Some things to read while moving on.
For the second straight night a very good performance from a Brewer pitcher was the story on Tuesday, as Dave Bush held the Angels in check for 7.1 innings, needing just 96 pitches to do so and allowing just one run, striking out one and walking no one. Bush has thrown less than 100 pitches in 9 of his 13 starts this season. The key to his success last night was 13 ground ball outs: Jaymes Langrehr of The Brewers Bar notes that that's been a theme lately.
Jim Edmonds started in center field and batted sixth last night, and went 2-for-5 with a double and a pair of strikeouts. It was his first game in Anaheim since being traded following the 1999 season. The Hall of Very Good doesn't think he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Other notes from the field:
- Rickie Weeks was hit by his 11th pitch yesterday, expanding his major league lead, and Dave Bush hit Torii Hunter with a pitch to expand his Brewer career lead. Plunk Everyone has more on both.
- Prince Fielder, Dave Bush and Alcides Escobar are leading FanGraphs' Star of the Game voting.
- CoolStandings has the Brewer playoff chances at 2%, the highest they've been since May 30.
- Here's last night's game recap and MLB.com highlights, if you went to bed early.
- The Brewers committed an error, ending their season-high streak of five games without one.
- Brewer relievers entered last night's game with a 2.76 ERA in their last nine games. Kameron Loe and John Axford combined for 1.2 scoreless innings last night to drop that number to 2.61.
Last night was "Stylish Hat Night" in Anaheim, which Adam McCalvy says wasn't as good as Garden Gnome Night in Arizona. Mug readers might recall that the Angels also tried Garden Gnome Night this season, but it didn't go well.
Before yesterday's game, Todd Coffey and Doug Davis both pitched simulated games against Joe Inglett. Both outings went well and both pitchers will be sent out for rehab assignments in Nashville soon.
It continues to be an interesting week to be Casey McGehee: His home run from Monday was Wezen-ball's Tater Trot of the day. Unfortunately, the news isn't good for shortstop Erick Aybar, who injured his knee in a collision with McGehee in the same game: Aybar has "left meniscal damage," and will be reevaluated later this week.
Speaking of home runs, the Brewers are the only team in baseball with five players with at least ten.
One of those five is Ryan Braun, who is still the leader among NL outfielders in All Star Voting. The lead has narrowed, though, and Braun now leads Jason Heyward by less than 3000 votes.
So, with the Brewers playoff chances back at 2%, are you ready to go for it? At FanGraphs, Jack Moore has a look at what the Brewers should do this trading season. Meanwhile, over 50% of voters in this week's BCB Tracking Poll think the Brewers should turn their attention to 2011. Howie Magner of Milwaukee Magazine wonders where all the optimism went.
Jack Moore is everywhere today: He also has this post at Disciples of Uecker about the impact of losing Mike Cameron.
In the minors:
- The Brewers have agreed to terms with fourth round pick Hunter Morris and ninth round pick Yadiel Rivera. The Brewers are going to be aggressive with Morris from the start, assigning him to Wisconsin to start his pro career.
- On the field, the affiliates went 2-2 last night. One of those wins came from the Timber Rattlers, where Kentrail Davis went 1-for-4 in his Midwest League debut and Scooter Gennett went 1-for-5 with a home run. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
On power rankings: SB Nation moved the Brewers up from 25 to 23.
Around baseball:
Athletics: Acquired first baseman Conor Jackson from the Diamondbacks for AAA reliever Sam Demel.
Braves: Signed outfielder Josh Anderson to a minor league deal.
Dodgers: Placed starter Chad Billingsley on the DL with a groin strain.
Mariners: Designated pitcher Ian Snell for assignment.
I don't know how to feel about this: Jeff Suppan made his Cardinal debut yesterday and allowed just one run (a solo HR to Milton Bradley) in four innings. He also struck out four straight Mariners at one point.
I don't know if the Brewers get royalties for stuff like this, but they should: The Diamondbacks are becoming the latest team to get into the mascot race business when they debut the Legends Race, a competition between "10-foot tall men in uniform with large foam heads that will resemble players who have made a significant contribution to the organization on the field." Where they'll find four ten foot tall men, I have no idea.
In a related note, here's Baseball Reflections' look at mascots in Japan.
This morning's Mug is late because I have a hard time getting out of bed after night games, but it's even later because I had to find out how Dex from Gaslamp Ball saved a reader's mother.
Happy birthday today to 1953-58 Milwaukee Brave Ernie Johnson, who turns 86. (And thanks to FtJ for saving me from striking out.)
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got my hands full.
Drink up.