Some things to read while planning your party.
Today's big news (if you can call it that) is once again on the managerial front, where Tim Kurkijian confirmed that Bob Melvin interviewed with the team yesterday. Meanwhile, Pat Listach says his Tuesday interview went well.
The possibility remains that the Brewers could trade for Zack Greinke this offseason, but it's unlikely and this report will likely make it even more so: The Royals are looking for "multiple ready-now prospects" in exchange for two years of Greinke.
If you've always wanted to work in player evaluation you should dust off your resume, because a position with the Brewers just opened up. Brewer Assistant Scouting Director Ray Montgomery is leaving the team to become the D-Backs Amateur Scouting Director (FanShot). He's been with the organization since December 2002.
The Brewers issued another statement yesterday on the condition of Bob Uecker: He's still doing well at Froedtert Hospital a day after undergoing heart surgery.
Today in accolades: Ryan Braun was named to The Sporting News' All Star Team.
In the minors:
- Hunter Morris made his AFL debut yesterday, and did it while making his first professional appearance at third base. Morris played first base for Wisconsin this season, and Jim Callis of Baseball America said he lacks the athleticism to stick at third long term. Morris, by the way, went 0-for-4.
- The Helena Brewers unveiled a new logo yesterday.
Apparently the players on the field aren't the only athletes in the Brewer organization. Caitlin Moyer has a look at some of the athletic accomplishments of people working in the front office.
Around baseball:
Twins: Are expected to decline infielder Nick Punto's contract option for 2011, making him a free agent.
Kevin Correia's name continues to come up as a potential buy-low candidate for the 2011 rotation. MLB Trade Rumors has a look at his free agent stock.
Meanwhile, here's a look down a managerial path the Brewers aren't traveling: Lookout Landing breaks down some of Eric Wedge's comments from his introductory press conference with the Mariners. The content itself is interesting, but the photoshopability of the picture is really what drew me in.
If you went to bed early last night like I did (I've been really tired lately for some reason), then you missed a classic back-and-forth NLCS game that ended with a pretty interesting decision. Faced with a tie game in the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies called upon Roy Oswalt to pitch despite the fact that he'd thrown a bullpen session earlier in the day. Apparently Oswalt asked into the game.
This number surprised me: Jayson Stark notes that 72 teams (not including the 2010 Phillies and Yankees) have trailed three games to one in a best-of-seven series, and eleven of them won three straight games to come back and win it. Todd Zolecki noticed that it's happened in an LCS six times since 1985.
Meanwhile, former Brewer farmhand Nelson Cruz is hitting .353/.421/.706 through five ALCS games. Jack Moore of Disciples of Uecker has a look back at Cruz's history and a reminder that it's hard to blame the Brewers for moving on when they did.
Elsewhere in former Brewer notes: The Athletics will not retain former Brewer hitting coach Jim Skaalen.
Pirates fans haven't had a lot to be excited about over the last 18 years, but at least they have this...I guess: They finished first in Marketwire.com's rankings of MLB stadiums by restroom capacity. The Brewers were one of 16 teams that did not respond to their request. (h/t Bucs Dugout)
It seems only fair that we go from a story about toilets to yet another story about Yankee fan behavior at the ALCS. Big League Stew has video of a thrown beer narrowly missing TBS analyst Cal Ripken.
On this day in 1964, the Braves Board of Directors requested permission from the National League to move the team to Atlanta. The team would eventually play one more season in Milwaukee before moving.
Happy birthday today to:
- Helena Brewer Ryan Bernal, who turns 23.
- Huntsville Star Jim Henderson, who turns 28.
- 2006-08 Brewer Gabe Gross, who turns 31.
- 1991-92 Brewer Franklin Stubbs, who turns 50.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have plans for lunch.