Brewers Winter League Action 2020-2021

[Mass Haas]

LHP Leo Crawford started Game One of the Nicaragua Winter League finals, but had a rough start (box score).

 

4.2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR

 

His Giants team has lost both games of the best-of-seven thus far, but there is an excellent chance Crawford will pitch another game barring a sweep.

 

***

 

What was a quiet to non-existent Brewers Winter League campaign in locales like the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico will now be silent, as the teams of Alexander Palma and Luis Castro, our two thread mainstays thus far, failed to reach the Venezuelan League playoffs.

[Mass Haas]

RHP Michele Vassalotti has allowed only one of the 11 batters he's faced to reach (a walk) in his two appearances Down Under. Highlights from his start today

 

 

***

 

Following Vassalotti to the mound was fellow Brewers RHP Paxton Schultz. The two combined for 5.1 IP of scoreless ball. They did their part, but Brisbane would lose in walk-off fashion, 2-1.

 

 

***

 

Catcher Nick Kahle had a rough day at the plate, 0-for-3, three K's.

[Mass Haas]

By the way, the walk-off loss came on a ball lost in the sun, go to the 11:40 mark:

 

[Mass Haas]

Alex Hall RBI single at the 01:48:00 hour/minute mark (1-for-3 in Wednesday's game - "our" Wednesday):

 

[Mass Haas]

Our Thursday, Their Friday:

 

Perth defeated Brisbane, 5-1

 

Perth:

 

DH Alex Hall 0-for-4, two K's

 

Brisbane:

 

C Nick Kahle, 1-for-3, one throwing error

 

RHP Matt Hardy got the start - 2.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K

 

You can watch Hardy's start in the full game archive below.

 

See Kahle's line drive single at the 30:55 minute mark. (getting closer to the "Kale" pronunciation, but not there yet)

 

[Mass Haas]

Our Thursday, Their Friday (Game Two):

 

Adelaide defeated Brisbane, 1-0

 

Offense has been tough to come by across the league, but especially for Brisbane.

 

Nick Kahle 0-for-3, three K's, as the DH

[Mass Haas]

Perth and Brisbane play again Friday evening at 8:00 PM Central, you can watch it here, live and then archived:

 

[Mass Haas]

No word yet on why we have yet to see RHP Brandon Ramey pitch.

 

He was one of the three pitchers acquired in the David Phelps trade.

[Mass Haas]

Friday 1/15 U.S.:

 

Brisbane with a much-needed walk-off, extra-inning win to move to 2-6 on the season. (Box / Game Log)

 

For Perth, catcher Alex Hall singled (ground ball ate up the third baseman) and walked, no action on the Brisbane basepaths.

 

For Brisbane, catcher Nick Kahle was 1-for-3, a double leading off the 5th. He would later score.

 

Watch Kahle's double at the 03:20 minute mark. Wheels, baby!

 

 

Down one run in the final regular inning, Kahle put the ball in play with one out (video), it scored the tying run on an error by former Brewer farmhand Jess Williams.

 

Brisbane plays two games Saturday, Perth is off.

 

Watch Game One live at 6:00 PM Central

.

 

Watch Game Two live at 9:00 PM Central

.

[Mass Haas]

Saturday 1/16:

 

Catcher Nick Kahle caught both ends of a Brisbane doubleheader (a 3-2 eight-inning walk-off loss - on a walk-off walk, and a 5-1 seven-inning win).

 

Nick was 0-for-5 at the plate (three K's), but did walk twice.

 

Thus far, 4-for-26 (double, HR), 3 BB, 11 K.

 

Really rough league offensive environment, pitchers have been dominating.

 

Watch Brisbane play next against Alex Hall's Perth club at 6:00 PM Central Sunday evening

(also archived), then Hall may see action in Perth's nightcap at 10:00 PM Central

.

[Mass Haas]

LHP Leo Crawford (Knebel deal) & his team won Game 5 of the Best-Of-Seven Nicaraguan Winter League Championship, 11-7, to take a 3-2 series lead. Crawford was staked to an 8-0 lead after two innings.

 

Final line: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 K, 4 BB, 2 HR. Not pretty, but good enough.

 

Box Score

 

Pre-Game Video

[Mass Haas]

In Puerto Rico's League Semifinals Sunday, Yadi Molina was 1-for-5 as the DH/1B. His team lost 30-8, and at one point trailed 27-2. Molina's teammate, Brewers Gabriel Garcia, was 1-for-2. A Royals farmhand drove in ten. Wild box score

 

Former Brewers LHP Michael Mediavilla didn't retire any of the five men he faced.

[Mass Haas]

In Puerto Rico's League Semifinals Sunday, Yadi Molina was 1-for-5 as the DH/1B. His team lost 30-8, and at one point trailed 27-2. Molina's teammate, Brewers Gabriel Garcia, was 1-for-2. A Royals farmhand drove in ten. Wild box score

 

Former Brewers LHP Michael Mediavilla didn't retire any of the five men he faced.

 

A day after losing 30-8, the same club (poor Yadi) lost 20-7 (box score). Molina actually pitched the final inning (video).

 

Gabriel Garcia played second base late in the game and struck out in his lone at-bat.

 

His teammate, Brewers RH reliever Eddy Tavarez, had a very rough night:

 

Mayaguez Top of the 4th

 

Pitching Change: Eddy Tavarez replaces Miller Hogan.

Xavier Fernandez walks.

Jeremy Rivera homers (2) on a fly ball to right field. Xavier Fernandez scores.

Henry Ramos walks.

David Vidal walks. Henry Ramos to 2nd.

Wild pitch by pitcher Eddy Tavarez. Henry Ramos to 3rd. David Vidal to 2nd.

Ivan De Jesus strikes out swinging.

Emmanuel Rivera strikes out swinging.

Eddy Tavarez intentionally walks Danny Ortiz.

Christian Colon doubles (3) on a ground ball to left fielder Edgar Corcino. Henry Ramos scores. David Vidal scores. Danny Ortiz to 3rd.

Kennys Vargas doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Jan Hernandez. Danny Ortiz scores. Christian Colon scores.

Mound Visit.

Pitching Change: Hector Acevedo replaces Eddy Tavarez.

Xavier Fernandez strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

Watch Brisbane play next against Alex Hall's Perth club at 6:00 PM Central Sunday evening, then Hall may see action in Perth's nightcap at 10:00 PM Central.

 

In Game One, Brisbane catcher Nick Kahle was 1-for-3 (two K's) out of the leadoff spot in a 4-3 Bandits win. Kahle was charged with one throwing error. The base hit was a sharp ground ball to left, you can see that at the 59:30 minute mark

.

 

Fellow Brewers catcher Alex Hall caught for Perth, but struck out in all three of his at-bats.

 

In Game Two Sunday, Hall was 1-for-2 with a walk as the designated hitter. You can watch the switch-hitter's roped base hit to right field

at the 01:06:40 hour/minute mark.

[Mass Haas]

Last night (Monday in the U.S.), all these games have been seven innings in the Covid-induced pod location:

 

Game One, Perth shut out Brisbane 5-0, with three runs in the 6th and two in the top of the 7th.

 

Catcher Alex Hall was 0-for-3 (two K's), did throw out one of two baserunners.

 

For Brisbane, Nick Kahle began the game behind the plate, later moving to second base. He singled in three trips, a fly ball first-pitch knock you can see at the 01:16:00 hour/minute mark here.

 

On the mound, RHP Michele Vassalotti dominated again, In three appearances covering 7.1 IP of scoreless ball, Vassalotti's WHIP is 0.41. His line here - 4 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 6 K.

 

RHP Matt Hardy would follow, and after a scoreless 5th, ran into trouble in the 6th (two ground ball singles, video of subsequent three-run HR).

 

This is the "condensed" game version, so you see every play and out. Vassalotti impressive. He sure was pumped here.

 

***

 

In Game Two, Brisbane lost, 13-3, to fall to 4-9 on the season.

 

Nick Kahle started behind the plate, later moving to first base. Kahle homered (his 2nd of the Aussie season) and walked in a 1-for-3 day. Watch the three-run oppo HR here.

 

After a scoreless first inning, RHP Paxton Schultz ran into trouble in the 2nd and 3rd innings. His final line - 2.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR.

 

VIDEOS: Schultz victimized for a two-out grand slam here, and while facing his final batter, an awkward infield single here.

[Mass Haas]

On Tuesday night, two games on tap, video links (live and archived below).

 

Perth (Alex Hall) at

.

 

Brisbane at

.

 

I've done a reach-out on the status of RHP Brandon Ramey (yet to debut), may have to expand that search for an answer.

[Mass Haas]

On Tuesday night, two games on tap, video links (live and archived below).

 

Perth (Alex Hall) at

.

 

Brisbane at

.

 

Hall was 0-for-3 (two K's) as the DH as Perth won a 1-0 game.

 

Catcher Nick Kahle was 1-for-4 with a walk as Brisbane lost 8-4 in extra inning to fall to 4-10. Yes, a walk-off loss on a grand slam, which you can watch here.

 

Kahle's hard ground ball hit can be seen at the 7:00 minute mark

.

 

Next game for Brisbane and their Brewers players is set for 2:00 AM Friday morning, live and archived

.

[Mass Haas]

Congratulations to Brewers LHP Leo Crawford on his team winning the Nicaragua Winter League Championship Tuesday, rolling in Game Six, 16-3. Crawford was the winning pitcher in Game Five two days prior, as was documented above.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Between the instructs reports and his performance in Australia, Vassalotti is really starting to look like a nice sleeper prospect.

[Mass Haas]

Thursday 1/21 (U.S. time)

 

Brisbane lost 4-3. Catcher Nick Kahle was 0-for-3 (one K), but also walked twice (box score).

 

***

 

Both Brisbane (

) and Perth (

) in action early Saturday morning. Watch live or archived at the links.

[Mass Haas]

Brisbane with a 3-2 win Friday night (box score), now 5-11 on the season.

 

I detailed catcher Nick Kahle's busy night in this tweet.

 

RHP's Matt Hardy and Paxton Schultz combined for the Bandits first five innings on the mound.

 

Hardy's numbers detailed here, along with being on the wrong end of a video highlight.

 

Schultz's night - groundout to end the 4th in relief of Hardy, then:

 

single, strikeout, caught stealing courtesy of Kahle, strikeout.

 

Watch that sequence begin with the first of the two strikeouts at the 01:34:20 hour/minute mark

.

[Mass Haas]

Perth's game still on-going as of this post, but a sweet Alex Hall highlight here.

[Mass Haas]

Perth's game still on-going as of this post, but a sweet Alex Hall highlight here.

 

Game over. Hall highlight #2.

[Mass Haas]

RHP's Matt Hardy and Paxton Schultz combined for the Bandits first five innings on the mound.

 

Hardy's numbers detailed here, along with being on the wrong end of a video highlight.

 

Here's a better video package of the positives within Hardy's outing.

[Mass Haas]

Saturday:

 

Brisbane 6, Melbourne 5

 

Catcher Nick Kahle's OPS now .794 after 49 AB's (.224/.345/.449).

 

2-for-4, HR, double, BB

 

VIDEO: Kahle's Home run

 

Kahle's double (go to the 12:20 minute mark)

 

One throwing error for Nick, but it was on a bizarre play, he argued he should have not even had to make the throw. You'll see here.

 

On the mound, RHP Michele Vassalotti got the start.

 

He was finally scored upon in the 3rd, after tossing 9.1 innings of scoreless ball this season.

 

Final line: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR

 

The HR's he allowed can be seen here and here.

 

You can watch the 20-year-old Vassalotti's start, including those scoreless first two innings, from the get-go

(23:20 minute mark).