Your links on a Thursday afternoon.

• RHP Joe Bateman, LHP Lindsay Gulin, LHP Chris Narveson, and LHP Sam Narron have resigned with the Milwaukee organization and have been invited to attend Spring Training next March.  There are folks around the blogosphere that believe this is a relatively pointless story because none of them are going to impact the 2009 Brewers.  I disagree.  Watch for Joe Bateman.  He has been lights out against right-handed pitching in the minors.  Joe was a darkhorse for a September call-up this season.  Gulin could also be an intriguing story if he gets his walk total down a bit next spring. 
• Right Field Bleachers has a very nice recap of the CC Sabathia rumors (or "Brewmors") that have been flying around the past week or so.  I'm particularly drawn to the quotation from Chuckie Hacks that says Sabathia approached the Brewers front office about a 4-year, $100 million deal.  In order to make that deal work, in my opinion, the Brewers may have to shave money in other areas.  That means Mike Cameron and Craig Counsell may not be back next season.  It's not official thought.  That's why they are rumors, after all.
• The Milwaukee JS has their team grades out for the 2008 season.  These are completely arbitrary and superficial, but they are fun to read nonetheless.
• The Brew Town Beat also grades the 2008 Milwaukee Brewers, but on a player-by-player basis.  I found it hilarious they gave Mike Rivera an "incomplete."  He needs to repeat his grade because he did not participate enough.  Classic.  The 'D' to Rickie Weeks, however, is more because that site has an unnatural hatred for the Crew's second baseman.  He was certainly not an All-Star, but he wasn't that bad.
• MLB Trade Rumors quotes Buster Olney from ESPN regarding Ben Sheets and his injury.  Apparently, his forearm pull is very much like a hamstring injury...just in his arm.  Why do I feel like Benny's agent is lying to everyone?  How do you pull the muscle in your forearm, by the way?  I don't want to know...
• Jeff Sackmann from Brew Crew Ball projects J.J. Hardy.
• The Hardball Times discusses why the Brewers lost to the Phillies last week.  There is nothing new or groundbreaking in the article, as we all watched the games, but the parallel to the 2007 Philadelphia Phillies is quite striking.  Now all the Brewers need to do is go out, get a Brad Lidge (that type of illegal weapon has to be available on the black market, right?), get a better bullpen, and we'll be good to go.
• Chuckie Hacks asks which you would rather have: Jeff Suppan at $10 million per year, or Ben Sheets at $13 per year?  Is neither an option?  I don't want Soup because he's worth maybe a whole $3-4 million a year, while Sheets will just make me upset all the time.  Take the two draft picks and move on to next season.
• Rich Harden does not need surgery on his shoulder, so the Chicago Cubs picked up his $7 million option.  Speaking of the Cubs, I heard they are planning on increasing their payroll next season again.  When will they learn that clubhouse chemistry matters, and they cannot simply buy a World Series championship?  They tried that this season.  The Los Angeles Dodgers thought that was funny and disposed of them in three games.
• The Japanese professional baseball league has instituted a ban on Japanese players that decide to forego Japanese baseball and negotiate contracts with Major League teams.  I understand they do not wish to lose talented, home-grown players in the NPB, but do they really think that a ban will stop good Japanese baseball players from jumping to the MLB?

The Javelinas played last night in the AFL.  Angel Salome went 0-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.  He also had a passed ball.  Hopefully, that is not a sign that his defense is not ready for a higher level of baseball.  Not that it matters too much, as he'll be playing in Nashville in 2009.

On the mound, both David Welch and Brae Wright made an appearance.  Welch got beat up on three hits, allowing two runs, while Wright made short work of the Surprise batters in his inning.  The lefties have something to prove this fall.  I personally like Brae Wright more, but David Welch will have his time in the spotlight.

West Oahu also played in the Hawaii Winter League, but no Brewers prospects made an appearance.  That's a good thing, as the Cane Fire got waxed, 13-6.