Link Report for Tue. 5/5 -- Fives Go Wild; Five Wins for the Organization

[Mass Haas]

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Timber Rattlers get double dose of help from Lawrie and Meadows to beat Burlington

By Mike Woods

Post-Crescent staff writer

GRAND CHUTE - This was a night where one guy continued to meet high expectations, while another guy is now in a position where more will be expected from him.

 

And for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, they managed to handle a team they were expected to beat as they posted a 2-0 victory over a struggling Burlington outfit Tuesday in Midwest League play at Fox Cities Stadium, snapping a three-game skid.

 

Brett Lawrie, selected 16th overall in last year's draft, had an all-purpose night. He opened the game with a towering solo homer to left, added two more hits and another RBI and concluded by giving the fans a souvenir when his broken bat went sailing into the stands in his final at-bat.

 

Lawrie leads the team in home runs with four, RBI with 19 and is batting .326.

 

"No question," said Rattlers manager Jeff Isom, when asked if he was showing what the Brewers saw in him. "You're looking at a first-year kid, didn't even have a professional at-bat until the start of this season and he's hitting over .300 right now, has four home runs and leading our team in RBIs. That's what we've expected out of him.

 

"What I've been impressed by is his ability to move from catcher to second base, and this is his first season at second base. Just quite an athlete. He's made a great transition. He's done an outstanding job defensively for me, that's what has really surprised me."

 

Lawrie has not been surprised, but he has been satisfied with what he has accomplished thus far.

 

"I'm very pleased with my progress right now," he said. "Obviously, just going day-by-day, and you just play. That's all you can do. You can't handle what anyone else says or does. I'm just going out there playing, that's all I can do. And I know if I stay the course, go out there, play my game, things are going to be all right."

 

Things hadn't been going so well for middle reliever Daniel Meadows, who entered the game with a 5.79 ERA, giving up six hits and six runs in 9 1/3 innings pitched.

 

But he came in for starter Michael Bowman in the fifth and threw four scoreless innings, giving up no hits and facing just one batter over the minimum.

 

"I guess lack of focus," said Meadows in explaining his struggles. "My mechanics have been off but these last couple of outings I've gone out and performed. It feels good to go out there and throw well again. It's a boost. As pitchers, sometimes you get them and sometimes they get you. You just have to get lost in the process. It's good and it's a big boost to my emotion."

 

Isom said it could be a big boost to Meadows' position in the bullpen as well.

 

"An outing like this with Dan goes a long way," said Isom, who saw Meadows' ERA drop to 4.05. "All of a sudden, he gets put up to the top of the list and if a situation comes around and we need a guy I don't hesitate and bring Dan in a situation like that.

 

"The way things have been going, guys have been struggling a little bit from the pitching side and we continue to tell them if they want to get their innings, they're going to have to go out and put up zeroes and give our team a chance to win. The guys that are giving us an opportunity to win are the guys who are going to be out there on a regular basis."

[twobrewers]

I guess you've lost track of him, but it suddenly started to click for him mid-season last year, and he's been very, very good since then.

Actually, De La Rosa was always one of my favorites - so I have followed his career. But his story was meant to emphasis my point. Pitchers with great "stuff" often make the major leagues before the "control" is ready.

 

That can result in a team like the Brewers losing patience before they finally click with another team.

 

Gallardo always had great control. Parra always had the better stuff. Let's just say I've become wary of pitchers with control problems. (I'm looking at you Frederickson)

 

Note: I am not about to suggest Chris Cody is the Brewers number one pitching prospect.