A day that ends with some Q & A

The prodigal beat writer got a chance to talk with Brewer General Manager before the Red Smith Banquet last night. There is a Q & A after the introductory stuff.

Ever wonder what a day in the life of a Major League Baseball general manager is like?

Not as hectic as you might think.

Just check out the scene Tuesday from the lobby of the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel.

You had Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin posing for a seemingly never-ending series of pictures with Wisconsin Timber Rattlers president Rob Zerjav as the two clubs prepare for the 2009 season — the Rattlers' first as the Brewers' low Class A Midwest League affiliate.

And as for that incessant buzz of his BlackBerry? Was it an impending trade? News on Prince Fielder's salary arbitration request?

"Everybody communicates this way now," Melvin said with a laugh as he hunkered down in an oversized chair. "Probably only 10 percent of what comes across there is anything that's important."

Melvin was in town to attend the annual Red Smith Sports Award Banquet, where he received the event's Nice Guy Award.

Most of the Q's & A's are about the big league club, but there is this at the tail end.

Q: Finally, it appears one of the organization's top prospects, 19-year-old Brett Lawrie, likely will be pegged to play for the Timber Rattlers this season. What are your impressions thus far of the player you selected with your top draft choice last June?

A: We haven't seen him play a lot. He was busy last year with the Canadian junior championship and the (Canadian) Olympic team, but he's a very talented kid, very versatile — a real gamer. He's got a chance to be a real good hitter.

People have talked about him as a young kid, a high school kid, who could come up really quick. There's a chance (former major leaguer) Lenny Dykstra's kid could be here in Appleton, Cutter Dykstra, but I'm not sure at this point. Brett Lawrie has probably got a chance to come here, and I think fans will enjoy how hard he plays. He's a real hard-nosed, blue-collared type player.