Brewers Minor League Leaders thru the 00's - Saves

2000 - 2009 - Save Leaders

Here's a list of the top five save seasons for Brewer minor leaguers over the last 10 years:

35 - Bob Scanlan (yes, Bob Scanlan) 2000 (Indianapolis)
29 - Rob Wooten, 2009 (Brevard County 18 / Huntsville 11)
22 - Brian Mallette, 2002 (Indianapolis)
22 - Mike Rossiter, 2000  (Huntsville)
21 - Fontella Jones, 2001 (Beloit 18 / Mudville 3)
21 - Jim Henderson, 2009 (Wisconsin 17 / Brevard County 4 / Huntsville 0) 

This really shows how overvalued saves are in the minors as other than Wooten, this is far from a prospect laden group.  Consider this:

• Scanlan was 33, on his second tour with the Brewers and was released after the season. 
• Mallette was 27 and was traded after the season as a player to be named later for Ben Diggins
• Rossiter was 27, on his second tour in the Brewers minor leagues and was released after the season.  He had a 6.15 ERA along with those 22 saves.
• Jones was 25 and was released after the season.
• Henderson was 26 and was assigned to low A dispite spending parts of the previous two years with the Cubs AAA team.

A little more about the leader, Bob Scanlan

(Photo from tigerscentral.com

Drafted:                                  Drafted in 25th Round by Phillies 1984 from Harvard-Westlake HS in California.  He was one of three players drafted in that round to make it to the majors
How Acquired:                      The Brewers acquired him twice.  First in 1994 as part of a trade in which Mike Carter and Rafael Novoa were sent to the Cubs.  Signed as a free agent prior to the 2000 season
Years with Brewers:             3.  After 2000, Scanlan signed as a free agent with the Expos
Best Season:                         1992 - had a 2.89 ERA and 14 saves in 69 games for the Cubs.  In 2000 with the Brewers AAA team he posted a 1.79 ERA and the aforementioned 35 saves.
Last Professional Season:  2003 - Played in AA and AAA for Houston.  Posted a 1-9 record witha 3.75 ERA in AAA.
Major League Stats:             9 seasons, composite 20-34 record, 4.63 ERA in 290 games (39 starts). 
Other Notes of Interset:       

Scanlan was traded from the Phillies to the Cubs as part of the Mitch Williams trade in 1991.

Bob is currently a broadcaster for the Padres flag station.   

He was part of the January 2008 issue of San Diego Magazins as one of the "50 People to Watch in 2008"

Scanlan was a AAA and International League All-Star in 2000.

Scanlan is also a free-lance writer.  If you are interested in how he felt the 2006 Hall of Fame Ballot should have looked, click here.

Scanlan played for the Brewers in '94 and '95.  He pitched well in '94 after moving to the starting rotation posting a 3.68 ERA as a starter in 12 games.  In his last game as a Brewer in 1995, he surrendered 9 ER in 1.2 IP against the Red Sox and Roger Clemens.

2009 Leaders

29 - Wooten (Brevard County/Huntsville)
21 - Henderson (Wisconsin/Brevard County/Huntsville)
17 - Chris Smith (Nashville)

Honorable Mention:  Michael Fiers also put up 11 saves (in 22 games) between Helena, Wisconsin and Brevard County after being drafted in 2009.  He also had a 1.33 ERA and a 59/5 strikeout to walk ratio in 40 IP.