Brief roundup on yesterday...

Here is Timber Rattler beat writer Brett Christopherson's story from the Post-Crescent:

"Wins are important in my life right now," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, on hand for the announcement along with three top Brewers executives.. "And this is a win for the Milwaukee Brewers organization. I'm really excited about it in more ways than one. Being a former farm director for a number of years, I know how important it is for the players to be in an environment and a community that supports them.

"Rob [Zerjav] has put a first-class operation together. I've been to a few games here in the past. I've enjoyed coming to the games. And what's important, we're not only going to develop our players in this kind of environment, we're developing fans, too."
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For Wisconsin, it's an opportunity to increase an already solid fan base radius by tapping into the heightened interest of the Brewers, who remain in the hunt for a National League wild card berth.

The Rattlers drew a home attendance total of 190,263 — an average of 3,068 per game — this past season despite losing eight dates because of poor weather. They have surpassed the 200,000 mark 10 times since moving into the 5,500-seat Fox Cities Stadium in 1995.

"The Brewers are a statewide team," Zerjav said. "We're affordable family fun, and if you can't afford to go down to Miller Park or you can't afford to go multiple times, why not come to the ballpark and see the baby Brewers and get the autographs. Here, you'll be able to do that because everyone is accessible. We make it easy to get autographs, where it's not necessarily easy to get Prince Fielder's autograph down in Milwaukee."

Wisconsin also will join a minor league system that heading into 2008 had a cumulative ranking over the previous five seasons as being the fourth-best among Major League Baseball's 30 franchises, according to Baseball America.

Make sure you read the sidebar of Brett's story. There is a lot of good information, the entire press conference is there and there is this little bit:

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said it's likely Brett Lawrie — the club's first-round selection in the June amateur draft — will play with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at some point next season.

Lawrie, a third baseman/ catcher, was taken with the 16th overall pick and hails from Canada. According to Baseball America, the 18-year-old signed a deal that included a $1.7 million bonus. He didn't play in the Brewers system this season but did compete in the Summer Olympics in Beijing as part of Team Canada.

"I would say there's a high percentage chance of him coming here and going through here," Melvin said..."But you just never know. You hate to make those predictions.

"(Current Brewers slugger) Ryan Braun came through every level of our system. He played in rookie ball in Helena, he went to (low-A) West Virginia, to (Double-A Huntsville, to (Triple-A) Nashville. So we're pretty keen on letting our players go through each one of our systems. Brett, being a high school player versus a college player, more than likely … would come through here."

Mike Woods has a column. I think that he's in favor of the partnership:

Next to the construction of Fox Cities Stadium, it's the best thing ever to happen to this franchise and ensures its Q rating will head in the same direction as the space shuttle.

Let's be honest. The last time there was reason for this kind of enthusiasm for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is when they were still the Appleton Foxes, and some kid named Alex Rodriguez stopped by for a couple of months.

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This will create a buzz, an excitement and interest never before experienced.

We know this because we've seen it before. There are parallels here that can't be ignored. Back in the mid-1980s when the Brewers were affiliated with Beloit, the big-league club was wildly successful and wildly popular and the minor-league system was flush with talent.

People flocked to Telfer Park to catch a glimpse of the Brewers' stars of tomorrow and they were privileged to see plenty.

"That's the year Juan Nieves came in and the crowds were huge," said Chris Bosio, a member of that 1983 team who went on to play for the Brewers and Seattle Mariners and is now a Kimberly resident. "It was incredible. We ran away with both halves. We were a pretty good team. That was a fun year."

It created the perfect storm that every minor league team hopes for; providing an affordable and entertaining experience, while also fielding a team that fans care about and take an interest in.

Plus there's the added bonus. That year one half of the Brewers' starting infield, Paul Molitor and Jim Gantner, made their way to Beloit on rehab assignments.

Here is a brief Notes section. Briefly. There will be no overhaul of the nickname. We will still be the Timber Rattlers...for which I'm glad, because it would be a pain to change the name of this blog....and there is no word on manager or coaching staff yet.

Local Television was there, too.

Here is the link to Channel 5. Video at the link. Poll at the link, too.

Here is the link to Fox 11. Poll at the link. Video link HERE and HERE.

Here is the link to Channel 2 and here is the link to NBC 26.