Minor League Notes - 05/05/2009

by Jeff Sackmann on May 6, 2009 8:06 AM CDT in Minor League Coverage

Top Prospects:

Batter	Team	Pos	AB	R	H	RBI	W	K	AVG	Notes
Escobar, Alcides	Nashville	SS	5	1	1	1	0	1	.265
Gamel, Mat	Nashville	3B	4	0	1	0	1	2	.372	2B
Salome, Angel	Nashville	C	4	1	2	5	0	0	.211	2B, HR
Lawrie, Brett	Wisconsin	2B	4	1	3	2	0	0	.326	HR
Lucroy, Jonathan	Huntsville	C	4	3	2	1	1	0	.282	HR

Pitcher	Team	IP	H	R	ER	W	K	ERA	Dec	Notes
Jeffress, Jeremy	Huntsville	3.0	3	3	2	5	4	5.06		Game Score: 42
Aguilar, Omar	Huntsville	0.3	3	3	3	2	1	11.81
Dillard, Tim	Nashville	6.0	8	5	5	1	2	2.48	(W, 5-0)	Game Score: 37
Bowman, Michael	Wisconsin	4.0	3	0	0	1	3	2.50		Game Score: 58

Top Performers:

Batter	Team	Pos	AB	R	H	RBI	W	K	AVG	Notes
Anderson, Drew	Huntsville	LF	5	3	3	1	0	1	.327	2B, HR
Haydel, Lee	Brevard	LF	5	3	3	0	0	1	.284	3B
Stern, Adam	Huntsville	CF	4	2	2	3	2	0	.326
Koshansky, Joseph	Nashville	1B	4	2	2	2	0	0	.189	2B
Rottino, Vinny	Huntsville	1B	4	2	2	1	1	0	.250	2B

Pitcher	Team	IP	H	W	K	ERA	Dec
Meadows, Dan	Wisconsin	4.0	0	1	4	4.05	(W, 3-0)
Baron, Casey	Huntsville	2.0	1	0	3	1.42	(W, 3-0)
Wooten, Robert	Brevard	1.3	0	1	3	0.69	(S, 9)
Smith, Chris	Nashville	1.0	0	0	2	1.02	(S, 4)
Henderson, Jim	Wisconsin	1.0	0	0	1	2.89	(S, 7)

Follow the jump for full results!

Nashville Sounds (Triple-A) - 14-11
Won 8-6 at Iowa Cubs (CHC) (box / pbp)

Batter	Pos	AB	R	H	RBI	W	K	AVG	Notes
Gwynn Jr., Tony	CF	4	2	1	0	1	0	.278
Escobar, Alcides	SS	5	1	1	1	0	1	.265
Gamel, Mat	3B	4	0	1	0	1	2	.372	2B
Katin, Brendan	RF	3	2	0	0	1	1	.250
Koshansky, Joseph	1B	4	2	2	2	0	0	.189	2B
Salome, Angel	C	4	1	2	5	0	0	.211	2B, HR
Iribarren, Hernan	2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	.312
Gillespie, Cole	LF	3	0	1	0	1	0	.111
Dillard, Tim	P	3	0	0	0	0	1	.250
Almonte, Erick	PH	1	0	0	0	0	1	.279

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	W	K	ERA	Dec	Notes
Dillard, Tim	6.0	8	5	5	1	2	2.48	(W, 5-0)	Game Score: 37
Narveson, Chris	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	5.79	(H, 2)
Johnson, Dave	1.0	2	1	1	0	0	4.15	(H, 1)
Smith, Chris	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	1.02	(S, 4)

Huntsville Stars (Double-A) - 11-12
Won 13-10 at West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (SEA) (box / pbp)

Batter	Pos	AB	R	H	RBI	W	K	E	AVG	Notes
Stern, Adam	CF	4	2	2	3	2	0	0	.326
Heether, Adam	SS	6	0	1	3	0	3	0	.200	2B
Melillo, Kevin	3B	5	0	0	0	0	4	0	.257
Lucroy, Jonathan	C	4	3	2	1	1	0	0	.282	HR
Anderson, Drew	LF	5	3	3	1	0	1	0	.327	2B, HR
Rottino, Vinny	1B	4	2	2	1	1	0	0	.250	2B
Hopf, Mike	DH	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	.190
Caufield, Chuckie	PH-DH	3	1	0	0	0	2	0	.212
Parejo, Freddy	RF	5	1	1	1	0	0	1	.211
Justis, Shane	2B	3	1	0	1	1	0	1	.241

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	W	K	HR	ERA	Dec	Notes
Jeffress, Jeremy	3.0	3	3	2	5	4	0	5.06		Game Score: 42
Hand, Donovan	3.0	5	4	3	1	3	1	3.15
Baron, Casey	2.0	1	0	0	0	3	0	1.42	(W, 3-0)
Aguilar, Omar	0.3	3	3	3	2	1	0	11.81
Hinton, Robert	0.7	0	0	0	0	1	0	4.76	(S, 3)

Brevard County Manatees (High-A) - 19-6
Won 7-4 at Clearwater Threshers (PHI) (box / pbp)

Batter	Pos	AB	R	H	RBI	W	K	AVG	Notes
Schafer, Logan	CF	5	1	2	0	0	0	.299	2 2B
Farris, Eric	2B	4	0	1	0	1	1	.224
Gindl, Caleb	RF	4	0	0	1	0	0	.344
Errecart, Christopher	1B	4	0	1	0	1	3	.250	2B
Wilson, Steffan	DH	5	0	1	0	0	2	.325	2B
Haydel, Lee	LF	5	3	3	0	0	1	.284	3B
Brewer, Brent	SS	4	2	1	1	0	0	.225	2B
Wheeler, Zelous	3B	2	1	0	0	2	0	.279
Maldonado, Martin	C	3	0	1	3	1	1	.250	2B

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	W	K	HR	ERA	Dec	Notes
Rivas, Amaury	6.0	4	4	4	3	6	2	2.45	(W, 3-1)	Game Score: 51
Almonte, Rigoberto	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	2.45	(H, 3)
Lluberes, Rafael	0.7	1	0	0	0	1	0	0.00	(H, 3)
Wooten, Robert	1.3	0	0	0	1	3	0	0.69	(S, 9)

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low-A) - 10-14
Won 2-0 vs Burlington Bees (KAN) (box / pbp)

Batter	Pos	AB	R	H	RBI	W	K	AVG	Notes
Miller, Erik	CF	4	0	2	0	0	0	.273
Sanchez, Juan	RF	4	0	0	0	0	1	.338
Lawrie, Brett	2B	4	1	3	2	0	0	.326	HR
Kjeldgaard, Brock	1B	3	0	0	0	1	2	.228
Duran, Jose	DH	3	0	0	0	1	0	.250
Dykstra, Cutter	LF	3	0	1	0	1	1	.229
Trejo, Edgar	3B	3	0	0	0	0	0	.128
McCraw, Sean	C	2	1	0	0	1	0	.167
Marseco, Michael	SS	2	0	0	0	0	1	.165

Pitcher	IP	H	W	K	ERA	Dec	Notes
Bowman, Michael	4.0	3	1	3	2.50		Game Score: 58
Meadows, Dan	4.0	0	1	4	4.05	(W, 3-0)
Henderson, Jim	1.0	0	0	1	2.89	(S, 7)

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Comments

Brett Lawrie

Does anyone think that Brett will be promoted to Brevard mid season? Or will manglement keep him in WI all season?

by Saberilliterate on May 6, 2009 8:26 AM CDT reply actions

I'm guessing it depends on the defensive situation

…which we haven’t heard much about yet.

If the brass are convinced that he’s got the hang of second base (or at least as well as a 19 y.o. can be expected to), it’s possible — he’s hardly blocked at second.

But if I had to put money on it, I’d guess he spends the whole year at WI. First year out of high school, first year at the position… basically, let him excel, start him at Brevard next year, give him a chance to impress and get promoted mid-season to Huntsville. Then start him in 2011 at Nashville and let him play his way on to the big club that year if he can.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on May 6, 2009 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Is there precedent for jumping a RH hitting prospect right past Brevard?

I mean, it’s probably not like Lawrie needs the usual one-level-per-year progression through the minors.

by Zeyes on May 6, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

has anybody but Fielder skipped Brevard?

I may be totally off base on this, but I get the sense that the F.O. sees Brevard as something of a proving ground, maybe because of the park, maybe because the FSL is so much better than the midwest league. (Using MLE multipliers as a rough proxy, MDW → FSL is the toughest leap Brewers farmhands will face before PCL → MLB.)

There’s also the defensive consideration that wasn’t there for Fielder. If Lawrie proves he can skip a level, I’m guessing it’ll be the PCL. Or he’ll do the Braun thing and spend a very planned two months in Nashville in April/May 2011.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on May 6, 2009 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Rickie skipped Brevard, too

I’m guessing Lawrie gets a midseason promotion. The only two guys close him in the MWL at a production/age level are two Venezuelans, and they’re both almost a year older. Lawrie’s SLG is higher than Cutter Dykstra’s OPS.

"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.

by battlekow on May 6, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Brevard Wasn't...

Affiliated with Milwaukee when Rickie was that low in the minors. They didn’t become an affiliate until 2005. He did skip High A ball though…IIRC High Desert was their High A team at that time.

by TheBurningRom on May 6, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions

This is a good point

"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.

by battlekow on May 6, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions

I may be misremembering

But didn’t you say something in your Space Coast article about the FSL being almost AA in difficulty? The prevailing wisdom is that A+ to AA is The Jump, the real test; it’s interesting to note that that isn’t true in the Brewers’ system.

"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.

by battlekow on May 6, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Statistically, A to A+ is The Jump

though it does vary a lot based on parks and to some extent leagues. It’s a lot easier for a hitter to make the jump to the Texas League than the Southern League, for instance.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on May 6, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions

High Desert vs Brevard

Wasn’t High Desert a launching pad compared to Brevard. I can see skipping High Desert because if a player did well there, then, meh, so what? But putting your time in a tougher hitter’s league like the FSL might be valuable experience for a young player.

Anyway, not that the Brewers would let Lawrie’s development be slowed down by another of our 2nd baseman minor leaguers, but what would you do with Farris if Lawrie goes to BC this year. Move him up to AA even if he doesn’t deserve it? Move him down to Appleton? Relegate him to the bench?

by cmow on May 6, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I doubt Farris would get promoted to AA since he's been sucking pretty hard

And yeah, you’re right about High Desert vs. Brevard County.

"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.

by battlekow on May 6, 2009 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Accoridng to Kevin Goldstein, Lawrie's defense is "laughable"

No hitter in the Midwest League is generating more buzz than Lawrie, Milwaukee’s first-round pick last June. 21-for-51 in his last 13 games with 14 RBIs, Lawrie entered the year seen as somewhat raw due to his Canadian background, but he’s showing a good approach, a feel for consistent hard contact, and the ability to use all fields. At .326/.375/.616, he’s one of the best combinations of numbers and scouting reports you can find, as long as we don’t talk about the defense, where the reviews of him at his new position of second base are borderline laughable.

I’m not buying it. I’ve seen him play and so have lots of other people between here and Brewerfan.net, and nobody has come away saying that he was ridiculously bad and obviously can’t hack it, which is what the reactions should be if his defense is truly risible.

"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.

by battlekow on May 6, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions

To contrast

T-Rats manager Jeff Isom as quoted by Baseball America in their article today on Lawrie:

Defensively, Isom has been impressed with Lawrie’s work ethic and coachability since moving from behind the plate to second base. He’s made five errors (three fielding, two throwing) in 24 games, but Isom is confident Lawrie will continue getting better, and he appears to have come a long way from his amateur days, when he was criticized for not taking his defense seriously.
“Seeing his first few games in spring training, I thought ‘Wow, this could be interesting this season,’” Isom said. “But he’s such a great athlete. He’s taken to it. He’s made himself into a pretty good second baseman.
”You see the improvement on a daily basis. What makes him so special is you can tell him what he’s doing wrong and then he adapts and changes right away. He applies everything that you say right away. You won’t have to tell him a second time, whether it’s positioning or the little nuances of the game. He makes adjustments on the fly, picks up things, retains information and throw in he’s a great athlete in there. The kid’s done a great job and continues to improve daily."

"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.

by battlekow on May 6, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Goldstein probably hasn't seen a review since the first few games in spring training

Or he likes scouts who moonlight as comedians.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on May 6, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions

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St. Louis Viva El Birdos	23	19	.547	0	Won 1
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