Some things to read while providing an accurate description (thanks Hyatt - I'm going to see that when I'm trying to sleep now).
For the first time in weeks, it's a relatively slow news day and I don't have a lot to add to it. So, in the interest of brevity I'm knocking today's Mug down to bullet points and trying to squeeze in eighteen holes of disc golf before today's game thread. Enjoy!
- Dave Bush will make his second start of 2010 today, and Tom Haudricourt has a profile discussing his effort to recover from a tough 2009 season.
- If you're worried about the Brewers after their 3-4 start, Disciples of Uecker has some numbers to check out while backing off the ledge.
- With that said, a fair portion of Brewer fans clearly aren't happy, as noted in this week's Tracking Poll Results.
- Elsewhere in slow start reaction: Miller Park Drunk made a Google commercial about Gregg Zaun.
- Today in obvious Prince Fielder notes: MLB Free Agency says Fielder isn't worth $200 million and Howie Magner says Fielder might get it, but not from Milwaukee.
- The Bucky Channel wonders if Fielder could end up with the Cubs.
- Speaking of the Cubs, Baseball Brew has a handful of former Brewers who work for them.
- Minor League Ball has an encouraging profile of everyone's favorite new restaurateur (FanShot).
- Jim Edmonds might not be a Brewer if not for some encouragement from Albert Pujols.
- I've missed Plunk Everyone: They're back with several notes on Rickie Weeks, the current MLB leader in HBP (with three).
- Speaking of statistical trivialities, Chris Narveson, Mitch Stetter and Carlos Villanueva made the THT Awards for each picking up a one out hold in the seventh inning of last Wednesday's game.
In the minors: Today's Brewerfan.net Link Report shows the Brevard County Manatees playing at 9:30 this morning, and the rest of the full season affiliates playing tonight, if you're looking to catch a minor league game today.
In predictions and power rankings:
- MLB Daily Dish has the Brewers winning 82 games and finishing five games back of the Cardinals (and four out of the Wild Card).
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SBNation moved the Brewers down from 15th to 18th.
Around baseball:
Rays: Placed catcher Kelly Shoppach on the DL with a sprained knee.
And in other notes:
- Rob Neyer is trying to make a new stat catch on to use as the opposite of a Quality Start. A "Disaster Start" is any start where a pitcher allows more runs than innings pitched. Spread the word.
- Can pitching gurus help reduce Disaster Starts? Tracy Ringolsby discusses the impact of Rick Peterson, former Brewer PC Mike Maddux and several other notable paradigm-shifters (h/t Lone Star Ball).
- This is a few months old, but new to you: Umpbump.com compiled several "all time great" lists and ranked Robin Yount as history's sixth best shortstop.
- Another former Brewer shortstop, Pat Listach, doesn't want to dance with the Philly Phanatic.
- Elsewhere in Milwaukee baseball history: Juan Nieves (who pitched his for the Brewers in 1987) and Warren Spahn (who pitched his for the Milwaukee Braves in 1961) are two of just ten pitchers in the Retrosheet Era to pitch no hitters in their team's first ten games.
- Could the Astros rebuild around Carl Crawford?
- The Dodgers are outlawing tailgating outside Dodger Stadium.
- Keith Law reviewed a book about Sesame Street, and I think I might have to have it.
- On this day in 1993, Graeme Lloyd entered the game in relief for the Brewers and pitched to Dave Nilsson, creating the first all-Australian battery in MLB history.
Happy birthday today to:
- Gregg Zaun, who turns 39.
- 1996-98 and 2001 Brewer Jesse Levis, who turns 42.
- 1987 and 1989 Brewer Jay Aldrich, who turns 49.
Since today's Mug is of the quick variety, you might have some time on your hands. Maybe you should apply for a job with the D-Backs?
Oh, and those can't possibly be your pants.
Drink up.