http://www.brewerfan.net Brewerfan.net News Alerts 1 daily http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewNews.do?newsId=71 <p>Yesterday the Milwaukee Brewers recalled outfielder Gabe Gross from AAA Nashville and designated reliever Chris Spurling for assignment. The Brewers also announced all-star first baseman Prince Fielder had been suspended three games after his confrontation with an umpire on Sunday.</p> <p>Gross was hitting .202/.321/.382 when he was optioned to Nashville on July 21. In 20 games with the Sounds the 27-year-old outfielder hit .355/.456/.605 with four home runs. The addition of Gross to Milwaukee's roster will give the Brewers 13 position players on its 25-man roster for the first time since Gross was optioned.</p> <p>Spurling, who appeared in 38 games with the Brewers this year, was 2-1 with two holds. In 40 1/3 innings, the right-hander allowed 54 hits, 22 earned runs while walking 12 and striking out 22 en route to an ERA of 4.91. The Brewers now have ten days to try to trade Spurling or place him on waivers.</p> <p>Fielder was ejected from Sunday's game in Houston after arguing a called third strike with home plate umpire Wally Bell. Major League Baseball suspended Fielder for what they called "inappropriate and aggressive conduct" after he was tossed from the game. Fielder appealed the three-game suspension and was in the lineup Wednesday night in the Brewers 8-3 loss to St. Louis. A hearing date for the appeal has not been set.</p> Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:46:34 EDT http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewNews.do?newsId=72 <p>In a move they had hoped to announce earlier, the Milwaukee Brewers recalled pitcher Seth McClung from AAA Nashville and optioned reliever Carlos Villanueva to the Sounds after Monday night's 9-0 win against Arizona.</p> <p>McClung was acquired last month from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for pitcher Grant Balfour. In five games for the Sounds since the trade, including three starts, McClung was 2-0 with an ERA of 1.42. Over 19 innings the right-hander allowed 14 hits while walking five and striking out 25.</p> <p>Villanueva, who recorded his first major league save by pitching three scoreless innings Monday night, was optioned to AAA Nashville to get regular work in the Sounds rotation. Villanueva has struggled since the beginning of July, going 1-3 with an 8.16 ERA in 28.2 innings, striking out 27 but walking 15 and giving up 8 home runs. His scoreless night Monday was only his second in eight August appearances.</p> <p>The Brewers had hoped to make this move in time for McClung to join the Brewers for the start of their three-game series against the Diamondbacks. However, because McClung started Nashville's 8-3 win Friday night and wouldn't be available to pitch until Tuesday, the move was pushed back one day. That explains the timing of the move, which surprised Villanueva.</p> <P>However, Brewers manager Ned Yost said he wants Villanueva work on "refin(ing) his mechanics a little bit" in a low-pressure environment. By moving him to the rotation, Yost is hopeful he'll regain form more quickly than pitching an inning at a time. A more regular, regimented pitching schedule may also help refresh Villanueva, who has appeared to pitch tired for the past several weeks.</p> Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:58:52 EDT http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewNews.do?newsId=73 <p>First baseman Prince Fielder's three-game suspension for his confrontation with an umpire in Houston has been reduced to two games by Major League Baseball. Fielder will serve his suspension Friday and Saturday while the Brewers take on the San Francisco Giants.</p> <p>Fielder was initially suspended after arguing a called third strike call by home plate umpire Wally Bell on August 12 in a game against the Astros.</p> Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:05:34 EDT http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewNews.do?newsId=74 <p>The Milwaukee Brewers placed starter Claudio Vargas on the disabled list today with a strained back. There was no announcement made as to who will fill his spot on the 25-man roster.</p> <p>Vargas, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks during the off season as part of the Doug Davis trade, is 10-4 as the Brewers fifth starter. While the Brewers are 16-7 in his 23 starts this year, Vargas has been the beneficiary of plenty of offensive support with the Brewers averaging nearly six runs per start. The 29-year-old has posted 10 wins despite having an ERA over 5.00 and giving up 142 hits and nearly 200 base runners in 124.2 innings.</P <p>While the Brewers haven't announced who will replace Vargas on the 25-man roster, the two likely candidates appear to be Ben Sheets and Carlos Villanueva. Sheets has been on the disabled list since mid-July with a finger injury (torn tissue and a blister), while Villanueva was sent to AAA Nashville August 20.</p> Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:45:54 EDT http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewNews.do?newsId=70 <p>The Milwauiee Brewers placed infielder Tony Graffanino on the 15-day disabled list and recalled second baseman Rickie Weeks from AAA Nashville.</p> <p>Graffanino tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee in the first inning of yesterday's 19-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Graffanino, who had taken over from the slumping Weeks as the Brewers starting second baseman, was injured when he attempted to catch a line drive hit by Brad Hawpe. Graffanino's season ended with the 35-year old hitting .236/.315/.425 in 86 games. His nine home runs are a career high.</p> <p>Weeks has struggled much of this season after a wrist injury and surgery last year. In 75 games with Milwaukee this year, the number two pick in the 2003 draft was hitting .212/.330/.363. Weeks, who hasn't hit a home run since April, was optioned to Nashville July 31 to help him regain his pre-injury form. Because Weeks didn't spend 20 days in the minors his last minor league option was not used.</p> Thu, 09 Aug 2007 21:07:59 EDT