Wednesday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while making the adjustment.

We're 16 days away from Opening Day, and the Brewers are going to have to get through at least a few of those days without Ryan Braun. Braun was a late scratch from the lineup yesterday with a tight groin, and won't play again until Friday at the earliest (missing today's game plus the off day tomorrow). Apparently it's been an ongoing issue for him this spring but flared up during the Rangers game Monday.

Back on the field, the Brewers dropped a 7-6 decision to the Dodgers yesterday. I've got your recap here, if you missed it the first time.

Other notes from the field:

• Nyjer Morgan was on base three times yesterday, doubling twice and drawing a walk. Before the game he was on the "down" side of The Brewers Bar's "3 Up, 3 Down" list.
• Jeff Sullivan of Baseball Nation has a gif of one of Morgan's doubles that combines bad fielding and a baserunning blunder into a single microcosm of spring training baseball.
• TRatsBaseball.com has pictures of Daniel Meadows, Scooter Gennett and Nick Shaw's appearances in the game.
• 6348 fans paid to witness the contest.

The Brewers are back in action today when they travel to face the Diamondbacks, visiting Salt River Field for the first time this spring. The game starts at 3:10 and will be broadcast live on WTMJ.

George Kottaras went 1-for-2 with a walk and scored a run yesterday, raising his spring line to .346/.433/.577. Ron Roenicke told Tom Haudricourt (behind the JS paywall) that he's been happy with his catchers' performances this spring, and it's hard to imagine he wouldn't be.

Unfortunately, Kottaras and Jonathan Lucroy's hot springs are bad news for Martin Maldonado, who appears ticketed back to AAA. Adam McCalvy has a story on Maldonado's efforts to make the team and his side job as the clubhouse barber.

While the major league Brewers were in Glendale yesterday, Francisco Rodriguez stayed behind to pitch in a minor league game and threw two scoreless innings, striking out four. Seth McClung also pitched three scoreless innings in the contest.

Meanwhile, Shaun Marcum is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game today, his first game action of the spring (FanShot). If he works every fifth day from here on out, he could presumably get four outings in before the Brewers will need a fifth member of the rotation for the first time on April 10.

Jose Veras appears to have locked down a spot as the #3 reliever in the Brewer bullpen. Adam McCalvy has a look at Veras' stuff and some quotes from Ron Roenicke about him. McCalvy also has a note on Manny Parra, who pitched a perfect inning before the rains came on Sunday.

You can probably pencil Brooks Conrad into one of the vacant spots on the 40 man roster. Todd Rosiak suspects that Conrad has a utility role sewn up with the team due to his switch-hitting ability and defensive versatility.

If you've forgotten how we got here or you'd simply like to look back, MLB Trade Rumors has a review of the Brewer offseason.

While a generation of young baseball fans grows up looking up to the Brewers, ASU student Kristin Coutourier of the JS (linked via Twitter) talked to several Brewers about the players they idolized when they were young.

In the minors: The Washington Post is reporting that the Nationals are negotiating with Fort Myers, Florida about possibly moving their spring training home to the city. They're currently using Space Coast Stadium in Viera, which they share with Brevard County.

Around baseball:

Braves: Pitcher Arodys Chapman needs Tommy John surgery and will be out for the 2012 season.
Orioles: Signed pitcher Dontrelle Willis to a minor league deal.
Padres: Signed catcher Nick Hundley to a three year, $9 million contract extension with a club option for 2015.
Rangers: Signed pitcher Derek Holland to a five year, $28 million contract extension with club options for 2017 and 2018.
Royals: Acquired outfielder Jason Bourgeois and catcher Humberto Quintero from the Astros for a minor league pitcher and a PTBNL.

Today in former Brewers:

• R.J. Swindle won't be on the roster when the Cardinals come to Milwaukee for Opening Day. He was reassigned to minor league camp yesterday.
• High Heat Stats notes that Paul Molitor (at DH), Hank Aaron, Dave Parker and Jim Edmonds have been among baseball's five year WAR leaders in the outfield sometime since 1961. Molitor was the only one to reach the list as a Brewer.
• Rollie Fingers is the subject of today's edition of "Mustache Watch" at NotGraphs.
  

This was my daily reminder that functioning without caffeine is hard sometimes: I was only able to name 96 of the 180 players to lead a team in one of five statistical categories in the 2000's on Sporcle. I missed a couple of current Brewers and a pretty good handful of former ones, too. (h/t Lone Star Ball)

The Baseball Nation spring training tour continued yesterday with a review of Phoenix Municipal Stadium, home of the Athletics and the oldest Arizona facility currently in operation. My wife and I went there last spring and, while it's not anything spectacular, we'd go again.

This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History celebrates the 73rd birthday of former Seattle Pilot Tommy Davis. Plunk Everyone notes that Davis is fourth all time among March 21-born batters with 32 career HBP.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to try on some pants.

Drink up.