Aug / Sept. Transactions: LHP Sam Narron, Waivers, Texas

[lend d money]

Brewcru, I think we are talking past each other. As I alluded to in my previous post, I realize Kloosterman was at the center of the incident. But, even if that had NOT happened, I think there is a good chance he might have gotten the call anyway. Their pitching staff was in disarray entering the Monday game. They had gotten too few innings from too many starters over too many recent games. That was the point I was trying to make.

 

You state he was there on Sunday. I have to respectfully disagree. When I went to bed that night, I asked one of the guys on the staff who was pitching tomorrow. He thought it might be Rogers. So, obviously Yo wasn't there yet. Besides, I asked another pitcher on Monday when he got there and he said today.

[MassBrew]

Francis Arias, we hardly knew ye -- OK, we didn't know ye.

 

According to BA, the Brewers released 20-year-old Francis Arias. Arias had appeared in 14 Arizona Rookie League games, going 4-for-23. The Dominican native had signed his fist pro contract last November with the Brewers. He only appeared in the field in four games (three at second base).

 

In addition, there's this:

 

Placed SS Josh Murray and OF Chris Morris on temporarily inactive list.

 

We know Murray was "sent home early", we don't have any news on the circumstances of Morris' leave -- he had a tough year injury-wise, but managed a .393 OBP in his 126 AB's. Several here questioned his assignment (once again to high-A ball) last April.

[brewcru1]

Next time you see Gallardo, ask if he flew on Sunday or Monday.

 

Do you really think they would fly a starting pitcher 2000 miles the day of his start?

[lend d money]

Put it this way, if he did arrive Sunday, it was after 9pm(when I asked who was pitching the next day). Would I like to think they would have him travel the day before, yeah! Would it be impossible to do so the same day, no. Heck, even in the majors you hear of guys running to the park after being traded(see Paul Loduca). When I asked someone in the bullpen if someone picked him up at the airport, they said he was probably taken by taxi. Did I ask Yo himself? No. But, I had two sources(both pitchers) close to the situation. If it's wrong, so be it. But, how do you supposedly know otherwise, other than making the ASSUMPTION they wouldn't travel the same day? This is all pretty petty stuff, but I'm glad I have you to prove me supposedly wrong on occasion.

[DHonks]

like I've said before with Murray, his low error total indicates that he can at least do something well. With a lack of Shortstops in the organization, I say send him to one of the A teams next year and see what he does. No point in giving up on a young Shortstop. I would expect a SS to make about 3 times more errors than he did in A ball, just due to minor league infields, weather, etc

[lend d money]

Dhonks, I'm sure I can get some of the local Snapper fans to back me on this. The reason he doesn't commit errors is rather simple... he lacks range. I vividly remember stating earlier in the year that I went to a game where he should have at least gotten a glove on, at bare mininum, one of three balls in the hole and failed to do so. I believe it was madbad that agreed with me at the time.

[DHonks]

okay Lend, if that's the case then I understand just letting him go. Then again, last year I saw Ozzie Chavez and he looked like the slowest middle infielder ever. The Mav's announcer (Linscog, or whatever his name was) said they couldn't believe how wrong the glowing scouting reports on Chavez had been. So who knows with these guys. Perhaps sometimes they look flat for extended periods, and sometimes it's because of injuries.

[lend d money]

One other thing though, I am assuming that temporary inactive list doesn't necessarily mean letting him go. But I don't know that for certain.

[MassBrew]

But, how do you supposedly know otherwise, other than making the ASSUMPTION they wouldn't travel the same day?

 

Lend, in kind of the same way we trust foamboy on news about Brewer ownership, you have to trust brewcru1 on issues involving the team, down to the slightest detail. He knows because he KNOWS http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif .

[lend d money]

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or not, but it is such a minor issue it really doesn't matter.

[MassBrew]

From the Indy Site:

 

KIESCHNICK ON REHAB: RHP/OF Brooks Kieschnick is beginning a major league rehab assignment today in Indianapolis.

 

Kieschnick has appeared in 24 games as a pitcher for Milwaukee, recording a 1-0 record with a 3.82 ERA. In 50 at-bats, he has hit .300 with one home run and seven RBI. In eight pitching appearances last year with the Tribe, Kieschnick went 1-0 with a 8.56 ERA.

 

HERNANDEZ PUT ON INACTIVE LIST: RHP Adrian Hernandez has been put on the temporary inactive list. In 20 games for the Indians this season, Hernandez has gone 0-8 with a 5.72 ERA in 94.1 innings. Over the year, he walked 39 and struck out 83.

[MassBrew]

From the Daily Press in Adelanto:

 

The Milwaukee Brewers promoted right-handed pitcher Joel Needham to High Desert from Rookie League Helena.

 

Needham was the Brewers' 2004 32nd round pick out of the Univeristy of California-Davis. Needham turned 24 two weeks ago. He also appeared in Arizona this summer -- here are his numbers from both affiliates (only a 21.2 IP sample):

 

www.baseballamerica.com/c...dham%2C+jo

[MassBrew]

LHP Jared Theodorakos, back from the Greek squad in the Olympics (and he must have some great stories to tell), has been re-assigned to Helena. He had been placed on the Beloit roster in a paper move prior to heading overseas.

 

Interestingly, RHP Ben Stanczyk, the non-drafted free agent out of UW-Milwaukee, 22 years old later this month, has been promoted from Helena to Beloit. So he will get a chance to pitch before the locals in at least one of the remaining six games at Pohlman Field.

[MassBrew]

From the Indy Site:

 

Infielder Luis Figueroa has been activated from the disabled list and will be ready to perform for the Tribe Thursday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

[MassBrew]

Failed to mention earlier this week that 2004 15th round draft pick RHP David Johnson out of UCLA has returned to the Helena Brewers roster from Arizona. Johnson just turned 22, so he could still be on target for Beloit in 2005 (we'll say Beloit for the low-A affiliate unless we learn otherwise).

[MassBrew]

Jim Powell reports that Huntsville RHP's Glenn Woolard and John Novinsky have been promoted to AAA Indianapolis for this final weekend of action. Congrats to each.

 

Access the Player Index or Power 50 page to view career numbers on each, the starter Woolard (Wayne Franklin deal) who began the year in High Desert, and the closer Novinsky (Mike DeJean trade).

[MassBrew]

Baseball America indicates that Milwaukee signed RHP Roque Mercedes-Lamesi.

 

We can pretty much guarantee that all we'll have on him is a name until April's media guide comes out.

 

It'll be interesting to see a trickle of Latin American free agents added each year, but not in the numbers we had seen in the past. Basically, the Brewers can promise an immediate start in the states (as opposed to a Latin Academy or action in the DSL / VSL), so they should still be able to entice some prospects to sign contracts as they identify those worthy. Now watch, this guy will turn out to be from Omaha or something http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

 

Earlier this year, Toby confirmed with Brewer staff that several player names that we see in the media guide (and on the Brewerfan Player Index for Arizona Rookie) were part of the organization, even if they didn't see action in the league. It'd be interesting to know if these unknown Latin kids were even in Maryvale all summer...

[batman]

Assuming "Roque Mercedes" is the guy we've acquired and the "extra" last name is just that, extra, then he's a Dominican pitcher. Here's what I could find:

 

From LINK, Mercedes pitched in this year's Perfect Game National Showcase and was impressive.

 

Nearly every year the PG National showcases some high level talent from Latin America. 6 Venezuelan players and 12 Dominican players have signed with MLB clubs in just the past two years. This year?s National features two very highly regarded pitchers from the Dominican Republic. Scouts are going to love these two. Edgar Garcia and Roque Mercedes are two of the very best arms to come out of the Dominican in recent years.

 

He went to Cenapec school in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

 

From LINK, he had the highest peak Striker reading in the Perfect Game Showcase, hitting 94 (along with Justin Upton).

 

From LINK, a little more about him:

 

Mercedes has a plus, plus body at 6-4, 190 lbs and reached 94 mph with his fastball. Mercedes? control was a bit erratic but when he threw his 79-82 mph curveball near the plate, it was unhittable.

 

From LINK, a list of the top 100 high school players for the '05 draft on a Mariners' discussion board, Mercedes ranks at number 80.

 

Sounds impressive to me.

 

~Bill

[squarepusher]

Roque Mercedes?

 

Did they take the best parts of Rafael Roque and Jose Mercedes and create the uber-mediocre-pitcher?

 

COBRA, tried that, you know.

 

http://www.yojoe.com/feature/fcs/serpentor/serpentor.jpg

[jwaltz]

Yeah but Serpentor was much more effective than Cobra Commander. Serpentor's plots often took two episodes and one movie for the Joe's to foil, unlike CC's one episode to foil. Plus I had his action figure. It was pretty cool.

 

Rafael Mercedes sounds like he could be a pretty good signing. Can't wait to see how he does with us next year.

[colbyjack]

Impressive signing, and it likely didn't come cheap. I've seen his name on the PG showcase list(s) before, and his inclusion reminds me of Jhonathan Figueroa from a few years ago. I believe Figueroa signed with the Dodgers in the $800,000 range, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the Brewers needed to hand out 6-figures to get Mercedes inked as well.

 

Doug Melvin claimed that the DR camps were closed so the Brewers could spend more money on quality over quantity, so hopefully this is a prime example of that.

 

***Mercedes doesn't turn 18 until late October.

 

From the World Wood Bat Association:

 

This Dominican Right-hander is extremely interesting with 90-94 mph velocity and one of the tightest and sharpest breaking balls we've seen in the past year. He has an outstanding pitchers frame with a combination of leverage (6'3) and musculature (190 #). He should end up in Pro Baseball very soon.

[jwaltz]

Considering the dearth of Latin American prospects the Brewers have had, I think going for quality over quantity is a good idea to try.

[950opsLHcatcher]

This guy almost seems Power 50 good right out of the gate. I look forward to the Brewers making some bigger splashes in foreign markets (including Canada!) like this as opposed to signing 40 guys that never make it past rookie ball.

[igor67]

Yes I fondly remember the argumnets last year about closing the Dominican and Venzuelan teams down. Nice to see the money to back up the words from Melvin even if he has shown himself to be credible. So at this point is it safe to say that Roque is as much a prospect as Martinez and Mieses ever were? And let's face it if this wasn't the summer of the Hurricane that's all we ever had to show for a decade of latin american scouting.

[squarepusher]

[ And let's face it if this wasn't the summer of the Hurricane that's all we ever had to show for a decade of latin american scouting. ]

 

Somewhere Manuel Melo is crying.

 

SHAME ON YOU.