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Message of inspiration: Garman addresses WMS studentsCarla Meyer/Wapakoneta Daily News A local baseball star left Wapakoneta Middle School students Tuesday with a positive message about life. Professional baseball player and Wapakoneta High School graduate Brian Garman spoke during a special sixth- and seventh-grade assembly. “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars,” Garman said of a favorite quotation that made an impression on his life. While he was at Wapakoneta Middle School or Wapakoneta High School, he saw a poster on a hallway wall with this inspirational message, Garman said. This quote made a lasting impression on him to dream big and to set his goals high. “We should set goals high because even if we don’t get there, we still get here,” Garman said as he motioned his arms. He talked to the students about how he started playing baseball when he was four-years-old. “When I was a kid, I decided I wanted to play baseball,” said Garman, who played with the Wapakoneta Redskins and the Cincinnati Bearcats before being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers. “I decided to set a high goal. “My definition of failure is quitting,” Garman said. “Never ever let something defeat you — that’s important if you want to get to the top.” Garman also spoke with the students about not giving into peer pressure. “Surround yourself with good friends,” Garman said, “and stay focused.” Garman encouraged the students to do what they love to do, and to not let anyone bring them down and tell them they cannot do something that they love. “You don’t need a lot of money to be happy,” Garman said. “You just need to have a career and do what you love to do.” He stressed that success is more important than money. Garman shared a story about having a chat with one of his teammates, Tony [Pechek, I assume. -bk]. Tony told Garman that he admires the passion he has for the game. “Tony was struggling because he hasn’t been playing a lot,” Garman said. “It got to the point where it wasn’t fun for him anymore.” Garman gave this advice to Tony, and now to the students, that they need to be passionate about what they do and find something that they love to do. “I made the decision to play baseball after college,” Garman said. “I don’t care if anyone tells me I can’t because I’ll prove them wrong.” Garman expressed to the students that they should not worry about the things they cannot control, but focus on the things they can do. Garman ended his talk by answering questions from the students. Wapakoneta Middle School guidance counselor Mark Koch went around with the microphone while students asked Garman questions, such as “Do you get nervous before a game?” “Did you like middle school?” and “What was your hardest class in college?” Sixth-grader Masin Richey said he has known Garman for a while, and what Garman talked about really made him think. “He was pretty good,” sixth-grader Vanessa Baughman said. “I think he can make his goals.” Maddie Bayne expressed that she thought Garman was a cool speaker. “I wanted to ask him how he actually got there,” the sixth-grader said of how Garman reached his successful career. Bayne liked when Garman talked about setting a goal high. If you do not reach the high goal you set, you will still get somewhere, Bayne said. Seventh-grader Mason Schmalenger said he also enjoyed how Garman spoke about setting high goals. “Set your goal high, and if you miss, at least you will get somewhere,” Schmalenger said. Sixth-grader Kelsie Akers expressed how she felt Garman was outgoing, competitive and hardworking. She also said setting a goal high is something she took from his speech. “It’s amazing,” sixth-grader Samantha Fuerst said of Garman’s successful career. “And he comes from a little town.”

Twilight or True Blood?

Yeah, it's because those players won't be optioned anywhere until spring training.

The new Power 50 is up!

Of course, you could argue that Rogers' shoulder is 50, or whatever number you want to make the point that he's an above-average injury risk.

Haudricourt also reports that RHP Jim Henderson was re-signed and that RHP Jesus Sanchez was also signed. Sanchez is only 23 and was a catcher until two years ago, so perhaps there's some potential there. Apparently he's got a low-90s fastball and a decent changeup, and that was as a starter, so I could see him being effective out of the bullpen.

I'm more interested in the bottom of the list. I ran out of guys to vote for, so I just put Joel Pierce at #50.

Kevin Goldstein on Rosario and Egan:

Kevin Goldstein on Rosario and Egan:

Pat Egan's big daySteve Melewski/MASNsports.com Right-hander Pat Egan began today as a minor league pitcher in the O's organization. But after being taken in the Rule 5 draft, he is now on the Milwaukee Brewers' major league roster. "I'm still trying to piece it all together," Egan said by phone moments ago. "It's kind of surreal right now. I've been getting a lot of calls and texts and I'm just trying to get a grip on it right now. I knew it was a possibility, but there is a whole different feeling when you are taken. It is starting to sink in that I have the chance to make a major league roster.It's a great opportunity and I am real excited." Egan pitched at Bowie and Norfolk this year, going a combined 7-2, 3.44 in 49 games. He pitches with velocity in the low 90s, but the sink on his pitches may be one big reason why the Brewers nabbed him. He had a 2.64 ratio of grounders to fly balls this year. "(Milwaukee's) assistant GM called and said a quick hello. He told me about the process and what will happen in spring training and their strength and conditioning program and so forth," Egan said. Egan admits his emotions are a bit of blur today. He could be gone from the O's organization for good if things work out the way he hopes with Milwaukee. "I would have loved to have been protected by the O's," he said. "They gave me my first opportunity, but I didn't get protected, so maybe this will work out the best for me." Egan was a starting pitcher for his first two seasons in the O's organization, but has pitched mostly in the bullpen the past two years. "Moving from the starting rotation to the pen really suited me. Plus, I tried to work hard with each pitching coach I had and pick their brain and just be consistent and keep working hard," Egan said. Egan just finished a stint in the Arizona Fall League and threw well there, going 0-1, 2.13 in 10 games with Scottsdale. Not to bury the lead, but maybe this is the best part of his story. The Orioles, and scout Keith Connolly, drafted Egan in the 36th round out of Quinnipiac University in 2006. The tall right-hander had to overcome long odds to even get good enough to be taken in this draft today. There were 1,074 players selected ahead of him in that draft four years ago. "I try to use everything I learn as motivation," Egan said. "Being taken in the 36th round, sometimes you feel like you are just filler for an organization. I always felt like I had something to prove and it motivated me. I tried to use it that way each year." The odds are probably good that Egan will be offered back to the Orioles at some point next year. Maybe he won't; he could be that rare Rule 5 draft pick that sticks. Either way, you have to feel real good for him right now, coming from Round 36 to today. Yes, today is a good day at the Egan house.

Pat Egan's big daySteve Melewski/MASNsports.com Right-hander Pat Egan began today as a minor league pitcher in the O's organization. But after being taken in the Rule 5 draft, he is now on the Milwaukee Brewers' major league roster. "I'm still trying to piece it all together," Egan said by phone moments ago. "It's kind of surreal right now. I've been getting a lot of calls and texts and I'm just trying to get a grip on it right now. I knew it was a possibility, but there is a whole different feeling when you are taken. It is starting to sink in that I have the chance to make a major league roster.It's a great opportunity and I am real excited." Egan pitched at Bowie and Norfolk this year, going a combined 7-2, 3.44 in 49 games. He pitches with velocity in the low 90s, but the sink on his pitches may be one big reason why the Brewers nabbed him. He had a 2.64 ratio of grounders to fly balls this year. "(Milwaukee's) assistant GM called and said a quick hello. He told me about the process and what will happen in spring training and their strength and conditioning program and so forth," Egan said. Egan admits his emotions are a bit of blur today. He could be gone from the O's organization for good if things work out the way he hopes with Milwaukee. "I would have loved to have been protected by the O's," he said. "They gave me my first opportunity, but I didn't get protected, so maybe this will work out the best for me." Egan was a starting pitcher for his first two seasons in the O's organization, but has pitched mostly in the bullpen the past two years. "Moving from the starting rotation to the pen really suited me. Plus, I tried to work hard with each pitching coach I had and pick their brain and just be consistent and keep working hard," Egan said. Egan just finished a stint in the Arizona Fall League and threw well there, going 0-1, 2.13 in 10 games with Scottsdale. Not to bury the lead, but maybe this is the best part of his story. The Orioles, and scout Keith Connolly, drafted Egan in the 36th round out of Quinnipiac University in 2006. The tall right-hander had to overcome long odds to even get good enough to be taken in this draft today. There were 1,074 players selected ahead of him in that draft four years ago. "I try to use everything I learn as motivation," Egan said. "Being taken in the 36th round, sometimes you feel like you are just filler for an organization. I always felt like I had something to prove and it motivated me. I tried to use it that way each year." The odds are probably good that Egan will be offered back to the Orioles at some point next year. Maybe he won't; he could be that rare Rule 5 draft pick that sticks. Either way, you have to feel real good for him right now, coming from Round 36 to today. Yes, today is a good day at the Egan house.

I understand what you mean. You're right Cot's, isn't yet updated with 2010 service time, but it's not particularly difficult to figure out--for one player, anyway. It could be a headache to do for a whole team. Anyway, carry on.

How so?

The draft is tomorrow. Jonathan Mayo has a article highlighting some of the more prominent available talent, including Taylor Green. I called it last year with Lofgren, so how about rolling the dice on another failed Indians starter, Adam Miller?

The draft is tomorrow. Jonathan Mayo has a article highlighting some of the more prominent available talent, including Taylor Green. I called it last year with Lofgren, so how about rolling the dice on another failed Indians starter, Adam Miller?

Pitching and teaching part of Cody Scarpetta's big yearMatt Trowbridge/Rockford Register Star ROCKFORD — Cody Scarpetta wants to be like his dad. That means he wants to pitch, yes. But it also means he wants to teach others how to pitch. “Being a professional baseball player is also doing stuff for kids and being part of your community,” said Scarpetta, an 11th-round draft pick by the Brewers in 2007. “Milwaukee has special events for fans and community up there. A lot of kids look up to my dad and our family, so I’m glad to give back a little.” The Scarpetta clan will hold their second annual pitching clinic Dec. 19. Scarpetta’s dad (Dan) and uncle (Dennis) are longtime area baseball coaches and former minor-league pitchers. Cody’s cousins Brett and Ryan also were star NIC-10 pitchers in high school. All five Scarpettas will be instructors at the clinic, started by Cody and Brett last year. “I used to love hearing my dad tell me about the experiences he learned in pro ball. I want the kids in my community to get the same information I got,” Cody Scarpetta said. That doesn’t mean Scarpetta is ready to become a coach. He said the Brewers told him he should start the 2011 season in Class AA after a solid year in the Florida State League in high Class A ball. After a slow start, the former Guilford right-hander finished 7-12 for the Brevard County Manatees with a 3.78 ERA and an average of 10 strikeouts per nine innings. Scarpetta has averaged at least 9.9 strikeouts in all four of his minor league stops where he’s made at least three starts. His problem has been control. Scarpetta walked 4.7 batters per nine innings last year and 4.6 for his still-young career. He said his control improved dramatically since his dad and Brevard County pitching coaches noticed a flaw in his delivery in midseason. “When I strided out, my front foot was throwing across my body, stepping toward third base instead of going right toward home plate,” Scarpetta said. “My knee was flaring out. Once I corrected that, it made my arm slot higher and I took off. My walks went way down.” “I am very happy with how I finished. Every game is important, but if you don’t start well, it always looks better when you finish better than you started.” Scarpetta also only allowed four home runs in 128 innings. He credits some of that to pitching in a big ballpark. But he also did a good job keeping the ball low. “An old pitching coach told me you can’t hit a 500-foot ground ball,” Scarpetta said. Scarpetta reports Feb. 13 with pitchers and catchers to the Brewers’ major league camp in Phoenix. The minor league camp is next door. “If you get sent down, you just walk across the street,” Scarpetta said. He knows he’ll make that walk. But he also thinks this is the year he can establish himself as a true major league prospect. “It’s going to be a big year for me,” Scarpetta said. “I want to see how far I can get.” Much of it depends on his control. “I’m happy with making hitters put the ball in play and going right after them, instead of trying to go around them,” Scarpetta said. “If I’m able to put my fastball wherever I want, and if I can command a secondary pitch whether it’s my change-up, curve or a cutter, I think I’ll be a tough guy.” http://www.rrstar.com/archive/x1921988445/g2e22e200000000000041d6cbee3457d7a9a28c54c1c9cd161f9127995e.jpg

From a BA article on Eric Farris:

Chuck Lofgren signed a minor league deal with San Francisco and seems pretty sanguine about it: "'Life is great,' he said Monday...'I always wanted to be a Giant,' he said. 'Now that I've been given the opportunity I intend to make the most of it.'"

Oakland re-signed Adam Heether.

Jonathan Mayo puts Jeremy Jeffress 7th on his list of standout AFL players ("Several factors were included in determining the final order, with an eye toward combining the prospect's status and upside with his performance in the league this fall."): The only pitchers ahead of him on the list are the Royals' Mike Montgomery and the Yankees' Manny Banuelos.

Eric Farris, Dan Merklinger, and Wily Peralta were added to the 40-man, per Haudricourt. The deadline for Rule 5 protection is Friday, so unless guys like Taylor Green and Brendan Katin are added between now and then, they'll be eligible to be drafted away by another team. (fixed link --1992)

Eric Farris, Dan Merklinger, and Wily Peralta were added to the 40-man, per Haudricourt. The deadline for Rule 5 protection is Friday, so unless guys like Taylor Green and Brendan Katin are added between now and then, they'll be eligible to be drafted away by another team. (fixed link --1992)

He's not, but here's a bit on him from a subscriber-only BA piece:

Farris was 2-4 and Morris was 0-3 with a walk. Jeremy Jeffress tossed 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, allowing a hit and a walk. Jeffress threw 27 pitches, 16 for strikes; his four-seamer was 96-100, and he mixed in some two-seamers and curves. Lucas Luetge worked the final two frames, allowing just a walk and fanning two. 16 stikes in 25 pitches for Luetge; he was 88-91 with his fastball.

Mystery solved: Buller signed a two-year deal with the Brewers last year.