Minor Transactions, Aug/Sept, Latest: Ben Ford, J. Childers

[MassBrew]

For your reference...

 

July Minor League Transactions Thread:

 

pub123.ezboard.com/fbrewe...=1&stop=20

 

June Minor League Transactions Thread:

 

pub123.ezboard.com/fbrewe...=1&stop=20

 

May Minor League Transactions Thread:

 

pub123.ezboard.com/fbrewe...=1&stop=20

 

April Minor League Transactions Thread:

 

pub123.ezboard.com/fbrewe...=1&stop=20

[MassBrew]

We'll cheat by one day and kick off the August thread.

 

RHP Mike Jones activated from Huntsville's DL.

 

RHP Matt Childers transferred from Huntsville to Indianapolis.

 

July thread now locked...

[MassBrew]

Arizona Brewer News:

 

2003 4th round OF Charlie Fermaint was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. No official word on the severity of the injury, but we'd be surprised to see him in action during this final month of the regular Arizona Rookie League season.

 

Catcher Simon Guhring is back from Europe, and has been activated from the Temporary Inactive list. The German native apparently couldn't lead his squad to the Olympics in Athens, as Germany did not qualify as one of the six teams for the final round of action in the European Championship. Italy won the competition, with the Netherlands finishing second.

[MassBrew]

Indy Site Press Release on Matt Childers' call-up to AAA:

Good background info here..

 

www.indyindians.com/press..._0103.html

[MassBrew]

The Brewers have signed former farmhand LHP Derrin Ebert, who appeared in 50 games for Indianapolis in 2002. However, Ebert will be providing a nice boost to the High Desert staff, and will be starting for the Mavericks Tuesday.

 

Ebert's brother Darrel works in the Maverick front office. Ebert went to school in Hesperia which is part of the High Desert.

 

Ebert will be 27 in August. He'a appeared in AAA this year in the Cub and Diamondback systems. If a AAA team comes calling, he apparantly has an out in his contract to sign with them, so him coming to HD is basically for innings as well as a favor to the Mavericks (and Ebert, as logistically and family-wise, everything made sense).

 

Derrin Ebert's 2003 Numbers:

 

www.baseballamerica.com/c...ebert%2C+d

 

Nice job by the Brewers here for the Mavs...

[batman]

Patrick? Is that you?

 

~Bill

[colbyjack]

No, I'm his other brother Darrel.

[curtfletcher]

I used to live in Hesperia. That's cool he'll get to play close to home.

[MassBrew]

Beloit infielder Keith Bohanan, sidelined since July 2nd with a fractured right index finger, has been activated from the disabled list.

 

The 22-year-old Bohanan will resume his old role, we'd imagine, spelling Callix Crabbe at 2B, Jeff Eure at 3B, and splitting time with Chas Terni at SS.

 

This brings the Beloit active roster back to the limit of 25. There are two players still on the Beloit DL, RHP Tom Wilhelmsen and OF Steve Moss.

[MassBrew]

As first reported on the High Desert site, LHP Jeff Hundley should be available for action tonight in Huntsville.

 

Here's what we said back in mid-May when Hundley was first signed:

 

High Desert added another pitcher to its staff, as the Brewers signed LHP Jeff Hundley. The Warren, Ohio native is 27-39 with a 4.49 ERA over five years as a starter and a reliever. The 26-year-old was a 7th round draft pick by Anaheim in 1998 out of Bowling Green University. He has experience at AA and AAA as well.

 

LHP Jeff Hundley's 2003 in High Desert:

 

www.baseballamerica.com/c...ndley%2C+j

 

Hundley's Brewerfan Player Profile Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=538

[MassBrew]

From Mark McCarter in the Huntsville Times:

 

Ryan Gripp, a mainstay on the Huntsville bench, was released Wednesday. Gripp, who is getting married in September, reportedly asked for his release. He had also grown increasingly frustrated with his role and lack of playing time, said clubhouse sources.

 

Gripp batted .285 in 67 games, but was primarily used as a pinch-hitter. A first baseman and third baseman by trade, he was caught behind Corey Hart at third and Brandon Gemoll at first, and the recent addition of Brad Nelson led to even fewer appearances.

 

If and until Mike Jones returns to the DL, the Stars' roster is full with the addition of Jeff Hundley from High Desert. It should be noted that as of Monday the 11th, both the AA and AAA rosters will be eligible to grow from 23 to 24 active players.

 

EDIT: I guess the award presentation on the 15th will be somewhat awkward:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=260

[Katuluu]

No, I'm his other brother Darrel.

 

I am of the opinion that this board has far too few Newhart references.

[squarepusher]

Well, now it appears as the Bako trade was an abyssmal failure. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Ralph Wiggum]

Well, Bako wasn't going to win any batting titles anytime soon. Milwaukee was probably going to release him anyway, so they went out and got something for him. Gripp was a decent player, and its too bad he got caught up in a numbers game at Huntsville. I think he would have done just fine at third.

[batman]

Wasn't there an article linked here recently wherein a few of the Huntsville players were singing the praises of Gripp? Jim, do you remember that?

 

Anyway, it's too bad... he never seemed to get an opportunity with the Brewers. Oh well.

 

~Bill

[squarepusher]

[ Well, Bako wasn't going to win any batting titles anytime soon. Milwaukee was probably going to release him anyway, so they went out and got something for him. ]

 

I was being sarcastic.....

[Ralph Wiggum]

Brian, it should be obvious by now that I suck at the whole sarcasm thing. (Plus, a subtle reminder exists in every one of tookej's posts.)

[wiscrules99]

Brian, it should be obvious by now that I suck at the whole sarcasm thing.

 

The smiley faces are key to solving the mystery of sarcasm. At least on this board.

[950opsLHcatcher]

C'mon, DJ Clark promotion. What does the poor guy have to do?

[pogokat]

C'mon, DJ Clark promotion. What does the poor guy have to do?

 

kill a huntsville outfielder

[MassBrew]

Two Moves To Fill Out the High Desert Roster:

 

Now 23 years old, 6'5" RHP J.M. Gold (the eighth overall pick in the 1998 draft) has been activated from the Mavericks' disabled list. Gold has been rehabbing an arm injury in Arizona -- he's been on the DL since May 14th. Gold's in his second season on the 40-man roster of the Brewers, meaning that 2004 will be the final year that Gold could be bounced between Milwaukee and the minor leagues without being exposed to waivers. Obviously, J.M.'s a long way from making that an issue, but once again, we wish him well during this go-round.

 

J.M. Gold Brewerfan Player Profile Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=150

 

J.M. Gold's Power 50 History Tracker Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPow...ayerId=150

 

A new Maverick is up all the way from the Arizona Brewers. Catcher/3B Charlie Lozada just turned 18 years old in June, and we have to believe he's now the youngest player in the California League. Lozada's been rolling along in Arizona, hitting .348 (.848 OPS) in 67 AB's. He should be able to spell banged-up catchers Brian Foster and Joel Alvarado. This is the first year of pro ball of any kind for the native of the Dominican Republic. Even if the parent Brewers are intent on keeping the Beloit and Helena catching corps together for the playoffs, you have to think Lozada wouldn't be in a Mavs' uniform if he weren't capable of handling a pitching staff as well.

 

Charlie Lozada's 2003 numbers in more detail:

 

www.baseballamerica.com/c...yer=lozada

[950opsLHcatcher]

Re: J.M. Gold

 

HAH! HAH! HAH! I WIN! EAT IT YOU HATERS!

 

Ahem...

 

Re: Charlie Lozada

 

Not really good defensively at all, anywhere, but evidently he can hit some. But why not Manny Ramirez?

 

Edit: to adjust subject line

[pogokat]

i wont be eating anything until jm throws a full season without having to go on the dl

 

which will probably never happen

 

but i will happily eat my words(again)if he has luis like success

[MassBrew]

In a move discussed in more detail on the Major League board:

 

Indianapolis OF Mark Smith to Milwaukee

 

Wes Helms to the DL

 

Todd Ritchie to the 60-day DL to make room for Smith on the Brewers' 40-man

[lend d money]

I don't understand management's handling of the Ryan Gripp matter. When we acquired Alejandro Machado, Paz was "promoted" to AAA to essentially make room on the Stars roster at an overcrowded position. Since Wilton Veras isn't exactly tearing up the International League, why couldn't we have made Gripp an Indian on the same basis as Paz. I realize Gripp probably would not have made a huge impact in the future on the big club. By the same token, there is no reason he couldn't have been a solid contributor to the Stars next year as a full time 3b, 1b or corner outfielder next year.