MassBrew

When I think of Spivey's trade value back on April 1st -- and now, crud

Can we have a second inning do-over? Why, oh why, are we going to have a sick feeling in the pit of our gut for weeks over what we are seeing tonight...

Brandon Gemoll, Chris Coste, Mark Johnson... The first base alternatives were everywhere! Hey Coop, the phone's ringing for you. What were ya' thinking?

Maybe not 8 (for Jenkins), but at least a couple spots. He's taking ABs away from Overbay, Ginter, and Grieve. Yeah, like Keith and Ben were so clutch earlier tonight! Now I know what it must have been like to be a Baltimore Raven fan a few years ago when Tony Banks was shooting blanks -- oh wait, that franchise has actually won something..

Not even a "big leaguer" and Parra combo will help the Mavs avoid loss # 10 in a row -- unreal...

Final: Huntsville 4, Birmingham (White Sox) 3 Walk-off win for the Stars with three in the bottom of the ninth! Details soon...

Final: Scranton / Wilkes-Barre (Phillies) 6, Indianapolis 5 Frustrating loss for sure; Corey Hart showing yet more extra-base pop but a dud in the field (again at first base) tonight; but man, can he rake -- his .854 OPS sneaks up a bit this evening; damnit, Brewers, stick Hart in RF and leave him there! Is this what Jeff Liefer's promotion has led to? These bizarre moves and non-moves are starting to tick many of us off big-time -- really now... Indianapolis Box Score: Peter Bergeron on base twice in his Tribe debut... GAME DATE: 6/08/04 SWB at IND SCRANTON-WB 6 AT INDIANAPOLIS 5 YTD YTD SCRANTON-WB AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG A.Machado SS 4 1 0 0 .233 P.Bergeron CF 4 0 1 1 .250 M.Budzinski CF 4 1 0 0 .222 C.Magruder LF 5 1 1 1 .262 S.Wooten 3B 4 0 0 0 .067 C.Hart 1B 5 1 2 0 .287 J.Rushford 1B 4 1 1 1 .320 J.Nunnally RF 4 0 2 0 .254 M.Smith LF 4 0 1 0 .234 M.Johnson CAT 4 0 1 0 .286 P.Ozuna 2B 3 1 0 0 .253 L.Figueroa 3B 4 0 0 0 .292 M.Hernandez CAT 4 1 1 4 .208 M.Erickson SS 3 2 1 0 .216 J.Padilla RF 4 1 2 0 .257 S.Scarbrough 2B 3 1 2 1 .220 C.Condrey PIT 2 0 1 1 .400 J.Farnsworth PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 B.Hitchcox PH 1 0 0 0 .225 B.Gemoll PH 1 0 1 1 .243 S.Lundberg PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Reichert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Kubes PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Giron PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hannahan PH 1 0 1 0 .321 S.Sheldon PH 1 0 0 0 .220 J.Crowell PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 6 7 6 TOTALS 36 5 11 4 SCRANTON-WB 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 0- 6 7 2 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2- 5 11 2 E--A.Machado, J.Rushford, C.Hart 2. DP--SCRANTON-WB 3, INDIANAPOLIS 0. LOB--SCRANTON-WB 5, INDIANAPOLIS 7. 2B--J.Padilla (8), C.Hart (12), M.Erickson (9), S.Scarbrough (11). 3B--C.Hart (3). HR--M.Hernandez (4), C.Magruder (4). SB--A.Machado (6), C.Magruder (5). CS--B.Hannahan. SH--S.Scarbrough. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA SCRANTON-WB C.Condrey 6.0 6 2 2 0 2 1 3.97 S.Lundberg (W,2-0) 1.0 2 1 1 1 0 0 4.76 G.Kubes 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.73 J.Crowell (S,9) 1.0 2 2 2 1 1 0 1.88 INDIANAPOLIS J.Farnsworth 7.0 4 1 1 1 3 0 1.20 D.Reichert (L,3-1) 0.1 1 3 0 1 1 0 1.29 R.Giron 1.2 2 2 2 1 0 1 5.40 WP--D.Reichert. SO--A.Machado, S.Wooten, M.Smith, C.Condrey, P.Bergeron, C.Magruder, M.Johnson. BB--A.Machado, M.Budzinski, P.Ozuna, P.Bergeron, M.Erickson. T--2:38. A--8126Indianapolis Game Log: Roberto Giron surrenders the grand slam... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=14153

Final: Beloit 8, Dayton (Reds) 3 Beloit Box Score: Four Snapper HR's... GAME DATE: 6/08/04 BLT at DTN BELOIT 8 AT DAYTON 3 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG DAYTON AB R H BI AVG T.Trofholz CF 4 1 1 0 .309 C.Dickerson CF 4 1 1 0 .298 S.Moss DH 4 2 4 2 .219 L.Bolivar 2B 4 1 3 2 .226 A.Heether 3B 3 0 0 0 .250 J.Votto DH 4 1 1 1 .294 V.Rottino LF 5 1 2 3 .306 W.Olmstead 1B 4 0 0 0 .271 M.Ramirez 1B 5 1 1 1 .285 B.Himes RF 4 0 0 0 .229 J.Murray SS 5 1 1 1 .202 K.Smith LF 4 0 1 0 .226 R.Deevers RF 5 1 2 0 .225 J.Schmidt CAT 3 0 0 0 .169 T.Marks CAT 5 0 1 0 .209 J.George 3B 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Lewis 2B 5 1 2 1 .286 J.Piepkorn 3B 3 0 0 0 .158 C.Villanueva PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Hudson SS 3 0 0 0 .200 M.Stetter PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Pelland PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Dillard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Ursin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Hawk PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Rice PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 41 8 14 8 TOTALS 33 3 6 3 BELOIT 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1- 8 14 1 DAYTON 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0- 3 6 2 E--W.Lewis, W.Olmstead, J.Schmidt. DP--BELOIT 0, DAYTON 1. LOB-- BELOIT 10, DAYTON 3. 2B--R.Deevers (7), L.Bolivar (8). 3B--C.Dickerson (2). HR--S.Moss (2), V.Rottino (6), M.Ramirez (4), J.Murray (3), L.Bolivar (6), J.Votto (8). SB--T.Trofholz (20), S.Moss (2), R.Deevers (3), L.Bolivar (11). CI--A.Heether. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT C.Villanueva (W,5-5) 6.0 5 3 3 0 3 2 4.55 M.Stetter 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 2.37 T.Dillard 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.06 DAYTON T.Pelland (L,1-7) 3.0 5 5 5 1 0 2 8.66 D.Ursin 3.0 5 1 1 1 1 0 3.50 D.Hawk 2.0 3 1 1 1 2 1 6.97 T.Rice 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 7.36 WP--D.Ursin, D.Hawk. SO--A.Heether, J.Murray, T.Marks, J.Votto 2, W.Olmstead, J.Schmidt, W.Hudson 2. BB--T.Trofholz, S.Moss, A.Heether. T--2:38. A--8041Beloit Game Log: No walks from Beloit pitchers always adds to effectiveness... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=13456

At some point, I'm wondering if the Brewers would take a chance on Eric Young, Jr. He was drafted in the 30th round by Colorado last year as a DFE, but didn't sign. Actually, he did sign with the Rockies, about a week ago.

High Desert RHP Forrest Martin has been placed on the Maverick disabled list with arm trouble. Martin had been impressive in the very early going this season for the Mavs.

With the elimination of the formal Brewer Dominican and Venezuelan League teams, I know the Brewers said they'd still have a presence in the Latin countries, but would focus on smaller samples there and bring those kids directlly to Arizona in the future. This year's holdovers will represent the last fairly large contingent of young latin Maryvale / Helena talent to come over in one group. With the naming of an extensive Canadian scouting staff last summer and the obvious focus on the Great White North this week in the draft, it sure appears that the Brewers hope to be "the" MLB presence above the border, eh?

Keeping a watchful eye on things from Helena: Players report this Friday the 11th, games begin a week later on the 18th -- Link Report goes into overdrive with rookie ball (sleep is so overrated http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif )... Linkage: www.helenair.com/articles...804_04.txt

See a video news report here while the link is active for another day or two. It's from a couple of days prior to the draft. There's a Snickers commercial up front. Click on the link for the Gatorade Award winner -- you need Real Player on your PC. Not the best informed announcer -- only a "90" MPH fastball -- kind of a fluff piece, but a chance to see Rogers in front of the camera... There was a much better piece on this AM about his learning of the Brewer selection -- I'll try to track that down... www.boston.com/news/necn/Sports/

Because Pence entered a Division I school that fall, he wasn't really a DFE candidate. The Brewers needed to snag him before school started in September.

RHP Matt Childers and C/3B Chris Coste have been activated from the Indianapolis disabled list. Nice to see Childers' groin strain was very mild, and Coste's bat has been much missed, so both are welcome additions. With these moves, the Indy active roster is at the limit of 23. Still on the AAA disabled list are SS J.J. Hardy, CF David Krynzel, RHP Brian Bowles, and LHP Jorge de la Rosa (wasn't he supposed to be back by now after what was to be only a week's stay with shoulder tendinitis?)

colby, noticed that 2002 Brewer 40th round pick LF Hunter Pence went in the second round this year to Houston. His OPS this year was 1.057. What happened that summer that kept us from signing him before he went to Division I Texas-Arlington that fall, thus making him ineligible until this week for a re-draft? Fair to say a mis-calculation by the Brewers, or were they just two full years ahead of the pack on this kid?

Man, I wish Huntsville archived its pre-game interviews -- Ryan Knox, just demoted to Huntsville -- yet, class act, 100%. You da' man, Ryan, that's all I can say.

Beloit Press Release: The Beloit Snappers have five representatives on the 2004 Midwest League All-Star Team. The All-Star game will be hosted by the Cedar Rapids Kernels in Cedar Rapids, IA, Tuesday, June 22, 2004. The Snappers will have two players in the starting line-up for the game. Terry Trofholz will start in the outfield, while Vinny Rottino will start in the designated hitter slot. Catcher Lou Palmisano was selected as a reserve. Pitchers Luis Pena and Dana Eveland were also selected to the squad. This season Terry Trofholz is leading the team in batting average (.310) and stolen bases (19). In the league Trofholz is sixth overall in average and his stolen base total ranks him third. Vinny Rottino is hitting .304 (third on the team) and has driven in 38 RBI's to lead the team, while collecting a team high 66 hits. Lou Palmisano has the second highest batting average on the team (.307) and is tied for second on the team with 32 RBI's. Right-handed pitcher Luis Pena is 4-2 this season with a 3.57 ERA. Pena has struck out 42 batters, while issuing 19 walks. Left-handed pitcher Dana Eveland is also 4-2 this season. Eveland has recorded a team high 52 strikeouts and has an ERA of 3.35. The Snappers will be giving away two free tickets to the All-Star game at the Thursday, June 17 game. Interested fans can sign up at the game and one lucky fan will win the two tickets. For additional information about the game, or to order tickets contact the Cedar Rapids Kernels at 1-800-860-3609. The official full squad list has yet to be released online -- MassBrew.

Stars short on runs, experience Huntsville shaken up on the field by Chattanooga, off field by transactions By MARK McCARTER Times Sports Staff markcolumn@aol.com This was Hell's Angels vs. kids on tricycles. This was hairy-legged seniors snapping wet towels at the freshmen after gym class. This was a series of experience vs. youth, and the callow Huntsville Stars found themselves pretty much bullied. Bullied ... and bombed. And left with their chances for a pennant fading away like Kathie Lee Gifford. The Chattanooga Lookouts handed the Stars their sixth loss in seven games with a 9-5 pounding Monday night. The Lookouts came into the series as the best-hitting team in the league, and left with plenty of stats and evidence. Chattanooga racked up 32 runs and 48 hits in the series. "They can hit,'' manager Frank Kremblas said of the Lookouts. "They're a Triple-A team. They've got guys who can play baseball. They swing the bat and they've got some pitching and they run the bases pretty well.'' Kremblas then went on to list a number of the Chattanooga players, noting their experience. Some, in fact, with considerable time in the majors. His lineup, meanwhile, has been built around one player with a year's experience in the league (Chris Barnwell) and another with a half season (Brad Nelson). Two key figures (Tony Gwynn Jr. and Rickie Weeks) are in their first seasons of pro ball. "Nothing's wrong with our team,'' Kremblas said. "We're young. I thought we swung the bats pretty good. We've been facing pretty good pitching.'' The experience factor for Huntsville did increase on Monday. All outfielder Ryan Knox has done is earn two promotions to Triple-A Indianapolis in the past two seasons and hit .271 in 89 games. But there he was again Monday, dispatched back to Huntsville for another tour of duty. Knox even helped the Stars to a 3-0 lead with a two-run single in his first at-bat - a credit to him that he had his mind on the game instead of constructing voodoo dolls of Milwaukee front office personnel. Milwaukee made a trade Monday morning that sent Stars outfielder Jason Belcher and ex-Stars pitcher Jason Childers to Montreal for outfielder Peter Bergeron. Bergeron was assigned to Triple-A, which led to Knox's demotion. Off-the-field moves had other impacts on this game. Dennis Sarfate was rushed into the starting pitching spot for the Stars after only three days' rest. Scheduled starter Tim Bausher, who had been removed from Milwaukee's 40-man roster last week and subjected to the waiver process, was snatched up by the Colorado Rockies late Monday morning just before the deadline. Bausher made the rounds of the Stars clubhouse after the game, saying his farewells before shipping out to the Rockies' Double-A club in Tulsa. The Stars are still in limbo with one more player. Catcher Kade Johnson also was removed from the 40-man major league roster and could be scooped up by another major league club before the Wednesday deadline. After Knox's two-out, two-run single in the first, Barnwell followed with an RBI single and Huntsville owned a 3-0 lead. A Travis Wilson homer - he went 2-for-4 and is batting .500 against the Stars for the season - and Ramon Moreta triple cut it to 3-2 in the second against Sarfate, then the Lookouts jumped reliever Fernando Rijo for four runs in the sixth, with doubles by Andrew Beattie, Edwin Encarnacion and Wilson. The Stars did cut the lead to 6-5 on a Nelson homer in the sixth - it was last seen being tracked by NASA radar - before a second Moreta triple keyed a three-run seventh. The Stars (29-29) will probably need to win eight of their remaining 12 games this half, eight of which are on the road, to capture the Southern League West first-half pennant. They are tied with Birmingham, two games behind Mobile and West Tenn, who are tied for first. The Stars open a four-game set here tonight against Birmingham. "We've got to play better. We've got to be more consistent,'' said Kremblas. And getting older quicker wouldn't hurt, either.

Thanks to all the guys and gals who chimed in with links and info yesterday and today -- wow! I've completed the search for "day-after" stories on Monday's 18 picks -- most had some type of story available, as you saw from the links this morning. Keep up the great work, and we'll try to have a new set of newspaper stories for you tomorrow on the Day Two draftees. Between pre-draft, during draft, and post-game coverage, how's Brewerfan doin'? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif

Link now, while live; text follows: www.thedailyjournal.com/n...95474.html McConnell, Ford picked on first day By Geoff Dodd Staff Writer; gdodd@thedailyjournal.com An area high school baseball player got to live out a childhood dream Monday, as Vineland center fielder Darren Ford was selected on the first day of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft. The Milwaukee Brewers grabbed Ford with the fifth pick of the 18th round (526th overall). Ford is generally considered one of the fastest players in the state, and he used his speed to become one of the state's most dangerous leadoff hitters. He stole 40 bases in 41 attempts, and also scored 31 runs for the Fighting Clan, who finished 21-5 and advanced to the South Jersey Group IV title game for the first time in four years. "It's a dream," Ford, 18, said. "I've been playing baseball since I was 6. It just feels good." Ford still considers college his top option. He will likely attend either Salem County College or Gloucester County College and re-enter the draft next year. "It's great for the kid, though," Vineland coach Tom Ryder said. "Anybody who's ever held a baseball hat has that dream." Look for Ford to be among the many draft-and-follow high schoolers playing JUCO ball next spring -- MassBrew.

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio begins approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed... INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Jeff Farnsworth at home vs. Scranton / Wilkes-Barre (Phillies), 7:00 PM Audio link: www.newstalk1430.com/ Alternate audio link (Red Barons' feed): www.sportsjuice.com/provi...swbrbarons HUNTSVILLE: LHP Matt Ford at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 7:05 PM Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ HIGH DESERT: LHP Chris Capuano for three innings followed by LHP Manny Parra at home vs. Lancaster (Diamondbacks), 9:05 PM; Chris will have now pitched for Milwaukee, Indianapolis, High Desert, and Beloit -- only Huntsville to go! Audio link: www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm BELOIT: RHP Carlos Villanueva at Dayton (Reds), 6:00 PM Audio link (Dragons' feed): www.daytondragons.com/str...games.html The Dayton feed also archives should there be a special moment we wish to review...

Link while live, text below: www.tribstar.com/articles...orts01.txt Lenny Leclercq drafted Vikings' shortstop picked in 11th round by Milwaukee Brewers By Andy Amey/Tribune-Star There was an unusual guest at the West Vigo High School spring sports banquet Monday night -- Milwaukee Brewers scout Mike Farrell. Farrell, the former Indiana State University pitcher and part-time Tribune-Star sports reporter of a few years ago, was there for more than a free meal. His team was in the process of drafting Viking shortstop Lenny Leclercq in the 11th round of Monday's Major League Baseball draft. "I had a good idea [being drafted] was going to happen," Leclercq admitted in a telephone interview later Monday. "It's still exciting though." "He's pretty excited," said Coach Steve DeGroote of his shortstop. "Everybody is." Leclercq is the first Viking drafted by the majors since Casey DeGroote, the coach's son, was taken by the New York Yankees, also in the 11th round, in 1998. Former Terre Haute South pitcher Jason Hickman was drafted out of Ball State in the eighth round of the 2000 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Leclercq hopes to help the Vikings defeat Brebeuf at 7 p.m. today in a Class 3A regional game at West Vigo, then play three more games before getting the information necessary to decide between signing with the Brewers or using his scholarship at Indiana University. "[Farrell] said he can't talk any financial stuff with me because I'm still playing [high school baseball]," Leclercq said. "Hopefully June 20 [one day after the state finals] I can make my decision." "God's given him some tools, and he's taken advantage of them," DeGroote said of Leclercq. "Now he has a big decision to make."

Tallahassee.com on 6th round high school OF Stephen Chapman and 17th round OF Lorenzo Cain: Marianna outfielder Stephen Chapman, an Auburn signee, was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth round (166th overall) after working out for team officials last Saturday in Milwaukee. Lorenzo Cain, an outfielder who started playing competitive baseball three years ago, went to Milwaukee (496th overall). Cain has signed with Tallahassee Community College. Chapman expects to bypass college for professional baseball. Chapman was one of the Big Bend's most scrutinized prep players, playing in front of a large contingent of scouts each week. "I couldn't have asked for a better situation," Chapman said. "It was definitely nerve-wracking during the regular season because you are playing in front of 20 and 30 scouts. But once I settled down and started to relax, it was a lot of fun. Right now I am just kind of soaking it up and enjoying the moment."

Link while live: www.nypost.com/sports/22553.htm GW BUDDIES GET GOOD NEWS IN DRAFT By DAN MARTIN June 8, 2004 -- Rafael Gonzalez watched from the stands as George Washington and his friend Angel Salome beat Tottenville Sunday to advance to the PSAL title game. "That hurt me not to be out there with them," said Gonzalez, who attends GW, but is ineligible. "But I was so happy for Angel and everyone else on the team." Yesterday, both Gonzalez and Salome had reason to celebrate again as they were chosen in the amateur draft. Gonzalez, a righty pitcher, was selected by the Reds in the fourth round (108th overall), while Salome was picked by the Brewers one round later (136). "This has been an exciting time," said Salome, a catcher, who singled in a run Sunday despite playing with an injured hand. "I've always wanted to be a professional and now it looks like it's going to happen." For Gonzalez, as well. The 6-foot-3 hurler has been clocked in the mid-90s and that potential made scouts overlook his lack of experience. His grades and lack of attendance because of trips to the Dominican Republic have kept him off the field virtually his entire high school career. "I was hoping this is the way it would work out for me," Gonzalez said. "For it to happen to Angel, too, makes it even better." The two have been close for years and spent much of yesterday afternoon in an office at GW with the rest of their team, monitoring the internet to see when they would be drafted. "When Rafael got picked, everyone went crazy," Salome said. "And then half an hour later, they called me and it happened again."