Here's the game stuff, let's get past it so I can get to breaking news:

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score
BDD Recaps

Now, this morning's big news: According to the JS blog, the Brewers are about to announce they've signed Ryan Braun to the longest and largest contract in team history. It's mostly speculation at this point, but a news conference is scheduled for 10 am to make it official.

It turns out David Riske hyperextended his elbow in last night's game. He's day-to-day.

Greener on the Other Side has crunched the numbers and thinks Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks' stats will improve in the coming weeks.

On injuries:

Red Sox P Clay Buchholz is headed to the DL with a broken nail. Seriously.
Pirates C Ryan Doumit has been placed on the DL with a broken thumb.
Mets P Scott Schoeneweis spent the overnight hours Wednesday in the hospital with what turned out to be the flu.
Cubs PH/OF Daryle Ward may have a herniated disc in his back.

The baseball community as a whole is still trying to figure out exactly what happened to Andruw Jones, but Sons of Steve Garvey has uncovered a restraining order that may have something to do with it.

Yadier Molina will not be suspended for his tirade and his decision to strip out of his catcher's gear and leave it littered all over the field over the weekend. That's an interesting precedent for MLB to set.

Oh, and The Ultimate Warrior has a Twitter account.

That's all for today. Drink up.

So I skipped last night's game and went to see Iron Man instead. I wasn't a big fan of the ending, but it sounds like it was still significantly better than the game.

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score
BDD Recaps
BP Postseason Odds: 77.7 and 5.6%

For what it's worth, about a week after I ranted about how the mainstream media is too close to the team sometimes, Anthony Witrado's story in the JS reads like it was written by one of us. Sounds like he's getting sick of excuses too.

We're several weeks removed from the Masters now, but this really is a tradition unlike any other: When the Brewers are bad, start talking about 1982 again.

Related: Robin Yount and Paul Molitor made Dugout Central's list of the top players with less than 400 home runs.

In-Between Hops is talking about reasons to fire or retain a manager.

Eric Gagne made Dayn Perry's list of the five worst free agent signings. For whatever it's worth, Troy Percival is 7-for-7 in save opportunities and just moved into 10th on the all time list.

On injuries:

David Eckstein left last night's game with a sore groin. An inning later his replacement, John McDonald, left the game with an ankle injury.
Orlando Hudson has a strained hamstring and will miss around 10 days.

Obviously, things haven't been going real well around here, but on the flip side, Astros fans are pretty excited about where their recent hot streak has taken them.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have the Mariners. U.S.S. Mariner has given them five games to save their season.

Results are in from the most recent Baseball Happenings Blogpoll. Manny Ramirez takes home the AL MVP once again, Cliff Lee gets the AL Cy Young and Jacoby Ellsbury wins Rookie of the Year. Full results here. Here's the ballot I cast:

ROTY:
1) Greg Smith
2) Jacoby Ellsbury
3) Clay Buchholz

Cy Young:
1) Cliff Lee
2) Zack Greinke
3) Roy Halladay

MVP:
1) Manny Ramirez
2) Carlos Quentin
3) Johnny Damon

Recondite Baseball has a list of pitchers who have allowed the most extra base hits in a season. Three current or former Brewers appear on the list, but only one did it in a Brewer uniform. The answer may surprise you.

That's all for today. Drink up.