Some things to read while claiming your throne.
The off day gave several of us a chance to once again consider the plight of Trevor Hoffman. Disciples of Uecker makes the case that Hoffman is done, and Fatter than Joey takes a shot at the notion that Hoffman is a slow starter. Meanwhile, Beyond the Box Score notes that Hoffman is second all time among relievers in WAR per 200 innings pitched.
Here's something you might not have known (or cared to know): Ken Macha likes roller coasters. Adam McCalvy uses that fact as a jumping off point for this story on the Brewers' up and down season.
As you might have heard, the Brewers open a three game series with the defending NL champion Phillies tonight. Jack Moore answered some questions over at Crashburn Alley for their series preview. We'll have ours later today.
Also, Baseball Brew has a list of former Brewers working for the Phillies, including Davey Lopes.
As part of their 40th anniversary celebration, the Brewers will look back this weekend to the 1970's. Jordan Schelling of MLB.com has a primer on the 1970's Brewers, and Miller Park Drunk has the somewhat raunchier companion piece.
In the minors:
- View From Bernie's Chalet notes two Brewer questions from a recent Keith Law chat. Law is pretty high on Wily Peralta and Zach Braddock.
- Baseball America has a story on the issues facing Angel Salome, but I'm not a subscriber so that's all I know about it.
- The Brewer affiliates went 2-2 last night, but starting pitching was the story of the day as four starters combined to allow six earned runs in 24 innings of work (a combined 2.25 ERA), led by Chris Capuano's eight shutout innings in Nashville. For more, check out today's Minor League Notes.
- Shortstop Josh Prince homered last night for Brevard County. I didn't realize it until Battlekow mentioned it, but the long ball was only the Manatees' second in their first 33 games.
- And, for more on the Timber Rattlers, you can follow Appleton Post-Crescent beat reporter Brett Christopherson on Twitter.
On power rankings: Yahoo has the Brewers holding steady at #24.
I know we've got some Rickie Weeks fans here: Here's a chance for you to get a cool piece of memorabilia. The Brewers are selling single game tickets to the Gehl Club for the Friday, May 28 Brewers-Mets game as part of their "Rickie Goes to Bat for Diabetes" program, and each ticket comes with a Rickie Weeks autographed bat.
It looks like public opinion is all over the place on Davey Nelson as a radio broadcaster, but at least we'll have more time to debate it: Nelson will remain on WTMJ broadcasts until Bob Uecker is ready to return sometime in July.
Around baseball:
Rangers: Are expected to waive first baseman Ryan Garko.
Rockies: Outfielder Eric Young Jr. is expected to be placed on the DL with a stress fracture in his tibia.
Royals: Fired manager Trey Hillman and replaced him with Ned Yost (FanShot).
Yes, you're reading that right: Ned Yost is managing once again, and has the rest of the season to drink all the coffee make a good impression on the Royals organization. Joe Posnanski has a look back at the expectations and realities of the Trey Hillman era.
All the hubbub over the managerial change has overshadowed another major Royals event this week: Jason Kendall was hit by a pitch on Wednesday, the 250th of his career. To put it in perspective, Plunk Everyone has an exhaustive list of players and pitchers who have not been responsible for 250 plunks. Kendall sat out of yesterday's game, taking just his second off day of 2010. With Yost as his new manager, he may not take another day the rest of the season.
Speaking of catchers, here's some strange news on another one: Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is healthy and doing well in all other aspects of his game in AAA, but is having trouble throwing back to the pitcher.
Maybe it's just a catcher kind of day: Baseball Musings notes that Matt Treanor of the Rangers was ejected from last night's game without even turning around to talk to the umpire. That's a pretty quick hook.
Elsewhere in transaction notes, Frank Catalanotto was designated for assignment by the Mets earlier this week and will likely retire. If it hasn't happened already, I'd be surprised if the Brewers don't call to offer him a spot in AAA. Actually, at this point I'd be ok with them offering him Jim Edmonds' roster spot.
I'd love to see someone do this for Jeff Suppan or Manny Parra: Talking Chop has a great post looking at Kenshin Kawakami, attempting to estimate how many teams would have him in their rotation. Not surprisingly, the Brewers are one of the teams that could use him.
It snuck up on me, but all of a sudden there's a race atop the NL Central again. The Cardinals have led the division by as many as five games at one point, but were swept by the Astros this week. The Reds, meanwhile, are on a tear. As such, the two teams meet tonight with first place on the line. Despite getting swept by the Braves, the Brewers are still all alone in third place.
Yesterday's Cardinals-Astros game was briefly delayed when the "respect the game" alarm went off in the Cardinals dugout, leading to benches clearing over a confrontation between Carlos Lee and Chris Carpenter. Follow the link for video of what might be the least notable confrontation in baseball history.
Elsewhere in strange standings notes: Baseball Musings notes that two teams in the bottom five in payroll (San Diego and Texas) are leading their respective divisions.
It's still early, but barring something unforeseen I think we have a clear frontrunner for worst playing conditions of 2010. Heaven and Helton has pictures from yesterday's game in Colorado, which pretty clearly should not have been played to completion.
Today's Mug is about an hour later than it should have been because of this Nyjer Morgan photostop thread at Lookout Landing. If you need to blame someone, blame them.
If you're looking for something else to do while you're putting off work, try this Sporcle quiz on each franchise's last 40 home run hitter.
Or, if you've got some money burning a hole in your pocket, you could buy the Field of Dreams movie site.
On this day in 1983, the Brewers came from behind to beat the Red Sox 8-7 behind three home runs from Ben Oglivie.
Happy birthday today to:
- 2009 Huntsville Star Kevin Melillo, who turns 28.
- 2005 Nashville Sound Pat Borders, who turns 47.
Oh, and it's time once again to select an adjective.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to move.
Drink up.