Minor League Transactions -- First Half of Season (Pre-Draft)

[Mass Haas]

Temporarily inactive list- Players not able to render active service due to: (1) necessary temporary absence due to family member’s illness; (2) absence excused for personal obligations; or (3) awaiting release for the purpose of allowing the player to sign with a foreign league. Minimum placement is 3 days. Players on the TIA count towards the Reserve List limit but not the Active List limit.

 

Restricted list - Players who fail to report within 10 days of the season, or who fail to come to a contract with the team prior to that time. Players on this list do not count towards the Reserved List or Active List limits. A player may remain on this list for two consecutive years before he is removed. Often, placing a player on the Restricted List is akin to releasing him without fully relinquishing his rights.

 

***

 

Big difference. Brewer certainly isn't with Huntsville at this time based on this placement. He may be done with baseball. We'll see.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Gloucester Catholic baseball product Braddock gets big league call

By Scott Chappelear, Gloucester (N.J.) Times

The hype surrounding Zach Braddock has steadily increased the last couple of years as he's steadily ascended through the Milwaukee Brewers' organization.

 

But the former standout for Gloucester Catholic High School has never taken any of it for granted, and he certainly wasn't going to start Saturday when he got the call he'd dreamed of telling him he was being called up to join the Brewers' bullpen for the final game of their series in Minnesota.

 

"I tried not to look at the situation as where could I be, where should I be," Braddock said shortly after arriving in Minneapolis from Salt Lake City. "It's never really worked before. Dealing with injuries has helped me appreciate the days I have.

 

"I wasn't worried about getting up here, the Brewers have a plan and it will play out the way it does. I just wanted to be available when they were ready. I just wanted to be prepared as much as possible."

 

Braddock had Tommy John surgery as a junior for the Rams, but it didn't dissuade the Brewers from taking him in the 18th round in 2005. He worked mainly as a starter his first three years in the system, posting an ERA of 5.51 in 21 appearances at High-A Brevard County (Fla.) to close out 2008.

 

When 2009 began, he was back at Brevard County but know he would be strictly a reliever for the first time. He blossomed in the role, going 3-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings between high-A and Double-A Huntsville (Ala.).

 

"It's a more manageable role," said Braddock, who's walked just 16 and struck out 90 since moving to the 'pen and shown pinpoint control. "It just became more manageable for me. I enjoy the role, it's been a good fit. It's allowed me to move up, and I'm thankful for that."

 

He had 10 scoreless appearances for Triple-A Nashville this season, and one blowup at Albuquerque May 9 in a notorious hitter's park where he gave up eight earned runs in 2/3 of an inning. He's shown no ill effects since, and had struck out 28 in 16 innings for the season before his call-up.

 

"It was one of those things that happens, it was just a bad day," Braddock said. "I just didn't want it to carry over, so I made my mind up it would stop there.

 

"I don't know if I could put (my success) on one thing. I've really been working hard to maintain a solid routine, repeat what I've been doing and learning as best I can."

 

The Milwaukee bullpen sits 15th in the National League with a 6.22 ERA, but he will still have an incredible learning opportunity. Trevor Hoffman may be struggling this season, but Major League Baseball's all-time saves leader is someone Braddock plans to seek out.

 

He might not wind up with 596 career saves like Hoffman has, but Braddock will take any role to prove he belongs in the big leagues.

 

"To have a chance to sit down and talk to (Hoffman) about his experiences (is amazing)," Braddock said. "It's something I need to do ... to educate myself, and I don't think there's anybody better. There's a lot of experience on this staff.

 

"I just want to fill the role the Brewers need me in. I enjoy the closing role, the relief role. I want to be successful, so wherever that road is I'll take it."

[trwi7]

"I wasn't worried about getting up here, the Brewers have a plan and it will play out the way it does.

I don't know. For Braddock's sake I hope he tells Macha he's a 30 year old with five years of MLB experience, otherwise the plan might be to keep him in the bullpen.

[YoungGeezy]

I don't know. For Braddock's sake I hope he tells Macha he's a 30 year old with five years of MLB experience, otherwise the plan might be to keep him in the bullpen.

? isn't that the plan already? Beside of the facts that he said in the article that the pullpen is the best for him and that the Brewers feel that bullpen is best for him but he could be our closer for a long time to come. If you haven't noticed this season, having a good closer is kind of important... He could be a good above average starter or a great, shut down reliever/closer. I pray that the plan is to keep him in the bullpen.

 

I know it is fun to try to poke fun at Macha for him favoring old guys or how destroys young players but personally I think Zito (25-28), Hudson (27-28), Mulder (25-26), Duchscherer (25-28), Harden (21-24), Haren (22-25), Blanton (22-25), Streets (21-22) and many of his other young pitchers turned out just fine and somehow got there rolls over 30 year olds with over 5 years of sevice time. Have to realize that he isn't the one who signed Suppan, Davis, Wolf, Hoffman, Hawkins, Vargas or any of the other old guys and really doesn't have much choice. Melvin is the one with all the power.

[pete]

I wish there were a way to rec or give a thumbs up to posts Geezy.

[TheCrew07]

Sorry I don't find the humor in Gallardo being in the top 3 pitchers for total pitches thrown in the NL all last season after throwing 24 innings total in 2008. Likewise I'm very irritated about Gamel's service time, nor do I think it's funny that Escobar gets benched each time he starts a mini slump while Weeks can slump for an entire month before getting sat down. Finally I certainly wasn't laughing when Parra was the last pitcher to be used most of April. Where's the consistency if Macha is basing his decisions solely on production? Shouldn't the rope be longer with prospects because there are going to be ups and downs rather than with established vets who should be expected to produce a fairly consistent level? I realize that Gamel, Escobar. and Parra may have maturity (not really the best word but I'm super tired, not that I have a great vocabulary to start with) issues to varying degrees, but it doesn't seem like there was a whole lot of mentoring going on either.

 

I sincerely hope Zaun comes back in 15 days because Lucroy being up to start to every 5th day would be colossally stupid.

 

As far as the bullpen philosophy has gone over the last 5 or 6 weeks, I don't think the young relievers have anything to worry about, a minimum of 3 relievers are pitching every game regardless how close the score is. The pen has been running out of pitchers even though they've been carrying an extra guy.

[pete]

The thing about Gamel's service time is the weakest argument against Macha I have heard. Its almost unsupportable. I don't think the idea that Escobar is being benched for mini-slumps has much to support it either, but I don't think it matters whether it is true or not. Complaining about Parra being used is over the top. The guy has had an unbelievable amount of chances. He still has opportunities. Its likely Macha who is asking for more prospects and is willing to play them. Hell, they were talking about Rivas. I doubt that was Melvin's initiative. If you want a criticism, how about leaving Bush in the rotation. What a nightmare he created.

[Mass Haas]

Valid posts, but let's try and keep this thread for direct reactions to specific transaction updates.

The above points can be made (and have been ) in any number of threads on Melvin, Macha, Gamel, etc. Thanks.

[battlekow]

Here's a crowd-pleaser: RHP R.J. Seidel transferred from Helena to Brevard County.

[Mass Haas]

From Tom H. on the J-S blog:

The Brewers have re-signed RHP Jeff Bennett, who pitched for the Brewers in 2004 as a Rule 5 pick out of Pittsburgh, to a minor league deal and assigned him to extended spring training in Phoenix.

Bennett was pitching for Tampa Bay's Class AAA affiliate this year and was released after going 0-3 with a 10.97 ERA in three starts. He split the '09 season with Atlanta and Tampa Bay.

Career stats prior to 2010
2010 Stats

[Mass Haas]

Outfielder Drew Anderson was transferred from Nashville to Huntsville on the Stars' off-day Tuesday.

 

It appears the Stars will need to open up a spot on Wednesday to accommodate Anderson's addition.

[battlekow]

Mat Gamel and Josh Butler were transferred to Huntsville to continue their rehabs.

[battlekow]

To open a spot for Anderson, LHP Casey Baron was placed on Huntsville's DL. At BC, RHP Buddy Flores was put on the DL as well.

[craigharmann]

Temporarily inactive list- Players not able to render active service due to: (1) necessary temporary absence due to family member’s illness; (2) absence excused for personal obligations; or (3) awaiting release for the purpose of allowing the player to sign with a foreign league. Minimum placement is 3 days. Players on the TIA count towards the Reserve List limit but not the Active List limit.

 

Restricted list - Players who fail to report within 10 days of the season, or who fail to come to a contract with the team prior to that time. Players on this list do not count towards the Reserved List or Active List limits. A player may remain on this list for two consecutive years before he is removed. Often, placing a player on the Restricted List is akin to releasing him without fully relinquishing his rights.

 

***

 

Big difference. Brewer certainly isn't with Huntsville at this time based on this placement. He may be done with baseball. We'll see.

Any news on Brewer?

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Press Release:

 

OF Scott Krieger and INF Juan Sanchez have been transferred from Huntsville to Brevard County, the Brewers Single-A affiliate.

 

Krieger and Sanchez were transferred to Huntsville from rookie-level Helena and Brevard County respectively back on May 10. In eight games with the Stars, Krieger batted .176 (3-for-17) with one RBI. Sanchez was .050 (1-for-20) in 11 games for Huntsville.

 

There are no corresponding roster moves to fill these two vacancies on the Stars roster at this time. With these moves, the Stars active roster sits at 22, two below the Southern League limit of 24.

[Mass Haas]

One would hope that both Taylor Green and Steffan Wilson might be close to coming back, which would fill the two vacant roster spots in Huntsville.

[battlekow]

OF Adam Stern was recalled from Nashville following the Brewers game today; he's now played a total of three games on his last two optional assignments, both of which have been cut short by injuries on the big club (optional assignments are a minimum of ten days otherwise).

 

Also, it appears that C Angel Salome has returned from his furlough, as Baseball America reports that he was activated from the temporary inactive list and placed on the DL instead. Based on what we've heard from Coach, Angel is currently working out in Arizona with the rest of the kids in extended spring training.

[dadofandrew]

I assume Salome gets paid on the DL and not on the inactive list. If that's all, just a paperwork move.

[battlekow]

I assume Salome gets paid on the DL and not on the inactive list.

I don't think that's the case. For instance, Caleb Gindl was placed on the temp inactive list earlier this season when he was away from the team for a few days because of a family medical situation.

[dadofandrew]

Maybe it's the "restricted list" I was thinking of.

[Mass Haas]

Adam McCalvy twitters that the Brewers have signed their 2008 Rule 5 pick, 24-year-old RHP Eddie Morlan (stats), recently released by Tampa Bay.

 

Eduardo Morlan signs Minor League deal heading to Huntsville. Someone page Matt Ford.

 

By the way, Matt Ford no longer appears to be active, either in affiliated or independent ball. But we like Adam's sentiment and humor...

[Mass Haas]

If you can time-machine yourself back three years, this report will provide you with a background refresher on Eddie Morlan, who moved to Tampa Bay from Minnesota as part of the Matt Garza / Delmon Young deal.

[battlekow]

Congratulations to OF Chuckie Caufield, who was a 39th-round pick in 2006, for getting called up to AAA for the first time in his career.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes:

 

EX-SOUND BENNETT REJOINS CLUB FOR 3RD CAREER STINT: Right-hander Jeff Bennett -- a native of Gordonsville, Tenn., approximately 30 miles east of Nashville -- has joined the Sounds today after being signed to a minor league contract by the Brewers on Tuesday. He was released by Tampa Bay on May 12 after going 0-3 with a 10.97 ERA (13 ER / 10.2 IP) in three starts at Triple-A Durham.

 

Last season, Bennett split time between Atlanta (2-4, 3.18 ERA in 33G) and Tampa Bay (0-0, 9.95 ERA in 11G). He previously spent parts of two different seasons in Nashville (2003, ‘05) and was a member of two Sounds playoff clubs.

[battlekow]

Good news: 3B Taylor Green was activated from the DL at Huntsville.

 

RHP Andre Lamontagne promoted to Brevard County, LHP Evan Frederickson sent back to extended spring training to find the strike zone, and RHP Jose Sanchez transferred from Helena to Wisconsin.