Some things to read while enjoying pumpkin yogurt.

Still no official news on the managerial front, but as noted in the Fanshots, Tom H. seems to think Ken Macha is the frontrunner. Chuckie Hacks still prefers Bob Brenly, and has the following to say about Macha: If Macha promises to be exactly what he's accused of being here, a manager who works based on statistical evidence, then I'm ready to wholeheartedly endorse him. I can do without "real managing." View From the Bleachers wants to keep Brenly bad enough to consider naming him the heir apparent when Lou Pinella retires.

Also, remember a month or so ago when I asked if Jack Z. might be a better fit to serve as GM of the Brewers than Doug Melvin? Nevermind. It's looking increasingly likely that Jack Z. will hire Ned Yost to manage the Mariners. He says he's looking for winners. I'm less disappointed about him leaving now.

It's been several days since we heard the Brewers were planning on making an offer to CC Sabathia, now we have the first rumor of specifics: The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting the offer is expected to be 4 years, $100 million, and that Sabathia is more likely to stay a Brewer if Mike Cameron is also brought back. That would leave the Brewers on the hook for $95 million next season before free agency even begins.

There's still not much word on the market for Ben Sheets. Crawfish Boxes has decided the Astros need another pitcher, but doesn't want that pitcher to be Sheets. If the Brewers are going to keep Cameron and make a legit run at signing Sabathia, there's almost certainly not room for Sheets in Milwaukee. So where will he go?

Maybe having money available for free agents is overrated after all. The Rockies, for example, are using their spare pennies to attempt to re-sign Glendon Rusch.

Also likely available as a free agent: Ray Durham. MLB Trade Rumors says the Brewers will not be eligible for compensation picks if/when Durham signs with another team.

This one is making my head hurt: Jeremy Jeffress, easily the Brewers' top pitching prospect, left a game in the AFL last week complaining of shoulder discomfort. He was pitching a day ahead of schedule so he'd be available to pitch a fall league all-star game. He was diagnosed with shoulder fatigue, even though he never actually saw a doctor, and now, as noted in this FanShot, it's being reported he could return to action in the AFL. Are they trying to kill this guy? I love fall baseball as much as (actually, probably more than) the next guy, but seriously, there is nothing in the AFL worth risking the health of a stud prospect over. Shut him down.

Here are some notes from the hot stove today:

• Matt Holliday may be available. Be sure to consult the home/road splits (110 OPS+ at home, 89 away) before you even consider it.
• At least one team has been eliminated from the Jake Peavy sweepstakes, as he has reportedly told the Padres he'll reject a trade to the Rangers.
• John Smoltz is reportedly considering going into the season unsigned and making a midseason return.

Here's something to spark another debate on the merits of bringing Mike Cameron back: Kerry Whisnant says players with high strikeout rates are, on average, more productive. I tend to think the argument should be flipped, that more productive players are more likely to get away with having a high strikeout rate, but I suppose a case can be made for both sides.

This dugout will look awfully familiar: the coaching staff of the 2009 Washington Nationals will feature both Marquis Grissom and Pat Listach.

Oh, and the folks over at Fire Joe Morgan may be getting their wish.

Drink up.

Apparently we're going to have to keep playing games every day.  For some reason I was under the impression that the schedule had been rearranged so that Sabathia would start the rest of the games this season.  Oh well.

This pitching matchup is pretty nifty, too.  Ben Sheets will take the mound against Glendon Rusch, which sounds a little like Maria Sharapova versus Alla Kudryavtseva...or, well, maybe not.  I find it entertaining that the Rockies may still consider themselves "in it" despite a record 15 games under .500 and the presence of Glendon Rusch in the rotation.

Game time is 7:05 CT, and here's the BR Game Preview.  (It has Greg Reynolds listed as starter, but he's in Triple-A.)

Go Brewers!

Here are some things to read while I try to decide if I should buy the new REM album. Geoff from Ducksnorts seems to like it. Seriously? Is this what it's come to? I'm taking musical advice from the guy who writes Ducksnorts?

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score
BDD Recaps

Ned Yost is in his sixth year as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. He's been in baseball for decades. He just now decided that sending a reliever out there four straight days is bad. As a result, Salomon Torres was unavailable yesterday. Kudos to Ned for working out a new strategy...but really, should it take 6 years to get there?

Adam McCalvy wrote the easiest story ever: A profile of Mike Rivera. I'm glad Rivera could fit this into his busy schedule. Topics covered include how to best remove splinters from one's backside, interesting things he's found under the bench, and why playing him more than once annually could turn out to be a good idea.

Yesterday, I mentioned a rumor that the Brewers were considering moving their AA affiliation from Huntsville to Connecticut. The Connecticut Defenders' relationship with the Giants is deteriorating quickly and will likely end soon. After writing that, I was fortunate enough to have this conversation with Joe Perez of the Norwich Bulletin, which lays out the complaints the team has about the Giants. For an alternative view, check out the 12th comment on this post over at McCovey Chronicles, which does a nice job of portraying the other side.

Didn't he just do this? Dayn Perry has made another top ten list of free agent disappointments. Eric Gagne checks in at #7. Barry Zito, signed for 6 more years and over $100 million more, is nowhere to be found.

On injuries:

Braves OF Matt Diaz will miss at least a month with a partial tear of his PCL.
Troy Percival made an appearance on the DL the same day he made an appearance in my mailbox on the cover of The Sporting News.

RotoJunkie has taken over what used to be the Baseball Happenings Weekly Blog Poll. Lance Berkman, Edinson Volquez and Geovany Soto are this week's NL MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year, respectively. Full results here. Here's my ballot:

Rookie of the Year:
1. Geovany Soto
2. Jair Jurrjens
3. Joey Votto

Cy Young:
1. Edinson Volquez
2. Brandon Webb
3. Carlos Zambrano

MVP:
1. Lance Berkman
2. Dan Uggla
3. Chipper Jones

I guess I should've seen this coming, but somehow I had no idea: Randy Johnson tied Roger Clemens on the all-time strikeout list last night. Combine that with 289 wins and he now seems like a pretty clear-cut lock for the Hall of Fame.

Trust a voice of experience, this move won't make things any better: The Rockies are bumping Jorge De La Rosa from the rotation and replacing him with Glendon Rusch.

Bret Boone retired earlier this week and I didn't really treat it as news because he's been out of a job for months. This Ichiro quote about Bret Boone, though, is fun all by itself:

Oh, and the Mariners don't want lesbians making out in their ballpark. (Hat tip to 6-4-2)

The Mug is off tomorrow and Sunday as I continue my quest to drive 100,000 miles in 2008. Drink up.

There's no stress release quite like exercise. Yesterday, after listening to Ned leave Sheets in to get pounded in a six-run inning, I took my bike out for a ride. I was almost home when a car pulled up alongside me with a rottweiler in the back, head out the window. The rottweiler snaps at me. I swerve away and stop on my bike, allowing the car to get some distance. The car stops at a stop sign and the rottweiler JUMPS OUT. By the time I got home, I had forgotten all about the loss.

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score
BDD Box Score

Dave Pinto at Baseball Musings wants to know the same thing I'm asking: Where was the bullpen yesterday?

Jim Powell has a new blog up. Topics covered include yesterday's game, Bobby Thomson, Ryan Braun's contract, Mark Attanasio and the upcoming trip to Boston.

Big League Stew also interviewed Bob Uecker, but the questions had more to do with Mr. Belvedere than baseball.

Bugs and Cranks has the Brewers 17th in their most recent power poll. Is snark required here? I've lost my decoder ring.

This has been done to death, I know, but Fangraphs still thinks the Padres won the Scott Linebrink trade.

On injuries:

Mariners utilityman Willie Bloomquist harvested too many razor clams and was fined $50.
Twins OF Carlos Gomez missed yesterday's game with the flu.
Nats 1B Nick Johnson will miss 4-6 weeks with a torn tendon sheath in his wrist.
White Sox 2B Juan Uribe left last night's game with a leg injury.

I don't recall if I've mentioned it here or not, but Paul DePodesta is blogging now. On the surface it seems like a great idea, but Gaslamp Ball notes that some of the comments he's getting are getting increasingly obnoxious. I'd rather have my front office personnel working on improving the team, personally.

Some people know what it takes to win: Brandon Webb is 9-0.

And some people don't: Reds IF/OF Jerry Hairston reportedly told Marlins 1B Wes Helms he thinks the Marlins will win the East, because they're gritty.

Speaking of former Brewers, Glendon Rusch declined an outright assignment to the minors and is now a free agent. Supposedly the Rockies are interested. Really?

Apparently Andruw Jones only hits changeups. Did someone tell Ben Sheets?

I think everyone stashes change sometimes. I keep mine in a giant plastic parking meter. But I've never managed to accumulate 150,000 pennies, and even if I did I probably wouldn't stash them in a teammate's locker.

I'm not sure if it'll help you make 150,000 pennies, but Baseball Digest Daily is looking for writers.

And, by the way, here's the most bizarre animation you'll ever see made from graffiti. Incredible.

The Mug is off tomorrow and Sunday so I can go back to driving all over the midwest. Drink up.