TheCrew07

Love the "y"s and the ex reference, and I couldn't agree more... but hey, he's a proven MLB commodity. I know I posted in a recent Link Report that I wouldn't beat this drum again for a couple of weeks but I'm doing it on a different forum, so it doesn't count or something. I don't get why K-Rod is a better option than Jesus Sanchez? Sanchez throws harder, is cheaper, is already on the 40 man, and walks fewer batters, but his K/9 isn't as high and he's not "proven". I love power arms as much as anyone but K-Rod isn't a power arm anymore, he's an effectively wild breaking ball pitcher. If not Sanchez I'd rather go with younger/cheaper guys that throw a similarly average fastball with better control in Hand and Wooten. I grow weary of Melvin's strategy of recycling washed up veterans that he's familiar with. K-Rod might pitch better than he did last year but that still wouldn't make this a good move if it happens.

Love the Maris quote Chris chose tonight. Yard work – Postgame post for May 14, 2013

I don't think he has much of a choice, that's going to be his niche, unless his secondary pitches are leaps and bounds better than they were at the start of his career. I haven't watched him pitch since college but BA didn't even mention his curve which he featured through college in his scouting report over the winter talking about his slider and change instead. I thought that was odd considering there was a feature article talking about Taylor working hard to tighten up his curve. I want to catch some of his outings on MiLB.TV but it hasn't worked out schedule wise for me yet. I would guess that unless he completely tanks Jungmann will be the Futures Game representative for the Brewers so we'll have that one inning later on this summer which is better than nothing.

Roache caps Rattlers comeback with big home run Wisconsin tops Quad Cities 9-7 By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - The big boppers on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers roster hit a couple of big home runs to lead the team above .500. Mitch Haniger and Victor Roache both went deep as the Rattlers rallied for a 9-7 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Haniger drove in three runs, but it was the two-run homer by Roache in the seventh inning that gave Wisconsin the lead for good. Quad Cities (21-16) scored first. They got a run on a throwing error as the Rattlers were unsuccessful in turning a potential inning ending double play. The Rattlers (18-17) sent eight men to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and scored four times. Haniger launched a two-run home run, his fourth dinger of the season, to left field to put Wisconsin up 2-1. Parker Berberet made it 4-1 with a two-run double later in the inning. Then, the Bandits sent ten men to the plate in the top of the second inning and scored five runs for a 6-4 lead. The first run scored on an error after a double by Roberto Peña. There were two outs with runners at first and second when Carlos Correa sent a slow grounder near second. The flip to second for the inning ending force out was late as Teoscar Hernandez beat the play. That loaded the bases with two outs and the River Bandits made the most of the opportunity. Rattlers starting pitcher Mike Strong walked Jesse Wierzbicki to force in a run. Terrell Joyce was next and his two-run double to right-center put Quad Cities up 5-4. An infield single by Rio Ruiz got Wierzbicki home and the lead was pushed to 6-4. Wierzbicki added to the cushion with an RBI double in the top of the fourth inning and the River Bandits were up 7-4. Jamaine Cotton, the River Bandits starting pitcher, settled in after the first inning and kept the Rattlers from scoring. He went five innings before turning the game over to Vincent Velasquez. Wisconsin almost got to Velasquez in the sixth inning as Haniger walked and Roache singled to start the frame. But, the duo was left stranded when the inning ended. The Rattlers rallied in the seventh. Orlando Arcia singled with one out and Taylor followed with a walk. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Michael Reed's grounder up the middle was enough to score Arcia. Taylor had to stop at third as Correa, the shortstop, made a nice play to keep the ball from getting into centerfield. Haniger was next and his sacrifice fly drove in Taylor to cut the Quad Cities lead to a run. That brought Roache to the plate and the Rattlers slugger sent a towering fly ball to left that carried over the wall for a two-run home run and an 8-7 Timber Rattlers lead. The homer was the fourth of the season for Roache. Chris McFarland tripled in the bottom of the eighth inning and scored on Mike Garza's fielder's choice for an insurance run to give Wisconsin a 9-7 lead. Rattlers pitcher Tyler Wagner, who took over in the top of the sixth inning, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close out Quad Cities. Wagner allowed one hit and struck out five in four scoreless innings to earn his fourth win of the season. The victory was the second straight for Wisconsin and moved the team over the .500 mark for the first time since they were 2-1 on April 6. Game two of the series is Wednesday night. Leonard Lorenzo (1-2, 7.15) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Lance McCullers (0-3, 1.71) is set to start for the River Bandits. Game time is 6:35pm. Wednesday night is a WIXX Bang for Your Buck Night with soda, beer, and hot dogs will be available for $1. It's also Halloween in May. Costume contests and plenty of spooky surprises will be on hand for the fans. If you can't make it out to the ballpark, My NEW32's Sports Showdown will televise the game starting with the pregame show at 6:00pm. The game is also available on AM1280, WNAM and timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Subscribers of MiLB.TV can catch the game that way, too. HOME RUNS: WIS: Mitch Haniger (4th, 1 on in 1st inning off Jamine Cotton, 1 out) Victor Roache (4th, 1 on in 7th inning off Vincent Velasquez, 2 out) WP: Tyler Wagner (4-1) LP: Vincent Velasquez (3-2) TIME: 2:36 ATTN: 3,667 Wisconsin Boxscore Last year I jumped on the Drew Gagnon bandwagon after 1 start, it's taken 5 starts and 7 appearances for me to officially hop on Tyler Wagner's wagon, but I'm there now. After struggling through April his May pitching line is 17IP, 3R, 0ER, 10H, 2BB, and 21SO... yea, I'll take that. Chris will probably cover this in his blog but Victor Roache exploded out of his slump, he had been hitting .067 over his last 10 games, he had just 2 hits in that span before his 3 for 4 effort tonight. He's been getting pitched away with a steady diet of various breaking balls, hopefully he's turning the corner. I fell asleep in the 2nd (thankfully) so I didn't catch any game commentary on the matter as I watched most of the game via fast forward to catch up until the 8th but apparently Parker Berberet won't be suspended (or did he serve his suspension already?) for his bump of the umpire during Friday's doubleheader. He made his first appearance since that game giving Clint Coulter a much needed day off and contributing that big double mentioned above, not too much being much better defensively. Orlando Arcia's error in the first was an air mailed throw on a double play attempt to end the inning, the play was a slow roller to McFarland and he was in too much of a hurry on the turn. Orlando is now hitting .241 over his last 10 which obviously isn't earth shattering, but it is incremental progress from where he was. Michael Reed was a LR favorite last season when he jumped all the way to BC and performed well covering injury issues up there, but he'll have to develop some power to get any playing time in the Brewer's outfield with Taylor, Haniger, Roache, and Braun all likely to be in the mix for the starting OF spots. He currently has 1 career HR to this point. Regardless he just keeps hitting pushing his AVE up to .318. Tyrone Taylor steadily gets 1 hit a game, sooner or later he's going to bust out and start putting up multi-hit efforts in a more consistent fashion. His season reminds me of the way Alcides Escobar started out his AAA campaign going 1-3 or 1-4 most days before exploding (hit wise) in June. Wisconsin Recap This game was the story of 3 big innings. Could have had an extra run in the 7th. Wisconsin Bottom of the 1st Tyrone Taylor doubles (7) on a fly ball to center fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Michael Reed grounds out, pitcher Jamaine Cotton to first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki. Tyrone Taylor to 3rd. Mitch Haniger homers (4) on a fly ball to left field. Tyrone Taylor scores. Victor Roache lines out to right fielder Ariel Ovando. Adam Giacalone walks. Christopher McFarland reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Rio Ruiz. Adam Giacalone to 2nd. Parker Berberet doubles (7) on a ground ball to right fielder Ariel Ovando. Adam Giacalone scores. Christopher McFarland scores. Mike Garza flies out to center fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Quad Cities Top of the 2nd Brian Blasik singles on a ground ball to third baseman Mike Garza. Ariel Ovando strikes out swinging. Roberto Pena doubles (5) on a line drive to left fielder Victor Roache. Brian Blasik scores. Fielding error by left fielder Victor Roache. Austin Elkins strikes out swinging. Teoscar Hernandez walks. Carlos Correa reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by second baseman Christopher McFarland. Roberto Pena to 3rd. Teoscar Hernandez to 2nd. Jesse Wierzbicki walks. Roberto Pena scores. Teoscar Hernandez to 3rd. Carlos Correa to 2nd. Terrell Joyce doubles (7) on a fly ball to center fielder Mitch Haniger. Teoscar Hernandez scores. Carlos Correa scores. Jesse Wierzbicki to 3rd. Rio Ruiz singles on a ground ball to pitcher Michael Strong. Jesse Wierzbicki scores. Terrell Joyce to 3rd. Brian Blasik flies out to center fielder Mitch Haniger. Wisconsin Bottom of the 7th Mike Garza singles on a fly ball to left fielder Terrell Joyce. Mike Garza out at 2nd, left fielder Terrell Joyce to second baseman Austin Elkins. Orlando Arcia singles on a ground ball to left fielder Terrell Joyce. Tyrone Taylor walks. Orlando Arcia to 2nd. With Michael Reed batting, wild pitch by Vincent Velasquez, Orlando Arcia to 3rd. Tyrone Taylor to 2nd. Michael Reed singles on a ground ball to shortstop Carlos Correa. Orlando Arcia scores. Tyrone Taylor to 3rd. Mitch Haniger out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Tyrone Taylor scores. Victor Roache homers (4) on a fly ball to left field. Michael Reed scores. Pitching Change: Richard Rodriguez replaces Vincent Velasquez. Adam Giacalone grounds out, second baseman Austin Elkins to first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki. Wisconsin Gameday

I can honestly say I've never cared what a player looks like... but hey, whatever. Draft Features Rarest Of Prospects: Redheads

Teams except the Brewers... which in this case might be a good thingl. Teams Prepared To Spend Big On Dominican Outfielders

It takes all kinds... Peeping Tom Gets Probation For Carolina Mudcats Incident

No divisional mentions today, but the Alex Colome headline got me thinking about Durham's rotation. I don't remember any team having a AAA rotation full of legitimate pitching prospects with no reason to call any up. Odorizzi, Montgomery (just off the DL), Colome, Archer, and Torres... cripes. Tuesday Prospect Notebook: Alex Colome Tames Triple-A

MLB Finalizes International Bonus Pools

Ask BA: Which Draft Prospects Have 80 Tools?

Taveras not expected to go on disabled list

Cards' LHP relief prospect Jonathan Cornelius Cards' Cornelius tosses gem in pinch

Somehow I missed this reply but I hope no malice towards Melvin was inferred on my part as I'm actually really happy with last year's Greinke trade. I have plenty of reasons to dislike Melvin's organization building strategy (or lack there of) but in this case he was spot on. I was speaking more to the idea of "being one player away" and I started thinking about potentially giving up 6-7 WAR per season over the course of 6-7 years for 2 months of a rental pitcher. That's just terrible value by any measure.

Hamilton finally finding way at Triple-A

Final: Wisconsin 5, Burlington (Angels) 4 (11 Innings) Rattlers walkoff with an extra-innings win Haniger draws bases loaded walk in eleventh to beat Bees 5-4 By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers rallied a couple of times and eventually defeated the Burlington Bees 5-4 in eleven innings on Monday night. Mitch Haniger drove in a pair of runs, including the game winning run on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the eleventh inning, to send the Rattlers back to .500 and to their first walkoff win of 2013. Burlington (12-20) took the lead with a two out rally in the top of the first. Sherman Johnson singled with two outs. Wade Hinkle followed with an RBI double on an 0-2 pitch. Wisconsin (17-17) tied the game in the bottom of the third. Jose Sermo drew a leadoff walk and Orlando Arcia followed with a hit-and-run single. Arcia stole second to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tyrone Taylor grounded out to short to drive in Sermo. The Bees went back in front in the top of the fourth. They had the bases loaded with one out against Preston Gainey. The Rattlers starter got Kyle Johnson to send a slow chopper to short. The Rattlers got the runner at second, but Johnson beat the throw to first to allow the go ahead run to score. Wisconsin rallied to go in front for the first time in the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Mike Reed extended his hitting streak to seven games with a leadoff single. Haniger followed with a triple to right-center to drive in Reed to tie the game. Victor Roache put the Rattlers up on a sacrifice fly to right that got Haniger home. But, the Bees tied the game with two outs in the top of the eighth. Andrew Ray singled to left to drive in Anthony Bemboom from second base to even the score at three. Chevy Clarke put Burlington back on top with two outs in the top of the tenth. Clarke hit an opposite field solo homer to left and the Bees had a 4-3 lead. Reed started the Rattlers comeback in the tenth with a leadoff double, his second of three hits on the night. He took third on a ground out by Haniger, but he was still at third base with two outs. Chris McFarland drew a walk and ball four went to the backstop to let Reed score on the wild pitch to tie the game Arcia started the game winning rally by drawing a walk against Kenny Hatcher, the sixth Burlington pitcher of the night. Taylor was asked to bunt Arcia into scoring position. The Rattlers centerfielder bunted up the first base line on a 1-2 pitch and reached on a bunt single to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Then, Reed singled on a sharp line drive to right field with the outfield playing in and Arcia could only make third base. Haniger stepped to the plate and fell behind 1-2. But Hatcher missed with the next three pitches to walk Haniger and force in Arcia with the winning run. Taylor Wall picked up the win for the Rattlers with a scoreless top of the eleventh inning. The Timber Rattlers continue their homestand on Tuesday when they welcome in the Quad Cities River Bandits. Mike Strong (0-1, 2.63) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The River Bandits have Jamaine Cotton (0-0, 0.00) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 6:35pm. Baker Tilly, WVBO, and AM1280 WNAM present a Business Person Special on Tuesday. Show your business card when you purchase a ticket and for $11.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog. The offer is also available to seniors (aged 55 & older). If you can't make it out to the ballpark, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will televise the game. You may also tune in for the radio call on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Tuesday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV. WP: Taylor Wall (1-1) LP: Kenny Hatcher (0-1) TIME: 3:34 ATTN: 1,688 Wisconsin Boxscore Well outside of the commentary on the TV this was an exciting game to watch. Things that weren't in the game story or box and Chris might cover in the blog but I'll cover here: The Rattlers had 3 misplays defensively at the beginning of the game that weren't scored errors (though Clint Coulter did commit 2 PBs and now has 12 on the season). On the Hinkle double Victor Roache whiffed on the ball in foul territory, it got between him and the fence heading towards the corner but somehow Hinkle didn't take an extra base, he must not have been paying attention. A harder hit ball got under Adam Giacalone's glove (I believe it was in the 2nd) that was scored a hit and then in the 4th Jose Sermo had a 2 hopper smoked at him that he kind of awkwardly fell away from and turned his head at the same time. The ball took a bad hop into the air off his glove and went over by the tarp against the 3B wall and was scored a double. The 2 IF plays were tough plays but I bet both players would say they should have made them. On Tyrone Taylor's bunt single he actually missed the ball on the 1-1 pitch, and it was a pretty easy pitch to bunt, he was just in too much of a hurry. Then he comes back with a perfectly placed bunt up the 1st base line just past the pitcher, what a big spot to pick himself up. Orlando Arcia hit the ball hard 3 times, getting 2 hits and walk, he doesn't strike out much only 11 times in 105 ABs, and he has 8 walks. Hopefully this is a sign of better times ahead for him. Coulter absolutely turned on one and crushed screaming line drive past the T-Rats dugout way foul, but it was the best contact I've seen him make in some time. Michael Reed's 3 for 6 day boosted his AVE to .314 and his OPS to an even .800. Many hitters got down in the count and came back to do something productive tonight, I think progress is being made with the approaches at the plate. I'll be surprised if Roache, Coulter, and Arcia are still hitting at or under .200 at the break. The defense still is in definite need of tightening up though, 2 errors, 1 each from Roache and Giacalone plus 2 PBs by Coulter and 3 more questionable defensive plays leaves much room for improvement. Wisconsin Recap This was a very slow roller to Arcia that he probably should have charged 2 more steps but waited on and the young middle infielders tried to turn 2 away. The runner at 1st was safe easily but Toribio went home for reason and was out by a mile, he didn't even attempt a slide. Burlington Top of the 4th Chevy Clarke strikes out swinging. Andrew Ray doubles (6) on a ground ball to left fielder Victor Roache. Pedro Toribio walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Preston Gainey. Andrew Ray to 3rd. With Wendell Soto batting, Pedro Toribio steals (7) 2nd base. Wendell Soto walks. Kyle Johnson grounds into a double play, shortstop Orlando Arcia to second baseman Christopher McFarland to first baseman Adam Giacalone to catcher Clint Coulter. Andrew Ray scores. Pedro Toribio out at home. Wendell Soto out at 2nd. Kyle Johnson is perfect no more, Coulter and Semmelheck combine for his first CS on the season, in a big spot! Burlington Top of the 9th Wendell Soto flies out to left fielder Victor Roache. Kyle Johnson walks. With Sherman Johnson batting, Kyle Johnson caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Clint Coulter to shortstop Orlando Arcia. Sherman Johnson singles on a line drive to left fielder Victor Roache. Wade Hinkle flies out to right fielder Michael Reed Wisconsin Gameday

I always wonder if people are clicking on the standing links? In case you don't... BC is the only team above .500 and every franchise above A ball is in last place in the division. I for one am surprised by BC even though I shouldn't have been because most of those guys surprised me last year in WI. Not many even fringe prospects but they just keep playing well.

Rattlers being outhit but go to the tenth tied at 3.

Your contributions would be welcome on the draft and minor league forums as well, can never have enough educated fans talking prospects. As for Taveras you're going to be waiting a while, unless one of the oldies in the OF for STL gets hurt, then you're golden.

It very well could end up being the gold star standard for what not to do as a buyer if all 3 players have lengthly big league careers. The idea of giving up 3 big leaguers to miss the playoffs makes me sick.

Are you primarily interested in beating MLB fans to the punch on youngsters for your fantasy league or are you generally interested in following prospects? I ask because I see you post quite a bit about prospects on the MLB side of the forum but I don't recall you posting on the MiLB/Draft side at all?

The pre-game interviews were pretty good, this is the first chance I've had to catch the pre-game. Matt Erickson talked about Clint Coulter pressing and being fairly hard on himself through his early struggles and how important it was that the coaching staff keeps reminding him that the minors are basically just practice and he's facing a huge jump competition. Maino also interviewed Victor Roache and other than talking to Victor about hitting high school pitching last year I thought it was a decent interview. He asked Roache about the Greg Vaughn comparison that keeps getting tossed around and how well the team is coming together, Victor responded positively to both questions. During the audio discussing how well the team gets along the picture cut to Roache and McFarland messing around together and have a good time during warm-ups.

Tulowitzki is a 5-6 WAR player every year when he's healthy, Segura is off to good a start in his first full season but he needs to complete a season in that range before we can really start making that kind of comparison. I'm not saying Segura doesn't have the talent, I think he clearly does, he just doesn't have the track record.

Ten International Prospects To Watch For July 2 edit. I should have said that as usual the Brewers aren't connected to any players, but the Cubs are linked to 2.

When Is The 2013 MLB Draft And Everything Else You Need To Know I found this pretty interesting, it's long but informative. Top 100 Draft Flashback: At What Positions Do Top Picks End Up? College Draft Prospects Stat Roundup: Week 13

Andy Oliver of the Pirates the only divisional mention. Pitchers of the Week