We're pleased with our Triple-A roster, particularly the rotation because there are so many good young arms there. It's hard to handicap teams at Triple-A, because you don't know what the league will be like.
It's not routine, but it's pretty close to it. He should be as good as new.
A lot of people thought he was toast when he came to us.
In a few days, he should be fine. He feels a little better today. He's continuing to progress.
He went through some treatment today and the doctors are continuing to be encouraged, but he's really still in that active rest period. We don't think this is going to be a quick fix.
It's going to be the doctor's call. Obviously he's very familiar with the injury and the progress, having examined him numerous times during the winter.
I think that was the biggest factor. He was able to get two months in the big leagues and get all the nervousness, if that's even the right word, out of the way. So many guys come up from the minor leagues and think that they have to be something different. They think it's a different game. It usually takes them awhile to come to grips with the fact that it's the same game played the same way but maybe at a different level.
Everything has returned to normal. We expect everything to be fine and for him to be available on Friday unless there is some setback.
I definitely can see him playing in the big leagues. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.
We are going to have players who can pinch-run late in a game and then stay in, because they can play five different positions. That's a big move for a manager to be able to make.
We're big believers in it. In the National League, it is so important because you don't want to have to use two players to make one move.
The good news is that there is nothing structurally wrong with Ben's shoulder. It's a muscular problem and he's going to make a full recovery. The bad news is that he's probably not going to recover in time to pitch again this season.
Our policy with non-roster guys is that they be added after the workout (Sunday).
He's scheduled to have a quick doctor visit to get up-to-date with his inner ear issue. He's been doing his long toss, probably will start to graduate onto the mound and just go day-by-day on the basis of how he feels.
He's eligible tomorrow and we'll make that determination then. You don't want to make a roster move until you're 100 percent sure. It's looking good, though.
We don't know where we don't know when. That's one of the flexible parts of the equation. Obviously, you'd like it to be at higher levels because of the competition, but you don't want him pitching in 35-degree weather.
It turned out to be a good decision for him. We got a chance to see a little bit of what he was capable of last spring, but the difference this time is he's been given more of a stage to demonstrate his skills. He's been here the entire time and has had the opportunity to play in quite a few of the games. So, it's been a good opportunity for him to show what he can do.
We were forced to go forward with submissions that we feel we can defend in a hearing. It's not a personal thing. We just have a business disagreement.
No matter where he's assigned opening day, he's made an impression. He came into camp with a good attitude and he's impressed the coaching staff.
It's significant because it's from the guys who really pay attention to the details. It's significant as far as the turnaround in the perception of the Brewers, when we arrived here, that they couldn't keep players on the field. We've gotten to the point where we're proactive, rather than reactive.
It's not a mainstream public-type award, but it's significant because it comes from the people who really pay attention to the details.
He's a player who makes the most of his opportunity. There's not really one true outstanding trait that defines him, but rather you have to look at the whole package - his versatility, his attitude, his ability.
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