Some things to read while thinking about how technology has changed Santa.

So we've got three new Brewers today. If you've been hanging around the site over the last 24 hours, you've probably seen the signings of both Chris Duffy and Trot Nixon, giving the Brewers two more outfielders for spring training. Yesterday, the Crew also signed reliever Brian Reith, who has spent the last two seasons playing independent ball after a few seasons roaming AAA in the Reds, Pirates and Phillies organizations. He last appeared in the big leagues in 2004, and will be 31 on Opening Day. It's hard to tell if Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball knew about these signings when he predicted the Brewers would finish worse than they did in 2007 (I think he meant 2008).

Around the minors: Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com is compiling past scouting reports as a way of looking back at the Rule 5 Draft. Click the link for the book on new Brewer Eduardo Morlan. Also, as of this writing Mat Gamel is up by 136 votes in the voting for #2 prospect in our Community Prospect Rankings. Voting for #3 will be posted at noon today.

The Brewers used 54 starting lineups last season, down from 82 in 2007. More lineup analysis than you could shake an spreadsheet at is available over at Right Field Bleachers.

CC Sabathia's New York press conference was yesterday, and that raised some angst in the FanShots, but nothing compared to the anger it caused over at Let's Go Tribe.

Two former Brewers on the hot stove: The Yankees are reportedly done pursuing Ben Sheets now that A.J. Burnett is in pinstripes. Derrick Turnbow, however, is the most intriguing reliever to post a 15.63 ERA last season, and is reportedly drawing interest from the Tigers, Rockies, Rays, Pirates, Marlins, Phillies and Giants.

Elsewhere on the hot stove:

Angels: Are reportedly close to re-signing Juan Rivera to a three year deal.
Astros: Signed Aaron Boone to a one year deal.
Braves: Have reportedly ended all negotiations with agent Arn Tellem following this week's debacle with Rafael Furcal.
Giants: Are supposedly working on a one year contract with Randy Johnson.
Mets: Are reportedly interested in lefty reliever Will Ohman.
Phillies: Have reportedly joined the Pirates in pursuit of Ray King.
Red Sox: Are reportedly saying they're out of the bidding for Mark Teixiera.
Reds: Are reportedly interested in Pat Burrell.
Rockies: Re-signed Glendon Rusch to a minor league deal.

Sometimes the offseason gets slow, and as a result reporters are forced to ask stupid questions to people who know nothing about the answer. Case in point: Ozzie Guillen: Financial Expert.

Oh, and if you like Woot, maybe you will also enjoy the clearance section at ThinkGeek?

A programming note: I'm leaving Sunday for a week away for Christmas in Wisconsin. As a result I won't be writing the Mug next week, but I've invited my co-conspirators around here to fill in as they see fit. The Community Prospect Rankings will also be on hold next week. All regular work will resume on Monday, December 29.

Drink up.

Per TBTSNBN:

The Brewers just announced that they have signed [Trot Nixon], the 34-year-old outfielder to a minor league contract with an invitation to their spring training. It’s another low-risk move that could end up filling a roster spot with a left-handed hitter.

The Brewers also just announced they have signed centerfielder Chris Duffy, who has played with the Pirates. Duffy, 28, another left-handed hitter, also signed a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp.

Trot Nixon's stats are here.  Note the 5 straight years of declining OPS.  As late as 2006, though, he had an .800+ OPS against right-handed pitching.

Chris Duffy's stats are here.  In the minors, he's much much better at hitting LHP than RHP.

I think we have the makings of another platoon: Chrixon!

Season sweep of the Giants, and the Brewers' first road sweep in California since 2002, eh? I'll take it.

Friday's Win Expectancy Graph
Saturday's Win Expectancy Graph
Sunday's Win Expectancy Graph

Friday's BR Box Score
Saturday's BR Box Score
Sunday's BR Box Score

Of course, the weekend's biggest news is the acquisition of Ray Durham for two minor leaguers. The immediate question: Where and how much will he play? Ned Yost defended Rickie Weeks yesterday and says he'll play Durham "a couple days a week, maybe."

In the meantime, the Brewers may have kept another team from making a move, as well: Sam Mellinger says the low price the Giants received for Durham, plus with the fact that they're paying a large chunk of his salary, may keep the Royals from reaching a deal to trade Mark Grudzielanek and his $4 million salary.

The grand rotation experiment begins today, as Seth McClung starts on the road in St. Louis, his first start as part of the road/home platoon at the end of the rotation. If all goes as planned and the team sticks with the platoon, Dave Bush would then get three of the next four starts, including Saturday against Houston and the following Thursday against the Cubs.

Speaking of Dave Bush, Baseball By Paul thinks he'll come back to Earth and now is a good time to sell high. Paul also predicts a hot second half for Prince Fielder.

The Brewers have moved up to 8th in Phil Rogers' power rankings, or seventh if you want to be a purist and argue that team power rankings should only include actual teams.

On injuries:

Red Sox RP David Aardsma is on the DL with a sore groin.
A's 1B Daric Barton hit his head on the bottom of a swimming pool during the All-Star Break and has been DL'ed.
Reds RP Jared Burton has been placed on the DL with a strained right latissimus muscle.
White Sox SP Jose Contreras has been placed on the DL with elbow tendinitis.
Jermaine Dye left yesterday's game after being hit in the knee with a pitch.
Ryan Freel is out for the rest of 2008 after having surgery to repair a torn tendon behind his right knee.
Rays RP Gary Glover has been placed on the DL with a calf strain.
Orioles LHP Adam Loewen has a stress fracture in his elbow and has decided to give up pitching.
Pedro Martinez threw a bullpen session yesterday, but won't pitch Tuesday as scheduled.
Angels OF Gary Matthews Jr. has a slight tear in his knee but will play through it.
Mets OF Trot Nixon underwent season-ending hernia surgery.
Roy Oswalt has been placed on the DL with continued soreness from a left hip abductor strain.
Mets OF Angel Pagan may need season-ending shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Mariners SP Carlos Silva left yesterday's start with back spasms but may make his next start.
Billy Wagner will have an MRI today after suffering cramping in his shoulder yesterday.
Marlins OF Josh Willingham missed yesterday's game to rest a sore wrist after being hit by a pitch Saturday.
Dmitri Young, who is diabetic, is on the DL after missing two straight games with high blood sugar and lightheadedness.

Apparently Scott Linebrink is using acupuncture and other methods to relieve the pain of migraines and some back issues he's been having. I've been known to get migraines related to Linebrink as well, especially when Joe Thatcher and Will Inman pitch well.

I'm sure this debate has been hashed out before, but it doesn't usually give me the urge to sing "One of these things is not like the others." Dugout Central asked four writers to name the greatest living pitcher. Your nominees: Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens...and Dwight Gooden.

Murray Chass would like to know why it's been 2 1/2 years since Don Baylor worked in baseball.

Week 15's blogpoll results for AL Awards (conducted over the break) are up at this link. Ian Kinsler was the surprise winner for MVP, with Cliff Lee taking the Cy Young and Evan Longoria lapping the field to win the Rookie of the Year. If you read the comments, I actually only wrote about half of what's quoted to me...the part about catchers belongs to someone else. Here's my ballot:

MVP:
1. Ian Kinsler
2. Grady Sizemore
3. Alex Rodriguez

Cy Young:
1. Roy Halladay
2. Justin Duchsherer
3. Cliff Lee

ROTY:
1. Evan Longoria
2. Greg Smith
3. Nick Blackburn

Oh, and if you ever find yourself stuck in a conundrum, where a team either has the option of paying you $20 million for next season or letting you become a free agent and likely make significantly less, the way to show that team you want to stay is almost certainly not tanking in a pinch hit at-bat against the Yankees. Just saying.

Drink up.