Arizona Brewers: Best Season Since 2002

The Arizona Brewers, the Brewers Rookie affiliate Minor League team, had it's best season since 2002, when they went 26-30.

When looking at low Minor League affiliated teams, the record doesn't always indicate the success of a team. Since the Arizona Brewers are the first step in a Minor League players progression through the Brewers organization, it is very common to have players get called up to progress quicker.

This year the Brewers went 25-31, and finished fourth in the AZL East. The Brewers had some stand out players this year who are helping their chances of impressing their club owners.

Position Players

Mike Brownstein —2B

Brownstein was the Brewers' 14th round selection out of the University of New Mexico. Brownstein posted some good numbers his senior year at New Mexico, including a .414 batting average with a .486 on-base percentage, 23 doubles, 11 triples, 49 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 57 games for the Lobos. In each of his three collegiate seasons his numbers improved dramatically.

Brownstein played just six games for the Brewers until getting called up, posting a .435 batting average with one double, one triple, three RBIs, two stolen bases and a .594 on-base percentage. Brownstein has some serious speed, but his power is very low. He went on to climb the Minor League chart quite quick batting .305 at Rookie Advanced Helena in 44 games, .375 at Double-A Huntsville in five games and .186 at Class A Wisconsin in 13 games.

It looks as though Brownstein will start the season in Wisconsin, but as a rookie candidate and with only half a year of play, he managed to get to Double-A and post some sick numbers. I look forward to see what he can do next year.

Sean Halton —1B

Halton was the Brewers' 13th round selection out of Lewis-Clark State College. In 2008 Halton posted a .371 batting average with a .431 on-base percentage, 17 doubles, two triples, seven homers, and 44 RBI in 54 games. Halton managed to climb the first two levels of the Brewers Minor League system batting .330 with a .396 on-base percentage, seven doubles, one triple, three homers, 17 RBI and three stolen bases in 25 games with the Brewers until being called up to Helena. Halton finished the season in Helena where he improved, batting .354 with a .398 on-base percentage, 14 doubles, three homers, 28 RBIs and four stolen bases over 44 games. Look for Halton to start the season with Helena.

Tyler Roberts —C

Roberts was the Brewers 10th round selection out of Jones County High School. Roberts posted a .292 average with a .407 on-base percentage, one double, one triple, one homer, eight RBI, and two stolen bases in 24 games with the Brewers before being called up to Helena. Roberts finished the season batting .125 with one RBI in three games with Helena. Roberts will most likely start the season in Helena.

Brandon Sizemore —1B

Sizemore was the Brewers 30th round selection out of the College of Charleston. Sizemore posted great numbers in his two years with Charleston, batting .318 with a .406 on-base percentage, 20 doubles, one triple, 17 homers, 74 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 56 games.

Sizemore batted .291 with a .381 on-base percentage, 15 doubles, three triples, seven homers, 33 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 48 games with the Brewers before getting called up to Wisconsin. Sizemore skipped Helena in his player progression, and is on Wisconsin's starting roster along with Brownstein. Sizemore batted .304 with a .333 on-base percentage, one double, one home run, two RBI, and one stolen base in six games with Wisconsin. The great thing about Sizemore is he has speed and some moderate power as a first baseman.

Carlos George —SS

George, the Brewers 46th round selection in the 2008 draft, had a turnaround year at the plate. Last year George batted just .234 with a .258 on-base percentage with the Brewers, but was able to turn it around to a .285 average with a .332 on-base percentage in 45 games to earn himself his first call up. George also had 10 doubles, three triples, 12 RBI, and 20 stolen bases with the Brewers. In four games with Helena he posted a .333 average with one RBI. He will start the season in Helena.

Pitchers

Maverick Lasker

Lasker, the Brewers fifth round selection in the 2008 draft, did not play all of 2008. Lasker went 5-1 with a 3.26 ERA, 4.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .246 opponent average in 13 games, one started, with the Brewers until he was called up to Wisconsin. Lasker went 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA and a .257 opponent average in two games, two started, with Wisconsin.

It looks as though the Brewers may be converting Lasker to a starting pitcher rather than a bullpen pitcher. His high numbers in Wisconsin may be related to this or skipping Helena in his progression. Lasker throws in the low to mid 90's and turned down a scholarship to San Diego State to play with the Brewers. His senior season of high school he ended the season with a 0.97 ERA. Lasker was also awarded as an AZL Post-Season All-Star.

Caleb Thielbar

Thielbar, the Brewers 18th round selection out of South Dakota State, showed the Brewers organization why his college numbers do not accurately reflect his talent. Thielbar did not post an ERA below 5.44 in all three of his collegiate seasons. He also did not average below a 10.2 hit per nine inning ratio. However, in his senior season he posted a 10.3 strikeout per nine innings ratio. Thielbar continued to show his strikeout dominance, striking out 46 in 45.1 innings for the Brewers. He also managed to post a 6-1 record with a 1.59 ERA and a .246 opponent average in 14 games, two started, until being called up to Helena. In Helena Thielbar allowed no hits or runs with one walk and two strikeouts in two games, 1.2 innings pitched. Look for Thielbar to move on to Wisconsin this season if he continues with these numbers.

Matt Costello

Costello, the Brewers 35th round selection out of Valdosta State University, also posted an ERA below 2.00 for the Brewers this season. Costello went 1-4 with a 1.49 ERA, 1.11 strikeout-per-inning ratio and a .233 opponent average in fifteen games, three started, for the Brewers before being called up to Helena. In his two games with Helena he posted a 9.00 ERA with a 1.00 strikeout-per-inning ratio and a .333 opponent-average in two games, three innings of work.

Jose Oveido

Oveido, the Brewers 31st round selection out of Miami Dade Community College South, posted a 2-1 record with a 3.13 ERA, one save and a 1.71 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 13 games, two started, with the Brewers before being called up to Helena. In Helena, Oveido posted an 18.00 ERA in two games, one inning.

Andy Sauter

Sauter, a free-agent signing by the Brewers this year, went 1-0 with a 2.93 ERA, three saves, a 1.46 strikeout-per-inning ratio and a .237 opponent average in nine games with the Brewers. The primary reason he most likely did not get called up was due to time and the fact he was a free-agent signing. If he continues numbers like this next year look for him to be in Helena.

Andrew Dunn

Dunn, a free-agent signing by the Brewers this year, went 0-0 with a 1.29 ERA, 3.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .163 opponent average in eight games for the Brewers. Just like Sauter, look for him to move to Helena next year if he continues to prove himself as a free-agent signing.

Del Howell

Howell, a free-agent signing by the Brewers this year in August, went 0-0 with a 2.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .273 opponent average in two games with the Brewers before getting called up to Helena. In three games with Helena, Howell posted a 1.04 ERA, 3.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .219 opponent average. Howell will start the season in Helena.

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