battlekow

Pitching is in Scarpettas' blood Matt Trowbridge/Rockford Register Star The Scarpettas never stop pitching. Not to themselves. And not to others. Rockford's first family of pitching keeps baseball all in the family, even when they are passing it on to others, as they showed Sunday with a pitching clinic at Guilford High School. "I'm glad our kids are involved in it. I mean, that's our life, so it's good," said Dan Scarpetta, the second-highest drafted baseball player in Rockford history. Scarpetta and his brother, Dennis, another former minor league pitcher, have coached or conducted clinics for years. But this clinic was proposed by their sons Cody (Dan) and Brett (Dennis). Dennis' other son, Hononegah senior Ryan Scarpetta, helped out, making this a five-Scarpetta clinic. "Every time I come home, my dad works with me," said Cody, an 11th-round draft pick in 2007 who pitched at Class A and AA last year and is on the Milwaukee Brewers' current 40-man roster. "I've caught his lessons since I was 8 years old and grew up with the whole teaching thing. "I've always enjoyed working with young kids. It's a good feeling to see them connect with what you are telling them. Hopefully, they will learn something and be able to take that into their pitching or baseball routine." This clinic began as a low-key adventure when Cody and Brett, who was drafted in 2004 by the White Sox and in 2005 by the Braves, brought the idea to their dads last month. "I usually have a month to a month and a half to put one together," Dan said. "This was put together in two to three weeks. I wasn't sure what the outcome was going to be." They divided their clinic into two groups, ages 7-13 from noon until 2 p.m., and ages 14-18 from 2 to 4 p.m. Thirty-five kids in the younger group signed up for the $30 clinic in advance, but an additional 30 showed up at the door. "That snuck up on us," Cody said. "We had six stations set up. We had to add another station. But that's good. We wanted all the kids that could come to get as much information as we could give to each kid." The seven stations were divided into teaching: covering first base, the mechanics of pitching, agility drills, pick-off moves, fielding the position, throwing off flat ground and a bullpen session of throwing off the mound. "They did a great job," said Gordy Smith, whose 9-year-old son participated. "They walked through a lot of different fundamentals with the kids. It really seemed to be a well-run operation. Every kid got on the mound with some one-on-one instruction. I'm impressed." Nick Voyles was one of several kids who had Cody Scarpetta autograph his minor league baseball card. "It was awesome," said Voyles, an 8-year-old third-grader from Prairie Hill in Roscoe. "I got to be with Cody Scarpetta and all his cousins and dad." Voyles said the most important lesson he learned was how to keep his balance better. Matthew Dmochowski said his best tip was learning a new pitching stance. "It was more fun than I thought with all the different stations. I thought there would be only one or two," said Dmochowski, a 9-year-old third-grader at St. Rita. But if the kids left the clinic learning only one or two fundamentals, that's fine with the Scarpettas. "Pitching is all about steps," Cody Scarpetta said. "The bad thing about it is once you get one kind of step down, there is another step right behind it. But once you get one step, that's one step you don't have to worry about." Sort of like the five Scarpettas' clinic. They plan to make this an annual teaching session. "I'm feeling good about the turnout," Cody Scarpetta said. "It's good to have our family name by it." http://www.rrstar.com/archive/x1689190540/g12c0003ad5aea2849e1237da722909bb50e5913e1bee78.jpg Cody Scarpetta teaches pitching mechanics to 11-year-old Jackson McCumber at the Scarpetta Pitching Clinic on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at Guilford High School in Rockford. (Eddy Montville/rrstar.com)

I agree that Kelly is overhyped, but I think most people project him to add ~3 mph to his fastball by the time he's done filling out. That said, you can't just ignore the strikeout rate.

Nick Bucci helped Canada earn bronze Dave Paul/Sarnia Observer Sarnia's Nick Bucci was turning heads during the 2009 baseball season -- all the way from Huntsville, Alabama to Nettuno, Italy. Bucci, an 18th round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008, enjoyed a very good season in Rookie League, as well as a cup of coffee in AA, in the Brewers system this year. But it was as a member of Team Canada at the World Baseball Cup that he really made his mark. In three starts for the bronze medal-winning team, Bucci pitched 14.1 scoreless innings, allowing only seven hits (six of them singles). His best performance was in a crucial semifinal matchup against Puerto Rico, when he threw five no-hit innings in Canada's 3-0 victory before having to leave the game because he had thrown 72 pitches (starter's were limited to 75). Bucci ended up with a no-decision in the game, but his performance certainly got noticed. "I'm really proud of Bucci," said Canadian manager Ernie Whitt after that game. "Here is a young pitcher facing some really good international competition and you see him develop every game." "We went out there and battled," said Bucci, following his performance. "Their guys were putting up zeros and I just wanted to go out there and do the same." Back home in Sarnia, Bucci, (at 19, the second-youngest player on the Canadian roster) said recently, the experience was unforgettable. "The team was made up of a combination of a couple of young guys, couple of guys who were 23 or 24 and a lot of older guys," said Bucci. "It was a bit intimidating going in, but I got over it pretty quickly." His performance against Puerto Rico (the team Canada ultimately beat to win the bronze medal -- the first ever medal for Canada at the event) was even more noteworthy because the Puerto Rican roster was loaded with former big leaguers. Among the players Bucci held hitless were former major leaguers Jose Valentin (30 home runs with the WhiteSox in 2004), former Oriole Luis Matos, ex-Pirate Carlos Rivera, former Detroit Tiger catcher Raul Casanova, ex-Royal Ruben Gotay and infielder Alex Cintron, who actually began the 2009 season in the majors, with the Washington Nationals. "I know Puerto Rico had ex-big leaguers," said Bucci. "The competition was definitely a step up from playing in Montana." Bucci's strong season with the Rookie League Helena Brewers was earned him an invitation to play for Canada. The 6'2", 180 lb. right-hander was named to the league's all-star team, after leading his team in wins (six) and strikeouts (66). After beginning the year as a bullpen arm at AA Huntsville (where he went 1-0 in three appearances), Bucci was sent to Helena where he reeled off six straight wins. During one stretch, he allowed only one run in 20 innings, over three starts. His good numbers prompted Canada coach Greg Hamilton, for whom Bucci had pitched with the 2007 and 2008 national junior team, to urge Whitt to bring Bucci into the fold with a couple of weeks still left in the Rookie League season. Bucci said it was eye-opening to see the number of fans who came out to see the games in Europe. Canada also played games in Sweden and early round games were also held in Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany and Spain. "But it's really starting to grow in Italy," said Bucci. "There were at least 10,000 fans at the Cuba- USA final (won by the U. S.). "After that game, they brought us out on to the field for the medal presentation," said Bucci, adding that U2's Bono was on hand for the ceremony. Bucci said he enjoys playing in the Brewers organization, where, with general manager Doug Melvin, of Chatham, and his assistant Gord Ash, of Toronto, "I think we must have more Canadians than any other organization." In fact, the Brewers also selected Canadian Brett Lawrie in the first round of the draft the year that Bucci was chosen and Lawrie also played for Canada at the World Cup. Bucci said he isn't certain where he will be playing this season, but his solid season last year would suggest a move to the 'A' Level Wisconsin Brewers, who play in Appleton. That would be OK with him, said Bucci, because it would allow his family and friends from Sarnia to come and watch him play occasionally. "I'm just going to go to spring training" in Phoenix, the first week of March, "and hope for the best," said Bucci. He added he owed thank yous to TD Canada Trust and Iron Works Gym for the support they have given him.

Baseball America's John Manuel has Escobar as the 17th-best prospect in baseball.

Fake ad, but probably real sentiment.

It's undated, but I think this is a new article about Jeffress from his hometown newspaper; I'm excluding the redemption-story stuff and just pasting the baseball-relevant information, which is interesting: Jeremy Jeffress Working Toward Returning To the Diamond Joe Chandler/The Gazette-Virginian Jeffress says his intent is to don a Major League uniform for the Milwaukee Brewers by the end of the 2010 season. That could happen for Jeffress if he stays on the right path, particularly with the Brewers searching for quality pitchers and looking for a return on the million-dollar-plus signing bonus they gave Jeffress when he signed with the club in 2006. The path to the top level will, however, have to be taken one step at a time. Jeffress said he is scheduled to report to Phoenix, Ariz. on Jan. 16 to begin workouts. "When I get out to Phoenix in January, we (the Milwaukee Brewers) have a camp called our winter program," Jeffress explained. "They get certain guys to come out there to get ready for spring training in March. I'll be out there for about two months training and working out until spring training begins." Jeffress says he will likely to return to the Milwaukee Brewers' [high] Class A affiliate team the Brevard County (Fla.) Manatees after spring training. "I'll probably get five or six starts in Brevard and then move back to (class) AA in Huntsville, Ala.," noted Jeffress. The 2010 season is an important season for Jeffress, the 16th player taken in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. "This coming season is my 40-man year," Jeffress pointed out. "That's the year in which I have to be on the (Milwaukee Brewers') 40-man roster, or I can be traded. They (the Milwaukee Brewers) don't want to trade me, so I will probably be on the 40-man roster at the end of the season." Jeffress works out every day, even when he comes back to South Boston for visits with his family, preparing himself to face the challenges of the 2010 season. "I throw every day and take weekends off," Jeffress said. "I'm pitching pretty well. I've got more command of my fastball. I have more command of my secondary pitches. The curve ball is in my back pocket, and I'm ready to pull it out whenever I need it. I'm trying to fine-tune it as much as I can." Jeffress also is working on his change-up and has just developed a pitch he calls his "two-seamer," a pitch that resembles a breaking fastball. That gives Jeffress four pitches in his arsenal. The hard-throwing right-hander, a pitcher noted for his 100-plus mph fastball, thinks the Brewers still have regard for him as a potential starting pitcher. "I'm really open to being whatever they need me to be," he pointed out. "They (Milwaukee Brewers officials) have always told me I would probably be a starter. I have a strong enough arm to make it through seven innings. Because of that, they will probably keep me as a starter." http://www.gazettevirginian.com/images/stories/122109jeffress.jpg

He's also repeating a quote from the 2008 offseason--it's not about "targeting" Parra for 2010, but 2009.

McCalvy with the news; I move that we hereafter refer to the player as Matt May-Treanor.http://twitter.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/6810834908

And of course Haudricourt thinks the Cubs got a great deal.

Demetrius McKelvie certainly like a ballplayer, doesn't he?

Ex-Serra star to get a shot with Brewers Glenn Reeves/San Mateo County Times Chuck Lofgren is going to get a shot at pitching in the major leagues next season. Lofgren, the former Serra High School star who was originally a fourth-round draft choice of the Cleveland Indians in 2004, was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Rule 5 draft. Lofgren must stay with the Brewers all season or be offered back to the Indians. "I couldn't be more thrilled,'' Lofgren said. The Brewers told Lofgren they liked his makeup and aggressiveness and were going to take a look at him in spring training with the possibility of using him either as a starter or as a second left-hander out of the bullpen along with Mitch Stetter. Lofgren's stock dropped in 2008 when he was 2-6 with a 5.99 ERA for Double-A Akron. He came back this year to go 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA for Akron before being promoted to Triple-A Columbus, where he had a 6-10 record and a 5.31 ERA. "I feel like coming back this year after the year that I had last year. I did pretty well," Lofgren said. "My August was down, but I thought I put myself back on the map with how I've performed. I felt I deserved a chance to get a September call-up, but that's the way baseball works. They felt I wasn't ready, but another team did. I'm looking forward to being a part of the Milwaukee Brewer family. If they want me to start, I'll start. If they want me to spot start and relieve, or go lefty on lefty, I'm good with whatever they want." Those who remember Lofgren from high school hope he gets a chance to start. As a starter for a National League team he would get a chance to swing the bat, and Lofgren was as good a hitter in high school as he was a pitcher. He was such a feared power hitter that Bellarmine used to play a four-man outfield when he was up at the plate. "I don't prepare for spring training like a hitter would, but I do still get in the cage,'' Lofgren said. "I can still hit. I never really lost it.''

They certainly are; why do you think that's the case?

01. Alcides Escobar 02. Mat Gamel 03. Brett Lawrie 04. Jonathan Lucroy 05. Eric Arnett 06. Zach Braddock 07. Angel Salome 08. Lorenzo Cain 09. Amaury Rivas 10. Caleb Gindl 11. Logan Schafer 12. Kentrail Davis 13. Wily Peralta 14. Cody Scarpetta 15. Mark Rogers 16. Jake Odorizzi 17. Jeremy Jeffress 18. Taylor Green 19. Josh Butler 20. John Axford Random comments beyond the obvious first few players: I still like Salome, and it's amazing to me that he slipped to #15 overall in the BA list. I think that in a vacuum, he'd be more appreciated, but the emergence of Lucroy casts him in a too-harsh light. All warts aside, it's going to take more than a year to make me forget about .360/.415/.559 at AA at age 22. I struggled for a long time about where to rate Cain, Gindl, Schafer, and Davis relative to each other. Similar to Salome, it's going to take more than one injury-plagued year to take the shine off Cain's 2008. His well-rounded offense approach and good defense make him a possible 4th outfielder even if he doesn't fulfill his remaining projectability--as long as his hamstring problems don't become chronic. I think Gindl's underrated nationally and perhaps a bit overrated here; I buy the concerns about his lack of projection, but the precocious production is hard to ignore, and I love that he's getting a little better every year. Combine that with fine corner defense and you at least have a fourth outfielder. I could easily buy placing Schafer ahead of Gindl because of his excellent CF defense, but I just like Gindl's bat relative to Schafer's a little more--I don't like Schafer's dearth of secondary skills. Cain > Schafer because of upside and slightly better performance at the same level at a younger age. Now, Davis: I get that he's more athletic than Gindl, but still, they're listed as being the exact same size and they're the same age, so it's hard for me to believe that Davis can project to future stardom while scouts are so blase about Gindl. Combine that with the fact that he's yet to prove anything as a pro and he comes in last among the four for me. After Arnett and Braddock, I've got Rivas as our best pitching prospect, mainly due to the fact that it's easy to see him staying as a starter because of his three quality pitches. I think we're ahead of the curve on this one and the national prospect media will start to really notice him next year. Past Rivas, I like Peralta a little better than Scarpetta because of Scarpetta's worse control, though the fact that everyone seems so concerned about Peralta's max-effort delivery forcing him to the bullpen eventually narrows the gap. Then comes Rogers, who's got massive uncertainty about his health and his own control problems. Rogers succeeded at a level higher than Peralta or Scarpetta and has a better fastball, but the fact that he hasn't shown he can handle a starter's workload post-surgery knocks him behind them. After Rogers comes Odorizzi. Have you ever looked at the prep pitchers selected right after Odorizzi's spot in 2008? Would you trade Odorizzi for Mike Montgomery or Jordan Lyles? I would. Brett DeVall's right there, too, though not at the same level as Montgomery and Lyles. (All three were taken after Evan Frederickson, too, so the Brewers could have had two of the four /headdesk). Unlike the other three, Odorizzi has yet to make it out of rookie ball, and he hasn't shown blown-you-away stuff and was surprisingly hittable, though the control is great to see. Reports that he'll fill out and improve his stuff hearten me, but I think I'm a little more down on him than most people. As for the rest, I'm taking Jeffress' upside over Green's lack of it and my concern about his wrist injury, and then you've got Butler, about whom I remain skeptical but am intrigued by as unsexy back-of-the-rotation guy, and Axford. Where's Heckathorn? Probably #21, but I think Heckathorn's bound for the bullpen and in a comparison of power relievers, I prefer the fact that Axford's already proven himself a bit at the upper levels, despite his wildness, over Heckathorn's better control. I'm sure I've said a few stupid/unsupportable/outrageous things in there somewhere, so have at it.

Fangraphs' Marc Hulet lists his top 10 Brewers propsects: 01. Escobar 02. Lawrie 03. Gamel 04. Braddock 05. Lucroy 06. Odorizzi 07. Scarpetta 08. Anundsen 09. Peralta 10. Salome He likes the pitchers more than the outfielders, basically, and Anundsen at #8 is a little interesting.

They could do that, but given that they didn't with Capuano, I don't think they will with DiFelice either.

I guess not.

Correct, which makes it a point worth debating rather than an obvious reality. I assume that after being offered, his agent would have called around and ascertained general interest for a contract near this level, but I could be wrong.

Murray will get an big league camp invite.

The Brewers re-signed DiFelice to a minor league deal. Has to be for more than one year, right? No point in signing him for just one year since he won't pitch and they're already on the hook for his rehab costs.

To go slightly off-topic, as long as we're throwing around possible uses for that money given to Hawkins, I would have preferred Melvin set it aside as possible salary for Felipe Lopez, offer Lopez arbitration, and then if Lopez declines, sign whatever random middle reliever Melvin pleases.

Obviously, but the point is that now we know there was interest from at least one team in giving Cameron a multi-year deal, and I don't think Cameron would turn such a deal down in favor a one-year contract with the Brewers, even though he would have earned more in that one year than he would in the first year of this Boston contract. Cameron knows how old he is, and that makes the second guaranteed year very important.

Hmm, yes, if a player is on optional assignment for less 20 days total, it doesn't use up an option year, and Bush was only in Nashville for six days.

Mat Gamel would like to politely point out that players with exactly 130 at-bats are still eligible http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif. Constructing my list right now; a lot more fun that studying for finals.

So, in retrospect, bad decision to not offer arbitration to Cameron?

One-year deal.