MassBrew

Maybe I've missed it, but have you ever done a draft recap of drafts from 3 or 4 years ago. Everyone always says that it takes a few years to truly evaluate the draft. I think it would be really interesting to look at the 2001, 02, 03 drafts in the same way. 2000 was Jack Z.'s first draft with the Brewers, and it's not looking particularly rosy right now. You've got the jury still out on first rounder David Krynzel, and a potential huge value pick in 11th rounder Corey Hart. Amazingly, if both those guys are solid contributors in the future, that's got to be considered a good draft, in the zany world of post-draft analysis. The only other names remaining from 2000 are 9th round Huntsville reliever Ryan Miller (injured most of last year), and 22nd round utility man Scott Candelaria (on the restricted list after voicing concerns about his status with the organization down in High Desert this summer). Two high school pitchers, Gerry Oakes and in particular Matt Yeatman, got the Crew a chance to see what they had in Matt Kinney. But if Krynzel and/or Hart don't produce as hoped, then that 2000 draft becomes a train wreck of Bando-esque proportions, and you're really looking for 2005/2006 help from those names. www.brewerfan.net/ViewPic...;draftId=3 Interesting to note that 16th round local Wisconsin product Scott Roehl was lost to the University of Arkansas, and hasn't shown much toiling in relief in the Cleveland system now. So if colbyjack were to analyze a year from the past, 2000 would be a great place to kick off that coverage -- hint, hint. What was Dane Artman's story, anyway?

What do ya know? Looks like the Tigers just signed Verlander; I'm sure BA and other sites will have details soon...

Here's what Colbyjack noted when the Brewers drafted in the 2002 eighth round (and failed to sign) California HS right-hander Steven Kahn: Overall a very sound high school pitching product with good stuff & a sound delivery. Didn't expect to fall this far. Good, strong, compact size with low to mid 90s fastball with the makings of a good curve & changeup. Committed to Loyola Marymount. As noted here and above, now considered a first-round talent -- maybe somebody Jack Z. would draft again if he slides to Round Two: mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ml...;fext=.jsp

Brandon Gemoll 1-for-4, three runs scored. Should mention that he has at least two 2004 Indy Indian teammates on his Tigres squad, current free agents reliever Todd Erdos and catcher Alex Delgado...

From Saturday's games: Looks like RHP Glenn Woolard's line was: 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K Brandon Gemoll, hitting cleanup again for his club, went 0-for-4 (now 1-for-12).

Get your translator web pages ready! Mexican, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Venezuelan League action -- darn near impossible to keep track of, but always fun trying (or maybe not). I mentioned in the Alumni Thread that the Mexican Pacific League season is underway, but there doesn't seem to be a current Brewer involved (C/3B Chris Coste is there, but he's likely a free agent at this time). After a year in which the league schedule was cancelled due to government upheaval and unsafe conditions, winter baseball is back in Venezuela, with games played thus far on Thursday and Friday, the 14th and 15th. The Venezuelan League web site is here -- it has a daily story on each game, which more importantly for stat hunters, includes the box score. www.lvbp.com/ Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a league-wide roster breakdown, which means it's on to the individual team sites -- ugh. Brandon Gemoll is playing first base for the Aragua Tigres, and is 1-for-8 in those first two games. Pretty bold step to take the assignment by Brandon, who is the only Brewer link to that roster. Best wishes to him. Fans who are viewing this post today (Saturday AM) will find a home page photo of RHP Glenn Woolard on the site of the Lara Cardenales, as he's slated to go for the Redbirds today: www.cardenalesdelara.com/ It looks like we're officially adopting Lara as our Venezuelan team this year, as a concentrated number of Brewer farmhands will be in their camp. This gets confusing as well, as often dozens of players (in this case with Lara, 86! players) can be listed on any one Venezuelan League roster. Perhaps some of them are only on board for workouts. Heck, many of these guys are believed to be still in instructional camp with the Brewers in Maryvale. Anyway, when you click on the Lara roster page, you get an excel spreadsheet view which includes infielders Hernan Iribarren, Guilder Rodriguez, and Gilberto Acosta, outfielder Freddy Parejo, and catcher Franklin Tua. Here's something frustrating -- Glenn Woolard's not listed! What's up with that? www.cardenalesdelara.com/...er2004.xls Pitchers are "lanzadores". I like that! A quick scan of other Venezuelan League rosters didn't show other Brewers, but believe me, it's an inexact science. And don't even get into the former Brewers or Brewer farmhands on these rosters -- they're everywhere (Jim Rushford as a for instance). The Dominican League is apparently next, opening on Oct. 22nd, with the Puerto Rican League opening November 16th. With Prince Fielder and David Krynzel (and Manager Frank Kremblas) among those still to be tracked down for winter ball, I'm sure we'll get some minimal updates from Adam McCalvy of MLB.com on their progress. I'm going to kind of sit tight for a couple of weeks (in order to get the Brewers front office a chance to please prepare a list for us -- wink-wink!) before asking our Brewer friends for a confirmation of all players in winter league action. Then again, these players are free to take these assignments if they wish, and the Brewers have sometimes been "surprised" to see certain players in action in the past -- Luis Martinez among them, I believe. I may peek in occasionally, but to be honest, detailed daily updates on winter league action isn't one of my favorite Brewerfan tasks, and probably isn't necessary. I know we have some winter ball lurkers, like our poster friend EdgarDiazRocks, who don't mind perusing the latin sites. If anyone does have winter ball news for us, please add on to this "official thread". Thanks!

From Tom Haudricourt in the Journal Sentinel: Doug Melvin also said Ed Romero was leaving his position as a roving infield instructor in the Brewers' farm system to take the same job with the Florida Marlins. Romero lives near Florida's training complex and wanted to be closer to home, according to Melvin.

Gotta love Sports Network. While they no longer post any transaction news now that the season's over, they did manage to have the traded Jason Belcher back on the Huntsville roster all last week, and have now converted Brad Nelson to a pitcher. Unrelated to the Sports Network incompetence, the Brewers have indicated to us that they have little control over their own site's minor league roster pages and rely on mlb.com for changes there. With all the upcoming paper roster moves in preparation of the Rule 5 draft about to take place and the results of minor league free agency comings and goings to begin on Saturday the 16th, we're basically at a loss, although we'll see what we can do for you. Brad Nelson, future # 1 starter: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...x?team=342

Standings Rankings (for what it's worth): www.minorleaguebaseball.c...s/?id=2307 Not the end-all and be-all (as we all should know), but still, 29th place made for a lot of depressing Link Reports this summer....

Huntsville Promotional Schedule -- Bucky and Ben Bobbleheads in 2005: www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=522 When this is posted on the Stars' own site, we'll update this link so as to promote traffic to their fine site...

263 K's vs. 32 walks! 2.70 ERA! A 10 K, 1 BB, zero earned run complete game. My god, Ben, thank you for your incredible 2004!!!!

Uecker: "I don't know what else can happen, folks. Horrible."

So David Krynzel comes to the plate in the first and Jim Powell offers Bob Uecker the open-ended question, "So what are your impressions of Krynzel thus far?" "Well, his defense needs work and he takes too many pitches", to Jim's almost complete shocked silence... (Insert head-scratching by audience here...) I do wish I had the opportunity to listen to Ueck in his prime... Oh yeah, Ginter's on fire...

They used my damn photo! Maybe J.J.'s like that girl Jerry Seinfeld dated that wore the same dress every time they went out. Just because J.J. got a sizable bonus, doesn't mean he didn't splurge on a wardrobe. Nah, they used your damn photo! And while the rehabilitation work is rigorous, another stinging reminder of a season Hardy would just as soon delete presents itself when he walks into the clubhouse for treatment. Posted in plain sight are the statistics of all the teams in the Brewers' organization, from the major leagues on down, updated daily. Do you think that's team statistics, or individual statistics? I find it pretty odd that they'd post and track player statistics so closely in the clubhouse -- I mean, aren't players, especially at the lower levels, working on things that might not always affect their stats positively? Otherwise, just go out and do the stuff that made you a high school great. Weird.

That had to be Dan Kolb, the High Desert version, in that uniform -- man, does Danny look awful. By the way, as we try to close this one out, the D-Backs have swept exactly zero series this year...

So MassBrew, you're watching or listening to this at 10:45 EDT? That and your five-figure post total surely make you the man. I really need to get a new user ID. Even though about 90% of my posts were from Link Report threads (you guys know I don't chime in all that often elsewhere), that 10,000+ thing is going to hang on me unless I "reset" myself. There was my favorite Brewer pitcher from my younger days... MassHaas?

Man on third, nobody out, and the Brewer 3-4-5 hitters strike out in order, runner stranded. And this team still deserves our attention why again? What a pathetic night thus far.

That non-play by Krynzel in RF gave me a Grieve flashback -- among the ugliest (and costliest) goofs of the season. de la Rosa looks awful, and Uecker (I'm watching and listening) has disgust just dripping from his words tonight. And all this in front of basically the entire organization in the stands tonight. Hate to say it, but the two kids basically "choked" that inning. And please, no talk about David getting used to the angles in right field. It was only one play, but man, was it hideous.

What an incredible pitching matchup -- go team, as batman would say.

We'll be extra-reliant on MLB.com's Adam McCalvy this off-season -- keep it up, Adam, every tidbit helps us out: Brewers farm director Reid Nichols said the Brewers' minor league coaching staffs would remain intact with two exceptions: Advanced Single-A manager Mel Queen and hitting coach Stanton Cameron will not return. That means former Brewers star Cecil Cooper will return for a third season at the helm of the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, which will be in Nashville for the first time next season, and his old teammate Don Money will be back for a sixth season at Class A, which has been moved to Charleston, W.V. Kremblas is expected back at Huntsville for a third season. If High Desert pitching coach John Curtis remains with the organization in high-A, he'll make the move from the least-friendly pitching environment to the most-friendly. Talk about making an adjustment...

Sam Narron's Hometown Paper in Goldsboro, NC: Sam Narron picked up by Brewers MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The Milwaukee Brewers claimed former Eastern Wayne and East Carolina University standout Sam Narron off waivers from the Texas Rangers Friday afternoon. Narron, a 23-year old left-hander, made one appearance with the Rangers at the major league level this season, allowing four runs in 2 2/3 innings in a start against Oakland. At the Minor League level, Narron was a combined 14-2 with a 3.72 ERA in 30 games with 24 starts between Triple A Oklahoma and Double A Frisco this season. "It's been a great year," Narron said. "I was very fortunate this year starting in the bullpen in Double A and working my way up. It came up a little short for us in Oklahoma, but it's been a special year for sure." The 6-foot-7, 200-pounder is in the Brewers Instructional League team in Arizona. "I'm looking forward to it. Anytime you get claimed, it means somebody wants you," Narron said. "This is all positive for me. I had my first work out today (Saturday) and met some of the guys. I think we have a good group here. "I'm here for them to get to know me, and I'm looking forward to it." Milwaukee moved its Triple A affiliate from Indianapolis to Nashville recently. Narron is hoping he will be assigned to the Triple A team next spring. "Hopefully I will be in Triple A, but that's up to them. That's up in the air right now," he said. Johnny Narron, Sam's uncle, managed the rookie Helena, Montana team in the Brewers' organization last season. "Maybe that helped a little bit, they may have talked to him," Narron said. "I would like to think it was all me, but him putting a good word in for me probably helped a little." By Gabe Whisnant Published in Sports on September 26, 2004 02:02 AM

Team's first complete game shutout of the season, against a team desperate for a playoff-drive win -- damn impressive, Wes.

David Krynzel turns his first big league walk (in his 27th big league AB) into a run by scoring from first on a single! Nothing against Brady Clark and his high ankle sprain, but except for Sunday (Chris Magruder will start), we should see plenty of Dave next week.

Very cool of MLB.com's Adam McCalvy to include the Brewerfan-christened moniker for Hernan Iribarren in this story: milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com...;fext=.jsp

The entire second half is summed up by the fact that not only do the Brewers move the starting time of Fan Appreciation Day by several hours, but then double-whammy it by giving Wes Obermueller the start -- somebody do the math, how many Saturday home starts does Obie have this year? Half of all of the Saturday home dates?? It's pretty close! In honor of our own version of Fan Appreciation Day, Brewerfan presents nice reminders to the emotional high point of the season (even if the technical high point at 41-34 was a week earlier): milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com...;fext=.jsp And your game thread: milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com...;fext=.jsp Ahh, those were the days!