2007 Winter League Thread

[Mass Haas]

Thanks to the Nashville Site for letting us know that Steve Bray is pitching in Mexico:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2566

[Mass Haas]

Latest from the Nashville site (same link as above):

 

Second baseman Hernan Iribarren, who spent the 2007 season with Double-A Huntsville and projects as a member of the Sounds' roster in 2008, is playing for Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League (one game, no plate appearances).

[bretsky07]

Alcides Escobar, Guilder Rodriguez, and Freddy Parejo are all listed on the roster of Lara with Iribarren.

[Mass Haas]

This thread in the Major League Forum notes that Vinny Rottino plans on playing in the Dominican Winter League:

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/viewtopic.php?t=8480?page=1

[Mass Haas]

The Huntsville site points out that Luis Pena is on the La Guaira roster in Venezuela (hasn't pitched yet):

 

http://www.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l135&t=t_ros&cid=698

[Mass Haas]

Steve Bray had a brutal 2nd inning (six runs, five earned) in Mexico Tuesday night:

 

Navojoa Bottom 1st

• - Luis Arredondo grounds out, pitcher Steve Bray to first baseman John Lindsey.
• - Oscar Robles grounds out to first baseman John Lindsey.
• - Adan Munoz grounds out, shortstop Jose Luis Sandoval to first baseman John Lindsey.

Navojoa Bottom 2nd

 

• - Jesse Gutierrez homers (2) on a fly ball to left field.
• - Doug Clark reaches on fielding error by shortstop Jose Luis Sandoval.
• - Scott Thorman homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field. Doug Clark scores.
• - Luis Cruz singles on a line drive to second baseman Carlos Alberto Gastelum.
• - Brandon Jones singles on a line drive to right fielder Juan Canizalez. Luis Cruz to 3rd.
• - Abel Martinez doubles (1) on a line drive to center fielder Ivan Terrazas. Luis Cruz scores. Brandon Jones to 3rd.
• - Luis Arredondo singles on a line drive to left fielder Jesus Cota. Brandon Jones scores. Abel Martinez scores. Luis Arredondo out at 2nd on the throw, left fielder Jesus Cota to third baseman Marshall McDougall to second baseman Carlos Alberto Gastelum.
• - Pitcher Change: Federico Castaneda replaces Steve Bray.

[Mass Haas]

On a now non-Brewer side note, the maddeningly inconsistent Dennis Sarfate has struck out seven while walking none in three IP in Mexico, nailing down three saves in as many chances. After striking out 14 in and walking one in 8.1 IP in Houston, Astros fans are feeling pretty good about that deal. We'll see, but Dennis just didn't do this in Nashville this season.

 

http://www.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Sarfate%20%28S%2C%203%29&pos=P&sid=l132&t=p_pbp&pid=430610

[Mass Haas]

Vinny Rottino gets an MiLB.com article photo as he's 8-for-16 in the Dominican early going. The article notes that RHP Franklin Nunez, who was a late-season independent league signee for Nashville in the final week, is also pitching in the D.R.:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071023&content_id=312121&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

[colbyjack]

Mass, or anyone else, didn't Sarfate have a really strong winter league last year as well? I seem to remember being very encouraged about his numbers (low walk totals).

[JJHardy7]

I don't know if this is the right place to ask this...but how does Houston view Sarfate? I'm assuming a relief role, but possibly a closer? I know Lidge has had his problems and was maybe a deadline trade. I was just wondering the thoughts out there. I know Sarfate a bit and he did struggle at Nashville. I don't want to say this is or that is the reason, but I think he was really down on himself for not making it to the big league club out of spring training -- he struggled and he admits that. I think that put him in a funk in his own mind a bit and with Houston (a small sample) he looked really, really good. I believe he struck out Ankiel on 100 mph fastball at one point.

[Mass Haas]

Latest Updates from the Sounds' Site

[Mass Haas]

Latest update from Nashville's site indicates Vinny Rottino and Hernan Iribarren are doing particularly well in their small-sample starts to the season:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2566

[Mass Haas]

Rotoworld with a note:

Hernan Iribarren doubled twice on Friday and is batting .448 in the Venezuelan Winter League.
He's 13-for-29. The 23-year-old Iribarren hit .307/.363/.430 with 18 steals in 34 attempts in Double-A last season. Since his only major league skill is his ability to hit for average, he's a long shot to make it as a regular. A career as a bench player remains possible.

[Mass Haas]

Hernan Iribarren's line still looks pretty in Venezuela (.845 OPS), but he is 2-for-his-last-19.

 

Vinny Rottino only has one extra-base hit among his 19 hits in Mexico, but has an OBP of .423 in 63 AB's.

 

Half of Brad Nelson's 12 hits in Mexico are for extra bases, but he's also struck out 18 time sin 49 AB's.

 

The Nashville site continues to track all those tiny Latin samples.

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com updates:

Dominican -- OF Vinny Rottino has only four hits in his last 33 at-bats (.121) to drop his average from .299 to .240. In 100 AB's, he has a .644 OPS, nice .374 OBP but no slugging (three doubles, 21 singles).

 

Venezuela -- C Mike Rivera (Brewers) hit .385 (5-for-13) with two RBIs in his first four games.

 

Venezuela -- After a hot start, 2B Hernan Iribarren (Brewers) has two hits in his last 17 at-bats (.117) Iribarren's .804 OPS line still looks good after 57 AB's.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's site with a thorough update of current Brewer farmhands, and Brewers and Sounds of the past. The most significant update in terms of sample size and success is that former Cardinal highly-regarded LHP prospect Chris Narveson has done well in eight starts.

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2573