Some things to read while witnessing the downfall of Clark.
If a tumbleweed had rolled through the Miller Park front offices yesterday, it'd be today's top story. So what do you do on the slowest news day of the baseball season? Clearly, you write first half recaps and second-half previews:
- Adam McCalvy says the Brewers haven't given up.
- Jordan Schelling has his first half Brewer awards.
- Tom Haudricourt talked to Doug Melvin about how things could turn around.
- Anthony Witrado says the expectations for this team were too high.
- Scott Miller of CBS Sports gave the Brewers a C overall, with an A for offense and a D for pitching.
By the way, if you're on the "It's not over yet!" bandwagon, Howie Magner of Milwaukee Magazine has a bucket of cold water for you, noting that no team in the Wild Card era has ever come from five or more games under .500 at the All Star break to make the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Troy A. Sparks of the Milwaukee Community Journal is the latest addition to the "Fire Ken Macha" bandwagon.
Another day, another roundup of Brewer trade notes:
- Tom Oates of Madison.com thinks the Brewers should trade Prince Fielder, but work on extending Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart.
- MLB Depth Charts cautions against buying high on Hart.
Hart, for whatever it's worth, is sixth in all of baseball in J.C. Bradbury's PrOPS stat. Follow that link for a full list and an explanation of what it means.
In the minors:
- On the field the affiliates went 1-2 yesterday. Cody Scarpetta pitched five scoreless innings for Brevard County, and now has pitched three consecutive outings without allowing a run. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
- Bernie's Crew has their midseason minor league awards, with three Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Khris Davis, Jake Odorizzi and Scooter Gennett) sweeping the main honors.
- Speaking of Odorizzi, he's one of three players profiled in Call to the Pen's This Week in Prospects.
- The Nashville Sounds have a profile of reliever Brandon Kintzler.
You might recall a note from Tuesday's Mug, where I mentioned a Harris poll showing the Brewers as baseball's 11th most popular team. Bob Wolfley of the Journal Sentinel noticed the same poll yesterday, but added this tidbit to make up for being a day late:
In 2009, when the same poll was conducted, the Brewers finished 14th, so they have moved up three spots.
Thanks for doing the math for us, Bob.
Thanks to our friends at Plunk Everyone for helping us fill baseball's slowest day yesterday. In fact, thanks to everyone that's written or stopped by during baseball's slowest news week of the season. With play resuming tonight, things should pick up again tomorrow.
If you're drifting in late this morning, you might have missed this: Fatter than Joey has the nomination post for Robin Yount, the first of our ten nominees for the SBN Wisconsin Hall of Fame. Go check it out.
Around baseball:
Blue Jays: Acquired shortstop Yunel Escobar and pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes from the Braves for shortstop Alex Gonzalez and two minor leaguers, and designated pitcher Ronald Uviedo for assignment.
Dodgers: Have reportedly placed pitcher George Sherrill on outright waivers.
Padres: Claimed outfielder Quintin Berry off waivers from the Phillies.
White Sox: Signed outfielder Jeremy Reed to a minor league deal. (h/t HotStove.com)
About once a week I read something at Lookout Landing and think, "Wow, I wish I'd thought of that." Their first half recap, Mariners As Things In Or Near My Apartment, is a perfect example of the kind of genius idea I wish I'd had first.
If you skipped the All Star Game Tuesday night, it appears you weren't the only one: The game drew a record-low 7.5 Nielsen rating, down from 8.9 last season. The previous record was 8.1, set in 2005.
Brandon Kintzler, mentioned above, is just one of several Brewers who have spent time pitching in an independent league at one point during their career. Ben Nicholson-Smith of MLB Trade Rumors has a great look at how leagues like the Golden League operate, and the role they play in getting players back onto teams' radar.
Looking for a sabermetric read today? I'd recommend this Amazin' Avenue post arguing that we need to stop using BABIP.
On this day in 2005, the Brewers beat the Nationals 4-3 when Mike Stanton balked home the winning run in the ninth inning, driving in Chris Magruder.
Happy birthday today to:
- Huntsville Star Lee Haydel, who turns 23.
- Wisconsin Timber Rattler Andy Sauter, who turns 24.
- 2001-02 Brewer Nick Neugebauer, who turns 30.
- 1901 Milwaukee Brewer Pete Dowling, who would have turned 134.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to clear the table.
Drink up.