Whole lotta frosty, not so much mug.

KLSnow's open thread about internet troubles getting in the way of today's Frosty Mug is below. Head over there to talk about Rickie Weeks, the AFL, puppies, the dearth of overtime rules knowledge (it's on the Espin, it's gotta be important) or whatever else is on your mind. I wouldn't want you to feel uninformed, though, so here are some quick-hit, blog-less, easily-found links from around the baseball world:

• Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley will have hip surgery sometime next week. He should be allowed to resume baseball activities in three or four months, but it might take until May for him to totally recover. From the same link, Philly third baseman Pedro Feliz will undergo back surgery but should be ready for spring training.
  
• After winning 20 games in a season for the first time in his career, Mike Mussina announced his retirement. The 270-game winner is 19th all-time in strikeouts, 32nd in games started, 38th in W-L%, and has 7 Gold Gloves. You've got five years to make or break his Hall of Fame case.
• Add another name to the list of potential starters available: Aaron Heilman. The New York Daily News reports the 30-year-old Mets righty would rather be traded than remain a reliever. Apparently at least six teams are interested in making him a starter. He's eligible for arbitration through the 2010 season.
• The Nationals have been mentioned in Mark Teixeira rumors since the slugger filed for free agency. Despite no shortage of fans wondering why Teixeira would want to sign with the lowly Nats, the ever-present "person familiar with [player]'s thinking" says Teixeira is interested in playing for Washington.
• Do you speak Spanish? ol Pete found an interview in Spanish with dismissed Nashville skipper Frank Kremblas. While it doesn't seem like there's much mentioned about the Brewers, a human translation couldn't hurt.
• Unless he comes out of nowhere to pitch today in the AFL, Jeremy Jeffress successfully lasted a month on the Peoria Javelinas roster despite a shoulder injury. On one hand, he didn't pitch and make it worse. On the other hand, there's no one else the team wanted to get experience? Hopefully Jeffress picked up some useful information about pitching to top players while sidelined in Arizona.
• Speaking of the AFL, Phillies infielder Jason Donald took home this year's Darnell Stenson Sportsmanship Award. Stenson was a Reds prospect who was killed in an apparent carjacking while a player in the 2003 AFL. Since 2004 the award is given to the player "who best exemplifies unselfishness, hard work and leadership." No Brewers have won the award, but this is the fourth season in a row it's gone to an NL prospect.
  
• The Yankees are still interested in acquiring Mike Cameron. The Brewers are still waiting to hear from CC Sabathia's agents. Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
• Finally, because I think I'm contractually obligated to mention trivia somewhere in every post, only thirteen Brewers have ever reached 502 plate appearances in a season (aka qualified for the batting title) with an OBP of .300 or lower. See if you can find the most recent example:
  

  Name	Year	PA	OBP
  Tim Johnson	1973	510	.259
  Ted Simmons	1984	532	.269
  Dave May	1974	515	.273
  Rick Auerbach	1972	605	.277
  Gerald Williams	1997	601	.282
  Von Joshua	1977	566	.286
  Marquis Grissom	2000	640	.288
  Robin Yount	1976	690	.292
  B.J. Surhoff	1988	541	.292
  Pedro Garcia	1973	635	.296
  Jim Gantner	1985	573	.300
  Jose Hernandez	2001	592	.300
  Corey Hart	2008	657	.300

Well, at least for one more day the Brewers have managed to avoid being buried alive.

There were 9 major league games yesterday, here are the important ones:

Cubs 9, Mets 5
Win Probability Graph
BR Box Score

Phillies 6, Braves 2
Win Probability Graph
BR Box Score

So the campaigning has begun for Dale Sveum to have the interim tag removed from his title. His best friend, a former teammate (who plays everyday) and a gritty veteran who reads Goosebumps books think he should stay. Fire Ned Yost is on it.

Speaking of decisions, a decision is also looming regarding the general manager for 2008. Between the Green Pillars says the Brewers either need to retain Doug Melvin or let him go. Is there a third option I was missing? If you missed it yesterday, Jeff made the case for Melvin to stay.

And of course, a decision is also looming on a contract offer for CC Sabathia. The Junkball Blues compiled this list of pitchers who have received a 6-year deal since 1998:

• Kevin Brown
• Johan Santana
• Pedro Martinez
• Mike Mussina
• Mike Hampton
• Barry Zito

It's much less expensive to develop your own ace, in the long run. Hopefully the Brewers can start that process in Appleton, as they officially agreed to terms on a player development deal with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers yesterday. If you happen to be hanging around today and it's around 11, follow that link for live video of the press conference.

Until now, the Timber Rattlers had been a Mariners affiliate. The Mariners will still be in the Midwest League, as they signed a deal with the Clinton Lumberkings yesterday. Clinton has my favorite park in all of minor league baseball.

Baseball Time in Arlington is impressed by the Brewers' decision to give every fan at Thursday's game a free ticket for 2009, and says the Rangers could learn a lot from the Brewers.

The Brewers are 6th (down from 4th) in the WhatifSports Power Rankings.

On injuries:

Carlos Beltran bruised his knee running into the wall in last night's game, but stayed in the game and will likely play tonight.
Reds OF Chris Dickerson is done for the year and will have surgery to correct a stress fracture in his ankle.

Jamie Moyer has thrown 190 effective innings this season at 45 years old. Dave Cameron of FanGraphs says it's not the best pitching season by a 45-year-old ever, but it is the second best.

Despite barely cracking the top ten on his team in VORP, Jason Bartlett has been named the Rays MVP by the local chapter of the BBWAA. Fire Joe Morgan would like to invite some of said writers to spend some time at the bottom of his hot tub.

Oh, and today's a woot-off. Buy cheap electronics responsibly.

Drink up.