Some things to read while acknowledging the benefits.
The clock continues to tick down towards spring training, and Adam McCalvy has a preview up at The Official Site. It looks like this March could be pretty high on excitement, but low on roster battles.
This probably goes without saying: When you acquire a new ace starting pitcher and base your team's entire 2011 marketing campaign around him, his performance is somewhat important. Vaughn's Valley listed Zack Greinke as the #1 Brewer Critical to 2011 Success. Chris from Pocket Doppler still isn't sure about Greinke's ability to hold up mentally.
And, of course, Prince Fielder is pretty important too. At The Sporting News, Anthony Witrado has a look at the turn of events that kept him in Milwaukee and Baseball: Past and Present wonders how Fielder might have performed in the 1930s.
We have some details today regarding Shaun Marcum's new deal: Adam McCalvy is reporting that Marcum can earn $50,000 in incentives for pitching 190 innings in 2011, and another $50k for reaching 200. He also has the typical incentives for making the All Star team and winning awards.
If there's anyone out there who's had a better year than John Axford, I'd have to see it to believe it. This week the team announced that he's getting a bobblehead in April and he announced on Twitter yesterday that he and his wife are expecting their first child, a boy, in June.
Elsewhere in Brewer relievers: USA Today listed Mike McClendon at #40 on their list of 100 Names You Need to Know for 2011.
In the minors:
- Frankie Piliere of MLB FanHouse released his 2011 farm system rankings yesterday, and has the Brewers dead last.
- The Timber Rattlers and WNAM have signed an extension to broadcast games through 2016.
- Brewersprospects.com has a scouting report for Maverick Lasker.
- The Nashville Sounds posted an offseason chat with pitcher David Johnson.
We're in day three of bobblehead discussion now. Here's a look at what people are saying today:
- Miller Park Drunk noted that all of the bobbleheads (except for the Hot Dog, of course) are white. They were also all white in 2009.
- Adam McCalvy offers some alternative explanations for the decision not to feature Yovani Gallardo.
- Kevin Kaduk of Big League Stew is surprised by the amount of attention this is getting.
I've already mentioned Greinke, Marcum and Gallardo today, so I might as well bring up Randy Wolf too: SgtClueLs noted that Wolf purchased a house from Slash (of Guns N' Roses) this offseason.
Looking for some videos to watch today? View From Bernie's Chalet has footage of Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum on stage at "On Deck," and Tom Haudricourt has a spring training preview.
Around baseball:
Angels: Won their arbitration case with pitcher Jered Weaver, who will earn $7.365 million in 2011.
Indians: Signed shortstop Orlando Cabrera to a one year deal.
Mariners: Signed pitcher Manny Delcarmen to a minor league deal.
Orioles: Avoided arbitration with outfielder Luke Scott ($6.4 million).
Padres: Signed pitcher Randy Flores to a minor league deal.
Rangers: Avoided arbitration with outfielder Josh Hamilton (two years, $24 million).
Today in (fictional) former Brewers: Navin Vaswani of NotGraphs reminded me of something I'd forgotten - the Brewers' roster in Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball was largely formed of superhero secret identities and spies.
There probably weren't any spies at Brewer Fantasy Camp, but Brian Anderson was there and has a full recap.
Fantasy Camp probably didn't have many triples, either: Justin Bopp of Beyond the Box Score has a look at the decline of one of baseball's most exciting plays.
On this day in 1994, Robin Yount announced his retirement. Yount played 20 seasons as a Brewer, debuting at age 18, and collected 3142 hits and 1632 runs while winning two MVP awards, three Silver Sluggers and making three All Star appearances.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2006 Brewer Chris Mabeus, who turns 32.
- 1978-86 Brewer Ben Oglivie, who turns 62.
- 1972-73 Brewer Ollie Brown, who turns 67.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find another place to sit.
Drink up.