Friday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while reliving your mistakes.

Last night's 7-1 loss was ugly enough but took a turn for the worse in the ninth inning when Mike Cameron hit a line drive that hit Giants reliever Joe Martinez above the right eye. After several scary moments, Martinez walked off the field under his own power and was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion, but no other damage. He remained in the hospital overnight for observation.

After the game, Anthony Witrado talked to Mike Cameron and Manny Parra about the incident. Hopefully Martinez won't suffer any lasting effects and can be back on the field soon. If you're someone who likes to see this kind of thing, Big League Stew has a picture.

With that moment and an ugly series loss in San Francisco behind them, the Brewers hope to turn things around in today's home opener. If you're planning on going, here are some things you should read:

• Adam McCalvy has the home opener timeline.
• Miller Park Drunk has a guide to...what else? Getting drunk.
• Brewed Sports covers appropriate ways to avoid long lines for bathrooms while tailgating.
• Right Field Bleachers has some suggested tailgating music.
• The JS has a reminder that, for followers of specfic religions, fun is strictly forbidden.

Braden Looper is ready for his start today, although the JS didn't help by giving his story the worst possible headline: "Launch menu fires up Looper." Really? That's the best you could do? Roguejim comes up with 10 puns better than that before breakfast.

Also, here's a question someone more worldly than me will have to answer: The Brewer-Cubs rivalry is big for us, easily our biggest rivalry. But is it really that much bigger than other rivalries in baseball? Did Tom H. really need to spend the first eleven stories of today's story talking about what Looper's been told about the Cubs/Brewers rivalry? Hasn't Looper pitched in Cubs-Cardinals games, and closed games at Shea Stadium? I think he's seen it before.

While I'm mentioning the JS, Miller Park Drunk has the JS Flub of the Day, and it's dead-on.

It remains to be seen if Corey Hart will be back batting second in today's game. Hart was moved down to seventh for yesterday's game, but the switch was made to put Craig Counsell into the two spot, not to get Hart out. With Hall likely playing again today, we'll see what happens.

If you're still having a hard time getting over the Giants series, perhaps you need to see Yovani Gallardo's home run again? It was Home Run Derby's Home Run of the Day.

The minor league season started yesterday, and if you haven't yet, scroll down to see Jeff's Minor League Notes and Jordan's scouting report from the Timber Rattlers' opener. Elsewhere around the minors:

• Baseball America has roster analysis for each of the four full season affiliates of each NL Central team.
• Here's a recap of last night's home opener in Nashville, a 7-5 loss to New Orleans.

And, if you're a long way from home today, but still want to catch the Brewers, Chuckie Hacks takes a look at the Brewers' most outlying radio affiliate, WNXR-FM in Iron River, WI.

Other stories from around baseball:

Marlins: Jorge Cantu is day-to-day after being hit in the hand by a pitch. X-rays came back negative.
Mets: Gary Sheffield, who spent the spring preparing to DH for the Tigers, says he's not ready to play the field yet. He could be in the lineup as soon as Sunday.
Phillies: Reportedly signed Tyler Walker to a minor league deal.

It's a slow news day, but not this slow: Hall of Fame writer Hal McCoy has the play-by-play of a suspected viral infection that's kept him away from two of the Reds' first three games.

Finally, the baseball world paused for a moment yesterday to mourn the passing of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, who was one of three killed when their vehicle was hit by a drunk driver in the hours following Wednesday night's game. Adenhart was 22. Halos Heaven has a must-read piece on Adenhart, and the relationship between fan and player that has caused so many of us to be struck so hard by the loss of someone most of us have never actually met. The JS also has the Brewers' reaction.

Drink up.