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Tuesday's Frosty Mug

My to do list for today:

Beat Battlekow at Boggle
Write Frosty Mug

It's a good thing I accomplished the first one, because there's really not much to write about today.

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score

Today's Brewer notes are largely visitor oriented. First, as mentioned in the comments of yesterday's Mug, Stacey from Camden Chat visited Miller Park along with the Orioles over the weekend and offers a nice review.

It's no secret that the Brewers love playing at home. But La Velle Neal notes the Twins like visiting Miller Park too, and have turned their season around in Milwaukee every year since 2005. (Also noted in Fanshots.

It's been a while since we've looked at these: the BP Postseason Odds. Right now the Brewers project for 87.4 wins and a 10.3% chance of winning the Central. It's still too early to talk Wild Card.

Back in March, I (very subtly) hinted that I'd like someone to make me a Ryan Braun wallpaper. While I was on vacation, Josh Downie came through for me. Now, I have a slightly different request. See this terrible, painful song about Jason Bay? Brewer fans, I'm begging you, please don't make those. Especially if you sing too high and create a sound like fingernails on a chalkboard.

On injuries:

Reds 3B Edwin Encarnacion left last night's game with back spasms but should be ok.
Felix Hernandez hit a grand slam last night, but also suffered a sprained ankle and had to leave the game. Big League Stew has the ironic take.
Nats 1B Nick Johnson will likely miss the rest of the year after having surgery on his wrist.
Pirates P Ian Snell has medial epicondylitis, aka Golfer's Elbow, and will miss his next start. Perhaps he was trying to save money on his car insurance.
Kevin Youkilis was hit in the eye with an errant warm-up throw last night and had to leave the game.

Via Baseball Musings, I learned yesterday that Safeco Field is no longer a good place to meet the ladies.

On the other end of the spectrum, I learned (via Baseball Musings again) that Padres owner John Moores' divorce may force him to sell the Padres.

Jose Guillen is hitting .359/.365/.613 over his last 37 games despite the fact that he hasn't drawn a single walk over that stretch. Sometimes being aggressive works.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer took a deeper look at the process involved in trading a franchise cornerstone like C.C. Sabathia. They also look at some past deadline deals, including a couple of past Indians deals you'll recognize.

Here's where the maple bat situation has brought us: Researchers are developing a portable CT scan device specifically designed to assess the safety of specific bats. Can't we just go back to ash bats and be done with it?

That's all for today. I'm moving tomorrow and may not have internet for a while, then I'm back on the road for a bit. The Mug will return full-time sometime around the 7th or 8th of July. Until then, thanks again to Jeff for filling in. Drink up.

0 recs | Comment 16 comments

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Maple/Ash/Blah

I think they should use brickbats.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jun 24, 2008 10:56 AM CDT   0 recs

Or vampire bats.

Every time I go to the zoo, I learn something that strikes me as funny. Vampire bats, for example, instead of biting you in the neck, actually land a few feet from you, hop over, and bite you in the foot. How un-dramatic.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jun 24, 2008 4:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ash

It’s my understanding that good ash is starting to be in shorter supply as the emerald ash bore beetle has really ruined a bunch of perfectly good ash trees.

There’s a book I’m reading right now that talks about Maple bats and how (aside from the splintering thing) they might actually be better for hitters than Ash (granted the author interviewed someone who makes Maple bats, and of course they’d say that).

Coffee is for closers

by drezdn on Jun 24, 2008 11:00 AM CDT   0 recs

how 'bout some

Oak – unfortunately with Oak or Hickory, Fielder could only heft a one foot long bat…so on the other extreme:

Balsa wood and Bamboo – my science teachers always taught me that these were the strongest woods for their mass. I can imagine a 20 foot long resin-and-balsa composite bat that might occasionally get caught in the wind and fly away, but due to complete plate coverage: at least no more pesky strikeouts!

or for the hitters: Pine. They’re already smearing the tar to allow both their hands and the ball to stick to the bat for longer. Why not just legalize it and make Pine the bat of choice.

by PagsBrewCrew on Jun 24, 2008 11:07 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well, they already tried balata balls; maybe they can try balata bats:

The tree is a hardwood with a red timber, which is used for furniture and as a construction material where it grows. Locals often refer to it as “Bulletwood” for its extremely hard wood, which is sufficiently dense that it does not float in water. Pre-drilling is necessary to drive nailed connections.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jun 24, 2008 12:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

latex allergy anyone?

I can just see it now: a catcher breaking out in a rash and/or asphyxiating due to the latex and his family suing the ass off of MLB.

also “The fruit, like that of the related Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), is edible, with an excellent flavour.”

I’d be willing to try it. Someone want to go halvsies on a case?

by PagsBrewCrew on Jun 24, 2008 1:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh I'm pretty sure

That there is PLENTY of Gord Ash to go around.

Wait, I read that wrong.

by Et tu Brewte on Jun 24, 2008 1:29 PM CDT to parent up   1 recs

Gord Ash is in short supply?

So he IS leaving the Brewers!

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jun 24, 2008 4:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah well

I housed you in Word Twist.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jun 24, 2008 11:34 AM CDT   0 recs

It's true.

And you did significantly better than most do against me in Scramble…it’s rare for me to face a serious challenge there.

Derek Jeter is day to day after being hit by a pitch and being gorilla press slammed by a Bizarro Ray.

by KLSnow on Jun 24, 2008 12:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In former brewer news

looks like the tribe have signed our old friend Tony Graffanino

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080624&content_id=2993351&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle&partnerId=rss_cle

"You guys know me. I take a long time to analyze things."
- Ned Yost

by SunglassesAtNight on Jun 24, 2008 1:21 PM CDT   0 recs

Graffino is pure grit

I had a big man-crush on him.

I wish him luck, especially since now he’s in an AL system.

by PagsBrewCrew on Jun 24, 2008 1:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I lovvvve Boggle

I can’t win at Scrabble to save my life, but Boggle, watch out. And none of those 3-letter words either. Man up: words of 4 letters or more.

We can even play Nix rules: throw in an extra Y, you get the extra point.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jun 24, 2008 4:42 PM CDT   0 recs

When I come back from vacation:

I will play you at Boggle.

Derek Jeter is day to day after being hit by a pitch and being gorilla press slammed by a Bizarro Ray.

by KLSnow on Jun 24, 2008 11:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thanks for the Mug

I look forward to slumming it with some plastic cups for a couple of weeks

by molitorfan on Jun 24, 2008 7:38 PM CDT   0 recs

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