He was busy yesterday

The Prodigal Beat Writer had a busy day yesterday.

First this...

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ depleted roster is now down two more names thanks to a pair of ankle injuries.

According to Rattlers manager Jeff Isom, infielder Steve Braun fractured an ankle and outfielder Chris Dennis sprained his in Saturday’s 2-1, 14-inning Midwest League win over the Peoria Chiefs at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.

Although both players are still officially listed on the club’s roster, Isom said he expects Braun to be out for the year and Dennis to be placed on the disabled list shortly.

“I’m assuming (Braun won't be back)” Isom said. “I don’t know that for a fact. There’s nothing he can do here for us. He’ll be on his way somewhere, some place. I don’t know where – Arizona or back home. There’s not much you can do when you have a fracture.”

Brett has an update that links to Adam McAlvy's blog with this report:

Dennis' agent, Josh Kusnick, who just told me that the player has a tendon injury and could miss 4-6 weeks.

Also, Brett has this with Harvey Keunn, Jr.

I loooove a good baseball story — particularly the talking kind, when one guy's doing all the yakking and I'm doing all the listening.

So you can imagine why I felt like I jacked one out of the yard on Sunday when I cornered Harvey Kuenn Jr., an area scout for the Milwaukee Brewers, and asked him to spin a yarn or two about that great Harvey's Wallbangers club managed by his late father.

For most of you my age and older, — you surely remember that group.

Rockin' Robin. Stormin' Gorman. Paulie. Vuke. Rollie. Gumby. Coooooop.

Those were just a few of the magical names that authored one of the more memorable summers ever seen in these parts as they helped usher the Milwaukee Brewers into the 1982 World Series, the franchise's only appearance.

Stories? What kind of stories?

Like that night following a Brewers triumph in the American League Championship Series. Some of the players made the quick spin from old Milwaukee County Stadium to Cesar's Inn, a shot-and-a-beer kind of tavern along National Avenue, to mingle with the crazed fans and even tend bar.

Or...

Then there was that night, again at Cesar's, when police had to shut down a 100-yard stretch of National Avenue after the Crew edged the California Angels in the fifth and decisive game of the American League Championship Series to earn a World Series berth — Milwaukee's first since the old Braves advanced in 1958.

Kuenn Jr. was working at the tiny bar at the time and said thousands showed up to celebrate, many of them cramming themselves inside the establishment even though its official limit was 65 people.

Go read it.

Because some of you seemed interested...

Photo by Jeff Johnson of the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Jeff also has the update.

Ron Plein put a uniform back on last night at Memorial Stadium. Well, at least the top half.

“Got to,” he said before the Kernels’s 11-5 victory over Burlington. “We’ve lost four in a row.”

It’s difficult to wear baseball pants with most of your lower left leg in a cast. Plein, or “Roadrunner,” as he’s known around the ballpark, is on the disabled list.

The longtime Kernels equipment manager broke his ankle last week in the middle of Cedar Rapids’ game at Wisconsin. Roady, 65, was doing what Roady has been known to do sometimes, chasing down a foul ball behind home plate when he collided with one of Wisconsin’s batboys.

Down went Roady. Snap went his ankle.

“Just like I always do,” Plein said, when asked how he got injured. “Foul ball behind home plate, I was trying to beat their batboy to it. I beat him all right.”

Most of you who were there remember...or just cannot forget...the sight of Roady calmly trying to put his own foot back in place. Why so calm?

“Didn’t even know it was broke,” he said. “I tried to stand up but couldn’t. I didn’t feel no pain.”

Now, my ankle hurts.

Prospect Insider reports

Jonathon Aicardi has a Minor League News post over at Prospect Insider. Of interest to Timber Rattler fans:

Several minor league players were given their outright release in the last few days, including RHPs Chad Fillinger, Jose De La Cruz and Will Brown, LHP Paul Fagan, Infielder Reed Eastley, and C Juan Beltran, among others … Eastley requested his walking papers and the club obliged.

Fillinger, Fagan, Eastley, and Beltran are all Rattler alumni. Nothing on the others part of the "among others".

Next up, Aicardi's take on a potential High Desert roster:

While the big-league club figures out their roster, High Desert appears to be wrapped up with 2008 supplemental first rounder Matt Mangini at 3B, top prospect Carlos Triunfel at SS, Chris Minaker at 2B, Johan Limonta at 1B, and Travis Scott catching. The OF will most likely consist of super athelete Greg Halman, Carlos Peguero and speedy Kuo Hui-Lo.

What does that mean for 3B Alex Liddi? The M’s are still very high on him and he’s likely to begin 2008 with the Mavs as well, switching between 3B and DH with Mangini.

Whether or not he remains there is a story yet to be told, however, as the parent organization is considering a position move, possibly to left field.

Note that this is Aicardi's take on the roster for the Mavs. Not mine. Take a look for the possible pitchers on the staff in the HD.

Last, bad news for Stephen Kahn ('05):

His 2007 season already a disaster thanks to a torn left knee ligament, RHP Stephen Kahn is now likely to miss the entire 2008 season as well, due to a tear in his right ACL. Once considered among the higher-ceiling relief prospects in Seattle’s ranks, Kahn now faces the commitment of another year recovering from knee surgery.

Dang.