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Monday's Frosty Mug

Mitch Stetter gave up a grand slam last night. Is that enough for R.J. Swindle to take his spot in the bullpen?

More photos » by Jim Mone - AP

Mitch Stetter gave up a grand slam last night. Is that enough for R.J. Swindle to take his spot in the bullpen?

Some things to read while thawing out your sandals.

The Brewers open a three game series with the Cardinals in a few hours, and they're probably working to forget this weekend's series in Minnesota. Before they left, though, Ken Macha chatted with Anthony Witrado about last night's HBP call reversal, which led to a huge momentum shift late in the game.

In the end, though, the Brewers have no one to blame but themselves for their terrible play over the weekend. Rookie Anthony Swarzak, who held the Brewers scoreless for seven innings on Saturday, was one of nine debuting pitchers profiled at Beyond the Box Score. Swarzak's performance was impressive, but it was even more impressive to discover he did it while throwing 75% fastballs.

Casey McGehee was one of this weekend's lone bright spots. He's made five starts at second base since Rickie Weeks' injury, has reached base in all of them and is hitting .429/.500/.571 in his last 20 plate appearances. Anthony Witrado profiled him over the weekend, and the Brewer coaching staff had positive things to say.

Mike Cameron's home run yesterday was the 250th of his career, making him just the 20th player with 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases. The Brewers celebrated the accomplishment after the game.

Meanwhile, the Brewers continue to be mentioned as a possible destination for Jake Peavy. Both Jon Heyman and MLB Trade Rumors mentioned it again over the weekend. With that said, it still seems like Peavy is owed far too much money to fit into the Brewer budget.

Could Matt Cain be a target instead? As Battlekow noted over the weekend, the Giants are reportedly shopping Cain, but the organization has denied the report.

R.J. Swindle appeared in two games over the weekend. Thor Nystrom of The Official Site says Swindle was excited for the opportunity. After Mitch Stetter hit Joe Mauer and gave up a grand slam to Justin Morneau, one could make a case for Swindle staying with the team and Stetter going back down.

Speaking of bullpen arms, Driveline Mechanics takes a look at the delivery of everyone's favorite anomaly, Mark DiFelice. They see several concerning things in his motion, but wonder if the decreased workload in the bullpen and his lack of velocity might save him from injury.

How much credit for the pitching staff's success should go to new pitching coach Billy Castro? The Wisconsin State Journal profiles Castro, who is spending his eighteenth season as part of the Brewer coaching staff.

Maybe he should play second base in a catcher's mask: Brett Lawrie broke his nose getting hit with a bad hop on a ground ball on Thursday. He was able to pinch hit yesterday, so one would assume he's close to being back in the lineup.

Around the league:

Angels: Placed Shane Loux on the DL with shoulder inflammation.
Cubs: Placed Rich Harden on the DL with a mid-back strain. (h/t FanShot)
Dodgers: Signed Korean pitchers Ji-Mo Lee and Hyang-nam Choi to minor league deals and placed outfielder Xavier Paul on the DL with an infection in his knee.
Indians: Placed Anthony Reyes (elbow inflammation) and Aaron Laffey (oblique strain) on the DL.
Orioles: Released Adam Eaton.
Rays: Placed Scott Kazmir (quad strain) and Troy Percival (shoulder tendinitis) on the DL, and are also expected to place Akinori Iwamura on the DL with a knee injury. Percival may consider retirement.
Reds: Designated OF Darnell McDonald for assignment and placed Edinson Volquez on the DL with a back issue.
Rockies: Placed catcher Chris Iannetta on the DL with a hamstring strain.
Royals: Placed SS Mike Aviles (forearm strain) and pitcher Robinson Tejeda (rotator cuff tendinitis) on the DL.

With Scott Kazmir out, the Rays have called up David Price, who will start tonight. Price has been striking out over nine batters per nine innings in AAA while posting a 3.93 ERA.

Ever wonder what life is like for a career journeyman like Ron Villone? Nats320 sat down with the former Brewer to discuss his first day as a National.

The MLB Draft doesn't get the hype of its NFL and NBA counterparts, but if you need starting pitching it's very important. Minor League Ball crunched the numbers and discovered that 34% of last year's top pitchers were former first round picks.

Oh, and with the proper training and sound effects, you too can make it look like you're beating the crap out of your kids.

Drink up.

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More from Brew Crew Ball

Tuesday's Frosty Mug

Nov 2009 by KLSnow - 32 comments

Monday's Frosty Mug

Nov 2009 by KLSnow - 41 comments

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Swindle

“R.J. Swindle appeared in two games over the weekend, pitching a perfect inning in the first game before failing to retire a batter in the second, and facing just one hitter on Saturday.”

Hm? He got a flyout and strikeout in the 5th on Friday before giving up a home run and single (runner later scored) around another strikeout in the 6th. Then on Saturday he gave up another flyout, walk, and single. I don’t know where the perfect inning and one batter stuff comes from.

Either way, I don’t think Swindle’s weekend, even coupled with Stetter giving up a grand slam, is compelling enough to keep him and dump the guy who’s been on the roster all season.

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

by TheJay on May 25, 2009 8:54 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

My inability to read

Is the primary culprit.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by KLSnow on May 25, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I know it was after the grand slam

But this picture is kind of amusing.

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

by TheJay on May 25, 2009 9:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Mauer came back and stuck his wrist out to show Johnson a mark the ball supposedly left. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire stormed out of the dugout and after a minute or two of yelling GOT THE CALL CHANGED! Mauer went to first to load the bases.

3rd grader’s account of the game? No. Your local metro paper’s Brewers beat writer? Yes.

Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.

by Jordan M on May 25, 2009 9:30 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

“After Mitch Stetter hit Joe Mauer and gave up a grand slam to Justin Morneau, one could make a case for Swindle staying with the team and Stetter going back down.”

Stetter has appeared in 21 games this year, and given up earned runs in six of them; Swindle has appeared in three games, and given up earned runs in all three. Stetter has an ERA of 4.15 and a WHIP of 1.23; Swindle 13.50 and 2.63.

One might argue the case, but they wouldn’t “make the case”.

by robertearle on May 25, 2009 9:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Unless

Swindle is and was a better LOOGY all along, which was my opinion. I’d like to keep both of them around and dump Julio, but it doesn’t look like that will happen.

Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.

by Jordan M on May 25, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

In the case that we DO sign another starter...

who do we send down? Suppan’s been not-completely-awful lately, but Parra still scares me every time he’s up there.

by Wayfaerer on May 25, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

That, to me, is the dilemma.

I guess Parra would be the first logical choice to be dumped from the rotation, but I’m not sure that would be a good decision long term. The other four starters are all relatively safe.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by KLSnow on May 25, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can see why you'd want to do this

but both context-neutral pitching stats rank the starters in this order:
1. Gallardo
2. Parra
3. Bush
4. Looper
5. Suppan

Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.

by Jordan M on May 25, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think the more instructive list is the one of non-Gallardo starters with an option remaining
  1. Parra

"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.

by battlekow on May 25, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed...

Melvin & Co. seem to favor using options on players that have them left if at all possible. And since Parra is laboring…he would probably be bumped back to AAA for a while to get in some regular work.

by TheBurningRom on May 25, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Schumaker 2B
Rasmus CF
Pujols 1B
Duncan LF
Stavinoha RF
Molina C
Thurston 3B
Carpenter P
Ryan SS

Counsell SS
McGehee 2B
Braun LF
Fielder 1B
Cameron CF
Gamel 3B
Hart RF
Kendall C
Gallardo P

by statsllc on May 25, 2009 11:36 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Lawrie

DH’d for the TRats today in Beloit

by tristarscoop on May 25, 2009 9:53 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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