Your 2011 Brevard County Manatees -- Latest: OF Scott Krieger hometown article

[Mass Haas]

All-Stars a bonus for Manatees

Bucci, Davis, Gennett see majors as big prize

by Mark DeCotis, Florida Today

 

Being an All-Star in professional baseball is nothing new to Brevard County Manatees players Nick Bucci, Khris Davis and Scooter Gennett.

That being said, the recognition is always welcomed and appreciated, and that's how the trio embraced their selection to the 50th Florida State League All-Star Game to be played Saturday, June 18 at Bright House Field in Clearwater.

The added bonus for the players is that family members will get to see them play -- and in Bucci's and Davis' case -- that means journeys from Canada and California, respectively.

After all, it's a big deal.

"I was happy even though my numbers really aren't deserving and there's some other guys in the league that might have deserved that honor number-wise," said Gennett, a second baseman and a graduate of Sarasota High.

"It was still exciting and it's always good when you get recognized."

Gennett, Davis and Bucci were all-stars for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Class A Midwest League in 2010 and now have made the jump to High Class A successfully enough to be honorees again.

That doesn't surprise Manatees manager Jeff Isom, who was the head man for Wisconsin in 2010.

"It's nice to get notoriety, there's no question about that," Isom said. "They deserve it, they've played well."

What they've accomplished, despite the Manatees being in last place in the FSL North Division, is only a sign of things to come, Isom believes.

"I know where they were last year, I know where they're at now and they've all grown in individual areas," Isom said.

"Where can they be? The sky's the limit. Making the major leagues. Those are three pretty good ballplayers there."

At the time of their selections, left fielder Davis was fifth in the league in slugging percentage at .524, fifth in on-base plus slugging at .921 and sixth in runs batted in with 40. He also was first or second on the Manatees in 11 offensive categories.

Davis, who was named the parent Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Player of the Month for April, hit safely in 34 out of his first 49 games and reached base safely in 43, including 18 straight from May 11-29.

Gennett was tied for second team-wise in hits and was in the top five among the Manatees in three other offensive categories. He hit .318 in April and had the longest hitting streak in the league at 16 games.

Bucci, a right-handed pitcher, was fourth in the league with a 2.29 earned run average and was tied for seventh in the league with a 1.15 WHIP (walks, hits per innings pitched). He led the Manatees in innings pitched and strikeouts.

Davis took his selection in stride.

"Every year my goal is to be an all-star whatever league in I'm in," he said. "I was happy but I've still got more work to do."

The selection validates Davis' approach of preparation.

"The hard work I put in, it just feels good to get something back," he said.

Bucci had the same realistic approach as Davis.

"Definitely, it's good to get recognized for something like that but, obviously, there's way more than half the season left so there's definitely a lot of work I still have to do," he said.

Second baseman Scooter Gennett is batting .257 with 58 hits in 55 games and has scored 25 runs for the Brevard County Manatees. / Tim Shortt, FLORIDA TODAY

 

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[Mass Haas]

Big name, bigger batby Mark DeCotis, Florida Today

For the record, it's spelled K-j-e-l-d-g-a-a-r-d and pronounced "Kill-guard."

But the way Brevard County Manatees outfielder/first baseman Brock Kjeldgaard has been playing of late, the literal translation could easily be "knock it out of the park."

Kjeldgaard is on a home run tear. Of the 15 homers he has hit this season, 12 of them have come since May 17 and he is four away from breaking the Manatees single-season mark of 18, set by Jose Santos in 2001.

He had back-to-back two-home-run games against the Daytona Beach Cubs on June 4 and 5 and hit his latest round-tripper in Wednesday's loss to Dunedin.

Heading into Friday night's game at Dunedin he was tied for the home run lead in the Florida State League.

"Kjeldgaard continues to swing a hot bat for us," Manatees Manager Jeff Isom said. "It would be nice if we could get some guys on when he gets up. We'll take his solo home runs. He's swinging a great bat right now."

Kjeldgaard's soft-spoken, quiet nature belies his big bat and his strapping 6-foot, 5-inch, 215-pound physique. The 25-year-old native of Edmonton, Alberta is in his sixth season of minor league baseball – the Milwaukee Brewers drafted him as a pitcher in 2005 - and his second with Brevard County. He hit .245 in 132 games with the Manatees in 2010 with 17 home runs, 120 hits and 75 runs batted in.

He attributes his sudden power surge to adjustments in his swing.

"Basically, I've just been getting ready on time, and I feel I've been more consistent in getting ready on time," he said.

By that Kjeldgaard means that once the pitcher begins his delivery, he begins to load up his swing.

By doing so, he sees the ball better. When that happens, he, well, hits it better and farther.

He also attributes the turnaround to being more patient through the rough patches.

Kjeldgaard has first-hand experience with that, having been converted from a pitcher to a position player in 2008. Being able to concentrate on his hitting certainly has paid off. He has 66 minor league home runs including 32 for the Manatees.

"It's been pretty good up to now," he said in an obvious understatement.

Kjeldgaard also is tied for fifth in the league in strikeouts with 61 but Isom sees that turning around as well.

"He's really done a nice job of shrinking the strike zone, making sure he's getting pitches . . . if they elevate them, he's making them pay for it." Isom said.

"He's a guy right now, it doesn't matter what level he's at, he could be having success and that could go all the way to the top. It's fun to see a guy when he's on a streak like this right now."

Streaks will come and go but Kjeldgaard still relishes the challenge of pitcher vs. hitter.

"I like the whole aspect of hitting," he said. "You've got to be able to do multiple things. Power is something that luckily I'm able have. But you can't go up there trying to hit home runs, obviously.

"You've got to just know that if you put a good swing on, they'll come."

And, they have.

Photo by Craig Rubadoux, FLORIDA TODAY

 

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[Mass Haas]

Kjeldgaard earns FSL honor for third consecutive week

Edmonton, Alberta native leads league in homers, two away from team record

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

VIERA, Fla. -- The Florida State League announced on Monday that Brevard County Manatees outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard was named the league's player of the week for the period of June 6-June 12. It is the third week in a row that Kjeldgaard has earned the honor.

In six games last week, Kjeldgaard hit .400 (8-for-20) with one double, one triple, three home runs, nine RBI and six runs scored. He also stole two bases during the week.

Kjeldgaard, 25, had a .538 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage during those six games. The Edmonton, Alberta native also had two three-hit games during the week.

Heading into Monday's action, Kjeldgaard leads the Florida State League with 17 homers and is second in the league with a .593 slugging percentage.

In the month of June, he is hitting .400 (16-for-40) with seven homers, 14 RBI, with a .489 on-base percentage and a 1.025 slugging percentage. Kjeldgaard has also raised his batting average 65 points since May 24.

Kjeldgaard is two homers away from breaking the Manatees single-season mark of 18, set by Jose Santos in 2001.

He was drafted by the Brewers in the 34th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft as a pitcher.

He was converted to a position player beginning in 2008 and to date has hit 68 homers in his minor league career, including 34 with the Manatees.

[CheezWizHed]

Looks like we need to start pimping BK for AA.

[Mass Haas]

How MiLB.com worded it --

 

Florida State League

Brock Kjeldgaard, Brevard County

.400/.538/1.000, 6 G, 8-for-20, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 6 RS, 4 BB, 5 K, 2 SB, 0 CS

If this guy keeps it up, this honor will have to be renamed the Brock Kjeldgaard Award. This is the Brewers prospect's third straight week to claim it, and he remains on an absolute tear. Through his first three games of the week, he was 1-for-7 with a homer, but he'd done plenty of work without his wood, walking three times, stealing a base and crossing the plate three times. He drove in two and missed the cycle by a double Friday, homered and had three more hits to put together five RBIs Saturday and added another RBI Sunday, doubling, walking and stealing another base.

[battlekow]

Bob Elliott: The Sandlots

Bob Elliott/Toronto Sun

TORONTO - When Brock Kjeldgaard was drafted in the 34th round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005, we were missing his height and weight.

So, we emailed his father working at the London Free Press.

“Six-foot-five, 215 lbs. of sinewy, taught muscle,” came the reply.

Kjeldgaard looks 10 feet tall to class-A Florida State League pitchers this season. The Brevard County Manatees outfielder has 17 homers in 241 plate appearances — the same number as at Brevard in 539 appearances a year ago. He’s one shy of the franchise record and has won three straight player-of-the-week awards.

Home runs and the Florida State loop are not always in the same sentence.

Shawn Green hit one in 114 games at Dunedin in 1992. Current Brewers slugger Ryan Braun hit seven in 59 games at Space Coast Stadium in 2006: The ocean breeze blows in while most parks in the league are pitcher-friendly.

Pronounced “KILL-guard,” Brock’s hitting .282 with 46 RBIs. Not bad for someone bad who began his pro career on the mound.

Since converting at the start of the 2008, he has hit 68 home runs with 258 RBIs in three-plus seasons. The big swing, tinkered with by former Jays and Brevard coach Darnell Coles, has some holes ... 525 strikeouts.

Brewers scouts Dick (The Legend) Groch and Jay Lapp drafted him from the London Badgers.

They were at the Major League Scouting Bureau camp in Welland when Lapp compared Kjeldgaard to Cleveland Indians slugger Richie Sexson.

At the 2007 Canada Cup in Quebec City, Tony Blengino, assistant scouting director, told Lapp that the right-hander would likely be released at the end of the season. Lapp told Blengino the Sexson story.

“I have no idea if our conversation went further,” Lapp said, “but instead of getting released Brock was told to show in the spring with a bat.”

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[Mass Haas]

There is also a photo gallery at the article link.

 

Manatees share moment with Braves

by Mark DeCotis, Florida Today

 

VIERA — Bent and bowed by age but hardly broken, the men who comprised the Melbourne Braves a generation ago got their moment in the spotlight Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium.

Nine members of the barnstorming, all-black semi-pro baseball team were special guests of the Brevard County Manatees who wore replica Braves jerseys for their game against the Daytona Beach Cubs.

The old ballplayers brought along wives and kids and grandkids to soak in the admiration.

And thanks to three touching ceremonies, the crowd of 1,524 learned a lot about the Braves.

"For me it's very special, because I played for the Braves for quite a while," said John Williams who made an eight-hour drive from his home in Jackson, Ga., just to attend the game.

"And they called and told me they were having this tonight . . . and it was so special I just got in my car and came down here.

"It feels real good. I just wish I was young enough to play. It feels real good."

The Braves contingent participated in a mass throwing of the first pitch and then as both teams stood along the foul lines, the Braves stood in a straight line behind the pitchers mound for the National Anthem and then shook hands with all members of both teams.

They also signed autographs for several players and a lot of autographs for fans.

Among those seeking the keepsakes was Darrell Bursey whose father Levi Bursey of Melbourne was one of the former Braves honored.

"It means a whole lot because first of all, this gentleman is my daddy," he said pointing to his father in a picture taken when the players were young and in their prime and which was widely distributed on Thursday.

"I went to a lot of games in the '60s and '70s all over Florida. It's an honor to be here. They were great, they were great. Believe me I saw them win a lot.

"It's good for this to happen to them. They really, really drove a lot of miles with this stuff."

Manatees players were well aware of the Braves presence from the replica jerseys – which were subject of a silent auction starting at $70 – to the replica hats and a blow-up of a team picture posted on the wall outside the clubhouse entrance.

And when the players came out of the clubhouse and found the former Braves standing along the dugout railing, there were many smiles and introductions and handshakes.

Nine players then went to home plate to catch the nine first pitches. Among them was Manatees catcher Sean McCraw.

"That was special, seeing these guys wearing the same jerseys," McCraw said.

It was special for the former Braves as well.

"This is very special tonight," said Lonnie Bacon of Melbourne. "My grandkid (Cameron Noel, 10 of Melbourne) is out here and I'm teaching him baseball and I would be very proud if he became a baseball player.

"I have butterflies already," he added before the first pitch.

But then the old player came to the surface.

"I wish I would be able to play the game today," he said. "It's going to be very exciting to get on that field again."

It was the same for the Manatees.

Asked if the ceremonies and meeting the former Braves was as special as he thought it would be, Manatees outfielder and Florida State League All-Star Khris Davis admitted he was at a loss for words.

"I didn't know what to say to them," he said.

His actions and those of fellow players Kentrail Davis and D'Vontrey Richardson spoke volumes as they rushed on to the field before the anthem, Richardson punctuating his approach with a slide, to pose for a picture for posterity with those who came before them.

The former Braves in attendance were John Williams, Bacon, Bursey, Louis Williams of Melbourne, William Pressley of Melbourne, Joe Sellers of Melbourne, Otis Williams of West Melbourne, Gino Williams of Cocoa and Walker "Bubba" Holmes of Melbourne.

But they weren't the only ones in the park who once wore the white and blue of the Braves.

Two white men who played in the latter years, Wayne Tyson of Palm Bay, the former baseball coach at Brevard Community College, Florida Air Academy and Palm Bay High, and Bob Creech of Orlando and formerly of Satellite Beach, both made a point of getting out to the park to reminisce and rub elbows.

"I played in high school, Babe Ruth and I played college and that was the best baseball that I was involved in," said Creech who played for the Braves in 1963 and 1967.

For Tyson who played for the Braves in 1972, the memories were still sharp.

"Great bunch of guys, great ballplayers as well," Tyson said. "Traveling was fantastic. It was a blast. It was a great experience for a young kid."

And the experience for the older men on Thursday wasn't diminished by all the years that had passed since their time in the sun.

[Mass Haas]

FSL All-Star Game: North (Manatees' squad) 5, South 3

FSL All-Star Game Box Score

Scooter Gennett (0-for-4, one K) and Khris Davis (0-for-3, walk, K) each played a full game at 2B and LF, respectively; former Brewer farmhand Wes Etheridge got the save...

 

FSL All-Star Game Play-by-Play

Nick Bucci pitched the 2nd inning, his team already up 2-0

 

FSL South All-Stars Top of the 2nd

• Pitcher Change: Nick Bucci replaces Jonathan Pettibone.
  
• Kyle Jensen grounds out, shortstop Gustavo Nunez to first baseman Tony Plagman.
  
• Aaron Baker walks.
  
• Greg Sexton strikes out swinging.
  
• Brett Nommensen flies out to right fielder Brad Glenn.

[Mass Haas]

LINK

Missing from the Home Run Derby was Brevard County's Brock Kjeldgaard, the league leader. Kjeldgaard, who wasn't named to the All-Star Game, has 17 homers, one more than winner Justin Bour (Cubs) and two more than runner-up Brad Glenn (Blue Jays). Seven of Kjeldgaard's blasts came after the teams were selected.

[battlekow]

The unnatural natural

Tom Haudricourt/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Ryan Braun knows how difficult it is to hit home runs at Class A Brevard County. In 59 games there in 2006, he hit seven homers, only to move up to Class AA Huntsville and sock 15 in an equal number of games.

"It's a terrible place to hit," the Brewers leftfielder said. "I hated it there. The wind blows in every day."

That condition hasn't stopped Manatees outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard, who entered Saturday with 17 home runs in 58 games. How impressive is 17 homers at this stage? The club record for an entire season is 18, set by Jose Santos in 2001.

Last week, Kjeldgaard (pronounced kel-gard) was honored for the third consecutive time as Florida State League player of the week. So, he has to be one of the Brewers' top prospects, right? Not so fast.

The native Canadian was drafted in the 34th round in 2005 out of Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, as - get this - a right-handed pitcher. But after spinning his wheels for two seasons with the rookie Helena club, Kjeldgaard was converted to a first baseman. Since then, because of other first-base prospects in the system, he was moved to the outfield.

At 6 feet 5 inches and 215 pounds, he is a big man with big power. He also strikes out a lot, including a league-high 175 times in 2010 during his first season with Brevard.

At 25, Kjeldgaard also is a bit old for Class A ball. But he is a good athlete (12 steals in 14 attempts) with a strong arm who has been a bit better at making contact this season (66 strikeouts in 209 at-bats).

"He was suspect, but he has above-average power (and) has become a decent outfielder," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said. "We know he can play first base, so if he can play the outfield it adds to his versatility.

"He's worth keeping an eye on because he has the one above-average tool that isn't easy to find."

When apprised of Kjeldgaard's home run total before the midway point of the season, Braun smiled and shook his head.

"That's impressive," he said. "It really is."

[Mass Haas]

Manatees catcher Sean McCraw has experiences to share

Frustration is part of game

by Mark DeCotis, Florida Today

VIERA -- Brevard County Manatees catcher Sean McCraw is 25 years old and yet playing for his seventh minor league baseball team in seven seasons. He's played in almost 400 games from Brooklyn to Brevard.

But he's got the love of the game -- especially for catching -- that's kept the fire burning for so long. He's also got an intensity that smolders just below the surface but sometimes also burns hot and bright.

It's no surprise teammates and his manager Jeff Isom compare him to Crash Davis, the fictional minor-league lifer around whom the classic baseball movie "Bull Durham" evolved.

A native Texan, McCraw was selected by the Manatees parent club the Milwaukee Brewers in the 37th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and the New York Mets in the eighth round in 2005.

He signed with the Mets and began his odyssey in Kingsport, Tenn. later that summer. Now, 378 games later, he is sharing catching duties for the Manatees as he continues his return from a broken finger he suffered while working in a metal shop just before spring training.

And he thinks it's that injury -- which is healed enough to allow him to play but not enough that the finger on his right and throwing hand is still not swollen and misshapen -- has set him back in his quest to move up the organizational ladder.

But that's baseball, and that's life and that's one of the hard lessons McCraw has learned in the bus leagues. Baseball above all is a game of setbacks and failure and if a player can't deal with that, he might as well pack up and look for a real job.

That truly is not what McCraw is planning to do even though this is his free agent year, meaning the Brewers could cut him loose if they choose.

Should that happen, he could fall back on his skill as a welder and his interest in firefighting, but he's got too much baseball left in him to just walk away.

"I found a way to get back on the field," he said. "I'm just trying to be out there on the field as much as possible and try and get as many reps in to where next year might be something to look forward to."

McCraw is a married man -- a year and a half to Rebekah with whom he has been with since high school and who has been a pillar of support.

"Ever since I've been doing this gig, she's been there right beside me," he said. "Couldn't ask for a better person to be there. She's come and lived with or been a part of the season year in and year out."

That's what it takes. Trying to scratch out a living in minor league ball can stress even the stiffest spine and sometimes the frustration and disappointment and yes anger that are as much a part of the game as bats and balls, boils up.

That's OK.

"Sometimes you've got to let it out," McCraw said. "I used to let it out every time that I failed, but once I figured out that this game is mostly about failure, I learned how to cope with it."

There also are times when a player must deliver and failure is not an option.

"I'm not supposed to fail," McCraw said. "If I want to keep playing this game, I can't fail in those situations."

Isom acknowledged as much.

"I think every player should have to do that," Isom said. "Obviously frustrated, and that's OK. It's part of the whole learning sequence here. Guys are going to get frustrated. He's no different. He's been around. He knows what he has to get done,"

Isom brought up a crucial late-inning bunt that McCraw recently failed to execute.

"He didn't accomplish what he wanted to get done. He's a guy who takes pride in what he does on the field. If he doesn't do something right or properly he's going to be upset."

McCraw has done enough correctly to be in a valuable position as a catcher with a good track record and experience who can relate to young pitchers, get the most out of pitchers and shut down a running game.

And much like the fictional Crash Davis, who also was a catcher, McCraw's talents could propel him up the ladder or keep him in the minors where the organization believes he could help shape future stars.

Sort of like Crash.

"Without the home runs," McCraw said, smiling about the reference.

"I wish I could hit more home runs, I could be more like him."

He already is.

"I love catching," he said. "I love when my pitchers do well. I like being part of the game every play. I can throw runners out pretty well.

"I'm not big into video games. That's my video game. When I'm catching, I'm in control."

That's fine with Manatees pitching coach Fred Dabney.

"It's crucial, it's a very important for these guys developing," Dabney said of McCraw. "Guys who can call a good game, have some leadership skills behind the plate. That's why guys like that stay in baseball and in the organizations a long time.

"He's a great teammate, he's a tremendous asset to our organization. Guys like that you can't say enough about."

 

Sean McCraw talks with a coach before a recent game at Space Coast Stadium. McCraw has done enough correctly to be in a valuable position as a catcher with a good track record and experience who can relate to young pitchers. / Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY

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[Mass Haas]

Manatee Press Release:

 

Kjeldgaard ties ‘Tees single-season homer mark

 

VIERA, Fla. – Brevard County Manatees slugger Brock Kjeldgaard tied the franchise’s single-season home run mark with his 18th homer of the season in Monday night’s 10-8 win on the road against the Dunedin Blue Jays. Jose Santos also hit 18 home runs in 2001 for the Manatees.

 

Kjeldgaard’s 18 homers are tops in both the Florida State League and the entire Brewers minor league system. He also leads the FSL with a .596 slugging percentage and is tied for third in the Brewers minor league system in both RBI (47) and stolen bases (12).

 

The 25-year-old Edmonton, Alberta native also leads the Florida State League with one home run per every 11.83 at-bats. He’s also hit an astounding .467 with runners in scoring position with two outs.

 

Kjeldgaard was named the FSL Player of the Week for three weeks in a row from May 23 – June 13. During that 20 game span, he hit .414 with a .494 on-base percentage and a .986 slugging percentage. He collected 16 extra base hits, 12 home runs, 23 RBI and stole seven bases.

 

Kjeldgaard has a chance to break the record before the first half of the season ends, with two games remaining. He will have a chance to do it in a matinee game on Tuesday at 11:00 AM at Dunedin (10:00 Central).

 

The Manatees will return home on Wednesday to begin a seven-game homestand. Of Kjeldgaard’s 18 home runs this season, 11 have come on the road and seven have been at Space Coast Stadium.

[Mass Haas]

The only thing missing for Brock Kjeldgaard was a spot in the All-Star Game last Saturday in Clearwater. Probably as a result of a so-so start to the season, he wasn't picked for the North team and, therefore, also missed a shot at the Home Run Derby.

"It would've been nice," Kjeldgaard said of being an All-Star. "It was a little disappointing."

The votes were just cast a little too early. It has been impossible to miss what the 25-year-old slugger has done since mid-May.

***

That's from this week's MiLB.com FSL weekly review, just the latest full-blown feature on Brock Kjeldgaard. Here's the link to the full profile.

[Mass Haas]

Manatees set to start anew http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110623/SPORTS/106230311/Manatees-set-start-anewhttp://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110623/SPORTS/106230311/Manatees-set-start-anewCan put 27-43 record behind them now

by Mark DeCotis, Florida Today

 

The calendar is changing but the challenges remain for the Brevard County Manatees.

 

The second half of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League season opens tonight with the Manatees hosting the Lakeland Flying Tigers, and with all 12 teams reverting to 0-0 in the standings, the Manatees have the opportunity to put their disappointing, league-worst 27-43 record behind them.

 

For them to do that, Manager Jeff Isom said they must do three things they couldn't do in the first half:

 

- Pitch effectively.

- Play defense.

- Hit with runners in scoring position.

 

Heading into Wednesday's first-half finale against Dunedin, a 6-3 loss at Space Coast Stadium, the Manatees ranked last in the FSL in earned run average (4.68), worst in runs allowed (358), worst in earned runs allowed (310) and were tied for worst in walks and hits per innings pitched (1.50). They also allowed the second-most hits (651).

 

If that wasn't bad enough, they ranked second worst in errors with 82, were seventh in hitting with runners in scoring position at .256 and hit a paltry, league-worst .140 with the bases loaded.

 

The Manatees were second in the league in stolen bases with 83, fulfilling one of Isom's tenants of aggressiveness. The flip side was they led the league in getting caught stealing 33 times.

 

Those weren't the only telling offensive statistics. The Manatees led the league in home runs with 62 but were seventh in runs batted in with 285. Translation: a plethora of solo home runs that also led to a paltry 6-37 record when they were tied or trailing after six innings.

 

Isom is well aware of the dearth of situational hitting.

 

"That's something we talk about quite a bit," he said. "Don't put pressure on yourself, get quality pitches. You have to recognize those situations. Obviously, you still have to hit the baseball.

 

"When you're putting extra pressure on yourself because there's a guy in scoring position, it's tough to do."

 

At least on the calendar, those performances are history. And Isom and his staff and his players arrive at the ballpark today with opportunities abounding.

 

Part of the process of making the most of those opportunities will involve player movement, a given at this level of minor league ball. The parent organization, the National League's Milwaukee Brewers, will surely move players up to the FSL and perhaps up to Class Double A Hunstville and perhaps down to lower-level Class A.

 

So there's a lot on Isom's plate, but he's not changing his thinking.

 

"We approach every day with the idea that we're going to come here and win the game," he said. "Obviously, when a team is struggling it's hard to do."

 

But that doesn't mean the expectations will be lowered.

 

"The second half starts . . . and we're excited to see that," Isom said. "We've been out of it for a while. We feel like get some solid pitching, we're going to be just fine.

 

"There are lessons to be learned. We continue to talk about playing good defense. We're not a club that can afford to give extra outs. We know that day in and day out."

 

Extra outs lead to extra swings, extra hits, extra runs, extra opportunities to make errors and extra opportunities to suffer defeats.

 

But today all things start anew.

[battlekow]

RHP Tyler Thornburg was the only Brewers farmhand named to the initial Futures Game rosters (full list: US/World). The game is on 7/10.

[battlekow]

With Brock Kjeldgaard's promotion to Huntsville, it appears the BC team record of 18 home runs, tied by Kjeldgaard last week, will stand. Obviously, Big Brock would have shattered it--perhaps doubled it--had he not been promoted.

[CheezWizHed]

Anyone know if the player(s) BK tied with 18 homers played a full season or partial season?

 

Also, I wonder if Khris Davis will remain at Brevard long enough this season to break the record. I hope not. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[battlekow]

From this week's Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet chat:

Shawn Nelson (Chippewa Falls,Wi.): What exactly does Tyler Thornburg have to do to get a little respect from you guys? So far all I've seen is a 'in the photo' from him. Did I miss something or has he just been overlooked? Also, would you say he is now their top prospect? Thanks

J.J. Cooper: As mentioned in the Banuelos answer a guy with five innings pitched this week has a tougher time making the list. Thornburg is having a great year, but there still is a lot of thought that with his delivery he'll end up as a reliever. With that being the case [Wily] Peralta and [Cody] Scarpetta are in that mix battling him for No. 1 in the Brewers system (well at least til [Taylor] Jungmann and [Jed] Bradley sign).

[Mass Haas]

Tom's Tweet --

 

http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/433886516/HaudricourtandPhilliePhanat_normal.jpg

@Haudricourt Tom

#Brewers GM Doug Melvin visited Class A Brevard County and came back raving about closer Santo Manzanillo. Said he reached 99 mph.

[Never Outhustled]

Tom's Tweet --

 

http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/433886516/HaudricourtandPhilliePhanat_normal.jpg

@Haudricourt Tom

#Brewers GM Doug Melvin visited Class A Brevard County and came back raving about closer Santo Manzanillo. Said he reached 99 mph.

 

Hopefully he gets a promotion soon, to AA, or even AAA. Santo has been awesome. The addition of Blanks to BC should make Santo's promotion easier. Santo is the most pleasant development in the minors this year, (maybe besides the return to form of Taylor Green)

[brewmann04]

i agree Santo should be pushed especailly with who the closer at triple a is currently.

[Mass Haas]

Congratulations to RHP Tyler Thornburg, the FSL Pitcher of the Week.

[battlekow]

Kevin Goldstein on Khris Davis:

A seventh-round pick in 2009 out of Cal State Fullerton, Davis hit an impressive .280/.398/.499 for Low-A Wisconsin last year. He entered the year as the 13th-best prospect in a bad Brewers system, as college players from major programs are supposed to hit in the Midwest League. As a 23-year-old in the Florida State League, Davis is still old for the level, but he doesn't control where he plays; all he can do is hit, and he's doing just that. With three home runs in his last five games, Davis is hitting .331/.429/.568 in 75 games, and at some point it's going to be time to take the league leader in both on-base percentage and slugging seriously. He's not especially big or toolsy, but he keeps proving he really can hit, and a promotion to Double-A with continued production could finally put him on the map.

[Mass Haas]

Manatees' pitcher small, but mighty

Newly promoted Thornburg has won 10 pro games

by Mark DeCotis, Florida Today

For a guy considered on the smaller side, Tyler Thornburg is living large.

And fans can get an up-close look at one of the top prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization Wednesday night, when Thornburg takes the mound for the Brevard County Manatees against the Clearwater Threshers at Space Coast Stadium.

Thornburg already has won his 10th game as a pro baseball player -- against no defeats -- and has moved up a level from the Brewers Class A team in Wisconsin to the Class A-Advanced Manatees. He was selected to play in Sunday's All-Star Futures Game, part of Major League Baseball's All-Star week festivities in Phoenix.

And, on Tuesday he was named the Florida State League's Pitcher of the Week.

Sitting in the Manatees' dugout following the daily pre-game workout in the 90-degree heat -- yes, even for pitchers -- Thornburg smiled when asked about his stellar 2011.

"Yeah, it's pretty surreal," the 22-year-old Thornburg said. "Realizing all the things I wanted in life are hopefully going to be happening in the next couple of years or so. All I can really do is thank God for everything he's given me."

What Thornburg has been given is a gift to throw a baseball effectively enough to record 130 total strikeouts in 103 total innings for Helena of the Pioneer rookie-level league and for Wisconsin -- both in 2010 -- and for the Manatees in two starts this season.

His combined minor league earned run average is a stingy 1.57, allowing just 67 hits.

Not bad for a 5-foot, 11-inch, 185-pound player some scouts are already pegging as a reliever instead of his current role as a starter, citing concerns about his durability due to his lack of physical size compared to many of his peers.

That doesn't wash with Manatees pitching coach Fred Dabney especially when the name of San Francisco Giants Tim Lincecum, one of big league baseball's top pitchers at all of 5-11 and 165 pounds, comes up.

"If you look at him (Thornburg), what is Lincecum doing differently than what he's doing?" Dabney said. "He's got a plus-fastball, a solid average to a plus-curveball and he's got a solid average to a plus-change up.

"Lincecum isn't doing too many things differently than what he's doing. He's got the ability, he's got the stuff. Guys that are 5-11 or below six feet, they've got to bring special to the table and he's bringing something special to the table so size doesn't matter with him."

Manatees catcher Sean McCraw, who has been behind the plate for Thornburg's starts against the Tampa Yankees on June 26 and at Clearwater on Friday -- when he struck out 10 batters in six innings -- can speak to what Thornburg brings to the game.

"He's got an explosive fastball for a little guy, a little bit of deception the way he jumps off the mound and a real good put-away pitch with his curveball," McCraw said.

"The thing that's been lacking is the consistency of the change-up and I think from the second outing compared to the first outing, he had better arm speed with it. He was a little underneath it and trying to push it the first time. The second time he was a little bit more aggressive with the arm speed."

The soft-spoken Thornburg, who was born in Houston, lived on St. George Island off the coast of the Panhandle and attended college at Charleston Southern, considers his fastball his best pitch.

He hopes it can continue to work for him as he strives to keep a clean sheet.

"You're going to have to lose at some point, everyone knows that," he said. "I'm just trying to put that off for as long as possible. Every time I go out I'm trying to make sure I don't lose the game."

He also wants to get inside the head of the hitters, who he said are both more patient and more aggressive in the FSL, and have the advantage from the moment the batter steps up.

"(I want him thinking) 'I don't want to be in the batter's box right now,' " Thornburg said. "I definitely don't want them being too comfortable up there."

And if he can improve by being more consistent with all his pitches, throwing strikes and avoiding walks, he believes he can continue keeping hitters off stride and continue to find success at whatever level he's playing.

 

Since coming to Brevard County from Class-A Wisconsin, Tyler Thornburg is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings. He has struck out 16 and a .056 batting average against him. / MiLB.com Photo for Florida Today

 

http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20110706&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=107060318&Ref=AR&MaxW=140&Border=0

[Tedaldtada]

As Mass alluded to, this is something we have not seen since Yo was chugging through the system.