My to do list for today:

Beat Battlekow at Boggle
Write Frosty Mug

It's a good thing I accomplished the first one, because there's really not much to write about today.

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score

Today's Brewer notes are largely visitor oriented. First, as mentioned in the comments of yesterday's Mug, Stacey from Camden Chat visited Miller Park along with the Orioles over the weekend and offers a nice review.

It's no secret that the Brewers love playing at home. But La Velle Neal notes the Twins like visiting Miller Park too, and have turned their season around in Milwaukee every year since 2005. (Also noted in Fanshots.

It's been a while since we've looked at these: the BP Postseason Odds. Right now the Brewers project for 87.4 wins and a 10.3% chance of winning the Central. It's still too early to talk Wild Card.

Back in March, I (very subtly) hinted that I'd like someone to make me a Ryan Braun wallpaper. While I was on vacation, Josh Downie came through for me. Now, I have a slightly different request. See this terrible, painful song about Jason Bay? Brewer fans, I'm begging you, please don't make those. Especially if you sing too high and create a sound like fingernails on a chalkboard.

On injuries:

Reds 3B Edwin Encarnacion left last night's game with back spasms but should be ok.
Felix Hernandez hit a grand slam last night, but also suffered a sprained ankle and had to leave the game. Big League Stew has the ironic take.
Nats 1B Nick Johnson will likely miss the rest of the year after having surgery on his wrist.
Pirates P Ian Snell has medial epicondylitis, aka Golfer's Elbow, and will miss his next start. Perhaps he was trying to save money on his car insurance.
Kevin Youkilis was hit in the eye with an errant warm-up throw last night and had to leave the game.

Via Baseball Musings, I learned yesterday that Safeco Field is no longer a good place to meet the ladies.

On the other end of the spectrum, I learned (via Baseball Musings again) that Padres owner John Moores' divorce may force him to sell the Padres.

Jose Guillen is hitting .359/.365/.613 over his last 37 games despite the fact that he hasn't drawn a single walk over that stretch. Sometimes being aggressive works.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer took a deeper look at the process involved in trading a franchise cornerstone like C.C. Sabathia. They also look at some past deadline deals, including a couple of past Indians deals you'll recognize.

Here's where the maple bat situation has brought us: Researchers are developing a portable CT scan device specifically designed to assess the safety of specific bats. Can't we just go back to ash bats and be done with it?

That's all for today. I'm moving tomorrow and may not have internet for a while, then I'm back on the road for a bit. The Mug will return full-time sometime around the 7th or 8th of July. Until then, thanks again to Jeff for filling in. Drink up.

I don't think I've ever been this disappointed with a split of a road series.

Monday's Win Expectancy Graph
Monday's BR Box Score
Monday's BDD Recaps

Sunday's Win Expectancy Graph
Sunday's BR Box Score
Sunday's BDD Recaps

Saturday's Win Expectancy Graph
Saturday's BR Box Score
Saturday's BDD Recaps

Friday's Win Expectancy Graph
Friday's BR Box Score
Friday's BDD Recaps

Wow, after four days away, where do I even start? As reported in the fanposts, today the Brewers will announce they've signed Julian Tavarez. Also, while it won't be "announced," it will be strongly implied that the Brewer organization's desperation for reliable bullpen arms has reached a very dangerous stage.

Russell Branyan is back and sharing time at third with Bill Hall. Hall is unhappy, and understandably so, with the loss of playing time to the one guy in all of baseball who strikes out more than he does. Some guy named Eli completely destroyed his credibility by suggesting the Brewers may be ready to DFA Hall. Marty over at Fire Ned Yost is upset by the decision, and is now refusing to spend money on the team until Melvin is fired. Seriously? I was way more upset by the Tavarez move.

Jason Kendall batted eighth yesterday, in an attempt to "shake up the lineup." I know stat guys will say all lineup tinkering is relatively irrelevant, but this one seems especially small.

Remember that error thar J.J. Hardy committed on Friday? Apparently it attempted to destroy Washington.

Phil Rogers puts the Brewers at #22 in most recent power rankings, with the following comment:

In ESPN's most recent power rankings, the Brewers are also #22, with this comment:

It's close, but in this case I'm going to give the "one sentence or less analysis" challenge to Rogers, for actually analyzing something beyond home runs.

This makes his strategic decisions even more puzzling: Apparently Ned Yost has read The Book. I'm still going to guess he doesn't read blogs, but Mariners manager John McLaren does.

It's been five days, but I'm still confused and strangely fascinated by Babes Love Baseball's "sabermetric" analysis of Ryan Braun.

On injuries:

Rockies SS Clint Barmes is on the DL with a sprained MCL.
Fausto Carmona is out around 4 weeks with a strained hip.
Marlins OF Brett Carroll has a severely separated shoulder, partially torn ligaments and a swollen face. He'll be out a while.
Mets OF Ryan Church is still dizzy after getting his second concussion of the season last week.
Rockies OF Brad Hawpe is on the DL with a sore hamstring.
Felix Hernandez missed his start Saturday with soreness in his leg.
Matt Holliday was placed on the DL, also with a sore hamstring.
Andruw Jones will have the surgery he's been delaying on his knee and miss 4-6 weeks.
Padres P Chris Young, who suffered a broken nose via line drive, has other fractures in his face as well and will not be allowed to resume baseball activities for at least 2 weeks.

How do you react when your team is severely underperforming and is consistently painful to watch? Ichiro says you should try a beer from Papua New Guinea. U.S.S. Mariner is on the case.

When you find yourself complaining about the tough start Rickie Weeks is having, consider Reds leadoff hitter Corey Patterson, and his wafer-thin .242 OBP. In a move that has to be at least partially related, Jay Bruce will debut Tuesday.

On the flip side, Lyle Overbay set a Jays franchise record by reaching base in 12 straight plate appearances.

Oh, and Jamie Moyer has finally proven that all 30 MLB teams are capable of swinging and missing at 60 MPH pitches.

Drink up.

Looks like I didn't miss much this weekend.

Sunday's Win Expectancy Graph
Sunday's BR Box Score
Sunday's BDD Recaps

Saturday's Win Expectancy Graph (Game 1)
Saturday's BR Box Score (Game 1)
Saturday's Win Expectancy Graph (Game 2)
Saturday's BR Box Score (Game 2)
Saturday's BDD Recaps
Friday's BDD Recaps

By now, I was hoping to have breaking news: Rumors were circulating last night that Ned Yost was going to be fired today. This morning, however, Tom H. is reporting no decision has been made.

As noted in the fanposts, Ryan Braun spoke out after yesterday's loss, saying the team didn't expect to win this weekend. Beyond the Green Pillars doesn't like the way he did it, speaking out in the press instead of to his teammates, but I like that he's being honest. At least one person is done saying "it's early."

Jim Powell's most recent blog has a bad pun in the title and covers the series at Fenway, Mark Difelice, the Red Sox radio team, Johnny Pesky, Chip Caray and Ryan Braun's contract.

The Red Sox are unveiling solar panels at Fenway today to help heat water and save energy at the ballpark. They didn't need them over the weekend because all the power was supplied by Brewer pitchers and Ryan Braun. Related link

Here's a year-by-year breakdown of what the Brewers are paying for Braun's power, btw.

Bucs Dugout doesn't understand why the Brewers aren't hitting. Me either.

On injuries:

Rangers OF Josh Hamilton has bumps and bruises all over the place from a dive Friday, and has played sparingly over the weekend.
Felix Hernandez was pulled from his start after the fifth yesterday with tightness in his calf.
Rich Hill, who the Cubs had sent to AAA, missed a start down there with a stiff back.
Jason Isringhausen has been placed on the DL after an encounter with THE SPAZZOSAURUS!
Jake Peavy will miss today's scheduled start and have an MRI to determine the source of his elbow soreness.

The Junkball Blues is doing some interesting work on the development of a new stat for relief pitchers.

And, by the way, one former Brewer and the father of a current Brewer are in the top 20 all-time for most plate appearances without a sacrifice.

Drink up.