Some things to read while hiding inside.
The Brewers didn't give us much in the way of news yesterday, so we'll continue looking ahead to 2012: Brandon Berg of Chippewa.com has a brief look at ten players that will almost certainly be Brewers again next season.
Meanwhile, it still seems unlikely Prince Fielder will be back. Fielder was an easy winner in the vote for the #2 spot on our MVBrewer list, and you can see his profile here, then head over here to vote for #3. Fielder, by the way, outperformed Matthew Pouliot of Hardball Talk's 2011 projections in all three slash line numbers.
Assuming Fielder doesn't return, Mat Gamel could be one candidate to replace him at first base. Tom Haudricourt has a reminder that Gamel is out of options, so if he doesn't make the team this spring he'll have to be traded or exposed to waivers.
Obviously nothing will be certain until the coaching carousel stops spinning, but it looks like there won't be any Brewer coaches moving on to greener pastures this winter. Dale Sveum had been mentioned previously as a candidate for Boston's managerial vacancy, but this Gordon Edes post at ESPNBoston.com doesn't even list him among the top 15 candidates. (h/t Hardball Talk)
So it's probably safe to assume that Sveum will be with the Brewers when they return to Maryvale in February. If you'd like to see that for yourself, the Brewers unveiled a spring training travel package yesterday.
I was hoping this would be the year we put this conversation to bed, but apparently we'll have to wait at least one more season: The Brewers' 30 years without a World Series appearance is the fifth longest active streak in baseball, and they're one of 13 teams Cyril Morong lists as "overdue" for a spot in the Fall Classic.
In the minors:
- Jed Bradley had a rough day in the AFL yesterday, allowing three runs (two earned) in one inning of work in Peoria's 7-6, 10 inning loss to Phoenix. You can read about that, Michael Fiers' Venezuelan debut and much more in today's Winter League Notes.
- Canada clinched the gold medal in the Pan-Am games this week, and Brevard County's Twitter notes that Brewer minor leaguers Nick Bucci, Brock Kjeldgaard and Jimmy Henderson were on the roster.
- Bucci, by the way, is on Twitter.
Apparently success on the field breeds success off the field in somewhat nonsensical contests. Miller Park advanced to the second round in The Business Journal's "Brand Madness" tournament.
Elsewhere in the nonsensical: Here's how you know you paid too much for a survey. Don Walker of the JS reports that a recent poll found that, when compared to the average resident of Milwaukee, Brewers fans are...
- More likely to like baseball.
- More likely to have watched the World Series.
- More likely to have purchased sports-related merchandise.
- More likely to like high school sports.
If any of those findings surprise you, then you must be pretty easily surprised.
The Brewers may not have a lot going on today, but we've got a huge day of content planned here at BCB. There's so much going on, in fact, that I decided to post today's Prince Fielder-themed Thursday Thinker early to give some of our afternoon stuff more time near the top of the front page. Check it out, if you haven't already.
Around baseball:
Cardinals: Exercised pitcher Adam Wainwright's club options for 2012 and 2013. He'll earn $21 million over the two seasons.
Cubs: Named former Padres GM Jed Hoyer their new GM, and former Padres exec Jason McLeod their new director of scouting and player development. They'll send a PTBNL to the Padres as compensation.
Mets: Pitcher Dale Thayer has elected to become a free agent.
Weather was the story yesterday in St. Louis, as Game 6 of the World Series was postponed due to the threat of rain. It could've been much worse, though: @BigLeagueStew has a picture of snow on the field in Denver.
Today in former Brewers: Reviewing The Brew says Rollie Fingers had the greatest Brewer mustache of all time.
Ever wanted to be an agent? If so, you might want to start by becoming friends with a porn star. BusinessInsider.com has an interesting story on how one agent used to take an adult film star with him to bars after games and use her to meet players. (h/t AZ Snakepit)
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have squirrels to research. (h/t @cfly)
Drink up.