The Brewers have released veteran righty reliever Jorge Julio. Julio pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the Brewers this season and he was 1-1 with a 7.79 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Julio was all over the place for the Brewers this season walking 15 batters and hitting 4 of them in only 17 1/3 innings. The Brewers will be better off going forward without Julio in the bullpen.

The Brewers have lost starting 2B Rickie Weeks for the season due to wrist surgery. He was having a breakout season for the Brewers before he was injured. Weeks played in 37 games this season for the Brewers and he was 40 for 147 (.272 avg, .857 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 9 homers, 24 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Brewers are going to try to replace Weeks in house with Craig Counsell and Casey McGehee. Counsell has played in 35 games this season for the Brewers and he is 32 for 99 (.323 avg, .801 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBIs. McGehee is a younger model as he has played in 19 games for the Brewers this year and he is 9 for 38 (.237 avg, .600 OPS) with 5 runs scored and 3 RBIs. The Brewers might have to go outside the organization to replace Weeks eventually.

The Brewers have traded 32-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jason Tyner to the Tigers for future considerations. Tyner played in 9 games in AAA-ball for the Brewers this season and he was 2 for 21 (.095 avg, .262 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. The Brewers didn’t like what they saw out of Tyner in the minors so they won’t miss him at all.

The Brewers have placed righty reliever David Riske on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow tightness. He has pitched in 1 game this season for the Brewers working 1 inning and allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs. Riske has now pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in his career with the Brewers and he has disappointed with a 1-2 record, 5.61 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. The Brewers have expected much more than they have gotten from Riske so far.

UPDATE: Riske will be undergoing Tommy John Surgery and he will miss the remainder of the 2009 season.

27-year old righty swinging Corey Hart has turned into one of the building blocks of the Milwaukee Brewers. He played in 157 games for the Brewers last season and he was 164 for 612 (.268 avg, .759 OPS) with 76 runs scored, 20 homers, 91 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Hart made 5 errors in 156 games for the Brewers in RF last season while showing below average range. But, he does have a strong throwing arm as he had 8 assists.

26-year old lefty swinging Tony Gwynn Jr. might get another shot at some point in 2009 but he’s starting the season in the minors. Gwynn played in 29 games for the Brewers last season in which he was 8 for 42 (.190 avg, .485 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 RBI and 3 stolen bases. He also played in 93 AAA games last season and he was 103 for 375 (.275 avg, .659 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 2 homers, 26 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: B