This morning's Mug is the 996th in Brew Crew Ball History, and we're now just one week away from The Night Of (Approximately) 1000 Mugs at Rounding Third on January 3.
Some things to read while counting your own money.
We're 53 days and counting away from pitchers and catchers report to Maryvale, but we're staring down the barrel of a pretty quiet week between the holidays. In a time-honored space filling tradition, Adam McCalvy has a look at the Brewers' top five stories of 2011. I think putting 101 wins and a playoff appearance behind the Braun situation and Prince Fielder's departure was a little pessimistic, but your results may vary.
While we wait for actual news, here's an interesting rumor to spread around: The Brewer Nation is reporting that Zack Greinke has approached Doug Melvin about the possibility of a five year extension (FanShot). Greinke is still without an agent, so the team would have to negotiate with him directly. That seems unlikely, but if Greinke wants to get a deal done I suppose it's possible.
Meanwhile, a long term deal for Greinke might not be the only item on the agenda in the coming weeks: MLB Trade Rumors has fellow starter Shaun Marcum on their list of arbitration eligible players who might be extension candidates this winter.
With that said, maybe a rotation with Greinke and Marcum still isn't as good as we all thought? Buster Olney of ESPN posted a list yesterday of the top eleven starting staffs in baseball, and the Brewers aren't on it. Olney has the Mariners, Nationals, Tigers, Braves and Dodgers, among others, ahead of the Crew.
Here are today's Prince Fielder notes:
- Birds Watcher speculates on the possibility that signing Fielder could get the Orioles more national TV exposure.
- Jeff Sullivan of Lookout Landing has today's PRINCE FIELDER WATCH.
In the minors: There was no Brewer activity in the Caribbean yesterday, so Winter League Notes is taking another day off.
Around baseball:
Cubs: Signed pitcher Andy Sonnanstine to a minor league deal.
I can't remember if I've written about this previously, but the prospect of players taking part in dangerous activities (like climbing mountains, for example) would scare me to no end if I worked in the front office of a team responsible for the rest of said player's contract. Apparently I'm not the only one who feels that way, because the Mets have sent pitcher R.A. Dickey a letter threatening to void his deal if he injures himself on his way up or down Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find another use for this bow.
Drink up.