Undefeated No More and Winless No More - Milwaukee Brewers

TODAY
TOMORROW
Volume 6, Issue 5
Hey...What’s My Number?
When I attended Fantasy Camp as
a player in 2006, I chose to wear the
number 4 on my uniform to pay homage
to my childhood idol, Paul Molitor. I began
to wonder what was the reason the 2012
Fantasy Campers chose the numbers
that are on the backs of their unis. Here
are the answers we received:
Dale Chudnow #22 - In high school,
I wanted #21 in tribute to my father’s
favorite player, Warren Spahn, but only
even numbers were available, so I took
#22. The nickname “Double Deuces”
was born and I’ve kept that number
ever since.
Dave Schlenke #6 - It was Al Kaline’s
number. Growing up outside Detroit in
the 60’s-70’s it was hard not to follow
the Tigers...
Peter Lettenberger #48 - It was Andy
Pafko’s number, my favorite ball player
as I was growing up.
Aaron Richardson #5 - I’m not a big guy,
so wanted a single digit number. I always
liked the way Geoff Jenkins played and
thought 5 would be a good choice.
Ed Doolan #4 - It was my high school
number.
Jimmy Dakolias #16 - I chose this
number because it is my wife Alison’s
birthday.
Patrick Foat #60 - Camp is a 60th
birthday present from my wife, Kara.
Brannon Guyette #47 - I was always
a big Atlanta Braves fan growing up
because every game was on TBS; 47 is
Tom Glavine’s number and he was one of
my favorite players to watch.
Scott Finkelmeyer #77 - It’s the year
I was born and I was confident nobody
else would pick such a number.
Ken Head #04 - For Paul Molitor and
uniqueness (by adding the zero).
Mike Wimmer #15 - Cecil Coper was my
favorite player. I especially liked watching
him play defense.
Bob Adelman #9 - Ted Williams, one of
the greatest of the greatest hitters ever
wore it, and that’s the number I had from
Little League through high school.
Jeff Matthews #25 - I liked Barry Bonds
and Mark McGwire before the steroids;
Bonds because he hit left-handed, and
McGwire because he played first base.
David Froelich #9 - It was Joe Adcock’s
number with the Milwaukee Braves and
my number on all teams I have been on
since 1970.
Don’t forget, if you see one of your fellow
campers, or coaches for that matter, do
something that is KANGAROO COURT
worthy, write it down and put it in the
box located outside of Tony’s office. All
cases will be heard tonight! And for those
interested, Poker will be played tonight at
Happy Hour. Sign-up know!
Undefeated No More and Winless No More
Going into Wednesday, Amber
Alert was riding high as the camp’s only
undefeated team at 2-0. Everything
changed for them when they faced
Gumby’s Gumballs in the morning game.
Frank Hanford, the Gumballs’ starting
pitcher, took the mound and dominated
the Alert by tossing a complete game,
one run, eight-hitter, and cruised to a
5-1 victory.
On the other end of the standings,
Gorman’s Ghosts, the camp’s only
winless team, got off the schneid by
defeating Double V’s, 6-4.
The Ghosts’ Brannon Guyette proved
too much to match on the mound by
pitching a complete game, four run,
five-hitter and striking out six.
Five Ghosts gave the V’s pitching
all they could handle by combining for
11 hits and six RBI, highlighted by Greg
Beaubien who drove in three on two hits,
and Scott Finkelmeyer who knocked in
two on three hits.
In the other morning game, Money
Ball defeated Mangy Moose 7-4, behind
the four RBI, 2 for 3 game of Erick Scott.
In the losing effort by the Moose, Tim
Webber and Tom Curtis each drove in two
Thursday Morning Games
Team 3 vs Team 1
Team 2 vs Team 6
Team 5 vs Team 4
Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club
and accounted for all their team’s runs.
In their afternoon effort, Mangy
Moose collected 22 runs on 30 hits, to
stun Gorman’s Ghosts 22-9. The Moose’s
Gary Anderson went 3 for 5 and drove in
four, while Robert Slak, Troy Venner, and
Barry Riskin each drove in three runs.
Everyone on the Moose had at least
two hits. Venner and Slak each had four
apiece, including Slak’s inside-the-park
home run.
Beaubien continued his hot hitting
yesterday for the Ghosts, going two for
three with three RBI. Eric Dugenske
went 3 for 3, and ended the day with a 5
for 6 performance in two games to take
over the top spot on the Camp’s batting
leaderboard with a .727 average.
Coming off their morning win over the
previously undefeated Amber Alert, the
Gumballs couldn’t get it together and lost
to the Double V’s 9-4. The V’s had 17 hits
during the contest, with Tim Adamany
going 4 for 4, including a triple and
an inside-the-park home run.
The Gumballs almost matched the
V’s in the hit department with 16, but
could only muster up four runs driven
in by four different Gumballs, including
Game Day Schedule
• First time Fantasy Campers reflect on
their time at Camp.
• Recap of Kangaroo Court and the Poker
Tournament
• “Jimmy Baseball” visits the newsletter
The Official Newspaper of the 2012 Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp Thursday, February 2, 2012
Scott Abrams who went 3 for 3 with
one RBI.
In the final game of the afternoon,
Amber Alert got back to their winning
ways by busting out for nine runs on 18
hits to lead them to an 11-4 victory over
Money Ball.
Jimmy ‘D’ Dakolias, Bob Adelman,
and Mitch ‘Smitty’ Smith, each had 2
RBI in the contest, and Peter ‘Parkway’
Parker and Phil Kaplan had three hits a
piece to help lead their team to victory.
Money Ball had three players with
two hits each, including Dave Krutz who
drove in two runs with a double.
After two days and four games each
for all teams, the standings remain the
same with Amber Alert leading four teams
by one game.
This Fantasy Camp season, as usual,
is proving to be an exciting one.
Thursday Afternoon Games
Team 4 vs Team 2
Team 5 vs Team 3
Team 6 vs Team 1
Fantasy Camp Standings
After 4 games
Wednesday Morning Results
Gumby’s Gumballs - 5
Amber Alert - 1
Gorman’s Ghosts - 6
Double V’s - 4
Money Ball - 7
Mangy Moose - 4
Wednesday Afternoon Results
Mangy Moose - 22
Gorman’s Ghosts - 9
Double V’s - 9
Gumby’s Gumballs - 4
Amber Alert - 11
Money Ball - 4
Batting Average Leaderboard
W
Amber Alert 3 1
Double V’s 2 2
Gumby’s Gumballs 2 2
Mangy Moose 2 2
Money Ball 2 2
Gorman’s Ghosts 1 3
Eric Dugenske - Gorman’s Ghosts - .727
Erick Scott - Money Ball - .667
Mike Meyer - Amber Alert - .643
Tom Lettenberger - Gumby’s Gumballs - .636
Dennis Driver - Double V’s - .625
David Maruska - Double V’s - .615
Gary Anderson - Mangy Moose - .600
Frank Hanford - Gumby’s Gumballs - .583
Randy Rautenberg - Amber Alert - .583
Steven Bogue - Gumby’s Gumballs - .571
Doug Johnsen - Money Ball - .545
Tim Adamany - Double V’s - .500
Greg Beaubien - Gorman’s Ghosts - .500
Scott Finkelmeyer - Gorman’s Ghosts - .500
Tim Horton - Mangy Moose - .500
Dave Krutz - Money Ball - .500
Jeff Matthews - Gumby’s Gumballs - .500
Pete Parker - Amber Alert - .500
Robert Slak - Mangy Moose - .500
Troy Venner - Mangy Moose - .500
Tim Webber - Mangy Moose - .500
Steve Ziegler - Mangy Moose - .500
Don Quiñones - Double V’s - .462
Aaron Richardson - Double V’s - .462
Dale Chudnow - Amber Alert - .455
Phil Kaplan - Amber Alert - .455
Shawn Kramlich - Money Ball - .455
Dave Schlenke - Double V’s - .455
A BIG THANK YOU
TO SCOTT ABRAMS and GREG BEAUBIEN
FOR COMPILING THE STATS.
L
Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club
The Opportunity of a Lifetime
“If he can get his head right, and that’s the thing.
He’s hard-headed. He doesn’t carry himself well. You
have to carry yourself like a professional, and he doesn’t
do it and I’ve said it to him.” - Don Money, manager
of the 2011 Nashville Sounds, talking to reporters
in 2011 on whether Mat Gamel would make a good
Major Leaguer.
You would think reading those words about
yourself, coming from your manager, wouldn’t sit well
with a person. Not for Mat Gamel, though; for him,
it’s motivation.
“I wouldn’t say I was mad about the article...everyone
is entitled to their own opinions,” he said. I respect Don
a great amount; he has helped me tremendously. The
article opened my eyes to things that I need to work on.
It motivated me that much more,” he added.
The Brewers’ general manager Doug Melvin made
no secret this off-season that the team would be looking
to Gamel to fi ll the void at fi rst base if their All-Star free
agent Prince Fielder, signed with another team. As we
know, Gamel needs to be ready now as that move is
now reality, as Fielder has signed with the Detroit Tigers.
The last three visits to Spring Training haven’t
been kind to Gamel. He suffered from a sore shoulder
in 2009, a torn lateral muscle in 2010, followed by a
ribcage strain in 2011. Each injury hindered any chance
he had at making the Opening Day roster.
It’s hard to say if Gamel’s physical conditioning had
anything to do with the injuries, but he’s focused and
rededicated to change.
“I have a trainer that I go to three times a week and
have been focusing on getting stronger, more fl exible,
and quicker,” he said. Gamel also stated that he’s been
“eating healthier and stretching a lot to make sure my
muscles stay loose.”
Gamel, 26, drafted by the Brewers in the 4th round
of the 2005 draft, has had great success at every level in
the Minor Leagues. In his seven seasons in the Minors,
he’s batted .304 with 53 home runs, 214 RBI and 189
runs scored. Last season, he set a career high with 28
home runs, and tied his career best with 96 RBI, while
Hey...What’s My Number? (continued)
Dave Krutz #25 - My birthday
Dave Maruska #20 - My wife’s idea because I was born
October 20.
Phil Kaplan #11 - Turns out my wife has the same last
name, so I used her favorite number hoping she will
wear a jersey to a Brewers game in the future.
David Giddings #1 - It has nothing to do with the
Brewers. I’ve always worn #1 on baseball, basketball,
and softball uniforms.
Jeff Vincent #18 - I’m a big fan of Jason Kendall.
Mike Meyer #32 - It was my dad’s number and mine in
football.
Scott Graham #40 - It’s my age.
Tim Adamany #34 - My age...
Tim Webber #10 - It’s been my number for the past
several years.
Greg Beaubien #11 - It’s the number I wore in college.
Steve Bogue #28 - It was my college number.
Rick Walters #19 - Robin Yount is the ultimate
Milwaukee Brewer; he exemplified loyalty and played his
batting .310, for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.
Unfortunately, those numbers haven’t carried over
when Gamel has been called up by the Brewers. In 85
games, over the last four seasons, he batted .222, with
5 HR, 23 RBI, and 67 strikeouts, in 128 at-bats.
When asked why he thinks he hasn’t been able to
have the same success in the Bigs as he has had in
the Minors, Gamel says he doesn’t know. “Maybe (it’s)
part due to confi dence...lack of consistent playing time.
Even with that said, this was a tough lineup to crack with
the amount of talent this (Brewers) team has,” he said.
Gamel, drafted as a third baseman, also added,
“(It’s) even tougher with the positions I play. So to say a
lack of consistent playing time might not be fair.”
Prior to the start of the 2011 season, Gamel primarily
played third base, with only a handful of games played
at the corners of the outfi eld and fi rst base. With the
future of Fielder unknown at the time, Gamel spent the
2011 season getting adjusted to his new position at
fi rst base.
“I really enjoyed playing fi rst base. It was an
adjustment but I knew it would be my best ticket to the
big leagues, if that opportunity arose,” he said. Gamel
also admits that he was “hesitant at fi rst; I felt and feel
like I can be a good third baseman, but I knew that I
might have a better opportunity at fi rst.”
Gamel’s defensive numbers for his fi rst full season
playing fi rst base were quite good. In 102 games, his
fi elding average was .988 and 11 errors.
With Spring Training just around the corner, and all
eyes poised on him, Mat will learn if his commitment
to himself and training will earn him the spot as the
Brewers’ everyday fi rst baseman. While many others
look at him to “replace” Fielder, he doesn’t feel the
pressure or see it that way.
“I honestly feel the best I’ve ever felt going into
Spring Training. I’m not going in trying to replace anyone,
especially a guy like Prince. I don’t think anyone can
replace him,” he said. “I am confi dent in what I know
I am capable of and feel like I can help this team win,”
he added.
What will this Spring Training be like for Gamel?
Will his rededication to the game put him in position to
prove to everyone that he can play at the next level?
Can he show his former manager that he has his “head
right”, can carry himself as a professional, to become a
good Major Leaguer? Gamel believes he can.
“I believe in myself and what I am capable of. Given
the opportunity, I believe I can help this ball club win
games,” he said.
In the off-season, Gamel lives in Neptune, Florida,
with his wife, Julianne, and their two daughters,
Audrey (3) and Tatum (1).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As many of you heard at Tuesday night’s Happy
Hour Coaches Q&A session, Money spoke a bit about
what he said to reporters last year about Gamel. I talked
to Don about it at length yesterday, and he had this to
add: ‘I’ve always been in Mat’s corner...and I’ve got
his back. He’s got the talent to do it. His opportunity
to succeed and play first base in the Major League
is now. ”
entire career in Milwaukee.
Rich Leick #11 - I wore it in high school and was also
born on 11/11.
Thomas Curtis #15 - It’s the first and only number I
wore since I started playing. And I’ve always liked Coop!
Brad Ziemer #11 - I choose 11 because that is the day
I was born 6/11/66, and I’ve always worn that number in
any sports I’ve played.
Don Quiñones #53 - My age is my number so I can
keep track of the year I was at the Camp.
Paul Bishop “Colonel” #21 - I chose Bill Schroeder’s
number because he is a great friend, and he runs the
best Fantasy Camp there is.
I think we can all agree to that last sentiment from
the Colonel.
Thanks to all who participated by providing their
responses for this column!
SPORTSEYE.COM
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tell your family and friends about them too. Let them
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