Construction Photos for 2/23/10

Thought was given to not touch up these photos in any way before posting them to the blog.

Then, I saw how gray and dark they looked.

The brightness was turned up a notch or two and below are the results. As always, click for a larger image.

First, the third base side:


Now, the first base side:

Progress despite the weather. Awesome.

Bernie's Sleepers

I missed this last week, so no sense in putting this off until the morning. Bernie's Crew takes a look at some Brewers farmhands whom they label 'Sleepers'.

2009 Timber Rattlers Dan Merklinger and Chris Dennis are both on this brief list of four players in the system. You'll have to click over to read what Jim and Ryan think about them.

I will borrow, steal, excerpt, or whatever you would like to call it, their thoughts on a potential (and again I will stress the word potential) 2010 Rattler.

OF Max Walla (statistics)

Max Walla burst onto the scene just before the 2009 Draft with an impressive power display during workouts, which convinced the Brewers to take a chance and scoop up the prep outfielder in the second round. Brewers fans were left wondering where he left that pre-Draft bat, though, as his professional debut was nothing short of horrendous. Walla struck out in over 44% of his at-bats and only managed to post a .199 batting average for the Rookie League Brewers in Arizona. He was simply overwhelmed by professional ball, likely pressing and developing bat habits after scuffling out of the gate. 2010 marks a new season and a new opportunity for Walla. Scouts say the 19-year old can flat-out hit and hit with some serious power. After a mental and physical break this offseason, expect to see a different player in 2010.

Prospects, prospects, prospects

Baseball America has unveiled their Top 100 Prospects list for the 2010 season.

Former Timber Rattlers on the list:

30. Michael Saunders ('06)

59. Brett Lawrie ('09)

83. Adam Moore ('06)

93. Phillippe Aumont ('08)

Today's news from the home page

Doug Melvin will be the special guest at the 2010 Lead-off Experience.

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will celebrate the start of their second season as an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers by welcoming a VIP from their parent club's front office. Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin is scheduled to be the featured guest at the annual Lead-Off Experience on Wednesday, April 7.

The program will feature an autograph session with the players, dinner, and an interactive question and answer session at The Wave Bar & Ballroom. Festivities begin at 5:30pm with the autograph session and a cash bar. Dinner is scheduled to be served at 6:30pm.

Call the Timber Rattlers for tickets. (920) 733-4152

Also, Erik Miller is in The Interrogation Room.

Q. What did you take away from your 2009 season in Wisconsin?

A. My 09' season, being my first full season, taught me a lot about what it truly means to be a professional ball player. I learned how to cope with the every day ups and downs the game can bring upon a player. With a 140 game season, I learned how to stay on a more emotionally consistent level every day and not let the little things bother me as much. The fans are also something I had never experienced. Every day before the game they are peering into the dugout as we strapped on our cleats just waiting for us to step out and sign a ball, or hat or whatever it was they had. To me, seeing the joy the fans got out of watching us play was something that inspired me.

More at the link.

Alumni Notes

From 1996:

If the Red Sox were certain about designated hitter David Ortiz, they would not be uncertain about his position in their lineup.

They would not be considering free agents such as Russell Branyan.

They would not be linked every three seconds to Padres first baseman
Adrian Gonzalez.

Well, the Red Sox are not certain about Ortiz, cannot be certain, even though last season he rallied to hit 26 of his 27 home runs after June 1.

The Sox's interest in Branyan, a left-handed slugger who reached agreement Friday with the Indians, was the latest indication that they might act quickly to replace Ortiz if he again gets off to a poor start.

From the 2000 team:

Former Mariner Cha Seung Baek, the Korean right-hander who last pitched in the big leagues two years ago, is in camp today for a minor league tryout [with the Mariners].

From the 2002 team:

Nothing comes easy for the Indians, but who among the Tribe faithful doesn't already know that?

Having virtually stolen one of their consistent run producers from the Seattle Mariners for Ben Broussard midway through the 2006 season, the Indians could face an unusual dilemma: losing that player to the army.

South Korean males are obligated to serve their country in the military for two years. Shin-Soo Choo, second to Grady Sizemore as an all-around player for the Tribe, is a native of South Korea. Choo has not yet put in his time with the armed forces. He is required to do so after the 2010 season.

But if he leaves baseball behind for two years, there is no guarantee he will return — at age 29 — with his skills intact. Moreover, he would lose two of his prime income-producing seasons (he will be arbitration eligible in October).

So what can he do?

From 2008:

Phillippe Aumont, the hard-throwing 21-year-old righthander acquired in the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle, said the Phillies haven't officially told him whether he will enter the season as a starter or reliever.

But while the decision may not be set in stone, the near-unanimous opinion among team personnel is that he will begin the year as a starter at Double A Reading.

And if you listened to Aumont talk yesterday, it was easy to understand why.

The inevitable "First Big League Camp" story

Eric Arnett, First Round Pick, All-Big Ten, Top Prospect...low man on the totem pole. But, he's soaking in it.

For years, Eric Arnett was a top dog, a stud at the top of the pile because of talent and hard work.

Now, he's just another face among others in the clubhouse who have been at the top at some point in their careers.

Despite being the Milwaukee Brewers' first-round pick in last year's draft, the 6-foot-5 right-hander from Indiana University is just a wide-eyed first-timer in major-league camp.

"Once I'm here, I'm back at the bottom," Arnett said. "I have to work my way back up. It doesn't matter here (where you're drafted). I'm just going to learn and take everything in and learn from these veterans that have been here."

Arnett was the 26th pick last June and received a $1.2 million signing bonus. Included in his contract was the invitation to big-league spring training, where he received the jersey number of a newcomer not expected to make the team - No. 67 - and a locker in an area away from most of the regulars. Not that it matters much to the 22-year-old.

"I'm still taking it all in," said Arnett, an Ohio native. "I'll see a guy walk by and say, 'Hey, I watched him as a kid.' It's going to be an awesome experience and I'm looking forward to it."

No word in the article about where Arnett might start his season.

Options

Options are one of those things in baseball that can be a little arcane. This story at MLB.com uses a former Timber Rattler to illustrate what can happen when a player runs out of options with the team that drafted him.

Backstory first:

First, a quick primer: "Option," in baseball-speak, is short for optional assignment, a move that allows a big league team to send a player on its 40-man roster to the Minors -- or call him back up to the Majors -- at any point during a given season without taking the risk of making him available to the 29 other teams.

It's a system with many advantages. It works well when inevitable injuries pop up, it helps contenders fortify areas by giving regulars a rest, it aids struggling clubs and gives them a glimpse of their future, and it helps the Minor Leaguers get a taste of where they eventually want to end up.

It's also generous. Each player, upon addition to the 40-man roster, is afforded three options, which means that teams can freely send the player back and forth as many times as they wish in three separate seasons.

The only stipulation is that the player can't be called back to the Majors for at least 10 days unless a big leaguer is put on the 15-day disabled list.

After three -- and, in some special cases, four -- seasons, the player is out of options, which means that a trip to the Minors is a chance for other teams to scoop him up through waivers.

Now to the part involving an ex-Rattler:

In the spring of 2006, the Seattle Mariners were embarking on their ninth year with lefty Matt Thornton in the organization. Thornton, who could routinely hit 96 mph on the radar gun with his fastball, had been a first-round selection in the First-Year Player Draft in 1998 but didn't make the Majors until 2004 because of control issues and certainly wasn't a roster mainstay.

The issues continued to plague him -- he issued 42 walks in 57 innings in 2005 -- and the team didn't see much improvement the following spring, which meant he was not going to make the Opening Day roster. He also was out of options.

On March 21, with a little more than a week before the regular season started, then-GM Bill Bavasi orchestrated a classic out-of-options deal, dealing Thornton to the White Sox for another former first-round pick, Joe Borchard, a hitter with freakish power -- including the longest homer in U.S. Cellular Field history, at 504 feet -- who hadn't put it
all together on the field. The Mariners didn't want to let a lefty such as Thornton, with that kind of arm, get away without getting something in return.

Eventually, the deal worked out incredibly well -- for the White Sox. Thornton fit in there, ironed out his command over two so-so years, and in 2008, at the age of 31, it all clicked for him. He only walked 19 batters in 67 1/3 innings, struck out 77, put up a 2.67 ERA and .995 WHIP, and followed that with a 2009 (2.74 ERA, 1.078 WHIP, 87 strikeouts and 20 walks in 72 1/3 innings) that cemented him as one of the best relievers -- lefty or righty -- in baseball.

Borchard got nine at-bats in less than a month of roster time in Seattle before the Mariners dropped him and he was claimed by Florida. He was a reserve with the Marlins, hit .230 in 2006 and .196 in 2007, and hasn't played in the Majors since.

"I made the team in '05 because I was out of options, and by '06 I still had those command issues," Thornton said. "The whole time, I'm trying to improve, and they're keeping me with the hope that I'll become the guy that they thought I could become when they drafted me. I guess what I needed was a new organization, a fresh start and a new attitude about pitching."

At the very end of the article, Doug Miller, the author, brings up the name Manny Parra.

Improvement

Shawn Kelley ('08, '09) moved quickly through the Seattle Mariners system and has been in the big leagues for awhile now.

But, he is looking to improve and be healthy.

“After the injury, when I came back, I’d have good streaks and bad, and I tried too hard to be that guy who’d pitched in April,” Kelley said. “I had to realize, that guy was me. I got back to focusing 100 percent on every pitch. Stay back, just hit the mitt. …

“There were days after I came back when the oblique would feel tight, when I’d be aware of it. I didn’t want to say anything, but I thought about it too much.”

Kelley finished his rookie season with a 5-4 record, a 4.50 ERA, with 41 strikeouts and nine walks in 46 innings.

“When we came out of spring training last year, I was throwing the best I’ve ever thrown. I executed on every pitch,” Kelley said. “Overall, my year wasn’t bad and it wasn’t great. The bulk of the runs I allowed were in a few appearances, times when my focus wasn’t good. That’s on me.”

When the season ended, Kelley came to a startling revelation.

“For the first time in my career, I didn’t have to get an offseason job,” he said. “Every other winter, I’d worked for a golf course back home, mowing fairways, rolling greens, picking up range balls. If you could do it on a golf course, I did it.”

Freed from that, Kelley decided to make his offseason job, well, himself.

“I made my job to get my body ready for 2010. I was hurt last season, and I wanted to come in with my body in the best shape I could get it in,” he said.

“I ran with my wife, who runs marathons. I lifted weights, took a leg class twice a week. A woman at the gym told me she thought it would be good for me – and it killed me the first time. I limped around the house for two days. I thought, ‘If it hurts this much, it must be good for me.’ ”

"Just have fun with it"

Big League Stew had a fun little post this past weekend. He tried out for the Public Address announcer for Baltimore Oriole home Spring Training games.

Look to whom he went in the Orioles clubhouse for some advice.

Orioles Magic on the Mic from Big League Stew on Vimeo.

"If it's loud, I'll go there."

A small part

and we were happy to play it.

Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region announced today that a $100,000 grant from its Fox Cities Stadium Charitable Fund will make it possible for a new Miracle League field to open this spring at Memorial Park.

The Miracle League is an organized baseball league for youths with physical and/or cognitive disabilities between the ages of 4 and 19 who play non-competitive, organized ball on a fully accessible, rubberized field.

...

And because of a $100,000 grant from the Fox Cities Stadium Charitable Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the first phase — the new field — will be ready for the Miracle League’s teams to play ball on June 5.

Stan Baehman, spokesman for the stadium fund group, said it wanted to give the field project a big boost.

“We felt our gift could move the project forward and help it to become a reality,” Baehman said in a release today.

Click through on the link up top to see which figure in Timber Rattlers history will have the field named after him.

Congratulations to The Miracle League of the Fox Valley. We will see you at your Opening Day on June 5, 2010!

Another Goodland Field photo

This picture of Goodland Field, which is undated, is being used here as a lead in to this week's Friday Flashback.

Back in 1984, a writer by the name of William Gildea traveled the US and visited some baseball stadiums. The second in his series of three articles was published in the Style section of the Washington Post in August. This second article dealt with two games that he and his two boys saw at Goodland Field, home of the Appleton Foxes.

It's a lengthy read, but well worth it.

Click the image below for a larger view. Pick out the Marlboro Man.

Beatles fans, forgive me

Picture yourself in a seat near the field here,
With potatoes as salad and burgers as pies.
The stadium calls you, you answer quite slowly,
A girl takes your order for fries.

This attempt at re-writing a classic song by The Beatles was inspired by this announcement over at the Timber Rattlers website.

All-You-Can-Eat Seats available for season ticket packages

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have added a new seating option to their current season ticket packages. Fans may now purchase a spot in the new All-You-Can-Eat section on the first base side of Time Warner Cable Field. The seating area features a field level view, barstool seating, unique countertop space, and an all-you-can-eat buffet.

There is an artist's rendering of the new seating area over at the story. But, here at Rattler Radio, we wanted to give a little bit more.

So, here is the artist's rendering for the first and third base sides and the progress made by the construction crew on those areas as of noon today. Click for a larger image.







The re-write up top couldn't have been any worse than this? Could it?

The Offseason Finale

Season One of The Offseason has come to an end. I'd post it, but I can't find it on Youtube, yet. So, there is a link to a different player at the bottom of the post.

To introduce the episode, I asked the host of the best. clipshow. ever to join us today.
Hi, I'm Troy McClure. You may remember me from such baseball teams as the Fond du Lac Webfoots, the Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Orphans, and the Freeport Pretzels.

Tonight we're here to honor America's favorite offseason video series produced by a minor league baseball team that features a snake with legs, who also happens to be mute.

We've received dozens of letters from fans wanting to know more about the show. Tonight, we'll answer some of your questions. Professor Lawrence Pierce of the University of Chicago writes, "I think Fang gets stupider every episode." That's not a question, Professor, but we'll let the viewers judge for themselves.

A new Silver Hawk Fan

New Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly spoke at the Irish baseball banquet on Tuesday.

The excerpted bit:

Kelly was one of two keynote speakers at the event, as he followed former Notre Dame baseball and basketball player and longtime major league pitcher Ron Reed to the podium in front of a crowded Purcell Pavilion floor. Both men followed an introduction to the event that included former Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

Reed, according to Kelly, typified the excellence that Kelly says permeates Notre Dame, a concept he's learning has further boundaries every day. He also made it clear that, despite his Boston ties, Kelly's allegiances are straightened now that he's in South Bend.

"I am a (South Bend) Silver Hawks fans, and an Irish baseball fan. That's it," he said, to laughter and applause.

Well, it's not like there is a Red Sox affiliate in the Midwest League. And could he cheer for the Boston College baseball team? Is that allowed at Notre Dame?

A little something on which to chew

Jim Breen and Ryan Topp at the newly relocated Bernie's Crew have their list of Top 30 Brewers prospects as the organization heads into the 2010 season.

There are a lot of familiar names on the list so click over for the whole thing. I'll just excerpt the potential -- and I will stress the word potential -- Timber Rattlers. Some, who have been mentioned before, will just be the names and rankings. You'll have to click over to see what the scouting report is on them (Sorry, Kid. I'm going to make you work for info about the Vol on the list). Others will have that information.

4. RHP Eric Arnett

7. OF Kentrail Davis

8. RHP Jake Odorizzi

14. RHP Kyle Heckathorn

19. LHP Del Howell (statistics)

The junior southpaw from the University of Alabama fell to the 15th round of the 2009 draft after struggling in his junior season due to succumbing to mono. He ended up signing just before the deadline for well over the slot recommendation. Howell was able to appear in five games after signing, splitting time between both rookie levels -- posting solid, if unspectacular numbers in those appearances. He has three solid offerings at this point and can reach the mid 90's with his fastball. That suggests mid-rotation upside if he can continue to develop and stay healthy. Howell could develop into one of the steals of the draft.

21. RHP Maverick Lasker (statistics)

Lasker, a favorite of the old Between the Green Pillars blogging crew, was taken the the 5th round of the 2008 draft out of an Arizona High School. He did not pitch in 2008, but posted very solid numbers in the Arizona Rookie League and established himself as a legitimate prospect. The organization rewarded his fine play with a late season call up Wisconsin that resulted in one great start and one very forgettable one. Lasker throws in the low to mid 90's and compliments his fastball with a spike slurve and a good (and developing) changeup. He even has room to add some velocity as he matures. Lasker certainly has mid-to-top of the rotation ability, but is a long, long way from the majors.

22. RHP Nic Bucci (statistics)

The 18th round pick from the 2008 draft burst onto the scene last year with a solid showing at Rookie Helena. He even managed to get a few innings in at AA. While his fastball sits in the high 80's to low 90's, he induces a lot of strikeouts with his overall mix of pitches, including a decent curve and a change with good sink. The important question is how his stuff will translate at the higher echelons of the system, but he will not turn 20 until this July so he has plenty of time to develop.

26. OF D'Vontrey Richardson

30. SS Ryan "Scooter" Gennett

Drafted by the Brewers in the 16th round of the 2009 draft, Gennett signed for roughly 4th or 5th round money. The diminutive SS/RHP was named to the USA Today All-USA High School Baseball Team in his senior year, but his future is with the bat. Though only 5'9" and 165 LBS, he possesses plus pull power and also has the ability to drive the other way. He draws raves for his speed, makeup and leadership abilites and has been called a true five-tool prospect. Milwaukee will give him every chance to stick at shortstop, but some scouts believe Gennett profiles better at second base. He figures to make his professional debut later this year in rookie ball.

We'll know how many of the guys on this list will be in a Timber Rattlers uniform to open the season in less than seven weeks. Seven Weeks!

A boatload of links

Sorry for running mostly silent the last few days. #1.) I've been busy at the ballpark. #2.) There just isn't a whole heck of a lot out there.

This should change once the pitchers and catchers report this week.

To make up for the lack of posts, here is one post with lots of volume. Or, at least links to a lot of the stories that I have been working on this week.

The big story is: Single game tickets on sale March 6 @ 10am. The 3rd Annual Rummage Sale is that day, too.

Also making news would be the two new official Timber Rattlers Fan Clubs.

The Silver Foxes is for 55 and over.

Timber Rattlers Kids Crew is for 12 and under.

There have been some changes since the last time we did the Kids club, so click on each club for more information and entry forms.

By the way, congratulations to a young Rattler fan from Stevens Point. He is the first member of the Kids Crew. And I am guessing that he is the son of a long-time Rattler Radio reader from Stevens Point. But, that is just a guess...Right, Erik?

In a semi-non-related Timber Rattlers link, Chris Bosio was the guest of Brett Christopherson, the erstwhile Timber Rattlers Beat Writer at the Post Crescent.

Bos has some great stories. On involves his first bullpen at major league camp with a strangely attired Ted Simmons doing the catching...and smoking...

Plus, an unnamed blogger won a wing party at The Clubhouse just for knowing Bosio's uniform number.

It was easy to remember. Short story, I interned at LAZER 103 (Now, THE HOG) in Milwaukee during the summer of 1988. Bos was a frequent guest of Bob and Brian. I started work at 10am, just when Bob and Brian would be wrapping up their morning show. If there was a late-model luxury car in the lot with the vanity plates 'BOS 29' it was pretty clear that Chris Bosio was in the house.

Back to the Sports for Lunch today. Bosio has some interesting comments how he handled Manny Parra's trip down to Nashville last year. Bosio was the pitching coach of the Sounds when that happened during 2010.

Head over here.

Then, click on 'Menu' in the lower right hand corner. Click 'Browse On-Demand Library'. Then, select 'Live Show Tue Feb 16 2010'. It's a little over an hour.

Two of my early in the week pieces for the website are available.

Today's The Interrogation Room is a talk with Bill Smith, the current GM of the Minnesota Twins. At one point, early in his career, he was the GM of the Appleton Foxes.

Mehring Monday takes a look at past Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics with the main focus being memorable ways the Olympic Flame was lit.

To give away the ending, this was my favorite.

Josh Womack takes his act on the road

Timber Rattlers fans will remember Josh Womack as an outfielder on the team in 2004 and 2005. Some will remember him tying the franchise record for consecutive game hitting streak.

The People of St. Louis will remember him for this appearance on KSDK



Bat Magician?

This seems like a good Saturday post

Have you ever wanted to pick out the name of an ice cream?

The Timber Rattlers and Cedar Crest have a poll for you!

There is a flavor of ice cream that is a mixture of caramel, peanuts, and chocolate. But, it doesn't have a name.

Head over here and vote for one of the four selections. Problem solved.

The choices are:

Rattler Warning Tracks
Fang's Triple Play
Fang's Snake Bites
Timber Rattlers Mound Mix

Mmmmmm...Mound Mix. Sorry. I'm supposed to be objective and not have a favorite.

Pictures for the Flashback (LINK ADDED)

This week's Friday Flashback is from an August 8, 1999 Post-Crescent article that followed the Timber Rattlers on a brief two-game road trip to Peoria. There were some pictures by H. Rick Mach that went along with the article. I could only use one with the article on the main website, and it had to be cropped down to fit.

How to use all three? Then, I remembered. I have a blog!

This is the picture I went with for the article. It is the team lined up for the National Anthem before a game at Vonachen Stadium in Peoria. I used it because it was in color. And it shows off the rockin' pressbox they had there. I'd make a "joke" about the Cardinals logo on the facing of the pressbox, but no one would get it.

I liked this one of Enmanuel Ulloa (L) and Melqui Torres (R) because it's just a quiet moment in the clubhouse after a game. And also, because until this very moment, I never knew that Torres was a big Michigan fan. At least I hope that's why he is wearing a hat with a big 'M' on it.



This is PJ Williams on a pay phone. For our younger readers out there, a pay phone is: A public telephone in which payment is made in coins or through use of a calling/credit card before the call is placed. These were big before cell phones. Perhaps next week I can find an ad for 1-800-COLLECT with Eva Savealot.

Brewers fan going to Arizona for Spring Training?

Buy a ticket and support the Cubs. Rent a car and support the Cubs.

What?

No.

Really.

If you haven't seen the news, an Arizona state rep named John McCornish has just introduced a bill that proposes both an increase in car rental taxes and a surcharge on all spring training games played in the state. Yes, even the ones that don't involve the Cubs.

The funds would then help pay for the state's portion — roughly $59 million — of the $84 million it will cost to build the facility that ended the Cubs' threats to move to Florida.

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and his friends at the Diamondbacks started the bellyaching over this proposal — even though the White Sox got a new ballpark 20 years ago through similar methods — and they've recently been joined by the Rangers and A's.

Arizona and the Cubs will contend that the franchise is the cornerstone of the Cactus League and that other facilities are packed to the brim when its fans travel across the Valley. They're right, of course, but it bends all logic that a visiting Mariners fan should have to pay a surcharge on all of his tickets when he has no intentions of seeing the Cubs play.

And the line of other owners bristling at the thought of the extra charge should kill the idea that the rising tide lifts all boats. The extra tax could actually hurt their attendance on days that Ronnie Woo Woo and crew don't show up in the stands.

(At this point, I should note that the other owners are in the business of making a profit and might just be angling to preserve space for price increases of their own. Still, I'm on the side of keeping spring training as affordable as possible — and if you've never been, you'd be surprised how much tickets can cost — so any opposition to the surcharge is fine by me.)

That is from Big League Stew.

This is from the MSN.com.

Representatives of the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox said Wednesday that all Cactus League teams oppose a proposed surcharge on all spring training tickets to pay for new Chicago Cubs stadium in Mesa

“All 14 other Cactus League teams oppose House Bill 2736 as introduced. We are working persistently with legislative leadership in the House to construct an alternative plan that will work for everyone, including the Cubs,” said John Kaites, a Phoenix attorney and lobbyist who represents the Mariners and White Sox. He would not provide details, however.