Some things to read while calling off the search.
We're 16 days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, and yesterday was all Tony Plush all the time. While Nyjer Morgan was practicing with the San Jose Sharks (slideshow and video), the team announced that he'll be the subject of 2012's third bobblehead on June 10.
Elsewhere in hockey news, the Milwaukee Admirals will be wearing (retro) Brewer-themed jerseys for one night only on Friday. Adam McCalvy has more on the promotions and a picture of the jerseys.
Meanwhile, time is running out for the Brewers to reach a deal to avoid arbitration with their last two eligible players, Shaun Marcum and Jose Veras. Arbitration hearings started this week (John Lannan and the Nationals had their case heard yesterday, and Jeff Niemann and the Rays are scheduled for today), but Adam McCalvy says he hasn't heard when the two Brewers are scheduled.
Looking back, John Sickels of Minor League Ball has a post discussing how baseball's top 30 hitters in 2011 were viewed during their time in the minors. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder were listed as A- prospects in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Here's a reminder of why Braun's prospect status was held back a bit: High Heat Stats says his 2007 rookie season at third base was the third worst defensive season of all time.
Speaking of Braun, Tom Haudricourt says he won't be surprised if this week goes by without any announcement regarding the status of his appeal. I feel like this almost has to be resolved before the Brewers report to spring training, but it might be close.
In the minors:
- Starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson was the subject of this week's edition of the Timber Rattlers' Interrogation Room.
- Nelson missed the cut on Wisconsin Sports Tap's list of the organization's top five starting pitching prospects. Wily Peralta was #1.
- Brewer Nation continued their "Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers" series with a profile of Michael Fiers.
- Chris Mehring of Rattler Radio didn't have access to an actual groundhog, so he did the best he could with what he had available for this Groundhog Day post.
As of this writing Kentrail Davis leads Santo Manzanillo (and a closely grouped collection of others) by 33 votes in the race for the #12 spot in our Community Prospect Rankings. You have until 1 today to cast your vote, then stop back after 2 to vote for #13.
Today's power ranking note is another frustrating one: Sports Illustrated has the Brewers 17th.
Around baseball:
Blue Jays: Designated infielder Darin Mastroianni for assignment.
Mariners: Signed infielder Carlos Guillen to a minor league deal.
Nationals: Signed pitcher Chad Durbin to a minor league deal.
Padres: Signed pitcher Micah Owings to a one year, $1 million deal.
Pirates: Signed pitcher Juan Cruz to a minor league deal.
White Sox: Signed first baseman Dan Johnson to a minor league deal.
Today in former Brewers:
- Richard Barbieri of The Hardball Times has Hank Aaron starting in right field for his All-February birthday team.
- Bluebird Banter listed Paul Molitor as the 55th best Blue Jay of all time.
Here's my favorite sabermetric note from today: Matt Klaassen of FanGraphs considers the possibility that sluggers should bunt to the opposite field to beat the shift. Prince Fielder certainly could have picked up a lot of hits this way, but he also likely would have been left on first base after many of them.
And in baseball economics:
- Steve Cohen, who just paid $20 million to become a minority owner of the Mets, is also involved in the bidding to buy the Dodgers.
- D.J. Gallo of ESPN notes that Barry Bonds made $4.7 million as a Pirate in 1992, which is more than any Pirate will make this season.
Here's a reminder that hitting a baseball is really hard: The Biz of Baseball has an excellent infographic looking at the time a hitter has to identify, decide and swing at a 95 mph fastball.
This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History wishes a happy 89th birthday to former Milwaukee Brave Red Schoendienst. Plunk Everyone notes that Schoendienst and 1970 Brewer Max Alvis are two of the top five most plunked batters born on February 2.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to sort and label my gurus.
Drink up.