Tuesday's Frosty Mug

So, a series opening loss, and a fight in the dugout? Seems like we could be in for a rough Tuesday.

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score

As one might expect, talk about last night's little dust-up is all over the web this morning. Let's see if I can remember how to bust out the bullet points:

• Here's Tom Haudricourt's initial reaction.
• Voros McCracken has the video, if you haven't seen it, along with a reference to the Fielder/Sabathia Onion article of a week ago.
• Afterwards, Tom H. attempted to put together the pieces on what happened, and asks if it's a big deal.
• In-Between Hops has a list of phone calls Mark A. should be making today.
• The Brew Town Beat is calling this the beginning of a second half swoon.
• Babes Love Baseball wonders if maybe Parra was just being a dick.

Hey, I can do bullet points after all! Jeff will be so proud.

Speaking of Jeff, he's got a new article up over at The Hardball Times where he takes a look at the remaining 50 games for the Brewers and reveals what he wants for his birthday.

A couple of months ago, I asked if Jason Kendall might be catching a little too much and risking burnout. Response was mixed. Today, Tom H. asks the same question. Does this help or hurt my credibility? I'm unsure.

Another sign July was a pretty good month: The Brewers had both the NL Player of the Month (Ryan Braun) and the NL Pitcher of the Month (CC Sabathia). Our August setback, though, has dropped the Brewers to 5th in the WhatIfSports power rankings.

I'll admit it: I can't get enough Trenni. Today she's talking with Drew Olson about Erin Andrews and appropriate ballpark attire.

I didn't mention the passing of Skip Caray yesterday, mainly because I didn't know where to start. Jim Powell grew up listening to Caray in Atlanta, and has a fitting tribute today.

On injuries:

A's OF Travis Buck has been diagnosed with an inner ear infection.
Joba Chamberlain left last night's start with shoulder stiffness and will get an MRI.
Carl Crawford missed last night's game with a sore hamstring, and will likely miss a day or two more.
Nats SS Alberto Gonzalez left last night's game with a "left glut contusion."

The investigation into bonuses for Dominican players continues, but this time it's baseball's wealthiest franchise being accused of forcing Dominican kids to kick back some of their bonuses. There's nothing like a billion dollar organization stealing money from people in poverty.

I fell asleep before the end of the game, but Jose de Jesus Ortiz is upset about the umpires' decision to keep the Cubs and Astros on the field through a lightning storm last night.

So first Murray Chass wrote and said scathing things about bloggers. Then his employer bought him out. Now he has a website, but we're not sure if it's actually his? Umpbump.com is on the case.

Recondite Baseball takes a look at players returning to the big leagues in 2008 after absences of two years or more. Four of the first six names should look familiar.

Geoff Young of Ducksnorts has apparently been offered a spot in the press box but turned it down. Let me make it perfectly clear now: I don't live close enough to Milwaukee to make use of it every day, but if the Brewers would like to offer me a press pass the answer is yes.

Of course, in the press box at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha they can't even get to Royals.com.

Oh, and if you'd like to wear a locket with a picture of your special someone, favorite Brewer, dachshund or retro logo but you keep changing your mind on which picture to use, today's Woot might be of use to you.

Drink up.