And That

Great start? Dude had an ERA under 4 through the end of June, 13 starts. He's been obliterated in three of his last four starts to be sure, but it's not like he's been bad since April or whatever it is you are implying by "great start." And, I thought the Brewers should keep him as a reliever, so it was actually surprising to me that he was a)starting for the Pirates, and b)being so successful at it. I thought it was a mistake not to pick up the option, still do. I also don't care that much either way about it so it's a bit entertaining that others are so worked up.

Either Barnes or Williams. Both had options. Also would have made the Alex Wilson experience unnecessary. Pittsburgh promised him a rotation spot. So the Brewers sticking him in the pen probably wasn’t his first choice. Milwaukee had a club option on Lyles.

Either Barnes or Williams. Both had options. Also would have made the Alex Wilson experience unnecessary.

How about Cody Ponce?

He has up to 60 days as a TJ surgery rehabber.

Suter began his rehab assignment this afternoon with the Brewers' AZL Blue team. He pitched a scoreless inning.

Final: AZL Brewers Gold 3, AZL Indians Red 2 AZL Brewers Gold Box Score The Golds were being no-hit into the 8th inning and only ever managed two hits but thanks to twelve Indians walks, they never trailed and ended up winning it in the 11th on an Aaron Familia walk-off single. Pablo Abreu had the first (and other) hit of the night, an eighth-inning single; everyone had at least one walk except for Zane Zurbrugg. A trio of Gold pitchers all threw well. Starter Joey Matulovich made his best start of the year, pitching four innings of one-run ball, striking out eight against no walks. Hooooopefully we'll see him in Wisconsin before too long. He's not technically on a rehab assignment so there's no clock on his time in Arizona. Santiago Elizondo and Ian Exposito combined to allow one run over the final seven innings. Check out their pitching lines. AZL Brewers Gold Game Log The first hit: AZL Brewers Gold Bottom of the 8th Pitching Change: Jacob Forrester replaces Samuel Vasquez. Oswel Leones strikes out on a foul tip. Daniel Castillo walks. Pablo Abreu singles on a line drive to left fielder Cesar Idrogo. Daniel Castillo to 2nd. Mound Visit. Wild pitch by pitcher Jacob Forrester. Daniel Castillo to 3rd. Pablo Abreu to 2nd. Felix Valerio walks. Mound Visit. Pitching Change: Kevin Coulter replaces Jacob Forrester. Ashton McGee grounds into a double play, shortstop Yordys Valdes to second baseman Gaspar Palacio to first baseman Joe Naranjo. Felix Valerio out at 2nd. Ashton McGee out at 1st. The game: AZL Brewers Gold Bottom of the 11th Ashton McGee starts inning at 2nd base. Kevin Coulter intentionally walks Francis Florentino. Roberto Molina ground bunts into a force out, first baseman Joe Naranjo to third baseman Jothson Flores. Ashton McGee out at 3rd. Francis Florentino to 2nd. Roberto Molina to 1st. Aaron Familia singles on a fly ball to right fielder Jean Montero. Francis Florentino scores. Roberto Molina to 3rd.

Final: AZL Dodgers Lasorda 4, AZL Brewers Blue 3 AZL Brewers Blue Box Score The Blues came from behind twice but were walked off on a throwing error by young catcher Darrien Miller. The error came on strike three for what would have been the final out of the ninth, but the throwdown to first base was erroneous. This was the second time an AZL team has been walked off on a catcher throwing error, as the Golds lost earlier in the season on a Roberto Molina throw. The offense managed but four hits, two of them by ninth-place hitter Danny Casals. One of the two Casals hits was his first pro home run, which scored two of the three Blue runs. Casals drove in the third run as well, with a sac fly in the 9th. Alexis Ramirez started and allowed two runs in four innings. His ERA isn't pretty, but I have heard a number of nice reports on him this summer. Jeyner Baez was the final pitcher to pitch for the Blues last night and came in for the final batter. He struck the batter out, but given the error that occurred, he winds up with the extremely odd line of no innings pitched, one strikeout. Good way to boost your K/9 anyway. AZL Brewers Blue Game Log

Back in May, I had Stroman's surplus value at about $50MM, and he fetched two 50 OFP prospects, worth about $52MM in surplus value. Math is fun. Turang ($42MM surplus) and Brown ($26MM surplus) would have been a dramatic overpayment, even with Brown's down year. Brown and Ashby (each with a 50 OFP) probably would have been comparable value. But as others have said, it comes down to what the Jays think of the players. There's the broad surplus valuations, and the very specific player valuations. Teams have to agree on both.

Devil Rays

Final: AZL Cubs1 18, AZL Brewers Gold 2 AZL Brewers Gold Box Score It's like a team full of Craig Kimbrels was pitching for the AZL Gold on Saturday night. AZL Brewers Gold Game Log

Final: AZL Brewers Blue 2, AZL Mariners 0 AZL Brewers Blue Box Score Shutout #6 for the blues and win #3 in a row for the scorching-hot 13-19 team. The offense scored two runs in the top of the second and that's all the runs that would be scored by either side. Andre Nnebe singled twice and Caleb Marquez singled in both of the runs. Antoine Kelly, Henry Medina, and Jake Cousins combined on the two-hitter. A scout told me that Kelly was "97 and nasty" in his outing. Have not heard if Kelly has started throwing a changeup yet or not. Also not clear is how long he'll be in the AZL. Don't think it would be the worst idea to let him dominate there all summer, skip Rocky Mountain and see him in Wisconsin next spring. Medina has quietly had a good summer as well. After toiling in the DSL for three years with good ERAs but poor strikeout totals, Medina has seen his K rate tick up in the AZL. Have not heard a report on his stuff. AZL Brewers Blue Game Log All the runs: AZL Brewers Blue Top of the 2nd Andre Nnebe singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jepherson Garcia. Luis Silva reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by second baseman Caleb Ricca. Andre Nnebe to 2nd. Arbert Cipion flies out to center fielder Antoine Mistico. Throwing error by pitcher Christian Pedrol. Caleb Marquez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jepherson Garcia. Andre Nnebe scores. Luis Silva scores. Victor Vargas strikes out swinging and Caleb Marquez caught stealing 2nd, catcher Freuddy Batista to shortstop Osiris Castillo.

Final: AZL Athletics Green 9, AZL Brewers Gold 7 AZL Brewers Gold Box Score The Golds could not hold a 7-3 6th inning lead and lose their 23rd game of the season against only eight wins. Ethan Small started and threw 2 perfect innings, striking out three. The next time we see him, it'll probably be in Wisconsin. Four different Gold batters had two hits. AZL Brewers Gold Game Log

Final: AZL Brewers Blue 8, AZL Angels 6 AZL Brewers Blue Box Score The Blues scored six of the game's final seven runs and stateside debutante Reidy Mercado got on base three times and scored three times as the Blues have a two-game winning streak for just the third time this season. Luis Silva and Alex Hall had multi-hit games. Shelby Miller made a "rehab" start as the Brewers try to get him straightened out. Jhoan Cruz pitched four strong innings to close the game out. AZL Brewers Blue Game Log Winning rally: AZL Brewers Blue Bottom of the 7th Alex Hall singles on a line drive to center fielder Trent Deveaux. Andre Nnebe called out on strikes. Darrien Miller reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Julio De La Cruz. Alex Hall to 2nd. Jackie Urbaez doubles (5) on a ground ball to right fielder Rainier Rivas. Alex Hall scores. Darrien Miller scores. Missed catch error by shortstop Jose Guzman. Wild pitch by pitcher Yeyson Velez. Jackie Urbaez to 3rd. Arbert Cipion out on a sacrifice fly to second baseman Drevian Williams-Nelson. Jackie Urbaez scores. Kevin Hardin strikes out swinging.

INF Cam Devanney promoted from the AZL to Rocky Mountain. OF Reidy Mercado promoted from the DSL to the AZL Blue squad.

RHPs Trey Supak and Devin Williams promoted from Biloxi to San Antonio. RHP Johan Belisario returns to Biloxi from San Antonio and RHP Justin Topa is back with Biloxi after a long stint on the Carolina roster.

RHP Robbie Hitt transferred from Wisconsin to Carolina. 3B Gabriel Garcia places on the Wisconsin IL. SS Antonio Pinero transferred from Rocky Mountain to Wisconsin. RHP Luis Contreras transferred from the AZL to Wisconsin.

Nothing worth noting at the moment.

Final: DSL Rangers1 7, DSL Brewers/Indians 5 DSL Brewers/Indians Box Score The co-op team may never win again. Their ninth loss in a row was another of the late-collapse variety. Six of the seven Ranger runs were scored in the final three innings. Most of that was on Indians pitchers, though Brewers lefty Keiner Alfaro, making his second pro appearance, was responsible for the first two of those six runs. One of the bright spots of the club has been starting pitcher Yostin Villalobos, who on Thursday allowed just an unearned run in his five innings on the mound. Vitor Watanabe and Jeicor Christian each singled twice. DSL Brewer/Indians Game Log

Final: DSL Brewers 10, DSL Rangers2 8 DSL Brewers Box Score A dramatic two-out rally in the 9th inning extends the Brewers' winning streak to five and keeps them just a game out of first place in the San Pedro division. It also extends the teams' double-digit run streak to four games, which is probably much more impressive than the win streak itself. Man, it's nice to have a good DSL offense. The top four hitters in the order - Eduarqui Fernandez, Sebastian Burciaga, Jhonnys Cabrera, and Alejandro Marte - each contributed two hits. Marte hit his fifth home run and has posted a gaudy 964 OPS/155 wRC+ in his third trip through the DSL. Erys Bautista launched his fourth home run. There have been years where four home runs would lead the team ***for the year***. Bautista is tied for third on the club, with Jesus Parra. I'd have to look it up, but I'm assuming this club will break the DSL Brewers' team record for home runs in a season, if they haven't already. And speaking of Parra, Jesus only got one hit, but it was a big one, driving in the go-ahead run in the ninth. Brewers pitchers struggled, as evidenced by the 8 runs allowed. They issued another 12 walks, 7 of which can be hung on starter Wellington Nunez. Robert Ortiz made his 2019 debut - as is almost always the case in the DSL, if there was an injury issue here with Ortiz, we do not currently and probably never will know about it. Anyway, Ortiz walked 9 against 1 K in 10 innings last year; in Thursday's game, Ortiz pitched a scoreless inning, with no walks and one K. Well done. First-year pro Raymer Caridad has quietly had a pretty good year and picked up his third save. DSL Brewers Game Log The big comeback, all after two outs: DSL Brewers Top of the 9th Branlyn Jaraba strikes out swinging. Erys Bautista flies out to left fielder Johan Lopez. Juan Frias singles on a ground ball to center fielder Frankely Hurtado. Alberis Ferrer walks. Juan Frias to 2nd. Eduarqui Fernandez singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Daniel De Leon. Juan Frias to 3rd. Alberis Ferrer to 2nd. Sebastian Burciaga singles on a fly ball to center fielder Frankely Hurtado. Juan Frias scores. Alberis Ferrer scores. Eduarqui Fernandez to 2nd. Jhonnys Cabrera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Johan Lopez. Eduarqui Fernandez scores. Sebastian Burciaga to 2nd. Fielding error by left fielder Johan Lopez. Alejandro Marte singles on a ground ball to center fielder Frankely Hurtado. Sebastian Burciaga scores. Jhonnys Cabrera to 2nd. Jesus Parra singles on a line drive to right fielder Danny Drullard. Jhonnys Cabrera scores. Alejandro Marte to 3rd. Jesus Parra to 2nd. Pitching Change: Darlwin Sandobal replaces Daniel De Leon. Wild pitch by pitcher Darlwin Sandobal. Alejandro Marte scores. Jesus Parra to 3rd. Branlyn Jaraba walks. Erys Bautista hit by pitch. Branlyn Jaraba to 2nd. Juan Frias strikes out swinging.

I was DMing with a pro scout last night (that does not work for the Brewers) who said that while he has not seen Grisham personally in AAA this year, he's talked to scouts who have and the buzz seems to be that Grisham has worked himself at least back to, and probably past, the value he had when he was drafted. I didn't ask about "top 100" because it's honestly not a very good evaluation measure, but it's fair to say he's in that neighborhood. At least from who I've talked to.

Yep. The Brewers have just nine players on active rosters above rookie ball that were signed by the club as international free agents. That's nuts. Stearns has spent gobs of extra money on the international front since taking over, but it'll take time to get those players into full-season ball.

They turned Medeiros into a key bullpen piece on a near-miss WS team, Harrison is going to be a MLBer this year after being a key piece in the Yelich deal, Grisham is at least a borderline top 100 prospect as a 22-year-old in AAA, Ray was an MVP of his AA league last year, and Lutz is a borderline top 100 prospect/is having a fine season after once again taking a month to adjust to better pitching. Teams have failed much worse on risky players. "People here" had good reason to be excited. It's gone pretty well so far. Could have been better, could have been a lot worse.

CF Carlos Rodriguez promoted from the AZL to Rocky Mountain.

There's some research indicating that much-shorter than usual pitchers actually have some advantage due to ability to throw the ball "upward" without having to drop their arm as much, creating a very unusual ball path for hitters to deal with.