Arizona Fall League -- Javelinas Win Championship

[Mass Haas]

Rob Wooten pitched a scoreless 3rd inning in the Javelina's 12-5 win Saturday. mixing sliders and an occasional splitter in with an 87-89 MPH four-seamer.

 

Surprise Bottom 3rd

• Pitcher Change: Robert Wooten replaces Justin Cassel.
• Jeff Bianchi flies out to right fielder Casper Wells.
• Jarrod Dyson called out on strikes.
• Reese Havens walks.
• Brandon Laird strikes out swinging.

For the umpteenth time this AFL season, Mark Rogers walked his leadoff man and it came back to burn him for a run in a 24-pitch 5th inning. Rogers topped out at 94-95 MPH, but more often was in the 91-93 range.

 

Surprise Bottom 5th

• Cale Iorg remains in the game as the shortstop.
• Pitcher Change: Mark Rogers replaces Thad Weber.
• Tyler Henley walks.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Jeff Bianchi grounds into a force out, second baseman Justin Sellers to shortstop Cale Iorg. Tyler Henley out at 2nd. Jeff Bianchi to 1st.
• Jarrod Dyson called out on strikes.
• Reese Havens doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Trayvon Robinson. Jeff Bianchi scores.
• Brandon Laird grounds out, second baseman Justin Sellers to first baseman Joseph Dunigan.

Taylor Green singled and walked in five trips, and is sporting an OK .350 OBP, but has only six hits (all singles) in 32 AB's thus far. This, after slugging only .356 in Huntsville (slugged .443 at Brevard in 2008).

[twobrewers]

Those are definitely disappointing slugging numbers for Green - but coming off a wrist surgery, a significant drop seems pretty reasonable.

[wvpowerblkwel]

I know you guys are busy drooling over Jonathan Lucroy, but is nobody here excited about how Braddock has performed in the AFL? He gave up his only run earlier this week, but managed back to back strikeouts to preserve what was a 2-1 final. Isn't this supposed to be the "big stage" we expect these guys to perform on prior to getting the "big call"? I think Braddock is now healthy, still showing what he has since day 1, and ready to make the next step...and he's just 22....for a big lefty, I think somebody here would be a little more excited! Keep up the good work Zach!!

[PrinceFielderx1]

I know you guys are busy drooling over Jonathan Lucroy, but is nobody here excited about how Braddock has performed in the AFL? He gave up his only run earlier this week, but managed back to back strikeouts to preserve what was a 2-1 final. Isn't this supposed to be the "big stage" we expect these guys to perform on prior to getting the "big call"? I think Braddock is now healthy, still showing what he has since day 1, and ready to make the next step...and he's just 22....for a big lefty, I think somebody here would be a little more excited! Keep up the good work Zach!!

If Braddock keeps this up, I see no reason why he won't make the Brewers club out of spring training.

[jjfanec]

I know you guys are busy drooling over Jonathan Lucroy, but is nobody here excited about how Braddock has performed in the AFL? He gave up his only run earlier this week, but managed back to back strikeouts to preserve what was a 2-1 final. Isn't this supposed to be the "big stage" we expect these guys to perform on prior to getting the "big call"? I think Braddock is now healthy, still showing what he has since day 1, and ready to make the next step...and he's just 22....for a big lefty, I think somebody here would be a little more excited! Keep up the good work Zach!!

I am happy that Braddock is doing well and when he pitches someone usually comments but why the condescending attitude about Lucroy? You have made it clear you do not like him a ton as a prospect and that you are a Salome guy, but there was no need in my mind to start your post like that.

 

Onto to Braddock, I am wondering if he is set in stone as a reliever now, or if he will get another shot at starting. When next years bullpen gets brought up he gets talked about as a possibility. People really like Braddock, I just think his injury history tempers peoples' enthusiasm. He is a terrific prospect and everyone knows that. It is waiting to see him stay healthy because his stuff is not in question at all.

[PrinceFielderx1]

I know you guys are busy drooling over Jonathan Lucroy, but is nobody here excited about how Braddock has performed in the AFL? He gave up his only run earlier this week, but managed back to back strikeouts to preserve what was a 2-1 final. Isn't this supposed to be the "big stage" we expect these guys to perform on prior to getting the "big call"? I think Braddock is now healthy, still showing what he has since day 1, and ready to make the next step...and he's just 22....for a big lefty, I think somebody here would be a little more excited! Keep up the good work Zach!!

I am happy that Braddock is doing well and when he pitches someone usually comments but why the condescending attitude about Lucroy? You have made it clear you do not like him a ton as a prospect and that you are a Salome guy, but there was no need in my mind to start your post like that.

 

Onto to Braddock, I am wondering if he is set in stone as a reliever now, or if he will get another shot at starting. When next years bullpen gets brought up he gets talked about as a possibility. People really like Braddock, I just think his injury history tempers peoples' enthusiasm. He is a terrific prospect and everyone knows that. It is waiting to see him stay healthy because his stuff is not in question at all.

He would start out in the Brewers bullpen, and if he does well he should be given a shot in the rotation. He needs to stay healthy first.

[TheCrew07]

People will take me to task for this I'm sure, but until he makes it through a season healthy I'm just not going to let myself get excited about him anymore. I REALLY like him as a prospect even more now that he's reaching the mid 90s on occasion, but I also kept hoping for the best from JM Gold, Mike Jones, etc... I thought with him finally getting a proper diagnosis and having the nerve surgery he'd take off and have a healthy successful season, instead he got hurt again. I have no idea if he's not into off season conditioning, that seems to be the area the organization puts quite a bit of blame on for pitching injuries, and it's been mentioned in the past for Zach as well as the injuries to so many of the latin pitchers in the organization. I honesty have no idea if it's an organizational excuse or there is something to it, but until he's fully healthy for an entire season I'm off the Braddock roller coaster.

 

Initially I was vehemently opposed to his transition to the bullpen, he has too much upside... but if he's unable to stay healthy pitching so few innings as a reliever I've accepted the idea that maybe being a reliever is the only way he'll ever help the big club. He won't help anyone on the DL, so maybe being a reliever will help him stay healthy long term?

[PrinceFielderx1]

People will take me to task for this I'm sure, but until he makes it through a season healthy I'm just not going to let myself get excited about him anymore. I REALLY like him as a prospect even more now that he's reaching the mid 90s on occasion, but I also kept hoping for the best from JM Gold, Mike Jones, etc... I thought with him finally getting a proper diagnosis and having the nerve surgery he'd take off and have a healthy successful season, instead he got hurt again. I have no idea if he's not into off season conditioning, that seems to be the area the organization puts quite a bit of blame on for pitching injuries, and it's been mentioned in the past for Zach as well as the injuries to so many of the latin pitchers in the organization. I honesty have no idea if it's an organizational excuse or there is something to it, but until he's fully healthy for an entire season I'm off the Braddock roller coaster.

 

Initially I was vehemently opposed to his transition to the bullpen, he has too much upside... but if he's unable to stay healthy pitching so few innings as a reliever I've accepted the idea that maybe being a reliever is the only way he'll ever help the big club. He won't help anyone on the DL, so maybe being a reliever will help him stay healthy long term?

That's understandable. In my opinion all he has to do is stay healthy this off-season and perform well in spring training, and he will make the team. Probably in the bullpen to start. We will see though..

[Menace II Sobriety]

My thoughts on Braddock are simple, everyone is high on him but we are unsure of how he is viewed in the larger plan. A dominant reliever that could take over the closer role the year after next is fantastic, but a starter coming up that could be converted later ala Hughes, Joba is a bigger focus in the dire straights of the pitching staff. We all know Braddock has the stuff and at this point watching him dominate is more of an expected outcome than a surprise. We know what he is going to do and he does it twice a week.

 

I would rather see the Brewers try to stretch him out next year and see if he can perform as a starter than waste a year of service time as a reliever and give him the McClung treatment. Braddock like Gamel as a young player should be told what their role in the organizational depth chart and what the plans are to advance them up the ranks. I am a big proponent to setting goals and deadlines that people and players need to set and achieve to advance.

[pingman]

The AFL is historically a hitters-biased league.....the elevation combined with rock-hard infields are two of the reasons....and pitchers focusing on improving their out-pitchers, like Butler....

 

...so, don't get too down on the pitching stats or overly excited by the hitters numbers....

[twobrewers]

Braddock has performed fantastic all season. While TheCrew07 is rightly concerned about his injury history - he was mostly healthy this season. He did miss some time, but by all accounts, it was just the Brewers being overly cautious. (He didn't have a surgery or anything and appears none the worse for the wear) I believe it was just slight inflammation?

I'd love to see Braddock pitching out of the pen in Milwaukee next year in 2 inning increments. He really, really needs to log some innings on his arm before he can become a starter. I'd hate to see his talent wasted in the pen.

I am sure Peterson will have a BIG say in how to handle a young pitcher like Braddock.

[Tedaldtada]

Braddock steady has always. Got the save for the Javelinas pitching a scoreless inning with a K. Cain walked and scored but that's it. Omar Aguilar also pitched, getting touched up a bit.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_11_02_perwin_scowin_1

[foamboy1]

I believe that is quite insightful. I agree that Peterson will play a significant role in the trajectory of ZB's development.

[wvpowerblkwel]

Braddock picks up his second save in last two appearances. I think the bullpen is a good place for Zach. He is big, lefthanded, and all arms and legs in his delivery which makes the ball difficult to pick up when you don't see him much. His injury issues have really been just one injury that was never properly diagnosed in my opinion....that's why the AFL stuff as kind of an "extended season" for him excites me. He had TJ in high school, but I think those problems aren't a player any more. I agree, if he stays healthy for the upcoming season, as a 22 year old guy that has been effective every place he has been given a chance....even if only for a short time, I say he's got what it takes. Sorry about the Lucroy comment, but man some of you guys love him much more than any other prospect I've ever seen discussed...which is fine. I have stayed away from the board since I tend to ruffle feathers, but I still think Braddock is the real deal! Please forgive me my transgressions guys!

[jjfanec]

Braddock picks up his second save in last two appearances. I think the bullpen is a good place for Zach. He is big, lefthanded, and all arms and legs in his delivery which makes the ball difficult to pick up when you don't see him much. His injury issues have really been just one injury that was never properly diagnosed in my opinion....that's why the AFL stuff as kind of an "extended season" for him excites me. He had TJ in high school, but I think those problems aren't a player any more. I agree, if he stays healthy for the upcoming season, as a 22 year old guy that has been effective every place he has been given a chance....even if only for a short time, I say he's got what it takes. Sorry about the Lucroy comment, but man some of you guys love him much more than any other prospect I've ever seen discussed...which is fine. I have stayed away from the board since I tend to ruffle feathers, but I still think Braddock is the real deal! Please forgive me my transgressions guys!

There is no need to stay away from the board and talk highly of the guys you really like such as Braddock, Salome, and I think you were really high on Bryson when he was with us. It is great to have first hand insight. I think where you ruffle feathers is when you go out of your way to make negative comments about people liking a certain player. Lucroy is not loved more than any other prospect. He is our number 4 prospect on this board right in front of Salome (whom you really like). Most people think fo Lucroy as the safer prospect but Salome has the most upside. Lucroy has been incrediably steady and he is playing very well right now.

 

Braddock is currently ranked 7th on the power 50, which is really high for a guy who is a reliever. He is loved by most. It is just cautious excitement. He is dominant when he is healthy, but like any prospect health is part of projection, so people temper there enthusiasm. However, with how he is pitching in the hitter friendly AFL people are going to have a hard time keeping expectations limited. He and Lucroy are both having great Falls and we should be really excited for both.

[wvpowerblkwel]

I guess I have to confess, I base my opinions of these guys on what I see when they passed through Charleston. Each year, I usually very quickly get a view of the guys that I think have the talent, and quite often it's not the guys that have the hype. That being said, most of my guys are nearly the bigs right now, or have already been there. I have a few who haven't developed where I thought they'd be...but many of them aren't in the Brewers organization including Bryson and Joe Thatcher....also Eric Fryer who is one that I thought would follow the Matt Laporta path, just a year or two later. But Braddock, Angel, Bryson, and Gindl have been "my guys" that me and my family developed friendships with. I hope all these guys reach their dreams....I'm just like the rest of you, I have my favorites, but until last year, I have seen all of them play, and continue to follow and travel to see some of them still play.

[SenatorShriv]

Count me in the camp of Braddock fans that would like to see him get stretched out in AAA to be ready for that first injury that hits the bullpen or starting rotation. Part of the reason I would like to see him in AAA is simply that I want to see some depth at the higher levels ready to step in when injuries start to take their inevitable tole on the pitching staff. Braddock's age make him the ideal candidate for this role in my opinion and I hope that Melvin builds as much of the staff as possible through trades and FA pitchers first.

[sheetskout]

I don't see how anyone can realistically think that Braddock will even see the Brewers until at least September next season. The guy has less than 20IP above high-A and less than 50IP the last two seasons. And....a history of injury.

[PrinceFielderx1]

Most people think fo Lucroy as the safer prospect but Salome has the most upside.

I'm not one of those people. I would take Lucroy over Salome, because of his bat. Lucroy is IMO the top catching prospect in the Brewers system and it will probably stay that way. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Salome traded. We will see though.

 

The Brewers finally have a catcher who is turning into a top prospect. There are reasons to be very excited right now.

[PrinceFielderx1]

Count me in the camp of Braddock fans that would like to see him get stretched out in AAA to be ready for that first injury that hits the bullpen or starting rotation. Part of the reason I would like to see him in AAA is simply that I want to see some depth at the higher levels ready to step in when injuries start to take their inevitable tole on the pitching staff. Braddock's age make him the ideal candidate for this role in my opinion and I hope that Melvin builds as much of the staff as possible through trades and FA pitchers first.

Very possible. I really think that Braddock will do well for the Brewers bullpen/long relief. He could be very valuable there. I think either one is a good possibility.

[igor67]

I am certainly willing to stick with a pitcher through injury and what not, but for these big armed guys that spend multiple years battling different kinds of arm issues at some point it seems more prudent to just try and get the big power arm into the bullpen and see if at least you can get a couple of years in the big leagues out of them before their arm gives out. I put Braddock in that category.

[brewmann04]

that the big ? withthe lack of quality starters in the upper system willthe Brewers keep him in the pen or try to make him into a starter.

[jjfanec]

Most people think fo Lucroy as the safer prospect but Salome has the most upside.

I'm not one of those people. I would take Lucroy over Salome, because of his bat. Lucroy is IMO the top catching prospect in the Brewers system and it will probably stay that way. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Salome traded. We will see though.

 

The Brewers finally have a catcher who is turning into a top prospect. There are reasons to be very excited right now.

I would not be surprised to see him traded either, but only if the Brewers are completely sold on Lucroy as the long-term guy. Salome's year in AA alone shows how high is upside is, but he has questions with his defense (various different opinions on where he is at defensively), his injuries (they are all different injuries but it is a red-flag when a catcher who will take a beating has injuries), and his highly fluctuating hitting numbers year to year (may just be result of injuries). All that said both are good prospects and since this is an AFL thread and Lucroy is playing there when looking at him, he has just been so steady. Career .845 OPS and throwing out 43% of his runners. Those numbers have carried over into the AFL so there is reason to think his numbers can stay where they have been in AAA.

[Mass Haas]

Mark Rogers, and not Jonathan Lucroy or Zach Braddock, will represent the Brewers in Saturday's Rising Stars Game on MLB Network.

 

Fred Dabney is his pitching coach.

 

Rosters

As for Tuesday night, Josh Butler gets the start. Lorenzo Cain is tied for 2nd in the league in walks with 11.

[wvpowerblkwel]

I am certainly willing to stick with a pitcher through injury and what not, but for these big armed guys that spend multiple years battling different kinds of arm issues at some point it seems more prudent to just try and get the big power arm into the bullpen and see if at least you can get a couple of years in the big leagues out of them before their arm gives out. I put Braddock in that category.

Guys, I have followed Braddock from the start, and many of his issues the first two years, had to do with the same undiagnosed/misdiagnosed issue. I guess he had blisters this year too, but I think you sometimes the talk is that he is just as frail as a rubber band waiting to break, but I don't think that's the deal. This year if his health is an issue, I may change my view,but I think he is much more durable than given credit for.