battlekow

Luiz Cruz was outrighted to Nashville today; discuss in the Major League thread.

Andrew Gruman broke the news. Shortstop will be...interesting. Side note: I realized yesterday that Almonte is still eligible for the Power 50. Guess we'll have to crowbar him in there somewhere.

Chris has another edition of Raising Mehrizona up, including this note:

And, thanks to Jose Oviedo's Facebook, Helena's rings: http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/200090_211179382228962_100000107045671_932758_6252914_n.jpg http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196897_211179535562280_100000107045671_932760_3735856_n.jpg

Rosario will be cut today, so we'll find out soon whether the Brewers want him back, as I seriously doubt anyone else will claim him on waivers.

Rosario will be cut today, so we'll find out soon whether the Brewers want him back, as I seriously doubt anyone else will claim him on waivers.

Yeah, I was wondering whether that was just to get better guys on the roster, but it would seem that trading Reggie Keen for Chris Dennis and putting Kh. Davis back in the outfield would make the roster better overall--though maybe Keen is really awesome and we just don't know. Kh. Davis has, apparently, been playing in the outfield in spring training, given that he's been playing with both Dennis and Cody Hawn. Really, the last thing the Brewers need at Brevard County is another first baseman.

Adam McCalvy has the rosters: White Team C - Cameron GarfieldC - Martin Maldonado1B - Sean Halton1B - Cody Hawn2B/SS - Scooter Gennett2B/SS - Yadiel Rivera2B/SS - Nick Shaw3B - Taylor Green3B - Cutter DykstraOF - Caleb GindlOF - Erik KomatsuOF - Kenny AllisonUtil - Shea Vucinich P - Matt MillerP - Wily PeraltaP - Robert HintonP - Dan MerklingerP - Austin RossP - Tyler Thornburg Manager - Matt EricksonPitching Coach - Chris HookCoach - Dusty RhodesTrainer - Jeff Paxson Blue Team C - Tyler RobertsC - Rafael Neda1B - Khris Davis1B - Hunter Morris2B/SS - Zelous Wheeler2B/SS - Eric Farris2B/SS - Carlos George 3B - Mike Walker OF - Kentrail DavisOF - D'Vontrey RichardsonOF - Lee HaydelOF - Reggie KeenUtil - Sergio Miranda P - Donovan HandP - Mike FiersP - Cody ScarpettaP - Amaury RivasP - Kyle HeckathornP - Jimmy Nelson Manager - Don MoneyPitching Coach - Lee TunnellCoach - Reggie WilliamsTrainer - Frank Neville

Nashville got into the win column for the first time yesterday, edging Columbus 4-3. Mat Gamel had two hits in his first minor league game. Amaury Rivas started for the Sounds and struck out four over four innings of work. He allowed two runs on four hits. Sam Narron and Lucas Luetge were solid in relief. R H E Columbus 3 8 0 Nashville 4 6 0 NASHVILLE AB R H BI Gindl 3 0 0 1 Wheeler 4 0 0 0 Gamel 3 1 2 0 Wilson 1 0 0 0 Katin 2 1 1 1 Carroll 1 0 0 0 Nowak 3 0 1 1 Jones 3 0 0 0 Buller 3 0 0 0 Green 2 1 1 0 Machado 2 1 1 1 2B: Katin 3B: Green, Machado SF: Gindl, Machado IP H R ER BB SO TP Rivas 4 4 2 2 0 4 48 Narron 4 4 1 1 2 2 50 Luetge 1 0 0 0 0 3 24 Akron downed Huntsville, 5-2. Sean Halton provided the offense for the Stars by belting a two-run homer. Josh Prince and Chad Stang both picked up two hits. Michael Bowman gave up three runs and seven hits in four innings. Brandon Ritchie was touched up for two runs on three hits in his two innings of work. R H E Akron 5 12 1 Huntsville 2 8 1 HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI Komatsu 4 0 0 0 Miranda 3 0 1 0 Kjeldgaard 4 0 0 0 Morris 3 1 1 0 Sanchez 1 0 0 0 Halton 4 1 1 2 Haydel 4 0 1 0 Prince 4 0 2 0 Zarraga 2 0 0 0 De La Rosa 1 0 0 0 Stang 4 0 2 0 HR: Halton IP H R ER BB SO TP Bowman 4 7 3 3 2 0 62 Ritchie 2 3 2 2 0 2 31 Willinsky 1 1 0 0 0 0 8 Seidel 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 Meadows 1 1 0 0 0 0 7 Brevard County held on against Kinston to pick up a 4-3 victory. Brent Dean had two hits and two RBI off the bench for the Manatees. Pete Fatse also had two hits and scored a run. Brian Garman picked up the save by navigating around three hits in the ninth, striking out the side. R H E Brevard County 4 9 0 Kinston 3 10 1 BREVARD CO AB R H BI Dykstra 3 0 1 0 Mittelstaedt 1 0 0 0 Brownstein 5 0 0 0 Gennett 2 0 1 0 Vucinich 2 1 1 0 DavisKe 3 0 0 0 Felix 1 0 0 0 DavisKh 3 1 1 1 ShawD 0 0 0 1 Hawn 4 1 1 0 Fatse 4 1 2 0 Neda 1 0 0 0 Dean 2 0 2 2 Romero 3 0 0 0 2B: Gennett, Fatse, Dean 3B: Vucinich SF: ShawD IP H R ER BB SO TP Heckathorn 3 4 1 1 2 5 62 Almonte 1.2 1 0 0 3 1 42 Marzec 2 2 2 2 1 3 33 Garman 1 3 0 0 0 3 24 Wisconsin squeaked past Lake County, 5-4. Reggie Keen and Robert Garvey both had two hits and scored twice. Austin Ross started for the T-Rats and struck out seven in 4.1 innings. Marques Kyles and Travis Stortz had scoreless relief appearances. R H E Wisconsin 5 8 0 Lake County 4 11 1 WISCONSIN AB R H BI ShawN 5 0 0 0 Keen 5 2 2 0 Walker 4 0 1 0 Rogers 3 0 0 0 Garfield 4 0 1 1 Garvey 4 2 2 1 Dishon 4 0 0 1 George 4 1 1 0 Dhanani 2 0 1 1 HR: Garvey IP H R ER BB SO TP Ross 4.1 5 2 2 0 7 66 Kyles 1.2 2 0 0 1 1 37 Robinson 1.1 3 2 2 2 1 42 Stortz 1.2 1 0 0 0 1 22

Long shots, high hopes: Final updateGrant Martin/Special to the Journal Sentinel Phoenix - Z, you have to be doing something different this spring. Zelous Wheeler grins and shakes his head. But you only batted .275 in Double-A ball last year, and now you're hitting .407 through 17 major league spring training games. You're a cold-blooded line drive machine! What gives? "Haven't changed nothing, man." Wheeler permits himself a self-assured smile. "I always knew how to hit." Wheeler's certainly impressing the Brewers coaching staff - who have played him at every infield position so far - though he's not letting his success change his laid-back approach to the game. "I'm just relaxing here, you know? Stress-free, that's me," Wheeler says. "I don't take stuff too serious, I'm all about enjoying the game, no matter what." There's no impression of false bravado, no sense that he's trying to pull one over on a young sportswriter. He appears blessed with the recognition that baseball's just a game, and doesn't seem to worry about what uniform he'll be wearing once spring training is over. "I'm trying to make an impression, you know?" Wheeler's eyes widen with earnestness. "And someday I'm looking forward to being in the major leagues. But wherever [team management] decides to send me, they'll send me, and I'll be ready for anything." Despite his terrific numbers so far - Sunday's game, in which he went 0 for 2 with two walks, dropped his average to .379 - it appears likely he'll soon be sent down to get more experience in the minors. The Brewers are loaded with more seasoned players in the infield, but Wheeler's performance could easily earn him a call-up later this season if one of them gets injured. And a similar fate appears in store for catcher Mike Rivera. He's batting .313 with two home runs so far, but has struggled for opportunities in what's become an unexpectedly intense competition for a roster spot as a backup catcher. His primary competitors for that position, George Kottaras and Wil Nieves, have 40 and 33 plate appearances, respectively. Rivera has 16. And a return for the minors would hardly be an adjustment for Rivera - he's already played for 13 different teams at that level. However, it might be a disappointment for a player who thought the Brewers might be able to find a place on their roster for a right-handed power bat off the bench. At 34, Rivera's likely in the twilight of his professional career. But if there's a silver lining to what might be an inevitable demotion, it's the knowledge that it might afford this devoted family man the chance to spend more time with his wife and two sons. The prospects appear much brighter for Mark DiFelice, however. The right-handed reliever has appeared in seven games this spring, posting a 3.18 ERA, and continues to feel no pain in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder. He suffered a bruised hand on a liner back to the mound during Saturday's game, but the injury isn't expected to keep him out of action for long. In being forced to sit out last season to rehabilitate that shoulder, DiFelice developed an attribute often rare among professional athletes, but exhibited by each of the players profiled for this series: perspective. It's something that figures to suit them well long after the fast-approaching end of the spring season here in Maryvale. Click here to read the first update in the series, as well as the individual profiles of Zelous Wheeler, Mark DiFelice, and Mike Rivera.

First MiLB box scores of the year, from Friday. A reminder: players will not necessarily end up on the team they're playing with right now; for instance, Nick Shaw played for both Huntsville and Wisconsin. Oh, and welcome back, Chad Stang. *** Nashville dropped a close one against Louisville, 5-4. The Sounds offense made the most out of 8 singles, but it wasn’t enough. Amaury Rivas threw two scoreless frames in relief of LaTroy Hawkins, who was making a rehab appearance. Huntsville lost to Carolina, 3-1. Matt Cline collected three hits in four at-bats. Michael Bowman started and tossed three scoreless innings. Jon Pokorny and Santo Manzanillo had scoreless innings in relief. Brevard County edged Bakersfield, 7-6. Khris Davis and Hunter Morris each homered. Tyler Cravy struck out two in two scoreless innings of work. Wisconsin was victorious against Midwest League foe Dayton, 4-1. Greg Hopkins was 2-for-2 with two doubles. Mike Walker chipped in with two hits, a run, and an RBI. Austin Ross started for the Timber Rattlers and went four without allowing an earned run. Rolando Pascual, Skyler Crawford, Seth Lintz, and Ryan Bernal all had scoreless relief outings. R H E Louisville 5 11 2 Nashville 4 8 0 NASHVILLE AB R H BI Caufield 4 0 1 0 Machado 4 0 0 0 Nowak 4 0 1 0 Jones 4 1 1 0 Green 3 0 0 0 Wilson 0 1 0 0 Haydel 3 2 1 0 De La Rosa 2 0 1 1 Buller 1 0 0 1 Paciorek 4 0 1 2 Miranda 2 0 1 0 Sanchez 2 0 1 0 S: Buller IP H R ER BB SO TP Hawkins 1 1 0 0 0 1 15 Rivas 2 2 0 0 0 1 29 Narron 2.2 6 3 3 1 1 44 Henderson 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 15 Hand 1 2 2 2 0 0 13 Hinton 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 R H E Carolina 3 9 1 Huntsville 1 8 0 HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI ShawN 4 0 1 0 Cline 4 1 3 0 Kjeldgaard 4 0 0 0 Halton 4 0 0 1 Zarraga 4 0 1 0 Prince 4 0 1 0 Dhanani 3 0 0 0 Krieger 3 0 1 0 Fatse 3 0 1 0 2B: Krieger, Cline IP H R ER BB SO TP Bowman 3 2 0 0 1 1 33 Cody 2 4 2 2 0 2 40 Byrd 2 2 1 1 0 2 25 Pokorny 1 1 0 0 0 2 16 Manzanillo 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 R H E Brevard County 7 9 Bakersfield 6 12 BREVARD CO AB R H BI Dykstra 3 1 1 1 Stang 1 1 1 0 Gennett 3 0 0 0 Ogrinc 2 1 1 0 Morris 3 1 1 2 Walla 3 1 1 1 DavisKh 3 1 1 1 George 1 0 0 1 Dennis 3 0 0 0 Mittelstaedt 1 0 1 0 Richardson 2 0 1 0 Brownstein 1 0 0 0 Garfield 2 0 0 0 Garcia 1 0 0 0 Vucinich 2 1 1 0 Dennis 1 0 0 0 2B: Dykstra 3B: Richardson HR: DavisKh, Morris IP H R ER BB SO TP Heckathorn 3 5 3 3 2 3 53 Cravy 2 1 0 0 0 2 24 Britt 3 5 3 3 1 1 44 Wawrzasek 1 1 0 0 0 1 10 R H E Wisconsin 4 10 2 Dayton 1 5 1 WISCONSIN AB R H BI Keen 3 1 1 0 Dishon 2 0 0 0 ShawN 3 0 1 0 Hopkins 2 0 2 0 Hawn 3 0 1 1 McKelvie 1 0 0 0 Rogers 5 0 1 0 Walker 3 1 2 1 Allison 2 0 1 0 Garvey 1 0 0 0 RobertsT 3 0 0 0 Pechek 1 0 0 0 Romero 3 1 1 0 Rivera 3 1 0 0 2B: Hopkins 2 3B: Rogers IP H R ER BB SO TP Ross 4 3 1 0 0 1 47 Pascual 2 1 0 0 1 0 19 Crawford 1 0 0 0 0 2 15 Lintz 1 1 0 0 0 1 11 Bernal 1 0 0 0 0 1 12

I wouldn't necessarily take him as an authority on that matter. I would be surprised if the Brewers put Pierce anywhere other than the Arizona League.

Roch Kubatko from MASN:

Roch Kubatko from MASN:

link And no, roster decisions for those guys are entirely a mystery until summer.

Courtesy Nick Shaw's Facebook, the AZL Brewers' championship rings: http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199133_552790526900_70903075_32013276_6368749_n.jpg Spiffy.

Ben Badler at Baseball America has an unranked top 20 prospects list (sub. req.) for the two Latin summer leagues, and RHP Osmel Perez made the cut. Badler says Perez's fastball touches 94 with room for improvement as he grows, plus an "advanced" changeup and "solid" slider.

Injuries interrupt spring for Brewers' prospectsAdam McCalvy/MLB.com GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Brewers outfield prospect Caleb Gindl was back in his apartment after having an MRI on his injured right knee when his Spring Training roommate called. Considering it was 3:30 p.m. in Phoenix, and Logan Schafer was supposed to be playing in the Brewers-Giants game over in Scottsdale, Gindl figured it was bad news. His intuition was right. Schafer fractured his right thumb sliding into second base in that game, and for the second straight year his Spring Training has ended early. In 2010, Schafer suffered a groin injury the day before he was to report to his first big league camp, and never made it. The day he returned, he fouled a ball off his right foot and suffered a broken bone. Now, he's got a broken thumb to worry about. Schafer visited later Tuesday morning with hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan, who deemed a surgical fix necessary. Schafer will undergo the procedure on Thursday, and the Brewers say he'll miss 4-6 weeks. "I was having so much fun out here playing with these guys," Schafer said. "When something like this happens, it's obviously really disappointing. But I'm not sitting here feeling sorry for myself. I have work to do." The news was better for Gindl, who was hurt crashing into a chain-link fence at Maryvale Baseball Park on Sunday. He was returned to Minor League camp on Tuesday, but will miss 3-5 days with a right upper calf strain. His knee, the initial worry, appears OK. Gindl was more worried about his roommate. "I feel terrible for him," Gindl said. "He went through so much last year, and he was just getting back on track. You hate to see anybody go down, but especially him, because you had this feeling that he was so close. "He's down right now, but he has the best attitude you can have at this point. There's nothing you can do about injuries." Other young players around the game have learned that lesson this spring. Rays pitching prospect Jeremy Hellickson didn't pitch in a Spring Training game until last week because of a right hamstring strain, but after another outing on Tuesday he appears back on track to be Tampa Bay's fifth starter. Back in Arizona, the Rangers have had four young pitchers set back by injuries. Tanner Scheppers, ranked 43rd in MLB.com's Top 50 prospects, had his chances of making the Rangers cut short by stiffness in his lower back -- while Minor League prospects Fabio Castillo (stress fracture in his foot), Wilmer Font (Tommy John surgery) and Miguel De Los Santos (biceps tendinitis) were all limited this spring. Cubs outfielder Brett Jackson, that club's No. 1 pick in 2009, had a scare in Las Vegas on Saturday, when he injured his shoulder making a diving catch. But it's not considered serious. And right here in Goodyear, where the Brewers and Indians squared off for the first time this spring, 25-year-old Cleveland corner infielder Jared Goedert has spent most of his spring rehabbing a right rib-cage strain. Goedert is only a year older than Schafer, and both players were almost certainly ticketed for the Minor Leagues -- even before their setbacks. Still, the missed opportunity stings. "It's frustrating to not be able to go out in Spring Training and see what I can do," Goedert said. "It was a good opportunity. Now, I can only do what I can do to get myself healthy, and get back out there as soon as I can." Schafer will have to wait for the Minor League regular season. He was at first base in the fifth inning of Monday's game against the Giants, when Prince Fielder hit a ground ball to first base. Schafer did exactly what he was supposed to do, charging toward second base to break up the double play, occupying the inside land and then sliding toward shortstop Miguel Tejada, and reaching for the base. His right hand hit either Tejada's shoe or the bag -- Schafer isn't sure. One look at his thumb, bent the wrong way, and he knew it was bad. "Bad luck," he said. "This is obviously something I've been through before. It's still disappointing." Especially because it keeps happening. "Injuries are a part of the game, but it seems like they're happening to me a lot," Schafer said. Mat Gamel knows the feeling. The Brewers' third-base prospect has missed time in all three of his big league camps, and did not make his 2011 debut until Tuesday because of a rib-cage strain. Gamel suffered that injury very early in Spring Training. He served as Milwaukee's designated hitter on Tuesday, after weeks of slow rehabilitation. "When this latest one happened, I couldn't help but say, 'What's next?'" Gamel said. He feels for Schafer. "He was having a good spring, and was making an impression -- and then it's over," Gamel said. "What are you going to do, man? You have to roll with the punches. You know that if you play this game, you're going to go through some things -- some people just go through more than others." "You always have to remember," added Gindl, "that it could always be worse. It could be career-ending. You look at a guy like Schafer and feel so bad, and you realize my situation could be worse. All that he's gone through, and now he's down again. Tough break for the guy." Here's some good news for the Brewers' disappointed young outfielders: They made the most of their time in big league camp. Schafer hit .318 and played each of the first 15 days of Cactus League action, while Gindl hit .412 with a .500 on-base percentage. "Gindl and Schafer have both impressed us," manager Ron Roenicke said. "They were obviously long shots to make our team. But with both those guys, if something happens in the season, they've shown me enough that I'm comfortable with them coming up." http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2011/03/15/tzY6NnIi.jpg Caleb Gindl (Ross D. Franklin/AP)

In minor league camp, young and old look to the futureCorie Stark/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Patrick Arlis and Joel Pierce hope to be included in the Milwaukee Brewers' future. Phoenix - Joel Pierce looks like a bright-eyed, young pup while Patrick Arlis resembles a seasoned watchdog. And that’s exactly what they are in the Brewers minor league system -“the home of the future.” Pierce, a right-handed pitcher and, at 18, the youngest of 143 minor leaguers battling for 100 jobs in spring training camp, was drafted last summer in the seventh round by the Brewers. The infielder appears curious and excited, but exudes confidence while speaking. “I watch what everyone is doing,” he said. “Makes me humble.” Like most baseball players, Pierce started young. A native Canadian, he spent his childhood playing baseball in the park and continued on to play shortstop at Vincent Massey Secondary School. “A few of my teammates [from high school] got drafted, too,” he said. “We keep in touch. There are lot of similarities between organizations.” This is Pierce’s first year in professional baseball, and he expects to make a Single-A team after spring training ends. His likely salary: Around $1,300 a month. For now, he is getting used to the routine of spring. “I wake up, come to the clubhouse and then practice. You can leave once work is done,” he said. “It’s hard work but nothing to worry about.” Spring training for minor leaguers starts later than major leaguers, but much of the work is similar. The offices - about 200 yards from the big league headquarters - are quainter, with pictures of players and coaches adorning the walls. The atmosphere is relaxing and welcoming to young players such as Pierce. “It’s been really, really comfortable, actually,” he said. “Every day is a new lesson; I’ve got a long way to go, but there’s less pressure being young. You have an excuse to make excuses.” But for Arlis, a catcher and, at 30, the oldest in minor league camp, the pressure is a little heavier. The age difference between he and Pierce is 12 years - almost matching his 10 years experience in the minors. None of it gets in the way of his overwhelming upbeat attitude, however. “Going into college I never knew I would play professional baseball,” he said. “I loved football throughout high school but when I realized I wasn’t going to get much bigger, I switched to baseball and it blossomed into something great.” Originally drafted in the 11th round in 2002 by the Texas Rangers, Arlis signed as a minor league free agent with the Brewers in April 2009. Throughout his tenure as a minor leaguer, he’s made several Triple-A clubs, but has never reached the majors. His overall batting average is .225. “I’m still going; I’m still riding the high,” he said. Arlis is aware he is the oldest player in the minor league system. He takes this in stride and offers tips to younger players, but never oversteps his boundaries. “I’ll give them little tips, but I don’t try to step in,” he said. “I’m not a coach but I want to coach eventually. If I see them struggling, I’ll help. The days and seasons are long.” For Arlis - who never anticipated professional baseball - every day is a bonus. “It’s exciting just because the fact I never knew much about baseball past college,” he said. Last year he played for the Brewers’ Triple-A team, the Nashville Sounds, and anticipates to be there again. His likely salary: Around $3,000 a month. “Baseball has a limited supply of players, but I’m excited,” he said. “Here, you meet a lot of guys. You play so many games they can blend together but sometimes a play sticks out but it’s the great friendships and stuff that keeps you going.” http://media.jsonline.com/images/116247014_minorleaguers.jpg (Corie Stark)

Mark Rogers was optioned to Nashville because he won't be ready when the Brewers first need a 5th starter, though he's still a candidate the next time the slot comes around.

Schafer will have surgery and miss 4-6 weeks, according to Adam McCalvy.

From the same link: EDIT: Adam McCalvy says the injury is in fact a muscle strain, not a minor ligament tear. Relatedly, Andrew Gruman reports that Ron Roenicke was impressed enough with both Gindl and (a healthy) Schafer to be comfortable calling them up to the majors.

Adam McCalvy:

Amaury Rivas was optioned to Nashville, and Cody Scarpetta and Dan Merklinger were optioned to Huntsville.

Adam McCalvy: