Stars, Brewers extend PDC through 2010

Published on September 17, 2008 under Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Cue the music: Roll out the barrel, we'll have a barrel of fun...everybody sing along...

Today the Huntsville Stars have finalized a two-year extension of its Player Development Contract (PDC) with the Milwaukee Brewers. The extension ensures that the Stars will be the Brewers' Double-A affiliate through at least 2010, continuing the 10-year alliance. During that span, the Brewers have sent more than 75 future Major Leaguers through Huntsville. That list includes 2007 National League Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Ben Sheets, J.J. Hardy, and 14 other members of the Brewers' current active roster.

Since signing on as the Brewers' Double-A affiliate Huntsville has been no stranger to the playoffs. Since 1999, the Stars have appeared in Southern League Championship Series in 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2007. The Stars were named Southern League co-Champions in 2001 with the Jacksonville Suns.

In 2008 the Stars' posted one of the most impressive offensive seasons ever in Huntsville. Catcher Angel Salome set a new franchise record with a .360 batting average, and became only the second Stars player ever to win the Southern League batting title. Shortstop Alcides Escobar also set a single-season franchise record for the most hits in a season. Both previous records were set when the Stars were affiliated with the Oakland Athletics.

The 2008 Huntsville Stars line-up was voted the #1 talent-laden roster in Minor League Baseball by Minor League News. The bottom line is that the Milwaukee Brewers have always stocked the Huntsville roster with talent. The team will always be competitive and exciting to watch - the Brewers have proven that to us - so today's signing is a reason to celebrate. I've worked for various Minor League Baseball teams and was a part of Major League spring training for a few years as well; from the Montreal Expos to the Chicago Cubs to the Washington Nationals, I've met some interesting people. Although there have been some good memories along the way, there is no other organization that is more classy and none that treats its affiliates with more respect than the Milwaukee Brewers. From the top down, the Brewers personnel staff, coaches, rovers, scouts, etc., they've always been first class to work with and the fact that this union continues on makes us appreciate them even more.

I'm not afraid to say it. When the Brewers staff comes to town, they're openly friendly, appreciative and very easy to do business with. I've worked with a few MLB GMs and except for somebody like the NY Mets Omar Minaya, you won't find anybody in the class of Doug Melvin.

Behind the scenes you won't find anybody in any other organization who will go to the lengths to ensure your success more than Scott Martens in the Player Development Office. He never gets the attention and thanks he deserves, but I really don't think we'd function well without him. Always asking what he can help with, always going out of his way for our ownership and staff, Scott is the guy who makes things happen and I'm ashamed to say we probably never thank him enough.

You can keep the Cubs, Yankees and the Red Sox and all their fanfare and history, I'll take the Brewers every time. No prima donna attitudes, no big market $200 million payrolls, just good salt-of-the-earth people doing what they do best. And in the end that's all you need to be successful...good people.

I read all the blogs and posts online...fans blasting the Brewers as the team struggles down the stretch. Writers saying the team is falling apart. I don't buy any of it. When I was a paratrooper in the 82d Airplane Gang back at Ft Bragg we carried a Guide to Leadership written by then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell. I still carry it today. Lesson #12: Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. You can achieve awesome goals by surrounding yourself with optimists. I think the Brewers are doing just that. They've built a remarkable team and it's on the verge of achieving some awesome milestones. Watch and see.

You know there'll be bandwagon jumpers in the future. The team is on the rise and the wild card race is as close as it gets, but the future will belong to the Brewers. I'm just glad we're going to be a part of it.

On that note, let's get some brats on the fire. It's time to party. Here's to a couple more years with Bernie Brewer's slide, Bob Uecker's "Get up...get up...get outta here...GONE!" and secret stadium sauce.

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Southern League Stories from September 17, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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