Brewers Winter League Action 2020-2021

[Mass Haas]

Odrick Pitre, 20 years old, is 0-for-12, eight K's. His 2019 numbers from Maryvale were rough as well. Keep plugging away, Odrick!

 

Pitre now 0-for-14, ten K's (he did draw another walk on Sunday), but there's more to the story.

 

Pitre is on one of four Puerto Rico League teams. The PWL has found it tough to maintain a full slate of teams and schedule in recent seasons.

 

This year, a team simply called RA12, sponsored by Robbie Alomar (thus "RA") is made up completely of young players, most of them just north or south of 20 years old like Pitre. It's an interesting concept to expose these young men to the league, and they are surrounded by MLB vets on the coaching staff, but the results have been rough. The team is now 0-12 and lost to the league's top club, Caguas, 16-0 on Sunday (several of their box scores have included similar lopsided results).

[Mass Haas]

Now for your daily "El Tanque" update.

 

Alexander Palma, on Sunday, playing first base, 2-for-4 (double, walk, run scored, RBI).

 

OPS now up to .914, which somehow is only 18th in the league (did someone say offense-friendly)?

 

You can see Palma's double at the 04:50 minute mark here - sadly, other than the swing, not a lot of screen time for him in the clip. (His team lost, 14-5.)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFOEgpbz-Fc

[Mass Haas]

As also posted in our Minor League transaction thread:

 

According to this report out of Nicaragua, the Brewers are negotiating to have newly-acquired LHP Leo Crawford (Corey Knebel deal w/Dodgers) transfer his winter ball obligation from Nicaragua to the Dominican Republic.

 

Could be a combination of factors, including the organization wishing to get Crawford to a higher level caliber of play.

 

Crawford is dominating in Nicaragua -- five appearances (two starts, including his most recent outing, a five-inning scoreless start):

 

18.1 IP, 0.98 ERA, 12 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 16 K, .190 BAA

 

Crawford, still pitching in Nicaragua, made his first start since this tidbit was leaked -- it didn't go particularly well:

 

3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 2 K, 1 BB

[Mass Haas]

Only action on Tue. 12/22:

 

VIDEO: Alexander Palma's go-ahead 8th inning single (1-for-4 in the game, played first base)

 

***

 

Puerto Rico:

 

Gabriel Garcia 0-for-1 (groundout), played second base.

 

Odrick Pitre 0-for-2, two K's, played third base.

[Mass Haas]

This year, a team simply called RA12, sponsored by Robbie Alomar (thus "RA") is made up completely of young players, most of them just north or south of 20 years old like Odrick Pitre. It's an interesting concept to expose these young men to the league, and they are surrounded by MLB vets on the coaching staff, but the results have been rough. The team is now 0-12 and lost to the league's top club, Caguas, 16-0 on Sunday (several of their box scores have included similar lopsided results).

 

RA12 won their first game Wednesday night, defeating a previously 10-3 Mayaguez team, 1-0. Pitre did not play.

 

***

 

Elsewhere in Puerto Rico, Gabriel Garcia (Timber Rattlers 2019) was a sub in LF, and K'd in his lone official AB (sacrifice bunt as well).

 

Garcia's teammate, RH reliever Eddy Tavarez (21st round, 2019), listed at 6'6", 257 in his most recent bio, got the win with two scoreless innings. He'll turn 26 in May.

 

Recent Photo via Tavarez' Twitter account

 

Caguas Top of the 6th

 

Pitching Change: Eddy Tavarez replaces Pedro Garcia.

Johneshwy Fargas singles on a line drive to left fielder Gabriel Garcia.

Johneshwy Fargas steals (6) 2nd base.

Jarren Duran flies out to center fielder Danny Mars.

Jose Miranda strikes out swinging.

Johneshwy Fargas steals (7) 3rd base.

Trent Giambrone walks.

Jonathan Morales flies out to center fielder Danny Mars.

 

Caguas Top of the 7th

 

Edwin Diaz grounds out to pitcher Eddy Tavarez.

Miguel Amaya walks.

Richie Martin called out on strikes.

Jancarlos Cintron pops out to third baseman Edwin Arroyo in foul territory.

 

Tavarez looks to be in very good shape in the various photos and videos from his Twitter Media Timeline.

 

***

 

Our thread's hero thus far, Venezuela's Alexander Palma, was 0-for-4 (run scored), but continues to receive League MVP buzz, according to reports.

 

One of Palma's outs was this nice catch by his opponent.

 

***

 

You see a lot of names while scanning Winter League box scores, and I wish you all well, as does this player, currently a minor league free agent toiling in Puerto Rico.

 

For more on MLB holiday names, see the latest from MLB.com, which includes an old Brewer friend.

[Mass Haas]

Box score from Saturday in Venezuela where RF Alexander Palma was 0-for-4 (OPS "down" to .829) and his team lost 15-2.

 

But check out the three RHP's who combined for the winning club, all 2018 and/or 2019 Carolina Mudcats, all no longer in the system.

 

While Wuilder Rodriguez and Nelson Hernandez have struggled this winter, 27-year-old RHP Victor Diaz has been very good in six starts and tossed seven shutout innings here. If he keeps that up, that may catch the attention of MLB scouts.

 

***

 

In Puerto Rico, it was a brief, rough and wild relief outing for RHP Eddy Tavarez, who we touted in the prior post above.

 

Caguas Top of the 6th

 

Vimael Machin hit by pitch.

Noel Cuevas strikes out swinging.

Rey Fuentes doubles (2) on a ground ball to right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez. Vimael Machin to 3rd.

Trent Giambrone singles on a ground ball to right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez. Vimael Machin scores. Rey Fuentes scores.

Mound Visit.

Pitching Change: Eddy Tavarez replaces Pedro Garcia.

Throwing error by pitcher Eddy Tavarez on the pickoff attempt.

Jonathan Morales walks.

Wild pitch by pitcher Eddy Tavarez. Trent Giambrone scores. Jonathan Morales to 2nd.

Richie Martin walks.

Wild pitch by pitcher Eddy Tavarez. Jonathan Morales to 3rd. Richie Martin to 2nd.

Johneshwy Fargas lines out to third baseman Edwin Arroyo.

Mound Visit.

Pitching Change: Jose Alberro replaces Eddy Tavarez.

Jarren Duran walks.

Jose Miranda grounds out, catcher Juan Centeno to first baseman Alex Liddi.

 

***

 

LHP Leo Crawford (Knebel trade w/Dodgers) bounced back to post reasonable numbers after a rough start last time out in Nicaragua.

 

Box Score - 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K

 

This league combines regular season and round-robin postseason stats, which is convenient.

 

Crawford's line after 25.1 innings can be found in the pitching section at his team's stat page.

[Mass Haas]

Sunday 12/27:

 

Infielder (1B/3B/2B) and occasional LF this winter Luis Castro, 25 years old, returned to action in Venezuela after missing about a week with some sort of leg injury after a play at second base.

 

Playing 1B on this day, he was 2-for-5 including this HR, his 4th.

 

Castro, like Alexander Palma, was signed to a two-year minor league free agent deal prior to the 2020 season.

 

Castro was able to inflate his numbers in the Rockies' system due to time spent in 2018 and 2019 at their High-A club in Lancaster in the Cal League, a notorious launching pad.

 

But it's clear that he does have legit power, and in 20 games this winter in Venezuela, he's sporting a .254/.390/.507 line (.898 OPS).

 

Palma, also playing first base Sunday, was 1-for-3. He's now 2nd in the league in RBI, and his line now reads a patient .302/.325/.500 (.825 OPS), so despite more video highlights from Palma, Castro has actually had the more impressive winter thus far.

[Mass Haas]

Monday 12/28 in Venezuela:

 

A quiet day, Alexander Palma 0-for-3, two K's, played RF; Luis Castro 1-for-4, played 1B.

 

On a side note, old friend Hernan Perez leads the Venezuelan League in AVG/OBP/SLG .424/.514/.746 (OPS 1.260).

[Mass Haas]

Monday 12/28 in Venezuela:

 

A quiet day, Alexander Palma 0-for-3

 

Missed this earlier, guess the pitches earlier in the at-bat weren't called to Palma's approval:

 

Caracas Top of the 6th

 

Wilfredo Tovar walks.

Mound Visit.

Ronny Cedeno walks. Wilfredo Tovar to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Jean Toledo replaces Emmanuel Ramirez.

Alexander Palma strikes out swinging.

Leones right fielder Alexander Palma ejected by HP umpire Kenny Garcia.

[Mass Haas]

Tuesday 12/29:

 

Venezuela - Alexander Palma played first base, 1-for-4 (R, RBI) in his team's blowout win, OPS falls below .800 to .792

 

Puerto Rico - Gabriel Garcia played third base, 0-for-4 (three K's), now 5-for-34 on the season (no BB's, 14 K's). Despite the .147 average, he's managed to drive in seven on the season. Three of Garcia's five hits on the winter came on Opening Night.

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday 12/30:

 

Venezuela: Luis Castro, playing first base, 2-for-4, R, RBI. OPS up to .882 through 75 AB's.

 

Alexander Palma's game was impacted by a Covid postponement.

 

***

 

Puerto Rico: Gabriel Garcia, a sub at second base, 0-for-2 (one K).

 

***

 

Australia: Tweets on catcher Alex Hall's debut (video) and the upcoming schedule for other Crew farmhands.

 

***

 

No New Year's Eve or New Year's Day action.

[Mass Haas]

Saturday 1/2:

 

Venezuela - 1B Luis Castro cools off for one night, 0-for-4, one K

 

Venezuela - 1B Alexander Palma 1-for-3, two walks, and this HR

 

***

 

Nicaragua - LHP Leo Crawford was very effective over six innings in a post-season win

 

***

 

Puerto Rico - RHP Eddy Tavarez efficient over two innings in his team's round-robin loss:

 

Mayaguez Bottom of the 6th

 

Pitching Change: Eddy Tavarez replaces Miguel A. Martinez.

Ivan De Jesus grounds out, third baseman Edwin Arroyo to first baseman Roy Morales.

T.J. Rivera called out on strikes.

Emmanuel Rivera walks.

Danny Ortiz strikes out swinging.

 

Mayaguez Bottom of the 7th

Xavier Fernandez pops out to shortstop Ozzie Martinez.

Christian Colon flies out to center fielder Danny Mars.

Jeremy Rivera grounds out to first baseman Roy Morales.

[Mass Haas]

Sunday 1/3:

 

Venezuela -

 

Alexander Palma played RF, 1-for-4, one K

 

Luis Castro played 1B, 1-for-4, double, two K

[Mass Haas]

My Twitter thread on Monday evening's Australian doubleheader opener preview.

 

Watch live below at 6:00 PM CT and (approx.) 10:00 PM CT:

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Monday 1/4:

 

Venezuela -

 

Alexander Palma played RF, 0-for-3, BB, K (OPS .801)

 

Luis Castro played 1B, 1-for-3, BB, R, K (OPS .838)

[Mass Haas]

In Australia, Brisbane lost both seven-inning games and managed only five hits combined (one hit in Game One).

 

From Game One, RHP Paxton Schultz of the Brewers pitched a scoreless top of the 4th, with help from his Crew batterymate Nick Kahle (22 years old, 4th round, 2019).

 

Lineout, soft single, (CS at 2nd base), K looking.

 

To see Schultz' inning, go the 01:11:55 hour/minute mark just below. 14 pitches, 10 strikes.

 

By the way, very cool that Schultz will never forget his 23rd birthday - his Aussie debut!

 

Nick Kahle walked on a 3-2 pitch in the 2nd, grounded out hard to third base on a 3-2 pitch in the 4th, and struck out swinging in the 6th (1-2 count).

 

 

***

 

In Game Two vs. Perth, 20-year-old RHP Michele Vassalotti of the Brewers retired all four men he faced on just ten pitches (eight strikes).

 

1-3 groundout, F-8 (both of those first pitch outs), and then retired former Brewer farmhand Jess Williams on a lineout to RF.

 

Came back out for one batter in the 7th, foul out to 1B.

 

To see Vassalotti's inning, go the 01:45:05 hour/minute mark below. Then come back at the 01:58:50 hour/minute mark for the final out of his stint.

 

 

21-year-old switch-hitting catcher Alex Hall plays for Perth and will catch the bulk of the Heat's games, but he was the designated hitter here.

 

Hall did not get to face his Rocky Mountain Vibes 2019 teammate Vassalotti, but hopefully caught up with all his former Brewer minor league teammates with Brisbane across the diamond.

 

Hall was 1-for-3, one K, and an F-9. Here's video of his RBI base knock.

[Mass Haas]

Both Brisbane (potentially RHP's Matt Hardy and Brandon Ramey, C Nick Kahle) and Perth (C Alex Hall), play one game Tuesday (Wednesday Down Under).

 

The teams don't play each other.

 

You'll be able to watch Hall (if in action) at 6:00 PM Central here:

 

 

At 10:00 PM Central, Brisbane can be seen here:

 

[Mass Haas]

In Tuesday's first game in Australia, Perth's Alex Hall guided four pitchers from behind the plate to a 12-2 win.

 

At bat, Hall walked and was hit by a pitch, scoring subsequent runs each time. In his first two plate appearances, he K'd swinging and popped out.

[Mass Haas]

No Brewers saw action in winter ball except for Australia on Tuesday.

 

***

 

In Tuesday's first game in Australia, Perth's Alex Hall guided four pitchers from behind the plate to a 12-2 win.

 

At bat, Hall walked and was hit by a pitch, scoring subsequent runs each time. In his first two plate appearances, he K'd swinging and popped out.

 

***

 

Brisbane fell to 0-3, as the offense sputtered again in a 4-2 loss (just four hits).

 

However, Brewers catcher Nick Kahle goes big fly to the opposite field (video here). Kahle popped to short and skied one to center in his two other AB's.

 

The biggest problem Kahle may face Down Under is getting his name pronounced correctly (it's "

", like the vegetable).

 

In the evening's nightcap, we did not see RHP's Matt Hardy and Brandon Ramey, perhaps when Perth and Brisbane meet in a game that will be streamed at 2:30 AM Central Time Thursday AM below.

 

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday 1/6:

 

Venezuela -

 

Alexander Palma played RF, 0-for-3, BB (OPS .778, 130 AB's)

 

Luis Castro played 1B, 1-for-4 (OPS .791, 94 AB's)

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday 1/6:

 

Australia -

 

Perth's Game One: Alex Hall at catcher, 1-for-3

 

Watch Hall's line drive single to right at the 09:20 minute mark

.

 

***

 

Perth's Game Two: Alex Hall at designated hitter, 0-for-2, including a groundout to first base against Brewers RHP Matt Hardy

 

***

 

Adelaide Game (vs. Perth):

 

Matt Hardy with a near-perfect three innings in his start (1 H, o BB, 4 K); the ABL conveniently condensed his nine outs in this video

 

Catcher Nick Kahle started in right field (he had made rare OF appearances, almost all in LF, while at the University of Washington or while playing in the Northwoods Summer Wood Bat League).

 

Kahle was 1-for-4, and you can watch his infield base hit at the 02:23:50 hour/minute mark

.

 

***

 

Perth and Brisbane are both idle on Thursday (U.S. Thursday).

[Mass Haas]

Thursday 1/7:

 

Venezuela -

 

Been a while since Alexander Palma had a multi-hit game.

 

Played RF, 2-for-3, double, run, K, before being replaced (box score)

[Mass Haas]

Still no official word on a revised Australia schedule.

 

***

 

Venezuela on Friday 1/8 --

 

Alexander Palma was the DH, 1-for-5 (OPS .784, 138 AB's)

 

Luis Castro played 1B, 1-for-2, two BB, one R, two RBI (OPS .806, 96 AB's). Drove in two with a line drive single to center.

[Mass Haas]

Venezuela on Saturday 1/9 --

 

Alexander Palma played 1B, 0-for-3, one RBI (OPS .768, 141 AB's)

 

Luis Castro played 1B, 1-for-3, two more BB (second consecutive day on the multiple free passes), one R, one K (OPS .812, 99 AB's).

[Mass Haas]

Luis Castro and Alexander Palma's teams faced off in a doubleheader Sunday in Venezuela and combined to go 1-for-10. There were walks and an RBI sprinkled in, I'll let you review the boxes:

 

Game One

 

Game Two