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.

Brewer Prospect Countdown

Just catching up with Between the Green Pillars and Bernie's Crew and their countdowns of their top Brewer prospects.

Ryan at BTGP has Jake Odorizzi at #10.

Odorizzi has the stuff to be a #1 starter and could move quickly if he improves his command from what he showed in his pro debut, which seems likely given what all the scouting reports said about him. He’ll need to do a little “filling out”, but that is normal for a guy fresh from high school. The team may send him to extended spring training to keep him away from the cold Appleton spring, but if he’s healthy he should find his way there before the end of May. Pay close attention to his walk rate, if that improves the sky is the limit for Odorizzi.

Jim at BC has Odorizzi at #11....with video!...by someone who doesn't know what to focus on between pitches...

no prediction from Jim as to an arrival date in Appleton.

Two kids sit down at a table for the Whitecaps Winter Banquet...

and this happened.

When Bennett Sinner, 8, and his brother Eric, 13, second- and seventh-graders at St. Mark Lutheran School in Kentwood, took their seats at a front-row table, they didn't know who would join them. It wasn't long before [Brandon] Inge and his wife, Shani, sat in two of the seats.

"Inge is my favorite player and I was shocked when he sat down at our table," Bennett said.

"Having him at our table is exciting, and I thought it was a joke and I was trying to figure out what television show was messing (around) with me," Eric said.

Making kids think they are on Candid Camera was not the only thing going on yesterday in Grand Rapids.

Who better to sell Detroit Tigers baseball than the organization's No. 1 salesman, Tigers president/CEO Dave Dombrowski, who was in his element Wednesday afternoon as the guest speaker for an invite-only luncheon hosted by the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Despite Dombrowski's baseball talk, the theme behind the luncheon was to show Fifth Third Ballpark could be utilized as more than just a baseball venue.

Dombrowski was back in his element Wednesday night as a guest speaker at the sold-out 15th Annual Whitecaps Baseball Winter Banquet, held at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids.

"For me this was pretty easy because when they asked me to make this presentation ... really, it's baseball and it's about our relationship with the West Michigan club, which is very close and important to us," Dombrowski said. "When you can help out your minor league teams, you do it when it's possible.

Like the other day when Doug Melvin was in town, he went to a meeting of an Appleton civic organization. Thank you for that.

Back in the story, there is a bit with Whitecaps CEO Lew Chamberlain about the potential look of the MWL after it goes to 16 teams in 2010 and then there is this:

The Whitecaps have received two more coaching commitments from former Detroit Tigers John Warden and Dave Bergman for their July 10-12 fantasy baseball camp at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Cost is $895 per person and limited to the first 60 players. Warden and Bergman will join Dave Rosema, Dan Petry and Phil Regan as coaches. For more information, call the Whitecaps' front office at (616) 784-4131.

What's that number again?

Highlights from the Weston

WSAW-TV of Wausau has a video story on the induction ceremonies from the Central Wisconsin Baseball Hall of Fame. Jack Roeder, the General Manager of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, was inducted. There is this quote:

"So many memories from here, when I worked with the (Wausau) Timbers," said former Timbers G.M. Jack Roeder. A lot of the things we do in Cedar Rapids (Kernels, Single-A team) were really born here."

In a non-Midwest League related note, there is this quote from another inductee:

"To be recognized after that many years for something you did that many years ago, I'm glad it happened when I'm alive," said a smiling John Bauer of Auburndale."

Yep. Beats the alternative.

A partnership in the MWL

News! From Quad Cities!

One of the great charms of Modern Woodmen Park is that it feels like home. From the smiling ticket taker greeting guests at the gate to the friendly usher escorting them to their seats, the River Bandits put a great deal of emphasis on maintaining a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

A significant part of the organization's perpetual focus on improving the guest experience involves the quality and service of the food and beverage operation at Modern Woodmen Park. After making wide-ranging upgrades in concessions in 2008, the River Bandits took another giant step in that arena on Wednesday by announcing a new partnership with Professional Sports Catering, who will oversee the club's food service operation.

"The best part about Professional Sports Catering is that they love what they do - and they're really good at it," said team owner Dave Heller. "PSC is owned and operated by people that work in Minor League Baseball, and because of that their focus is the same as ours - serving our fans. As a result, our fans can look forward to markedly better food with bigger portions and shorter lines. The result will be an even better experience at the ballpark."

PSC is owned and operated by Tom Dickson and Sherrie Myers, who also own and operate two Minor League Baseball teams: the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits and the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts.

That's all well and good. But, the windows in the radio booths at Modern Woodmen Park don't open.

Lara in the Playoffs

Cardenales de Lara lost at Caracas. They are 7-8 in the round robin portion of the Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional playoffs.


.........R..H...E
Lara.....6..13..0
Caracas..7..11..2
Boxscore

Ex-Rattlers for Lara:
Ivan Blanco ('05): 1-1/3IP, 2H, R, BB, K, HR

Ex-Rattlers for Caracas:
Carlos Maldonado ('98, '99): 1-for-3, run, BB
Julio Mateo ('00): 3-1/3IP, 6H, 5R, 4ER, 2K

Lara is at Caracas again tonight at 7:30pm Venezuela Time. This game looks like the final one in the round robin.

Baseball on TV (1/21)

First of all, why did no one tell me about this Chiller channel that is now available on my Time Warner Cable System?

Second of all, why did no one tell me that there was a Twin Peaks marathon on before the Championship games on Sunday?

Third of all, I managed to catch this part from that wonderfully weird series. The baseball tie-in? Agent Cooper is throwing something at a target from exactly 60'-6" away...to help him solve a murder...don't ask questions...just dive right in to the oddness.



"Would you please, put on the kitchen mittens?"

78 dies insquequo Oris Dies

New guy in Fort Wayne

If there is time later this week, I'll need to add another blog to the links on the left under the Broadcasters section. There is a new radio guy in Fort Wayne and he's got a blog.

Oh, his name is Dan Watson and the blog is called The Watson Files.

Seems to write a bit more coherent posts than a certain writer you all check out occasionally. I hate him already.....just kidding.

Missed one

When running through the World Baseball Classic provisional rosters, I was almost positive that I had all of the ex-Rattlers.

Not quite.

Taiwan: Kuo Hui Lo

In response to the question from The Kid about why Michael Saunders is not on the provisional Canadian roster...

I don't know.

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.

View from the American League Press Boxes

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times recently did a post on all of the press boxes in the American League and rated them from worst to best.

This is something that I may pick up on as we get closer to the start of the season. I may come up with a different ratings system though.

1. Stadium proximity/access
2. Food
3. Interview space in visitors' clubhouse
4. Working conditions in pressbox/view
5. Postgame access to clubhouse from pressbox

Mainly because the only thing that matters to me is #4...and maybe #2...maybe.

Anyway, Oakland is at the bottom, Fenway is at #13, and old Yankee Stadium is #12. #1 is as surprising the fact that the stadium at Baker's #1 hosted a World Series last October.

Ex-Rattlers in the World Baseball Classic

Or at least on the Provisional Rosters.

USA: Brian Fuentes, JJ Putz, Matt Thornton

Australia: Craig Anderson, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Chris Snelling

Canada: Phillippe Aumont...Noting that potential future Rattler Brett Lawrie is on Team Canada

Dominican Republic: Damaso Marte and ex-Appleton Fox Alex Rodriguez

Italy: Alex Liddi

Korea: Shin-soo Choo

Netherlands: Greg Halman

Puerto Rico: Joel Pineiro

Venezuela: Felix Hernandez

79 dies insquequo Oris Dies

BA's Top 10 Brewer Prospects

Again...Not that BA.

This BA, Baseball America. Here is the Top 10...which was kind of already covered....

1. Alcides Escobar, SS
2. Mat Gamel, 3b
3. Brett Lawrie, c/3B
4. Jeremy Jeffress, rhp
5. Angel Salome, c
6. Lorenzo Cain, of
7. Cutter Dykstra, of
8. Taylor Green, 3b
9. Cole Gillespie, of
10. Jonathan Lucroy, c
    

The scouting reports are behind the subscriber wall and so is Tom Haudricourt's chat.

Quickly on a couple of potential Rattlers:

Q: JAYPERS from IL asks:

Thanks for the chat. How far off the Top 10 did Jake Odorizzi fall, and what factor(s) excluded him?

A: Barring any in-house changes, I had Odorizzi at No. 11, so obviously he just missed the Top 10. The kid has a high ceiling and the Brewers were very careful to limit his work after he signed.

Q: Michael Stern from Rochester NY asks:

Great chat! What do you think about Lawrie eventually moving to 1B, with Fielder moving on in a trade? Could he play there? With Gamel or Hardy moving to 3B he seems blocked, and if he doesn't work out at C, it seems 1B would be the most logical spot. Does he have enough power to play there? Is he a possible 35-40 HR guy? How does the Brewers infield appear that it will shake out?

A: It wouldn't surprise me if Lawrie found his way to first base at some point. Or the OF. Or 3B. That's how versatile he has been. But, like many of the Brewers' top prospects, Lawrie is much more advanced offensively than defensively. Accordingly, it's going to be some musical chairs in coming years regarding defensive positions for these guys.

Note: edited a few things because a BA password was asked for every time I checked the site since I posted this story. Should be fixed.

Early candidate for Headline of the Year

When a story has a headline like this and it has a tie-in to a Midwest League team, you just know Rattler Radio will be there.

Cardboard heroes repel bird droppings

Andrew Ottmar crunched along the frosty Fifth Third Field outfield, avoiding goose droppings as he advanced on a sentinel coyote.

"It's like a piece of rubber," said Ottmar, the Dayton Dragons director of operations said while bending over to readjust the fake coyote torso.

He grabbed the similarly fabricated rabbit that was in the coyote's mouth.

"You don't really need this," he said. "We thought it looked more real."

To geese, the rubber coyote, his furry prey and their cardboard friends are real enough.

Last week, Dragons personnel installed several decoy animals throughout the infield and outfield to displace geese that periodically sat in the downtown stadium and used it as a restroom.

Since then, geese sightings have drastically reduced.

I can see why....Can I just mention that Geese are stupid? Geese are stupid. There I said it.

Cardinal Caravan Greatest Hits

Steve Batterson collects some stories from the Cardinal Caravan stop at Modern Woodmen Park.

The one-liners of the event come from The Mad Hungarian!

Temperatures hovered near 20 degrees, and snow covered the playing field at Modern Woodmen Park on Monday, but the Cubs-Cards rivalry never is out of season.

Or, as former St. Louis pitcher and Cardinals broadcaster Al Hrabosky put it, “I’ve got my World Series ring on because I know none of the Cub fans have ever seen one.”

Or, as he added, “When you talk about the Cubs, all you have to remember are the last two letters.”

Oh, to be a funny broadcaster.

Take off sign

There are many Rickey Henderson stories out there. 100% Injury Rate has a Top 25, but this one -- as told by former Brewer manager Tom Trebelhorn -- isn't on there.

Treb was on an XM Radio show with Dave Sims and Kevin Kennedy and Eric Degerman of the Tri-City Herald caught it for our enjoyment.

Trebelhorn was Rickey's first manager in baseball, which was in Boise in 1976. And here we go...

"We're in Boise, and I said, ‘Rickey, you're on your own to run. You're fast. I want you to be aggressive. I want you to be fearless. I want you to be really confident in what you are doing.' "

" 'OK, OK, OK,’ Rickey said to me,” Trebelhorn added.

"So he's not running,” Trebelhorn continued. “Finally I said, 'Rick, why aren't you running? And he said, 'Well, you know I really need the sign to go.' “

At this point, Kennedy begins to chuckle in the background.

"All right, I'll give you the sign,'" Trebelhorn said.

"So he gets on first base and I go through the whole signs," Trebelhorn said. "At the end, I take all the signs off -- and he steals second.

"So I said (to Henderson), 'All right. Watch. Look at me," Trebelhorn said. "I give him the same signs again, and I give him the 'take off' sign. I take EVERYTHING off. Nothing is on. He steals third."

Kennedy chuckles some more.

"I said, 'Rick, god dang it. Back to back pitches this is what I want you to do on your own, but I didn't give you the 'steal' sign," Trebelhorn said. "You don't even know the signs."

"And (Henderson) said, 'Man, man, Treb, man. I know the signs. Rickey knows the signs. Rickey knows the signs."

"So I said, 'Well, what's the sign then?' " Trebelhorn said.

Henderson then tells Trebelhorn, "Man, it's the 'take off' sign. So I 'took off' to second, and I 'took off' to third!"

Lara in the Playoffs

Cardenales de Lara lost at Zulia last night in Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional.


......R..H..E
Lara..1..9..0
Zulia.2..6..1
Boxscore

No ex-Rattlers got into the game for Lara.

Los Cardenales are off tonight. Back in action at Caracas on Wednesday.

Just a couple of friendly reminders

Reminder #1: In case you didn't check in this weekend, the Timber Rattlers are getting a new video scoreboard.

It's going to be...what's the word? AWESOME!

Reminder #2: 80 dies insquequo Oris Dies

"Full Speed Ahead"

The former home of "Crash" and "Nuke" is getting some renovations.

The road hasn't always been a smooth one, but Minor League Baseball and the City of Durham are moving full-speed ahead on the Durham Athletic Park renovations.

This $5-million project, whose initial funding was provided by a bond referendum, is a crucial one for those involved in Minor League Baseball. Once the renovations are complete, the venerable facility will be used as a comprehensive "Baseball Lab," in which nearly every category of baseball employee will receive education and training.

Additionally, the refurbished playing surface will serve as a home field for nearby educational institutions (most notably North Carolina Central University), and will also be used as a location for city festivals and other events. When the work is done, the city of Durham will function as the owners of the facility, while Minor League Baseball will be the operator.

"Baseball Lab" that almost sounds like a course in school.

Lara in the Playoffs

Lara is back at .500 in the round robin portion of the Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional playoffs.

......R...H...E
Lara..1...6...0
Zulia.0...2...0
10 innings
Box score

No ex-Rattlers got into the game on Sunday.

Lara is at Zulia again tonight at 7:30pm Venezuela Time.