Melvin said he’s having difficulty fulfilling Capellan’s wish [for a trade] because teams are offering very little in return at the moment.


Well then this should help. Capellan’s agent, Bill Rego, has got to be pleased to hear his client described as "disgruntled".

It's somewhat a shame that it seems unlikely he'll get a chance to shape up and get back up with the Brewers; the 1-2 punch of Turnbow and Cordero has been lethal so far, and getting another power arm would be even better.

Turnbow - whose offspeed stuff has returned after its mysterious disappearance in early July signaled his collapse - has a 13-1 K/BB ratio in 7 innings.
Cordero has struck out 10 in 6 innings.

Will Inman's outing Wednesday in the FSL: 6IP 1H 0R 7SO 2BB
Season ERA down to 0.54 (after last year's 1.71 ERA in the Sally League)
Will he be on the Gallardo advancement route this season (seeing Huntsville for the second half)?

Ryan Braun's Wednesday totals: 1 hit, 1 SB, 1 RBI... no errors.
He still has just the one error this season so far...

Do the Brewers seem to have a lot of problems with handling its younger players? Hendrickson wasn't happy, now Capellan. I seem to remember a few others as well. Just my imagination?

Will he be on the Gallardo advancement route this season (seeing Huntsville for the second half)?

I think it will depend on the advancement that Steven Hammond and Mike Jones show. Hammond returned to Huntsville to start this season, after being promoted mid-season along with Gallardo a year ago, and Jones is also with the Stars trying to battle back from a series of injuries. If either or both does well, there will likely be another round of mid-season promotions which could see Inman moving up. Although, to be fair, two of Inman's three starts have been against Jupiter, which has exactly one half-decent hitting prospect on the roster (Gaby Sanchez).

Gallardo, by the way, has fanned 19 in 11 innings in two AAA starts, and is also 2-3 as a hitter, with a double thrown in. He's starting for the Sounds in Oklahoma tonight.

-- MWE

Do the Brewers seem to have a lot of problems with handling its younger players? Hendrickson wasn't happy, now Capellan. I seem to remember a few others as well. Just my imagination?

Gary Sheffield!

Do the Brewers seem to have a lot of problems with handling its younger players?

As far as I can tell, Hendrickson and Capellan are not typical of Milwaukee's current crop of young players. HW or NTNgod can probably tell you more, but IMO the issues here are with them, rather than with the Brewers.

-- MWE

One of the "downsides" of an improved development program is that some of the talent is not going to get the chance it believes it deserves because better talent is in the way. In the case of Ben Hendrickson he has done a fine job at Triple A. But in limited action in the big leagues Ben wasn't just ineffective, he was HAMMERED. In the interim internal candidates like Gallardo and Carlos Villanueva took steps forward while the team acquired a promising arm in Dave Bush from Toronto. Hendrickson's stuff is not suited for relief and since Milwaukee now goes six deep for starters at the big league level with other folks waiting in the wings a guy who grades at best a number four starter in the majors really doesn't have much opportunity.

Jose has more of a beef in that he DOES have really good stuff WHEN he has control. But the team told folks going into spring training that there were no guarantees and Jose had a dreadful March. Since he wasn't exactly Goose Gossage in 2006, the team figured to give someone else a shot while Capellan decided whether he could throw the ball in the strike zone more than half the time and NOT have it hit 400 feet. (Homers have been an issue for Jose)

The team has introduced guys like Hardy, Weeks, Fielder, and Hart all within the past two years. The club is certainly open-minded to giving youngsters a chance. But under the circumstances unless you are deemed a "LOCK" to succeed your opportunity to impress may be somewhat limited. Rickie Weeks will get a lot of time to resolve his fielding issues. Ben Hendrickson's "cushion" for getting his major league ERA under 6 wasn't nearly so generous.

Fair or unfair that is how it is working right now.

I think there has been a long-standing perception among some players that Milwaukee is a backwater hick town, and, thanks to the recent 15 year span of mismanagement, a poorly-run franchise not to be taken seriously. I think this is part of what happened with Geoff Jenkins. He got comfortable being the big fish in the little pond, and then acted indignant when they told him he had to produce to keep his job. Same with Mench. Same with Gary Sheffield. He thought then and still thinks he's better than the team and the city. Even when the team was good, with Yount and Molitor, there was a patronizing quality to the way some players saw the city. It was the 80s Brewers who coined the term "Cheeseheads", after all. The thing is, they are right about Milwaukee. It is kind of a provincial backwater, and it is not for everyone. It's always going to have be sort of a blue collar team, and right now, for the most part that is what they have. Guys like Hall, Fielder, Weeks and Hardy seem to have exactly the kind of ethic that the team had when they were last good. The important thing when things like Capellan happen is that, unlike during the Sheffield mess, the team stands up to the player and doesn't let that player become bigger than the team.

There were rumblings when Capellan was with the Braves that he was stubborn to the point of being uncoachable. It sounds like that may still be a problem for him.

And Aybar seems to be having similar issues. I think his time in Atlanta is just about up.

He thought then and still thinks he's better than the team and the city.

Well Sheff was betetr than the team....
Sheff has taken his act to multiple cities now, basically he's a d!ck, but other teams have handled that better than the Brewers in the early 90s, I mean declaring a competition between Spiers and Sheff? Was that:
1: meant to light a fire under Sheff/ smack some sense into him?
2: a spectacular misjudgment of talent if Milwaukee really:
A: Thought Sheff would make it as an SS
B: Really thought it was an open question, who is better Sheff or Spiers?

Hindsight of course is almost 20/20, the right move for Milwaukee would have been to shove Sheff in RF, and ignore him when he spoke out of turn.

Guys like Capellan and Aybar? Hmmmm sounds to me like they could use having some sense smacked into them, even if it doesnt work I don't think their teams would be giving up what the Brewers gave up in Sheff-

I don't know that there was an open competition between the two. I think it was self-evident to everybody except Sheffield that Spiers was a better shortstop. (Spiers was actually a pretty good player. If not for his back injury, he could have had a long and productive career.) Anyway, Sheffield was bigger than the team because the team let him be. I would have let him rot in the minors for 6 years before I'd settle for 50 cents on the dollar for him.

JP:

What needs to be emphasized is that the team recognized that Gary was a horrible shortstop. The hope was that after experiencing some challenges Gary might be agreeable to a position move. As everyone knows Gary at age 39 is tad egocentric. Well, imagine him at the age of 19/20.

There was no "competition" at shortstop. The club was trying to accomodate Gary's ego while making the club better. And there wasn't a better manager around to handle that type of situation. Even Gary acknowledges Tom Trebelhorn did everything he could to work with Gary. Trebelhorn had his flaws but working with young players was not one of them.

As for moving Gary to right field that would have been a complete non-starter. Sheffield was barely able to conceal his anger and contempt for third base. The mere mention of playing the outfield infuriated Gary who threatened to go home rather than "sit around doing nothing".

Was the organization weak? Cowardly?

I think the Brewers tried to balance wanting to get the most talented player in the history of the franchise to play hard every game with the overall needs of the ballclub. And while the team, the city and fans could have done a bit more to help along the process so could the player in question.

And Gary absolutely REFUSED to help make things work.

Every comment made about Gary was perceived BY Gary as an insult. Every gesture made in Gary's presence was perceived BY gary as a slight. Every look in Gary's direction was perceived BY Gary as a sneer. He was hypersensitive. And with no Zoloft or Paxil or around it would have taken a miracle to get him to relax.

As I have written elsewhere recently, my only "issue" with Gary to this day is his complete rejection of accepting any responsibility for what happened. We do have SOME influence on the direction of our lives. Gary insists he was a "victim". Well, anyone who thinks Gary Sheffield has EVER been victimized please let me know so I can sell you a couple of bridges located in outer Mongolia.

That and the attacks on the city of Milwaukee. The city that cheered lustily for Aaron, Covington, etc. of the Braves. The city that crowd out "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMEEERRR" as George Scott approached the plate. The city that shook the walls of County Stadium with their chants of "Cooooooooooop" as Cecil took his stance with the game on the line.

THAT, my fellow Primates, is the biggest pile of horsesh*t this side of the Mississippi. Milwaukee adores ANYONE who busts it on the field. This city has "issues" when somebody calls them hicks, losers, and in between insults loafs around the diamond. That doesn't endear one to the Milwaukee masses.

harvey,

do you think that the team could have done anything different with sheff?

why do you think they just didn't tell him from the beginning that he couldn't play SS - why the "competition" when there asn't one?

if it was you, what would you have done?

BC:

Good heavens.

First, I would have removed the shades of gray around the situation. I would have explained to Gary the following:

--he was the most talented player on the team
--he was a highly valued member of the organization
--he could maximize the team's chances of success by playing third base
--he could maximize his value ($$$) by playing third base
--I and the organization would do everything possible to smooth that transition
--that he would only read GLOWING things uttered by me about him in the papers
--that he would only hear GLOWING things uttered by me about him on the radio/tv
--that he was contractually bound to us until X amount of time had passed and that sitting out, retiring, or otherwise NOT playing would hurt his value ($$$) and reputation.
--that he could go home, overseas, climb a mountain, or otherwise disappear to accept the move. For two weeks.
--that if b*tched in the media before giving me the courtesy of b*tching to my face I would meet him in the parking lot. And if he wanted to tango right now that's fine. But as long as I NEVER found out about a complaint before some ######### with a pen or microphone he could say whatever he wanted.
--that if he called out a teammate before talking to the teammate first I would not intervene on his behalf. But if he wanted to sit down with someone and call them a worthless, racist c*cks*cker I would be happy to mediate the meeting. but again, do it the press without talking to the teammate first I wouldn't get in the way of a bare-knuckled brawl.

That would be the framework of the relationship.

Hiring Stupid and Super-Stupid (Bando and Garner) was the exact WRONG thing to do. For two such tough guys as players they couldn't have been more weak-kneed as GM and manager. Gary said "boo" and they scurried to the next county.

Gary just needed structure. And praise. Lots and lots and LOTS of praise. And considering his ability what's not to like?

Considering the rest of the team I could have managed around the rabbit ears. Most grown men understand that teen-agers need to be mentored. And in my experience when I tell someone to stand down and give someone some space they d*mn well stand down.

At least, in my experience.

Harvey, fans cheering Aaron and Cooper does not change the fact that Milwaukee was and is one of the most racist cities in America. Yeah, it's nice if you're a star and you make lots of money, but any socially conscious person, black or white, should be bothered by the deplorable de facto Jim Crow situation in that city. That has nothing to do with Sheffield, mind you - I think he hated Milwaukee from the day he was drafted, and nothing was going to change that - but if I were, say, Bill Hall, or Michael Redd, I'd complain loudly about Milwaukee's horrible race situation every chance I got.

Aybar update:

Suspended Braves infielder Willy Aybar is in Boston, struggling with substance abuse and trying to get his life and baseball career back in order, his agent told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The agent, Luis Valdez, said the distraught player was dealing with 'drinking and drugs' and that he drove alone from Atlanta to Boston to be with his brother, Francis Aybar, who lives there.

harvey,

do you think that bando and treb/phil were told by bud selig not to do any of that?


and i DO believe that teenage guys mind you juuuust fine
and i do believe that young males DID respect your daughters and all you shook was their hand

HSF:

But Sheffield's complaints were that the fans didn't love him enough, not that he was pulled over at 2 a.m. for "being black".

Bill Hall IS doing what he can to make a difference. It's sad that the local powers that be are more interested in exploiting the situation than in rectifying it.

In the end this stuff changes one person at a time. It may be all too sad but true that my generation has to die as well as our kids passing on before real change takes place. I know my grandkids are so surrounded by diversity they don't have the time, inclination, or energy to "hate" based on pigmentation. Cripes, if they "hated" everyone who didn't look just like them they would never leave the house. I sent to a kindergarten graduation and I might as well have been hanging out in the lobby of the UN.

And it was great.

As for moving Gary to right field that would have been a complete non-starter. Sheffield was barely able to conceal his anger and contempt for third base. The mere mention of playing the outfield infuriated Gary who threatened to go home rather than "sit around doing nothing".

Yes Sheff is a blowhard, he's made the threat to go home and sit around and do nothing if he didn;t get his way everywhere he's played- and when his bluff's been called it's been just that, a bluff. (20/20 hindsight of course- plus where a 30 year old may threaten to do something monumentally stupid- but not do it- a 20 year old just might...)

IMHO every player is different, some should get a swift kick in the rear, some need to have smoke blown their way, and some should just be ignored. The Brewers should have just written Sheff's name on the lineup card for 3rd or wherever they thought it was best to play him, and then ignored whatever he said after that. And if actually insubordinate, if he refused to take the field- suspend him, if he playe dpoorly, bench him. Trying to explain things to him was/is a waste of time. He may "want" to be praised, but he doesn't need it to perform.

bc:

Well, that's not completely accurate. My oldest daughter is a lot like me in personality (argue any point until she passes out from exhaustion) but very attractive (like her mother). So come about age 14 I had every hound dog on two legs sniffing around my door.

Fifteen years old a senior wants to take her to the prom. I am vehemently opposed but my wife says "Why of course dear" while shooting darts in my direction. Yes we knew the lad's family but 15? FIFTEEN??? I tell her 11 p.m., wife tells her midnight and I get an 11:30 p.m. curfew. Come 11:31 I am out the door and find them NOT on the way home though still dressed. As I lead her to the truck (protesting is a nice way to put it) Sir Galahad starts to get out of his vehicle for what purpose I have no idea. I tell him, "Son, you can get out of that car but if you do you are going home in a hearse."

Supposedly my daughter was the laughingstock and ridiculed the following week at school and of course claims to carry the scars from that event to this day. But all I know is that for the next few years until she was out of my hands the male suitors got her home on time. Small consolation knowing that they still had time to engage in all the wrong things. But I like to think that somewhere in the back of their lecherous minds the vision of me reaching down their gullets and ripping out their lungs possibly influenced their actions. She didn't get pregnant until well into her 20's so I amuse myself that I played a role in that small victory. Even the smart ones can get dumb when the hormones are let loose in the early stages.

That, and always cleaning my guns when so-called boyfriends visited the first time. I used every mechanism at my disposal to let these lads know that if required I will whatever means necesssary to enforce the rules.

I have two daughters (the second wasn't nearly the aggravation after the first one's experiences) and both hold center court at family events telling the next generation of females how easy they have it with their fathers.

Like I tell my male descendants, don't be bringing no knife to a gunfight.

harvey,

amazing how most times kids be like their parents both good and bad.

my mama always sez when it comes to men you gotta take the good with the bad. but that is true with everybody.

my daddy he always sez the reason God give men daughters is to get even with them for what the did/tried to do to every other man's daughter.

as my brother the playa sez - never f**k with some grrrl's daddy. there always plenty of grrrls got no daddy.

and don't be listening to all that stuff your grrrls be tellin their grrrls. no matter how much we complain it is a relief knowing your daddy got your back. and that you can say stuff like - well, i don't guess i can stop you - you biggern me, but i gonna tell my daddy and he gonna kill you.

hard to stop a grrrl from doing something she bound and determined to do (weaker sex my azz) but it would have been worse you not there to run off most of the dogs.

- and about sheff and the fans - well, i never been to milwaukee so i don't know how things are Up There. or how things was back in 1989. but i can say this - sometimes people don't like you CUZ you are black. sometimes people don't like you AND you are black. saying it is not ok to do the second is just as racist as the first.

and you right about things change one generation at a time. things SO different for me then for my own parents. and things was different for them then it was for THEIR parents. maybe it is just us as americans but we all so impatient for things to be different this second. for changes to be done this second. it just don't work like that changing people minds. or the way they think.