April / May Transactions -- Latest: Woodward, Garciaparra Signed, Narveson to D.L.

[Mass Haas]

According to a West Virginia Power press release, the Brewers have released 1B / DH John Alonso, the 2005 12th round pick.

 

Alonso slugged .460 at West Virginia in 2005 as he showed pop with 34 of 73 hits going for extra bases. Alonso was hitting .194 in 62 AB's thus far in 2008. A bit of a surprise...

 

Alonso Interview Video -- Bull on Baseball, September 2007

 

Taking Alonso's spot is RHP Pedro Lambertus, activated from the West Virginia DL.

[DHonks]

I had high hopes for Alonso, but I think he has had 2 seasons in AZ, and now 2 more in WV. Man we're weak at 1b

[Mass Haas]

The Tennesean:

Mound shakeup: A couple of roster moves are looming for the Sounds that will address a pitching staff ranked in the bottom quarter of the 16-team Pacific Coast League.

 

Dave Bush, who led the Brewers with 24 total victories over the 2006 and '07 seasons - including a 12-10 mark last year - was optioned Sunday night. Bush is expected to join the team today and make his first start Wednesday.

 

Meanwhile, Jeff Weaver threw a bullpen session prior to Monday's game and will be activated in time to start Thursday's series finale against Colorado Springs. Weaver, who did not go to spring training this year, pitched last season with Seattle after spending the previous eight years with the Cardinals, Dodgers, Yankees and Tigers. Picked 14th overall in the 1998 draft, Weaver has made just seven career minor league appearances, all starts.

 

With the impending rotation additions, Zach Jackson - the Sounds' opening day starter - will be bumped to the bullpen. The left-hander is 1-3 with an ERA of 8.89 in his first five starts.

[DrWood]

Is there a 1b who's been at extended spring training? there aren't too many 1b in the system, so releasing alonso before mid-season seems odd.

[Mass Haas]

LHP Zach Braddock's promotion to Brevard County is official as of today. To make room on the Manatee roster, RHP Shawn Ferguson has been placed on the seven-day DL with an undisclosed injury. Ferguson last pitched Sunday, tossing two innings, allowing one run.

 

Taking Braddock's spot at West Virginia is RHP Reed Dickert, the independent league signee of this past offseason who made his affiliated debut with the Manatees the first week of the season (one appearance) and then went on the DL. He has been activated and transferred to the Power.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes:

Right-hander Nic Ungs was placed on the disabled list. He is scheduled to report to the Brewers' extended spring training facility in Phoenix, Arizona to rehabilitate a right shoulder injury.

[bork]

I see Eric Munson is playing 3B for the Sounds today. That revolving door at Nashville is hard to keep track of.

 

Edit: from the Sounds site:

 

April 30

P Nic Ungs placed on D.L. (right shoulder); P Dave Bush added from Milwaukee; C J.R. Hopf placed on temporary inactive list, retroactive to 4/28; INF Steve Sollmann placed on D.L., retroactive to 4/28; C Eric Munson activated from disabled list; OF Mel Stocker activated from disabled list

[Mass Haas]

Munson's activation from the DL didn't make the Sounds' media notes. No news on a correpsonding move. I've been listening to the Sounds' broadcast, but missed the pre-game show. I'm hopeful Chuck Valenches mentions something here when Munson comes to the plate in the second or third inning, otherwise we'll drop him a line.

Is it possible the Sounds' lineup will never duplicate itself all season -- kind of like a snowflake, no two will ever be the same the way Frank Kremblas rotates all his players around the diamond.

EDIT: Thanks for the update above! Our Transaction Pages and Player Index Updates have been busy, busy, busy...

[Mass Haas]

Even with all that, there will need to be another roster move Thursday for Jeff Weaver's activation from the Temp Inactive List.

[JoeHova]

Man we're weak at 1b

I assume it's because they move everyone they have any hopes for to another position because 1st base is not open until 2012 at the earliest.

 

I actually think the system is pretty strong at first with Fielder, Hart, and LaPorta all able to play there and Gamel probably best off there.

 

 

 

[Mass Haas]

To make room in Nashville for RHP Jeff Weaver, veteran RHP Melqui Torres (Salomon's brother) has been assigned to Huntsville.

 

No word yet on a corresponding move to make room in Huntsville.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes:

 

DILLON CALLED UP; HOPF ACTIVATED: Infielder Joe Dillon's stay with the Sounds lasted only the minimum 10 days required for an optioned player as he was recalled by Milwaukee this morning to replace reliever Derrick Turnbow (designated for assignment) on the Brewers' 25-man roster. In nine games with Nashville, Dillon batted .219 (7-for-32) with one home run and three RBIs. To fill Dillon's spot on the Sounds' roster, catcher J.R. Hopf has been activated from the temporary inactive list.

 

BUSH PROMOTED; GULIN RETURNS TO ROTATION: Right-hander Dave Bush's Sounds stint ending up last only one start. The right-hander was recalled by Milwaukee today to replace former Sound Yovani Gallardo in the Brewers' rotation. Gallardo suffered a torn right ACL in yesterday's game at Wrigley Field while covering first base and will be sidelined indefinitely on the disabled list. Lefthander Lindsay Gulin has been activated from the Nashville disabled list and will start on Monday morning in Bush's spot. He is 0-2 with a 3.77 ERA (6 ER / 14.1 IP) in four games (three starts) for the Sounds this season.

[Mass Haas]

Sorry to say that Waukesha's and UW-Milwaukee's reliever Ben Stanczyk has been released from the organization (Huntsville's roster).

 

While it was true the 25-year-old had struggled some in his first taste of AA this spring, his weak 2008 numbers are skewed by his April 15th outing (seven earned runs in two innings).

 

This is a pitcher who had pitched 248 innings for the organization prior to 2008 (3.67 ERA), allowing only 232 hits while striking out 236 (82 walks, WHIP 1.27).

 

How is soon-to-be 31-year-old Melqui Torres, who had made exactly one appearance above AA prior to this year with much worse numbers across the board (not even close), of more value to the organization right now than Ben Stanczyk?

 

Ben was an undrafted free agent who was in the system for 4+ seasons -- it would not be a surprise to see him in affiliated ball elsewhere some time soon. Good luck to the local Wisconsin product...

[DHonks]

that's rough for Stanczyk. He was kept in A+ despite good numbers, and never given a consistent role. Then he has a few hiccups, and he's cut?

[DrWood]

some guys are cut for performance, some guys are cut for lack of real ability (in spite of decent production). it will always be so in the minors.

[Diskono]

How is soon-to-be 31-year-old Melqui Torres, who had made exactly one appearance above AA prior to this year with much worse numbers across the board (not even close), of more value to the organization right now than Ben Stanczyk?

 

I don't know anything about Torres, but it looks like he may have been injured/out of baseball for a significant amount of time. Before that, he made a big jump from A to AAA, so he was probably a decent prospect at that point. Perhaps the club sees him as something of a reclamation project? I'm just throwing out guesses, but I tend agree with you.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes:

 

Outfielder Laynce Nix has been placed on the Sounds' temporary inactive list. He will be away from the team for a few days while attending his grandfather's funeral. To fill his roster spot, infielder Steve Sollmann has been activated from the disabled list. He has not appeared for Nashville since April 22 and is batting .140 (6-for-40) with four RBIs in 16 games this season.

[dadofandrew]

If Torres throws harder than Ben, that alone may well have been the factor. Odds are, neither are prospects at all. You gotta remember, about 75% of guys in low A ball are nothing but roster filler, and up to 50% at the other levels.

[Mass Haas]

At West Virginia, the Brewers released OF Kurt Crowell, who was sporting a .562 OPS in 69 AB's.

 

Joining the Power is a third catcher, Eric Fryer, up from extended spring training. Fryer himself struggled at the plate at Helena in '07.

[Mass Haas]

On May 4th, RHP's Shawn Ferguson and Josh Wahpepah swapped places on the Brevard County roster, with Ferguson coming off the DL and Wahpepah going on.

[DrWood]

If Torres throws harder than Ben, that alone may well have been the factor. Odds are, neither are prospects at all. You gotta remember, about 75% of guys in low A ball are nothing but roster filler, and up to 50% at the other levels.

I'd say both numbers should be higher if roster filler=guy who won't have a major league career. However, sometimes it's hard to know which players are the wheat and which are the chaff.

[dadofandrew]

Some guys turn themselves into prospects, Steve Bray maybe. Chuck Crim. But for the most part, A ball teams are a couple prospects, 3-4 maybes, and a whole bunch of guys who, while better than 99% of the public, have little chance.

 

That's why worrying about the W/L record of your minor league teams is, at best, overreaction. No one cares if your guys who will be out of baseball are better than the other guys who will be out of baseball.

[Mass Haas]

No corresponding roster move in Nashville will be made until Monday, when Derrick Turnbow will join the team in Las Vegas.

[wvpowerblkwel]

Well, I haven't seen anything official, but here's a pic of Eric Farris from last nite's Power game...so I guess you have to say, he is in WV!http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/4b33527397f57093e152cabee7a50aa2bd72059.jpg

[Mass Haas]

According to the Nashville media notes, catcher J.R. Hopf has been transferred to the Helena roster, which is a way of saying he's been sent back to extended spring training. This was done because Laynce Nix returned to the club after bereavement (Temporary Inactive) leave.