By Paul Bunyan's Axe

Which -- by the way -- is staying in Wisconsin.

Begin posting....now!

Remember

I'll put some posts up later this weekend. Just needed the day yesterday and today. Back strong tomorrow. I promise! Either before or after the Packer-Bear game. That will give plenty to look at on Monday for those who spent precious company time scanning the internet.


Props again to despair.com for the image.

By Mokeski's Moustache

Sorry. Today's postings are going to be a bit delayed...until tonight.

Those annual meetings just take it out of me. Annual Meeting? The Deuce, Mehring? you say.

Well, if you were a shareholder in the Timber Rattlers, you could be in on the excitement of the Annual Shareholder Meeting. Follow this link to find out how to become of team owner of the Timber Rattlers. Then, you'll be able to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting.

PS. I may develop this shareholder thing in a later post. Probably one without a picture of a former center for the Milwaukee Bucks. Or maybe pictures of the 18-foul machine that helped the Bucks to all those Central Division titles of Bob Lanier, Harvey Catchings, AND Alton Lister. That might draw in more traffic.

Back later.

Ex-Rattlers in Fall Ball

Arizona Fall League:

Mesa 8 @ Peoria Javelinas 4
Box score | Game story

Ex-Rattlers for Peoria:
Carlos Triunfel ('07): 2-for-4
Greg Halman ('07): 0-for-5

Hawaii Winter Baseball:

West Oahu 6 @Waikiki 3
Box score | Game story

Ex-Rattlers for Waikiki:
Jamie McOwen ('07): 0-for-4
Rob Harmon ('07, '08): 2IP, H, 0R, K
Steven Richard ('07): IP, 0H, 0R, 2K

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional:

@Margarita 9, Lara 8
Box score | Game story en Espanol: Reacción insular (or Insular reaction)

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 1-for-2, 2B, 2 runs, 2RBI
Oswaldo Navarro ('04, '05): Defensive replacement
Ivan Blanco ('05): IP, 2H, 3R, BB, K
Ricky Orta ('07): 1-1/3IP, 3H, 2R, K, Blown save, loss

Wednesday's Schedule:
Peoria Javelinas at Peoria Saguaros 12:35pm Arizona Time
North Shore at Waikiki 7:00pm Hawaii Time
Lara at Margarita 8:00pm Venezuela Time

Veterans Day

MLB.com has this collection on this day.

HONOR
Last weekend in Washington, six veterans of World War II associated with Major League Baseball were honored at the American Veterans Center's awards banquet. Monte Irvin, Jerry Coleman, Bob Feller, Ralph Kiner, Joe Anders and Lou Brissie were on hand to accept the prestigious Audie Murphy Award, named after the most decorated soldier of World War II. Mickey Vernon, the former Washington Senators player who passed away Sept. 24, was given the award posthumously.

There is more.

Baseball-Reference.com has this page.

They are people who are military veterans and who were connected with baseball (players, managers, coaches, umpires, executives et al.) in the Major Leagues, minor Leagues, Negro Leagues, Japanese Leagues, AAGPBL, Hispanic and Amateur Leagues (prior to 1871), identified by the Baseball and the Armed Forces Committee of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR).

Just go look around and remember.

Ex-Rattlers in Fall Ball

Arizona Fall League:

Peoria Javelinas 13 @ Mesa 9
Box score | Game story

No ex-Rattlers played for Peoria on Monday.

In Hawaii Winter Baseball, Waikiki was off on Monday.

In Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional, Lara was off on Monday.

Tuesday schedule:
Mesa at Peoria Javelinas 12:35pm Arizona Time
West Oahu at Waikiki 7:00pm Hawaii Time
Lara at Margarita 8:00pm Venezuela Time

Go check this out

It may be a bit old if you did some digging around on BrewerFan.net this weekend. BUT, I wanted to share it here.

Farm Hops -- November 2008 is the title of this post in the forum. First, is a projected [2009, I meant 2009 not 2008 as I originally wrote. Thanks, josh.] Timber Rattler Roster. PLEASE NOTE! THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL! PROJECTED is the key word. Did I make that clear enough?

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Hitters	Name	Pitchers	Name
Starting C	Brett Lawrie	#1 Starter	Evan Frederickson
Starting 1B	Brock Kjeldgaard	#2 Starter	Lucas Luetge
Starting 2B	Cutter Dykstra	#3 Starter	Wily Peralta
Starting 3B	John Delaney	#4 Starter	Michael Bowman
Starting SS	Mikey Marseco	#5 Starter	Cody Adams
Starting LF	Erik Komatsu	Closer	Garrett Sherrill
Starting CF	Logan Schafer	Piggyback #1	Efrain Nieves
Starting RF	Christopher Dennis	Piggyback #2	Cody Scarpetta
Bench - C	Anderson De La Rosa	Middle Relief #1	Nick Tyson
Bench - C	Corey Kemp	Middle Relief #2	Trey Watten
Bench - IF	David Fonseca	Setup-RHP	Adam Arnold
Bench - IF	Miguel Vasquez	Setup-RHP	Daniel Meadows
Bench - OF	Michael Vass

Now to the roundtable discussion that involves the Timber Rattlers.

Question #1

How excited are you to have a Brewers minor league affiliate moving back to the Midwest League? Are you going to make it a point to take in some games, and overall how would you expect the interest to be given the success of the Milwaukee Brewers?

Toby: Ever since Appleton got an affiliated minor league baseball team, it has seemed inevitable that they would eventually become part of the Brewers' minor league chain. The fit was too natural not to happen. Now that the inevitable is reality, it'll be interesting to me to see how much it sparks the interest of casual Brewers fans in the minor leagues and Brewer prospects. This union comes at a good time for the Timber Rattlers because there is currently so much interest statewide in the Brewers. Success breeds interest. I expect that many of those who haven't seen a minor league game in years, perhaps since Beloit was affiliated with the Brewers, will make the trek up to Appleton. I don't live in Wisconsin, so I might not get over to Appleton every year, but I will make a concerted effort to try. It certainly sounds more appealing than going to Beloit.

Patrick: While I understood the reasoning for the Brewers leaving Beloit to find greener pastures, I was always pretty bummed that I couldn't hop in my car and drive an hour to see some of the more exciting pieces to the Brewers future. I guess the Brewers aren't too concerned about the weather in April and even May to move back to the Midwest League, and I couldn't be happier to see that happening. Especially considering the facilities they will be playing in as compared to what they had in Beloit. I think the T-Rats are going to enjoy some record attendances next year, which will only strengthen their relationship with the big-league club, while the fans will get a taste of players such as Brett Lawrie and the bulk of the 2008 draft class, and I certainly will be one of those fans in attendance.

Jim: Many folks know that I'm a Massachusetts resident, so in terms of personal attendance, it's a non-factor for myself. However, from a Brewerfan Link Report standpoint, it appears that the online audio game package and local newspaper coverage will be on a par with the excellent standards that were set by the Charleston, West Virginia media. I'm looking forward to all the first-hand accounts we'll be getting; it will be as if Brewerfan acquired multiple correspondents. I'm sure others on the internet will make wonderful use of video and reporting tools to make the 2009 Timber Rattlers the most discussed minor league squad in Wisconsin history. The kids on the Wisconsin roster will be celebrities to be sure, ready or not.

Brad: More than anyone else, it seems, I'm really disappointed by this. In the last few years, I've gotten to go to many West Virginia Power games, and I'm going to deeply miss getting to see our farmhands play. On top of that, my hometown lost its minor league affiliation completely, so the closest place for baseball is now 90 miles away. On the other hand, I think increased awareness about the baseball and the Brewers will help the low-A team succeed in Appleton. I know you guys will have a blast getting to watch and meet the young guys.

So much to get to and so little time. I will try to revisit this later today. Now, BACK TO WORK!

Happy Birthday, Marines

November 10, 1775. The USMC is founded. That guy in the center of the picture? He was a Marine fighter pilot in WWII and Korea. He is also one of the greatest hitters in baseball history.

There's a gleam, men. There's a gleam

No, not a Marty Schottenheimer pep talk. The gleam is the polish being put on Phil Elfstrom Stadium.

I think of that first game often when seeing the current $10.5 million construction project that will bring the stadium a new "wow" factor, with a second deck and all sorts of upgrades to go along with the already-impressive group party areas in the outfield and along the concourses.

It's come a long way since those lawn seats, which still remain, and a simple set of box seats introduced us to local professional baseball. With a mild winter, construction should stay on schedule and fans will see these impressive improvements next season.

This is the tail end of the part about the Cougars.

Welcome back; Welcome to the neighborhood; Go Vote

Jason Churchill and Prospect Insider are back. Check out the new web design.

There is a new person in charge at Brew Crew Ball. This would be the Brewer equivalent of Lookout Landing from the Mariner blogosphere.


One other note. Dave from USS Mariner has a chance at a scholarship for a good chunk of change because of a post he wrote. (Aside: How the heck does that work?) Click on that link to find out more about the contest -- or just go here and vote for Dave (or David Cameron as the ballot reads).

Ex-Rattlers in Fall Ball

Arizona Fall League:

Saturday:

@Surprise 9, Peoria Javelinas 6
Box score | Game story

Ex-Rattlers for Peoria:
Greg Halman ('07): 1-for-3
Carlos Triunfel ('07): 2-for-5
Stephen Kahn ('05): 2IP, 2H, 0R, 2K

The Javelinas were off on Sunday.

Hawaii Winter Baseball:

Saturday:

Honolulu 4 @ Waikiki 1
Box score | Game story

Ex-Rattlers for Waikiki:
Jamie McOwen ('07): 2-for-2
Steve Richard ('07): 2IP, H, 0R

Sunday:

Honolulu 4 @ Waikiki 1
Box score | Game story

Ex-Rattlers for Waikiki:
Jamie McOwen ('07): 1-for-4, 2B
Johan Limonta ('06): 0-for3, BB

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional:

Saturday doubleheader:

@Caribes 3, Lara 2
Box score

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Oswaldo Navarro ('04, '05): 0-for-3, 2Ks
Ivan Blanco ('05): 1-1/3IP, 2H, R, 0ER (Loss)

@Caribes 2, Lara 1
Box score

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Luis Valbuena ('06): 0-for-2

Sunday:
@Caribes 5, Lara 4
Box score

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Valbuena ('06): 0-for-0 (pinch hitter)
Ricky Orta ('07): 1-2/3IP, 2H, 2R, 2K, (Blown save, loss)

Monday's Schedule:
Peoria Javelinas at Mesa 12:35pm Arizona Time
Waikiki -- OFF DAY
Lara -- OFF DAY

Before starting today

Apologies to those in the trailer court who may read Rattler Radio. I don't know why but the end of yesterday's Packer game got me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. Heck, I don't like me when I'm angry. Which explains a lot when you think about it.....

To the POSTS!

By Marcol's facemask

Good morning to you
I took some time away to
Recharge the batteries

i carry some posts with me (i carry them
in my head)i am never without them (anywhere
they go,my posts; and whatever is posted
by only me is their doing,my posts)
i fear
no post (for they are my fate,my post)i want
no time(for challenging you are in my time, my posts)
and it's you are whatever a blog has always meant
and whatever a post will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the look of the look and the sound of the sound
and the topic of the topic of a blog called Rattler Radio; which grows
longer than the soul can hope or trailer can stand)
and these are the wonders that's coming up later today...for now

Fall League Updates from Saturday and Sunday
Prospect Insider is Back
New guy in charge at Brew Crew Ball
Farm Hops from BrewerFan.net
Various other topics

i carry them(i carry them in my head)

*-Apologies to ee cummings and you and well, just about everyone.

Getting to know them

MiLB.com has their Brewer Minor League flashback and recap of their 2008 preview posted.

First, FLASHBACK! For the purposes of this post, I will focus on the highlights of the Helena Brewers. That is the team that -- most likely -- had the most Future Rattlers on it.

July 1 -- Mike Roberts made a seamless transition from college as he homered and drove in five runs in his professional debut to power the Helena Brewers past the Missoula Osprey, 15-8.

Aug. 13 -- Erik Komatsu homered twice and collected a career-high six RBIs, powering Helena to a 10-4 triumph over the Ogden Raptors.

Aug. 25 -- Efrain Nieves and Garrett Sherrill combined on a one-hitter and Cutter Dykstra hit a two-run homer as Helena blanked the Great Falls Voyagers, 2-0.

The plan is to have a more in-depth look at the Helena Brewers at some point before April 9, 2009. We'll see how that goes.

To the RECAP of their PREVIEW, which at the end has a 2008 draft RECAP! which mainly has a focus on (possible) future Rattlers.

1. Brett Lawrie, C: Lawrie signed his first pro contract then promptly jetted off to China to play for the Canadian Olympic team. He went 0-for-10 and drove in a pair of runs. He also participated in Milwaukee's instructional league program in Arizona.

2. Jacob Odorizzi, RHP: Odorizzi was 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 11 Arizona League appearances (four starts). He struck out 19 over 20 2/3 innings.

3. Evan Frederickson, LHP: Frederickson was 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA while splitting time between the Pioneer and Sally Leagues. He appeared in 12 games, started seven of them and pitched a total of 32 innings, striking out 34 and walking 31.

Others of note: RHP Seth Lintz (53rd overall selection) was 0-3 with a 6.87 ERA in nine games (six starts), striking out 26 over 18 1/3 innings. ... OF Cutter Dykstra (54th selection), son of former Major League Lenny Dykstra, hit .271 while splitting 48 games between the Arizona League and Helena of the Pioneer League. He had five homers, 17 RBIs and four steals while dealing with a minor groin issue. ... RHP Trey Watten (218th selection) was 3-2 with a 5.40 ERA over 15 games (10 starts) for Helena. He had a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings of relief. ... RHP Robert Wooten (398th selection) was 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA in 14 games split between Helena and West Virginia. He struck out 44 and walked six in 31 2/3 innings.

This review page shows a few things. Like the records of Helena (35-41) and the Arizona League Brewers (12-42). Plus, the various players of the week in the respective leagues. No Helena Brewer hitters were Offensive Players of the Week. BUT, Efraim Nieves won the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week award twice and Lucas Luetge won it once.

Habit forming

Did you see the Timber Rattler grounds crew won another award?

The Sports Turf Manager Association Award Committee announced today that Eddie Warczak and Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium have been named one of the ten STMA members honored with Field of the Year award. Criteria for the award is based on the management techniques of the sports turf manager, innovative solutions to problems, the ability to maximize budget dollars and resources, and the safety and playability of the field's surface.

The Turf Warriors win again.

That didn't take long

Benny Looper has a new job.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. replaced departed assistant GM Mike Arbuckle on Friday, naming Benny Looper as assistant general manager, player personnel.

Looper will assume Arbuckle's responsibilities in the scouting and player development realm, and will be assisted by Chuck LaMar, who has been promoted to assistant GM, player development and scouting.

The uncle of free-agent pitcher Braden Looper, Benny will oversee player personnel in his role as assistant GM. He worked closely with Pat Gillick during their years together with the Mariners.

Looper, 60, spent the previous 23 years with Seattle in many capacities at the Major and Minor League levels, including most recently as vice president of player personnel (2006-08), VP of player development and scouting (2003-06) and VP of player development (2002-03).

From the Seattle PI Mariner blog:

''I'm very excited about this,'' Looper said Friday morning. ''It's a chance to do what I want to do, and to join a very good organization.''

The Phillies are at the peak of their game, having won just the franchise's second World Series title last month by beating Tampa Bay.

Zduriencik, like Looper, has his background in player development, and when he took the Seattle job, he brought with him Tony Blengino and Tom McNamara with him from Milwaukee. He offered the job of pro scout to Looper, but Looper wasn't interested.

In 2002, when then-Seattle general manager Pat Gillick decided to step down, he recommended Looper as his replacement, but the Mariners' front office instead opted for Bill Bavasi, who was fired mid-season and ultimately replaced by Zduriencik.

Curiously, Amaro is replacing Gillick in Philadelphia after Gillick guided the Phillies to the World Series title.

''I liked my time in Seattle,'' said Looper, who worked for 23 years with the club. ''But I'm looking forward to going and working with Ruben in Philadelphia.''

Looper is well known around the ballpark as a frequent visitor to the Fox Cities due to these lines on his resume:

• Director Player Development 1998-2002
• Vice President Player Development 2002
• Vice President Player Development & Scouting 2000-2006

They feel free

BA.com has a list of Minor League Free Agents. Here are the Mariner FAs, ex-Rattlers aare in BOLD.

Seattle Mariners (22)

RHP: Travis Chick (AAA), Jon Huber (AAA), Roman Martinez (AA), Scott Shoemaker (AAA), Jorge Sosa (AAA)
LHP: Jason Kershner (AA), Ryan Ketchner (AA), Nelson Payano (AA)
C: Fleming Baez (SS), Fernando Encarnacion (Hi A), Gabe Johnson (AA), Luis Oliveros (AAA), Jose Yepez (Hi A)
1B: Geraldo Valentin (Hi A)
2B: Kevin Howard (AAA)
3B: Lou Lucca (AA)
SS: Mark Kiger (AA)
OF: Victor Diaz (AAA), Shawn Garrett (AAA), Noah Hall (Hi A), Jon Nelson (AAA), Craig Wilson (AAA)

Let's take a peek at the Brewer list.

Milwaukee Brewers (9)
RHP: Nestor Corredor (R), Nick Ungs (AAA)
LHP: Troy Cate (AAA), Erasmo Ramirez (AAA)
2B: Callix Crabbe (AAA)
SS: Ozzie Chavez (AA), Chris Woodward (AAA)
OF: Jay Gibbons (AAA), Mel Stocker (Hi A)

Ungs played for Kane County. Crabbe and Chavez both played for the Beloit Snappers. Troy Cate was in the Mariner system, but never played for the Rattlers.

Hire this kid immediately....

Ever wondered about baseball in Hawaii? Wonder no more. History of Hawaii Baseball is a blog that I just discovered through my Google Alert for the Great.Lakes.Loons. More on that in a moment. Here is the Mission Statement of the blog:

The Hawaii Baseball research Project is dedicated to promoting baseball and preserving its history in Hawaii.

Sounds good to me. There are some neat old pictures and various other historical documents.

Now to the post that popped up in the alert. An interview of Waikiki BeachBoys manager Juan Bustabad, who manages the Looooooooons in the summer. The interview is conducted by 11-year-old Ethan, who... is an 11 year old who dreams of being a baseball radio sportscaster when he gets older.

That's how it starts, kid. That's how it starts. To the interview:

Ethan – Hello Juan, thank you for the interview. My first question is: When did you start playing baseball?
Juan – I started playing baseball at age 9
Ethan – Who was your favorite team growing up?
Juan – My favorite team was the Cincinnati Reds
Ethan – If you didn’t play baseball, what would have you done instead?
Juan – Probably played another sport.
Ethan – Did anyone else play baseball in your family?
Juan - Both my dad and brother played baseball.
Ethan – How do you decide your starting pitchers?
Juan – During the season, we pick a 5 man rotation. In the beginning we may limit those pitchers to 80 pitches, and then after the pitchers are all used to the rotation we may increase their pitch count to 100 – 115 pitches. Of course there is injuries and fatigue we have to think about too.
Ethan – How do you like managing in Hawaii?
Juan – It has been a great time with the league, players and fans.
Ethan – Finally the most important question: Who has been your favorite bat boy?
Juan – (smiles) that would be you of course! (laughs)

That is a better interview than I have done in the last five years.

Letters from the Fort (Part II)

God bless Letters to the Editor writers. Especially those in Fort Wayne. Especially when they don't like something. Especially when a name change of a baseball team is involved. They are entertaining. Take this one for example:

At first blush, the selection of the Wizard’s new name seems somewhat ridiculous. Upon closer inspection, it is somewhere between ludicrous and farcical. Unfortunately, the name is the culmination of a series of events that has brought continued disgrace to our city.

First, a ballpark is planned to be built when none is needed. This project squanders untold millions of dollars that could be spent far better elsewhere. Angry taxpayers who had no direct voice in that decision took out their resentment instead on proposed school financing and in the process made schoolchildren innocent scapegoats.

Letter to the Editor Writing 101: Always -- ALWAYS -- work the children into the letter.

There is also a shot at the new stadium and how it was not needed.

Then for the coup de gras, owners of the formerly named Wizards humiliate the city by choosing the most ridiculous name possible and making us the laughingstock of every literate person on the planet. They undoubtedly think they are connecting to the legacy of Johnny Appleseed. Johnny Appleseed spent most of his adult life in eastern Ohio. His primary connection to Fort Wayne is that he reportedly died and was buried here. Both the year of his death and the place of his burial are in historical dispute. The “cap” on his head is unsubstantiated legend. In any case, there is no evidence that anyone ever mistook his cooking pot for a cap.

The strategy is obvious. Pick something that is “so bad, it is good.” People join in the mockery, and in the process their licensed merchandise sells while the owners make money at the expense of the city’s good name. Had the perpetrators known anything about our community, perhaps they might have chosen a name more like one of its rejects, “sandbaggers,” or put several acceptable names up for a vote.

This name was chosen for one reason only: possible merchandising revenue. Their strategy may very well work. It has elsewhere.

Examples, please? Like how the SWING of the Quad Cities remain at the top of the list for the most merchandise sold in all of minor league baseball?

This letter ends with toilet humor. That is a sure way to sway people to your point of view.

Here is a letter which takes an opposite view and gives kudos...props...a hearty well done as a way of taking the city to task for something else entirely.

I recently returned to Fort Wayne to learn that the Fort Wayne Wizards baseball team had been rebranded the TinCaps. My immediate reaction was one of shock and incredulity, but after a few moments of thought, it was clear that my reaction was largely due to the fact that I, like many people, hate change of any kind. After a few more moments, it occurred to me that Hardball Capital, a business organization from outside our city, understands the value and importance of how local icons can positively impact our sense of history over many years and help draw people in the greater community into a sense of ownership of the team. So I like the name, and I like the logo even more.

It’s unfortunate that our own community leaders didn’t share that same insight when it came to the decision some years ago to rename our regional airport from Baer Field to Fort Wayne International Airport. This was a perfect example of how a community slowly obliterates its rich history and identity in the pursuit of the Holy Grail of economic development.

Here is a little bit more about Captain Paul F. Baer, a World War I flying ace. Here is a New York Times article from March 27, 1918 in PDF format.

Meanwhile, in the Oriole system...

Baseball America has begun publishing their Top 10 Prospects. They began with the Baltimore Orioles. An-ex-Rattler checks in at #2. This is from behind the subscriber wall.

Background: By just about any measure, the deal that brought four prospects and George Sherrill from Seattle for Erik Bedard was a steal for the Orioles, and Tillman could be the biggest prize of all. As the youngest pitcher in Double-A to start the season, he not only succeeded but at times dominated, and he ranked as the Eastern League's top pitching prospect.

The Future: Tillman's overall package and early success at a high level make him the best bet among the Orioles' three prized pitching prospects. He should at least pitch in the middle of the Baltimore rotation and has the potential to lead it. He'll open 2009 in Triple-A with an eye toward moving to the big leagues in 2010.

Another member of that trade, Kam Mickolio, checks in at #10.

You may notice that Tony Butler ('07) did not make this list. So did a reader from Canada and Will Lingo of BA got a question about the Wisconsin native in the chat.

Q:	Craig from Canada asks: Tony Butler came over in the Bedard trade but has been fairly inconsistent even when healthy. Is he still a legit prospect and can he stay healthy long enough to move up in the system?
A:	Will Lingo: He feels more like a depth player who could eventually contribute in the bullpen than a frontline prospect to me.

I believe the chat was for subscribers only. Looking at the schedule ahead, the Mariner Top 10 will be revealed on December 5 and the Brewer Top 10 is scheduled for January 19.