Published: May 20, 2008 09:55 am         

Former manager helps steer players to TC

TRAVERSE CITY -- Brad Miller learned his fate with four days left in spring training.

The Milwaukee Brewers were releasing the 22-year-old shortstop.

Uncertain about his future, the Oklahoma native decided to sit tight and weigh his options.

Enter the Traverse City Beach Bums -- and former manager Jeff Isom, now a coach in the Brewers organization.

In the market for a shortstop to replace Justin Holmes, the Beach Bums conferred with Isom, who recommended the recently released Miller. By mid-April, Miller and the Beach Bums had struck a deal. Miller will start at shortstop Wednesday night when the Beach Bums open their season, hosting the Midwest Sliders.

Miller's story in not uncommon. Two other former Brewer farmhands -- outfielder Mike Goetz and pitcher JT King -- are on the Beach Bums roster and figure to play prominent roles in 2008.

And Isom helped steer them here.

"He said great things about the players -- and he's been right about all of the them," Traverse City manager Jon Cahill said. "It's worked out well. All three had offers to play elsewhere. They were hot commodities."

Goetz is expected to start in left field and bat leadoff.

"After I was released, Jeff made a call (to the Beach Bums) for me," Goetz said. "He said Traverse City's a beautiful place ... and (management) treats you well. He said I would have fun and it would be a nice place to play as I try to get back to affiliated ball. I think it was a great decision on my part to come here."

Miller and King were teammates last season on the West Virginia Power, the Brewers' low Class A affiliate. King will be in the Beach Bums starting rotation. Goetz played short season ball for Isom in Helena (Mont.).

Jason Wuerfel, director of baseball operations, said the Beach Bums relied on Isom's assessments in signing the trio.

"It's always important to have good connections in affiliated baseball," Wuerfel said. "When players get released, they're asked if they want to keep playing. If they do, their name and number goes on a release list that goes out to all independent teams (about 80), plus all the other major league organizations. It becomes a race at that point to check references and get scouting reports to find out about players because the numbers can sometimes lie.

"You want to find out as much as you can about a kid," he added, "so it really helps to have a connection like Jeff Isom. You know him, he knows you. He knows the ballpark. He knows the league. He knows what players are going to compete well at this level. He can give you a better in-depth scoop on player attitudes -- on and off the field."

Wuerfel said scouting reports usually provide just basic and brief information. And college coaches, he said, too often try to oversell their players.

"It's very hard to find middle ground, to know what you're getting, because we don't have the means to go out and scout these players," Wuerfel said. "To have someone like Isom, to be able to call on him and get that added report and background on players, is invaluable."

Wuerfel said he knows he'll get an honest evaluation from Isom.

"Absolutely," he said. "We have three guys from the Brewers organization here, but there were at least that many we decided not to pursue based on recommendations from the Brewers' organization."