So Google Reader tracks my reading habits. Here's a chart showing my reading habits by time of day for the last 30 days:

Can you tell when I write the Mug?

In Arizona: Taylor Green went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in his AFL debut, Jeremy Jeffress gave up 1 run on 2 hits in 3 innings to pick up the victory, and Alexandre Periard pitched two scoreless innings of relief as the Javelinas defeated Phoenix 6-4. Box Score

In Hawai'i: Caleb Gindl went 1-for-4 and scored a run, and Logan Schafer went 0-for-4 but picked up an RBI in the CaneFires' 5-4 loss to North Shore. Box Score

Also, we apparently have a Brewer prospect to watch on two AFL teams now, as Lou Palmisano went 1-for-4 with 2 K's in his debut Wednesday for the Mesa Solar Sox.

It's the Battle of Peoria as the Peoria Saguaros host the Javelinas today at 2:35 Central time, and if you're up late tonight, the CaneFires host Waikiki at 12:35 am.

So yesterday I posted the JS's team grades for the Brewers. Today, we have the individual report cards. One has to imagine Rickie Weeks is risking getting his allowance revoked by bringing home a D-plus. Also, the Brew Town Beat has grades for the bullpen.

So the Mariners GM search continues, but still has no mention of Jack Z. Today, though, a possibility I hadn't considered is mentioned in the blogs: Mariners Insider is listing Doug Melvin as a possible candidate for M's GM, if he should decide to turn down a contract extension in Milwaukee. Mariners.com is reporting that the next GM will have less power and a lower payroll than former GM Bill Bavasi had, so it seems unlikely Melvin would want to make the jump. (h/t Baseball Digest Daily for the second link)

Once the dust has settled on the general manager situation, a decision is expected on interim manager Dale Sveum. Add Terry Francona to the list of people who have endorsed Sveum's return.

And, if you missed the entire season and Tom H.'s season recap yesterday, today you can read The Official Site's recap.

Via Seamheads, Forbes reports that the Brewers made $158 million in revenue this season, and the franchise is now worth $331 million. There's always some debate about the validity of Forbes' numbers, and conversations about what they do and don't take into account, but if they found $158 million in revenue in Milwaukee, my guess is they found just about everything.

MLB Trade Rumors lists Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy among twelve 20+ HR hitters who could be available via trade. I'd be disappointed to see either go, but for the right price anyone could be available.

Apparently coaches are also available, especially recently re-assigned coaches: Rumor has it Ted Simmons has been targeted to serve as bench coach in San Diego next season.

I've been trying to track players who become free agents whether it's big news or small, but apparently I missed a couple: MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that Astros RP Dave Borkowski and former Pirate, Astro and Giant IF Jose Castillo.

I still haven't seen a list of Brewers eligible to be Rule 5 Drafted, but while perusing the web this morning I found this Royals Review list of eligible draftees that includes one familiar name: Jose Capellan. Capellan seems like the perfect target for the draft: an inconsistent former big-leaguer with good stuff and a high ceiling. It's feasible he could help a team out of the bullpen in 2009, and if you draft him and he can't, you can send him back and all the experiment cost you is $25k, or about .25% of what a similar experiment on Eric Gagne cost the Brewers this season.

Voting is open for The Internet Baseball Awards. I'm hoping to find time to work on my ballot today.

Oh, and Dick Vitale is among 12 original Rays season ticket holders that will get to throw out first pitches during the ALCS.

Drink up.

Ok, let's be honest, there's really not a lot going on today, but someone needed to write a post to bump Roguejim's New Kids on the Block post off the top spot.

Sadly, there's not a win expectancy graph or BR Box Score for the Home Run Derby.

Since not much has changed in 24 hours, we're still talking about the rotation platoon idea. Between the Green Pillars takes a look at the potential availability of the non-starter in the platoon and argues the platoon would effectively waste a roster spot.

On injuries:

Jerry Hairston Jr. has a mild hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated on Thursday.
Nats OF Wily Mo Pena has a slight tear in his rotator cuff and fraying of his labrum and will undergo surgery.

I had an unexpected moment yesterday. Since I'm officially back from vacation and not overwhelmed with other stuff, I'm back to casting a weekly ballot in the blogpoll for postseason awards. This week I sat down with a spreadsheet, put in all the numbers, added bonuses for playing on winning teams, playing a premium defensive position, playing everyday...and my AL MVP turned out to be Ian Kinsler. He likely won't even be the leading vote-getter on the Rangers, but he's my AL MVP. And in a strange coincidence, he's also profiled today at Beyond the Box Score.

So Josh Hamilton started out with all kinds of talent, found cocaine and heroin, spent years working to clean up his life, found God, turned it around and hit 28 home runs in 38 swings last night at Yankee Stadium. All of this prompted Rick Reilly to say "It's a lousy night to be an atheist." It seems to me like being an atheist would be pretty much the same every day.

On the other hand, the combination of a booing crowd and a mic he didn't know was live prompted Chase Utley to drop an F. bomb. Oops.

Jose Capellan is on the move again, this time signing with the Royals and heading to AAA Omaha. It's the right Jose Capellan this time, right? I don't even know which one to tag, so both get it.

Tangotiger takes a look at payroll distribution among teams. About 43.2% of the average team's payroll is spent on pitching. You can see the breakdown by position via the link.

Oh, and if you're looking for work, this job with the Cardinals looks like a nice starting point in the front office/player development field. I've been watching the team jobs boards for a while now and jobs like this don't pop up very often.

Drink up.

The All-Star Futures Game is on ESPN2 at 11:30 AM CT (no, not a misprint), with the pregame show airing an hour beforehand. "Third baseman" Mat Gamel, unequivocally the crown jewel of the system, is the only Milwaukee farmhand playing, thought erstwhile Brewers Matt LaPorta and Will Inman are also both on the US team, as is unsigned 2005 draft pick Jake Arrieta.

Brewers Futures Game alumni include Kyle Peterson (1999), Ben Sheets (2000), Nick Neugebauer (2001), Corey Hart (2002), Bill Hall (2002), J.J. Hardy (2003), Dave Krynzel (2003), Prince Fielder (2004), Rickie Weeks (2004), Hernan Iribarren (2005), Nelson Cruz (2005), Ryan Braun (2006), Yovani Gallardo (2006), and Alcides Escobar (2007).

Current or former Brewers who played on in the game prior to joining the organization include Francisco Cordero (Detroit - 1999), Russell Branyan (Cleveland - 1999), Alex Sanchez (Tampa Bay - 1999), Peter Bergeron (Montreal - 1999), Joe Lawrence (Toronto - 1999), Tomo Ohka (Boston - 1999, 2000), Ryan Anderson (Seattle - 1999, 2000), CC Sabathia (Cleveland - 2000), Eric Munson (Detroit - 2000), Mike Rivera (Detroit - 2001), Grant Balfour (Minnesota - 2001), Lyle Overbay (Arizona - 2002), Brett Evert (Atlanta - 2002), Jorge de la Rosa (Boston - 2002, 2003), Chris Narveson (St. Louis - 2003), Jose Capellan (Atlanta - 2004), and Zach Jackson (Toronto - 2005).

Feel free to use this as a game thead, or just to talk about what a studly slugger Gamel is.

I missed most of last night's game, but when I got home, I liked what I saw.  Another clutch bomb from Prince (against a lefty, no less), some stylish defense from Ryan Braun, and an inning without pain courtesy of Eric Gagne.  The Cubs are in Washington playing the NL East team that actually does suck, so we're still two games back.

The regulars:

• FanGraphs Win Probability chart
• BR Box Score
• BDD Daily Recap
• BP Postseason Odds:  84.7 wins and 22% chance of the division.

Before we get to some articles, I'd like to present to you a photo essay in four clicks that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face:

1. Carlos!
2. Ryan!
3. Prince!
4. Gagne!

The Junkball Blues looks at the efficiency of our starting pitching --that is, how many innings are they getting out of the pitches they throw?  The conclusions aren't surprising, but the degree to which Parra is working for his number of frames might be.

Ben Sheets threw yesterday and said, "It felt good."   I would've given this top billing, but you all know as well as I do how little Sheets updates can mean sometimes.

At The Book Blog, MGL tries to rate pitching coaches.   I had considered doing something very similar to this, so I'm glad he did.  As he acknowledges, it's a very difficult effect to nail down, but as it turns out, Mike Maddux appears to have been a positive influence--though not overwhelmingly so--over the last five years.

Some injuries:

• Scott Baker left his start last night with a groin strain , leaving the Twins wondering if they'll have any starting pitching left by June, and dejectedly realizing that the Rangers have Sidney Ponson this year.
• Kevin Correia got all of one out before leaving with a back injury.   Ouch.
• Kerwin Danley got hit.   Hard.  (Link has video.)

In former Brewers news, it's a big day to be a part of the old Brewers-Braves trade.  Dan Kolb (yes, that Dan Kolb) was released by the Red Sox, and Jose Capellan (yes, that Jose Capellan) was promoted by the Rockies.

Speaking of the Rockies, somebody had to go to make room for Capellan, and that someone was...Jayson Nix .  Doug: Gyt oyn thy phoyne, immydyatly!

The Pirates are bad.  Charlie at Bucs Dugout sums it all up in one brilliant post.

I'm guessing most of you haven't heard of Danny Ray Herrera, but he's a great story.  He was part of the Josh Hamilton trade in the offseason, and he just made a successful debut in Triple-A.   For the whole Herrera tale, from being a too-short-for-the-scouts college pitcher to a surprise success in A ball, click here.  (It's a great article.)

That's it for today...at least for the next two hours, until game time.