battlekow

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

DSL outfielder Erickson Salaya, who was suspended 50 games in July for steroid use, has been placed on the "disqualified list" for the next year because he falsified his age when he signed with the Brewers. Because his suspension already carried over into next year, I'd imagine this makes him ineligible to play until late 2012 and probably ends his Brewers career.

Steinmiller with Hunter Morris on his position change: http://brewers.mlblogs.com/assets_c/2010/11/morrisfielding-thumb-288x317-2516861.jpg

John Steinmiller with some reactions from Jeffress and Mike Guerrero, along with pictures of Jeffress and Gindl: http://brewers.mlblogs.com/assets_c/2010/11/asgjeffress-thumb-360x436-2520471.jpg http://brewers.mlblogs.com/assets_c/2010/11/gindlASG-thumb-360x447-2519851.jpg

From Jim Callis's most recent chat:

Eric Farris was 1-4, Caleb Gindl was 0-4, and Brandon Kintzler allowed a run on three hits in two innings with no walks or strikeouts (box score). Kintzler was 92-94 with his fastball and 83-87 with his slider.

Brewers' Fiers bounces back for SurpriseDanny Wild/MLB.com Michael Fiers held the Desert Dogs hitless for four innings thanks to a new pitch and a relaxed approach in Surprise's 3-2 Arizona Fall League win Monday. Fiers, who pitched at two levels this summer for the Brewers and added a cut fastball this fall, struck out four and allowed one run on a walk over four frames. "I'm just working on throwing strikes and working on a cutter. I kinda started throwing better and keeping the ball down," he said. "I was attacking them and throwing strikes." Fiers, who saw time at Class A Advanced Brevard County and Double-A Huntsville in 2010, struggled in his first two outings this fall, allowing seven runs over 4 1/3 frames. On Monday, he found a comfort zone on the hill. "My first couple starts I couldn't get into a groove. I was on a pitch count and trying to make too many things happen at once," said Fiers, who threw 34 of his 55 pitches for strikes Monday. "I guess I settled down and just took it one pitch at a time." Fiers, Milwaukee's 22nd-round pick in 2009, made 27 starts this summer in the Minors, finishing a combined 5-9 with a 3.53 ERA. He struck out 130 and walked only 32 over 125 innings. "I'm always trying to throw strikes," he said. "Get them to swing early and get a ground ball." Fiers cruised through two innings before walking A's slugger Michael Taylor to begin the third. He struck out Cory Harrilchak (Braves), but Ryan Curry (Marlins) reached second on a fielding error by left fielder Derrick Robinson (Royals). That allowed Taylor to advance to third and Ivan De Jesus Jr. (Dodgers) followed with groundout to first to plate Taylor. "I felt great. I felt like I was attacking them, kept the hitters off balance," said Fiers, who used a fastball, change and curveball along with his cutter. Fiers, who grew up in Florida and pitched there for half the year, said he's enjoying his chance to pitch in Arizona. "It's a great feeling to play with pretty much the best guys in the Minors and a couple guys who've played in the big leagues," he said. http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2010/11/01/almTNjcI.jpg Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

ESPN's Jason Grey on how Jeremy Jeffress has looked in the AFL: EDIT: Grey followed up: "he's flashed a couple of good curves, so it's still there - just very inconsistent right now - will see him more next 2 weeks"

It took me a second to realize I was watching Brent Brewer on TV just now. Almost drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct in the Tennessee-Alabama game.

It looks like it has a moustache.

Keith Law called it a couple days ago.

Gindl also singled and walked. Fiers struck out two and walked none in three innings, allowing two runs on five hits; he threw 60 pitches, 35 for strikes. Merklinger struck out one, walked one, and hit a batter in a scoreless inning; Merklinger threw 10 strikes in 18 pitches. box score EDIT: Lucas Luetge tossed a perfect inning and was 86-88 with his fastball. Morris was 0-4.

Gindl, Farris team up in Rafters victoryRobert Emrich/Special to MLB.com It was all Brewers all the time in Surprise on Monday. Caleb Gindl hit a two-run homer and fellow Milwaukee prospect Eric Farris continued his torrid start in the Arizona Fall League with three hits as Surprise defeated Scottsdale, 6-4, on Monday. Gindl's blast came in the fifth inning, with the Rafters (3-3) holding a 3-1 lead. The 22-year-old right fielder, a fifth-round pick by the Brewers in 2007, was surprised his shot went over the center-field wall, 400 feet away. "I told myself to stay within myself, put a good swing on it and don't try to do too much," he said. "Honestly, I thought I had a double, but the ball carries well out here so I guess it had enough to get out." Gindl, who scored twice for the Rafters, faced Scorpions reliever Bryan Woodall (Diamondbacks) once before on Sept. 4. His three-run homer off Woodall keyed Double-A Huntsville's 10-7 win over Mobile. "I can't believe it happened again, but it did," Gindl said. The Florida native spent the 2010 season with the Stars, batting .272 with nine homers and 60 RBIs. "I just think you see good arms day in and day out," Gindl said of Double-A pitching. "It's definitely a difference. In the lower levels, you can focus at-bat to at-bat. Once you get to that level, you have to focus pitch to pitch. When you get your pitch, you have to hit it, because when you miss those guys can make you pay." Farris, drafted a round earlier than Gindl, is batting .500 after Monday's performance. The 24-year-old second baseman has scored seven runs and stolen three bases in four games. "He's a great player and he's a great teammate also," Gindl said of Farris. "He always picks you up. The kid is unbelievable, he's doing really good out here right now." Former Royals first-rounder Mike Montgomery (1-0) picked up the win, allowing a run on three hits and fanning three over 3 2/3 innings for the Rafters. "He was nasty from what I saw," Gindl said of the left-hander. "I've never seen him and he impressed me, that's for sure." Tigers' first-round pick Chance Ruffin, son of former Major Leaguer Bruce Ruffin, allowed a run on one hit in the ninth inning, but earned the save. Charlie Culberson (Giants) collected three hits, including a solo homer, for the Scorpions (4-2). Orioles farmhand Ryan Adams drove in this eighth run of the fledgling season, tying him with Brandon Wood of Mesa for the league lead. Giants prospect Ryan Verdugo (0-1) took the loss, surrendering three runs -- one earned -- on two hits over two innings. Bruce Billings (Rockies) fanned two over two perfect frames. http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2010/10/18/t75JQrfc.jpg Caleb Gindl is batting .400 (6-for-15) with three RBIs in four Arizona Fall League games with Surprise. (Michael O'Day/MLB.com)

What I think he means is that if the list was long enough to include Scarpetta, it would also include Peralta, who would be ahead of Scarpetta, i.e. he/they like Peralta more than Scarpetta. Elaborating on the subject, and others:

From the chat:

Adam Stern lead off and was 1-4 in Canada's 4-2 loss to Cuba on Tuesday. Taylor Green and Jim Henderson did not play. Martin Maldonado started at catcher and went 0-4 as Puerto Rico beat Colombia 3-2. Efrain Nieves and Hiram Burgos did not see action. Andre Lamontagne did not pitch in the US's 8-3 win over the Dominican Republic.

No Brewers made the FSL">http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/league-top-20-prospects/2010/2610749.html]FSL Top 20. EDIT: In response to a question from Toby, Jim Callis had this to say about Erik Komatsu's defense and Dan Meadows' prospect status: "Komatsu solid in CF, Meadows a finesse LH"

I asked Callis, and he said: "Scouts didn't like it nearly as much as mgrs did."

Just to put the depth into perspective, Callis said it might have been the best MWL group of prospects since 2000 and that he'd take the top 5-8 MWL players over the top SAL guy. The scouting report on Odorizzi: From the chat: Ha. Okay, we get it: Heckathorn isn't as good as his numbers might lead you to believe, but "wasn't as much of a disaster as Eric Arnett" is silly hyperbole. Come on now, Jim.

It would be better if it meant Little Ash or Little Maple. I guess since he's projected to be a 4th outfielder, "pine" makes some sense. Or maybe he uses a lot of (or a little) pine tar. Or maybe he yearns...

I asked in the chat where Thornburg would have ranked if he'd qualified: EDIT: Wow, a Seth Lintz question: More:

The Pioneer League rankings are up. Matt Miller comes in at #9: Jimmy Nelson is #14: You might be surprised at the absence of Cody Hawn and Tyler Thornburg. Thornburg just missed having enough innings to qualify for the list, and Hawn was a college first baseman, so he'd probably have had to hit like 2001 Barry Bonds to really make some noise. P.S. Check out the lists from five and ten years ago for a trip.

BA's Top 20 AZL Prospects list is out; the only Brewer on it is Tyler Roberts at #4:

Please don't link (mentioning the name of the site = linking) to potentially illegal streaming sites.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Link Report this year, everyone else who reads it, and especially MH for being the driving force behind the whole thing.