Brewers send down 6 in first move of the spring

     Yesterday the Brewers optioned 6 players to their respective minor league camps.  Starting pitcher Amaury Rivas was optioned to Triple-A Nashville, while fellow pitcher’s Dan Merklinger andCody Scarpetta were sent to Double-A Huntsville.  The remaining 3 players were returned to minor league spring camp; P‘s – Robert Hinton and Rogue Mercedes and C– Anderson Delarosa .  None of these moves are particularly surprising.  I would be shocked if anyone thought that any of these 6 guys were going to make the 25-man opening day roster.  However, it is the beginning of a trend.  With opening day just three weeks away, there will be many more players getting assigned to their respective minor league camps. 

Rivas will probably play in the majors at some point soon.  Merklinger and Scarpetta did some nice things in camp, but they are not quite ready yet.  Scarpetta seems closer to making the major league club, in my humble opinion.  As for the Single-A guys, none of them are even close to being ready.  However, Delarosa did have a game winning 3-run homer against the Oakland A’s during the first week of spring games.  If nothing else, it is a pretty cool story to tell all your buddies in Single-A.  I am curious to see the next wave of cuts.  At some point, I am probably going to be irritated over the next week or so.  This is becoming a tradition for me this time of year.  At least this year I can predict it, it will be the day they send down Brandon Boggs.  Might have to ban myself from writing that day.

Weekend (+Monday) Game Round-up   

Saturday:

Brewers 6  vs  D’Backs 4 

The focus of this game was Shaun Marcum.  It was hard for me to swallow this game, especially after the man crush that I publicly displayed.  His line was 8 H’s, 4 ER’s, 3 K’s, and 2 HR’s in 3.2 innings.  In my opinion, it is nothing to worry about.  The runs were spread out, so he never got destroyed in one particular inning.  Another terrific game from the bullpen.  Kam Loe, John Axford, Tim Dillard, and Mike McClendon all threw scoreless innings.  Casey McGehee hit his fourth bomb of the spring in the 3rd inning of this game.

Sunday:

Brewers 7  vs  Royals 5

     Carlos Gomez is really taking advantage of having a new coaching staff.  If I did not know any better, I would think that he was one of the greatest players in the game today.  He went 2 for 3 with a long ball and 2 RBI’s.  Roster hopeful Wily Peralta got the win, throwing 3.2 innings and only allowing 1 run on 5 hits.  The bullpen has looked super-human so far this spring.  Mark DiFelice, Sean Green, and Pat Egan threw great out of the bullpen.  All three of those guys are in great shape to make the major league roster.  As much as I like Wily Peralta, once Greinke comes back he would probably be the first one sent down.  So, I wonder if they will send him to Nashville before the season starts just to save some paperwork for themselves. 

*Side Note – Former Brewer, Alcides Escobar, hit an inside the park home run.  Ouch.

Monday:

Brewers 12  vs  Giants 8

     My favorite game of spring training so far.  By now it is no secret that I have nothing but ill will towards Jeff Suppan.  Naturally, watching him self-destruct fills my heart with chocolate rainbows and lollipops.  After Matt Cain had thrown 3 scoreless innings, Suppan comes in and gives up 3 runs to the Brewers in the 4th inning.  Then he goes back out to the mound in the 5th inning, only to load the bases without recording an out.  The Crew scored 6 innings in the 5th, 3 of which were attributed to my favorite whipping boy Jeff Suppan.  Randy Wolf started the game and only gave up 3 runs in 4 innings.  In my eyes, that is a win for him.  It’s a heck of a lot better than the last few piles of corned-beef hash he has slung off the mound.  INF prospect Luis Cruiz was the offensive hero today, as he knocked in 5 runs on 3 hits.  Plus, my boy Brandon Boggs hit a home run today and increased his season RBI total to 11.  Kotsay and Dickerson should be making some sort of underground group set out to stop Boggs.  Otherwise they are going to be headed for Nashville.  

     I apologize for my absence the last few days, there is a nasty flu floating through the Seattle area and it got me.  It will never happen again…..well, I can’t actually guarantee that.  You know what I mean.  

     The Brewers are changing things up tomorrow, game will be starting an hour later than usual.  Tomorrow is a 3:05 CST opening pitch.  Taking a little bus ride over to Goodyear Ballpark to take on the Indians.  Steve Kubitza over at Deep Left Field , has a nice article up about former Brewers prospect Matt LaPorta.  Check it out.

     If you missed MLB Networks “30 Teams in 30 Days” special on the Brewers…….you didn’t miss much.  Unless you like listening to former Brewer Dan Plesac jabber about how much he knows about the do’s and dont’s of pitching.  In that case, I would say that you missed the greatest Dan Plesac breakdown of the Brewers that has ever been made.  I am not one of those people, so I thought that the special was not very good. 

    Have a safe and happy Tuesday everyone.  I have something very important to go over with you this week.  We will talk about it soon.  Good night my little Brewskies and Brewskettes.