sixth free pass came in a situation in which a walk was an attractive option: with the bases loaded and two outs. With Montgomery ahead, 9-7, in the bottom of the eighth, the University of Arizona product worked his second six-pitch count and picked up his first RBI of the night. "The walk was really in the back of my mind, especially with the bases loaded," he said. "Just the way I was pitched, it started off 3-0, so I was automatically taking. "The stars just lined up tonight. I didn't change any sort of approach. It will never happen again, for sure, and I kind of just got lucky tonight. It was late in the game by then, so odds were that was my last at-bat. I was just happy and very excited. I heard an extra-loud cheer from the dugout because they all knew what was happening. Playing a tight ballgame, so at the time, it was a big at-bat. I was definitely proud and exciting." The Biscuits' leadoff hitter also tied a career high with three stolen bases and scored twice. "Just given what the game was giving me in the situation, in certain times, you be more selective and other times you be more aggressive," he said. "As far as baserunning goes, tonight it called for some aggressive plays and I just tried to take advantage of them." Rickard eclipsed the league record set most recently by Cubs prospect Pin-Chieh Chen, who walked five times for Tennessee in a 13-inning game on May 4. "I'm sure there's a lot more records that I'd rather have, but I'll take it," Rickard said with a laugh. "You don't use the word lucky, but there's really no other term for [being] successful without swinging, and I was just the guy at the plate tonight. It really could've been anybody in that spot." Biscuits starter and Rays No. 19 prospect Ryne Stanek (4-2) got the win, despite allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three in five innings. Brad Schreiber closed it out with a scoreless ninth to earn the save in his Double-A debut.

Final: Montgomery 10, Biloxi 7 Shuckers drop first series since May after 10-7 loss Montgomery takes advantage of 12 Biloxi walks and four errors Biloxi Shuckers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/7/2/2/135431722/cuts/_BRP5011_t1w0zzvy_4twtpp87.jpg Adam Weisenburger launched his second homer of the season on Tuesday night in the 10-7 loss. (Benton Reed Photography) MONTGOMERY, AL - For the first time since a five-game series with the Jackson Generals, May 11-15, the Shuckers dropped a series after falling to the Montgomery Biscuits on Tuesday night, 10-7. Biloxi issued a season-high 12 walks and the defense committed a season-high four errors in the three-run defeat. The Biscuits have outscored Biloxi 31-20 over the first four games of the series. This season, the Shuckers are 12-5 in series play. Johnny Hellweg, (0-1) recovering from Tommy John surgery, made his first start with Biloxi (6-6) since being promoted from Brevard County and allowed a run on three walks and a hit batter in the first, providing Montgomery a 1-0 lead. The 27-year-old allowed five runs - two earned - on two hits, five walks and two strikeouts while needing 63 pitches to work through his 2.1 innings. Derek Eitel made his Biloxi debut, replacing Hellweg in the third and allowed two runs on three hits, a walk and three punch outs in his 1.2 innings of work. The Shuckers pulled ahead briefly, 2-1, in the third with a two-run frame thanks to an RBI triple by Nick Shaw (1x4, RBI, R, 3B) and a run-scoring groundout by Nathan Orf (1x5, RBI, R, 2B), but Biloxi could not hold on to the one-run advantage as Montgomery (7-4) responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Nick Ramirez's (2x3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB) solo home run in the fourth brought Biloxi within two, but the Biscuits would tally on two more runs in their half of the frame to put the Shuckers in a 7-3 hole. Back-to-back walks to Michael Reed (0x3, R, 2 BB) and Ramirez ended Biscuits' starter and former first rounder Ryne Stanek's night, and Adam Weisenburger's (2x4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) two-run home run two outs later brought the Shuckers within 7-6. Montgomery would have another answer in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI double from Jake Bauers. Ramirez was at it again in the seventh with an RBI single to plate Orf, but the Biscuits were right back at it with runs in the seventh and eighth to put the Shuckers in an insurmountable, three-run deficit. Montgomery leadoff hitter Joey Rickard set a Southern League record with six walks in the game. He recorded half of the walks issued and the sixth came on a 3-2 pitch from reliever Manny Barreda in the eighth. Biloxi will try to salvage two games in the series against the Biscuits in game five on Wednesday, the first leg of a 10-game road trip. RHP Jorge Lopez (7-2, 2.64) will take the mound for the Shuckers, who have won the righties last seven starts, including a 6-2 victory over the Biscuits on June 17. Montgomery will counter with RHP Austin Pruitt (4-4, 3.29), who pitched eight shutout innings against Biloxi on June 20. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:50 on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com. VIDEO via WLOX: Some of the game action Biloxi Box Score Since seeing Johnny Hellweg deer-in-the-headlights and shell-shocked in his big league action, Tommy John recovery or not, five walks and two HBP's in 2.1 innings here does not have me excited at all, especially since his Brevard County lines were not pretty, either. I hate typing that because I know how hard Hellweg must have worked to get to this point, but the bad images of those big league moments are etched on my brain. Not sure if anyone ever looked so uncomfortable. Biloxi Game Log Biloxi Top of the 5th Thomas Coyle remains in the game as the second baseman. Defensive switch from second base to third base for Hector Guevara. Nick Shaw strikes out swinging. Nathan Orf grounds out, shortstop Leonardo Reginatto to first baseman Jake Bauers. Tyrone Taylor singles on a sharp ground ball to shortstop Leonardo Reginatto, deflected by third baseman Hector Guevara. Orlando Arcia strikes out swinging, catcher Justin O'Conner to first baseman Jake Bauers. Montgomery Bottom of the 5th Defensive switch from third base to second base for Nathan Orf. Defensive Substitution: Brandon Macias replaces shortstop Orlando Arcia, batting 3rd, playing third base. *** Will be checking out the video later on, perhaps Arcia took out some frustrations and was pulled in a "no one's bigger than the team" kind of thing...

Final: AZL White Sox 6, AZL Brewers 2 Maryvale Box Score Hulking first baseman Tyrone Perry has been so solid (.907 OPS), he doubled and walked twice here; only other Brewer to reach base more than once was second baseman Jonathan Oquendo (single, walk). First day off for SS Gilbert Lara. Maryvale Game Log Scoreless one-inning start by 9th round Oregon HS pick Karsen Lindell, a rough four-run frame for 33rd round UC-Santa Barbara RHP Connor Baits, stellar four innings of work by undrafted Baylor LHP Brad Kuntz, a scoreless pro debut inning by Dixie State RHP Evan Parker. Undrafted Liberty University LHP Shawn Clowers allowed two runs in two innings despite not giving up a hit -- AZL White Sox Top of the 7th Pitching Change: Shawn Clowers replaces Brad Kuntz. Jordan Yallen hit by pitch. Tyler Sullivan walks. Jordan Yallen to 2nd. With Bradley Strong batting, wild pitch by Shawn Clowers, Jordan Yallen to 3rd. Tyler Sullivan to 2nd. Bradley Strong out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Joantgel Segovia. Jordan Yallen scores. Tyler Sullivan to 3rd. With Micker Adolfo batting, wild pitch by Shawn Clowers, Tyler Sullivan scores. Micker Adolfo grounds out, shortstop Daniel Leonardo to first baseman Tyrone Perry. Cody Daily pops out to first baseman Tyrone Perry in foul territory. Still need to get around to detailing the successes of the undrafted Brewers, the sample size grows.

Final: DSL Yankees #2 squad 4, DSL Brewers 1 DSL Brewers Box Score RHP Junior Flores and LHP Boanerges Nova combined to pitch a shutout (save for four unearned runs). E: Valderrey (3, missed catch), Mallen 2 (10, fielding, fielding), Pena, Y (4, throw). PB: Martinez, S (4). DSL Brewers Game Log The Cerveceritos outhit the Yankee kids 8-5. SS Franly Mallen was 3-for-4, all singles. BASERUNNING SB: Morillo, A (4, 2nd base off Yajure/Mateo, A). CS: Pinero 2 (2, 2nd base by Yajure/Mateo, A, 2nd base by Yajure/Mateo, A), Pena, Y (2, 2nd base by Yajure/Mateo, A). PO: Pinero (1st base by Yajure). Those were the first two times CF Marcos Pinero (.490 OBP in 37 AB's in his injury-shortened campaign) was caught stealing in eight attempts.

Final: Memphis 13, Colorado Springs 6 Redbirds Emerge Victorious In See-Saw Battle Memphis Secures Series-Sweep Behind Another Strong Offensive Performance By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/9/6/135437096/cuts/07_07_033sm_pk_2_zpvrqwlr_zklrgzxy.jpg Elian Herrera went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Sox offense in Tuesday night's loss to the Redbirds. (Photo by Paat Kelly) COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox will be happy to see Memphis leave town after Tuesday night's 13-6 series-ending loss to the Redbirds before a crowd of 4,983 fans at Security Service Field. Memphis jumped out to a fast 3-0 lead against Sox starter Hiram Burgos (1-1, 4.87) in the game's very first frame. The right-hander allowed two singles, a double and a walk in the inning as Greg Garcia and Jeremy Hazelbaker each collected RBI knocks. Burgos settled down over the next two innings, keeping Memphis off the board until a two-run fourth regained the lead for the visiting side. The Colorado Springs offense battled back early, scoring four combined runs in their first two trips to the plate against Memphis starter John Gast (5-6, 4.45). Logan Schafer pulled the Sox within two with his RBI double to plate Elian Herrera in the first before Yadiel Rivera's RBI double and Herrera's two-run triple in the home second gave the home squad a 4-3 lead. Though Memphis retook the lead in the fourth with a slim 5-4 advantage, the Sox would not take long to respond as they knotted the game thanks to a Jason Rogers RBI sacrifice fly. The RBI was the infielder's first since rejoining the Sky Sox on Monday night. Burgos and Gast each tossed another scoreless inning in the fifth before the Redbirds took the lead for good. Memphis would finally chase Burgos in the sixth, driving in three runs on three hits and an error. Burgos recorded just one out before being replaced by Rob Wooten in that fateful inning. In his shakiest Sox outing to date, Burgos allowed eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out two. Wooten allowed one run on four hits while striking out two in his 1.2 innings of work before giving way to a scoreless inning of work from Wirfin Obispo in the eighth. The Sox offense showed a little late life with two outs an no one on in the home eighth as Rivera doubled before Bryan Petersen scored the speedy shortstop on an RBI single. The RBI was Petersen's first since May 13th at home against these same Redbirds. Now trailing 9-6 after eight full innings of play, Colorado Springs called on the normally reliable Jaye Chapman to keep the deficit at three. The righty would struggle however as he surrendered four consecutive hits, the last being a two-run triple by left fielder Nick Martini, to give Memphis three runs scored in the ninth. Third baseman Alex Mejia followed with a sacrifice fly to Matt Clark in left, plating Martini with the night's final run. Sam Tuivailala took over with two out in the eighth before finishing off the Sox in the home ninth despite back-to-back hits by Rogers and Clark. Tuivailala earned his 12th save, leading Memphis to a four-game sweep of the Sox with their 13-6 victory. The four through seven hitters in the Redbirds lineup combined to go 13-for-18 with 10 runs scored and eight RBIs. Martini led the way, driving in four Memphis runs on the night. Herrera, Schafer and Rivera collected multi-hit efforts in the see-saw battle with Herrera recording four of the Sox 13 total hits to go along with two RBIs and two runs scored. Colorado Springs will look to put this series behind them as the Oklahoma City Dodgers come into town on Wednesday night for a brand new five-game set. Coming off of his best start of 2015, Drew Gagnon (1-9, 6.39) hopes to get the Sox back in the win column against MLB veteran lefty Eric Stults (NR) and the Dodgers with first pitch set for 7:05 PM MDT (8:05 Central) at Security Service Field. Colorado Springs Box Score 144 AAA at-bats - .403/.449/.535 (.983 OPS), my goodness, Elian Herrera. Counting the disabled list guys, 21 of the 33 guys on this roster will be minor league free agents at season's end, and collectively, they're playing as if they can't wait to get out. Will have to double-check, but believe we read that the last home run hit at home by a Sky Sox player was May 29th! Colorado Springs Game Log

Top prospect Williams struggles in loss to Kane County Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/5b3dfbc27cdb0afc074cef372ea7fabac3531393/c=293-0-2957-1998&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/07/07/Appleton/B9317976856Z.1_20150707233819_000_GVGB9MUJJ.1-0.jpg Dustin DeMuth of the Timber Rattlers runs down Kane County’s Chick Taylor after he was caught between third and home during their game at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Tuesday. (Photo: Wm. Glasheen/Post-Crescent Media) GRAND CHUTE – Devin Williams has a high ceiling and has pitched like a major league prospect this season. Tuesday, though, was one of those dreary days where every pitch seemed to be a battle for the talented 20-year-old right-hander. Williams, the top-rated prospect on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ roster, struggled through one of his worst starts of the season in a 6-1 home loss to Kane County. Williams — a second-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2014 first-year player draft — allowed three runs on four hits, walked three and uncorked three wild pitches in an ineffective three-inning stint. Williams was shaky right from the start. Much of the damage came in a frustration-filled first inning which saw Williams allow all three runs and launch all three wild pitches. “No command whatsoever,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “He looked a little amped up in the first inning. The ball was shooting all over the place. He was up in the zone and he spiked a few. “He was trying to make adjustments. You could see that by the over-exaggeration. There was little control over anything he was throwing.” Williams — ranked by Baseball America as the eighth-best prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization — entered the game with a solid 2.92 earned run average and hadn’t experienced major control problems, with a very good WHIP of 1.11. But he just couldn’t consistently find the strike zone Tuesday. Of Williams’ 75 pitches, only 38 were for strikes. “Up until this game, he had three outings in a row where he went around 90 pitches and went deep into games and was pretty efficient,” said Erickson. “He’s been really good out of the windup. He’s had a little bit of a struggle in the stretch as far as repeating his delivery and being consistent with his control. But today it started in the windup. There was little control there. We’ll get back to work and hopefully in five days, he’ll be a lot better.” The loss snapped a three-game Wisconsin winning streak. The Rattlers (28-55) managed seven hits off four Cougars pitchers, including two apiece by third baseman Sthervin Matos and outfielder Mitch Meyer. But Wisconsin had no extra-base hits and lost a run when it was ruled that Matos left third base too early on what initially appeared to be a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh. Kane County starter Wei-Chieh Huang limited Wisconsin to four hits in five innings to raise his record to 4-1. Huang, a right-hander signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent out of Taiwan, lowered his ERA to an outstanding 1.54. “He knows how to locate,” said Timber Rattlers first baseman Alan Sharkey. “His changeup is like a whiffleball. It drops a good two feet.” The left-handed-hitting Sharkey has been on a hot streak and went 1-for-3, with a pair of walks. He has hit just over .300 in his last 21 games with an impressive on-base percentage of .436. In Monday night’s 5-4 win over Kane County, Sharkey reached base three times and slammed a two-run homer, his second of the year. “I’m just looking for good pitches to hit and trying to drive the ball,” said Sharkey, a 13th round pick out of Coral Springs High School (Fla.). “I’m trying to not swing at the change-up and bad pitches. I’m just going with my approach and going up there with a purpose.” Some team employees wore paper headgear known as “Sharkey Fins” Tuesday as part of a promotional effort tying the first baseman to the Discovery Channel’s highly popular “Shark Week” which is currently airing. Instructions on how to make Sharkey Fins can be found on the Timber Rattlers’ website. “I thought they were hilarious,” said Sharkey. “I was hanging out in the locker room before the game and Tucker Neuhaus comes in and has this fin on his head. The hats were awesome. It’s Shark Week and it’s a lot of fun.”

Cool insights to the Brewers' minor league video system here -- Local college student Kurt Bathelt capitalizes on uniquely local opportunity with Sky Sox By Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette PHOTO GALLERY: At link Kurt Bathelt's first pitch to Troy Tulowitzki flew in about 5 feet outside and bounced short of the plate. The second attempt wasn't much better. Eventually, the nerves subsided and the Pine Creek grad grooved the pitches in that the rehabbing Rockies shortstop needed. There's much more to Bathelt's job, but moments like that batting cage encounter make for a unique perk. "I'm grateful for this every day," Bathelt said. "I grew up here, too, so it just fell right in my backyard perfectly." Bathelt is in charge of collecting video data for the Sky Sox, setting up five cameras for each home game that capture and catalogue each pitch. He also manually tracks location and velocity of each of those pitches as well as keeping tabs on the result of each batted ball. He also serves as a sort of I.T. specialist inside the clubhouse. And on top of that, he throws batting practice. "It's like any job in the minors, you wear a lot of hats while you do it," said the right-handed Bathelt, who became a batting practice pitcher during his sophomore season on the Pine Creek baseball team when a broken left hand left him unable to do much of anything else. "He does a great job for us," Sky Sox manager Rick Sweet said. "Computers are his specialty. Anytime we have a problem with our computers, we go to him. "The bonus for us is that he throws great batting practice." Early in high school Bathelt began taking offseason batting practice with former Sky Sox hitting coach Dave Hajek, a Springs resident. That relationship continued after Bathelt began attending the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where he studies sports management. Hajek recommended Bathelt to the Rockies for the video coordinating position, and Bathelt secured his hiring in an interview with team officials. A similar situation played out when the Brewers took over the Colorado Springs affiliate and Hajek recommended Bathelt to Sweet. "It's a part-time job with full-time hours," Bathelt said. The video Bathelt manages is extensive. The Brewers have used it for all of their minor-league clubs for years, so catalogs of information exist for the Sky Sox players and most of their opponents. Bathelt assists players as they want to study themselves or opponents. Each night he uploads all of the data into massive Milwaukee-based servers that put all of the information available to the organization's brass on demand. "If (Brewers general manager) Doug Melvin is traveling and in the morning he wakes up and wants to see (Matt) Clark's at-bats from yesterday, he can open up his iPad and see all of them, and see them from three different camera angles," Bathelt said. "He can do that all the way down to Single-A, watch all the top prospects without leaving home." Bathelt's program at UCCS requires two internships. For those he logged time at USA Cycling and USA Hockey - taking advantage of more local options as he has built a varied résumé. The Sky Sox position that he's held for three seasons, however, has left him with a career goal in mind. "Baseball is a science, and it's kind of cool to be part of that a little bit," Bathelt said. "For lack of a better term, I'm just a data collector. We'll compile as much info as we can on our own guys and the other guys and we'll formulate and try to make something out of it. "I love being able to have a part in developing a guy to go to the big leagues." And when those big leaguers return on a rehab assignment, he'll help them get back. Just as soon as he corrals those nerves.

Papillion-La Vista's Sean Chandler says no to pros, will play for Huskers By Jon Nyatawa / Omaha World-Herald Bureau http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/omaha.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/13/a13730c8-6620-5dcc-b017-d9129f94e379/559c6572b5652.image.jpg?resize=1024%2C661 Photo by MEGAN FARMER/THE WORLD-HERALD LINCOLN — Papillion-La Vista pitcher Sean Chandler told The World-Herald on Tuesday morning that he plans to attend Nebraska, choosing to put a professional career on hold after he was drafted in the 32nd round last month. Chandler, the 961st overall pick in the MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, spent the past few weeks weighing his options. “Just a lot of thinking, going over every scenario,” the 6-foot-5 right-hander said. “And I made the decision to go to Lincoln.” Chandler was an All-Class A performer this season, throwing a no-hitter in May against eventual state champion Omaha Westside. He had originally pledged to Iowa Western, but the Husker staff reached out last summer. The NU coaches saw him pitch in a game this spring and offered right away, Chandler said. Now he’s set to arrive on campus Sunday. “It’s pretty exciting,” Chandler said. Draft picks have until July 17 to sign a professional contract.

Helena's road game washed out Helena Independent Record A pair of heavy bursts of afternoon rain wiped out the series opener between the Helena Brewers and the Grand Junction Rockies on Tuesday. The four-game series will now start at 7:00 PM (8:00 Central) Wednesday in Colorado. The teams will make up Tuesday's contest as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, beginning at 5:00 PM (6:00 Central). The twin bill will consist of two seven-inning games, with the second contest starting 30 minutes after the completion of the first. The series will then conclude on Friday, when the Brewers (7-10) will head to South Division-leading Orem (13-6) for a three-game series that will finish their 11-game road swing. Helena will play again at home next Wednesday, taking on the Rockies (10-9) at Kindrick Legion Field.

Sneak preview -- among the names, these guys are all first-time eligibles (alphabetical order): Orlando Arcia Jorge Lopez Michael Reed Victor Roache Of course, many others we'll be able to debate later this week. Teaser!

Time flies... So I'm preparing two of our favorite yearly threads for posting later this week -- which farmhands will be eligible for minor league free agency this fall, and which ones are eligible to be protected from December's Rule 5 draft. Regarding the minor league free agents, one name stuck out. 2009 2nd round catcher Cameron Garfield, in the midst of his third full season with Brevard County, is in his 7th pro season and will be a minor league free agent this fall at the age of 24 years, five months (barring a re-sign with the Brewers, which we've certainly seen over the years). Bringing that up not because Garfield would be a huge loss given his track record, but just can't remember seeing another free agent so young.

Kudos for official organizational honors for Player and Pitcher of the Month go to Wisconsin OF Brandon Diaz and Biloxi RHP Jorge Lopez (links lead to @BrewersPD tweets). Congrats, gents!

AUDIO via Bill Michaels Show: Wow, Jonathan needs a hug. Brutally honest on the state of the organization, everything from recent draft picks to small-market musings. Doesn't sound like a guy who's going to jump on a contract extension without signs of progress.

Via @BrewersPD, we learn: RHP Derek Eitel has been added to Biloxi active roster. LHP Trevor Seidenberger transferred to Brevard County (from Biloxi). Robinzon Diaz to the DL in Col Springs. So each roster is back to the 25-man limit, as Brevard had an open a lot.

RHP David Goforth back to Colorado Springs as Khris Davis returns to Milwaukee. When Goforth officially arrives with the club, the Sky Sox will need to free up a roster spot.

The Timber Rattlers tandem system early in the season barely allows for the middle relievers not in tandems to get any work (think Josh Uhen, now hurt, and Gian Rizzo, Luke Curtis, Tyler Linehan). But then once you break up the tandems, it's not like you have a bunch of seven-inning pitchers all of a sudden. Those same guys who didn't have enough work early are really being called on often as of late.

Would not surprise at all if RHP Greg Holle (released March 30th) finds his way back to affiliated ball soon performing like this.

Southern notes: Reed follows his own route Brewers outfielder breaking out with Biloxi after bypassing Ole Miss By Guy Curtright / Special to MiLB.com http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/5/6/135052256/cuts/Reed_960_3vlmcpk8_lm31uzmk.jpg Michael Reed has five homers and 40 RBIs in 72 games for the Double-A Shuckers. (Kevin Pataky/MiLB.com) Michael Reed didn't follow his father's athletic path or end up at his dad's college. The Milwaukee Brewers are thankful for both. *** Also included (in full) in our season-long Shuckers feature article archive thread...