Link Report for Games of Thursday, August 27th

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: First, it's the completion of Wednesday's suspended contest at Round Rock (Astros) -- Nashville trails 5-1 in the 4th -- then LHP Lindsay Gulin starts the seven-inning nightcap, 5:05 PM pre-game; 5:30 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: Idle

 

Brevard County: RHP Evan Anundsen at home vs. Clearwater (Phillies), 6:05 PM gametime

Sorry, no audio for this series...

 

Wisconsin: LHP Daniel Meadows at Burlington (Royals), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:30 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Helena: RHP Kyle Heckathorn at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Arizona Summer League: Idle -- only two games left for the A-Crew...

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: Season complete -- the squad finished 27-43, 11th place in the 12-team division, 24.5 games behind the first-place DSL Giants. If it makes you smile, the DSL Cubs #2 squad finished last at 15-52, and lost their final 19 games of the season.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Tab or New Window". Choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

 

MiLB.com now has Gameday available for AA as well as AAA this season.

 

Nashville Completion of Suspended Game:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_08_26_nasaaa_rreaaa_1

 

Nashville Regularly Scheduled Game:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_08_27_nasaaa_rreaaa_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_08_27_clrafa_breafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box

 

Wisconsin:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_27_wisafx_burafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_27_bilrok_helrok_1&did=t433&sid=t433

[Mass Haas]

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated a few hours prior to gametime.

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):



***

We're going to include the link to Kraig McNutt's Nashville blog in the same post as the Nashville media notes link going forward.

***

"Voice of the Rattlers" Chris Mehring's informative and entertaining Rattlers Radio Blog includes game notes an hour or two before gametime.

[Mass Haas]

Midwest League Standings

 

Arizona League Standings

 

Dominican Summer League Standings

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memphis 69 62 .527 - 40-27 29-35 L2 Nashville 68 63 .519 1.0 36-31 32-32 W3 Iowa 66 65 .504 3.0 38-25 28-40 L1 Omaha 56 75 .427 13.0 27-37 29-38 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Tenn 33 27 .550 - 18-12 15-15 W3 Tennessee 32 28 .533 1.0 14-16 18-12 W1 Chattanooga 31 29 .517 2.0 19-12 12-17 L1 Huntsville 24 35 .407 8.5 13-16 11-19 W3 Carolina 21 39 .350 12.0 10-20 11-19 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tampa 41 14 .745 - 15-9 26-5 W6 Brevard County 33 20 .623 7.0 21-13 12-7 W1 Clearwater 30 29 .508 13.0 17-15 13-14 L1 Dunedin 27 29 .482 14.5 14-12 13-17 L1 Daytona 25 32 .439 17.0 12-18 13-14 L1 Lakeland 23 32 .418 18.0 9-12 14-20 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 9 13 .409 - 2-8 7-5 W1 Missoula 9 13 .409 - 5-7 4-6 L1 Billings 7 14 .333 1.5 6-6 1-8 W1 Helena 6 15 .286 2.5 3-6 3-9 L1 

[trwi7]

I didn't realize that Gindl now has 18 steals to only 4 caught stealing.

[JohnBriggs12]

I didn't realize that Gindl now has 18 steals to only 4 caught stealing.

 

Well, it helps when you are on the back end of double steals like he was tonight with Eric Farris who's now 62 for 68 in stolen bases.

 

By the way, Farris now has 35 hits in 85 AB's in August. That's a .412 BA this month for number 43 on the Power 50.

[wibadgers23]

Anundsen and Heckathorn with great outings tonight. Wisconsin was stinking it up again but luckily the game was cancelled due to rain.

[TheCrew07]

Farris got hot at the end of last season too.. you just won't consider the other side of this argument at all, and honestly it's not worth debating. He makes nice adjustments as at each level as the season progresses but if your ceiling is that of a utility player, your going to be rated similarly to a relief pitcher, which he is. Right now he's not an everyday player in this system, where's going to play and over whom? Iribarren is better defensively and has had a better year at the plate in AAA and he's unable to crack the MLB lineup. Is Farris better than Iribarren, Weeks, or Lawrie? If he has a big season in AA next year he'll move up the list and rightfully so, but he's a younger Iribarren with a ton of SBs for an organization that doesn't believe in running. It's a meaningless skill for Milwaukee unless things change with the big club.

 

Cameron Garfield was 10 for 21 in June. That's a .476 BA for number 35 on the Power 50. One super hot month doesn't prove anything, never has and never will. Ohh, and 18 year old Garfield is still out SLG Farris even after his horrible July and is only down .12 in OPS.

 

Finally, while Farris is a plus runner, he's not a plus plus runner, he's not going to steal 60 bases in MLB for anyone, even if he leaves the organization.

 

Maybe if you whine about his power 50 placement enough he'll actually become a top prospect.

[colbyjack]

JB, with all due respect, you're Picklering Farris in the worst way.

 

I know wibadgers already gave him some props, but Kyle Heckathorn follows up a shaky pro debut with a pretty impressive second start. I'm hoping MTBrew stops in to share his thoughts on the Brewers other premium, skyscraper college righty from this past year's draft (and thanks in advance if you do!).

[LouisEly]

JB - you left out the walk. If you want a guy to get any respect around here he has to walk a lot.

 

I'll pimp my rook too - Fiers, while giving up a 2-run dinger (only hit given up) still struck out 4 in two innings and in 36 innings on the season has given up 20 hits, walked 5, and struck out 53. Interesting that he has gone 2 or more innings in every appearance in Brevard so far.

[wibadgers23]

Hiram Burgos has given up a lot of runs so far but has a very nice SO:BB walk ratio in 47 innings pitched (42:11). Between Burgos, Bucci, Arnett, Heckathorn, and Odorizzi, Wisconsin's pitching staff next season will be a lot of fun to watch/follow.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 11, Billings (Reds) 3

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Dykstra, Halton help Brewers stay in race

By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record

 

Don't think for a second that the Helena Brewers aren't eyeing the Pioneer League standings.

 

And don't even think about counting them out of the postseason.

 

"We're right there, man, and I think we have a really good shot," second baseman Cutter Dykstra said. "Don't be surprised if you see us in the playoffs."

 

The Brewers showed what they're made of as they beat the Billings Mustangs 11-3 before 713 fans at Kindrick Field on Thursday to take the series. Helena remains 2 1/2 games out of first in the North, and Dykstra said it's something he and his teammates talk about during warmups.

 

"We played with a lot of energy tonight," Dykstra said. "We all came out fired up because we've still got a really good chance to make the playoffs and we want to get there."

 

Dykstra was electric at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases. The hitting seemed contagious, as every player in the Helena lineup recorded at least one hit. If not for one error by Dykstra in the sixth inning, the second baseman would have had a near-perfect game.

 

"The season's coming to an end and I just want to finish strong," he said. "I've got to leave everything out on the field, that's kind of been the mentality of it the past couple of weeks."

 

Dykstra entered the game having hit .500 the previous three contests, showing life that wasn't always there at the beginning of the season.

 

"I was struggling for a bit but now I'm feeling really confident," he said.

 

"He just played with a lot more intensity," Brewers manager Rene Gonzales said. "He looked like he was into his at-bats and I think that's the kind of player he needs to be. He needs to play with his hair on fire. He has a firey attitude and it hasn't always been there this year."

 

Helena wasted little time getting on the board, scoring a run in the first on Sean Halton's RBI single. The Brewers would tack on five more over the next two innings, and managed to make their way to a 7-1 lead thanks to starter Kyle Heckathorn's strong arm. The right-hander struck out three in four shutout innings, allowing just two hits and walking none. To end his outing, Heckathorn retired the final eight batters.

 

"He got us off to a great start," Gonzales said. "Then our bats came alive."

 

Helena pitcher Hiram Burgos would pick up his third win of the season, hurling the final four innings. He gave up seven hits but just two runs (one earned) and struck out a season-high eight.

 

Despite blowing the game open, Helena (7-15) has been known to give up big leads before and Gonzales admitted he got a little nervous when Billings (7-15) cut it to 7-3 on a home run and single in the sixth.

 

"Once it got to 7-3, I hated the way that was looking," the Brewers skipper said. "Of late we've been letting guys back in the game. There's no secret we've lost 9-3 leads and 5-0 leads."

 

In a tight North Division, the second half is still up for grabs. Despite how poorly the Brewers have played this half, a postseason run is still possible.

 

Although at the beginning of the season the Brewers were taking it one game at a time, it's no lie they're looking at the big picture now. At least their manager is.

 

"As poorly as we've played, to still be in it?" Gonzales said. "Unbelievable. We have Missoula and Great Falls to play still and it's in our hands."

 

The Brewers will welcome the Great Falls Voyagers to town for a two game set starting on Friday night. RHP Nick Bucci (6-2, 3.95) will take the mound for Helena to face Great Falls' RHP Gregory Johnson (1-2, 4.26).

 

Helena Box Score

Impressive day on the mound, as evidenced by your comments above -- review those lines again; it's hard to figure out what the Brewers have in Shawn Zarraga (3-for-4 here) given his inconsistent playing time, is the 20-year-old a lumbering designated hitter with minimal pop or the catcher who posted an .868 OPS as a workhorse in Maryvale in a true rookie season in Maryvale in '08?

 

Helena Game Log

 

Brewers' Cutter Dykstra is safe at second base as Billings' Cristobal Rodriguez drops the ball during Thursday's game at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/8/d0/a0b/8d0a0b16-939c-11de-bfe1-001cc4c03286.image.jpg?_dc=1251441146

 

Here are some additional photos, these are from Wednesday night's 6-5 loss at home to Billings --

 

All photos by Lisa Kunkel, Helena Independent Record

Brewers' Mike Marseco tags out Billings' Yorman Rodriguez

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/a/fd/00d/afd00d8a-92b1-11de-8577-001cc4c002e0.image.jpg?_dc=1251340271

 

Adrian Rosario fires in a pitch

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/1/db/ab9/1dbab9ae-92b1-11de-bb71-001cc4c002e0.image.jpg?_dc=1251340026

 

Cameron Garfield slides safely into home plate as Billings catcher Mark Fleury drops the ball

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/0/d8/ad8/0d8ad8c8-92b8-11de-9324-001cc4c002e0.image.jpg?_dc=1251343006

 

Cutter Dykstra

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/5/a5/f4b/5a5f4b2c-92b1-11de-b7cb-001cc4c002e0.image.jpg?_dc=1251340128

[Never Outhustled]

I wonder if Burgos went through a dead arm period early on? He not only got pounded, but wasn't K'ing anyone either. Then over his last 6 outings his production and K totals made sudden jump. Over that period Burgos has a 2.70 ERA and a 5/29 BB/K ration in 26 2/3 innings.

 

I was kind of suprised to see that let Heckathorn stretch out a little at 1st glance, but he was a horse in college for all 3 years, which makes him different that Arnett.

 

It looks like Cutter Dykstra is finally showing signs of getting back to the player he was last year. Over his last 8 games he's hitting 478/520/783/1.303.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 7, Clearwater (Phillies) 2

Brevard County Site Game Summary

Anundsen, Manatees Dominate Threshers

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

 

(Viera, FL) Evan Anundsen pitched six shutout innings, leading the Manatees to a 7-2 win over Clearwater on Thursday night. The Manatees took three out of four in this series, and won the season series, 10-5. Anundsen (10-8) appears to be heating up once again after hitting a rough stretch. He has rebounded from a four-game losing streak (during which his ERA rose by nearly a run) to record back-to-back victories. Thursday, Anundsen allowed just four hits and one walk, while striking out five.

 

The Threshers were plagued by a lack of control both on the mound and in the field, as they walked seven Manatees and committed five errors. The Manatees also terrorized the Threshers on the base paths, where they stole five bases. This enabled Brevard County to score seven runs despite just five hits in the game.

 

Eric Farris stayed hot for the Manatees, with two hits, two runs scored, one RBI, and his FSL-leading 62nd stolen base. He is hitting .412 in August with 20 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. Lee Haydel also added two hits for Brevard County.

 

Clearwater's lone runs came on a seventh-inning, two-run blast by Gus Milner off reliever Michael Fiers. Fiers and newly acquired Ruben Flores combined to close out the final three innings. Darren Byrd (5-6) took the loss for Clearwater after being pounded for five runs on four hits and six walks in five innings.

 

Brevard County wraps up the homestand with a 4-3 record. They now head to Tampa to face the first-place Yankees in a four-game series. This is followed by a stop in Clearwater for three games. The Manatees return home the following Friday, wrapping up the regular season with a three-game set against the Yankees.

 

***

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Manatees begin final stretch in hunt for division title

BY MARK DeCOTIS

FLORIDA TODAY

 

The Brevard County Manatees, the Florida State League's remedy for droughts, are scheduled to play their final 10 regular-season games beginning tonight in Tampa, weather permitting.

 

The Manatees, the league's North Division first-half champion, trail the first-place Tampa Yankees by seven games in the second-half standings but have the opportunity to send a message since they are scheduled to play their rivals seven times between tonight and the Sept. 6 end of the regular season. The other three games are against Clearwater.

 

But even if the Manatees catch the Yankees, the league playoff format includes a wild card entry from each division so they will meet in the best-of-three-game first round postseason playoffs beginning Sept. 8 in Tampa, weather permitting. Awaiting will be the winner of Fort Myers Miracle vs. South Division wild card -- most likely the Charlotte Stone Crabs -- series. Fort Myers has all but clinched the South Division second half title to go with the first-half championship. Charlotte has a 61/2-game lead in the wild card race.

 

Weather has not been the Manatees friend this season, postponing, canceling or suspending a total of 22 openings or game dates (doubleheaders count as one opening), believed to be the most in the league. In fact, if the Manatees get their final 10 contests in they will have played 128 of 140 scheduled games.

 

"Honestly I'd love to talk to you about pitching every fifth day," joked Manatees right hander Evan Anundsen, "but it seems with the rain we get down here pitching every fifth day, that's few and far between."

 

Anundsen struck out five batters in six innings to pick up the win on Thursday as Brevard County defeated Clearwater 7-2. Anundsen should get at least one more start before the playoffs, weather permitting.

 

The Manatees last reached the postseason in 2007, falling in four games to Clearwater in the league championship series. They were declared league co-champions in 2001 when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks forced cancellation of the title series.

 

This year's championship series is scheduled to begin Sept. 11, weather permitting.

 

Brevard County Box Score

Eight of 12 in-play outs on the ground for Evan Anundsen, who, while he hasn't had the insane GB ratios of prior seasons, remains effective in that area (1.50 ratio in '09, 2.71 *wow* in '08 at West Virginia)...

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Evan Anundsen looked sharp for the second consecutive start. He improved to 10-8 with a 2.73 ERA this season. (Photo by Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2009/08/27/A9PVgqnW.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Weather stops Wisconsin in Burlington

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

BURLINGTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers final game of the season against the Burlington Bees was rained out Thursday night at Community Field.

 

Burlington had a 4-0 lead with two outs in the top of the fourth inning, when a steady rain shower became a downpour and forced the grounds crew to place the tarp on the field. After a delay of one hour, the game was called.

 

The Bees grabbed control of the game early with four runs in the first two innings. An RBI single by Jason Taylor in the bottom of the first made the score 1-0. In the second inning, a two-out, two-run single by David Wood made it 3-0. Then, Taylor drove in one more run with a single for a 4-0 lead. But, the rain washed all of the stats out of the record books.

 

Since this was the final meeting of the season between the Rattlers and the Bees and the game will not be rescheduled.

 

The Timber Rattlers continue their road trip with a game against the Kane County Cougars on Friday night. Evan Frederickson (3-7, 5.15) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. The Cougars have Anvioris Ramirez (4-2, 2.98) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 6:30 PM.

 

Wisconsin "Cancelled" Partial Box Score

LHP Daniel Meadows only retired half of the 18 batters he faced, so a good one to see "disappear"...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Round Rock (Astros) 6, Nashville 4, completion of suspended game

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Corey Patterson photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Fall 6-4 In Suspended Game Completion

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nashville Sounds lost to the Round Rock Express, 6-4, on Thursday evening in the completion of Wednesday's suspended series opener at The Dell Diamond.

 

On Wednesday, the Express jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage with a pair of first-inning runs against Sounds starter Sam Narron. Reggie Abercrombie opened the frame with a double and scored the game's first run two batters later on Tommy Manzella's two-bagger. Matt Kata added a two-out RBI single later in the inning.

 

Round Rock increased the lead to 5-0 in the second with a three-run outburst, two scoring unearned following a missed catch error by Sounds second baseman Hernan Iribarren. Chris Johnson drilled a two-run, bases-loaded double to left off Narron before Kata lifted a sacrifice fly to center.

 

Nashville got a run back in the top of the third inning against Round Rock starter Andy Van Hekken. Iribarren legged out a leadoff triple then trotted home on Patrick Arlis' sacrifice fly to right. Van Hekken escaped further damage by working out of a bases-loaded jam later in the frame, retiring Adam Heether on an inning-ending popup.

 

The game - which was halted due to rain with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning on Wednesday - resumed on Thursday with neither team scoring again until the eighth, when Round Rock's Mark Saccomanno plated Lou Santangelo with a two-out RBI single off Sounds reliever Matt Ginter.

 

Four Express relievers combined to work four innings of scoreless, one-hit ball after the game resumed on Thursday before Sounds centerfielder Corey Patterson pulled the visitors within a pair of runs at 6-4 with a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the ninth against Casey Daigle. The blast to center, Patterson's fourth of the year, plated Arlis (double) and Adam Stern (walk).

 

After Erick Almonte singled to bring the potential tying run to the plate, former Sound Chad Paronto was summoned from the Express bullpen and walked Heether before inducing a game-ending flyout from Mat Gamel to preserve the win and notch his 23rd save.

 

Wesley Wright (2-1) took over on the hill for Round Rock upon the game's resumption and was awarded the victory after working a scoreless inning.

 

Narron (1-7) was saddled with the loss for the Sounds after giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings of work.

 

Nashville Game One Box Score

J.J. Hardy a pinch-hitter in this one, striking out in the 9th...

 

Nashville Game One Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Round Rock (Astros) 2, Nashville 1, regularly scheduled game

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Joe Koshansky photo, text follows --

 

Express Edge Sounds, 2-1

 

ROUND ROCK - The Round Rock Express edged the Nashville Sounds, 2-1, in a seven-inning contest on Thursday night at the Dell Diamond.

 

With the loss, Nashville (68-65) fell back to 2 ½ games behind first-place Memphis in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

Round Rock starting pitcher Mark McLemore moved to 5-10, allowing one run on four hits in five innings. Chad Paronto ended the game with his 24th save of the year.

 

First baseman Joe Koshansky put the Sounds on the board first with a solo home run in the top of the second inning. It was Koshansky's team-leading 22nd homer of the season and 16th on the road, which ties him for first in the PCL.

 

Express second baseman Chad Spann answered with a two-run shot in the next frame, his first home run of the season that put Round Rock ahead for good at 2-1.

 

Sounds starter Lindsay Gulin (6-10) took a tough loss after surrendering just two runs on two hits with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Dave Johnson threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

 

Third baseman Mat Gamel added two hits in the contest.

 

The Sounds and Express continue with the third game of a five game series at 7:05 pm CT on Friday night at The Dell Diamond. Right-hander Tim Dillard (10-7, 4.64) mans the bum for Nashville against Round Rock lefty Polin Trinidad (5-4, 4.63).

 

Nashville Game Two Box Score

Adam Heether, at second base for this one, on base all three times -- his YTD line is easy (and pleasing) to read: .300 / .408 / .501 -- a .909 OPS for one of the most versatile and capable defensive players in the system; at age 28 next January, Heether's lack of a big league cup of tea thus far is almost inexplicable -- he's a cut above Chris Barnwell, for instance, and his suitors will be many this October...

 

Nashville Game Two Game Log

[JohnBriggs12]

Farris got hot at the end of last season too.. you just won't consider the other side of this argument at all, and honestly it's not worth debating. He makes nice adjustments as at each level as the season progresses but if your ceiling is that of a utility player, your going to be rated similarly to a relief pitcher, which he is. Right now he's not an everyday player in this system, where's going to play and over whom? Iribarren is better defensively and has had a better year at the plate in AAA and he's unable to crack the MLB lineup. Is Farris better than Iribarren, Weeks, or Lawrie? If he has a big season in AA next year he'll move up the list and rightfully so, but he's a younger Iribarren with a ton of SBs for an organization that doesn't believe in running. It's a meaningless skill for Milwaukee unless things change with the big club.

 

Cameron Garfield was 10 for 21 in June. That's a .476 BA for number 35 on the Power 50. One super hot month doesn't prove anything, never has and never will. Ohh, and 18 year old Garfield is still out SLG Farris even after his horrible July and is only down .12 in OPS.

 

Finally, while Farris is a plus runner, he's not a plus plus runner, he's not going to steal 60 bases in MLB for anyone, even if he leaves the organization.

 

Maybe if you whine about his power 50 placement enough he'll actually become a top prospect.

There's so many ridiculous statements in your post I don't know where to start.

 

First 85 AB's is 4 times as many than 21. To bring that up is ludicrous.

 

He's not an everyday player in this system? He's played 116 of 118 games Brevard has played, 111 of them at one position.

 

Is he better than Weeks? Perhaps not, but are Brent Brewer and Josh Prince better than Escobar or Hardy? Are Chris Dennis, Eric Komatsu and Lee Haydel better than Ryan Braun? Is Caleb Gindl better than Corey Hart? Is Taylor Green better than Gamel or even McGehee?

 

All those guys are ahead of Farris on the P50 list.

 

He's not a plus, plus runner? What makes a plus, plus runner? He's on pace for 65-70 steals and a 91% success rate. There's just a handful of guys in baseball that exceed that.

 

That Iribarren hasn't cracked the lineup isn't proof that he couldn't be a solid everyday player. He's just never had the opportunity. That's not to say he won't get one somewhere (see McGehee).

 

Iribarren is better defensively? There's no stat that backs that up. Can I remind you Farris was voted the top defensive 2nd baseman in the Fla State League.

 

As to his success being the result of making adjustments, that's a huge positive, not a negative. The abiltiy to make adjustments is the key to staying power in the major leagues or any league. Hardy is in AAA because he couldn't make adjustments. The jury is out on McGehee because we haven't yet seen how he will adjust when pitchers start pitching him differently.

 

Finally, just because I'm going against the consensus on this board, doesn't make me wrong or that it's not worth debating.. All lists are opinions. The value of a Power 50 is that it invites discussion and disagreement. That you don't wish to debate it tell me you can't back up your arguments.

 

I still say Farris belongs in the 20-25 range of Brewer prospects. That is not a "can't miss" rating, but it's considerably higher than he is on one person's list.

[jjfanec]

Farris is starting to grow on me as a prospect because I know a .719 is not great but for the league he is in it is better than it looks. He is somewhere around 23rd in the league in OPS. He is only .19 behind Ben Revere from the Twins who gets a good amount love while be a very similar player, even though Farris is a ton better stealing bases.

 

The problem I have with the Farris supporters is the same I had with the Katin supporters. It is the idea that after every time he has a good game you need to say something like "hey look the guy no one thinks is good had another great game." But, where are those people when the person struggles. Right now the pro-Katin crowd is very quite as he struggles. It is one the thing to point out a guys is doing well, which is all JBriggs did in his first post here, but it another thing to almost beg a debate with the aforementioned type posts.

 

On another note. Caleb at what 20 years old leads the FSL in OPS and Logan Schafer a CF'er! is 6th. I am excited to see how these guys handle the bump to AA next year.

[sheethead]

Looks like someone just got served.

 

Is he better than Weeks? Perhaps not, but are Brent Brewer and Josh Prince better than Escobar or Hardy? Are Chris Dennis, Eric Komatsu and Lee Haydel better than Ryan Braun? Is Caleb Gindl better than Corey Hart? Is Taylor Green better than Gamel or even McGehee?

 

My favorite. The fact that Brent Brewer remains on the Power 50 is baffling to me. He is bordering on awful.

[CheezWizHed]

I can't believe how much harping there is about the P50 lately. Its a collaboration of 3-4 people's opinions of our minor league system. It doesn't mean Farris will fail because he is ranked in the 40s. Nor will the world end if Brewer is still on it

 

Discuss in the P50 thread, disagree, state your reasons and move on.

 

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Brewer? Farris Brewer?... (had to be done)

[TheCrew07]

There's so many ridiculous statements in your post I don't know where to start

You sure had trouble getting started.

 

First 85 AB's is 4 times as many than 21. To bring that up is ludicrous.

To bring up any one month sample of proof as to why you are correct is ludicrous. Continually bringing up Farris' p50 ranking is ludicrous.

 

He's not an everyday player in this system? He's played 116 of 118 games Brevard has played, 111 of them at one position.

You're correct. Somehow I missed that he's the everyday second baseman for BC and was last season for WV. Then again, maybe I was projecting to him to MLB where there are 2 vastly superior bats and 1 similar player performing better than him offensively at a higher level already in the system. Weeks is a vastly superior talent at MLB, Iribarren is the similar player outperforming him at AAA, and Lawrie is also a vastly superior offensive player in the system. Utility player does not equal every day second baseman for Milwaukee, Farris is the 4th best 2nd bagger in the entire system. Right now he's a utility player without any utility, he has very little time at any other positions.

 

Is he better than Weeks? Perhaps not, but are Brent Brewer and Josh Prince better than Escobar or Hardy? Are Chris Dennis, Eric Komatsu and Lee Haydel better than Ryan Braun? Is Caleb Gindl better than Corey Hart? Is Taylor Green better than Gamel or even McGehee?

 

All those guys are ahead of Farris on the P50 list.

I'm guessing you don't have a solid grasp of what it takes to project as an everyday player in MLB. Brewer is a superior athlete who's time is running out on, he's projectable, and he absolutely shredded the AFL last season. Prince is a similar player at a more difficult defensive position. Dennis hits well enough to project as starter, Komatsu I'm not sure about, Haydel I'm not a big fan of. Gindl absolutely has the tools and hits well enough to project as a starter, Gamel my opinions are well known, Green is someone I'm high on, I'm just not sure he has a position in Milwaukee either.

 

I listed more than 30 players in the system that I liked better than Farris, you won't find Brewer, Komatsu, or Haydel on that list. You can add Hall, Davis, and Gennett to list I already submitted, I think they have more upside than Farris as well.

 

He's not a plus, plus runner? What makes a plus, plus runner? He's on pace for 65-70 steals and a 91% success rate. There's just a handful of guys in baseball that exceed that.

You're equating base stealing with speed, they are not the same thing. Haydel actually is a better runner than Farris, he's a faster player, though Farris steals more bases. I have no issues with his base stealing, it's just that his numbers will decline as he approaches MLB and faces better pitchers and catchers. He doesn't have the tools to sustain that SB rate or percentage as he moves up. Darren Ford stole more than 60 bases as well, stealing bases doesn't make or break a prospect.

That Iribarren hasn't cracked the lineup isn't proof that he couldn't be a solid everyday player. He's just never had the opportunity. That's not to say he won't get one somewhere (see McGehee).

 

Iribarren is better defensively? There's no stat that backs that up. Can I remind you Farris was voted the top defensive 2nd baseman in the Fla State League

Maybe you missed the part about Iribarren's defense in that same list? You're missing the point here, Iribarren is a superior hitter than Farris and he's viewed as a utility player, he's a tad slower runner and doesn't steal as many bases, but he's a similar player to what Farris will be.

 

As to his success being the result of making adjustments, that's a huge positive, not a negative. The abiltiy to make adjustments is the key to staying power in the major leagues or any league

Are you just looking for things to complain about? I said "makes nice adjustments", that was intended to be a compliment, of course making adjustments is a key factor for continued success.

 

Finally, just because I'm going against the consensus on this board, doesn't make me wrong or that it's not worth debating.. All lists are opinions. The value of a Power 50 is that it invites discussion and disagreement. That you don't wish to debate it tell me you can't back up your arguments.

I never said that. What I will say is that I have no interest in continuing a circular debate with you, as you've proven that you're willing to say the same things over and over and over. I'm not a fan of repetition on a message board, nor am I a fan of continually having to make the same arguments to dispute another poster's opinion. Circular debates are not fun, in fact I find them tedious, time consuming, and uninteresting, and I generally skip right past them when reading threads. If you're into that sort of thing that's fine, but saying I'm not able to defend my position when clearly I can is a disservice to the truth.

 

This is a link report thread, I'm not sure why you feel it's necessary to bring the debate back up in a different thread. Everyone understands how you feel about it, I don't think this is the thread to debate it, nor do I feel you're genuinely interested in an intelligent debate, it appears you'd rather continually rant about a subjective list. My boy Bowman didn't even make the list, I'm not going on and on about why he's a better prospect than X, Y, and Z players though am I? I'm more interested in the particular editor's comments about the players each time through to see how they match up with my opinion than a specific ranking for any particular player.

 

Feel free to get the last word in, not that you wouldn't have anyway, but I'm done with this.

 

Looks like someone just got served.

Or something.

[MTBrew]

Colbyjack, for some reason I just haven't seen Arnett much, maybe 5 innings total on 2 occasions.

I did catch his start this week and he looked very very good. (I also thought that Evan Frederickson was the real deal when he was in Helena, so, so much for my opinions on pitchers, ha). I have seen Heckathorn twice, last nights game being a complete turn around from his Orem game last week. He was very very good as well, throwing hard and mixing things up.

Interesting to me, although both Arnett and Heckathorn are listed at about the same size Arnett seems bigger. His athletic ability is obvious and sitting/watching behind the plate he's right on top of the hitters. Its his motion and stride to the plate, very intimidating to batters. All that being said I just don't have a good handle on pitchers so I'm probably not a big help or source.

I do want to comment on Dykstra. I was not a big fan of his last year but wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt with his return to Helena and position switch. He is far from a polished infielder but does move well and gets good position on balls hit his way. Turning the double play is another story. (There are others in the system - Farris and Brownstein - much much better defensively). Also his hitting appears to have come around. He has consistantly made good contact all season but the ball just hasn't fell in for him. Not really a "power hitter" but good pop - doubles and triples kind of guy, with his speed and the occasional HR. I still don't think he is very "baseball smart", I believe he has gotten by on his athletic ability. He is often out of position on throws from the OF, however he is playing more heads up baseball then he did last summer.