Friday's Frosty Mug
Some things to read while eliminating your accomplishments.
Last year it was C.C. Sabathia, and in 2009 Trevor Hoffman is filling the role of well-known player who brings national attention to Milwaukee. Hoffman was profiled in the New York Times this week, discussing life in Milwaukee (or in his case, his lack thereof) and his impact on the bullpen.
One of the pitchers Hoffman has helped is Todd Coffey, but he apparently hasn't found a way to help fans tell the difference between Coffey and Seth McClung.
Maybe a new haircut would help. Mark DiFelice is the man for the job.
Adam McCalvy's new mailbag inbox is up, and features notes on Chris Capuano, Alcides Escobar, Geoff Jenkins, Jake Peavy, Jorge Julio and Ryan Braun.
Another homestand, another ghost story: This week, Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan reported some paranormal activity at the Pfister Hotel, but later recanted the story. Tony LaRussa says the ghosts are good friends.
Not everyone made friends in Milwaukee this week. Cute Sports has the video of Jason LaRue narrowly avoiding getting trampled by sausages.
"Sausage tramplings" were probably not among the criteria considered when the Brewers were nominated for SportsBusiness Journal's Professional Franchise of the Year.
Frank Catalanotto has already done a fair amount to endear himself to the fans in Milwaukee, but Beyond the Box Score lists him among 23 players who have seen significant big league time despite being below replacement level.
The Journal Sentinel has added a searchable, sortable database of every Brewer home run in the Miller Park era. I haven't had a chance to go take a look at it yet, but I'm glad they're making the effort. Baseball Reference also recently added a database of every home run in major league history.
Down in the minors, Cole Gillespie, BCB's #10 prospect, is struggling a bit with the adjustment to AAA. Gillespie is hitting .212/.342/.323 in Nashville and At The Old Ball Game is calling for his head.
Just one power ranking to report today: Yahoo has bumped the Crew down from sixth to seventh.
Around baseball:
Dodgers: Placed Will Ohman on the DL.
Phillies: Brett Myers has fraying in the labrum in his hip that will likely require surgery and cost him the rest of 2009.
As you've probably heard (and as noted in the comments in yesterday's Mug), Carlos Zambrano has been suspended for six games for making contact with an umpire and generally making a scene earlier this week. Jorge Says No! says six games wasn't enough. The Chicago Tribune is reporting Zambrano won't skip a start, and will instead be pushed back two days.
Elsewhere in transactions, it was a rare "coming and going" day for former Brewers in Cleveland, as Zach Jackson was sent to AAA and replaced by Tomo Ohka.
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic wants D-Backs third baseman Mark Reynolds to be in the Home Run Derby this year, citing the entertainment value of watching Reynolds hit massive home runs. That got me thinking: while the Home Run Derby is fun as it is, I'd probably be more likely to watch it if the rules were changed, and hitters were looking to hit the longest home run, instead of the most. Imagine Mark Reynolds, Prince Fielder, Russell Branyan and the like competing to see who can be the first to launch one out of Busch Stadium. I'd watch it.
Speaking of Branyan, since moving into a full-time role in Seattle he's hitting over .300 and striking out less, and Lookout Landing is pretty excited about it.
Looking to make a list of players who might be available in the trade market? MLB Trade Rumors has a list of eleven teams whose postseason chances have fallen below 10%. BP's PECOTA-adjusted projection gives the Brewers a 38% chance at winning the Central, higher than any other team.
Roy Halladay is old school. On Wednesday, he pitched seven full innings in his eleventh consecutive start, tied for the fifteenth longest streak to start a season since 1954. Among the others with 11 are former Brewers Bill Wegman, Chris Bosio and Jerry Augustine, and legendary Milwaukee Brave Warren Spahn.
A few weeks ago, Jeff previewed the D3 World Series in Appleton. He was joined in attendance by Kirbir, who live tweeted the event and made it the focus of her Pictures of the Week post. Now, Jeff has a review of the event, and a look at how his prediction models fared.
Here's a cool feel-good story: Rock band They Might Be Giants is sponsoring a little league team in Seattle. (h/t C. Trent Rosecrans.)
Oh, and happy birthday to Charlie Hayes, who played for the 2000 Brewers and turns 44 today.
Drink up.
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26 comments
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Comments
JSOnline HR link
Link fail. Probably meant to point here
by grant76 on May 29, 2009 10:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Fixed
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by Kyle Lobner on May 29, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I enjoy that the Around SBN was "Is Lou Pineilla Losing it?"
hooray for a game today! Go Brewers!
"This one means 'Kill Kirk!!!!'... And also, 'hallelujah'... Depending on the context."
by trippingandy on May 29, 2009 10:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Branyan
I was confused over the winter, and I’m even more confused now. Why didn’t we resign Branyan to platoon with Hall at 3b?
by bretsky07 on May 29, 2009 11:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm guessing it's one of the following reasons
1. Mat Gamel
2. Jack Z got him first
Not saying either of those are good reasons, I’m just guessing they’re probably the actual ones
Brewers Baseball and other assorted nonsense (mostly the assorted nonsense) at my blog, What's a Tararrel?
by Lefti on May 29, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
From What I Understood...
$$$ and guaranteed playing time. He gets to start in Seattle. I’m sure that was more enticing that platooning with Hall at 3rd….even with the differences between the potential performance of Seattle vs. Milwaukee as a team.
by TheBurningRom on May 29, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Brewers Dropped...
In the SI power rankings.
Found Here
by TheBurningRom on May 29, 2009 11:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
the best part of that is the link to untuckem.com
by grant76 on May 29, 2009 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, i knew it would only be a matter of time before that happened
"This one means 'Kill Kirk!!!!'... And also, 'hallelujah'... Depending on the context."
by trippingandy on May 29, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
TMBG a rock band?
I think that may be a bit of a stretch. :) Definitely cool though.
by MadtownTim on May 29, 2009 11:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Have you heard them lately?
captainbok: What do you like the most about milwaukee
Jeff Suppan: Captain Bok, that is a great question. Does "Bok" mean Book of Knowledge? My favorite thing about Milwaukee are the Brewers.
by JAMOOL on May 29, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I saw them last year at Summerfest.
I think it was at the Leine’s stage, though I could be wrong. They sounded pretty similar to how they’ve always sounded, which is funny and great in my opinion. The fact that they’re supporting little league kids makes them even cooler. I had some stupid plumbing company as my TBall sponsor; definitely not as cool.
Suppan, who has seen his ERA rise from 4.12 in his final year in St. Louis to 4.62 in 2007 and 4.96 last year, isn't an option in fantasy leagues - Rotoworld
by Adam P on May 29, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
NY times
not a subscriber. Anyone care to violate copyright laws?
by PagsBrewCrew on May 29, 2009 12:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Bizarre.
I followed the link from Cute Sports, and it worked.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by Kyle Lobner on May 29, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, getting an account is free
Just so you know…
"If lovin’ Braun is wrong, I want to be a repeat offender!"
RIP Nick Adenhart - Stop Drunk Driving
by kirbir on May 29, 2009 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
oops
The DiFelice link should be this, no?
McClung and Coffey already have quite divergent haircuts. ;) Some people may blame the confusion on “casuals”—I blame it on silly people thinking all redheads look the same.
by morineko on May 29, 2009 1:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
no one had better mess with him
although I didn’t see mention of him having a straight razor, you can bet he can do some damage with scissors.
by PagsBrewCrew on May 29, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He did an interview on 620 this morning and mentioned that he doesn’t do the straight razor.
He also made it sound like he cuts using an electric trimmer and not scissors
by Saberilliterate on May 29, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Awesome
Cubs just had 2nd & 3rd, no outs, and failed to score.
"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 29, 2009 1:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Good title
not so great article
Milwaukee Brewers Fans Are Drinking the All-Star Kool-Aid
by PagsBrewCrew on May 29, 2009 2:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I can’t argue with the article at all
by Saberilliterate on May 29, 2009 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it wasn't an argument with the article per se
just the level of writing.
by PagsBrewCrew on May 30, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Funniest thing I saw
In three days in St. Louis was the guy sporting the Brewers Tomo Okha jersey at Busch.
by tristarscoop on May 29, 2009 5:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs




















