Wednesday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while playing with your LEGOs.

John Axford has been great this season, but ten multi-inning saves might have been a bit too much to ask for. Called upon to record the final four outs in a one run game, Axford allowed two runs on three hits in .2 innings, blowing his third save of the season and giving the Mets a walkoff victory, their first in 68 tries this season when trailing after 8 innings. Axford told Adam McCalvy he got beat by leaving fastballs up, but doesn't let his poor performances bother him. Hang With 'em Brewers! compared it to Mariah Carey falling down on stage in Singapore. I had no idea Carey was even still performing, much less on other continents.

Corey Hart went 1-for-4 last night with a solo home run, the first one all year by a righthanded batter against Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey. Hart now has a hit in 12 straight games.

Other notes from the field:

• Ryan Braun missed last night's game with a stomach virus, according to Ken Macha. Wezen-ball is somewhat skeptical. Either way, Joe Inglett started in left, batted second and went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
• Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran left the game with "right knee discomfort."
• Ruben Tejeda, Chris Carter and John Axford are leading FanGraphs' Star of the Game voting.
• Here are the MLB.com video highlights.

The Brewers and Mets continue the series with a doubleheader today (the Brewers' first of 2010), and both games will be televised on FS Wisconsin. Yovani Gallardo will match up with R.A. Dickey in game one, with Dave Bush taking on Jonathan Niese in the nightcap. Carson Cistulli of FanGraphs gives those matchups a six and five on his NERD scale, respectively.

Speaking of Dickey, Andy McCullough of the Newark Star Ledger has the best story you'll read today about the unpredictable professional career of a pitcher without a UCL in his elbow who later turned to the knuckleball.

Of course, Yovani Gallardo is pretty interesting in his own right. Jack Moore of Disciples of Uecker makes the case that Gallardo deserves consideration for a spot on your MVP ballot.

Mark Rogers is still expected to start against the Reds in the final series this weekend. Adam McCalvy reports that the pitch count for his second major league start will be "higher than 60," but that's all we know at this point.

Here's an interesting twist on the Brewer managerial situation: Craig Calcaterra notes that Buster Olney is reporting that Ken Macha will almost certainly not be retained for 2011, which isn't news. He also notes, though, that Willie Randolph is reportedly not interested in the job. Meanwhile, Randolph told reporters yesterday that he is still interested in managing again.

I have no idea what to make of that, but here are two possibilites:

• Olney and/or his sources are wrong and Randolph really is interested in the job. It's standard procedure for a candidate to deny or deflect questions about interest in a job while someone else is still holding it.
  
• Of course, it's also possible that Olney and his sources are right and Randolph does want to manage again, but doesn't want this job. That'd be a little weird.

In a related note, Miller Park Drunk started to make the case for retaining Macha for 2011, but then remembered that Macha started Corey Patterson in center field last season.

While the Brewers were getting ready for last night's game, Bob Uecker was in nearby Seacaucus, New Jersey taping an interview with Bob Costas to air this offseason.

Another day, another note on Prince Fielder: Today Seth McClung weighs in: He thinks Fielder will eventually get a five year deal worth $105-115 million, and lists eight possible candidates for his services.

In the minors: John Sickels of Minor League Ball answered three more Brewer questions as he finished off this week's All Questions Answered thread:

• He thinks Jeremy Jeffress has the stuff to be a closer but will have to prove his emotional maturity to the Brewers. He also thinks the Brewers will have an easier time keeping him out of trouble in the majors.
• He says Jake Odorizzi "has a little Greinke in him," but in the end compares him to Scott Baker of the Twins.
• He thinks Cameron Garfield should repeat Wisconsin to start 2011.

Speaking of Wisconsin, congratulations to the Timber Rattlers on raising $3376.90 for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin with their recent jersey auctions.

So it turns out we're pretty awesome. Yesterday Craig Calcaterra unveiled the "Stop Making Fun of Rays Fans" Index, and it shows that Brewer fans do a better job per capita of supporting their team than any other fan base in baseball.

On power rankings: SB Nation has the Brewers at 20, up three spots.

No transactions today.

If you're hoping the Brewers will make a splash in free agency this winter, take a look at MLB Trade Rumors' list of 21 potential Type A free agents. There's really not much out there, and signing any of the guys on that list could cost the Brewers a draft pick in 2011.

Congratulations to the Reds, who clinched the NL Central with a Jay Bruce walkoff home run against the Astros last night. In a related note, here's today's strangest story: Before last night's celebration, Brandon Phillips says he'd never tasted alcohol.

By now, you've probably seen the new Domino's Pizza ad campaign, where they acknowledge that their pizza has been consistently bad over time and pledge to improve if you'll give them another shot. I'll admit, it worked on me: After years of not trying a pizza from them, I gave one a shot. I ate it, decided it was better than it used to be but still an inferior option compared to my favorites, and haven't had it again since. Joe Posnanski wonders if a similar strategy could work for the Royals.

The Pirates could try it too: With the Mariners winning last night, they've clinched baseball's worst record.

Or, they could just try a clothing change: Braves reliever Takashi Saito is lightening the mood in his clubhouse by wearing traditional Japanese attire to the ballpark.

I didn't realize it until this morning, but I missed a piece of history yesterday: It was the tenth anniversary of the final home game at County Stadium. Elmer Dessens, who won last night's game for the Mets, also won that game for the Reds.

Happy birthday today to:

• Ken Macha, who turns 60.
• 1986-90 Brewer Rob Deer, who turns 50.
• Helena Brewer Tyler Thornburg, who turns 22.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm putting my earplugs back in.

Drink up.