Wednesday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while cleaning the griddle.

The managerial search took something of a strange turn yesterday as Fox Sports reported that Bobby Valentine, who had previously been ruled out, "keeps coming up" as a potential candidate. Howie Magner is intrigued by the possibility, but Baseball Brew isn't interested.

So I guess it's possible Valentine is the fourth finalist. Rangers hitting coach and former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle is not: He told Tom Haudricourt the Brewers never contacted him to discuss the vacancy.

Meanwhile, at least one Brewer blogger is coming out against the concept of a Melvin-Melvin management team: Cody Zwiefelhofer makes the case against hiring Bob Melvin.

Award season continues to be pretty good to Casey McGehee: He's the Brewer nominee for the MLBPA's "Heart and Hustle Award." Follow that link to vote for him, or one of the other 29 candidates. Hardball Talk has a look at some of his more laughable opponents.

Speaking of Hardball Talk, Matthew Pouliot continues to rank this offseason's free agents from 1-111, and Trevor Hoffman checks in at #88.

McGehee and Hoffman both ranked pretty high on Miller Park Drunk's list of Brewers he'd trust with his girlfriend.

In the minors and winter leagues:

• Josh Butler continued his rough start in Mexico yesterday, picking up his third consecutive loss and allowing six runs in 4.2 innings (AFL/Winter League Update). Jack Moore of Disciples of Uecker says it's going to be time for Butler to put up or shut up in 2011.
• Yesterday I mentioned that Jamie Moyer will be one of Carlos Gomez's teammates for Escogido in the DWL this winter. As it turns out, Moyer won't be the only 45+ year old Dominican player: Ben Badler noted that 47 year old Luis Polonia is playing for Aguilas. Polonia last appeared in the majors in 2000.
  

Around baseball:

Blue Jays: New manager John Farrell's contract is for three years.
Mets: Are expected to hire Sandy Alderson as their new GM.
Nationals: Announced manager Jim Riggleman will return for 2011.
Phillies: Declined reliever J.C. Romero's option for 2011, making him a free agent.
White Sox: Exercised club options for reliever Matt Thornton and catcher Ramon Castro.
Yankees: Signed manager Joe Girardi to a new three year contract.

The Diamondbacks have announced six members of their 2011 coaching staff, but it's the (so far unnamed) seventh member that's interesting to me: They told the media they plan to add an extra member to the coaching staff so they can have a Spanish speaking coach on board. I'm not sure any of the 2010 Brewer coaches spoke Spanish, and I wonder if that was a factor in substandard performances from Carlos Gomez and Alcides Escobar.

Are you one of the (likely) minority of Brewer fans who think the team should make an effort to bring back Jorge De La Rosa this winter? If you answered yes, I have good news for you: JDLR's contract talks with the Rockies have stalled and he's expected to hit the open market.

If you've been around the internet for any length of time over the last couple of days you've likely been inundated with World Series previews, know most of the details of Bengie Molina's 2010 transaction history (he played for both teams!) and are aware of the fact that the games in Texas will have the DH and the games in San Francisco will not. But, you haven't actually seen enough World Series previews until you've read Wezen-ball's poetry. Oh, and Jeff Zimmerman's Umpire Heat Maps are pretty cool too.

Happy birthday today to:

• AZL Brewer Demetrius McKelvie, who turns 20.
• Eau Claire, WI native Brad Radke, who turns 38. Radke pitched 12 seasons for the Twins between 1995 and 2006.
• 1981-86 Brewer Pete Vuckovich, who turns 58.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to open this box.

Drink up.