colbyjack

Cain has played LF and RF almost exclusively, as you would need to check back through the box scores to see if he's appeared in CF. Maybe in one game, but the Yankees top prospect, Austin Jackson, is the Javelinas everyday CF, and I don't recall him missing many games this fall. He played CF to end both this year and last season, and many seem to believe that the only reason he was playing RF the past few years was due to the presence of other players in the system. He could, and probably will be the everyday CF next year at Huntsville. BA reported a year ago that he can play CF "in a pinch," but I don't think his skills in CF are that shaky. Quite the opposite actually, he just needs more experience there.

I would like to retract my comment from above about how Giles would be unlikely to move away from the Padres. I guess I didn't realize how serious they were about cutting down their payroll. This isn't just about Peavy and what happened with Hoffman, but I guess the Padres owner is going through a tough time personally (divorce), not to mention the current economic situation. The Padres may have been doing Giles a favor by letting him get his 10-5 rights, and may have to take less in trade to move him elsewhere, as Giles' salary goes from $9 million next year to $11 million if he's traded. Plus, he can veto any trade that comes up, and the Brewers were previously on his limited no-trade list, although that could change given the Brewers postseason appearance. What would it take? If the Padres can't get the CF they are looking for when Peavy is dealt, Lorenzo Cain comes to mind as a player the Padres may be interested in. I'm sure they would trip over themselves for Escobar, but that's a lot to give for a one-year rental.

Man alive, if the Brewers offered Gagne, a completely unpredictable commodity, $10 million a year ago, they had better consider this option. His WHIP was barely above 1.00 last year, and he has never gotten burned in his career with walks or home runs. If you're not a fan of throwing a ton of money or a long-term commitment at a closer, I'm not sure why you wouldn't be at least mildly excited about Hoffman's availability.

It's nice to have a Brewers farmhand featured as the top story in an AFL game this year, since there hasn't been a ton to cheer about this fall. http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2008/11/10/FVwI6Bk3.jpg http://mlb.mlb.com/news/a...=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb Cain rises as Javs beat Solar Sox Brewers prospect homers twice on perfect day at dish Brewers prospect Lorenzo Cain belted two home runs and collected five RBIs on a 4-for-4 day at the plate Monday as the Peoria Javelinas outslugged the Mesa Solar Sox, 13-9. Cain hit a two-run shot to center field in the first inning and a two-run homer to right in the ninth. The Javelinas right fielder, who averaged .279 with 11 home runs across three levels in 2008, fell a triple short of the cycle. The 22-year-old crossed the plate three times. He lined a single in the fifth, doubled to left in the seventh and also worked a third-inning walk. Yankees prospect Juan Miranda and Lou Palmisano (Brewers) both smacked two-run homers and Rhyne Hughes (Rays) added a solo shot. Valaika (Reds) was driven in three times by Cain. Mariners righty Gaby Hernandez (1-4) gave up four runs on six hits, striking out two and walking two in four innings to pick up his first win in Arizona for the Javelinas (12-17). Robert Manuel (Reds) and Omar Aguilar (Brewers) kept the Solar Sox off the scoreboard for the final two frames. Logan Morrison (Marlins), who leads the Arizona Fall League with a .443 batting average, knocked in three runs for Mesa (18-11) to boost his fall total to 25. Phillies farmhand Jeremy Slayden had three hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Jason Donald (Phillies) and Scott Cousins (Marlins) each had two hits, two runs and a walk, and Darwin Barney (Cubs) and Casper Wells (Tigers) added two hits apiece. Phillies right-hander Andrew Carpenter (0-2) allowed six runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, striking out three, over four innings for the loss. Box Score: Cain is now hitting .364/.404/.682 in 44 AFL ABs. I know some people, myself included, have been hard on the winter ballers so far, but Lou Palmisano is having a nice little stint in the AFL. Omar Aguilar is as well, who still has not given up an earned run, and he has appeared in three of the Javelinas past five games. You have to wonder if the Brewers have asked for him to be used more in an attempt to get him ready for life in the big-leagues. Brent Brewer played 3B again and went 1-5 with a double and a pair of strikeouts. http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/s...008_11_10_perwin_msswin_1

I think part of the reason for this is that, as soon as one of the committee members blows a save, the teams panic and appoint someone the next day. I can't think of any teams that have gone with a closer-by-committee for an entire season anytime recently. Maybe it won't work, but I don't feel like anyone has given it a proper chance. For those who remember, how were short relievers used before the save was invented? I'm not saying it wouldn't work, but I'm very skeptical. You don't see too many, if any, successful teams that don't have a defined closer. Even a stat-oriented team like the Blue Jays under Ricciardi dropped a ton of cash on BJ Ryan a couple of offseasons ago, just like the Red Sox did with Foulke prior to 2004. I'm just not comfortable going into next season trying to figure that out if the playoffs are indeed in sight. As for the history of the closer and saves, prior to the mid-80s, when the closer role emerged to more of a one-inning stint led by relievers such as Dennis Eckersley, Lee Smith, John Franco and Jeff Reardon, closers were used for 2-3 innings to close out games. Bruce Sutter, Dan Quisenberry and Rollie Fingers are the closers that come to mind first, since these are the guys I remember the most growing up, but none of them just came in the 9th to close out a game in which their team held a 3-run lead. They were coming in the 6th and 7th to shut down opponents no matter what the lead (usually 3 runs or less since runs weren't as ample back then), annually recording 100+ innings of work. And the closer role was just as important back then. The Brewers biggest target in the late-70s and early-80s before they acquired Fingers was to acquire an established closer, which they felt was needed to put them over the top. The book 9 Innings offers very good insight on their pursuit, as they tried to figure out a way to acquire Sutter from the Cubs before the Cardinals did. People even today still point to the lack of Fingers on the '82 World Series team as the reason for the team's demise. That's why I firmly believe they shouldn't mess around with the uncertainty of an unproven guy or even a committee type structure, unless they have investigate every other options and have no other choice.

Late to the party here, but does anyone else find it strange that Melvin had come out and said that they wanted a manager with experience, then they hire a staff that is largely inexperienced at their current roles? Sveum has never been a hitting coach in the majors, Castro was only a pitching coach for a couple of months 6 years ago, and I don't believe Fischer has ever been a 3B coach either. That's an astute and definitely a fair observation Peavey. It will be interesting to see how they all mesh, or if we may hear stories about too many cooks in the kitchen next season. Like others, I really like some of the quotes coming out of Macha and others, specifically referencing how Randolph may help a player like Rickie Weeks, and how Randolph may also help Sveum as a hitting coach given his high-OBP skills as a player. If those traits can truly be rubbed off, with the staff emphasizing the right things at this point in time, I'm excited to see what will happen next year.

Holliday is a great acquisition no matter what team landed him. He's just a great, great hitter, and as others have noted, I'm glad he's not coming to the NL Central. Plus, he gives some balance to the A's lineup, as most of their bigger and better hitters bat left-handed. For those more in tune with the A's, if Gonzalez is part of this trade, who plays CF for them? According to some reports they have a lot of money to play with this offseason, and could get involved with Rafael Furcal. I'm curious if Mike Cameron might be someone else they would be interested in given his OBP skills and defensive prowess.

Dayan Viciedo, a 19-year old Cuban player that defected over the summer, has filed the necessary paperwork and has been declared a free agent: http://www.baseballameric...om/blog/prospects/?p=1789 As you'll see in this report by BA, the opinions among the scouting community are really mixed. Cuban prospects typically are so risky because they are inevitably compared to the players that preceeded them. Last year Alexei Ramirez received a lot of scrutiny, and yet he became a rookie of the year candidate. Before him Kendry Morales was praised for his athleticism and bat, and he seemed to have gotten way out of shape, which is always a concern with Cuban players that seemed to have started with Livan Hernandez. Jose Contreras of course became part of a huge bidding war and has never come close to living up to previous expectations despite having a couple of solid seasons with the White Sox in his mid-30s. Viciedo was unfairly compared to Cuban legend Omar Linares when he was 14 or 15 years old, and now at 19 it's uncertain if his previous hype in close to his talent, or more importantly, his desire (although Manny Ramirez' desire has been questioned before, and he's one of the best hitters in MLB history). Viciedo does have two big tools: His power and his arm, and if a team believes he hasn't eaten himself off of third base, or even the OF, he could be an interesting pickup for a team that has a glaring hole at the hot corner or a corner OF spot. I'm not sure of his overall profile, but I believe he's a switch hitter. The White Sox are among the teams bidding on him given their relationship with Jaime Torres, the agent for Viciedo, Contreras and Ramirez.

What I will be most interested to see if the Brewers shift their focus from the East Coast to the West Coast. While they haven't blatantly scouted one area harder than another, if you look at the early picks from the past 5-7 years you'll notice that the team spent a lot of time taking players from New England down to Florida. That may have been purely coincidence based on how the draft board lined up at the time they picked, but Fielder, Weeks, Braun and LaPorta were all drafted from the SE. Many were led to believe that when the Brewers took over the two California teams as part of the Area Code Games (Seid served as one of the team's coaches), starting during the summer of 2003, that the familiarity of those players would give them an advantage on the California prep talent. I think Cutter Dykstra was the first prominent prep player the Brewers drafted and signed during that time. Who knows, that shift may have already occurred this past year, as Frederickson, Dykstra, Schafer, Romanski and Komatsu were all taken from California schools. Anyway, many felt that the position would be addressed from within, so this isn't a surprise at all. I'm happy for both Seid and Mongtomery (who will be Seid's assistant according to the article), and am optimistic the talent drafting machine can continue.

The Yankees go today: http://www.baseballameric...rospects/2009/267148.html Interesting write-up by John Manuel about how the Yankees young talent didn't step up this past year like the young talent on the Red Sox' and Rays' rosters did. Looking at the list quickly, it definitely doesn't look as strong as it did a year ago when guys like Chamberlain and Kennedy were still considered prospects, and Jose Tabata was dealt to Pirates as part of the Nady/Marte trade. Austin Jackson at #1 doesn't seem particularly promising for their talent at the top or their overall depth, although that probably gives more credence to them going out and out-spending everyone this offseason to re-vamp their roster.

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/07xSgywbRMg5P/610x.jpg It's Aaron Crow's turn to be profiled, who also was one of the top prospects available for this past year's draft. He went ninth overall to the Nationals, but did not sign, making him eligible for the draft once again next year. He has left Mizzou, and has decided to showcase his talents with the Fort Worth Cats of the independent American Association league next spring, an approach that his former Mizzou Tigers teammate Max Scherzer used two years ago to promote his abilities before signing with the Diamondbacks (before MLB instituted the August 15th signing date). Crow isn't a perfect pitching prospect. There are concerns about a "hook" in his delivery, which can somewhat be seen in the picture above, in which there is a little extra and somewhat wasted movement with his delivery. His size is also in question, as he is generally listed at 6'2", and the delivery along with his smaller stature leads many to wonder if he can truly be a front-of-the-rotation starter, or if he would be better suited in relief. It's hard to argue with the results, as Crow had a great junior campaign in which he went 13-0 on his way to being named the Big 12's pitcher of the year. He was coming off of a very successful stint in the Cape Cod League the summer before, in which he led the league with a 0.67 ERA on his way to being named the league's top prospect. Here are his cumulative college stats: 26-9, 2.97 ERA, 60 games (52 starts), 7 CG, 343 IP, 307 H, 313 K, 100 BB, 1.19 WHIP His fastball is his best pitch, and he does an excellent job commanding the entire strike zone with his heater which sits in the 91-96 range and can touch 98 on occasion. He does a good job keeping the ball down in the zone, and paints the corners like a seasoned veteran. His slider is also a plus pitch, and he also has a changeup, but hasn't thrown it as much, mostly because he hasn't needed it. His availability in next year's draft complements an already existing strength of powerful college pitchers.

I thought it was rumored around the deadline last year that Melvin did ask about Brian Giles. I would love to see the Brewers pursue him, as he would be an ideal fit for the Brewers lineup, but I really think Giles is intent on finishing his career with the Padres.

Thanks a lot for posting that NatureBoy. Now I can plan the perfect road trip next spring/summer http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

http://www.capecodbaseball.org/Weekly/week2008/Photos/AW_GrantGreen.jpg When covering the 2005 Aflac All-American Classic, Grant Green was a popular subject when talking about the top prospects available for the 2006 draft with the scouts and college recruiters in attendance. His athleticism was obvious, and scouts knew he had the complete package. He was a little slow to develop, and at the time there were some concerned that his body type and size would necessitate a move to third base down the road, and his swing was a tad long. Three years later, Green's value has exploded by showing five true tools, putting up impressive numbers, and silencing critics about his ability to stick at the shortstop position. That "tad-long" swing allows him to get great extension at the plate, the source of his power potential, and he has shown he can make the necessary adjustments swinging a wood bat in his two summers playing on the Cape. This past summer he finished second in the league in slugging percentage (.547), third in hits (56), doubles (12) and extra-base hits (19), while finishing fourth in hitting (.348) and fifth in on-base percentage (.451). Green showcases the rare combination of size, power and speed, making him an exciting, new generation, big-bodied shortstop prospect who has received comparisons to Troy Tulowitzki. He continues to get better and better with every stop he makes, and could be among the top three to five players taken next June. He will be advised by Scott Boras, a recurring theme among the top players eligible for the 2009 draft, so you never know where he will be drafted. Here are his cumulative college numbers: .340/.412/.540 in 721 AB, 49 2B, 16 3B, 21 HR, 79:149 BB:K ratio, 37 for 51 in stolen base attempts (73% success rate), 42 errors

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0621/ncaa_a_ackley2_275.jpg Dustin Ackley has been hitting every since he stepped on UNC's campus, and joins teammate Alex White among the top 3-7 overall prospects available for the 2009 draft. Like White, Ackley's talents were well known about in high school, and he didn't miss a beat during his freshman year hitting .402 with 33 extra-base hits and showing advanced mastery of the strike zone. He hasn't hit under .400 at any level during college, which includes a short stint on the Cape this past summer. He had Tommy John surgery last summer (which shortened his time on the Cape) to take care of some lingering elbow problems, and he expects to be at full strength for the beginning of the spring season after missing fall practices and scrimmages. But it's not Ackley's arm that excites scouts, it's his bat. He has a great, natural left-handed swing with a knack for making consistent, hard contact while rarely getting fooled at the plate. He drives the ball to the gaps with authority, and many expect his over-the-fence power to improve as his body matures and as he progresses as a hitter overall. A true and pure hitter, he should hit for a high average while drawing his fair share of walks while limiting the number of times he strikes out. Ackley is also a very good overall athlete, and could play centerfield next spring for the Tar Heels after spending his first two years at first base. He's similar to Darin Erstad in that regard in that his athleticism allows him to play both position, but his bat at this stage is more similar to Todd Helton's. I've even heard comparisons to John Olerud tossed around when Ackley's name has come up. No matter who you want to try and compare Ackley to, the fact remains that there is no more sure bet to hit at the next level. It doesn't seem as though many are concerned about his health problems, as the only real concern surrounding Ackley moving towards the 2009 draft is his affiliation with Scott Boras. Regardless of his advisement, it's impossible not to fall in love with these numbers: .410/.484/602 in 615 ABs, 45 2B, 8 3B, 19 HR, 99:58 BB to K ratio, 32 for 41 on stolen base attempts (78% success rate), 7 errors

I know there are a couple of threads that tackle this issue, and it is a little confusing since I released three different things in the matter of 5-10 minutes, but please discuss the Power 50 on this thread: http://forum.brewerfan.net/viewtopic.php?t=16457 This thread is more about the draftees from 2008, and the top prospects available for 2009. Thanks!

The CaneFires, one win away from clinching a berth in the championship game, finished yet another game in a tie, a 6-6 contest with North Shore. Chis Cody started and pitched very well, tossing 5 innings giving up only 1 hit and 2 BB while striking out 2. 36 of his 54 pitches went for strikes, and he lowered his ERA to 3.90. Caleb Gindl returned to the lineup, although batting 7th, behind Logan Schafer. Gindl went 1-4 with a run scored, while Schafer was a late inning replacement for the red-hot Cyle Hankerd. Schafer recorded a hit in his only AB. http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/s...008_11_09_nshwin_wocwin_1 There are no HWB games scheduled for Monday, 11/10/08.

West Oahu decided to give Gindl a night off in the middle of a nice little hot streak. Logan Schafer played RF instead and went 2-5, bumping his average above .250 (.256), while also adding an assist throwing out a runner trying to stretch a double into a triple (there was a relay throw in between). Chris Cody is scheduled to start today's game.

These predictions are all different than the editors. You're definitely welcome to share your thoughts Mike, however I only count one prediction that differs (Schafer at BC vs. Wisconsin). Also, I think you're referring to the roster projections in the season-ending Farm Hops story which is found on the minor league forum, not this one (above I only mentioned above that Schafer, Dykstra and Komatsu could end up in Wisconsin together, not that they would or should). Just to clarify, the draft recap story, the Farm Hops and the Power 50 and three separate features. The Power 50 ranks the prospects currently in the Brewers farm system, the Farm Hops story served as a season-ending recap and look ahead to next year, while the draft recap story above was simply reviewing the players the Brewers drafted and how they fared this summer, while also taking a quick peak at next year's top talent.

I know I'm always interested in seeing the 2009 schedules released for all of our affiliates, if for nothing else to tease myself with possible road-trip ideas. Nashville's has yet to be announced, but Huntsville's, Brevard County's and Wisconsin's are all available: 2009 Huntsville Stars schedule 2009 Brevard County Manateees schedule 2009 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers schedule The Timber Rattlers schedule has been out for a few weeks, but they have released a pretty appealing holiday ticket package in which you can pre-order 4 or 8 undated games (you can decide on which games later) while picking between some cool gifts: https://secure.minorleagu...ode=purchase&sid=t572

All of the teams are on the island of Oahu. Also, the league ends next Saturday, 11/15.

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/imageGallery/gallery%2FHome%20Run%20Derby%2F11.JPG Donovan Tate has the physical presence, good looks and the personality that causes people to turn their heads when he walks into a room. He is a two-sport star that is the son of legendary former Georgia Bulldogs running back Lars Tate, who spent a few years in the NFL with the Buccaneers. Tate hasn't yet decided which sport he will focus on, but many believe he will end up with baseball. He did declare towards the end of the summer that he was going to give up football, but changed his mind a few days later, likely being advised that his dual-sport aspirations could lead to a bigger payday. Like his father, he plays running back, and is being recruiter by several prominent national programs asking him to play for them in both sports. On the baseball field Tate is a true five-tool athlete. He has a very strong arm, very good speed and very good power potential. His power comes from a lightning quick bat that can catch up with the hardest of fastballs. He profiles in a similar fashion to Cameron Maybin from a few years ago, although Tate's football body gives him a more intimidating, physical presence. He also shows an advanced sense for the game, although despite all of his tools, he does have some holes in his swing at this point in time. That of course is not uncommon for a player at his age, but he isn't as refined of a hitter as some of his peers. His commitment to baseball may be reinforced by his alliance with Scott Boras, who definitely will use his two-sport value to drive up his pricetag. Boras advisees are never afraid to walk away from a deal and attend college, although Tate has yet to commit to a school. On talent alone, Tate could go among the top three to five overall selections in next June's draft.

No Brewers made it into today's AFL contest. No game tomorrow, as the league is off on Sundays.

Exercise and lots of water during the day for me are guarantees for a good night sleep.

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/imageGallery/gallery%2FGame%20Day%2F42.JPG I'm going to profile one of my favorite 2009 draft eligible players today, Rocky Mount, NC outfielder Brian Goodwin, who had a very successful summer in which he participated in both the Aflac All-American Classic and the Under Armour Classic, being named the MVP of the Aflac game (as shown in the picture above). Goodwin is the type of player that makes it very obvious when watching him that the game of baseball comes very naturally to him. He does a lot of little things well, and has four legitimate tools, lacking power as the only tool to make him the always coveted five-tool talent. And despite his lack of power, Goodwin will surprise you with his pop from time to time. Most of his power goes to the gaps, and his 6.5 speed allows him to leg out plenty of extra base hits. His bat is made for contact, as he excels at putting the ball in play and going with pitches to drive the ball up the middle and the other way. He is extremely fast out of the box, and gets down the line to first base as a left-handed hitter as well as anyone, allowing him to be a threat on infield grounders and bunt plays. His speed makes him an additional threat on the basepaths, and his overall offensive package profiles perfectly for a leadoff hitting centerfielder. In the outfield he takes good routes on fly balls and has plenty of speed to cover a lot of ground in a hurry. His arm is also a plus tool, and overall he profiles in a very similar fashion to the Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen, or on a more complimentary scale, Kenny Lofton. The icing on the cake is his character, with a great personality and strong leadership qualities. His athleticism and speed allows him to excel in football as well, although his future lies on the baseball diamond. He has committed to North Carolina, a university that has a knack for not letting too many of their recruits slip away, although Goodwin has the talent right now to be considered a legitimate first-rounder.