Alumni Thread

[Mass Haas]

Adam McCalvy asked Reid Nichols about Brandon Rapoza:

 

Brandon Rapoza, the Brewers' 31st round Draft pick from 2008, is only 24 years old and posted a 2.13 ERA in 41 relief appearances at Class A Brevard County last season. He was pushed out by pitchers with higher upside, according to Milwaukee farm director Reid Nichols.

The recently-released Rapoza has signed with the Sioux Falls (South Dakota) Fighting Pheasants of the independent American Association. Hope to see him back in affiliated ball soon.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Garrett Sherrill, released just prior to spring training this year, has found an independent ball home with the Lake County (Gurnee, IL) Fielders, the new expansion team of the independent Northern League.

That team's claim to fame? It's co-owned by actor Kevin Costner.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Rottino returns, but not as Star

Ex-Huntsville player watches Stars win from Suns' dugout

By Skip Vaughn, For The Huntsville Times

 

Vinny Rottino was a fan favorite when he played for the Huntsville Stars last year and in 2005. Now the Huntsville faithful root against him.

 

He's a catcher/outfielder for the Jacksonville Suns, who completed their five-game series Sunday at Joe Davis Stadium. Rottino joined the Suns on Friday, played Saturday and sat out Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Stars.

 

"It's baseball," he said when asked how it feels to return in another uniform. "Baseball is a game where you never know who's watching you. You never know what uniform you'll have on. What's it like now: I'm grateful. I'm grateful I've found a team. Right now I'm grateful. That's what it's like. Grateful to continue to have a job, to continue to have a chance to get back to the big leagues. Grateful to continue to be on a team that has an opportunity to win every day."

 

Relaxing in the empty stands more than an hour before Sunday's game, Rottino said he didn't know how the fans felt about him when he played for the Stars. "I continue to play this game as hard as I can every day," he said. "And if the fans respond to that, how hard I play the game, then great. I just love the game so much."

 

After a year and a half with the Stars, he was traded to the Florida Marlins organization, which he calls a class outfit with quality people. He was demoted Friday from Triple-A New Orleans to Jacksonville.

 

"I loved it (with the Stars)," Rottino said. "Playing for Don Money in 2005 and last year for Bob Miscik. I loved everything about the Brewers organization, a class organization. I'm from (Racine, Wis.) just south of Milwaukee, grew up being a fan of the Brewers. Everything about it was class.

 

"It's a nice town, nice city," he said of Huntsville. "It could use more fans coming to the games. But everything else - the fans, it's a great league. I loved everything about it."

 

Rottino, who was the starting catcher for Team Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, turned 30 years old on April 7. He was an undrafted free agent in 2003. He made it to major leagues for three Septembers in a row from 2006-08 as a late season call-up with the Brewers.

 

"Just an incredible experience, playing for my hometown team," he said of his big league time. "I was an undrafted free agent in 2003, so chances of me making it to the big leagues were slim. It was amazing, a dream come true."

 

Now his goal is to get back there.

 

"Obviously I have my goals," he said. "Every single day I'm playing this game as hard as I can play. That's what I'm focused on. And I love it.

 

"My goals are to play in the big leagues. I mean you don't play this game to play in the minor leagues. You work to get better. My ultimate goal is to play in the big leagues and stay in the big leagues. If that's not your goal you shouldn't be playing anyway."

 

Stars relief pitcher Mike McClendon, among Rottino's teammates last year in Huntsville, had nothing but praise for him.

 

"He was a leader, one of our leaders last year," McClendon said. "He was very helpful, especially to me in my first year in Double-A. He taught us about the game, how it should be played. I can't say a bad thing about him. He kept the clubhouse fun, that's for sure."

[JohnBriggs12]

Chris Spurling was released by the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League.

[Mass Haas]

Two more recent Brewer farmhand releasees have found work in the independent ranks.

 

Catcher Derrick Alfonso signed with the Florence (Kentucky) Freedom of the Frontier League.

 

RHP Wes Etheridge signed with Maui of the Golden Baseball League, joining LHP Donald Brandt, which we had brought to your attention earlier.

[battlekow]

The Yankees signed Josh Romanski

[mls4]

Cole Gillespie has been called up by Arizona and has a pinch-hit double in his first major-league AB.

[Mass Haas]

And That wrote:

---

The guy I feel kind of bad for is Tike Redman... he gets released right before the squads break camp, only to see Stern injured within days and then Dowdy brought in because of Katin's injury.

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

READY TO GO -- Returning to the Atlantic League for the second straight season was hardly on outfielder Tike Redman's list of things to do, especially after performing well in minor league camp with the Milwaukee Brewers this spring.

 

Redman expected to return to the Brewers after playing 15 games at Class AAA Nashville at the end of last season. Despite his performance offensively and playing all three outfield positions in training camp, he was released April 1. Now as a member of the Bluefish his quest to return to affiliated ball continues.

 

"Yeah, I am (surprised),'' Redman said. ``But it doesn't hurt me too much. It's baseball. I love it. I had a good time with the Brewers in spring training. I competed very well with them. But they went another route. So I'm here. I put up numbers here, do the best I can and play hard somebody will see me and I can get picked up again.''

 

That was the exact route Redman, 33, took last season. He hit .292 with five home runs, 36 RBIs and 49 runs scored in 74 games with the Newark Bears before the Brewers signed him last August.

 

Redman, though, realizes that aside from generating impressive numbers he also must continue to conduct his business in a professional manner and play the game the right way in order to again be picked up by an affiliated club.

 

"You just can't sit here and be selfish because a lot of baseball people see so much of the game they can pick that up and call you selfish," Redman said. "Just at the same time still play hard and play the game how it's supposed to be played. Don't disrespect it. Hustle. Bust your butt and good things will come.''

 

Redman has played at least part of six seasons in the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles. He hit .318 and scored 23 runs in 40 games with the Orioles in 2007.

[JohnBriggs12]

The Dodgers signed Mike Rivera to a minor league contract.

[Mass Haas]

Long-time farmhand and recently released LHP Rafael Lluberes has found work with the Pittsfield (MA) Colonials of the independent Can-Am League.

[Mass Haas]

Recently released infielder Jose Duran has found work with the Grand Prairie (TX) Air Hogs of the independent American Association.

 

We couldn't make up these team monikers.

[djoctagone]

corey patterson had his contract purchased from aaa by the baltimore orioles.

[djoctagone]

assuming it's the brewers' ken sanders, mr. sanders is a real estate consultant overseeing the sale of the "field of dreams". . .