Thursday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while programming a robot to carry pineapple.

Karma or coincidence? Before last night's game, Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer was one of many to mention the fact that the Reds were leading the NL in team ERA. A few short hours later, both of the following were true:

• Bronson Arroyo was the first pitcher since 1900 to allow nine runs while recording three or fewer outs twice in his career. (Thanks to TheJay for the tip.)
• Shortstop Paul Janish, the Reds' starting shortstop, pitched the ninth.

Janish, though, hit 92 on the gun and struck out two Brewers while allowing five runs in the inning.

J.J. Hardy was last night's MVP, going 2-for-4 with a three run home run and a walk. He's raised his batting average from .156 to .209 in the four games since he returned from his break over the weekend. FakeTeams says he's due for a correction after posting a .172 BABIP in April.

Last night's blowout gave the Brewers an opportunity to give Jason Kendall a few innings off and let Carlos Corporan make his major league debut. Corporan responded by picking up his first MLB hit and run. Cute Sports has the congratulatory post. Chuckie Hacks says Brad Nelson is next. Tyler Maas of Bugs and Cranks is trying to figure out why he's still behind Nelson, who grounded into a double play last night to extend his hitless streak to 19 at bats.

Bill Hall was the only Brewer position player who did not appear in last night's game. Hall was scheduled to start but was held out due to rainy conditions. It's supposed to rain again today and tonight, but Hall wants to play anyway.

After Braden Looper takes on the Reds tonight, the Brewers will open a three game series with the Cubs, with Randy Wells officially announced as the starting pitcher for game one. He'll face Dave Bush, who hits batters more often than all but eleven pitchers in baseball.

Today's minor league notes are both Timber Rattler related: Baseball America has a story on Brett Lawrie, who is playing very well in the Midwest League despite being the youngest player on the Rattlers. If seeing Lawrie isn't enough to get you to go to Fox Cities Stadium, perhaps Jim Gantner and Ken Sanders can change your mind.

If you don't Twitter, this paragraph is irrelevant. But if you do Twitter, you may be interested in the Twitter pages of Gord Ash, Tom H. and The Official Site. And, of course, you should also be following Brew Crew Ball, but you knew that, right?

MLB FanHouse is starting to see the light and has moved the Brewers up from 25 to 15 in their most recent power rankings.

Around the league:

Astros: Designated infielder Jason Smith for assignment.
D-Backs: Placed Tony Clark on the DL with a wrist injury.
Mets: Placed Oliver Perez on the DL with patella tendinitis in his right knee.

Former Brewer and Astro Sean Berry, now working as hitting coach for the Astros, has been diagnosed with kidney cancer. (h/t FanShot). Thankfully, the cancer is in his kidney and was detected early, meaning doctors may be able to remove it with relatively minor procedures. Best wishes to Sean for a speedy recovery.

Oh, and the Nationals might be the worst team ever to have every position player above average.

Drink up.