I'm hearing Durham's name
By Tom Haudricourt
Saturday, Jul 19 2008, 09:05 PM


San Francisco - I'm starting to hear the name of San Francisco veteran second baseman Ray Durham as a player involved in the deal the Brewers are trying to finalize this evening.

There's a lot of other names floating around. One has the Brewers dealing second baseman Rickie Weeks in an expanded trade but I don't believe that at all.

More likely, it's a minor deal involving either Durham and/or Giants reliever Jack Taschner. It appears the Brewers are sending minor league outfielder Darren Ford in whatever deal is being hashed out because he was removed from the starting lineup with Class A Brevard County today with indications he is being traded.

General manager Doug Melvin attended the Brewers' game against the Giants today but departed immediately and was not available for comment afterward. The Brewers have been looking for a left-handed bat off the bench as well as relief help, and have shown interest in Durham (a switch-hitter) as well as Taschner.

The Brewers have scouted Oakland's Huston Street but apparently received bad scouting reports on the struggling closer. Street, who blew a save Saturday in New York, did himself no favors on the trade market by allowing 16 hits and nine earned runs in his last 11 2/3 innings (6.94 ERA).

Ford, a speedy centerfielder, was scratched from the Manatees' lineup before their game at Clearwater. Ford was not injured and word was spreading on the team that he had been traded.

Minor-league players often are removed from the lineup before being traded to assure they won't get injured. The Brewers did the same thing with Class AA Huntsville outfielder Matt LaPorta before including him in the deal with Cleveland for left-hander CC Sabathia.

A San Francisco source indicated that club was involved in the deal. Durham, 36, did not play against the Brewers Friday or Saturday, supposedly because he had the flu.

In 87 games this season, Durham is batting .293 with three home runs, 32 RBI and a .385 on-base percentage. His acquisition would provide another alternative at second base to Rickie Weeks, who has struggled to a .218 batting and .322 on-base percentage this year.

Ford, 22, is one of the fastest players in the minors but plays centerfield, a position at which the Brewers are well-stocked. In 91 games with Brevard, he is batting .230 with 48 stolen bases in 59 attempts.

That's all I know right now. Whatever is happening probably will be announced tomorrow.