Brewer News for December 2nd, 2013

Perhaps the Brewers will have a reason to celebrate in 2014. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Hello again everyone and welcome to the Monday morning edition of Brewer Daily News. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the news from the past week and reviewing what all happened in the world of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Braun

Last Wednesday, Brewers’ outfielder Ryan Braun spoke publicly at a Miller Park Thanksgiving charity event about his suspension in the 2013 season. Braun was suspended, without pay, back on July 22 for his admitted usage of a banned Major League Baseball substance. He will be eligible to return to the team for the start of the 2014 season.

In his speech, Braun talked about moving on past the situation and looking forward to the next season. It had been a floating rumor around the clubhouse that Braun will switch to right field next year as a platoon of Norichika Aoki and Khris Davis would go to left.

Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame ballot was released last week with some new faces becoming contenders to get voted into Cooperstown in January. Among the new candidates, Brewers’ four-year first baseman Richie Sexson is a new timer to the ballot.

Sexson played with the Brew Crew from 2000 to 2003 and hit .276/.366/.536 with 133 homers and 398 RBIs in 534 games played. Joining Sexson on the ballot are first timers are second baseman Ray Durham and reliever Eric Gagne, who both had very short tenures in Milwaukee.

Dominican Winter League

For the Tigres del Licey, two of the Brewers have been getting some play time, but not much. First baseman Juan Francisco only played in one game last week and scored a run with no plate appearances. Reliever Alfredo Figaro pitched five innings while giving up two runs, two hits, one walk and struck out five. Sean Halton and Ariel Pena have not played since early November.

Elian Herrera is playing for the Estrellas de Oriente and has gone 8-for-19 (.421) in the past week while smacking two triples and scoring four runs. Brewers’ outfield prospect Jason Rogers, who played in the Arizona Fall League, has found a team in the Toros del Este and has only played in one game.

RtB articles

Around the site in the past week, there were articles discussing trade candidates and other free-agency news. Co-editor Justin Schultz talked about Aramis Ramirez being a bounce-back candidate, senior staff writer Lou Olsen asks if the Brewers made the right call on Kentrail Davis and staff writer David Grant looks at his best case scenarios for next year’s starting rotation.