Well, today was a shorter schedule than I had imagined. The weather has continued to be a pleasure here in Phoenix, Arizona. It has been great getting to know the Brewers as well as the Nashville Sounds on-field personnel for 2010 as well.
Today, I got to meet some of the players on the major league club. I had the pleasure of interviewing outfielder Corey Hart and pitcher Yovani Gallardo. It was nice to discuss about the Brewers’ prospective season and where things are shaping up. Everyone seems excited not only to have Alcides Escobar in camp, but also a healthy Rickie Weeks. Rickie has worked hard at second base under coach Willie Randolph, the former major league second baseman and Milwaukee is confident they will have a nice double play combination in Escobar and Weeks. Willie would have a very good career as the longtime second baseman for his hometown New York Yankees. He would help the Yankees to win a pair of World Championships with the Bronx Bombers. I passed by him in the clubhouse and gave him a nod. It would have been nice if I had more time to exchange words with the fellow Brooklyn native. However, I just decided to wait for another time.
I had the pleasure of interviewing the Brewers’ General Manager, Doug Melvin. I remember Doug from his days with the Orioles’ organization. He also worked for the Texas Rangers. Doug made some moves this past off-season when he acquired pitchers Doug Davis and Randy Wolf and reliever LaTroy Hawkins. These moves should bolster a Brewers’ pitching staff that needed improving in the worst way. He is happy with the moves that he made and mentioned to me that Nashville should have some great starting pitching staff. The interviews with Doug Melvin, Corey Hart and Yovani Gallardo, will be made available shortly.
George King, ,the Sounds’ VP and General Manager, came to town today. He as well as Doug Scopel, the Sounds’ Director of Media Relations and myself, went to a Mexican Restaurant for lunch not far from our hotel. There was a buffet available for only $9.95. A lot of great dishes were on hand for us to try and explore. A lot of great restaurants can be found at the Westgate Outdoor Mall, which is near the hotel we stay with. The University of Phoenix Stadium is nearby and Jobling.com arena is right at the Mall.
The continuous amount of drills is the schedule of the day for the Brewers’ minor league players. Tim Dillard is expected back with the club and I notice he is using the sidearm approach to pitching. Milwaukee is trying to get Tim to do something different and Tim opted to try the sidearm approach. Dillard is working hard with Sounds’ pitching Coach Rich Gale and only time will tell to see how effective the new delivery will be.
Tomorrow, I hope to get to interview Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, two former Sounds who eventually made the majors with the Brewers. Anyway, have a nice evening and please stay tuned. As always, the interviews can be found on www.nashvillesounds.com.
- Posted on March 25, 2010 at 5:38 pm
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