Thursday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while showing that bear who's boss.

It was a night to forget for Chris Narveson Wednesday, and it came at what might have been the worst possible time. Narveson allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks in just 4.1 innings, striking out two and allowing two home runs.

With the tough performance, Narveson has to be considered the likely choice to be removed from the rotation and one of the candidates to be removed from the roster when Todd Coffey and Doug Davis return from the DL in the next week or two. Jaymes Langrehr of The Brewers Bar thinks Narveson will be bumped from the rotation, but Chris Smith and Zach Braddock will be the ones removed from the roster.

Carlos Gomez hit his fourth home run last night, and narrowly missed history: His home run trot took 17.29 seconds, missing the top ten in Wezen-ball's Tater Trot Tracker by .09 seconds.

Other notes from the field:

• Prince Fielder was the DH last night (0-for-3 with a walk), ending a streak of 250 consecutive starts at first base. The franchise record for most consecutive games played is 274, set by Robin Yount from 1987-89: Fielder is on pace to tie that record on July 11 vs the Pirates and break it on July 15, the first game back after the All Star Break.
• David Riske hit his first batter as a Brewer last night: Plunk Everyone has it covered.
• Joel Pineiro, Mike Napoli and Bobby Wilson are leading FanGraphs' Star of the Game voting.
• CoolStandings has the Brewer playoff chances at 1.5%.
• Here are last night's MLB.com highlights.
• Before last night's game, Brewer pitchers had produced quality starts in four of their last five games for the first time all season.
• The Anaheim clubhouse was the scene of the now-infamous "Chuckie Hacks" incident, which Adam McCalvy retold yesterday.

Four relievers combined to pitch 3.2 scoreless innings last night, but Brewer pitchers still combined to face 34 batters in the game. On the season the Brewers are facing 40.58 opposing batters per contest, easily the highest total in baseball. If this pace continues they'll face 650 more batters than the Yankees this season, which is the equivalent of roughly 18 extra games.

The Brewers appear to be taking our advice and giving Jonathan Lucroy an opportunity to contribute at the major league level: Adam McCalvy reports Lucroy will receive "the brunt of the work" at catcher for a while, and has some quotes from the young backstop on his focus on defense and preparation. Lucroy started last night's game and went 0-for-3. Meanwhile, Gregg Zaun had successful surgery yesterday to repair his torn labrum.

Given how bad the Brewers have been at times this season, it's surprising they don't have more players on this team: Trevor Hoffman and Jeff Suppan represent the Brewers on Jon Heyman's NL All-Not-Star Team.

From bad investments to future investments: Jack Moore of Disciples of Uecker projects the Brewers to have $23.93 million in payroll coming available next season, once you factor in expiring contracts, buyouts and arbitration raises.

The most notable arbitration raises are due to Prince Fielder and Corey Hart, if they're still around. Miller Park Drunk doesn't think the Brewers need to trade either of them unless Doug Melvin is blown away by an offer.

In the minors:

• Chase Wright was the story of the night on the field last night, allowing a leadoff single before pitching nine hitless innings for Nashville in their 9-0 win over Memphis. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
• Evan Anundsen, who just made his first start of the season, is back on the DL with shoulder soreness.
• Matt Hagen of The Hardball Times says #1 pick Dylan Covey is one of 13 players from the 2010 draft class that could immediately slot into his list of the top 100 prospects. Hagen says Covey would fit near the bottom of the list, near Jake Odorizzi.
• The Midwest League All Star Game is next week and Timber Rattlers Khris Davis and Scooter Gennett, who will start in the game,  will also be participating in skills competitions: Davis in the home run derby, and Gennett in an infield throwing competition. Chris Mehring says teammates had to talk Davis into accepting the invitation.
• Doug Melvin was in Huntsville for last night's game, where the paid attendance was just 724 and the scoreboard didn't work for the first four innings.
• Minor League Baseball Prospects has rankings of the best seasons by minor leaguers in 2010 and lists Brett Lawrie as the fifth best hitter, with Erik Komatsu (#25), Caleb Gindl (#81), Lorenzo Cain (#91) and Scooter Gennett (#97) also making the list. They also list Huntsville closer Brandon Kintzler as the ninth best pitcher.
• Brewers Daily has an interview with Kintzler, a former independent leaguer who has dominated the upper levels of the minors out of the bullpen this season.
• Speaking of interviews, Kili Hood of Nashville Newzine has one with Nashville outfielder Trent Oeltjen. (h/t Sounds Twitter)
• It's way too early to be looking this far ahead, but Andy Seiler reports the Brewers would pick 8th if the order for the 2011 draft were set today.

On power rankings: Beyond the Box Score has the Brewers 17th, up two spots.

Around baseball:

Angels: Placed infielder Maicer Izturis on the DL with a forearm strain.
Athletics: Signed pitcher Jamey Wright to a minor league deal.
Braves: Placed pitcher Chris Resop on the DL with an oblique injury.
Dodgers: Signed Claudio Vargas to a minor league deal.
Marlins: Designated pitcher Renyel Pinto for assignment.
Padres: Catcher Yorvit Torrealba has been suspended for three games for making contact with an umpire.
Pirates: Designated infielder Akinori Iwamura for assignment.
Rays: Released first baseman Ryan Shealy.
Rockies: Placed reliever Matt Daley on the DL with shoulder inflammation.

I'm not sure how baseball will carry on without him, but Darin Erstad, still without a team for 2010, has decided to retire. He was a lifetime .326/.366/.476 hitter against the Brewers.

Last night Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher ever to beat the Yankees. He also got two steps closer to another major milestone: Moyer has allowed 504 home runs in his career, and is now one away from tying Robin Roberts' major league record.

Today's feelgood story comes from Seattle, where Mariners bullpen catcher Jason Phillips is marrying a woman he spotted in the stands last season. The wedding will be held in the Safeco Field bullpen. (h/t BBTF)

Today's longest story that's worth reading anyway comes from Joe Posnanski (who else?), as he makes the case that Billy Beane might have stopped paying attention to the A's.

On this day in 1956, Milwaukee Brave Joe Adcock hit a ball onto the roof of Ebbets Field, becoming the only player ever to do so. The Braves swept a doubleheader, winning 5-4 and 3-1, winning the first two of what would become a ten game streak.

Happy birthday today to:

• Wisconsin Timber Rattler Kyle Heckathorn, who turns 22.
• 1972-73 Brewer Gary Ryerson, who turns 62. (h/t FtJ)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my walk.

Drink up.