battlekow

Summer in the minors proves to be a real eye-opener for OdorizziHe went 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in rookie ball BY NORM SANDERS News-Democrat One of the first adjustments former Highland High star Jake Odorizzi had to make in the minor leagues was losing. After all, Odorizzi won his final 25 decisions in high school and helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2008 Class 3A state championship. He was 14-0 this spring with a 0.08 ERA and nine shutouts. Odorizzi allowed only three runs all season, just one of them earned. His last loss before this summer was on May 22, 2006, to Marion during his sophomore season. The 2008 USA Today National High School Player of the Year and Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year finally found someone who could catch up to his fastballs and handle his array of breaking pitches and changeups. "It was just the ability of the players you're playing against," said Odorizzi, taken 32nd overall by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2008 Major League Draft. "I was getting hit and giving up runs again, so that took a while to get used to." For the 18-year-old right-hander, just giving up runs was something new. "I gave up my first home run in about three years on an inside fastball that almost nobody could hit in high school," he said. "He turned on it and hit it about 400 feet." Pitching for Milwaukee's team in the Arizona Rookie League, Odorizzi was 1-2 in 11 games with a 3.48 ERA. Working on a pitch count of 35 to 40 because of his high prep baseball workload, he allowed 18 hits in 20 2/3 innings, striking out 24 and walking nine. Those aren't great numbers for a first-round draft pick, but Brewers assistant player development director Tony Diggs said not to worry. "You're coming from a situation where you're probably the highest cream of the crop in high school, then you're dealing with a lot of the cream of the crop in pro ball," Diggs said. "Things are going to happen that have never, ever happened to him." Odorizzi admitted that trying to blow fastballs by professional hitters was a lot different than dominating at the high school level. "You can't throw too many pitches by people unless you locate the ball where you want it," he said. "If you throw it down the middle, they're going to hit it nine times out 10." Diggs also will be Odorizzi's manager when he joins the Brewers' team in the Arizona Instructional League later this month. Diggs said the Brewers are very high on Odorizzi's potential. "He's more than just a high-school kid," Diggs said. "His maturity level is pretty good -- and his understanding of what he's trying to do is pretty advanced over a regular high school kid coming in. "He has a great feel for his pitches and what he's trying to do out there." Diggs said Odorizzi's ability to locate different pitches with accuracy show how advanced he is for an 18-year-old prospect. Diggs also said Odorizzi's athleticism was immediately evident; he watched him make what he felt was an almost unbelievable play to throw out a hitter on a bunt. "You can project that he's going to grow a little more and fill out a bit better," Diggs said. "There was a good distinction between his curveball and his slider, and very few young pitchers can make that distinction." Another tough adjustment for Odorizzi was not getting any opportunities to hit. Highland's all-time home run leader who turned down a scholarship to Louisville -- where he would pitch and play shortstop -- Odorizzi won't swing a bat with the Brewers until he reaches the Class AA level. The Brewers want all of his focus on pitching. "I didn't touch a bat the whole time I was down there," he said. "It was difficult sitting there and having to watch, but I had to get used to it. I wanted to quite a few times, but all the coaches said no." The Brewers drafted Odorizzi for his arm, not his hitting talent. "We told him just wait to you get to Double-A, then you can start doing that again," Diggs said. Odorizzi said plenty of family and friends made the trip to the Phoenix area to watch him pitch this summer. Included in the group were former Highland teammates Wes DeGroot, Gary Kharibian, Travis Becherer and Brent Kuper. But while the majority of his friends are still in high school or away at college, Odorizzi has plenty of money --thanks to his $1.06 million signing bonus -- and waiting to continue his baseball job again. "Now I'm just sitting at home," he said, "and it seems kind of weird."

Esteban German Duran Duran?

Brewers dismiss Triple-A manager Kremblas told he wouldn't be considered for Major League job By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com PHILADELPHIA -- The Brewers dismissed Triple-A manager Frank Kremblas earlier this week after a 59-81 season, the first in Kremblas' four years in Nashville that the team did not win a division title. Kremblas was told that Brewers officials didn't see him getting an opportunity to coach in the big leagues, so they decided to let him seek that opportunity elsewhere. The team does not plan to make a formal announcement until next week, assistant general manager Gord Ash said, but Kremblas was told early so he could begin his search immediately. According to a former Nashville player now with the Brewers, hitting coach Harry Spilman also was let go. Pitching coach Stan Kyles has been told his job is safe, the player said. "I appreciated the opportunity," said Kremblas, who got the news directly from Ash. "What else am I going to say? Honestly, I am not upset. But it was news to me." Ash said the team had not made a decision on Kremblas' replacement. One candidate would be Double-A manager and former Brewers All-Star Don Money, who replaced Kremblas at Double-A Huntsville in 2005. Kremblas said he already has "his resume out there," and has a meeting scheduled with one of the Brewers' National League Central rivals scheduled for next week. It's an impressive resume. Kremblas started managing in Montreal's farm system in 1998 and joined Milwaukee in 2000, when he took over at Class A Mudville after the All-Star break. He moved up to Class A High Desert in 2001, then to Huntsville in '02 and Nashville in '05. In Kremblas' eight full seasons as one of Milwaukee's Minor League managers, his teams posted losing records twice. He led Huntsville to the 2003 Southern League Championship series, when won the Triple-A championship in '05. "Pretty much every guy in here has played for Frank at some point," said Sounds and now Brewers outfielder Tony Gwynn, Jr., pointing at players like Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks and Manny Parra. "He has been inspirational to all of us, so you really hate to see him go." Hart may have played for Kremblas the longest, parts of four seasons. "It's surprising that he would be let go after one bad season," Hart said. "He's a great manager, a great baseball guy." Kremblas was passed over for openings on Milwaukee's Major League coaching staff in each of the last two offseasons. Kremblas was the strongest internal candidate after the Brewers parted ways with third-base coach Nick Leyva following the 2007 season, but the team instead made the last-minute decision to hire Ted Simmons to be the bench coach, and moved Dale Sveum back to third base. Kremblas was also a candidate for the third-base coaching vacancy after the 2006 season. But when the Brewers decided to promote from within to name Jim Skaalen hitting coach and Ed Sedar to coach first base, they tabbed Leyva at third because he had Major League managerial experience. That left Kremblas managing in a tough situation in Nashville, where political wrangling killed the team's plans to build a new stadium. "It's not a good place to go to the yard and play baseball, that's for sure," Gwynn said. "They finally built us a makeshift clubhouse behind the wall in the outfield, but you look at the numbers and we were way better on the road than at home. By far. "But Frank's best strength is managing personalities and making players forget about their surroundings and just play. He was huge for me from that standpoint, understanding the mental part of the game. I come from a baseball background, and he was big for me. I'm sure most of the younger guys in here would tell you the same thing." http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2008/09/13/jPsChoqb.jpg After three straight division titles underFrank Kremblas, Nashville finished 59-81 this year. (Nashville Sounds)

Brewers reflect on successful season, change BY CLIFF PFENNING - Independent Record - 09/11/08It's only been a week since the Pioneer League baseball season ended for the Helena Brewers, but next season is already in the planning stages at Kindrick Legion Field. The field and stadium are set for renovation that will add around 200 seats and an irrigation system to bring the playing surface closer the Major League specifications. "Major League teams want a safe place for their players to develop and this renovation is going to be a big help to our program," President and General Manager Paul Fetz said Wednesday. "The stadium construction is going to add to the overall experience fans get from coming to a game. "We're excited about the work being done prior to next season." The Brewers finished second in the Northern Division during the first half of the league schedule and third in the second half, briefly stirring interest they might be involved in the league playoffs. Fetz and Steve Wendt, who serves as play-by-play announcer for radio broadcasts and media relations director, said the team had a successful season in terms of fan interest. http://adsys.townnews.com/32726729/creative/helenair.com/sports+local+story/13038-%7D1212071868.gif One game drew more than 1,900 fans, the largest crowd in five years. "The on-field success is something we really can't control, so we focus on the fan experience," Wendt said. "We feel good about how our fans responded to the work we did off the field." "We'll go into the offseason and look at the promotions we offered and how they worked," Fetz said. "We'll work on what appeals to clients and what worked well with fans. "Each year there's a mixture of curent promotions and new ideas that we come up with. We'll do some talking to other teams during the winter meetings and get some ideas." The Pioneer League general managers plan to meet in October, while the baseball winter meetings are in Las Vegas in December. Fetz said the easy call for a holdover promotion is the Wing Fling, where fans attempt to catch a rubber chicken flung into the air from a large rubber band. And, the horse race behind the left field fence is a keeper. "That's a fun promotion, especially for the bullpen pitchers from the visiting team," Fetz said. "They're always volunteering to be the horses; hold the sticks attached to the horses." Fetz said one of the biggest wins for the team off the field is its contract with the City of Helena, which owns the stadium. In March, Helena and the Elmore Sports Group negotiated an agreement for the Brewers to play at Kindrick Legion Field for 10 years, with 10 more years lined up thereafter. That keeps the Brewers in Helena through at least 2017. "We feel especially strong about what that agreement says about our team and the city," Fetz said. "Our role in the community is to offer an inexpensive entertainment option and we're going to be around for a long time to do that." http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2008/09/11/sports/local/100spl_080911_brewrs.jpg Brock Kjeldgaard helped the Helena Brewers battle for a playoff spot in late August. (Lisa Kunkel)

Baseball America has helpfully provided a chart of all player development contracts that remain unrenewed for next year. Is it a foregone conclusion that the Brewers re-sign with Huntsville?

I'm in class, so I don't have the actual book handy, but BA quoted Reid Nichols (I think) on Green's defense in the last Prospect Handbook saying something along the lines of "He doesn't have the greatest range, but he catches it and throws it and the guy is out."

Brutal 6th inning for Mike Ramlow: * Dom Duggan lines out to right fielder Caleb Gindl. * Shane Jordan singles on a line drive to right fielder Caleb Gindl. * Pitcher Change: Mike Ramlow replaces Daniel Merklinger. * With Nick Noonan batting, Shane Jordan steals (1) 2nd base. * Nick Noonan singles on a ground ball to center fielder Logan Schafer. Shane Jordan scores. * Juan Ciriaco flies out to center fielder Logan Schafer. * Dayton Buller singles on a pop up to first baseman Curt Rindal. Nick Noonan scores. Dayton Buller advances to 3rd, on throwing error by first baseman Curt Rindal. * Angel Villalona homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Dayton Buller scores. * Pitcher Change: Corey Frerichs replaces Mike Ramlow. * Garrett Baker strikes out swinging, catcher Anderson De La Rosa to first baseman Curt Rindal.

Merklinger's doing a hell of a job so far.

Sabathia compensation still unknown Player to be named may be chosen by odd arrangement By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com BALTIMORE -- He has become the Indians' mystery man, and the details surrounding his eventual arrival to the organization are getting more and more mysterious, too. The Indians still have not announced the player to be named that is due to arrive as the final component of the trade that sent CC Sabathia to the Brewers on July 7. The reason, according to a recent report in The Cleveland Plain Dealer, is that the player's selection is contingent upon whether or not the Brewers make the playoffs. According to the report, if the Brewers reach the postseason, the Indians choose the player; if the Brewers don't make it, they choose. If that sounds like a bizarre arrangement, it's because it is. Generally speaking, the player to be named in a trade comes from a list preapproved by both clubs at the time of the deal, with the club acquiring the player making its choice by a certain deadline. Tribe general manager Mark Shapiro would not confirm or deny the report. "We have until the end of the season [to acquire the player]," Shapiro said. At the time of the trade, Shapiro said the player to be named was considered the second-most prominent key to the deal, behind highly touted prospect Matt LaPorta, who is now with Double-A Akron. Shapiro said the Indians were choosing between two players, and he made no mention of the player being contingent on the Brewers' playoff presence. It has long been believed and reported that the player to be named will be one of two players -- either outfielder Michael Brantley, who played at Double-A Huntsville this season, or third baseman Taylor Green, who was with Class A Brevard County. The Tribe's scouting of both players was hampered by injuries they suffered this season. Brantley, who batted .319 with 17 doubles, two triples, four homers and 40 RBIs, missed most of July with an ankle sprain. Green, who hit .289 with 19 doubles, 15 homers and 73 RBIs, was hit in the hand by a pitch on Aug. 12 and didn't play another game. Neither player's club reached the postseason, and neither was called up to the Brewers for the September stretch run.

I think a lot of people are considering Givens a SS; plus, as we learned from Colby's AFLAC game article, Givens only threw two pitches. Lincecum's mechanics are divisive. A lot of the newer mechanical analysts on the web love him, seeing him as the paragon of energy transfer.

Brewers- and LaPorta-related commentary from BA's Player of the Year chat:

Do we know what Peralta's injury is, or if he's even actually injured?

Bumgarner's gonna be tough.

David Cameron looks at Nelson Cruz for FanGraphs.

Beyond the Box Score feels the same way I do.

This is just stupid. Like Ross Detwiler last year, all this does is (at the very least) blow one of his options next year.

Power earn another shot at SAL title Wheeler singles in go-ahead run in eighth to sink Captains By Steve Conley / Special to MLB.com In just their fourth year of existence, the West Virginia Power have established themselves as a perennial championship contender in the South Atlantic League. Zelous Wheeler drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth and Mike Ramlow tossed 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief Saturday as the Power beat the Lake County Captains, 4-1, in the decisive third game of their SAL first-round series. West Virginia returned to the Championship Series, a year after getting swept by the Columbus Catfish. The game was knotted at 1-1 with two outs in the eighth, when Steffan Wilson reached on an error by Captains third baseman Karexon Sanchez. After a wild pitch, Caleb Gindl was intentionally walked to get to Wheeler, who lined a base hit to left field to score Wilson. Curt Rindal followed with a two-run double to provide insurance. "We had nobody on and two outs there and [Wheeler] came up big at that point with that base hit," said Power manager Jeff Isom. "We've gotten big hits like that all year and tonight we got another one." Ramlow (1-0) came up big in the fifth, when he inherited a bases-loaded, one-out situation. He retired Todd Martin on a groundout and got Dustin Realini to fly to the warning track in center field to keep the game tied. The 22-year-old left-hander also retired the Captains in order in the sixth and seventh before leaving with two on and two out in eighth. "We wouldn't have had the chance to win it late if he [Ramlow] didn't do the job there," Isom said. "We had our backs against the wall there and he did an excellent job in a tough spot. That fly ball was just hit to the wrong part of the park." Robert Wooten bailed out Ramlow and recorded the final five outs, fanning three, for the save. Eric Farris scored on a balk in the opening inning and Wheeler went 2-for-3 for West Virginia, which will take on the Augusta GreenJackets in the best-of-5 Finals. Augusta swept the Asheville Tourists in the first round. "Their pitching is the best in the league," Isom noted. "The ball doesn't travel well in their park and we're the kind of team that relies on the home runs once in a while and hitting the ball in the gaps. Their pitching staff has our number, but we're gonna try to change some things." Power starter Lucas Luetge allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 4 1/3 innings. Jonathan Holt (0-1) was charged with three unearned runs on three hits and a walk with one strikeout in 2 1/3 frames. Captains starter Eric Berger went three innings and yielded one run on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Realini singled and scored on Matthew Brown's double in the fourth and Matt McBride had two hits for the Captains. http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2008/09/07/P8hdXaQZ.jpg Mike Ramlow allowed one hit over 4 1/3 scoreless innings in the Power's first-round win. (Tom Priddy/MLB.com)

Wooten slams the door. Nice.

Maybe if we miss the playoffs we can send them Turnbow.

I wasn't being snarky; I thought there was a misunderstanding or miscalculation about his age. Sorry if it came off as "ridiculous". Your point wasn't particularly clear, either.

It appears that the PTBNL is conditional:

If he turns 22 on 11/26, he'll pretty clearly be 22 when next season starts.

Here's Jeremy Jeffress' interview with Trenni during today's game. He was in town to pick up his Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. Not very long, but it's interesting that he added a two-seamer late in the season.

Poor Lee Haydel. He hits his first pro home run, and it won't show up on his permanent record because it's the playoffs.

Not sure exactly where to put this, but Gamel and Escobar both made BA's Minor League All-Star Team: LaPorta did too: