:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/1019605/GYI0061228258.jpg)
Some things to read while sleeping a lot.
The Brewers have scheduled a 1 pm press conference today to introduce Shaun Marcum. If you're attending, be sure to wish him a happy birthday: He turns 29 today.
As has become the norm, the rest of today's top stories are about things that aren't happening:
- Tom Haudricourt says the team hasn't made an offer to Carl Pavano.
- He also notes that Jerry Crasnick of ESPN says they don't have the up-the-middle talent the Royals are looking for in exchange for Zack Greinke.
The Brewers may be unlikely to acquire Pavano or Greinke, but Baseball America says they have re-signed Sam Narron to a minor league deal. Narron has pitched in Nashville in each of the last three seasons and posted a 4.14 ERA with 21 walks and 54 strikeouts in 104.1 innings last season. He's spending the winter pitching for Caracas in Venezuela, and has a 3.82 ERA with eleven walks and eight strikeouts in seven starts.
The remaining open spot in the Brewer rotation was one of the key topics covered in Adam McCalvy's inbox this week. Other topics include pitching tandems, 30-something pitchers, Kameron Loe and insurance on long term contracts.
The Brewers' 2010 lineup is returning intact for 2011, so the team's biggest offensive question mark may very well be Alcides Escobar. Eno Sarris of RotoHardball looked back at Escobar's disappointing 2010 season and wants to know how many bases you think the Brewer shortstop will steal in 2011. (FanShot)
While the Brewers work to build the 2011 roster, one Brewer is over in China working to build the game internationally: Toby Harrmann noticed this story about Prince Fielder's trip to the far east.
Looking ahead, the Brewers have made a couple of minor changes to their 2011 spring schedule: If you're planning on heading out to Arizona you may want to check them out.
Around baseball:
Athletics: Signed pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a one year, $1 million deal and avoided arbitration with pitcher Joey Devine, who will earn $560,000 in 2011.
Dodgers: Signed outfielder Eugenio Velez and catcher J.D. Closser to minor league deals.
Mariners: Designated catcher Rob Johnson for assignment.
Phillies: Signed Cliff Lee to a five year, $120 million deal with a vesting option for 2016. (FanShot)
Rangers: Re-signed catcher Matt Treanor to a one year, $850,000 deal.
Rays: Re-signed pitcher J.P. Howell to a one year, $1.1 million deal.
Cliff Lee will drive up the average again next year, too: The average major leaguer earned over $3 million for the first time in 2010.
Here's today's former Brewer news:
- The Dodgers are considering signing Bill Hall to play left field.
- Baseball Reference has a list of 40 hitters with at least 5000 plate appearances and intentional walks as 20% or more of their walk total: Hank Aaron, Ted Simmons and Dave Parker made the list.
This is why every team, without exception, needs more pitching depth: Jeff Zimmerman of FanGraphs has started a study on DL projections for starting pitchers and says that 41% of pitchers who start at least 20 games and throw 120+ innings will go on the DL at least once the next season.
It's kind of a busy week for me but I might have to scratch out some time to create BCB's Disaster Recovery Plan.
Before I get to today's birthdays, I have (what I think is a) pretty cool announcement. A few weeks ago I emailed Baseball Reference to suggest a feature that would make my daily birthday gatherings easier, and now it's in place: B-Ref's Play Index now allows you to search for players born in a specific month or on a specific day. Here are today's:
- Shaun Marcum turns 29.
- 1998 and 2002 Brewer Marcus Jensen turns 38.
- 1992-99 Brewer Dave Nilsson turns 41.
- 1969-70 Brewer Greg Goossen turns 65.
- 1901 Brewer John Anderson would have turned 137.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to reorganize my collection.
Drink up.