MassBrew

The Huntsville Times reports that LHP Brian Adams, featured just this week in the 2005 Huntsville Stars thread here, was given his release by the Brewers this weekend. Following the box scores and listening to as many games online as we can in recent seasons, Brian was as rubber-armed as any, quite the staff-saver at times. Here's wishing the young man well. Brian Adams Brewerfan Player Index Page: www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=537

Batman on Ezi: www.brewerfan.net/ViewDai...portId=347

OF Travis Ezi, acquired for C Mark Johnson -- bench speed for Brevard County, most likely: Career stats: www.thebaseballcube.com/p..._ezi.shtml http://www.somdbaseball.com/art/ourstaff/002%20-%20Travis%20Ezi.jpg

Ueck and JP with the local radio call. MLB.com audio link for subscribers: mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ml...d=20050326

Link while active, text follows: www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=545 "Old Stars" Edge "New Stars" 11-9 Stars catcher Lou Palmisano did something Thursday that could only seem possible in an intrasquad game. After going 2-for-2 with an RBI for Huntsville, he swapped jerseys and took an at bat with the opposing Nashville team. For those trying to predict who will appear on the Stars 2005 Opening Day roster, Thursday's intrasquad game would have proven a brain buster. The game featured 2004 Stars: Manny Parra, Glenn Woolard, Tony Gwynn Jr., Ryan Knox, Brad Nelson, Ben Van Iderstine, Brandon Gemoll, Ryan Miller, Enrique Cruz, Ozzie Chavez and Chris Barnwell and an assortment of others who may not see Double-A for another season or two. If Thursday's offensive showcase proved nothing else, it shows major roster changes are sure to come. Nashville 11 Huntsville 9 - Intrasquad Game, Thursday, March 24, Maryvale Park Nashville's 11 runs were powered by Iderstine's three-run homer and a two-run shot from Nelson Cruz. Designated hitter Kennard Bibbs also drove in two for the Sounds. Huntsville found power from third baseman Jeff Eure who had a two-run homer in his only plate appearance. Right fielder Vinny Rottino added two runs on a double and Enrique Cruz batted 4-for-4 on the day with two runs scored. After appearing all spring with the Sounds, Woolard took the mound for the Stars and gave up four runs off three hits in three innings of work. Parra started for the Sounds and also gave up four runs off six hits with four strikeouts in three and one-third innings pitched. Former Star Ben Diggins made his first appearance with Huntsville this spring giving up two runs off two hits with a strikeout in one inning of work. To say we don't know how the rosters are going to shake out at this time would be a huge understatement -- MB

Nice job here -- link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/news/Sports/200503254/ Power manager returning to familiar territory Matt Lockhart Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter Ramon Aviles is no outsider. Sure, he's from Manati, Puerto Rico. His accent gives that away. But when Aviles brings his West Virginia Power to its new Charleston East End baseball home, he comes with familiarity. "I played at (Watt Powell Park) in 1975 and 1976 when I came through with the Red Sox," said Aviles, who played in four Major League seasons. The 56-year-old also coached in 2002 for the South Atlantic League's Lakewood team, a farm club of the Philadelphia Phillies. Still, though, this familiarity goes deeper into a sport he hopes his players can turn into a career. "When I started coaching my goal was to coach in the big leagues," said Aviles, who began instructing after his playing days finished in 1983. "Philly never gave me a chance. Now my goal is to help every kid I get my hands on to get to the big leagues." That's no easy task. Only ten percent of all minor leaguers ever reach the Majors, and many of them never stay. Aviles is no outsider to that notion, though. He spent seven years in the minors before getting a sniff of Major League pine tar -- something he experienced for just four years and 117 games. He's rich with baseball tradition, however. Philadelphia teammates Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt, Tug McGraw, Steve Carlton and Manny Trillo enjoyed a World Series title with Aviles in 1980. At the beginning of his Major League career in 1977 with Boston, he teamed with Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice and a 38-year-old Carl Yastrzemski for one July game. And at the end, he played second base the September day a 22-year-old named Ryne Sandberg broke in with the Phillies in 1981. Sandberg would play the position 15 seasons for the Chicago Cubs, before earning a Baseball Hall of Fame induction this year. "A lot of hard work," said Aviles, who shares the same Puerto Rican high school alma mater -- Fernando Callejo -- as big league star Carlos Beltran. "I love to go to the ballpark and work out. When I started a game, I hated when I made an error or a mental mistake. I wanted to be perfect. I was lucky to get an opportunity to play in the big leagues." Now, he wants to pass Major League familiarity on. It's a player friendly style that got him noticed by the Brewers. Aviles was let go by the Phillies organization after the 2003 season, so he went home to Puerto Rico, where he worked for the government and gave baseball clinics to kids from 5 to 18 years old while collecting his Major League pension. A Latin American scout for Milwaukee watched Aviles manage in the winter league and passed his name on. "I told him I was a free agent," said Aviles, who coached in the minors for 21 years with Philadelphia. "He said he liked the way I ran the club. "He saw the respect I have for players and respect they have for me." Much like Charleston Alley Cats' Manager Ken Joyce last year, Aviles realizes directing the clubhouse is as important as on-the-field issues. He's just waiting for the Brewers to finalize the roster for the low Class A affiliate, Power. "We are going to have a pretty good team from what I hear," Aviles said. "We are going to have an exciting team." Of course, Aviles has reasons to be excited himself, since this team will open up a new $23 million ballpark. "Our goal is between 3,500 and 4,000 fans per game," said Andy Barch, the Power broadcaster and director of media relations. That projection calls for 245,000-280,000 fans to walk through Appalachian Power Park's new gates. The previous attendance high for minor league baseball in Charleston was set in 1991 when the Wheelers won the South Atlantic League North Division and 185,389 showed up at Watt Powell Park. In Watt Powell's sendoff last season, the Alley Cats received a 34 percent attendance boost from 2003 with 128,158 fans. "That helps," Aviles said. "Players love to play in front of big crowds. They feed off the crowds. I know I did when I played. When there was a good crowd, it woke me up and made me work harder to do really good." Aviles just hopes that familiarity transfers to his players.

To be fair to Manatees management, here's their reply: We know about it and are working to have it changed. The web provider made the change as part of several other changes but mistakenly changed that as well. Cool -- just was having some fun with the oversight earlier...

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...109481.xml Future's in Stars, but which ones? Nashville's spring lineup may end up in Huntsville Huntsville Times Contact Mark McCarter at markcolumn@aol.com MARYVALE, Ariz. - It's high noon, and the Huntsville Stars are getting clobbered. Four-zip already, the game two innings old. Which is really fantastic news. Since it's the 2005 Huntsville Stars who are beating the current Huntsville Stars. Confusing? You don't know confusing until you try to keep up with a baseball game between two teams in identical uniforms, with one umpire (also in that same uniform), with two or three designated hitters lobbed into the batting order almost on a whim, no scoreboard, two cool Cruzes and a nearby player's mother's cellphone that alternately sounds like a symphony and a heart monitor. The current Huntsville Stars wear jerseys with the names of Brady and Morris and Sollman, Palmisano and Heether and Anderson. You can now temporarily file those names away until late 2005 or even until 2006. A majority of the Huntsville Stars we'll see in 2005 - still officially on the roster of the Triple-A Nashville Sounds - are in the opposite dugout from Thursday's Huntsville Stars for this intracamp game. Confusing? You don't know confusing half as much as two young female fans from Nashville on a scouting mission, spending much time seeing and being seen around the field where the Triple-A team works out. Happily for them, they'll be only two hours away from any player they have targeted. Ask around anywhere about the roster make-up for this season, you get the same answer: "It's still early.'' It is indeed still 10 days before the teams break camp for the season, but not in the last half-dozen years have there been so many questions to be answered, decisions to be made. It's a happy problem the Milwaukee officials have. Too many prospects, not enough jobs. A large number of minor leaguers remain with the major league club - for instance, Corey Hart started for the Brewers on Thursday - because "they want to get a better look at guys like Prince (Fielder) and Rickie (Weeks) and Hart,'' says director of player development Reid Nichols. The Brewers want them exposed to big-league pitching and big-league games as much as possible to make their inevitable promotions more smooth. One promising prospect is Nelson Cruz, a newcomer acquired from Oakland who blasted a first-inning home run for the Triple-A team that stayed in the air long enough to send back weather reports. Bold prediction: If the Brewers send Cruz to Huntsville for a majority of this season - there will be some major soul-searching ahead that Cruz has made even more difficult - he will be the Southern League MVP. Enrique Cruz, no relation, began last season in Huntsville but struggled, hitting only .188 in 35 games and making 10 errors. He straightened things out at High Desert and hit in 28 straight games in July and August. He's still on the hot streak. He had four hits for the current Stars, and he'll be dueling incumbent Ozzie Chavez for the shortstop job in Huntsville. "Save 'em,'' suggested a teammate as Cruz caught his breath on the bench after his final hit, a triple. "It's still March. "It's still early.''

OK, another game on MLB.TV for those with the online video package: mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ml...50325#grid That probably means Direct TV as well, someone can look into that for us, please. Audio subscriber, only? Here's your link: mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ml...d=20050325 Just got the official word that MSN subscribers will have their 2004 free subscription to MLB's All Access video and audio expire at the end of March. Oh well, fun while that lasted -- that'll be $99.95 for the 2005 season, still a bargain for a diehard...

My note to Manatees management: Hi folks. Hey, we know you're knee-deep in spring training with the Nationals, but your banner on the website indicates the Manatees are the single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Are you sure about that? Jim Goulart www.brewerfan.net Looking forward to working with you folks all summer... www.manateesbaseball.com/index.cfm

From the Stars' official site and other sources... West Tenn 10, Huntsville 1 - Tuesday, March 22 Maryvale Park Game details unavailable Norwich 3 Huntsville 0 - Wednesday, March 23 Indian School Park, Scottsdale, AZ 2004 Star Dana Eveland pitched five strong innings against the Navigators in spring action, but found no run support in Huntsville's loss. Eveland gave up just one earned run off four hits and struck out three in his second start for the Stars this spring. Reliever Alec Zumwalt, acquired by the Brewers as the player to be named from Atlanta in the deal that sent Dan Kolb to the Braves, gave up two more runs off three hits with four strikeouts through two innings of work. The Stars compiled just four hits against the Navigators. Left fielder Drew Anderson went 2-for-3 on the day with a double.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...451760.xml Adams one of those guys who deserves success At 27, Bible-reader still strives toward big-league goal Huntsville Times Contact Mark McCarter at markcolumn@aol.com MARYVALE, Ariz. - Late in a nondescript spring training game, with a strong breeze and an attack of clouds throwing a chill over the place, you suddenly found yourself paying attention. You hung on every pitch. Brian Adams was on the mound for the Huntsville Stars, wrapping up things in the final inning. He's one of the good guys. He's one of the ones to root for. He's a 27-year-old lefthander, a devout Christian you can often find, two hours before a game, relaxing somewhere outside the clubhouse, reading his Bible. He has a nest of thick, dirty-blond hair, a slight gap in his grin and the wingspan of a condor. He is also - did we mention? - 27 years old. He is beginning his sixth season, likely headed back to Huntsville, where he has made 84 relief appearances the last two summers. "I was hoping to make the Triple-A team (Nashville),'' he said, changing his shoes after his inning's work on Wednesday. "Now my goal is to get up there this year, then to the big leagues.'' There is no retirement discussion, except when fielding questions from family and friends. "We don't talk about it,'' said his wife, Lindsay, who still revels in what she calls "fun and adventure'' from living the baseball life. "You know my faith in God,'' Adams said, grabbing his equipment bag. "I just feel like this is where I'm supposed to be right now. I love the game, I love the guys, I love the competition. As long as I'm healthy and feel this is where the Lord wants me, this is where I want to be.'' His age, in an organization full of young hotshots, works against him. His arm works for him. Lefties are a valuable commodity. The pitching gurus here are working with him to be especially tough on left-handed hitters. A lefty who can get out lefties consistently can make a nice living and play for years. He got 'em out Wednesday. Adams first faced a veteran hitter more stubborn than a coldsore. He ran the count to 3-2, never able to get around quickly enough on Adams' fastball to manage anything but a foul ball. "I couldn't get it by him, and he couldn't get around on me,'' Adams said. "I didn't know what to throw him.'' After a sly changeup got the batter's timing off, Adams retired him on a routine fly to left - if any fly ball in an Arizona wind can be considered routine. Then came a soft single to right-center on a 2-0 pitch, the only mistake pitch out of 20, and a seeing-eye single that was six inches from being a game-ending double play. No matter. Adams whiffed the next batter then got an easy grounder for the final out. It was a lefty hitter. "The last outing, I was looking for the feel of pitches. It wasn't quite right,'' Adams said. "Today, I just went out and threw.'' He threw a nice, tidy inning, then headed toward the gate, where Lindsay was waiting, her jangled nerves - she's that way every time he pitches - finally back to normal. At this stage of their lives, without a Fort Knox of bonus money stashed away in a mattress somewhere, Brian and Lindsay still need to hold down offseason jobs to make ends meet. Lindsay registered with a temp agency when they returned to their Lexington, S.C., home in the offseason. She ended up as a secretary for a law firm. Brian went to work with Wilson Sports Turf Management Services, where he helped rebuild playing fields throughout the state. Naturally, he began to specialize in rebuilding pitching mounds. The one at Joe Davis Stadium "is pretty good,'' Adams said. Without being boastful, he added, "I think I could make it better.'' Adams makes a pitching staff - and a team - better by merely his presence. Why shouldn't he make a pile of dirt and clay better, too?

MLB.TV on this one for subscribers -- nice! mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ml...50323#grid MLB audio will have it as well (audio subscribers): mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ml...d=20050323 Added post-game bonus (this one's free): 5:45 PM Central -- view in its entirety... October 2, 2004: Ben Sheets struck out 11 while pitching a complete game to record his career-high 12th victory against the playoff-bound Cardinals. It was one of three complete games for him down the stretch. mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ml...d=20050323

Monday's Huntsville game, courtesy of the Stars' site: Stars Pour on Runs vs. Arkansas The Stars picked up their second win of the spring exhibition season Monday against the Arkansas Travelers, the AA team of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lighting up the scoreboard in a 15-5 victory. Huntsville 15 Arkansas 5 - Monday, March 21 Maryvale Park Center fielder Jake Serfass belted a three-run homer, his first of the spring season, on a day which the Stars' bats were the big story. The Stars pounded out 15 runs on 16 hits in the win. Desginated hitter Lou Palmisano had a triple on the day and drove in three runs. Left fielder Mario Mendez also drove in three. Catcher C.J. Medlin (2), left fielder Chris Morris, second baseman Steve Sollmann and first baseman Josh Brady (4-for-5 with a double) each provided runs. The main beneficiary of the high-powered Stars offense was starter Matt Ford. The righty (actually lefty) struggled in the first two innings of his four-inning stint giving up three runs. Ford had two strikeouts on the day. Stars relievers Josh Habel and David Bradley kept the Trav's bats silent until Brian Adams gave up two runs off four hits in the ninth inning. Not sure about the pitching report -- Ford's seeing a lot of action, based on these accounts -- oh, well... -- MB

Report from the Sounds' Site: www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1474 PHOENIX -- Major league starter Doug Davis tossed five solid innings and the Nashville offense produced a four-run first inning in posting a 5-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs on Tuesday afternoon at Maryvale Baseball Park. With the win, the Sounds improved to 2-1-1 in spring action. Davis allowed one run on three hits and struck out five batters to pick up the victory in the Class AAA game before giving way to Dennis Sarfate, who hurled three hitless innings against the Cubs' top affiliate. Veteran reliever Chad Paronto wrapped up the game with a scoreless ninth for Nashville. Third baseman Matt Erickson and first baseman Brandon Gemoll both turned in 2-for-4 efforts, scoring a run and driving in a run each, to pace the Nashville offense. Leftfielder Brad Nelson doubled in a run and scored for the Sounds, and designated hitter Nelson Cruz also racked up an RBI in the victory. Other Brewers regulars participating in the Triple-A contest included catcher Chad Moeller (1-for-3, R) and second baseman Junior Spivey (1-for-3, R). The Sounds travel to Scottsdale on Wednesday afternoon to take on the Fresno Grizzlies, the Class AAA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, in a 1 p.m. MT matchup.

As mentioned in the minor league game thread, the Brewers have indeed signed RHP Jeff Farnsworth (former Detroit Tiger, 2002, and Indianapolis Indian, 2004) and are giving the 29-year-old a chance to compete for an organizatonal roster spot this spring.

Report from the Sounds' site: www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1473 Spring Update - Sounds Fall To Salt Lake, 3-1 PHOENIX -- The Nashville Sounds took their first loss of the spring campaign on Monday afternoon, falling 3-1 to rehabbing right-hander Bartolo Colon and the Salt Lake Stingers (AAA-Angels). With the defeat, the Sounds sit at 1-1-1 in early action. Left-hander Jeff Housman started and took the loss for Nashville, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in four innings of work. The southpaw, who is slated to open the 2005 season in the Sounds rotation, struck out three batters and walked none in his outing. Veteran right-hander Clint Weibl followed by allowing one run in two innings of work before Kane Davis, Jeff Farnsworth, and Mike Meyers each tossed a scoreless frame to complete the contest. On the offensive side, Nashville was limited to five hits and was led by third baseman Kevin Orie's 2-for-4 effort. Colon made the start for Salt Lake in the Class AAA contest while working through a back injury and limited the Sounds to one unearned run on two hits over five innings, fanning six. Orie scored the lone Nashville run and was driven in by first baseman Tony Zuniga. Other Sounds with hits in the contest include second baseman Matt Erickson (1-for-2), major-league outfielder Carlos Lee (1-for-5), and outfielder Kennard Bibbs (1-for-2), who is ticketed for Single-A High Desert or Double-A Huntsville to open the year. Oops -- Brevard County, not High Desert! -- MB Nashville continues its spring slate with a Tuesday afternoon contest against the Iowa Cubs. Jeff Farnsworth's back? Really? We'll work on firming up some recent moves if so -- MB...

Stars' online series wraps up (Jeff Housman the pictured player at link): www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=548 Stars Spring Fever: Huntsville Spring Report My final day in the desert was the type that tourist agencies use in their advertising. Sunny, warm, a soft breeze blowing, made for wearing shorts and a T-shirt. My first stop this morning was the major league camp to watch pitchers fielding practice. Next it was on to the minor league side of the complex for some batting practice. The plan was to observe another AAA game but as an added bonus some major leaguers appeared as well. The Brewers sent over outfielder Carlos Lee to get some extra at bats. The Angels, whose big league club was off today, sent the battery of catcher Jose Molina and pitcher Bartolo Colon. Colon?s presence drew many writers and scouts, along with Angels? officials. On the mound for the Brewers was former Huntsville Star Jeff Housman. The lefty worked four innings allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out three and walked none. The second run scored after a ball was lost in the sun, dropping for a hit in the infield. If that ball had been caught, the third out of the inning would have been recorded before the run-scoring hit. Colon threw five innings, allowing only two hits. Kevin Orie smacked a double, moved to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly for the only run off Colon. Carlos Lee sent a single into left field, his only hit in the five at-bats I observed. Lee hit third in each inning of the game. In exhibition games it is not unusual for teams to allow such practices for players to get in necessary work. At the end of this game for example the Brewers batted two innings (six outs) straight to allow an Angel pitcher to get in an inning of work. In the next two weeks the Brewers organization will be finalizing rosters for the season. Stars fans can get an idea of who might be assigned to Huntsville from the transactions section of the sports page. Like falling dominos when a player is sent down from the Brewers to AAA Nashville a corresponding move will be made dropping a player to AA Huntsville. A late trade near the end of spring training or picking up a released player from another organization will affect the roster as well. Final decisions will probably not be made until the end of the month. This article was written by Jim Sandoval. This is his final post from Arizona. He has served as a correspondent for the Huntsville Stars official web site at the Milwaukee Brewers Spring Training Facility in Arizona. Our thanks to Jim and the folks in the Huntsville front office! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Link while active, text follows: www.globegazette.com/arti...615633.txt Nelson keeps getting closer to majors By JARED PATTERSON, Of The North Iowa Globe Gazette PHOENIX ? Brad Nelson keeps inching closer to the big leagues. The former Bishop Garrigan standout spent the first three weeks of spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers before he was sent down to their minor league camp on March 15. Nelson was hitting .412 (5-for-12) with six runs scored, five RBI and a home run with the Brewers. "It's a blast, now I just have to shoot to stay up there," he said. Nelson did, however, leave a good impression with the team that selected him in the fourth round of the 2001 draft. After learning that he would be sent down, Nelson got one final at bat and made the most of it. As a pinch-hitter, Nelson hit a three-run homer off Texas' Ryan Bukvich, helping the Brewers to a 6-4 win. "That was a good way to leave," Nelson said. "The best thing was just to be there, talking to the coaches and players. They've all been there and done that." Nelson spent last year at Double-A Huntsville, hitting .254 with 19 home runs and 77 RBI. He won the Southern League home run derby and was selected to the league's mid- and postseason All-Star teams. He'll begin 2005 at either Double-A Huntsville or Triple-A Nashville. "The higher the better," Nelson said. "I just have to go out and keep doing what I do. "I've been down here seeing live pitching, so I'm ready."

MLB.com audio link for subscribers: mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ml...d=20050322

Not sure if the folks in Nashville plan on providing any spring training game updates on their site. The following is from the Oklahoma (Rangers' AAA) site, obviously written from a Texas perspective: March 20: Pedro Astacio, a veteran right-hander considered a strong candidate to join the Rangers' rotation this season, pitched a strong 4 2/3 innings for the RedHawks on Sunday in Oklahoma's 4-3 win over Nashville (Milwaukee Brewers) at Surprise, Ariz. Will Smith and Rashad Eldridge homered for the RedHawks, who improved to 5-0-1 in Cactus League play. Right-hander Jose Veras, a candidate to be with the RedHawks this season, pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings on Sunday. A few AAA clubs, including Oklahoma, began their spring training schedule several days earlier than the Nashville squad -- MB.

Huntsville site link (Corey Hart pictured), actual text follows: www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=545 Stars Win One Then Drop One The Stars spring season got off to a great start Saturday defeating the also-owned-by Miles Prentice Midland Rockhounds 7-1 in their spring opener. The Stars were quickly humbled on Sunday as they lost a close game to the Frisco RoughRiders 7-6. Huntsville 7 Midland 1 - Saturday, March 19 Maryvale Park Right Fielder Ben Van Iderstine and catcher C.J. Medlin each hit two-run homers for the Stars in the team's first spring exhibition game. Designated hitter Vinny Rottino added a run on a double. Second baseman Steve Sollmann and center fielder Steve Moss drove in a run each. Pitcher Dana Eveland started and threw three scoreless innings in a no-decision. Eveland had four strikeouts on the day. Greg Bruso yielded Midland's lone run in the fourth inning and earned the win. Pitchers David Bradley, Ryan Miller and Mitch Slack (evidently, a morph of Mitch Stetter and Nick Slack http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif ) combined for six strikeouts over four innings of relief for the Stars. Frisco 7 Huntsville 6 - Sunday, March 20 @ Surprise Sports Complex, Surprise, AZ Frisco scored seven runs off seven hits allowed by Stars pitchers en route to a 7-6 victory. Deuces were wild for Stars starter Manny Parra who allowed two runs off two hits with two strikeouts through two innings of work. Reliever Landon Stockman took the loss for the Stars giving up two runs in the eighth inning. Offensively, Moss and catcher John Vanden Berg carried the big bat for the Stars collecting their first home runs of the spring season. Vandenberg had two RBI for the Stars off two hits. Rottino doubled twice and also drove in a run. Third baseman Jeff Eure, 2-for-3 on the day and designated hitter Charlie Lozada also drove in a run each in the loss. Don't mind my comment about "Mitch Slack" -- we appreciate the updates -- keep 'em coming! - MB

Yet another Stars' site report (RHP Glenn Woolard pictured at link): www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=546 Mea Culpa. In my report of 17 March the part of Manny Parra in the intra-squad game was actually played by Matt Ford. The weekend saw more fans in the minor league complex. Saturday the minor leaguers worked out in the morning in preparation for their first game action against another organization. The Oakland Athletics sent over two teams from their home base at Papago Park in Phoenix. With some of the players destined for AAA still in the major league camp many players play up a level in these games. Some of the players in the AAA game will be assigned to AA Huntsville to begin the season. The same holds true with an AA game and players eventually being assigned to A level clubs. For this reason I concentrated on the AAA game. Glenn Woolard started on the mound for the Brewers and turned in an excellent performance. Mixing a good fastball with a sharp breaking ball he pitched four innings, allowing only one hit. Most of the outs were recorded on ground balls, evidence of the good movement on his pitches. He struck out two, allowing no bases on balls. Offensively the leaders were third baseman Kevin Orie and outfielder Kennard Bibbs, each with two hits. Bibbs replaced starter Nelson Cruz in right field and hit safely in both of his at bats. In his first at bat in the 6th inning he drilled a hard ground ball over first base that rolled into the right field corner. Bibbs raced into third with a triple. He also singled in the 8th. On Sunday morning I watched the AAA/AA players take batting practice in the batting cage. Two hitters who were especially impressive were Nelson Cruz and Kennard Bibbs. The ball just explodes off Cruz?s bat. Bibbs has the knack to get the bat head to the ball consistently hitting line drives in all directions. Also impressive was the left handed line drive swing of Drew Anderson. After batting practice the upper level minor leaguers took a break before heading to Surprise, Arizona for exhibition games. In a surprise for the fans in the minor league complex some of the major league Brewers came there to take some batting practice as well. Meanwhile I headed over to the stadium to watch the visiting Texas Rangers hit. In the major league game the Brewers defeated the Rangers 8-5. Former Huntsville Star Ben Sheets started on the mound, pitching three innings and allowing three runs. He struck out four and walked two. He, by my unofficial count, threw 64 pitches, 47 for strikes and 17 balls. Other former Stars who appeared in the game included Bill Hall, the starter at shortstop. He went 0-3 at the plate. Corey Hart singled in his only at bat. J.J. Hardy walked and flew out in two plate appearances. Dave Krynzel pinch ran, only to be immediately caught stealing. Two baseball people of note were in the Press Box for today?s game. Bob Uecker, celebrating his 50th year in the game, called the game on radio. Katy Feeney, an executive in the Commissioner?s office, also attended. This article was written by Jim Sandoval. He will be serving as a correspondent for the Huntsville Stars official web site at the Milwaukee Brewers Spring Training Facility in Arizona. Sandoval's posts will be updated from time to time on the site until the start of the Stars season.

Latest from the Stars' site: www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=544 Today?s report (Friday's action) will give the fan that has not had the opportunity to visit spring training an idea of what a typical day?s workout might be. With the exception of a few players still in the major league camp the Brewers? minor leaguers began the morning organized into groups spread out on four fields. The activities are organized down to the minute. An air horn is sounded as a warning and then a second blast signals the players to rotate to another field. Since I am serving as a ?correspondent? for the Stars I decided to follow the group placed with Stars coaches Don Money and Sandy Guerrero. First up on all fields was basic stretching exercises. The Stars group then rotated to a different field to take part in running drills. This included what appeared to be a 40-yard run for time. On another field I spotted pitchers working on basic throwing mechanics. Next players warmed up their throwing arms. The infielders in this group then worked on fielding ground balls and turning double plays. Although many decisions are still to be made the Huntsville infield for 2005 is likely to be made up of at least some of the following players who worked with this group. Brandon Gemoll worked out at first. Chris Barnwell and Callix Crabbe at second. Barnwell also took some ground balls at shortstop, along with Steve Scarborough and Ozzie Chavez. Kevin Orie and Tony Zuniga were at third. The next two stations were bunting practice and then instruction on taking proper leads off third base led by coach/instructor Joel Youngblood. Finally the groups set up for batting practice, at which time I left for the major league game. Oakland faced the Brewers in today?s game at Maryvale Baseball Park. As usual I kept an eye out for former Stars. Three were in the opening lineup for the Brewers, Bill Hall at 2nd, J. J. Hardy at shortstop and Corey Hart in left field. Hall went 2-4 including a double and a stolen base. J. J. had a tough game; going 0-3 and letting a ground ball go through his legs for an error. Hart was 1-4. Prince Fielder came into the game in the 6th inning at first base. He singled, a hard line drive into center field in his first at bat and walked in the 9th, stealing second but being stranded there as Trent Durrington grounded out to end the game. Dave Krynzel entered the game in the 8th playing center field. His one at bat resulted in a foul out, a play that A?s catcher Kurt Suzuki reached over the railing into the stands near the Brewers dugout to make a great catch. Rickie Weeks had a pinch hit appearance, grounding out to shortstop. This article was written by Jim Sandoval. He will be serving as a correspondent for the Huntsville Stars official web site at the Milwaukee Brewers Spring Training Facility in Arizona. Sandoval's posts will be updated from time to time on the site until the start of the Stars season.

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