2015-16 Minor League Miscellaneous Offseason Updates

[BallFour]

Brewers should really have at least 4 guys in the Top 100 with Arcia, Phillips, Hader, and Lopez. Maybe Coulter, Williams, or Clark could sneak in at the back. Clark will rise in ranking rapidly but he did just only play in Arizona last year. Of course Brewers also have a whole mess of guys with the talent to be Top 100 with good seasons. Medeiros, Lara, Harrison, Gatewood, etc. I am sure I am missing others too

 

Clark was in their post season Top 100 in the 80s if I remember correctly. Would see no reason for him to fall out.

[reillymcshane]

MLB Pipeline will have their Top 100 list out next Friday. Until then, they are releasing Top 10 players by position. They did catchers today. Here's the schedule:

 

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2016/?list=prospects

 

I expect Arcia, Phillips, Lopez, Clark and Hader to make it. But if someone doesn't, no big deal. This is someone's opinion, and sometimes they just don't like someone for a particular reason (just as they might overly value someone for a particular reason).

 

The exciting part is that Arcia, Phillips, Lopez and Hader have solid chances of being in the majors for good (assuming they do okay) at some point this year. That influx of talent will be fun to watch - even if there will be growing pains.

[Mass Haas]

See this forum post as a reminder.

 

***

 

Jay is now on Twitter, too bad the volume isn't working on this tweet, because it could have a WWE-feel to it.

[Mass Haas]

Latest Rattler Radio podcast with Kyle Lobner

 

Always a worthwhile listen via Chris Mehring's blog...

[Mass Haas]

Frosty Microbrews: Flanagan on the Farm

By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

[Mass Haas]

Via Tom Haudricourt --

 

Brewers want minor-leaguers to get plenty of attention

 

Excellent topic and love the renewed focus; would like to see an eventual answer on the nutritional investments, not just at the Dominican Academy and in Maryvale; increased meal money for the road games, Brewer-sponsored spreads at all affiliate home games.

[DHonks]

Mass, they get meal money on road trips, but they also have to pay a portion of it for clubhouse dues. So an increase in meal money would be nice, additionally if the Brewers contributed to help pay for healthy clubhouse meals

[Mass Haas]

Minor League Spring Training Games Schedule

 

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO 2/9: Latest Rattler Radio podcast with Chris Mehring and Kyle Lobner

[Mass Haas]

Frosty Microbrews: Brewers Future On Deck

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via WSSP 105.7FM's "Chuck and Wickett" Tue. 2/16: MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis

[Mass Haas]

Invited to Minor League "Early Camp" which starts today 2/25, as per @BrewersPD:

 

C Parker Berberet, 1B Garrett Cooper, OF Ben Guez, C Carlos Leal, IF Nate Orf, OF Victor Roache, OF Tyrone Taylor

 

P's Jaye Chapman, Drew Gagnon, Brooks Hall, Hobbs Johnson (L), Jim Miller, Jorge Ortega, Austin Ross, Brent Suter (L), Wei-Chung Wang (L)

[Dmiles23]

Maas-

 

I've been to minor league camp the last 3 days, I always find it fun to watch "the future." I don't follow this forum a ton, so I apologize if these questions are answered elsewhere but:

 

1. Has Gatewood been permanently moved from SS? He was strictly playing third the times I've seen him.

 

2. Do we know of an injury for Lara? He has been taking BP but hasn't been participating in any other drills.

 

I will say it was fun to watch BP today with the group of Clark, Lara, Tyrone Taylor, and Johnny Davis. I know it doesn't mean anything, but for an 18 year old Lara just has "it."

[brewmann04]

Hey thanks for the Insites really appreciate the info

[Mass Haas]

Miller Park Prospects -- 2016 Organizational Depth: First Base

 

***

 

Order Brad and Marcus' book as well -- The Miller Park Prospects 2016 Prospect Preview

[CheezWizHed]

1. Has Gatewood been permanently moved from SS? He was strictly playing third the times I've seen him.

 

No official announcement that I'm aware of, but its unlikely the Brewers would announce that in the offseason. Lots of people at BF.net have speculated this would happen with Lara and Diaz both contending for playing time at SS. So I would guess he will still get some time at SS this year, but probably getting a deeper look at 3B, which is most probably his future home.

[brewmann04]

you would have to think either Gatewood or Lara will be moved to 3rd this season.

[Mass Haas]

LHP Michael Kirkman, released by the Brewers early last August from his AAA assignment, has found work with the Padres, as per Baseball America.

 

You may remember these brief notations from his Twitter account at that time. Hey, gotta believe in oneself, right?

[CheezWizHed]

you would have to think either Gatewood or Lara will be moved to 3rd this season.

 

I've not seen any of them in person, but based on scouting reports, it sounds like Lara has the best chance to stick at SS. Gatewood is speculated to be at 3B (or even some reports of 1B). And Diaz at 2B because of arm strength.

 

But if Lara starts at Helena, I'd guess Gatewood and Diaz will split time: Gatewood at 3B/SS and Diaz at SS/2B. With Neuhaus splitting at 2B/3B.

 

But if Lara comes up, I'd guess it would be more fixed at Gatewood/Lara/Diaz covering 3B/SS/2B. But that is only my thoughts...

[Mass Haas]

Prior 2015 Updates --

 

From January 31st:

 

Baseball America --

 

Brewers LHP Tyler Alexander

Suspension Length: 50 games

Violating Substances: Drug of abuse (second positive test)

 

Alexander, 23, a lefthander out of Florida International, was a 27th-round pick in 2013. He’s gone 7-6, 4.28 in two minor league seasons, walking 4.10/9 but striking out 11.27/9.

 

***

 

Also, even though Alexander spent most of 2014 with the Timber Rattlers, because he was on the Maryvale roster to end the season, his suspension won't begin until June when the rookie league season begins. So at minimum, he's out until late July.

 

Alexander's status as a Maryvale Brewer instead of a Wisconsin Timber Rattler was prompted solely by his involvement in a HBP-immediately-after-surrendering-a-HR-sparking-a-brawl incident last July. It's going to be tough for him to salvage much of anything in 2015, although here's to a big August for the young man.

 

Sigh...

 

And today we get news of Alexander's release.

 

JUNE 7th UPDATE: Alexander has signed with Fargo-Moorhead of the independent American Association. Should an affiliated club eventually show interest, Alexander still has that 50 game suspension hanging over him, we believe.

 

We're aware that LHP Tyler Alexander is no longer in the organization, but MiLB posted an article about him earning a 100-game suspension without pay after a third positive test for a drug of abuse.

 

Wasted life opportunity, pun intended.

[Mass Haas]

Is Milwaukee's farm system its best ever?

Brewers brass excited to see influx of prospect talent in one place at Spring Training

MLB.com Columnist Jonathan Mayo

 

Lara, Ponce, Miguel Diaz, Isan Diaz...

 

***

 

Five questions with Brewers' Jacob Nottingham

Jonathan Mayo talks to Milwaukee's No. 10 prospect

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Best farm system ever? I'm a fan of the current system, but I not sure we are there yet. What about 2004, when we had 6 top 100 prospects (includes fielder, weeks, hardy) per BA, not including Corey Hart. 2006 had even better prospects when you add in Braun, Gallardo, Escobar, Cain, N. Cruz, Brantley.

 

Then consider the systems in the mid 80s (Sheffield, surhoff, bosio) and even the late 70s (yount, molitor)

[ClosetBrewerFan]

We won't know for sure how good this farm system is for at least 10 years, but we can look back at past years to determine what was the best farm system. This website does a good job of providing the data: http://seamheads.com/baseballgauge/organization.php?franchID=MIL&tab=prospects&first=1969&last=2015&pos=All&positive=N&sort=Tot_a

 

They use career WAR of each farm player by year to provide a cumulative WAR for that farm system. 1987 led with 198 WAR. 2006 was a close second with 188 (and is still going). You could argue 2006 is the best since 1987's WAR is inflated due to the steroid era. Note that even though 1987 is our highest WAR year, the brewers only had the 9th best cumulative WAR that year - 8 other teams had farm systems with higher total WAR - Wow. The 80s were fun.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Blog -- "In the latest edition of the Rattler Radio Podcast, Kyle Lobner and Chris Mehring talk early results for the Brewers and how some former Timber Rattlers are contributing to the Cactus Crew in Maryvale."

[Mass Haas]

Frosty Microbrews: Different Perspectives

By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

RHP Trey Supak (Jason Rogers trade) and OF/1B David Denson featured --

 

"I've been doing a lot more weight training, a lot more cardio training, a lot of things I didn't really do before, I would say," Denson said. "I would say that it's definitely different in terms of workouts. It was a lot more…how can I say…all I can think about is it was a lot more hardworking."

 

And why weren't you, David? Is that on him, the training staff, or former director Reid Nichols?