Alumni Thread

[battlekow]

I don't know how far back we want to go, but Byron Batson, a 42nd-round pick in 2000 who only spent one season in the Brewers' system, signed with the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League a couple weeks ago.

 

link

[Diskono]

Didn't see this posted before, but apparently Valerio De Los Santos is back in organized baseball, with Colorado's AAA affiliate. He's even spent some time in their starting rotation, though he's on the DL now. I can't believe VDLS is 35 now...he was one of the first Brewers prospects I remember following as a kid. Now, if only Todd Dunn would make a comeback.

[mls4]

Abraham Nunez's stay with the Mets was short; he was DFA 6 days after being called up. He received 2 uneventful plate appearances.

 

Joe Thatcher once again optioned by the Padres; his latest call-up lasted all of 2 days and 1 relief appearance.

 

Al Reyes placed on the DL once again by the Rays.

 

Marino Salas recalled again by the Pirates, but is struggling - now after his latest outing his big-league ERA sits at 11.17.

 

Robinson Cancel is back with the Mets. On Sunday, he delivered a 6th-inning pinch-hit 2-run single which ended up winning the game.

 

Anyone checked up on Chris Coste lately? As a 35-year-old part-time catcher with the Phillies, he's batting over .300 with an OPS of .900 - he didn't even make the big leagues until age 33, and was originally an undrafted indy-league signing at age 26 by the Indians. He spent one year at Brewers' AAA team in Indianapolis in 2004 before signing with the Phillies. Sounds like a good story.

[Mass Haas]

The white Sox released RHP Joe Winkelsas.

1B Jeff Liefer, just mentioned in an earlier post in this thread, retired (White Sox).

Cleveland signed RHP Dan Reichert to a minor league deal. the Marlins did the same with LHP Chris Michalak.

Crossing my fingers for a completely updated major and minor league alumni list within a week -- thanks for your patience.

[craigharmann]

I saw Ray King pitch Tuesday night. I was at the Round Rock/Omaha game, and he came in to pitch for Round Rock! He was quite the imposing dude and pitched well. It's too bad the Crew didn't keep him around this year.

[mls4]

The Indians acquired 36-year-old Sal Fasano from the Braves, who was hitting .193 in AAA Richmond, to apparently be the backup catcher while Victor Martinez is out. Fasano spent some time with AAA Indianapolis in 2002.

[battlekow]

And Fasano had another impact on the Brewers in 2006, badly spraining J.J. Hardy's ankle on a collision at home.

[Diskono]

mls4 wrote:

Anyone checked up on Chris Coste lately? As a 35-year-old part-time catcher with the Phillies, he's batting over .300 with an OPS of .900 - he didn't even make the big leagues until age 33, and was originally an undrafted indy-league signing at age 26 by the Indians. He spent one year at Brewers' AAA team in Indianapolis in 2004 before signing with the Phillies. Sounds like a good story.

 

I really wanted to see him called up in '04, but I guess MVP Chad and Gary the Glove were just too good. He wrote a couple books a few years back, and has a new one out:

 

http://astore.amazon.com/chrcos-20/detail/1400066867/105-0643251-4252410

 

I wish I could find a place to pick up a copy of his previous books, I remember the excerpts he had on his website to be rather interesting.

 

Edit -- activated link

[Mass Haas]

Rotoworld:

Indians signed infielder Tony Graffanino to a minor league contract.

The 35-year-old Graffanino is making his way back from multiple offseason knee surgeries.

[battlekow]

Robbie Wooley is now on the Alexandria Aces of the independent United League.

Robbie Wooley, a five-year veteran signed by the Aces on Wednesday, made his Alexandria debut as Wednesday's starter but didn't last long.

A former sixth-round draft pick out of high school by the Milwaukee Brewers, Wooley struggled in his first start of the season. After spending four years in the Brewers organization and last season split between independent teams Southern Illinois of the Frontier League and Sioux City of the American Association, Wooley threw his first pitch of 2008 on Wednesday.

After a throwing error, two wild pitches, a hit batsman and a general lack of control, Wooley was pulled after getting just two outs - the shortest start of his career.

 

EDIT: Link

[Mass Haas]

Pirates call up Taubenheim for start

[Mass Haas]

A Cristian Guerrero update for you, even with photo

[Mass Haas]

Greg Vaughn Helps to Coach His Son in LaCrosse

On the day of post, you should be able to see a video link for this on the right toolbar as well...

[dadofandrew]

If Ray King is available 9/1, he might end up in Milwaukee again.

[Mass Haas]

Long-time on the radar farmhand outfielder Steve Moss is playing with the Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League.

[Mass Haas]

BUMS SIGN NEWTON

The Traverse City Beach Bums of the independent Frontier League have signed a fourth former member of the Milwaukee Brewers organization, infielder Eric Newton. Newton will join the team in Kalamazoo today.

 

A native of San Jose, Calif., Newton played for the Helena Brewers in 2007 under former Beach Bums Manager Jeff Isom. He played first base, but will play both first and third for the Beach Bums. Newton hit .318 in 27 games for Helena with four homers and 17 RBI. He posted 85 at bats and notched 10 doubles. He was a teammate of current Beach Bums outfielder Mike Goetz in Helena.

 

"Eric comes highly recommended out of the Brewers organization and we are excited to add him to our roster," Beach Bums Director of Baseball Operations Jason Wuerfel said. "He is an experienced hitter with plus power from the right side of the plate."

 

Newton began his professional career in 2006, playing for a pair of short season Brewers squads. He began his career with six games at Helena before moving the Arizona League Brewers for seven games. Newton played collegiately at Santa Clara University and led the West Coast Conference with 14 homers as a senior in 2006. He was one of only two members of the Broncos to play in all 54 games that season. The Brewers chose Newton in the 33rd round of the 2006 MLB Draft.

 

Mike Goetz, Brad Miller, and J.T. King are all former members of the Milwaukee organization that are currently on the Beach Bums roster.

[battlekow]

The Indians signed Jeff Weaver, and the Orioles called up Greg Aquino.

[mls4]

Joe Borowski DFA by the Indians. His ERA was 7.56 along with his 6 saves this year.

 

Glendon Rusch back up with the Rockies. His ERA is over 7 in 14 appearances this year with SD and Colorado, and 4.56 ERA in 7 starts with AAA Colorado Springs.

Mark Sweeney to the DL. His BA is .094 and OPS is .306 over 72 PA with the Dodgers.

 

Claudio Vargas outrighted to AAA by the Mets. His 4.62 ERA and 1.19 WHIP this year are better than his career averages.

Eliezer Alfonzo recalled by the Giants. It will be his first time up this year after appearing in 113 games during 2006 and 2007. His .955 OPS over 20 games in AAA Fresno likely got him another chance.

 

Ty Taubenheim only spent a couple days with the Pirates before being optioned back to AAA. He allowed only 2 runs over 6 innings in his one start, but his ERA in AAA Indianapolis is over 5.

Brian Wolfe optioned to AAA by the Blue Jays, despite a 3.60 ERA over 15 relief appearances this year.

 

Robinson Cancel optioned to AAA by the Mets. He only made 4 PA during his 2 stints in the majors. In 9 games with AAA New Orleans, his OPS is 1.093.

 

Gary Sheffield is off the DL. His .225 BA and .695 OPS is not helping Detroit much although he has played a little better since his return.

 

Kevin Mench optioned to AAA by the Blue Jays. His .210 BA and .572 OPS and no HR over 71 PA is a decline even from his Brewer days.

 

Marino Salas optioned to AAA by the Pirates. His ERA was over 11.

[battlekow]

Julian Tavarez signed by the Braves.

[battlekow]

Apparently Nelson Cruz is drawing significant trade interest.

[Mass Haas]

Sad to see RHP Chris Saenz was released by his independent Frontier League team. He'll always have that one magnificnt entry in the Baseball Encyclopedia. Goodness, his must be such a "what if?" life.

RHP Dane Renkert retired from independent ball. We enjoyed his articles for a Washington state newspaper in the past -- hopefully he continues to follow that passion in his life.

[battlekow]

As reported all over the intertubes, Richie Sexson got released by the Mariners today.

[jwaltz]

Today former Brewer Hideo Nomo announced his retirement from baseball.

[mls4]

Jeff Bennett (Braves) was put on the DL. His 4.28 ERA this year in 61 innings includes 2 saves and 4 spot starts.

 

Chad Paronto called up by the Astros. He had a 2.95 ERA in 42+ innings with AAA Round Rock.

 

Joe Thatcher called up by the Padres for the 3rd (or 4th?) time this year. His 1.21 ERA at AAA Portland this year hint that he can improve his 6.75 ERA with the Padres; in fact he's lowered it from 7.40 since his last recall.

 

Brian Wolfe and Kevin Mench are back with the Blue Jays. While Wolfe went unscored upon in his 7+ innings at AAA Syracuse, Mench's Syracuse numbers aren't all that impressive.

 

Robinson Cancel called up by the Mets for the 3rd (or 4th?) time this year. He was only at AAA New Orleans for a few days.

 

Joe Borowski, DFA earlier by the Indians, was released.

[Mass Haas]

Andrew Lefave (stats) is at high-A after spending much of the season at AA --

Fives are wild for Lefave, Brown

By John Torenli / Special to MLB.com

Andrew Lefave wondered aloud this week why he was struggling so much at the plate during his third professional season. Dee Brown had just one word of advice for his Potomac Nationals teammate -- relax.

Apparently, the message got through.

Lefave doubled, tripled and drove in a career-high five runs and Brown went 5-for-5 with two RBIs as the Nationals rolled to a 13-5 rout of the Lynchburg Hillcats at Pfitzner Stadium.

"[Lefave] asked me the other day, 'Why isn't the game the way it was when we were kids,'" Brown recalled. "I just told him to try to relax and trust himself."

Lefave, who was batting .176 in 14 games since being reassigned from Double-A Harrisburg at the end of June, began his big night with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning before Brown ripped a triple to right field.

Brown singled to start the fourth before Aaron Seuss and Trevor Lawhorn connected for back-to-back homers to put Potomac ahead for good, 5-2.

Lefave, who led the South Atlantic League with a .345 batting average last season after hitting .353 for the Arizona League Brewers in 2006, delivered a two-run triple in the sixth before scoring on Brown's base hit.

The 24-year-old first baseman added a two-run double in the seventh and Brown followed with his fourth single of the night as the Nationals (16-11) cruised to their third straight win.

"It was a good night," said Lefave, who was traded to the Washington organization by Milwaukee last September to complete a deal for veteran reliever Ray King.

"I just kind of went up there with a different mentality. I've been pressing so hard to do good and I've been trying so hard that I've been fighting myself. When the hits don't come, it's not nearly as much fun as when they do."