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.

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.