As a refresher, Butler is the 24-yr-old 2006 2nd round draft choice who was traded to the Brewers for Gabe Gross.

In 23 starts this year including 11 in the upper minors, Butler has thrown 118.1 innings, striking out 96 batters to go along with 43 walks while maintaining a 50-55% GB rate across four minor league levels.

Butler missed most of July and spent part of August in rookie ball due to an oblique injury and was most recently pitching for Double-A Huntsville prior to his promotion.

The 6'5" righty could make his first major league start this weekend vs. Houston.

"We probably didn’t take April as seriously as we should’ve," Rays outfifelder Carl Crawford said. "Coming off a World Series, all the stuff going on, we weren’t focused. We were still celebrating the things that happened. It didn’t register that these games would be as important as all the other ones."

"And," reliever J.P. Howell said, "a lot of guys were dragging and tired. I was. It was the first time for most of us with that quick an offseason. We just weren’t ready. We were physically there, but mentally? Not close."

"I talked about it a lot in spring training, and I tried to avoid it," said Joe Maddon, the Rays’ 55-year-old shaman. "It’s very difficult to not have it happen. Young team. World Series run. Shorter offseason. Longer spring training. It’s a setup for difficulties.

Missed the first inning of the game, but innings two and three consisted of a lot of pitches, some sharply hit grounders/liners, a deep flyout and a Ryan Harvey HR. It looked like Cortes was throwing up in the zone.

The fourth inning was easily his best. Cortes threw a high percentage of off-speed pitches down or below the zone for swinging strikes and K'd the side 1-2-3.

The fifth inning consisted of a walk and very weak single to the right side when the second basemen went to cover the bag on a hit-and-run.

The sixth inning was a struggle as Cortes walked the bases loaded with two outs and was lifted for Chris Hayes. Cortes was visibly frustrated and when he got to the dugout, slammed his glove and hat into the bench.

When I was able to check, the stadium reading had his fastball anywhere from 89-92 mph and off-speed anywhere from 75-80.

I know, I know. Everyone HATES Dewon Brazelton, but for some reason I'm fascinated by the guy, from the unique personal background, to the gimpy blown out knees which some at BA said should have immediately scared away the D'Rays and which subsequently led to his downfall, to the dominant 2001 college season with mid-90's fastball and plus change, to the minor league mechanical changes, major league near no-hitter, opening day start and complete downfall by 2005, AWOL and all. What a ride.

Apparently his arm is healthy [easy joke goes here] and he's back in baseball, sorta.

CAMDEN - The Camden Riversharks announced today that they have signed right handed pitcher Dewon Brazelton for the 2009 season. Brazelton currently projects as a starting pitcher for the Riversharks. He will join a roster that also includes former Major League pitcher Brian Lawrence, and right handed reliever Julio Guerrero.

Fox Sports Southwest has offered local cable provider Cox Communications a package that includes 50 Royals games for the 2009 Major League Baseball season. The games would air on Fox Sports Southwest Plus, which also would feature 130 St. Louis Cardinals games and 15 Houston Astros games.

Cox and Fox Sports Southwest recently reached an agreement to bring 50 Royals games to Oklahoma. Oklahoma, like Arkansas, has been blacked out for years by Major League Baseball from carrying Royals games but both states have been able to get Cardinals games through Fox Sports Southwest Plus.

[Both areas currently receive 132 Rangers games and 41 Astros games through Fox Sports Southwest]

The Royals' lack of TV exposure in Arkansas, particularly Northwest Arkansas, has long been a sore spot for the franchise. Kansas City is the closest major-league franchise to Northwest Arkansas, and Royals owner David Glass lives in Bella Vista.

Friedman... worst GM or worstest?