Batting Average Leaderboard

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.

The Opportunity of a LifetimePhoto courtesy of Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club

“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

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 fi rst base in the Major League is now. ”

Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club

SPORTSEYE.COM You’ve seen some of the pictures that Scott Wachter, the Sportseye photographer has taken. Now it’s time to tell your family and friends about them too. Let them know to visit www.sportseye.com to see you in action.

Wednesday Morning Results

Gumby’s Gumballs - 5Amber Alert - 1

Gorman’s Ghosts - 6Double V’s - 4

Money Ball - 7Mangy Moose - 4

Wednesday Afternoon Results

Mangy Moose - 22Gorman’s Ghosts - 9

Double V’s - 9Gumby’s Gumballs - 4

Amber Alert - 11Money Ball - 4

Fantasy Camp StandingsAfter 4 games

W L

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

batting .310, for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.

Game Day ScheduleThursday Morning Games

Team 3 vs Team 1 Team 2 vs Team 6Team 5 vs Team 4

Thursday Afternoon Games

Team 4 vs Team 2Team 5 vs Team 3Team 6 vs Team 1

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 confi dent 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 fi rst 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.

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 exemplifi ed loyalty and played his

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 fi rst 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!

Hey...What’s My Number? (continued)

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, fi ve-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

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

Scott Abrams who went 3 for 3 with one RBI. In the fi nal 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.

The Offi cial Newspaper of the 2012 Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp Thursday, February 2, 2012Volume 6, Issue 5

TODAYDon’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 offi ce. All cases will be heard tonight! And for those interested, Poker will be played tonight at Happy Hour. Sign-up know!

TOMORROW• First time Fantasy Campers refl ect on their time at Camp.

• Recap of Kangaroo Court and the Poker Tournament

• “Jimmy Baseball” visits the newsletter

Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club

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