Jump to content
Brewer Fanatic

Your 2012 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Mass Haas

By Mass Haas,
in Brewers Minor League Talk

Mass Haas GOAT

Mass Haas

Brewer Fanatic Staff
Posted
Posted

Indications are that we will begin to see some formal minor league roster announcements as early as Saturday 3/31.

 

Feel free to link to any formal notices you see here.

 

As you might know, we use the "Your 2012" threads to post and link to feature stories that are outside the scope of game activity covered in the Daily Link Report.

 

One thing folks will notice this year is that we'll be providing less of the "link PLUS copy-and-paste" and just going with links in many of our threads. While in the long-term, this will impact the archive aspect of the site as some of those links go dead down the road, it will also make it much easier for all providing the news, as formatting the copy-and-paste was among the more tedious and time-consuming aspects of the forum each day.

 

These threads have become among the most popular for viewing here, and we look forward to kicking them off formally.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 99
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Mass Haas GOAT

Mass Haas

Brewer Fanatic Staff
Posted
  • Author
Posted

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Announce 2012 Roster

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - On Thursday, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers play their first game of the 2012 season against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Today, the players who will be on the field against the Kernels are known. The 2012 Timber Rattlers roster has been unveiled by the Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

This year's opening day roster includes three top prospects in the Brewers organization, ten members of Milwaukee's 2011 draft class, ten players who played with the Timber Rattlers in 2011, and one native of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

 

Baseball America's Prospect Handbook rates the top 30 prospects in each Major League organization. In their 2012 edition, they placed shortstop Yadiel Rivera (#15), pitcher David Goforth (#17), and pitcher Drew Gagnon (#23) on the Brewers Top 30 List.

 

Rivera, who turns 20 on May 1, was the unanimous choice of Pioneer League managers as the best defensive shortstop in 2011. He also hit eight homers with 38 RBI for the Helena Brewers after he played 32 games for Wisconsin last season.

 

The Handbook mentions that Goforth, who also played in Helena after being drafted out of the University of Mississippi, has a fastball that ranges between 94mph and 99mph. He appeared in 19 games as a reliever with Helena in 2011.

 

Gagnon was a college teammate of TJ Mittelstaedt, a Rattlers outfielder last year, when both played at Long Beach State University. He saw action in Helena last season - appearing in eight games and making seven starts - with 27 strikeouts in nineteen innings pitched.

 

Players from the 2011 draft: Pitchers Gagnon (3rd round), Goforth (7th), Tommy Toledo (11th), Jacob Barnes (14th), Andy Moye (15th), Brandon Williamson (20th), and Chad Pierce (38th); catcher Parker Berberet (25th); infielder Adrian Williams (45th); and outfielder Ben McMahan (23rd).

 

Rivera is one of the returning players for 2012. Fellow infielders Carlos George, Greg Hopkins, Brandon Macias, and Jason Rogers played for the Timber Rattlers in 2011. Also returning are: Pitchers Seth Lintz, and Matt Miller; catchers Rafael Neda and Tyler Roberts; and outfielder Chad Stang.

 

Chad Pierce played high school baseball for Fond du Lac and earned Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association All-State honors three times with the Fox Valley Association school. He played two seasons at Arkansas before transferring to play two seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he would become the Horizon League Pitcher of the Year in 2011.

 

Other players on the team include: Pitchers Seth Harvey, Stephen Peterson, Kevin Shackelford, and Mark Williams and outfielder John Dishon.

 

Fans will get a chance to see the 2012 Timber Rattlers in action at Time Warner Cable Field on Tuesday during Fan Fest from Noon until 5:30pm. The team will practice and play an intrasquad game during the day. Plus, there will be plenty of opportunities for autographs.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin the 2012 season with a three game series against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Time Warner Cable Field from Thursday through Saturday. Opening Night is April 5 at 6:35pm with an All Fan Bobblehead Giveaway. Friday night's game also is scheduled to start at 6:35pm. The opening series concludes with a 1:05pm game on Saturday afternoon.

 

Tickets for all Timber Rattlers home games are available on timberrattlers.com, by calling 800-WI-TIMBER or by stopping at the Time Warner Cable Field ticket office from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday and Saturdays between 10am and 3pm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mass Haas GOAT

Mass Haas

Brewer Fanatic Staff
Posted
  • Author
Posted

Post-Crescent video and article report: Fond du Lac graduate Chad Pierce finally reaches Fox Valley Stadium as member of Milwaukee Brewers' minor-league afffilate Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

Great opportunity for the young man, discusses how he was a last-minute addition to the Rattlers' staff...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mass Haas GOAT

Mass Haas

Brewer Fanatic Staff
Posted
  • Author
Posted

Post-Crescent photo gallery (at link) and feature article -

 

Timber Rattlers notes: Pitcher Matt Miller takes positive view of return to Wisconsin

 

GRAND CHUTE — The smile came rather easy, but it was rather wry.

 

“It’s a push,’’ said Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitcher Matt Miller, who got the nod as the team’s Opening Day starter Thursday but is back with the club for the second straight season.

 

But as Miller saw last year, with pitchers Austin Ross and Tyler Thornburg, if you get off to a good start, there’s a good chance you’ll be moved up. So that’s his plan.

 

“That’s the only way I can look at it,’’ he said. “You don’t really have any control over where you’re sent. So I am back, I’m ready to go. Something to prove, I guess. A little more motivation, if you will.’’

 

Miller went 6-8 with a 4.38 ERA last season with the Rattlers while also missing time with injury. While his first choice would not be to play in Grand Chute again, he knows how he shapes his attitude is just as important as how he shapes his pitches.

 

“This game’s not easy,’’ he said. “You’re going to have a few bumps. You’re going to get injured. You’re going to get dealt bad hands sometimes. It’s what you do to fight through those little things and sometimes fight through adversity.

 

“Everybody can say what they want when they’re not going through it. But when it’s you, whatever it is you’re going through, it’s how you’re going to approach it the next day, waking up and bringing what you have to the ballpark. There’s a lot of guys, a lot of talent around here and throughout the organization and you somehow have to differentiate yourself from everybody else.’’

 

The skinny

 

Based on what he witnessed during spring training, second-year Rattlers manager Matt Erickson figures his team will have to excel at small ball this season.

 

“Watching the spring training games I think we’re going to be a pretty good defensive ball club, at least that’s what I’m preaching,’’ he said. “Our pitchers need to be able to throw strikes for us to have success. We didn’t score a ton of runs in spring training but we did a real nice job of playing defense and keeping the ball in the strike zone.

 

“We’re capable of being a pretty good team. We’ve seen that in instructional league. We don’t have the big names here, so to speak, but collectively we have a chance to be OK.’’

 

Big names missing

 

This year’s Rattlers have three of Milwaukee’s top-30 prospects on the roster, according to Baseball America’s Prospects Handbook.

 

But you’d have to be a pretty ardent Brewers fan to recognize the names of shortstop Yadiel Rivera and pitchers David Goforth and Drew Gagnon.

 

The Brewers’ top two draft picks from last June, pitchers Taylor Jungmann and Jed Bradley, will start the season in high ‘A’ Brevard County.

 

“I really think in our organization, the right guys are here right now,’’ said Erickson. “Seeing some guys in advanced instructional league last year and what we’ve had out on the field in spring training this year, I think our ‘A’ ball teams are set up talent wise at the right spots.’’

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TooLiveBrew Milwaukee Brewers

TooLiveBrew

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Berberet just shot up into the top 5 of my favorite farmhands after looking at his walk-up music. A tip o' the cap good sir.

Wow -- you weren't kidding!

 

Also, I loved any time Hopkins would hit last season -- "Work" might be my favorite GangStarr song... and I have a lot that would qualify.

Stearns Brewing Co.: Sustainability from farm to plate
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mass Haas GOAT

Mass Haas

Brewer Fanatic Staff
Posted
  • Author
Posted

Study says Stang has most explosive bat in Brewers' minor league system

by MikeWoods, PostCrescent.com

 

Had an interesting conversation with Rattlers manager Matt Erickson after last night's game about leadoff hitter Chadwin Stang.

 

Stang hit a towering leadoff homer in the sixth inning, showing surprising pop for someone in that spot in the lineup. But Erickson said following a study the Brewers did in spring training involving all players in their minor league system, it comes as no surprise.

 

"They did a study down at spring training and of all of our players, he had the fastest velocity off the bat of any player in our (minor league) organization," said Erickson. "There was actually some big leaguers involved but Charlie Greene, our field coordinator, said they did it early in the morning and not many of them were going all out. Regardless, there were about 75 hitters, and he had the best speed off the bat of 75 hitters in our organization.’’

 

"He’s got a little bit of juice. He's an explosive kid. He's had a lot of injuries. I don’t think he’s played a full season yet in professional baseball. If he can stay healthy, keep his body up and get a lot of at-bats out of that one hole, I think people will be surprised at the kind of power numbers he might be able to put up. It’s that dreaded word, the potential word, but the ball really comes off his bat.''

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TooLiveBrew Milwaukee Brewers

TooLiveBrew

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
I'm thinking about going to Appleton for one of the games this weekend. It looks like gates open 1 1/2 hours before the game. Is there generally still BP going on at this point?

You should be able to catch BP, but it's probably going to be the visiting team's session.

Stearns Brewing Co.: Sustainability from farm to plate
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
The Twins Daily Caretaker Fund
The Brewer Fanatic Caretaker Fund

You all care about this site. The next step is caring for it. We’re asking you to caretake this site so it can remain the premier Brewers community on the internet. Included with caretaking is ad-free browsing of Brewer Fanatic.

Become a Caretaker
×
×
  • Create New...