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Earlier this week the Brewers claimed a shortstop off waivers from the Diamondbacks, acquiring veteran journeyman Cody Ransom. If that transaction sounded familiar it's because a year ago on this day the Brewers also claimed a veteran journeyman shortstop off waivers from the Diamondbacks, only this time it was Josh Wilson.
Wilson was 30 years old and a career .227/.281/.315 hitter, but he wasn't Yuniesky Betancourt and that was enough for many of us to accept him as the best available option at the shortstop position. At this point Betancourt was hitting .232/.260/.348 with poor defense.
Unfortunately, Ron Roenicke didn't see things that way. Wilson appeared in 54 games as a Brewer but started at shortstop just four times. The Brewers left him off the playoff roster in October, and this winter the Braves signed him as a minor league free agent.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2000-01 Brewer Angel Echevarria, who turns 41.
- 1997 Brewer Sean Maloney, who turns 41.
- 1953 Milwaukee Brave Don Liddle, who would have turned 87.
Today is also the fifth anniversary of Ryan Braun's major league debut. We covered that event in this space last year.