Our manager was in town, too

Jeff Isom had a little chit chat with the prodigal beat writer on Tuesday.

Jeff Isom won't know the makeup of his roster until shortly before the 2009 Midwest League baseball season begins.

Still, he has a pretty clear idea on what fans can expect when they head to Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute to check out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

"One thing's for certain," the first-year Rattlers manager said on Tuesday during a visit to the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, where he attended the annual Red Smith Sports Award Banquet. "It will be a competitive club."

That's because the Brewers have relied on one of the top minor league systems in baseball — their own — in forging into a playoff contender.

Milwaukee's homegrown talent includes such stars as Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy Corey Hart and Yovani Gallardo.

Meanwhile, potential stars like catcher/third baseman Brett Lawrie (third) and outfielder Cutter Dykstra (seventh) are ranked by Baseball America as among the top 10 prospects in the Brewers system.

Both were drafted by Milwaukee last June and could be slated to open the '09 season with the Rattlers.

"You look at our major league club, and you've got guys like Prince Fielder and Corey Hart and Ryan Braun," Isom said. "All of those guys made stops at every spot from A-ball, all the way up. So we value the minor league system."

About that...

"Brett Lawrie, he's a 19-year-old kid who can flat-out hit — fun to watch," Isom said. "And there's a whole handful of guys, guys like Cutter Dykstra, just a good group. Our scouting department's done a great job of not only finding talent, but good kids, as well."

And there is this announcement from the boss:

[Timber Rattler President Rob] Zerjav said the club's first home game — April 9 at 6:35 p.m. against Quad Cities — will feature a double bobblehead giveaway.

He said fans will receive a twin bobblehead of Rattlers mascot Fang shaking hands with Brewers mascot Bernie Brewer.

This will commemorate the Rattlers becoming a Brewers affiliate.

Makes sense. Not like we're a Rays affiliate.