2017 Milwaukee Brewers Record: 3-5 (4th NL-Central) Manager: Craig Counsell Current Roster Pitchers Num Name Pos Bats Throws Height Weight Age Birth Date Birth Place 57 Chase Anderson P R R 6-1 196 29 11/30/1987 Wichita Falls, TX 50 Jacob Barnes P R R 6-2 227 26 4/14/1990 St. Petersburg, FL 27 Zach Davies P R R 6-0 154 24 2/7/1993 Puyallup, WA 37 Neftali Feliz P R R 6-3 225 28 5/2/1988 Azua, Dominican Republic 32 David Goforth P R R 5-10 204 28 10/11/1988 Meridian, MS 48 Jared Hughes P R R 6-7 245 31 7/4/1985 Stamford, CT 46 Corey Knebel P R R 6-4 213 25 11/26/1991 Denton, TX 53 Jhan Marinez P R R 6-1 211 28 8/12/1988 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 33 Tommy Milone P L L 6-0 215 30 2/16/1987 Saugus, CA 52 Jimmy Nelson P R R 6-6 246 27 6/5/1989 Klamath Falls, OR 38 Wily Peralta P R R 6-1 262 27 5/8/1989 Santa Barbara, Dominican Republic 59 Carlos Torres P R R 6-1 175 34 10/22/1982 Santa Cruz, CA Catchers Num Name Pos Bats Throws Height Weight Age Birth Date Birth Place 47 Jett Bandy C R R 6-4 235 27 3/26/1990 West Hills, CA 9 Manny Pina C R R 6-0 215 29 6/5/1987 Barquisimeto, Venezuela Infielders Num Name Pos Bats Throws Height Weight Age Birth Date Birth Place 24 Jesus Aguilar 1B R R 6-3 250 26 6/30/1990 Maracay, Venezuela 3 Orlando Arcia SS R R 6-0 172 22 8/4/1994 Anaco, Venezuela 2 Nick Franklin 2B S R 6-1 190 26 3/2/1991 Orlando, FL 14 Hernan Perez 3B R R 6-1 205 26 3/26/1991 Villa de Cura, Venezuela 21 Travis Shaw 3B L R 6-4 230 26 4/16/1990 Washington Court House, OH 7 Eric Thames 1B L R 6-0 205 30 11/10/1986 Santa Clara, CA 5 Jonathan Villar 2B S R 6-1 214 25 5/2/1991 La Vega, Dominican Republic Outfielders Num Name Pos Bats Throws Height Weight Age Birth Date Birth Place 8 Ryan Braun LF R R 6-2 203 33 11/17/1983 Mission Hills, CA 23 Keon Broxton CF R R 6-3 200 26 5/7/1990 Lakeland, FL 10 Kirk Nieuwenhuis CF L R 6-3 222 29 8/7/1987 Santa Monica, CA 16 Domingo Santana RF R R 6-5 230 24 8/5/1992 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Disabled List Pitchers Num Name Pos Bats Throws Height Weight Age Birth Date Birth Place 22 Matt Garza SP R R 6-4 215 33 11/26/1983 Selma, CA 41 Junior Guerra SP R R 6-0 231 32 1/16/1985 San Felix, Venezuela Catchers Num Name Pos Bats Throws Height Weight Age Birth Date Birth Place 13 Andrew Susac C R R 6-1 230 27 3/22/1990 Roseville, CA Others on 40-man roster Pitchers Num Name Bats Throws Height Weight Age Birth Date Birth Place 45 Tyler Cravy R R 6-2 212 27 7/13/1989 Martinez, CA 71 Josh Hader L L 6-3 160 23 4/7/1994 Millersville, MD 67 Adrian Houser R R 6-4 205 24 2/2/1993 Tahlequah, OK 26 Taylor Jungmann R R 6-6 222 27 12/18/1989 Temple, TX 28 Jorge Lopez R R 6-4 165 24 2/10/1993 Cayey, Puerto Rico 35 Brent Suter L L 6-5 195 27 8/29/1989 Chicago, IL 73 Taylor Williams S R 5-11 195 25 7/21/1991 Vancouver, WA Infielders Num Name Bats Throws Height Weight Age Birth Date Birth Place 29 Yadiel Rivera R R 6-3 180 24 5/2/1992 Caguas, Puerto Rico Outfielders Num Name Bats Throws Height Weight Age Birth Date Birth Place 75 Lewis Brinson R R 6-3 170 22 5/8/1994 Fort Lauderdale, FL 70 Ryan Cordell R R 6-4 205 25 3/31/1992 San Diego, CA 77 Brett Phillips L R 6-0 175 22 5/30/1994 Seminole, FL 25 Michael Reed R R 6-0 190 24 11/18/1992 Maplewood, MN
Our Back Pages: When they had opening day and nobody came
Chris Foran , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 11:47 a.m. CT April 11, 2017 | Updated 4 hours ago
What if they had opening day and nobody came?
It happened in Milwaukee, sort of, 51 years ago this week.
For more than a year, the owners of the Milwaukee Braves had been trying to move the team to Atlanta. They had tried to bolt after the 1964 season, but were forced to play the 1965 season in Milwaukee because the team still had a lease at County Stadium.
In August 1965, the state of Wisconsin filed an antitrust lawsuit to block the team's exit. In December 1965, a Superior Court judge in Georgia awarded the Braves a temporary injunction, ordering the team to play in Atlanta in 1966. The next month, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Elmer W. Roller issued an order requiring the Braves to play in Milwaukee, and set a trial date in February for the state's antitrust lawsuit.
While the Braves — wearing Atlanta uniforms — got ready for the season at spring training in Florida, Milwaukee got ready for opening day as usual.
On April 2, 1966, the Milwaukee Sentinel reported the 13-year-old ballpark was expected to be "slick as a whistle" by the April 12 opener; even the scoreboard was ready to follow the first game of the season between the Milwaukee Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"Everything is 'go' out here," Bill Anderson, County Stadium manager, told the Sentinel. "The Braves will not be able to plead that the park isn't ready."
Ticket sellers, parking attendants, ushers — all would be available as soon as the word came down that Milwaukee was keeping the team, Anderson said. "Not one detail will have been overlooked."
Well, there was that matter of having a team.
When opening day arrived, the Braves did play the Pirates, but in Atlanta. (The Pirates won, 3-2, in 13 innings.)
And County Stadium? It was ready — and awfully quiet.
County Stadium employee Eugene Sabinash listens to
County Stadium employee Eugene Sabinash listens to a baseball game on his transistor radio while sitting in the grandstand on what was supposed to be the Milwaukee Braves' 1966 home opener on April 12, 1966. Amid battling court orders, the Braves played in Atlanta instead. This photo was published in the April 12, 1966, Milwaukee Journal. (Photo: S.Niels Lauritzen/Milwaukee Journal)
"The Stadium Tuesday morning was like the house of a deserted and lonely woman who keeps the floors polished and the furniture dusted in the forlorn hope that her man will come home," reporter Alicia Armstrong wrote in a story in the April 12, 1966, Milwaukee Journal. "It was opening day for the Braves, but the beloved team was with a new sweetheart, Atlanta."
Armstrong noted that workers were still busy at the stadium, with a crew removing the tarp that had covered the infield overnight.
"You can't take a chance it would rain overnight," Anderson told Armstrong. "Then you would have had mud. It's just a normal precaution."
Florence M. Murray sits in her regular seat - box 11,
Florence M. Murray sits in her regular seat - box 11, tier 21 - at County Stadium on April 12, 1966, even though her team, the Milwaukee Braves, had moved to Atlanta. Murray had been at every Braves home opener but one since the team arrived in 1953. This photo was published in the April 13, 1966, Milwaukee Sentinel. (Photo: S. Niels Lauritzen/Milwaukee Sentinel)
Otherwise, Armstrong reported, the stadium was silent.
"I remember the first Braves' opening. There was the thrill and the anxiety that everything was right. You have the feeling now that you know they should be here, but they're not," County Stadium superintendent Anthony Klajbor told Armstrong. "It's an empty feeling, isn't it?"
He added: "But we certainly are ready for them, aren't we?"
The next day, Roller ruled that the Braves and the National League had violated Wisconsin antitrust laws, and that the league would have to expand to Milwaukee in 1967 or bring back the Braves by May 18, 1966.
The Braves and the National League appealed, and three months later, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Roller's ruling. County Stadium did host a handful of games in 1967-'69, courtesy the Chicago White Sox, but didn't have a steady baseball tenant until 1970, when a local group bought the bankrupt Seattle Pilots and moved them to Milwaukee.
ABOUT THIS FEATURE
Each Wednesday, Our Back Pages dips into the Journal Sentinel archives, sharing photos and stories from the past that connect, reflect and sometimes contradict the Milwaukee we know today.
Special thanks and kudos go to senior multimedia designer Bill Schulz for finding many of the gems in the Journal Sentinel photo archives.
Journal Sentinel LOADED: 04.12.2017
1060819 Milwaukee Brewers
Brewers begin nine-game road trip in Toronto
Todd Rosiak , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 3:53 p.m. CT April 11, 2017 | Updated 3 hours ago
The Milwaukee Brewers hit the road for the first time in 2017 as they take on the Toronto Blue Jays tonight at Rogers Centre.
It's the first trip there for Milwaukee since 2014, and the team's first interleague series of the season.
As far as the lineup goes, Travis Shaw gets a start at designated hitter while Hernán Pérez takes his place at third base. Also, Jesús Aguilar starts at first base, meaning former Blue Jays draftee Eric Thames opens the game on the bench.
Wily Peralta will be countered by Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ.
Here is today's #Brewers lineup as the #BrewCrew hits the road to take on the Blue Jays! #ThisIsMyCrew#MILvsTORpic.twitter.com/46hlKv3Nr3
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 11, 2017
Here's tonight's @HondaCanada Home Opener lineup, pres. by @MajesticOnField! #LetsRisehttps://t.co/ANNQWLQyO2pic.twitter.com/bnxwh10NPG
— Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 11, 2017
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1060820 Milwaukee Brewers
Expectations are high for Brewers' minor-league system
Todd Rosiak , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 6:21 p.m. CT April 11, 2017 | Updated 1 hour ago
Year 2 of the Milwaukee Brewers' rebuild is officially underway, both at the major-league level and in the minors.
And as the eventual keepers continue to be sorted out up top, it's the group of talent down below that continues to generate excitement. From the prospect-laden outfield at Class AAA Colorado Springs to the impressive pitching staff at Class AA Biloxi to the stacked overall group at new advanced Class A affiliate Carolina, the Brewers enter 2017 with a great deal of optimism about their future.
"It’s like opening day in the big leagues, that base-level excitement," farm director Tom Flanagan said just prior to last week's minor-league openers.
"But I think it’s ramped up a notch or two this year just in terms of, for a full season, seeing a lot of the new, young guys that we’ve added and then seeing the guys that had a nice season last year that will hopefully build on it and continue moving forward."
Generally speaking, Milwaukee's minor-league system ranks as one of the top seven or eight in the majors. While there doesn't appear to be a Ryan Braun- or Prince Fielder-like blue chipper in the organization at this point, there is quality depth in the outfield and the middle infield as well as on the mound.
The series of trades the Brewers have pulled off since late 2015 went a long way toward deepening the talent pool. Outfielder Lewis Brinson, acquired from the Texas Rangers as part of the Jonathan Lucroy trade, is the team's new No. 1 prospect. He put together an impressive spring with the Brewers and should advance to the majors at some point this season.
Starting pitcher Luis Ortiz and middle infielder Mauricio Dubon, also acquired in trades, are ranked in the Brewers' top 10 now. Isan Diaz, acquired in the January 2016 trade of Jean Segura, is also in the top 10 after being named Milwaukee's minor-league player of the year.
Josh Hader, the team's top pitching prospect, and outfielder Brett Phillips came to Milwaukee from Houston in 2015 in the Carlos Gomez deal.
The draft has gone a long way toward adding high-impact talent as well. Outfielder Corey Ray and third baseman Lucas Erceg were taken out of college a year ago and are top 10 prospects for Milwaukee. Erceg, in particular, looks like he has the potential to be a fast mover after a very impressive showing in 11 Cactus League games this spring.
Following is a brief level-by-level summary of each of the Brewers' four full-season affiliates.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Josh Hader. USA TODAY Sports
Class AAA Colorado Springs: Three of the Brewers' top 20 prospects comprise the outfield for the Sky Sox in Brinson, Phillips and Ryan Cordell. The fourth outfielder is Kyle Wren, who hit .344 in 20 Cactus League games this spring.
Brinson's season started poorly after he dislocated his left pinkie finger on a stolen-base attempt in the opener, but he's expected back soon. The 22-year-old hit .294 with two home runs and eight runs batted in with a .973 OPS over 14 games for the Brewers in the spring after hitting .382/4/20 in 23 games with Colorado Springs late last season.
Phillips jumps a level after struggling through a .229/16/62 season at Biloxi in 2016 and will be looking to cut down on the 154 strikeouts he registered with the Shuckers. Cordell, also part of the Lucroy trade, hit .280 with a homer, nine RBI and a .394 on-base percentage in 16 Cactus League games. The plan was to try him out some at third base as well this year – a nod to the organization's continuing affinity for versatile players.
Hader highlights Colorado Springs' pitching staff. The left-hander struggled his way to a 1-7 record and 5.22 earned-run average in 14 starts there in 2016 after tearing it up in Biloxi to put the finishing touches on his repertoire before making his anticipated debut with the Brewers later this year.
"We just thought that based on what he showed there last year he wasn’t quite as affected, maybe, by the environment and things there," Flanagan said of the Brewers' decision to start Hader at Colorado Springs rather than Biloxi like they did with Jorge Lopez.
"I think either way he was so dominant at Double-A, plus there’s only five spots at each place and you have to kind of look at it and see what helps each individual. So we’ll slot him there to start."
The Brewers 2016 minor-league pitcher of the year, right-hander Brandon Woodruff, also is part of the Sky Sox rotation.
Class AA Biloxi: Catcher Jacob Nottingham and Dubon highlight the offensive portion of the roster for the Shuckers, who are in their third year of existence.
Nottingham, the team's top minor-league backstop, hit .234/11/37 with a .295 on-base percentage and 138 strikeouts a year ago in what was considered a disappointing campaign. He was among the younger players in the Southern League at 21, so an added year of experience along with a plan to keep him fresher behind the plate gives hope for a more productive 2017.
Dubon, acquired from the Boston Red Sox this past off-season as part of the Tyler Thornburg trade, becomes Biloxi's starting shortstop. He hit .368 and got on base at a .400 clip in 14 Cactus League games for the Brewers while looking like he's already major-league ready with the glove.
The Shuckers' rotation is stacked. In addition to prospects Ortiz and Taylor Williams, it will also feature a pair of former major-leaguers trying to re-establish themselves in Lopez and Taylor Jungmann. Lopez started 2016 with a 1-7 record and 6.81 ERA at Colorado Springs before being dropped to Biloxi, where he went 2-4 with a 3.97 ERA.
"I think the way we’re treating Double-A and Triple-A is we’re looking at it case by case and see what we feel is best for each guy," Flanagan said. "But he’s had quite a few innings at Triple-A, so if he gets on a roll at Biloxi you don’t have to say, ‘He’s got to go to Colorado Springs.’
"He may go there but he could just as easily come here."
Right-handers Jon Perrin, Bubba Derby and Aaron Wilkerson are also pitchers to watch.
Advanced Class A Carolina: The Brewers' newest affiliate has the most star power. Diaz, Erceg and 2015 first-round pick Trent Clark highlight the position-player side, and 2014 high pick Jake Gatewood is off to a great start as well. The 2016 first-rounder Ray, who's in the final stages of recovery from off-season knee surgery, will join this group once he's given the green light.
There's plenty of star power as well on the mound, with 2014 first-round pick Kodi Medeiros, 2015 second-rounder Cody Ponce 2016 fourth-rounder Corbin Burnes as well as Marcos Diplan and Freddy Peralta. Phil Bickford, acquired from the San Francisco Giants last year in the Will Smith trade, likely will begin here after his 50-game suspension for a second positive test for a drug of abuse is up.
This group could make noise like the 2015 Biloxi team did if everything goes according to plan.
"As a team, if you go position by position, rotation, standalone guys – that’s definitely one that when you check the game reports the next day, they’re one of the first you’ll look at to see how they’re doing," Flanagan said. "But if you break it down, all the clubs have some interesting guys to monitor."
Class A Wisconsin: Outfielder Monte Harrison starts the season here after serious injuries in both 2015 and 2016 but could be a quick mover to Carolina if he gets off to a good start.
Demi Orimoloye is another outfield prospect who like Harrison possesses tremendous physical tools. Infielder Gilbert Lara and slugger Ronnie Gideon also have made the jump to the Timber Rattlers, while middle infielder Tucker Neuhaus is back after missing almost all of last season with a fractured finger.
Pitchers Trey Supak, Braden Webb, Daniel Brown and Zack Brown are the biggest names on a pitching staff that could also include left-hander Nathan Kirby, the 40th pick overall in 2015 who is finally back from Tommy John surgery. Kirby is currently finishing up a stint in extended spring training.
Journal Sentinel LOADED: 04.12.2017
1060821 Milwaukee Brewers
Notes: Thames has to wait to face lefties
Tom Haudricourt , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 7:13 p.m. CT April 11, 2017 | Updated 39 minutes ago
TORONTO – One of the Brewers’ few hot hitters during their opening homestand was first baseman Eric Thames but he was not in the starting lineup Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game interleague series against Toronto.
With left-hander J.A. Happ starting for the Blue Jays, the left-handed hitting Thames yielded to righty slugger Jesús Aguilar, also off to a strong start at the plate. Thames has not started against either lefty the Brewers have faced, including Colorado’s Tyler Anderson, but manager Craig Counsell said he has no intention of running a platoon at first base.
“Seven games in, and I’ve been clear on this, we have young players and we have to try to get them involved,” Counsell said. “I think things will change as the season goes. Performance will dictate that.
“Starting the season, I think it’s important to get Jesús Aguilar involved. He had such a great spring, and frankly, continued it to start the season (.438 average, 1.000 OPS). I want to see what that’s going to look like. I don’t plan on carrying that out the whole season.
“Eric has played very well. It’s not, by any stretch, a statement about how Eric has played. He has done a tremendous job. His ability to play the outfield is going to create more playing time as we go into the future. His outfield play has been impressive to this point, and that’s going to earn him more playing time.
“But, right now, we’ve got a player who has played very well for a pretty good stretch here. So, we’re going to keep putting him in there when we’ve got an opportunity.”
Over the seven-game home stand, Thames had only two at-bats against lefties, going hitless. He was 6-for-16 against righties, a .375 batting average with a .474 on-base percentage and .688 slugging percentage.
Thames said he felt comfortable facing lefties and looked forward to the chance to face them.
“I feel like I see lefties pretty well,” he said. “I’m used to it. Being a left-handed power hitter, later on in the game, they always bring a southpaw to face in big situations. So, I’m used to that.
“But, right now, (Counsell) thinks it’s best to have more of a match-up lineup. I wish things happened more ideally, but you have to compete and grind. It’s just seven games so we have a long way to go. You never know how it’s going to end up.”
All for one: When Hernán Pérez got the start at shortstop in the last two games of the home stand, starter Orlando Arcia had been scuffling at the plate (.200 batting average, .250 OBP). But Counsell said it had more to do with trying to get Pérez going at the plate.
“Certain righties are going to be tough on any of our guys,” Counsell said. "(Chicago’s Jake) Arrieta is one of those guys. Hernán has had a little success against him. That’s why I went with him.”
The effort to get Pérez going at the end of that homestand was not successful, however. He left Milwaukee batting .095 (3 for 21) with a .136 OBP.
Bullpen reboot: The off day Monday – the only one the Brewers have in the first 24 days of the season, allowed a taxed bullpen to rest. Four relievers made four appearances in those first seven games – Jacob Barnes, Jared Hughes,Corey Knebel and Carlos Torres, who pitched a whopping 6 1/3 innings.
“We were in a tough spot the last two days,” Counsell said. “We can’t use six innings from Carlos Torres every seven days. That’s not going to work.
“We’ll have to find a way to lighten the load, whether it’s extending the starters or having more guys share those innings. That’s the way it’s going to have to be.
“The bullpen did a good job. The last two days, we were stuck a little bit with how we had to use guys, but we got through it. There are going to be days this season like that. There are, every season.”
