colbyjack

Helena loses, 6-2. Congrats to the Brewers on a great season in which they won both the first & 2nd half titles. And colby, better you than me on getting the Billings audio feed back after it went out on the Helena game -- must be nice to have a Mac (for once). I'd like to give my Mac the credit, but I think it was just luck. I kept getting booted off, only for the Windows Media Player to take forever re-buffering the feed. It probably went out 2-3 times every 5 minutes.

After 8...Billings 5, Helena 2 Billings adds 2 more runs in the top of the 7th. Their pitcher (sounds like Medlock) is absolutely blowing away the Brewers' batters the past couple of innings. Nothing like some 9th inning magic...c'mon Helena!

After 6...Billings 3, Helena 2. Helena squanders opportunities in both the 5th & 6th innings. #9 hitter should be up to leadoff the 7th, so the top of the lineup will have a chance to do some damage next inning. ***I picked up the broadcast late, and even now it's in & out, but from what I can tell, Ty Taubenheim came in with 1 out in the 2nd. Not sure if scheduled starter Carlos Ramirez got hurt or what, or if 2 runs were enough to push him out of the game early.

Snappers win, 4-2!!! They move on to face the Lansing Lugnuts in the MWL playoffs, best of 5 series. Congrats to the Snappers!

I don't think foamboy was being negative, he has good reason to be skeptical, as he pointed out. However, I'm still encouraged by this move because the organization has not been cheap when it comes to player development for the past 2-3 years, and as noted time & time again, both Doug Melvin & Gord Ash have a strong background scouting Latin America. I would like to see/hear more about their foreign signees when they happen, especially if they plan on going after a few more marquee players with the money that has been re-assigned.

Jim Powell talked about this during today's broadcast. He basically said that the $400,000 wouldn't simply be eliminated, as that money would be used to sign better players, not a bunch of lower quality players to field a larger team. And now, those players will get to play in the U.S. right away with the Brewers' Arizona affiliate, at the state-of-the-art Maryvale complex, which could be used as an edge over other teams when it comes down to a bidding war. Better quality, smaller quantity, at a better location. And $400,000 can go a long way with some of these players. I'm actually surprised that's how much it costed to run the DSL operation. They're still going to need a scout to find the talent in that part of the world, unless they're simply going to re-arrange & expand their existing scouts areas of responsibility. Or maybe Gord Ash will take up residence in the DR http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . They're certainly being pro-active with the way they view player development. Yet another interesting move.

Don't get me wrong, I really, really hate Cub fans & everything that has to do with them. I was at one of the games earlier this year when NO Brewer fans were showing up. At least game 1 as I said before reportedly was split 50/50. And I also agree with NDOG, you gotta make the most of it. Don't LET them ruin your experience at the ballpark.

I welcome the Cubs' fans and their cash. Amen to that. One common factor between Brewers & Cubs fans is the amount of food they eat & the amount of beer they drink. While selling the stadium out is huge, that concession money may be even bigger. Doug Melvin might just pick up Glendon Rusch's option after this weekend http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . But it does hurt emotionally to have so many Cub fans make the trip up vs. the amount of Brewer fans out at the park. I haven't made it, but I heard Friday it was 50/50, how was tonight's game? I was caught in traffic both before & after the game, and if you live in or around Milwaukee you know there simply aren't traffic jams that bad even during rush hour on a Friday afternoon. That's the worst part of Chicago, that & the tolls. At least those didn't come north for the weekend http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

Congrats to everyone involved with the Beloit Snappers. Best of luck & skill as you move onto round 2. Thanks as well to those that posted for the first-hand accounts from both the Snappers game & the Stars game. Hearing about Brad Nelson's stellar play in LF is something we don't get in the box scores.

I just made it home from the Snappers game this evening. Doug Melvin, Jack Zduriencik & Cecil Fielder were all in attendance, along with several other scouts buzzing about the ballpark. I even used the restroom right next to Cecil Fielder...my brush with greatness http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . Dennis Sarfate started off the first several innings a little slow. His fastball definitely was popping, but he had a little trouble locating it. The Timberrattlers didn't do anything to hurt him. The Sarfate & John Vanden Berg ended the 2nd & 3rd innings with strike 'em out, throw 'em out double plays, with the throw in the 3rd inning going to 3rd. John showed a pretty nice arm, as Dennis wasn't doing much to hold the runners close. That seemed to pump Sarfate up, at least for a couple of innings. He cruised through the 4th & 5th, but then hit another bump in the road in the 7th. He allowed a few baserunners on, and then Weeks had a throwing error that sailed into the visitor's dugout on a double play ball. It was somewhat of a tricky play, as Michael Garciaparra faked a bunt & then pulled the bat back along to chop a grounder up the middle. Everyone was playing the bunt, which caused everyone to scramble, and while Rickie made a nice play to get the ball & make the out at 2B, he should have held onto the ball as he had no chance to get lil' Nomah. A run scored on the play.Sarfate finished the 6th inning striking out the final batter with 3 straight fastballs that simply overpowered the guy. After racking up the K, before he walked to the dugout, he flashed a little emotion as you could tell he was pumped up to get that out. Speaking of lil' Nomah, he's not that impressive. Pretty weak swings at the plate, and he has the exact same odd toe tapping ritual in the batting box. I think this man is the victim of being his big brother's little brother, if you know what I mean. He needs to find his own identity, and his swing. And his D' at SS isn't going to carry him. Back to the Snappers, their scoring started in the bottom of the 5th, when Chas Terni hit a booming 3B with 2 outs that scored Adam Heether. Kennard Bibbs followed that with a drag bunt (or a weak chopper to the right side, I was distracted for the actual contact), which Bibbs beat out, allowing Terni to score the second run of the game. Snappers up 2-0, before the T-Rattlers scored a run in the top of the 6th on the aforementioned play. Sarfate was done after 6 innings of work. He showed some really good heat, and his breaking ball was impressive at times. He seemed to get over on it too much, forcing it too far down. It works more like a slider than a true curveball, although I've seen it work better than what it did tonight, although he did toss a few dandys, he just wasn't consistent. The opposing starting pitcher Bobby Livingston showed pretty good command, and threw a lot of strikes especially early in the game (and the ump had a pretty tight strike zone). Livingston flashed a pretty good slider & curveball, as you could definitely see the difference between the 2 pitches (one was slower with a bigger break, the other was just a shade slower than his fastball, with a smaller yet sharper break). He could be a good pitcher, as I remember following his name before the '01 draft (love them lefties). Again, back to the Snappers...Chas Terni wasn't done. In the bottom of the 7th, again with 2 outs, he started yet another rally with a 2B. Bibbs came through yet again with a solid RBI single. Crabbe reached 1st on an IF single (a ball hit up the middle that Garciaparra couldn't corral, a tough play if he would have), advancing Bibbs to 2B. With Gwynn at the plate, a double steal was put on, as Bibbs & Crabbe stole 3rd & 2nd without a throw to either bag. Gwynn followed that with a base hit up the middle, scoring both Bibbs & Crabbe. All with 2 outs, a great rally to give the Snappers some breathing room. The Timberrattlers did score again, but I don't remember how or when (it was during the 7th or 8th I believe against Hall). Bo Hall pitched the 7th & 8th. He's a little guy that throws a decent curve & fastball, but I guess I will have a hard time believing he's going to make it very far up the ladder. Josh Alliston (not Jeff Allison http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif ) closed out the 9th after walking the leadoff batter & starting the 2nd batter with a 2-0 count. He struck out the final batter of the game looking. As for some of our favorite prospects not mentioned, Weeks had a tough day. He did walk the first time up in the 2nd, and exhibited very good patience at the plate overall. However, before Livingston threw home with Weeks on he picked him off of 1B. It was a great pickoff move, but still, disappointing to see Weeks thrown out. Weeks also grounded into 2 double plays, and hit a weak flyout to RF in his last AB. You can still see his tremendous athleticism & bat speed, I just caught him on a bad night. Fielder was swinging at too much garbage out of the zone. I know others have noted this at times, as I've seen him less than patient a couple of times now. I've also seen him incredibly disciplined & patient at the plate, so this is something that he obviously is going to have to learn to be more consistent with. He was facing a rather tough lefty the first 6-7 innings, and the first relief pither they brought in was a lefty to get Prince & Gwynn (I believe in the 7th, which obviously didn't work in Gwynn's case). So that's that. I'll see if I remember more by morning.

Congrats to all 3 of these young men! Thanks for the heads up Minorfan.

Sheets throws 2 different fastballs. You can't really call them the same pitch. And he's been throwing his changeup more & more this year.

Everything I've heard says Sheets' changeup has been fine all year. The only reason he doesn't throw it at times from what I've heard is because he falls in love too much with his curveball. Sheets is a 4-pitch pitcher. He has a 4-seam fastball that touches the mid to high-90s, an 2-seam sinker in the upper 80s to low-90s, a curve & a change. What are you trying to do, compare Nance to Sheets?

How about 5'10" HS SS/RHP Matt Bush http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif ?

The Brewers certainly didn't help the D-Rays by signing Weeks for a minimum of $4.8 million. The D-Rays have reportedly been strapped for cash before, but still have managed to sign marquee picks such as Dewon Brazelton & BJ Upton the last 2 years, so I wouldn't write Young off to a JC so soon. Plus, I want a pitcher next year http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

According to the NY Times (take that for what it's worth) Lastings Milledge has signed with the Mets for $1.9 million. Now, do you think the Mets brought up that crap about his character as a negotiating ploy? They definitely cornered him into signing for less than what he wanted to.

Here's BA's top 20 prospect list from the event: www.baseballamerica.com/t...top20.html 7 of the 20 hail from California, including the #1 prospect from the event, Matt Bush.

Thanks for the head's up gebc1997. I believe we received word a week or two after the draft that the Brewers were trying to convince young Mr. Catchot to attend a JC so they would be able to follow him through next spring. I know they're interested in him quite a bit, although Catchot is also interested in attending school (at least for one year). I'm almost positive that Catchot was at the Brewers pre-draft workout, and he looked pretty dang impressive. Nice to know he's heading for Chipola, certainly a JC with some serious clout in the scouting world. The level of competition won't be in question that's for sure. And gebc1997, do you ever see Pete Vuckovich strolling around town? You share the same hometown.

Here's coverage for Day 2: www.baseballamerica.com/t...eday2.html I spoke with Assistant Scouting Director Tom Flanagan yesterday and he informed me that he & Jack Z. would be heading out to California today to check out the Area Code Games for the rest of the week. They had to stick around town early this week for some guy named Weeks.

Hey Crew Believer, if you (or anyone else for that matter) are interested in one of the original Brewerfan.net t-shirt's, feel free to email me at: pebert@brewerfan.net I'm all out of XLs, but I believe I have a few XXLs & Ls, along with a stray M & possibly a S. S-L are $15 (which includes shipping), and the XXLs are $17. I'll make a deal if you're interested in more than one. If you're interested in some of the new shirts, be sure to click on the word "store" towards the top of this page in the maroon navigational bar.

I just think it's ridiculous that the Mets are making new news out of old news, and now everyone is taking offense to it. This is clearly in my mind a very poor move my the Mets. Not to make Milledge look like a saint, but he's already gone through this, even if it wasn't in the ESPN spotlight. Many of these issues were brought up as part of Brewerfan.net's draft coverage. Here's Milledge's player profile: www.brewerfan.net/ViewFea...PlayerId=1 And a link off of that page talking about the situation & his expulsion: www.baseballamerica.com/t...52002.html

From our brief meeting with him last night, Rickie is an extremely nice & gratious young man, and seems rather humble as well. His parents were extremely appreciative of our well wishes. What an exciting day, as I was incredibly honored to meet the young man the day he signed his professional contract. And, he's ripped. His athleticism combined with his work ethic is going to serve him well.

For those interested...here's BA's coverage of Day 1. Short but sweet, and it was kind of hidden under their High School coverage, as I'm not sure if they'll bump this info onto the front page as the week goes on. Ranking the minor league tools at midseason certainly is a more interesting subject to feature, but they have found a place for this info on their frontpage in the past. www.baseballamerica.com/t...eday1.html

What's really sad is that this issue has already been dealt if it's the same issue that caused Milledge to be expelled from his previous high school. When everyone talked about "character issues" about Lastings Milledge, this is the incident that created those concerns. I can see why the concerns would be legitimate, but everything I heard this past spring indicated that Milledge had moved on since the incident. Many argued that he shouldn't have even been expelled because as Robert pointed out he wasn't charge or convicted of any crime, they never seemed to get past the stage of allegations. I think it was last week that I reported the Mets weren't interested in giving into Milledge's reported lofty bonus aspirations, and it sounds to me the Mets are trying to take a shot at his character almost in an attempt to sign for less. If this is indeed a completely new case, that obviously would be different.

It better be for an '03 deal if he signs now. If not, why not make him sweat a little longer? I'm a little surprised that they would send him to Helena. I thought Beloit for sure, possibly High Desert. He has been out of action for about 2 months now, so I'm sure they want to ease him back into the swing of things before possibly bumping him up to Beloit for the MWL playoffs. All possibly a tune up for the AFL. After that, I have a feeling Weeks won't see time below High Desert next year. I hope he does so we all can see him in Beloit. EDIT: I just realized that if Weeks does indeed sign within a day or two my prediction of him signing by the end of July will only be about 5 days off. I think I also said his contract would be similar to the $4 million dollar MLB deal Loewen received. We'll have to see if my contract predictions are as good as my ones for our DFEs (and better than my draft predictions http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif ).