Something Brewing with Gallardo, Braun

Our Eric Mack takes a look at baseball's potential impact prospects and rookies every Thursday. This week we focus in on the Brewers, who find themselves in a pennant race for the first time in decades.

June 1 is generally the time teams decide who they are: Contenders or pretenders.

Count the upstart Brewers as a contender for the first time in decades.

Unaccustomed to the comfy lead they have in their division, they usually are focusing on calling up the Rickie Weeks(es) and Prince Fielder(s) and gearing up for the June amateur draft. The front office had those discussions this time of year (in 2005 in the case of Weeks, Fielder).

Now, it might be: Who do the Brewers have on the farm to trade for help down the stretch?

Coincidentally, they have a Prospect-22: Two more elite talents too good to trade, Yovani Gallardo (currently in Triple A) and Ryan Braun (recalled May 24).

Those are your aces in the hole down the stretch right there, the equivalent of trade-deadline acquisitions (minus the bad contracts and buyer's remorse of a summer rental).

Gallardo, who was outstanding in his last start, is just an injury away from a call-up and is a must-stash in any Fantasy league you have reserve space. Braun is a masher you know if you paid attention early this spring.

Here we break down the Brew Crew's top prospects for Fantasy leagues this season (all stats are through Wednesday, May 23):

1. RHP Yovani Gallardo, 21, 6-feet-3, 215 pounds

Triple-A numbers (54 2/3 innings): 6-1, 2.14 ERA, 76 Ks, .177 batting-average-against
Drafted: High school, Round 2 in 2004

Coming into the season, we regarded Gallardo as the Brewers' No. 2 Fantasy prospect because rookie starters on non-contenders don't figure to be anything better than a .500 pitcher. Strike that now. If this Francisco Liriano-like talent gets a call-up to join the rotation, do cartwheels. His strikeout rate makes him a potential waiver-wire gem down the stretch for a team that can make him a big-time winner in Fantasy leagues instantly.

ETA: mid-summer 2007.

2. 3B Ryan Braun, 23, 6-feet-2, 200 pounds

Triple-A numbers (113 at-bats): .354 average, 10 HR, 22 RBI, 27 R, 4 SB
Drafted: Miami, Round 1 (No. 5 overall) in 2005

If not for his defensive liability at third this spring, Braun would have made the team and might have been the NL front-runner for Rookie of the Year. There's still time to make that happen, especially if Corey Koskie (post-concussion syndrome) cannot return in mid-June. Braun is one of the most intriguing five-tool prospects in baseball and received the good news Thursday, when the Brewers decided to call him up to take over for the likes of utility men Craig Counsell and Tony Graffanino at third. Braun is a better long-term Fantasy player than Gallardo, because five-category sluggers (AVG-HR-RBI-R-SB) have more value than any pitcher, but Alex Gordon's struggles with the Royals have us preaching caution on Braun, one of the best in the elite class of future hot corner stars.

Milwaukee fans have been clamoring for him, and they got their wish. Grab him up in all leagues if you can, but we are preaching patience.

"It's not just as simple as bringing a guy in," GM Doug Melvin told MLB.com on Wednesday. "Who do you get rid of? And two weeks from now, if it doesn't work out, what do you do then? This isn't Rotisserie."

Uh, yeah it is. To us at least.

ETA: Called up May 24.

Other long-term Brewers prospects:

3. RHP Will Inman, 20, 6-feet, 200 pounds
High Class A numbers (53 2/3 innings): 3-2, 1.34 ERA, 65 Ks, .219 BAA
Drafted: High school, Round 3 in 2005

One of the few arms in the minor leagues whose numbers can compare to Gallardo's. The problem with Inman in Fantasy is he's way too young and raw to be considered a candidate to help in 2007. He's a top-notch prospect who is worth stashing in long-term keeper leagues, though. He might even be the bargaining chip the Brewers use (they shouldn't) in a package to get Dontrelle Willis, Carlos Zambrano or to a lesser extent Mark Buehrle to bolster the front end of their rotation. ETA: September '07 call-up as reliever (at best).

4. C Lou Palmisano, 24, 6-feet-1, 185 pounds
Double-A numbers (103 at-bats): .330 AVG, 4 HR, 25 RBI, 21 R, 5 SB
Drafted: Broward CC, Round 3 in 2003

A disappointing 2006 had forced Palmisano off numerous prospects lists this spring, but his hot start in Double-A doesn't surprise us any. His numbers this year have almost trumped his 2006 already (.241-4-37-39-2 in 332 Double-A at-bats). This backstop can hit and he could eventually (at age 27?) be a top Fantasy option at his position. The question is: Can he catch? With Johnny Estrada entrenched as the Brewers' catcher, Palmisano is a candidate to be a midseason bargaining chip, especially to an AL team that could consider him a future C/DH. He strikes out too much (25), but he draws his walks (21) and has a .465 on-base percentage. Unlike the three elite talents ahead of him on this list, Palmisano has value and is expendable for immediate help. ETA: September call-up 2007.

5. LHP Manny Parra, 24, 6-feet-3, 200 pounds
Double-A numbers (47 1/3 innings): 5-1, 3.04 ERA, 46 Ks, .250 BAA
Drafted: American River (Calif.) JC, Round 26 in 2001

Long considered one of the franchise's top prospects, Parra has been slow to develop because of injury woes. His health is finally in order, and now so too are the results. As an experienced minor league lefty, Parra should help the Brewers down the stretch at least in a relief capacity. He should arrive before Inman, but he's no longer considered an elite prospect on the level of Gallardo or even Mark Rogers (shoulder), who needed season-ending surgery. Long term, Parra can develop into a serviceable middle-of-the-rotation starter. ETA: September '07 call-up as reliever.

The best of the rest: High Class A OF Cole Gillespie; High Class A SS Alcides Escobar; Triple-A LHP Zach Jackson; Low Class A OF Darren Ford; Triple-A RHP Tim Dillard; Low Class A SS Brent Brewer; High Class OF Chris Errecart; Triple-A INF Vinny Rottino; Triple-A LF/1B Brad Nelson.

On the verge

Here are some of our favorite prospects who are in the minor leagues and are worth tracking closely (stats through May 23):

Minor league hotlist
	Position, player, team	Minor league stats
1	SP Yovani Gallardo, MIL	Triple-A: (6-1), 2.14 ERA, 76 K, 0.951 WHIP
The Brewers don't have a weak link in rotation, yet. They will.
2	SP Homer Bailey, CIN	Triple-A: (4-1)-1.99-34-1.059
He returned from Triple-A DL and is only few starts away.
3	3B Ryan Braun, MIL	Triple-A: .354-10-22-27-4
Got the call just hours after we put the bow on this column. What foresight!
4	SP Kevin Slowey, MIN	Triple-A: (5-2)-1.76-50-0.799
Scott Baker proved worthy, so now he waits on Ramon Ortiz.
5	SP Andrew Miller, DET	A-AA: (1-4)-2.92-35-1.300
Had great starts with Tigers and return outing in Double-A.
Honorable mentions: SP Matt Garza, MIN; SP Eric Hurley, TEX; OF Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS; SP Clay Buchholz, BOS; 3B Brandon Wood, LAA; C Jeff Mathis, LAA; SP Jeff Niemann, TB; SP Andy Sonnanstine, TB; SP Josh Banks, TOR; OF Justin Upton, TB; SP Troy Patton, HOU; 3B Ian Stewart, COL; 1B Steven Pearce, PIT; OF Rick Ankiel, STL; 1B/OF James Loney, LAD; C Lou Palmisano, MIL; SS Reid Brignac, TB; SP Philip Humber, NYM; 3B Evan Longoria, TB; SP Chuck Lofgren, CLE; 3B Chase Headley, SD; 3B/OF Josh Fields, CHW; SP Nick Adenhart, LAA; OF Wladimir Balentien, SEA; OF Terry Evans, LAA; OF Adam Jones, SEA; SS Sean Rodriguez, LAA.

Rookie watch

Here are the top rookies in Fantasy to date (stats through May 23):

Top 5 AL Fantasy Rookies
	Position, player, team	Rotisserie stats to date
1	SP Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS	6-2, 4.06 ERA, 58 K, 1.177 WHIP, 0 SV
He's on cruise control right now, limiting batters to .235 BAA.
2	OF Reggie Willits, LAA	.342 AVG, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 21 R, 11 SB
Injury, not veterans, might force him to slow down now.
3	RP Joakim Soria, KC	(1-2)-3.57-25-1.368-0
Octavio Dotel is back but Soria is still stopgapping as closer.
4	SP John Danks, CHW	(3-4)-3.78-36-1.342-0
If he was still with Texas, he would be their ace right now.
5	RP Hideki Okajima, BOS	(0-0)-0.79-24-0.794-2
Finally gave up a run, but he picked up spot save last week.
Honorable mentions: OF Elijah Dukes, TB; RF Delmon Young, TB; SP Tyler Clippard, NYY; SP Jeremy Guthrie, BAL; OF Travis Buck, OAK; OF Adam Lind, TOR; 2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS; 3B Akinori Iwamura, TB; SP Phil Hughes, NYY; RP Dustin Moseley, LAA; SP Brian Bannister, KC; SP Darrell Rasner, NYY; 3B Alex Gordon, KC; SP Brian Burres, BAL.

Top 5 NL Fantasy Rookies
	Position, player, team	Rotisserie stats
1	OF Hunter Pence, HOU	.341 AVG, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 11 R, 2 SB
He has posted a near 1.000 OPS in his first 23 games in majors.
2	SP Tim Lincecum, SF	(2-0), 3.08 ERA, 25 K, 1.025 WHIP, 0 SV
Past starts has evoked thoughts of an immediate Fantasy ace.
3	OF Josh Hamilton, CIN	.261-8-18-20-3
Recent DL trip has him fallen from the top, but he'll be back.
4	CF Chris Young, ARI	.268-6-18-20-6
Despite slow start, he's right on pace for what we projected.
5	C Carlos Ruiz, PHI	.261-3-17-16-1
Has had a quiet week, but production at catcher is noteworthy.
Honorable mentions: RP Henry Owens, FLA; SP Chris Sampson, HOU; SP Jason Hirsh, COL; SP Micah Owings, ARI; SP Justin Germano, SD; OF Alejandro De Aza, FLA; SS Troy Tulowitzki, COL; RP Joe Smith, NYM; 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, SD; 3B Mark Reynolds, ARI; RP Doug Slaten, ARI; OF Tony Gwynn, Jr., MIL.

Baby talk

Joe Brodesko, Virginia Beach, Va.: How long is Reggie Willits going to be around? I'm tempted to pick him up, but my league limits transactions allowed and I'm worried about his playing time once Garret Anderson is back.

Emack: Willits will be a No. 4 outfielder, although Anderson could see time at DH. We say use Willits in deeper Rotisserie leagues still because of the steals, but most Head-to-Head points leagues will have productive options. Willits can steal bases, but he's not this good with the bat. A lack of power really hurts him.

DB: Cesar Carrillo. Any word on how this San Diego pitching prospect is doing? I haven't heard anything about him lately.

Emack: He had Tommy John surgery recently and is out for the year. He won't impact Fantasy leagues until late 2008 at the earliest.

88mph: Carlos Carrasco, who I cannot find in the CBS Sportsline, Jeff Niemann or Kevin Slowey -- who is most likely to hit the bigs first, and who is most likely to have the biggest Fantasy contribution this season?

Emack: Slowey and Niemann are very close to be ready, if not ready already. Carrasco is a Class A pitching prospect for the Phillies. Class A pitching prospects usually aren't worth looking at in yearly leagues. Slowey has the best situation to work in, because the Twins are plausible contenders. The Devil Rays wouldn't offer Niemann much in the way of support.

Tom Cheles: Do you think Cameron Maybin will see some playing time this year?

Emack: He might get a taste at some point with the Tigers, perhaps in September, but he won't be a regular. Consider him only in long-term keeper leagues.

Fernando: I am in a 10-player keeper league and I am looking for long-term players/rookies. Do you think Ryan Braun is a solid option?

Emack: Assuming you mean the 3B and not the RP, uh, yeah. A future five-category star.

You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Prospects Report in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we do not guarantee personal responses to all questions.