Monday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while bringing your own ice.

The Brewers couldn't quite complete a three game sweep of the Cubs this weekend, losing to Chicago at home for the first time in eleven games. Noah has more on the end of the streak and yesterday's game recap, if you missed it.

Various Brewers wore pink armbands, batting gloves and cleats yesterday for Mother's Day, but no one swung a pink bat in the game. Adam McCalvy reports that Nyjer Morgan's pink bat came with a G in place of the J in his name.

Rickie Weeks missed the last two games of the Cubs series after being hit on the hand by a pitch in the 13th inning Friday. Jordan Schelling reports that X-rays on his hand and wrist were negative, so he won't need to go on the DL. His injury put the Brewers in a tight spot: Because they were out of position players when it happened, Ron Roenicke told reporters the team would have put Yovani Gallardo in left field and moved Ryan Braun to shortstop if the game had gone to the 14th. Weeks, by the way, has more walks than hits in 2012.

This weekend's most unlikely event came on Saturday, when the Edwin Maysonet's grand slam powered the Brewers to a win. As you might expect, we have lots of notes on this:

• J.P. Breen of Disciplies of Uecker used a heatmap to show that Maysonet has power in one very specific location, and it's inside off the plate.
• LOLBrewers is starting a Maysonet meme.
  
• Maysonet, by the way, rounded the bases in 23.7 seconds following his slam. That was Saturday's slowest time.
• You may have noticed Maysonet's point into the dugout following the hit. Apparently he and Cesar Izturis point at each other after their hits to "keep it light."

Going back another day, Friday night's 13 inning marathon featured the end of John Axford's consecutive save streak, as he allowed a run in the ninth inning as the Cubs tied the game. Axford left immediately after the outing to take his wife to the hospital, but was kind enough to leave a note for the media that's drawn all kinds of national attention. Everything is fine and Axford is back with the team, and talked to reporters about the note yesterday.

Other notes from the field:

• Aramis Ramirez went 1-for-3 yesterday to stretch his hitting streak to a Brewer season-long ten games. Jonathan Lucroy went 0-for-4 to snap his streak at nine games.
• Lucroy batted second Saturday and yesterday, becoming the first Brewer catcher to do so since Damian Miller in 2005.
• Marco Estrada allowed two runs over six innings yesterday, giving Brewer starters five straight quality starts.
• Noah has a look at yesterday's turning points.
• 42,167 fans paid to see yesterday's game.
• Looking back, I recapped some of the unusual events in Friday night's 13 inning win.
• Carrie Muskat of MLB.com has a story on Dale Sveum's return to Milwaukee.
• Ryan Braun's HBP Saturday gave him the NL lead with four. Plunk Everyone has more on that, and also on Rickie Weeks' two HBP Friday night.
• The Brewers squeezed home another run on a bunt on Saturday, and now lead all of baseball with five bunt RBI.
  
• The Chorizo picked up both wins on Friday, the Hot Dog won Saturday and the Italian picked up a Sausage Race win yesterday.

Following yesterday's game the Brewers headed out to the airport for a quick four day, four game, two city road trip. The trip starts with a game against the New York Metropolitans tonight, and Adam Berry has the MLB.com preview. CBS Sports has a preview of the series, and we'll have ours later today. I also answered questions yesterday for series previews at Amazin' Avenue and Metsblog, and those previews should be up later today. Finally, I'm taping a spot for SNY.tv this morning, and should have a link to that sometime this afternoon.

The Brewers' brief stay in New York this week also means a member of the team will make a visit to the MLB Fan Cave. Jonathan Lucroy is making the trip today.

This could be a really interesting series weather-wise. The Brewers are only in New York for two days and aren't scheduled to return this season, but there's rain in the forecast for both tonight and tomorrow and that could make playing these games a challenge.

Jose Veras had a rough weekend, allowing four runs over just 1.1 innings of work in two appearances against the Cubs. Veras' ERA has ballooned to 7.20 on the season and Brad White of Reviewing the Brew says trading Casey McGehee for him was a mistake.

Tim Dillard pitched two scoreless outings this weekend, and on Saturday he debuted the "Cantina Band" song from Star Wars as his new warmup music.

Ryan Braun had a weird weekend, going 2-for-9 but reaching base nine times with five walks and two HBP. Baseball Analytics suggests Braun is baseball's 13th best hitter at turning mistake pitches into home runs.

Zack Greinke is scheduled to take the mound for the Brewers tomorrow in the Mets series finale. He rode two successful starts last week to his first Brewer of the Week in 2012.

I think many of us are still adjusting to new Brewer broadcaster Joe Block, but I like him and it seems like he's starting to grow on many of you. Fox 6 News has a profile of Bob Uecker's new partner.

Meanwhile, Todd Rosiak talked to brothers and Brewer coaches Jerry and Johnny Narron about getting to work together for the Crew.

Carlos Gomez is almost ready to rejoin the Crew: He's expected to play a rehab assignment with Wisconsin this week starting on Wednesday and come off the DL when he's eligible over the weekend.

Elsewhere in the minors:

• The affiliates went 0-1 with a pair of rainouts yesterday, and Chadwin Stang had three hits in Wisconsin's 5-4 loss to Kane County. You can read more about that in this morning's Minor League Notes.
• Yesterday's rainouts mean there's a big day in the minors today: The Brewerfan.net Link Report has details on six games scheduled for today, including doubleheaders for Nashville and Huntsville.
• Brevard County pitcher Austin Ross is expected to miss the rest of the season following Tommy John surgery. (h/t @SessileFielder)
• Huntsville closer Rob Wooten, who had a 1.74 ERA and eight saves in 17 appearances this season, has been promoted to Nashville.
• Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has an interview with former Sounds manager Don Money.
• Reviewing the Brew has an interview with Wisconsin outfielder Max Walla.
• The Appleton Post Crescent has a feature on Wisconsin pitcher and Fond du Lac native Chad Pierce.

If you watched this weekend's games, you might have noticed that the Sausage Races were a man down. Chorizo was missing from Saturday's race, and the Brewers' tumblr page suggests a "Where's Chorizo?" contest in the making. After last year's "Where's Bernie?" fiasco, I met this news with a resounding shudder.

Elsewhere in marketing, the Brewers have unveiled another TV spot with Aaron Rodgers:

In power rankings: Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star has the Brewers holding steady at 23.

If you'd like more Brewer coverage today but you're sick of reading, my Friday appearance on The Home Stretch with Justin Hull has been archived. It was recorded at what we're hoping will be the low point of the season last week, so much of our conversation was about what to do if the team remains this bad.

Congratulations are due out this morning to Waterologist, yesterday's winner in our SB Nation Pick 6 contest. Here's the top ten:

Rank	Player	Points
1	Waterologist	69.4
2	cmow	65.0
3	infinityera	64.1
4	c.stet	63.9
5	MadtownTim	61.2
6	brewjoles	58.4
7	ecocd	51.7
8	aaronetc	43.6
9	Badger Boy in Vail	37.9
10	sauveb	37.7

As of this writing you have about 7 1/2 hours left to make your picks for today.

Around baseball:

Athletics: Placed outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on the DL with a strained muscle in his left hand.
Braves: Signed outfielder Felix Pie to a minor league deal.
Cubs: Placed closer Carlos Marmol on the DL with a hamstring strain.
Dodgers: Placed infielder Jerry Hairston Jr on the DL with a hamstring strain and signed infielder Aaron Miles to a minor league deal.
Giants: Placed infielder Ryan Theriot on the DL with elbow inflammation and designated pitcher Travis Blackley for assignment.
Indians: Placed pitcher Josh Tomlin on the DL with a sore wrist and designated outfielder Nick Weglarz and pitcher Dan Wheeler for assignment.
Nationals: Catcher Wilson Ramos has a torn ACL and is out for the season.
Orioles: Placed pitcher Matt Lindstrom (finger) and first baseman/third baseman Mark Reynolds (oblique) on the DL and designated infielder Matt Antonelli, pitcher Brad Bergesen and infielder Zelous Wheeler for assignment.
Phillies: Placed outfielder Laynce Nix on the DL with a calf strain.
Pirates: Placed pitcher Daniel McCutchen on the DL with an oblique strain.
Red Sox: Placed outfielder Darnell McDonald on the DL with an oblique strain and acquired outfielder Scott Podsednik from the Phillies for cash.
Reds: Placed third baseman Scott Rolen on the DL with a sore shoulder.
Rockies: Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo has had his 100 game suspension for performance enhancing drugs overturned.
Royals: Signed pitcher Doug Davis to a minor league deal.
Yankees: Claimed pitcher Justin Thomas off waivers from the Red Sox.

I mentioned it briefly on Twitter yesterday, but Matt Antonelli would be an interesting depth pickup for the Brewers. He's 27 and hasn't appeared in the majors since 2008, but is a career .261/.372/.399 hitter in the minors and has played 20 games at shortstop over the last two seasons. He's not going to set the world on fire but he'd be an interesting option.

The Brewers are still only a game out of last place but closed the gap with the Cardinals a bit this weekend, as they were swept by the Braves. You know this and more if you've read this morning's edition of Around the NL Central. Jason Linden of The Hardball Times also has a look at what's happening in the division, and Nick Prill of The Brewers Bar used the Central's members to recast Caddyshack.

Today in former Brewers:

• Casey McGehee is one of just three active major leaguers with a 20 homer season on their resume but no homers in 2012.
• Bill Hall is back in the majors with the Orioles.
• Vinny Rottino, meanwhile, is headed back to AAA with the Mets.
• Jeff Suppan was the losing pitcher for the Padres yesterday, and still hasn't beaten the Phillies since 2004.
• Derek Jeter is now tied with Robin Yount with 3142 career hits.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to change pants.

Drink up.