Brian the Automator

I'd say that's a pretty fair statement.

5218 unique visitors yesterday was a new record. Sorry for the downtime... 315,609 hits yesterday really brutalized the server. Using the information provided by my host on what went wrong, I can make a few performance tweaks, but I may have to move the site to a dedicated server... This is bound to get worse, not better, if I don't.

Great job, you two.

[ I wonder how much luck Bill is having finding stuff on this guy. I can't find anything. ] Google '"Steve Garrison" baseball'

Did Tommy pass out?

[ Did we seriously just draft a LHP from the "Hun School"? What do they teach there -- pilliaging? ] People at work are wondering why i'm laughing so hard.

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What's the plural of Weeks? We have two Weekses? Wikes?

Weeks!!

Where's Westconsin?

There's another thread for rounds 5-9.

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I agree that they should take that 2nd round money and get Teargarden.

To continue using the chat room, download an IRC client such as VIRC. The server is irc.ircstorm.net ... channel is #brewerfan

At least the chat room and forum are alive and well.

Actually, the first round kind of crawls along.... I don't think we'll know until about 12:15PM CT.... Seems like they take about 3 mins a pick during the first round..... Of course, the best part of draft day is undoubtedly Tommy Lasorda.

I flipped on 1250 AM WSSP this morning on the way to work, and I immediately heard Jim Callis talking about draft coverage. I was pretty excited, as I always listening to Callis talk about the draft... but he wasn't talking about BA's draft coverage, he was talking about BREWERFAN's draft coverage. I just about got into a car accident. Then a lovefest ensued between Callis and Steve (Sparky) Pfeiffer about the site... It was really pretty incredible. We've been pimped by both of them before, but they were really raving about the draft coverage, the p50, and the site FAQ (Callis was using us to read up on the details of the Super-2). Well, if either of you guys are reading, you really made my morning. And thanks specifically to Patrick for making the draft coverage the phenomenon that it is. He specifically singled out your scouting reports as being top notch.

I'm very excited that there isn't much in the way of High School pitching at the Brewers slot.

Round 2: No Pick The Brewers do not have a pick during this round because Damian Miller was a Type B free agent. http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/sports/brew/img/nov04/miller1130.jpg

Round 3: Will Inman - RHP 6'1", 210 lbs - Tunstall High School - Dry Fork, VA http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/914/223501.jpg NOTES & INFO: - He was named the Virginia Group AA Player of the Year in 2004. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From MLB.com, 06-07-2005: Zduriencik was surprised by a report in Baseball America that said many teams shied away from Inman when his velocity dropped in Virginia's Commonwealth Games last summer. ... He is the state's career strikeouts leader and has a college commitment to Auburn. ... "I know that our guys were in there and saw him a lot," Zduriencik said. "We saw every outing for the last five weeks and we're impressed with the young man." From the Roanoke Times & World News, 10-28-2004: Will Inman, who pitched and hit Tunstall to a 4-0 victory over Cave Spring in the Group AA baseball final, has made an oral commitment to Auburn. Inman, a right-hander, pitched a one-hitter and hit a three-run home run in the championship game. From the Roanoke Times & World News, 06-13-2004: Anybody who saw Cave Spring batter baseballs this year could tell you somebody would need a mighty arm to shut down that lineup. Tunstall's Will Inman has such an arm. A junior right-hander, Inman blanked the Knights with a one-hitter, striking out 12 and walking none as the Trojans prevailed 4-0 to win their third Group AA championship, the first since 1994. Inman further adorned his growing reputation by cranking a three-run, fifth-inning home run that ended up putting the Knights away. Inman used more time than a senior citizen taking exercise at the mall to circle the bases at Dedmon Center Park at Radford University after the bash, cupping his ears coming down the third-base line to catch the greetings of his adoring admirers. "That's not the usual home run trot for me; I'm usually jumping around and yelling," he said. "But that time I just wanted to savor the moment." That brand of flamboyance probably was not well-received in the Knights dugout, or so an inside pitch from Kreg Savoie to the next batter, Jacob Thompson, suggested. That brought an immediate warning from the home-plate umpire, which put an end to any further unpleasantness. The damage had been done. Savoie, showing an remarkably resilient left arm - not to mention a giant heart - was back on the mound to save the Knights' season one more time. Since June 5, Savoie had pitched in four games, winning three, including a complete game Tuesday in the state quarterfinals. On Friday, he went 5 2 / 3 relief innings in a 12-4 victory over Sherando. Saturday, he worked 3 2 / 3 more, giving him 20 innings in a week. Against Tunstall (26-3), Savoie came in with one out in the third in relief of starter Barrett Henderson. The plan had been for Henderson to go through the Tunstall lineup once then to bring in Savoie, Knights coach Randy Boone said. "Kreg told me today that his arm felt better than it did yesterday," Boone said. "If a senior tells me he wants the ball in a situation like that, I'm giving it to him." Savoie benefited from a double play that involved runner's interference to end the third. After that, he scattered six hits, striking out five and walking none. Four hits came in the fateful fifth. "I was feeling all right starting out, probably from the excitement and everything," Savoie said. "But as the game went on, I was really starting to get tired. The home run was not because I was tired, though. It was because I left one up. There's nothing you can do about that." It was a 3-2 pitch that Inman hit. Tyler Mills, at the bottom of the order, had started a two-out rally that continued with hits by Brent Weaver, Chris Dixon and Inman. "I don't know what it is, but the fifth inning has been big for us all through the postseason," said coach Barry Shelton, who played on Tunstall's 1976 champions. "That's when we rallied against William Byrd [a 3-1 victory] on Tuesday. With a great team like Cave Spring and pitching like that, we were worried about scoring one run." Inman faced 22 batters, one over the minimum. Robert Mills broke up the no-hitter with two outs in the fourth. "He kept us off balance," Mills said. "He just pitched a great game." Inman's had a great year. The home run was his 11th. He's hitting close to .500. He improved his career record to 29-3, including 13-1 this year. The career victories tied Bubba Scarce, the winning pitcher in the 1994 title game, for the school record. Inman also has 403 career strikeouts. "Today, I think I had my 'A' game," Inman said. From WPCVA.com, 11-19-2004: Tunstall High School seniors Will Inman and Jacob Thompson signed letters of intent Thursday to play baseball at Division I schools in 2005. Inman will play for the Auburn University Tigers. Thompson will play for the Cavaliers of The University of Virginia. Both are pitchers and were instrumental in leading the Tunstall Trojans to last year's state championship. "They are very special young men," said Tunstall coach Barry Shelton. "I knew that from the time they came here as freshmen. "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have two kids on the team with the same skills and abilities. The other kids look up to them. "For Will and Jacob to be able to go on in school and play baseball is a dream come true. I am very happy for them." From the mound, Inman, has a 29-3 record, 205 innings pitched, gave up 39 bases on balls, tallied 403 strikeouts and posted an 0.75 earned run average. At the plate he has a .454 batting average with 15 home runs, 18 doubles, 65 RBIs, 70 runs scored, and 83 hits. In 2003 and 2004 he was named first team pitcher All-District, All-Region, and All-State. Inman was District and Regional Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and State Player of the Year in 2004, and one of three team MVPs. He holds school records in season strikeouts with 110, career strikeouts with 403, and career wins with 29. Gearing up for the 2005 season, Inman is 97 strikeouts away from the state record. From the mound, Thompson has a 25-3 record, 177 innings pitched, gave up 57 bases on balls, tallied 278 strikeouts, and posted a 1.27 earned run average. At the plate he has a 401 average, 5 home runs, 19 doubles, 54 runs batted in, 50 runs scored and 71 hits. Thompson was first team All-District pitcher in 2003 and 2004. He was second team regional pitcher in 2003 and 2004 and one of three team MVPs for 2004. Thompson and Inman led the team to Piedmont Regular Season Championships in 2003 and 2004, to Piedmont District Tournament Championships in 2002, 2003 and 2004, to Region IV Championships in 2003 and 2004, to the state semi-finals in 2003, and to the State Championship in 2004. Both young athletes know a professional draft looms next June which could afford a look-see from the pros. "I'm kind of staying away from thinking about it," said Inman. "If the opportunity comes, it comes. Right now I'm just concentrating on next season and doing well." They realize success requires a lot of work and both are interested in getting a good education as well as playing baseball. "If the draft comes calling. I think they should seriously look at the money situation," said coach Shelton. "If it is sufficient, they should look into it, then made decisions. "This is a tremendously special day and I am proud to have the opportunity to be associated with these two youngsters. They deserve it." From the Auburn Tigers' website: Will Inman, a 6-0, 200-pound right-handed pitcher from Tunstall High School in Danville, Va., earned all-state, all-region, and all-district honors as a junior after posting a 13-1 record with a 0.32 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 84 innings. The school's all-time strikeout leader with 408, fanned 18 batters in a game as a junior. Inman also hit .500 at the plate last season with 11 home runs and eight doubles. "Will is another player out of the state of Virginia that we're very excited about. He has shattered every pitching record at Tunstall High School with strikeout numbers that are phenomenal. He's got great pitch-ability and is a tough, tough competitor. Will's fastball is 87-91 with a good curve ball and change-up as well." From Baseball America: RHP Will Inman (16), Thompson's teammate at Tunstall High in Danville, actually has enjoyed a more decorated prep career. He broke the state's career strikeout record, passing 500 as a senior. His stocky build at 6 feet, 205 pounds doesn't portend the same projection scouts as Thompson, and many stopped following him because he failed to break 90 mph at the 2004 Commonwealth Games and his delivery showed some effort. That could be a mistake, because Inman hit 90-92 mph regularly as a senior, with his coach saying he might have been worn down last summer following a long postseason run. Inman's curveball isn?t a true power pitch, but generates a lot of swings and misses. He also throws a splitter and a changeup, and will use any of the four offerings in any count. From the Register & Bee, 06-07-2005: Talk about a lot to digest. There are the final exams this afternoon and the state quarterfinal baseball game tonight. Somewhere in the back of the mind are thoughts about Saturday?s graduation and all the while two Tunstall High seniors are waiting for the phone call that could decide their futures. Baseball experts say Jacob Thompson and Will Inman - the pitching duo that has led the Trojans to three consecutive Region IV titles and a Group AA state championship in 2004 - will each get a call informing them they?ve been selected in Major League Baseball?s amateur draft, which begins today and continues Wednesday. ?It?s going to be the most hectic day of my life,? Inman said. ?I?m pitching in one of the biggest games of my life, I have all this draft stuff to worry about and I have a government exam. I?ll probably just turn off my phone for a while and let people talk to me after the game about what happens.? Both should be taken today on the draft?s first day, which also happens to be the day Tunstall plays host to Amherst with a berth in the state semifinals on the line. Will Kimmy, who tracks Virginia area prospects for Baseball America said both have pro potential. Thompson?s 6-5 frame is intriguing to pro scouts and Inman has dominated the high school ranks with a fastball in the low to mid 90s. Both have signed to play for NCAA Division I programs - Inman at Auburn and Thompson with Virginia. ?Thompson has the highest ceiling of the group, but has a strong commitment to Virginia,? Kimmy said in an email. ?Talent could put him in the top five rounds, but teams might let him slide lower if they don?t believe they can sign him. Inman suffered from a poor showing at the Commonwealth games last year. He was tired after a long high school season and didn?t show much velocity there. His coach had it back up this year, but only a few teams were in on him. He?s possible in the 8-12 round area.? While Inman might not be high on everyone?s list, Atlanta and Milwaukee have made a considerable effort to scout him. Brewers scout Grant Britt said his organization was high on Inman, but where he?s selected depends on whether or not the clubs think he can be signed to a contract. ?We like Will and we?re interested in him,? Britt said. ?He?s a good kid and a battler and a competitor. Milwaukee likes him a lot. Jacob has had some injuries this year, but he?s a big guy with a lot of ability too.? Inman has been told he?ll be taken in the first five rounds. He said he?s heading to Auburn if not selected in the first or second rounds, even if he?s taken by Atlanta, the Major League affiliate of the Danville Braves. ?(Playing in Danville) would be a great thing to look forward too if I did go to that organization,? Inman said. ?But it?s not going to change my decision on whether to go to school or not.? Thompson said he doesn?t expect to get drafted early because of his intentions to play for Virginia next season. Scouts say other areas players, such as George Washington?s Jonathan Walker and Dan River?s Blake Guthrie, could be picked in later rounds, but none are considered sure things like the Tunstall duo. From the Baseball America Draft Blog: The Brewers and Braves were among the few teams that didn't shy away from Tunstall High righthander Will Inman after he sat in the mid-80s at Virginia's Commonwealth Games last summer. But the state's career strikeouts leader bumped his velocity up to the low-90s as a senior and Milwaukee nabbed him in the third round. He'll now have to decide between pro ball and a college commitment to Auburn. From the Register & Bee, 06-08-2005: Words of congratulation flowed Tuesday following Tunstall?s 5-1 win over Amherst, but not all the words were for the victory; for the win had added to what already was a big day for ace pitcher Will Inman. Earlier, the Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in the third round, making him the 85th overall selection in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. And with that, Inman said there is a change in plans. Instead of attending Auburn University in Alabama, where he was to receive a scholarship to play baseball, he will report to Phoenix in a few weeks to play rookie level ball with the Arizona Brewers of the Cactus League. ?It definitely was a great day,? Inman said following the game. ?Milwaukee has a great organization. I can?t express my thanks enough to Grant Brittain (a Brewers scout). He had faith in me. I know he talked to the organization on my behalf.? Brittain did just that. ?He (Inman) is a good athlete, a competitive guy, a strong kid, and a good kid. I think Milwaukee couldn?t be happier. We think we have a future Big Leaguer and a quality person.? Inman, and his father, Curtis, spent a considerable amount of time Monday and Tuesday fielding calls from Major League teams. The calls were from representatives of the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers. ?I was talking to all three at 11 p.m. last night,? the elder Inman said Tuesday. ?It started again at 10 this morning.? As the conversations continued, the amount of money being offered grew. A tentative deal was struck with an offer from the Brewers of $500,000, an amount that normally is reserved for players drafted in the second round, not the third round. ?They (representatives of the Brewers) called and asked if they gave him the same money as a second round pick would he come,? Curtis Inman explained. ?He (Will) said he didn?t care as far as what round he was drafted as long as the money was the same.? The deal is tentative because other contract issues, such as assuring there is money set aside for college in the future, remains to be negotiated. ?It looks pretty good right now,? Will Inman said. ?I want to finish playing high school baseball now. High school baseball is fun. When you go to that level (professional), it?s an everyday job.? Inman also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Tunstall coach Barry Shelton. ?This day would not be possible without Coach Shelton. They (scouts) didn?t come up here looking for me. They came looking at Jake (Jacob Thompson). But coach told them to take a look at me, and they did.? Brittain, a scout for about 10 years, confirmed the story, saying he scouting Inman at the request of Shelton. ?This is my first year in the state,? said Brittain, who attended Tuesday?s game. ?Coach Shelton did a real good job of talking to me about this guy.? And Inman did the rest. The right-hander is 12-0 this season and holds state records for most wins in a season, 13, career wins, 41, strikeouts in a season, 184, and career strikeouts, 585. He also is one of the leading hitters on the team. From the News & Advance, 06-08-2005: On a day in which Tunstall star Will Inman had the weight of the world on his shoulders, Josh Lewis lightened the load. The junior shortstop smacked a two-run home run in the fourth inning, giving the Trojans not only a 3-1 lead, but also a measure of confidence. "Anytime we have Will on the mound and we get a couple of runs, you are going to be confident," Tunstall coach Barry Shelton said following the game. "We're not going to lose many of those games." With the lead, the Trojans confidently marched to a 5-1 victory over Amherst on Tuesday, earning their third consecutive trip to the Group AA state semifinals and a chance to fulfill their quest for back-to-back state championships. The home run by Lewis came with one out and an Amherst error that left Cory Dix standing on second base. "It was a fastball down the middle of the plate," Lewis said of the pitch he hit for the home run. "I was looking for a fastball." The home run was his fourth of the season, but none of the others could match the significance of this one. "It was the biggest hit in my career," he said. "I think it really boosted the team." In addition to boosting the spirit of the team, it gave Inman a bigger margin for error. "It is tough to pitch when it (the score) is 0-0," Inman said. "You can't challenge hitters as much, especially in a park like this. It is such a small park" "But these guys (Lewis and sophomore Jeff Jefferson, who homered in the sixth) are getting stronger. They are great up-and-coming players. It is great that they stepped up today. I couldn't ask for more from my teammates." For Inman, the day had been a whirlwind of activity. There was a government essay to take. Then there was the Major League baseball draft, which meant fielding calls from pro teams who were trying to entice the senior pitcher into skipping, for now, plans to attend Auburn University in Alabama. Inman ended up being drafted in the third round, 85th overall, by the Milwaukee Brewers and, based upon initial negotiations, he now expects to pursue a pro career this summer. And finally, there was the pressure that came with being the ace of the staff and taking the mound with a trip to the state semifinals at stake - and doing so without your best stuff. "In the last two games, I haven't had my best stuff," Inman said. "I've tried to fight through it. ? I'm definitely not tired. I'm in the best shape of my career." Of course, a less-than-stellar performance by Inman still leaves a high standard for any other pitcher reach. The right-hander threw a complete game Tuesday, yielding one run on four hits, while striking out 12 batters. Inman stuck out two of the three batters he faced in the fourth inning, and when Lewis' home run gave him the 3-1 in the bottom of the inning, Inman challenged Amherst's best hitters in the fifth and sixth, striking out five. The task was completed with two more strikeouts in the final inning. The start of the game, however, was shaky for Inman. The Lancers scored in the first inning when Alonzo Poe was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a two-out liner by Rico Robinson that just eluded Tunstall second baseman Justin Fulton. Tunstall tied the score in the second when Dix scored on a groundball error. Dix had singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lewis and advanced to third on a passed ball. Amherst wasted no time in applying more pressure in the third. With one out, Marcus Rose and Poe each singled and stole second and third, respectively. Inman, however, struck out Dustin Crouch and the threat ended with cleanup hitter Robinson grounding out to second base. That was the last time Amherst threatened as Inman dominated the rest of the game. For Amherst, which eliminated Tunstall two seasons ago in the state semifinals, it was the second loss of the season to the Trojans. The first came in late March in a 6-0 game in which Inman struck out 17 and yielded just two hits. "We knew that game meant nothing today," Shelton said. "They (the Lancers) are a dangerous team and they came out fired up." From the EzCode Parsing Error:=]Roanoke Times[, 06-10-2005 (Byline Aaron McFarling): He spits on the dugout floor and looks up from behind a low-brimmed cap. The most exciting high school player around is trying to explain what really gets him going. His mind drifts ... then he snaps to attention. "Oh, this is the one I love hearing," Will Inman says. "I love hearing the leadoff batter strike out and then go back to the dugout yelling, 'He's not throwing that hard! He's not throwing that hard!' "Yeah, I love that one. That's always a great one." Change your plans this morning. Skip work, skip class, find a baby sitter, do whatever you've got to do. Get down to Calfee Park in Pulaski and watch Tunstall senior Will Inman play at 11 a.m. in the state baseball semifinals. You won't be sorry. Oh, you might get annoyed a time or two by something Inman does. You might even walk away thinking that sportsmanship's gone completely to pot, that the Milwaukee Brewers just drafted - and offered a half-million dollars to - a total madman. But trust me on this: You'll be thoroughly entertained. Inman knows he has plenty of critics. Maybe they don't like the way he pumps his fist after the 92 mph fastball cracks the mitt, or the way he shouts to the sky when the curve ball breaks just right, or the way his home run trot seems to take a little longer when it stings the opponent the most. But these people need to get over it. The fact is, nobody plays the game harder. Nobody. The 18-year-old right-hander is everything that's great about these high school playoffs - high talent, higher emotion - and if it rubs somebody the wrong way, too bad. "Oh, God, yeah, dude," Inman says, when asked if he caught any flak after last year's state championship game against Cave Spring when he struck out 12, smacked a three-run homer and held none of his cocksure antics back in a 4-0 Tunstall win. "Random people saw me and would get on me. About yelling! After getting a big strikeout or something, yelling and a fist pump." He shakes his head. "I want to see these people pitch in the World Series," he says of his critics. "Do they not watch baseball on T.V.? Do they not see Josh Beckett out there chunckin' it? Roger Clemens? Randy Johnson, dude, this guy used to just chew down some hitters, man. They'd outweigh him by maybe 30 or 40 pounds, and he'd just chew them down. Man, you can't be scared. "I don't care what people think of me on the field," he says. "Because if you don't know me off the field, you have no right to make a decision on me." His pulse is quickening now, his voice rising. He's getting into his competitive mode, the one that has made him the all-time strikeout leader in the state of Virginia with 585, the one that sometimes has his coach on the defensive. "I've had other coaches and umpires say, 'Coach, you need to tone him down,'" Tunstall coach Barry Shelton says. "But as a coach, it's hard to do that when that's his makeup. If you take away his makeup, you take away some of the edge that he has out there. That's what makes him go." And go he has. A 41-3 career record, a 0.68 career ERA, 29 career home runs, a school-record 26 doubles. Of course, having a fastball that consistently hovers above 90 mph doesn't hurt either. But it's the total competitive package that convinced Auburn University to offer him a scholarship, an offer he will decline after the Brewers selected him in the third round this week and ponied up the $500,000 signing bonus Inman was seeking. "I'm not a big spender," Inman says, explaining that he plans to save the money. "The necessities keep me very comfortable. I don't like having anything nice because I always screw it up." This is the other side of Inman, the side his teammates know, the modest kid who grew up just outside Danville and was surprised that he developed into a prospect. He's only flown once - for his official visit to Auburn - and says he's rarely left Dry Fork. "I guess I never really compared myself with the rest of the world," says Inman, who struck out the first 11 batters he faced in his freshman debut. "I didn't know what else was out there." He knows now - a new challenge. And as soon as this state title run is over (Inman will likely DH today and pitch Saturday in the finals if Tunstall makes it), he'll sign with the Brewers, take a week's vacation and then fly to Arizona to begin his pro career. Critics are welcome to follow if they wish. "I'll be more intense there, man," he says of the next level. "Because I know that I won't be facing Billy Joe that just came up from ninth grade. I'm going to be facing damn men that got 30-year-old beards and may be popping steroids." See? Always entertaining. Don't miss it. From the Media General News Service, 06-04-2005 (Byline Shane Mettlen): With no outs, Virginia High runners at second and third and the scored tied 2-2 in the fifth inning Friday night, it looked like the season might come to a disappointing end for Tunstall. Instead, the defending Group AA state champions buckled down and eliminated the Bearcats from the Region IV playoffs for the third consecutive year with a 5-2 victory. Tunstall will play either Dan River or Abingdon at 6 p.m. today at home for the regional championship and has secured a trip to Radford next week for the state tournament. It started out as a rough evening for Piedmont District player of the year Will Inman, who struck out and flied out his first two times at bat and was less dominant than normal on the mound in the early innings. Inman found himself in a jam in the fifth when Virginia High strung together three infield singles to load the bases before Zak Messer hit a line-drive single to left field to score a run. A wild pitch allowed the tying run to score and moved two runners into scoring position But Inman struck out the next three batters and led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to put Tunstall back in front 3-2. "I didn?t have my best stuff out there early in the game and when you don?t have your best stuff you got to work with what you got," Inman said. "You can?t just give up. That?s where I think I?m different, because a lot of people give up. You can?t be nervous in baseball, because if you?re nervous you get shots hit off of you." The Trojan?s led 2-0 after three innings, despite not getting a hit off Bearcats starter Preston Smith. Smith registered two strikeouts in three innings of work, but walked six. Smith plunked Tunstall senior Josh Stowe to start the bottom of the second. Justin Fulton bunted to move Stowe to third. Virginia High first baseman Ryan Jordan fielded the bunt, but threw it by third baseman Daniel Stevens, allowing Stowe to come home and put the Trojans up 1-0. Tunstall scored again in the third when Josh Lewis drew a leadoff walk and Corey Dix later drove him in with a ground ball through Stevens? legs. "I feel very fortunate for us to win this game," Tunstall coach Barry Shelton said. "They actually made some errors that helped us. I kind of feel lucky to get away with this one. They actually put the bat on the ball more against will than most teams do. They kind of had us on the ropes their in the fifth inning." The Bearcats picked up some momentum when second baseman Sean Bobbitt beat out a single to short to lead off the fifth. Willie Davis and Kevin Morrison each followed with perfect bunts to load the bases, setting the table for Messer. Virginia High tied the game and hushed the Tunstall crowd, but Inman retired the Bearcats in order the rest of the night. "This is three years in a row that Will has sent us home," Virginia High coach Mark Daniels said. "I wish we could have pushed one or two more across there in the fifth, but we didn?t. Will got the lead back and boy, he was never going to relinquish it." Inman struck out 12 and allowed six hits in the complete-game victory. Justin Grimm replaced Smith on the mound for the Bearcats in the fourth and took the loss, striking out five. From the Roanoke Times, 06-12-2005: Tunstall's Will Inman pitched a two-hitter and went 3-for-5 to lead the Trojans to their second consecutive Group AA baseball championship in a 17-1 win over Turner Ashby on Saturday at Radford. Tyler Mills (3-for-5) and Justin Thompson (3-for-4) joined Inman with three hits and two RBI apiece. Inman allowed one run on two hits while striking out 13. Tunstall (26-1), which previously won state titles in 1976, 1995 and 2004, scored in the first on a solo home run by Jacob Thompson. The Trojans then scored four runs in the second and five in the third, sparked by a leadoff solo home run by Josh Lewis. Tunstall completed the scoring with seven runs in the fifth. The win marked the most runs scored by one team (17) in the state championship game. It tied the most runs scored by two teams (18) and is the largest margin of victory in the state finals.

Round 1: Ryan Braun - 3B 6'2", 205 lbs - University of Miami - Florida http://www.baseballamerica.com/images/rbraunmug232.jpg NOTES & INFO: - He is originally from Granada Hills, CA. - He was named the 2003 Freshman of the Year by Baseball America. - He was a Junior this past season at Miami. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: University of Miami Player Profile: LINK From Patrick Ebert's Amateur Player Profile: Braun could emerge as one of the more exciting all-around offensive players from the 2005 draft. He started to produce immediately upon stepping onto Miami's campus, leading Miami in triple crown categories, which led to him being named Baseball America's freshman of the year. He projects to hit for both power and average, and he has the speed to steal 20+ bags as a professional. He has the athleticism to stay at SS, but his actions may be better suited at 3B. He could project favorably to Nomar Garciaparra as an offensive-minded shortstop, with enough pop to justify a move to 3B if needed, and with another big spring he could easily find himself being taken in the top 10 rounds in the June draft. He didn't hit very well on the Cape last summer with a wood bat, so questions about how his bat translates at the pro level may loom. From the MLB.com Draft Tracker: Medium build. Athletic frame. Round shoulders. Body similar to Aaron Boone. Aggressive hitter, hits to all fields. Quick bat. Makes adjustments at plate. Power to all fields. Runs well, long strides. Avg arm strength. Makes plays in field. Solid 5-tool player. From MLB.com, 06-07-2005 (Byline Adam McCalvy): When you need help transforming your basement into a rec room, you call Bob Vila. When you're looking for a promotion from governor of a southern state to the presidency of the United States, you call Karl Rove. And when you're making the move from shortstop to third base, might as well look up Alex Rodriguez. Go ahead, aim big. That's what Ryan Braun did. The University of Miami's Braun worked through the transition from shortstop to third base with A-Rod, the Miami resident and the New York Yankee who made the same move prior to the 2003 season. The tutorial paid off on Tuesday, when the Brewers selected Braun with the fifth overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft. The Brewers believe they grabbed the most talented player available and simultaneously filled an organizational need by adding a top-notch third baseman. "I'm thrilled," Braun said after practicing with his Miami Hurricanes teammates, who are preparing for this weekend's NCAA Super Regionals. "I obviously understand that there is a chance for me to advance through the system pretty quickly as a third baseman. I am just excited about the opportunity to work hard." The 21-year-old can hit, he can run and he can play a number of different positions. He was at Miami on a partial academic scholarship, so he can think as well. And he is closer to the Majors than any high-ceiling high schooler the Brewers may have coveted. "We feel we got a very good athlete, a very good player," Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik (zur-EN-sik) said minutes after the first round. "And he also plays a position that is a difficult position to fill at any level. If you look at our Minor League system, he fits in nicely, again, as a need, but he was selected for his ability more than anything else." Translation: We need third basemen. We think we got a good one in Braun. "We think he fits in very nicely with what we're trying to do," Zduriencik said. Braun was one of three collegiate third basemen selected within the first five picks on Tuesday, and he is just the second collegiate player drafted in the first round by Zduriencik. Besides Southern University second baseman Rickie Weeks, a no-brainer at No. 2 overall in 2003, Zduriencik's other first-rounders were all high-potential, long-term projects out of high school: outfielder Dave Krynzel (2000), right-hander Mike Jones (2001), first baseman Prince Fielder (2002) and right-hander Mark Rogers (2004). The Brewers have had an eye on Braun since his days as a shortstop at Granada Hills (Calif.) High School. He suffered a strained muscle near his right ribcage that limited his appearance in the Cape Cod League last summer, but Braun is now "100 percent healthy and ready to go," Zduriencik said. He converted from shortstop to third base before this, his junior season at Miami, because "they felt it made their club better. They didn't have a third baseman," Zduriencik said. With the draft looming for Braun and a chance to realize his Major League dreams, there was a bit of risk involved. "I just felt that if I went out there and worked hard, people understood that I was making the transition," he said. "I also feel like I definitely improved throughout the course of the year, which is something, in my opinion, that probably helped me." According to Zduriencik, it did. "We were real excited the past several weeks on how well he's made the transition," Zduriencik said. "The switch from short to third is not an easy transition. He's a kid who was a freshman All-American at shortstop, he's made the switch to third base and we think he's made a nice switch there." Rodriguez helped. Braun said he had a number of conversations with the 29-year-old superstar, who made the move after a trade took him to New York in 2003. Braun said he has had three or four meetings with Rodriguez, who uses the University of Miami facilities during the offseason. "He's been able to give me some helpful hints and pointers to help me out," said Braun, on everything to adjusting to new angles to fielding bunts. "He basically told me everything he went through, and it was a difficult transition for him, too," Braun said. "He understood what I was going through. That's been able to help me." Braun's home run on Sunday led the Hurricanes to the NCAA College Super Regionals, a three-game series against the University of Nebraska that begins Friday. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Braun is hitting .396 (84-for-212) for the Hurricanes and leads his team with 75 RBIs and 18 home runs. He is one of five finalists for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award, which Weeks won in 2003. "As soon as he is finished playing, then we will begin negotiations to try to make sure that the sooner the better he becomes a Milwaukee Brewer," Zduriencik said. Braun said he hopes negotiations begin the day after his season ends. "I definitely want to get out there as quickly as I can," Braun said. "I understand that the quicker I'm able to sign, the quicker I'm able to get out there." Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash, player development director Reid Nichols and Zduriencik met Monday regarding Braun's future with the team. Once he signs, his most likely destinations are Class A West Virginia or rookie Helena, according to Zduriencik said. With the draft's first overall pick, the Arizona Diamondbacks took high school shortstop Justin Upton. Eighteen of the draft's 50 rounds were completed on Tuesday. From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 06-07-2005 (Byline Tom Haudricourt): In watching Miami's Ryan Braun make the transition from shortstop to third base, the Milwaukee Brewers concentrated on what he did right rather than what he did wrong. "We've watched him extensively the last six weeks, and particularly the last couple of weeks, he has played very well defensively," said Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik. With Braun already proven with the bat, the Brewers had no reservations in making him the fifth pick in the first round of the draft Tuesday. And it certainly didn't hurt that the Brewers had a need at that position in their farm system. "You always have needs," said Zduriencik. "You never know what a year or two can do to change the complexity of your ball club. But, if you look at our minor-league system, he fits nicely." In an exceptional year for college third basemen, Nebraska's Alex Gordon, Virginia's Ryan Zimmerman and Braun were expected to go quickly, and they did. Kansas City took Gordon with the second pick and Washington tabbed Zimmerman at No. 4 (and already has signed him), leaving the Brewers with a somewhat easy decision. Some scouts who saw Braun, 21, were not as convinced that he projected as a major-league third baseman. Instead, there was talk about having to move the right-handed power hitter to the outfield. But Zuriencik said he fully expected Braun to remain at third base in the Brewers' system. "We've watched him since high school," said Zduriencik, who passed along credit to area scout Larry Pardo and East Coast crosschecker Bobby Heck. "They switched him from short to third because they felt it made the club better. We're real excited about how well he made that transition. "The switch from shortstop to third base is not an easy transition. It was just a matter of him getting comfortable. He's got a lot of tools." Braun went to a good source to discuss his position switch - Alex Rodriguez, who made that same move after being traded to the New York Yankees. Rodriguez lives in Miami and works out at the Hurricanes' complex, and Braun picked his brain on a couple of occasions. "I had an opportunity to talk with him about the transition and what he went through," Braun said during a conference call. "He gave me some pointers and hints. He told me everything he went through. "As the year progressed, I've definitely improved. I have the athleticism to make the switch. I understand there's an opportunity for me to advance through the (Brewers') system pretty quickly as a third baseman." Braun is batting .396 with 18 home runs and 75 runs batted in for the Hurricanes, who play at Nebraska this weekend in the NCAA Super Regionals. A berth in the College World Series is at stake in that best-of-three match-up. Braun said he would like to begin his professional career as soon as possible after Miami finishes its season. "I understand that the quicker you get started, the quicker you can move through the system," he said. "I'm absolutely thrilled to have a chance to play for the Milwaukee Brewers." Braun was not drafted out of high school, but neither was Rickie Weeks, the Brewers' first-round draft pick in 2003 now considered the organization's top prospect. "I've heard he's a great player and a great kid," said Braun. "I hope to be a part of the same infield with him in the future." The Brewers did not have a second-round pick, having forfeited it to Oakland for signing free agent catcher Damian Miller. Most notable among their other picks was eighth-rounder Jemile Weeks, a high school shortstop from Altamonte, Fla., and brother of the aforementioned Rickie Weeks. "We hope some day he becomes like Rickie," said Zduriencik. "We didn't draft him just because he's Rickie's brother." In the seventh round, the Brewers drafted high school outfielder Michael Brantley, son of former big leaguer Mickey Brantley. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, participating in his first draft, came away impressed with both the preparation of the team's scouting staff as well as the selection of Braun. "Jack has it organized like a military operation," Attanasio said. "It really gave me an appreciation of how much work goes into this. "It's a little bit like your first-born. Ryan Braun will always be my first draft pick. We felt he was the best player available and he also happens to be a third baseman, which we need." As expected, the first round was dominated by college players, with 19 selected, including Wade Townsend, who pitched at Rice in 2004 and didn't sign after going in the first round to Baltimore last year. The first pick, however, came out of high school, with Arizona selecting infielder Justin Upton of Chesapeake, Va. Upton's brother, B.J., was the second pick in 2002 by Tampa Bay, making them the highest-drafted pair of brothers in major league history. Eighteen rounds were completed on the first day, with 32 more scheduled for today. From the Miami Herald, 06-07-2005: University of Miami third baseman Ryan Braun went undrafted out of Granada Hills High in Southern California. "Sometimes in high school you kind of tell teams how much money it's going to cost for you to pass up a college education," Braun said. "I felt like if I didn't get enough money to be set up for the rest of my life, it didn't make sense for me to pass up an opportunity like this." As a high school senior at Mt. Carmel in Chicago, pitcher Cesar Carrillo was chosen by the Royals in the 33rd round. "I never really gave it a thought," said the right-hander, who knew his draft status could rise considerably at UM. "But it still was really exciting to be drafted." The heralded University of Miami football program has grown accustomed to multiple first-round draft picks. Today, for the first time, the Hurricanes' baseball program is expected to have two players -- juniors Braun and Carrillo -- chosen in the first round of the major-league amateur draft. It has been seven years since the Canes even had one first-rounder, Pat Burrell, who went to the Philadelphia Phillies as the No. 1 overall pick. "It would be a tremendous honor to get picked in the first round," said Braun, projected by Baseball America to go as high as No. 5 to the Brewers if Alex Gordon of Nebraska and Ryan Zimmerman of Virginia already are taken. "But I've heard so much about how unpredictable the draft is. I try not to think about it too much." Carrillo, who won his first 24 decisions at UM, is projected to be drafted in the second half of the first round. "What's most important is getting drafted by a team you can advance quickly with," said Carrillo (13-2, 2.22 ERA). "Obviously my main goal is to make it to the major leagues." CARRILLO'S POWER Both Braun and Carrillo had their share of frustration heading into the NCAA regionals this past weekend at Mark Light Field. After winning 12 consecutive games this season, Carrillo lost twice during UM's recent six-game slide -- the second loss a strong outing that went unrewarded because his teammates couldn't hit. But an outstanding performance in the NCAA regional Saturday against Mississippi State had baseball types again in awe. "The kid is going to make himself some money if he stays healthy," marveled Bulldogs coach Ron Polk. "He's a strikeout guy. His fastball has life to it. His breaking ball is sharp." Said the 6-3, 177-pound Carrillo: "I've already proven what I can do throughout the past two years. People come out and see I'm still the same Cesar. As long as my fastball is there and it's the same velocity, as long as my changeup is still there, as long as I still have the same stuff, it really doesn't matter." The 6-2, 195-pound Braun, recently named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, feels similarly. Despite his recent slump, he still has a team-leading 18 home runs, 75 RBI, a .741 slugging percentage and 22 stolen bases. He is hitting .396 and went 3 for 10 with two home runs and a triple in the Coral Gables Regional. A finalist for the 2005 Golden Spikes Award, the equivalent of football's Heisman Trophy, Braun is known nationally for his combination of speed (he runs between 6.3 and 6.4 seconds in the 60-yard dash) and athleticism. "Considering we don't have many power hitters, he carries the load for our team," infielder Roger Tomas said. "And his defense is good. People underestimate it." ANALYZING BRAUN Braun, a natural shortstop, moved to third base this season. He struggled initially. "It has definitely been a difficult transition," he said. "But I've gotten better. At shortstop you have more time to pick out your hop, whereas at third the ball kind of plays you sometimes. You're a lot closer to the hitter. It's a different angle. You're fielding bunts. You get a lot more balls with topspin. "I see myself as a shortstop, but I feel like I have enough athleticism and arm strength to play anywhere." In its draft preview, Baseball America rated Braun the third-fastest runner, second-best athlete and fourth-best power hitter among prospects. "Braun's track record and athletic body give him a chance to be drafted in the first 10 selections," the magazine wrote. "If he's drafted that high, it will be because a team believes in his bat." Of Carrillo, Baseball America wrote: "Carrillo throws his fastball anywhere from 90-95 mph (touching 96-97), depending on the need, and he has shown scouts the ability to maintain his velocity deep into games. . . . He's athletic and quick-armed and should always have good command. Carrillo's stuff won't get much better, but it's plenty good now, making him a candidate to move quickly through the minors." UM coach Jim Morris is reluctant to make any predictions: "They're probably first-round guys, but I try not to predict the draft because it's so unpredictable," he said. "All I know is I wouldn't trade them for anyone."

This thread we will utilize to discuss all rounds of the draft picks. Please do not start a new thread for each pick, as they will be locked.

In this thread, moderators will add information about each round of the draft, one reply per pick. Users, do NOT reply to this thread. Instead, reply to the thread marked "Official Draft Discussion Thread". We'd like to keep one thread as a purely information thread. Thanks for coming to Brewerfan for the best Brewers draft day coverage on the web! Clicking on a player's name will display only the post containing their information. You can check on the status of each selection in the Official Draft Signings Thread. If you have something to contribute to the thread, please email Bill. ROUND-BY-ROUND: 01. Ryan Braun - 3B - University of Miami 02. No Selection - Damian Miller signing 03. Will Inman - RHP - Tunstall High School (VA) 04. Matt Gamel - 3B - Chipola JC (FL) 05. Kevin Roberts - RHP - University of Houston 06. Steve Hammond - LHP - Long Beach State 07. Michael Brantley - CF - Ft. Pierce Central HS (FL) 08. Jemile Weeks - SS - Lake Brantley HS (FL) 09. Carlos Hereaud - 3B - Lawrence Elkins HS (TX) 10. Steve Garrison - LHP - The Hun School (NJ) 11. Brent Allar - RHP - Weatherford College (TX) 12. John Alonso - 1B - Polk CC (FL) 13. Ryan Babineau - C - Etiwanda HS (CA) 14. Mark James - RHP - Sinclair Secondary School (Ontario) 15. Mike Bell - 2B - Grayson County College (TX) 16. Andrew Bailey - RHP - Wagner College (NY) 17. Timothy Smith - RF - Midland College (TX) 18. Zack Braddock - LHP - Gloucester Catholic HS (NJ) 19. Patrick Ryan - RHP - Embry-Riddle University (FL) 20. David Welch - LHP - Texarkana CC 21. Justin Spires - RHP - Saddleback CC (CA) 22. Kenny Holmberg - 2B - Embry-Riddle University (FL) 23. Brendan Katin - OF - University of Miami 24. Michael Ramlow - LHP - Owens CC (OH) 25. Taylor Green - 2B - Cypress College (CA) 26. Jake Arrieta - RHP - Weatherford College (TX) 27. Brad Willcutt - C - Southern Mississippi University 28. Scotty McKnight - SS - Saddleback CC (CA) 29. Dane Renkert - RHP - Washington State University 30. Omar Aguilar - RHP - Merced College (CA) 31. Patrick Murray - 1B - Marina HS (CA) 32. William Pennington - LF - University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa 33. Jorge Core - RHP - Puerto Rico Baseball Academy 34. Riley "Brock" Kjeldgaard - RHP - Indian Hills CC (IA) 35. Sebastien Vendette - RHP - Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 36. Stephen Barnes - RHP - Lake City CC (FL) 37. Christopher Hopkins - CF - Sierra JC (CA) 38. Christopher Jean - RHP - Texas State University 39. Bradley Miller - SS - Cowley County CC (KS) 40. Ryan Crew - SS - University of Texas-San Antonio 41. Jordan Lennerton - 1B - El Paso CC (TX) 42. Chris Copot - C - Lethbridge CC (Canada) 43. Kyle Eveland - 2B - Palmdale HS (CA) 44. George Washington - RF - Demopilis HS (AL) 45. Ulrich Snijders - C - St. Petersburg JC (FL) 46. Alex Lowrey - LF - Monsignor Edward Pace HS (FL) 47. Matthew Broughton - RHP - Triton Central HS (IN) 48. Frederick Lewis - LHP - Buchholz HS (FL) 49. Cory Large - LHP - LD Bell HS (TX) 50. Garret Regan - RF - Sir Winston Churchill HS (Canada)

I just got back from the game tonight too (Thanks ILBrewerFan for taking me along!). Great energy in the crowd tonight. There were a few bad apples, but generally, the Yankees fans weren't too bad. Except for the cardiac arrest, I had a great time.

Yeah, i'm gonna hack up the home page tomorrow so people know where to go....