Monday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while studying.

Brewer fans across Wisconsin are holding their breath this morning as we await word on the severity of Yovani Gallardo's injury. Gallardo left yesterday's start early with a strained oblique (Tom Haudricourt reports it's "around toward the back") and is expected to be reevaluated today.

Even without knowing the severity of the injury, Jaymes Langrehr of The Brewers Bar uses Gallardo's injury as a reason for the Brewers to sell.

Even if Gallardo is healthy enough to make his next start, he'll be pushed back a day. Doug Davis is expected to make his return from the DL on Friday, with the Brewers making the move to a six man rotation if needed in the short term.

Before Gallardo departed he was forced to overcome two fielding errors by Alcides Escobar. Pocket Doppler notes that Escobar's defense has failed to live up to the hype this season.

Meanwhile, the Brewers could have a roster move to announce this morning: Agent Joshua Kusnick is reporting that Lorenzo Cain (one of his clients) has been called up (FanShot). Jordan Schelling notes that the news is only coming from Kusnick, though, and no formal announcement has been made.

Other notes from the field:

• Adam Wainwright only needed 99 pitches to complete yesterday's game.
• Wainwright, Jon Jay and Colby Rasmus are leading FanGraphs' Star of the Game voting.
• CoolStandings has the Brewer playoff chances at 2%.
• Yadier Molina had a pretty busy day yesterday: In addition to going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run, Molina found out he'll be an All Star and attended the birth of his daughter.
• Going back a day: Rickie Weeks was hit by pitches twice Saturday (including his first ever with the bases loaded) to extend his league lead to 15. Plunk Everyone has much more.
• Brian Anderson shared his view from the booth in St. Louis.

Off the field, the biggest news of the day was the All Star selections of Ryan Braun, Corey Hart and Yovani Gallardo (FanShot). This is the fourth straight season the Brewers will have three All Stars. Corey Hart could actually end up starting for the NL, since Jason Heyward is not expected to participate in the game. Hart is also expected to compete in the Home Run Derby (FanShot), marking the fourth straight year a Brewer will compete in the event.

Rickie Weeks will have to wait and see if he's selected as an alternate. NL manager Charlie Manuel selected Braves utility infielder Omar Infante over Weeks, despite the fact that Infante has started just 42 games (compared to Weeks' 81), and has just 45 combined runs and RBI, compared to Weeks 102.

Meanwhile, the news also isn't very good for two Brewers who remain on the DL: Jody Gerut has been taking batting practice for a week now but still can't run on his bruised heel. LaTroy Hawkins has been throwing bullpen sessions but is still a long way off from returning, with Ken Macha saying he'll need "a spring training style rehab" to rebuild his strength.

Jonathan Lucroy went 2-for-3 yesterday, picking up his sixth multi-hit game since joining the team. Dennis Punzel of Madison.com has a look at the Brewers' new backstop and the parade of veterans that came before him.

Kameron Loe allowed a run in an inning of work yesterday, ending his scoreless streak at 12.1 innings. Brewers Daily notes that opposing batters are hitting just .179 on balls put in play off Loe, but thinks he can still be a solid contributor even if he's due for some regression.

It's a quick turnaround today as the Brewers open their series against the Giants with an afternoon contest. We'll have our series preview at noon, but in the meantime Baseball Brew has the list of former Brewers working for the Giants, including Brian Harper.

Another day, another trade rumor note: Torii Hunter is making the case for the Angels to acquire a first baseman, with both Prince Fielder and Adam Dunn mentioned.

In the minors:

• The Brewers have removed Angel Salome from the 40 man roster (FanShot). Salome is hitting .256/.337/.427 since his demotion to Brevard County, and has been the DH in 18 of his 22 games.
• Meanwhile, Tom Haudricourt has an interview with new 40 man roster member Jeremy Jeffress. Battlekow noted that the Brewers have told Jeffress he could earn a September callup if he remains on his current path.
• Huntsville second baseman Brett Lawrie is the second baseman on Baseball America's Midseason All Star Team.
• Cutter Dykstra and Maverick Lasker were named TimberRattlers.com's players of the month for June.
• The Appleton Post-Crescent has a profile of Timber Rattlers reliever Jon Pokorny, also known as "Porky." (h/t Rattler Radio)
• The Green Bay Press Gazette has a profile of Wisconsin President and GM Rob Zerjav, an Ashwaubenon native.

If you've been watching Brewer telecasts on FSWisconsin, you're probably familiar with RockBats, which are produced in Antigo. Seven of eight Brewer regulars have started using them, and the Wausau Daily Herald has a look at the people behind the new lumber.

Around baseball:

Astros: Placed infielder Geoff Blum on the DL with loose bodies in his elbow.
Braves: Signed outfielder Willy Taveras to a minor league deal.
Cardinals: Placed outfielder Ryan Ludwick on the DL with a calf strain.
Diamondbacks: Designated Dontrelle Willis for assignment.
Dodgers: Placed Manny Ramirez on the DL with a hamstring strain.
Indians: Placed outfielder Shin-Soo Choo on the DL with a thumb injury. (h/t Let's Go Tribe)
Marlins: Designated infielder Brian Barden for assignment.
Mets: Signed reliever Brian Bruney to a minor league deal.
Nationals: Signed Orlando Hernandez to a minor league deal.
Padres: Placed outfielder Will Venable on the DL with a back strain.
Phillies: Designated infielder Brian Bocock for assignment.
Twins: Placed infielder Matt Tolbert on the DL with an injury to his right middle finger.

If you've lost track, the Braves are Taveras' fourth team this season. He's been released by the A's, Nationals and Phillies.

Some transactions are handled better than others: Catcher Bengie Molina was traded from the Giants to the Rangers last week, and didn't know about the deal until he heard about it from his teammates.

Here's a quick roundup of All Star notes:

• Dave Cameron of FanGraphs has a list of eight players that have produced at least 2.9 WAR this season but aren't All Stars.
• Ty Wigginton of the Orioles is Baltimore's only selection, giving them just one representative for the fifth consecutive season and ninth of the last ten.
• Oakland starting pitcher Trevor Cahill is slated to start the Sunday before the Midsummer Classic, so he'll miss the game.
• Ryan Howard declined an invitation to participate in the Home Run Derby. Justin Morneau of the Twins has also been invited, but is expected to decline.

Elsewhere in All Star notes: There aren't any Brewers on this list, but the B-Ref blog points out that Milwaukee Braves Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews were two of just 40 players to be selected to an All Star game before age 22.

I wanted to take a moment this morning to send out best wishes to former Brewer prospect Eric Fryer. He needs surgery after being hit in the face by a pitch while playing for Bradenton in the Pirates organization. Fryer was the Brewers' tenth round pick in 2007 before being sent to the Yankees for Chase Wright.

Happy birthday today and over the weekend to:

• Marco Estrada, who turns 27 today.
• 2002 Brewer hitting coach Gary Matthews Sr., who turns 60 today.
• 1955-57 Milwaukee Brave Chuck Tanner, who turned 81 Sunday.
• 1989-96 Brewer Greg Vaughn, who turned 45 Saturday.
• 1988-91 Brewer Don August, who turned 47 Saturday.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find a ladder.

Drink up.