SB Nation User Blog: Infield Fly Rule

Vargas to Return

Infield Fly Rule — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:07:27 -0000

Bye Bye Corey Patterson

Infield Fly Rule — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:10:02 -0000

Bye Bye Corey Patterson

Jack Z decides to bring him in on a minor league deal.

Haudricourt on Wolf Negociations

Infield Fly Rule — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:45:28 -0000

Haudricourt on Wolf Negociations

Sounds like the Brewers are serious in trying to bring Wolf to Milwaukee

Brewers Minor League Leaders thru the 00's - Walks

Infield Fly Rule — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:36:41 -0000

2000 - 2009 - Walk Leaders

Here's a list of the top five walk (bottom five?) seasons for Brewer minor leaguer pitchers over the last 10 years:

134 - Nick Neugebauer, 2000 (Mudville 87/ Huntsville 47)
93 - Carlos Chantres, 2001 (Indianapolis)
84 - Jerry Oakes, 2002 (Beloit)
82 - Evan Fredrickson, 2009 (Wisconsin)
80 - Roberto Maysonet, 2002 (High Desert...in 81 IP)

A little more about the leader, Nick Neugebauer

(Photo from onmilwaukee.com)

Drafted:                                  Drafted in 2nd Round by Brewers in 1998 from Arlington HS (CA)
How Acquired:                      Drafted by Brewers. One of only two Brewer draft picks in 1998 to make it to the majors.
Years with Brewers:            5
Best Season:                        In the minors 2001 - went 7-7 with a 3.10 ERA and a 175/61 strikeout to walk ratio and a 1.263 WHIP in 130 IP.
Last Professional Season: Pitches one game for High Desert in 2004
Major League Stats:             2-8 with a 4.99 ERA in 14 career starts. Also had 58 SO and 50 BB in 61 IP.
Other Notes of Interset:

Brandon Inge was selected immediately after Nick in the draft.

As noted above, only two of the Brewers draft picks in 1998 made it to the majors. Nick and 6th round draft pick Bill Hall. The first and third round picks that year (J.M. Gold and Derry Hammond) never made it out of single A.

When he made is major league debut in 2001, he became the youngerst starging pitcher in the NL that season and was only 6 days older than the youngest in the AL (CC Sabathia)

While he didn't show it in the majors during his short time, Nick was a decent hitter putting with a batting average of 0.304 and a slugging percentage of 0.413 in 46 AB including a home run and 8 RBI's.

Neugebauer made 14 starts with the Brewers and had two game scores over 60. His first major league start (when he got one of his two career wins) and a start against the Marlins in 2002.

Nick had rotator cuff surgery in 2001, then again in 2003. When it was decided that he would miss the 2003 season it was hailed as the first setback in Ned Yost's managing career.

After posting walk rates of 8.9 (per 9 IP) in 1999 and 9.4 in 2000, Nick turned things around in 2001 and lowered his rate to 4.2.

He has three of the highest strikeout rates in the minors his first three seasons (13.9 in 1999, 12.2 in 2000, and 12.1 in 2001). In 1999 and 2000 he allowed less than 6 hits per 9 IP.

Was a AA All-Star in 2001. Also ranked as the Brewers #1 prospect in 2000, #2 prospect in 2001, and #1 prospect in 2002. Ranked as the #83 overall prospect in baseball in 2001 and #17 in 2002. Participated in the futures game in 2001.

2009 Leaders

82 - Fredrickson (Wisconsin)
77 - Lindsay Gulin (Nashville)
58 - Trey Watten (Wisconsin)

Brewers Minor League Leaders thru the 00's - Strikeouts

Infield Fly Rule — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:36:38 -0000

2000 - 2009 - Strikeout Leaders

Here's a list of the top five strikeout seasons for Brewer minor leaguer pitchers over the last 10 years:

188 - Yovani Gallardo, 2006 (Brevard County 103 / Huntsville 85)
177 - Jason Childers, 2000 (Mudville)
175 - Nick Neugebauer, 2001 (Huntsville 149 / Indianapolis 26)
174 - Nick Neugebauer, 2000 (Mudville 117 / Huntsville 57)
172 - Jose Mieses, 2000 (Beloit 132 / Mudville 40)

A little more about the leader, Yovani Gallardo

(Photo from Yahoo!)

Drafted:                                  Drafted in 2nd Round by Brewers in 2004 from Trible Technical HS (TX)
How Acquired:                      Drafted by Brewers. Got a signing bonus of $725,000. The first four picks that season pitchers (Roger, Gallardo, Josh Wahpepah and Josh Baker).
Years with Brewers:             6
Best Season:                        In the minors 2006 - went 11-5 with a 1.76 ERA and a 188/51 strikeout to walk ratio and a 1.000 WHIP in 155 IP.
Last Professional Season: Pitched for the Brewers in 2009
Major League Stats:             22-17 with a 3.57 ERA in 51 career starts. Also has 325 SO in 320 IP
Other Notes of Interset:

The only players remaining in the Brewers system from the 2004 draft are Roger, Gallardo, Salome, David Johnson, Alex Periard and Lorenzo Cain. They also drafted my favorite minor league name of all time Deik Scram, but he did not sign.

Had a no-hitter thru 8 1/3 in Brevard County in 2006 before surronding a triple.

His 188 strikeouts in 2006 lead all of the minor leagues.

Was the 2006 Brewers Minor League Player of the Year. Also selected as a AA All-star that season and was part of the Baseball America 1st Team All-Star Team as the SP.

Rated by Baseball America as the #16 overall prospect in 2007. Was the Brewers #4 prospect in 2006 and #1 prospect in 2007. Rated to have the best curveball in 2007

2009 Leaders

123 - Amaury Rivas (Brevard County)
118 - Evan Anundsen (Brevard County)
118 - Wily Peralta (Wisconsin)

Brewers Minor League Leaders thru the 00's - Saves

Infield Fly Rule — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:21:06 -0000

2000 - 2009 - Save Leaders

Here's a list of the top five save seasons for Brewer minor leaguers over the last 10 years:

35 - Bob Scanlan (yes, Bob Scanlan) 2000 (Indianapolis)
29 - Rob Wooten, 2009 (Brevard County 18 / Huntsville 11)
22 - Brian Mallette, 2002 (Indianapolis)
22 - Mike Rossiter, 2000 (Huntsville)
21 - Fontella Jones, 2001 (Beloit 18 / Mudville 3)
21 - Jim Henderson, 2009 (Wisconsin 17 / Brevard County 4 / Huntsville 0)

This really shows how overvalued saves are in the minors as other than Wooten, this is far from a prospect laden group. Consider this:

Scanlan was 33, on his second tour with the Brewers and was released after the season.
Mallette was 27 and was traded after the season as a player to be named later for Ben Diggins
Rossiter was 27, on his second tour in the Brewers minor leagues and was released after the season. He had a 6.15 ERA along with those 22 saves.
Jones was 25 and was released after the season.
Henderson was 26 and was assigned to low A dispite spending parts of the previous two years with the Cubs AAA team.

A little more about the leader, Bob Scanlan

(Photo from tigerscentral.com

Drafted:                                  Drafted in 25th Round by Phillies 1984 from Harvard-Westlake HS in California. He was one of three players drafted in that round to make it to the majors
How Acquired:                      The Brewers acquired him twice. First in 1994 as part of a trade in which Mike Carter and Rafael Novoa were sent to the Cubs. Signed as a free agent prior to the 2000 season
Years with Brewers:             3. After 2000, Scanlan signed as a free agent with the Expos
Best Season:                         1992 - had a 2.89 ERA and 14 saves in 69 games for the Cubs. In 2000 with the Brewers AAA team he posted a 1.79 ERA and the aforementioned 35 saves.
Last Professional Season: 2003 - Played in AA and AAA for Houston. Posted a 1-9 record witha 3.75 ERA in AAA.
Major League Stats:             9 seasons, composite 20-34 record, 4.63 ERA in 290 games (39 starts).
Other Notes of Interset:

Scanlan was traded from the Phillies to the Cubs as part of the Mitch Williams trade in 1991.

Bob is currently a broadcaster for the Padres flag station.

He was part of the January 2008 issue of San Diego Magazins as one of the "50 People to Watch in 2008"

Scanlan was a AAA and International League All-Star in 2000.

Scanlan is also a free-lance writer. If you are interested in how he felt the 2006 Hall of Fame Ballot should have looked, click here.

Scanlan played for the Brewers in '94 and '95. He pitched well in '94 after moving to the starting rotation posting a 3.68 ERA as a starter in 12 games. In his last game as a Brewer in 1995, he surrendered 9 ER in 1.2 IP against the Red Sox and Roger Clemens.

2009 Leaders

29 - Wooten (Brevard County/Huntsville)
21 - Henderson (Wisconsin/Brevard County/Huntsville)
17 - Chris Smith (Nashville)

Honorable Mention: Michael Fiers also put up 11 saves (in 22 games) between Helena, Wisconsin and Brevard County after being drafted in 2009. He also had a 1.33 ERA and a 59/5 strikeout to walk ratio in 40 IP.

Brewers Minor League Leaders thru the 00's - ERA

Infield Fly Rule — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:21:20 -0000

2000 - 2009 - ERA Leaders

Here's a list of the top five ERA seasons for Brewer minor leaguers over the last 10 years:

1.71 - Will Inman, 2006 (West Virginia)
1.81 - Chris Cody, 2008 (Brevard County 1.83 in 83 IP / West Virginia 1.74 in 31 IP)
1.86 - Yovani Gallardo, 2006 (Brevard County 2.09 in 77 IP / Huntsville 1.63 in 77 IP)
2.02 - Ben Hendrickson, 2004 (Indianapolis)
2.13 - Luis Martinez, 2003 (Huntsville 2.58 in 115 IP / Indianapolis 0.99 in 45 IP)

(minimum 100 IP)

A little more about the leader, Will Inman

(Photo from Jamie from LA's fickr site)Drafted:                                  Drafted in 3rd Round by Brewers in 2005 fron Tunstall HS in Virginia, the two prior picks, Micah Owings and Brian Duensing have spent time in the majors
How Acquired:                      Drafted by Brewers. The first three picks that season were Braun, Inman and Gamel. They also drafted (but did not sign) A's closer Andrew Bailey in teh 16th Round.
Years with Brewers:             3. Traded to Padres along with Joe Thatcher and Steve Garrison for Scott Linebrink in July of 2007
Best Season:                         2006 - went 10-2 with a 1.71 ERA and a 134/24 strikeout to walk ratio and a 0.895 WHIP in 110.2 IP.
Last Professional Season: Pitched in AA and AAA for the Padres in 2009. Posted a line 7-9 record with a 4.79 ERA and 100/45 strikeout to walk ratio in 150 IP
Major League Stats:             None.
Other Notes of Interset:

Battlekow posted five fun facts about Will Inman on this site in 2007.

Inman was the #91 overall prospect in 2007, and was ranked as the Brewers #10 prospect in 2006 and #3 prospect in 2007. Also noted as having the "best control" for the Brewers in 2007 and envisioned as being the future No. 4 starter. Ranked as the Padres #7 prospect in 2008.

Participated in the Futures game in 2008.

Was a South Atlantic League and Low-A All-Star in 2006 and a Texas League All-Star in 2008.

2009 Leaders (min 100 IP)

2.60 - Michael Bowman (Wisconsin / Brevard County)
2.69 - Evan Anundsen (Brevard County)
2.97 - Josh Butler (Nashville, Huntsville, Brevard County, Arizona)

Brewers Minor League Leaders thru the 00's - Losses

Infield Fly Rule — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:42:05 -0000

2000 - 2009 - Loss Leaders

Here's a list of the top loss seasons for Brewer minor leaguers over the last 10 years:

19 - Greg Kloosterman, 2005 (West Virginia)
14 - Khalid Ballouli, 2004 (High Desert)
13 - Chris Narveson, 2008 (Nashville)
13 - Matt Childers, 2001 (High Desert 11 / Huntsville 2)
12 - Dennis Sarfate, 2004 (Huntsville)
12 - Ben Hendrickson, 2005 (Nashville)
12 - Jeff Housman, 2005 (Nashville)

A little more about the leader, Greg Kloosterman

Drafted:                                  Drafted in 9th Round by Brewers in 2003, two rounds prior to their pick of Adam Heather
How Acquired:                      Signed after being drafted. Received a $85K signing bonus.
Years with Brewers:             3, before being released after the 2005 season.
Best Season:                         2003 - went 6-1 with a 3.28 ERA and a 76/23 strikeout to walk ratio in 68.2 IP.
Last Professional Season: 2005
Major League Stats:             None.  Kloosterman played in Beloit in 2004 and West Virginia in 2005.
Other Notes of Interset:       Greg was stabbed in an off the field altercation in Peoria in 2004.

Kloosterman was a small college All-American twice at Bethel College in Indiana.

Greg is currently part of the coaching staff at Illinois Slammers baseball and softball academy. The staff also includes, among others, former Brewers minor leaguer Steve Sollman and catcher Gary Bennett.

Kloosterman was interviewed as part of a steroid story in 2007

2009 Leaders

14 - Trey Watten (Wisconsin)
11 - Cody Scarpetta (Wisconsin 11 / Huntsville 0)
10 - Lindsey Gulid (Nashville)
10 - Nick Green (Nashville 4 / Huntsville 6)
10 - Mark Holliman (Huntsville)

Brewers Minor League Leaders thru the 00's - Wins

Infield Fly Rule — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:24:52 -0000

2000 - 2009 - Win Leaders

Here's a list of the top win seasons for Brewer minor leaguers over the last 10 years:

17 - Jose Mieses, 2000 (13 Beloit / 4 Mudville)
16 - Adam Pettyjohn, 2007 (4 Huntsville / 12 Nashville)
14 - Horacio Estrada, 2000 (Indianapolis)
13 - Derek Lee, 2000 (11 Huntsville / 2 Indianapolis)
13 - Travis Smith, 2000 (12 Huntsville / 1 Indianapolis)
13 - Matt Parker, 2001 (High Desert)
13 - Derek Lee, 2003 (11 Huntsville / 2 Indianapolis)
13 - RA Dickey, 2007 (Nashville)
13 - Chris Cody, 2009 (5 Huntsville / 8 Nashville)
13 - Amaury Rivas, 2009 (Brevard County)
13 - Dan Meadows, 2009 (Wisconsin)

A little more about the leader, Jose Mieses

Photo from Sportsplanet.com

Drafted:                                  Undrafted
How Acquired:                      Signed as an undrafted free agent by Brewers in 1996
Years with Brewers:             4, before being released in February 2003. Played briefly with White Sox organization.
Best Season:                         2000 - went 17-7 with a 2.56 ERA and a 172/55 strikeout to walk ratio in 169 IP.
Last Professional Season: 2005 - Jose played with Nashua in the Independent League going 8-11 with a 5.89 ERA
Major League Stats:             None.  Mieses played parts of two seasons in AAA.
Other Notes of Interset:       Jose was rated by Baseball America as the Brewers #6 prospect in 2001 and #8 prospect in 2002.

Was a Pioneer League All-Star in 1999.

Jose got off to a fast start in 2001 with a 2.22 ERA and a 35/3 strikeout to walk ration in 24 IP for AA prior to being promoted to AAA. Then injuries struck, first a fractured vertebre in his back, then had arm trouble and was never same again.

Jose's scouting report was as follows:

When healthy, Mieses is just plain tough. Though not armed with an overwhelming fastball, he mixes his pitches well and stays out of trouble with baserunners. Mieses has either a curveball or a palmball at his disposal on any given day and can work his low-90s fastball down and on the corners.

He was designated for assignment after the 2002 season when the Brewers claimed Scott Podsednik.

2009 Leaders

13 - Amaury Rivas (Brevard County)
13 - Chris Cody (Huntsville/Nashville)
13 - Dan Meadows (Wisconsin)

Brewers Minor League Leaders thru the 00's - Review of Offensive Leaders

Infield Fly Rule — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:31:30 -0000

Before moving on to the pitching single season leaders, lets take one look back at the offensive leaders covered over the past few weeks:

AB               546     Steve Scarborough (High Desert - 2001)/Alcides Escobar (Huntsville 2008)
Runs          103     Jim Rushford (High Desert/Huntsville - 2001)
Hits             179     Alcides Escobar (Huntsville 2008)

Doubles      49      Brad Nelson (Beloit/High Desert - 2002)
Triples         15     Dave Krynzel (High Desert/Huntsville - 2002)
HR                32      Lance Burkhart (High Desert/Huntsville - 2001)

RBI              124     Vinny Rottino (Beloit - 2004)
Walks         104     Jon MacAlutas (Mudville - 2000)
Strikeouts 172    Brock Kjeldgaard (Wisconsin - 2009)

BA               0.360 Angel Salome (Huntsville - 2008)
OBP           0.442 Bobby Darula (Beloit/Huntsville - 2000)
SLG           0.605 Joe Dillon (Nashville - 2007)/Lance Burkhart (High Desert/Huntsville 2001)
SB               70      Eric Farris (Brevard County - 2009)

A couple of quick thoughts. I found it surprising that almost every category had a different leader. The teams from High Desert had quite a few of these leaders as one would have thought, but every level had at least one leader and other than West Virginia and Indianapolis, every team above rookie ball was represented at least once.

Also, along these lines Baseball America recently posted their 2009 minor league leaderboard. Several Brewers were on that list: Farris (tied for 3rd in steals) and Kjeldgaard (tied for 4th), Koshansky (10th) and Katin (tied for 11ths) were all in the top 15 in strikeouts.