Minor Transactions, April (Thread Now Locked)

[MassBrew]

We'll accumulate the month's moves here within this thread.

 

We won't adjust the Player Index Page here until the news is confirmed (probably later today), but it appears that the two players released from the Indianapolis roster to make room for 1B Lee Stevens and RHP Danny Kolb are RHP Jake Robbins, the 26-year-old minor league free agent signed in January, and 24-year-old OF Jaisen Randolph, who had been selected from the Mets' organization in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft of 2001.

 

The release of Randolph is a bit of a surprise, unless there were injury issues. The Brewers chose to keep 32-year-old vet Mark Smith, a RH bat like Randolph, as the fourth outfielder over Jaisen.

 

The Indy OF consists of Brady Clark (on rehab), Mark Budzinski, Peter Zoccolillo, and Smith. As we saw on Opening Night, the team might plan on working Joe Lawrence (RF) into the line-up as well, it seems, when Cody McKay is catching.

[MassBrew]

Earlier in the Spring Training Transactions thread, we mentioned that LHP Bobby Sismondo had gone on the Voluntarily Retired list. He has now been reinstated from that list and placed on the Restricted list instead, perhaps what the Brewers had meant to put him on initially.

 

The difference between the two:

 

Restricted List:

A player who fails to report or fails to sign a contract with the Club to which the player is reserved may be placed on the Restricted List. There is no minimum number of days the player must remain on the Restricted List before the player can be reinstated to the Active List. A player on the Restricted List does not count against a Club's Active List limits or its Reserve List limits.

 

Voluntary Retired:

A player who wishes to retire is placed on this list. The player may not be reinstated until the player has missed 60 playing days of the championship season.

 

Yeah, I know, earth-shattering news here...

[MassBrew]

Several releases to confirm, these have been added to the Home Page Transaction archive here at Brewerfan.net with the appropriate date:

 

OF Jaisen Randolph from the Indianapolis roster -- Randolph struggled through an injury-plagued 2002 after being selected from the Mets' system in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft...

 

Randolph's Power 50 History:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPow...playerId=2

 

RHP Ryan Poe:

This one hurts, and not because the Brewers necessarily made a bad decision here, but because injuries derailed such a promising career for the 1998 21st round pick. So many of the releases this spring involved players with spotty injury histories. Poe had many of us intrigued because of his incredible K/BB ratio of 328-to-73 in 305 career innings, to go along with his 3.28 ERA. Poe even demonstrated skill at the AA level in his 56 IP there, with a ratio of 60-to-16. He's still only 24, so if he can get himself healthy, there will be a home for him somewhere in professional baseball.

 

Ryan Poe Brewerfan Player Profile Page:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=262

 

Poe's Power 50 History:

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPow...ayerId=262

 

C / UT Derek Patterson:

Last year was the first in affiliated pro ball for the 24-year-old, who hit .240 in 40 games split between Rookie Arizona and High Desert.

 

RHP Jake Robbins from the Indianapolis roster:

The 26-year-old was signed as a minor league free agent this winter after splitting 2002 in the Atlanta and Colorado organizations. He is 40-57 with a 4.99 ERA in 292 minor league games, 106 starts. Former Texas Ranger RHP Danny Kolb took his spot on the Indy roster.

 

Thanks to the Brewers' front office staff for getting back to us on our inquiry about these players.

[Al the Thinking Man]

Again, 24 is awful young to "give up" on a pitcher, especially those able to K over a man an inning.

[MassBrew]

As was rumored to be the case earlier, RHP David Pember has indeed been re-signed to a minor league deal by the Brewers and has been asssigned to Indianapolis, where he will likely spend most, if not all, of the season on the disabled list. The Brewers added him to Indy's online roster on their site today (4/10).

[MassBrew]

In order to fit OF Jason Conti on the Indianapolis roster, Milwaukee has released infielder / utility man Jed Hansen.

 

The 30-year-old Hansen was signed as a six-year free agent this past November and saw action with the Brewers in big league camp during spring training.

[Al the Thinking Man]

Any idea why we're keeping the 32 year-old Smith OF around? Jed isn't a AAA star, but a INF/OF would seem to have an infinite amount of value compared to a corner OF.

[MassBrew]

SS Ozzie Chavez has been placed on the High Desert disabled list, retroactive to April 8th. The minor-league DL is a 7-day DL. Chavez has a broken hand, and has been available for pinch-running duty, but the Brewers are going to put that roster spot to better use for now, with a pending transaction that should be made available later today.

 

RHP David Pember was also placed on the 7-day DL (Indianapolis), which is a formality in that he'll be out for most, if not all, of 2003.

[MassBrew]

Once again, Doug Melvin and Reid Nichols pull a name out of their old Ranger hat and sign RHP Justin Backsmeyer and assign him to the High Desert roster.

 

Backsmeyer, a 6'4'', 220 lb right handed pitcher was born and raised in Ballwin, MO and was drafted in the 10th round of the 1998 Major League Draft by the Texas Rangers. In 2001, he was 1-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 33 appearances for Charlotte of the Florida State League. In three and one-half professional seasons prior to last year, Backsmeyer was 13-4 with a 4.48 ERA.

 

In 2002, Backsmeyer played in the independent Frontier League with River City. The 23-year-old Backsmeyer (born 1/24/80) both started and saw bullpen action in 2002, stats linked here:

 

www.baseballamerica.com/c...backsmeyer

 

This gives the Mavericks 13 pitchers on the active roster and 12 position players. We'll see what happens when SS Ozzie Chavez returns from his broken hand (throwing hand).

[MassBrew]

We're still putting together the pieces and will present more details in a bit, but it seems the Brewers have released catcher Brian Moon from the Huntsville roster and brought in catcher Mike Kremblas, who happens to be the younger brother of Stars' manager Frank Kremblas.

 

Mike Kremblas was an 8th round pick of the Blue Jays (Gord Ash connection) in 1998, and was traded to the Oakland organization prior to the 2002 season for catcher Tom Wilson, who is currently on the Blue Jays' 25-man roster. It appears the 27-year-old Kremblas was released in spring training by the A's.

 

The move is sure to have repercussions with the Huntsville fan base, as Moonie has always been a fan favorite, and I'm not sure how the whole family connection thing will be viewed.

 

From a baseball standpoint, this isn't an earth-shattering event, although Moon's defense will surely be missed.

 

More details this evening...

 

Some player info on Mike Kremblas for now:

 

www.sports-wired.com/mlb/...sp?ID=5914

[igor67]

Wow I sure hope there's something else to Kremblas' skills than those pathetic 2002 numbers. A .546 OPS in AA Texas league? Only mustering a .746 OPS in the Cal league at 26? Atleast with Moonie you could always call him up and noone would know the difference between him and the other Brewer catchers

[bork]

I usually give the Brewers the benefit of the doubt, but this move stinks of nepotism. I thought the new regime was above that, I guess not.

 

Hunstville fans are livid and rightly so.

 

Seems like Melvin is trying his hardest to rid the organization of any remaining players from pre-1999 drafts.

[Al the Thinking Man]

Isn't Moon a no hit/good field catcher? The A's must have seen something in Kremblas, as Wilson can hit at least. I would assume Ash liked him, and probably Frank put in a good word, but honestly, he hasn't seen him play much.

[Psolo]

....anyone hear what happened to Eli Alfonzo? He's not on any of the rosters in the Cub organization, but I have not seen that he's been cut. If I remember correctly from an ancient Roberto Miniel thread - I think someone here has connections with the Cubbies they could check. [bTW - not suggesting that we bring Eli back....mostly just curious.]

[MassBrew]

Brian Moon's Brewerfan Player Profile Page:

 

www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...layerId=87

 

Well, I did identify one thing Mike Kremblas does incredibly well, as he was hit by a pitch a remarkable 20 times last year in only 198 AB's.

 

Moon may very well find another AA team that would be pleased to carry his glove; let's not kid ourselves into thinking he'd be a big league .400 batter like Eddie Perez http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

 

I thought Moon's main function in 2003 would be to guide Hendrickson, Diggins, Jones, Liriano, and Martinez (man, I love running down that rotation!).

 

Good luck to Brian, and I just don't understand the position the Brewers have put the Kremblas' in. Mike might be the nicest guy, but he's entering an almost no-win situation replacing a popular player while at the same time having to deal with the fact this his " Big Bro' " is calling the shots.

 

There are several posts of note over on the Stars' message board at Johnny Phillips' site on the Moon / Kremblas maneuvering. Included are David Weiser's comments on Moon's defensive prowess.

 

Link:

members.boardhost.com/sta...1050095727

[squarepusher]

Let's face facts here. Brian Moon was 25 years old and in his 4th year at AA. He's never going to be a #1 catcher. He could be an MLB defensive specialist, but that's not even a certainty. I'm know he was a great guy and that the Huntsville faithful got attatched to him. You have to believe a very capable Brian Foster behind the plate led to this move as well.

 

I don't mean to diminish his importance to Stars fans. It's very similar to when Jared Mathis was released. Good luck to Brian wherever his travels take him next, and hopefully the Stars fans can get over the sting of this transaction. I know many of us organization-centric fans can de-personalize the moves that affect the team-centric fans in the minor league cities.

[MassBrew]

....anyone hear what happened to Eli Alfonzo? He's not on any of the rosters in the Cub organization, but I have not seen that he's been cut.

 

Had noticed the same thing, I imagine he's available, and looking for work. Despite our best efforts to keep up, sites like minorleaguebaseball.com and others have had very shaky transaction reporting this past off-season.

[bjkrautk]

What confuses me most about replacing a AA catcher is that the Brewers have two very good hitting catchers right now in High Desert. If the club was concerned about fan feedback in replacig Moon...don't you think that this move is a temporary one until the Brewers are ready to promote either Brian Foster or Kade Johnson?

 

I don't follow the minors to the extent that some of the other posters on the board do, so...what are the chances that I'm just horribly mis-reading this move?

[squarepusher]

Foster's been hitting well in High Desert, and I know that the organization is high on Foster's defensive skills and game-calling abilities. He's basically Brian Moon with a slightly weaker arm but much higher offensive potential. I would assume that Foster would get promoted to Huntsville sooner than later. High Desert is probably a good place for Kade to get his reps in, as the environment will take the pressure off his bat some he can concentrate on catching.

[MassBrew]

From deep, deep, deep into the transaction wire:

 

The Brewers have added 17-year-old catcher Charlie Lozada to their rookie Arizona roster. He's 5'11, 185, and still growing I'm sure -- not sure if he's a product of the Dominican or Venezuela.

 

With this signing, the Brewers have nine catchers under contract to split between Helena and Arizona, and that's before this June's draft.

 

 Manny Ramirez R/R 6-0 165 09/07/82 Matt Serafini R/R 6-1 230 03/40/80 Arturo Bravo R/R 5-11 195 02/07/84 Jeremy Frost R/R 6-3 210 11/19/79 Simon Guhring R/R 6-1 205 07/14/83 Yonnata Lopez R/R 6-2 170 03/02/85 Charlie Lozada R/R 5-11 185 06/28/85 Gbenga Olayemi R/R 6-1 190 09/08/82 Vinnie Rottino R/R 6-1 200 04/07/80

Huntsville's backup catcher, Joel Alvarado, will be 23 in June.

 

The Helena catchers figure to include at least in part Ramirez, Serafini, Frost, and Rottino. Who knows what the Brewers have in raw skills with the other very young prospects. Here's hoping there's strength in numbers, and maybe someday you'll say "I remember when Brewerfan introduced so-and-so", when one of these kids becomes the next Mike Piazza or Pudge Rodriguez. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[950opsLHcatcher]

The name Charlie Lozada doesn't sound particularly Venezuelan or Dominican. Maybe he's an Aussie or South African kid. Or, maybe not.

 

That is a lot of catchers in rookie ball/extended spring training, I'd forgotten how many there were. Of those guys, Serafini, Rottino, and Ramirez also play elsewhere, so they can be moved around on the field, especially Rottino, who plays infield positions. You have to imagine catching is going to be a big focus of the draft, too, so are more than likely going to be 2-4 more guys coming from the June draft, and probably at least one top 5-10 pick, who would likely be the starter for Helena. This all adds up to some released players sooner or later this season, and since the younger kids are pretty safe, the older extended spring players have to be a little worried.

[MassBrew]

The name Charlie Lozada doesn't sound particularly Venezuelan or Dominican. Maybe he's an Aussie or South African kid. Or, maybe not.

 

I should have put Lozada's full name on the thread:

 

Charlie Lozada (Garcia).

 

Fine Irish lad...

[950opsLHcatcher]

Definitely Canadian.

[MassBrew]

The Brewers placed RHP Jon Steitz on the Beloit disabled list with an undisclosed injury, retroactive to April 10th.

 

Taking his spot is 21-year-old LHP Jeff Housman, the 33rd round 2002 pick out of Cal State-Fullerton, moved up from the Helena roster and extended spring training. Housman really struggled last year with Ogden, and we're guessing that LHP Craig Breslow must still be feeling the effects of his March illness to not get the call this time around.

 

Steitz had yet to pitch in a game this season. It will be interesting to see if the 2001 3rd round pick, coming off a disastrous 2002 (0-11, 7.62 ERA ), has anything at all to offer when he returns to action. Remember, the Brewers cut 2000's 3rd round pick, LHP Dane Artman, this spring, after only 123.2 innings in the system.

[MassBrew]

Technically not a transaction, but we'll post it here because it was buried so deep in the Link Report for Sunday's games:

 

From www.starsboxscore.com:

 

LHP Derek Lee will start for Huntsville on Tuesday. Ben Hendrickson reportedly has some tightness in his forearm.