Overbay Traded to Toronto!
Minor League Report
The Latest News on the Top Prospects
Eric Sacharski
There was some player movement in the Brewers minor leagues this week, as several players were moved up the food chain. Overall though, the teams in the Brewers system took some lumps this week.
NASHVILLE SOUNDS (Triple-A Pacific Coast League)
When Prince Fielder was called up to the big league team midweek, it completed the raid on the Sounds first-place roster and left the AAA Sounds severely shorthanded. With Hart, Weeks, Fielder, Capellan, Kane Davis and Justin Lehr all wearing Brewer uniforms now, is it a surprise the Sounds have fallen on hard times?
Nashville has watched its first-place lead dwindle to just 5 games over Omaha (70-60 record). And with no immediate help coming for a few more days (Brady Clark is close to being activated, but who gets sent down?), it might be tough for the Sounds to hang on.
On a good note, it seems that watching all of his buddies get called up ahead of him has lit a fire under outfielder Dave Krynzel. Krynzel was 2-for-3 with a walk, triple, stolen base and run on Friday. He followed that with a 3-for-4 game Saturday which included another steal, his 21st of the year.
Nelson Cruz also keeps going, hitting his 7th AAA homerun Tuesday and adding a 2-for-3 game on Friday.
HUNTSVILLE STARS (Double-A Southern League)
The Stars have dropped to 23-33 on the season, surprisingly though they are only 9.5 games back of Carolina in the standings. But with 3-7 record the past 10 games, Huntsville certainly is not “making a push” at the end of the year.
Utility guy Vinny Rottino had a great week at the plate, or make that a great weekend at the plate. Rottino went 2-for-3 Friday (with 2 R, 2 BB and a 3B), 3-for-4 on Saturday, then finished the weekend with another 2-hit game Sunday. He is now hitting .296 for the season, but his offense was never really a question. Where he stands on defense is the big question, and its still not really answered.
Brad Nelson is also starting to heat up. Nelson hit homeruns 5 and 6 in AA, and added two-hit games on Friday and Saturday.
Carlos Villanueva was FINALLY promoted to Huntsville and made his AA debut Saturday, but it was not really Villanueva-like. The righty lasted only 4.2 innings giving up 5 hits and 5 runs. Nerves had to be his problem though, as he had 4 walks (a season high), but still struck out 6 in the loss.
BREVARD COUNTY MANATEES (High-A Florida State League)
Despite losing Villanueva to Huntsville, the Manatees are still hanging around in a pennant chase in the FSL. After going 3-4 on the week, the Manatees are still just 3.5 games back of Palm Beach.
Right hander Tim Dillard set a new franchise record Tuesday when he went 7 innings in his most recent start. With 7 more innings (5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K ... no decision), Dillard broke the record for innings pitched in a season and now sits with 169.1 IP.
The rest of the BC team is somewhat unspectacular though. Center fielder Steve Moss is their most consistent offensive threat, and hes not even above .300. Smoke and mirrors baby, smoke and mirrors. Pretty soon the smoke may clear.
WEST VIRGINIA POWER (Low-A South Atlantic League)
The bloom is officially off the rose in West Virginia. The Power dropped all six games this week, is in the midst of a 7-game losing streak, and at 26-28 they have fallen to 9 games back of first-place Delmarva.
Saturday night was a perfect example of whats been happening to the Power lately. Catcher Angel Salome drills a 3-run homerun (his 3rd at WV) to tie up the game, then he falls asleep on defense in the bottom of the 11th inning and allows the winning run to score from third on a wild pitch/passed ball on what was strike three and should have ended the inning.
Right hander Mark Rodgers continues to get lit up, lasting only 2.1 innings on Friday while giving up 7 hits, 9 runs and 4 walks to just 3 strikeouts. His season ERA is up to 5.48 now.
There are bright spots. Hernan Iribarren stole his 36th base Tuesday and is up to .305. And Ryan Braun continues to swing a hot stick, raising his WV average to .356.
HELENA BREWERS (Rookie Pioneer League)
Helena continues to sit atop the standings at 15-6, but their lead has slipped to just 4 games above Missoula. The Brewers had a winning week, finishing with a 4-3 record.
Right hander Will Inman had his hitless-innings streak end on Friday, but he is still dealing. Inman went 4.2 innings and allowed 2 hits and 4 walks, but he added 6 strikeouts and has lowered his season-long ERA to a measly 1.98.