Monday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while getting older by the minute.

I'm getting much too used to writing things like this: The Brewers lost two of three again over the weekend, this time to the Diamondbacks. Yesterday's final score was 4-3, and we've got the recap here if you missed it. Adam McCalvy said it was "as crushing a ‪Brewers‬ loss as I have ever seen."

The Brewers had a 3-1 lead and a chance to blow the game open in the sixth inning yesterday, but Nyjer Morgan grounded into a bases-loaded double play to end the threat and was caught on camera failing to run out the ground ball. He later admitted he looked back to the plate to watch the play. He still doesn't have an RBI this season.

Saturday's loss featured a rare disaster start for Zack Greinke, who was unable to complete the third inning. MGL of The Book Blog was not impressed with Greinke's pitch selection in the game.

Meanwhile, the Brewers picked up a costly win on Friday, winning 7-1 but getting hit by three pitches in the game. Aramis Ramirez suffered a bruised elbow on the third pitch and missed Saturday and Sunday's games. He told reporters that the Brewers' rash of recent HBPs needs to stop. Plunk Everyone has more on the game.

Friday night's game also saw Cesar Izturis come up lame after rounding third base and he later went on the DL with a hamstring injury (FanShot). Izturis was hitting .216/.242/.261 this season but Nick Prill of The Brewers Bar says losing him still hurts.

One thing is certain: The Brewers' recent play has been pretty painful to watch at times. Jim Olski of the Green Bay Press Gazette says this team is in serious need of fun.

Other notes from the field:

• This weekend was the first time the Diamondbacks have won a home series since Opening Weekend.
• The Brewers are one of just four teams that have only recorded eight saves this season.
• Randy Wolf picked off two baserunners yesterday.
• We've got links to video highlights from yesterday's turning points.
• Rickie Weeks, Ryan Braun and Corey Hart circled the bases in 21.16, 21.23 and 22.21 seconds following their home runs Friday.

The west coast swing continues tonight as the Brewers travel to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers at 7:10. Jake Kaplan of MLB.com has the preview.

Tonight's game will likely feature the Brewer return of Brooks Conrad: He was recalled last night when Travis Ishikawa went on the DL following the game with an oblique strain (FanShot). Conrad is 0-for-21 as a Brewer this season but was hitting .405/.482/.905 for Nashville with home runs in four straight games.

It's also possible we won't see Kameron Loe tonight: He was unavailable this weekend due to elbow discomfort. Before this weekend he had thrown 129 pitches over the last seven days, including two innings on zero days' rest Wednesday.

Tuesday's game will likely feature the first major league start of 2009 22nd round pick Michael Fiers. Tom Haudricourt is reporting the Brewers will call him up for the game, but it hasn't been made official yet. Fiers has a 4.42 ERA with eight strikeouts and 2.9 walks per nine innings in ten starts for Nashville this season.

Meanwhile, the Brewers said they've called Roy Oswalt, but his price is too high.

The Brewers aren't the only team expected to call someone up from the minors to start tomorrow: The Dodgers are recalling top prospect Nathan Eovaldi from AA to pitch in place of Ted Lilly.

Jonathan Lucroy remains one of this team's rare bright spots. He's our Brewer of the Week for the second consecutive week.

Ryan Braun had a somewhat quiet weekend, going 2-for-12 with two walks and a home run. Baseball In-Depth notes that he's one of five players in the top ten in all of baseball in both hits and runs scored since the start of the 2011 season.

Baseball America is reporting that the Brewers have released 2008 second round pick Seth Lintz. Lintz is 22 and was in his fifth professional season, but had never advanced past Wisconsin. He had a 7.11 career ERA in the minors and an 11.00 mark this season.

Elsewhere in the minors:

• The affiliates went 1-2 yesterday with the lone win coming from Wisconsin, where the Timber Rattlers beat Peoria 3-2 on shortstop Yadiel Rivera's ninth inning home run. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
• Wisconsin infielder Greg Hopkins had six RBI and ten total bases Saturday, becoming the first Timber Rattler to do that since the team became a Brewer affiliate in 2009.
• Seedlings to Stars included 17-year-old Dominican shortstop Orlando Arcia, 2011 second round pick Jorge Lopez and Wisconsin outfielder Ben McMahan on their "Fish Watch" list of intriguing players.
• Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has interviews with Vinnie Chulk and Sounds reliever Rob Wooten.
• Minor League Ball's Community Mock Draft has the Brewers selecting Georgia high school pitcher Lucas Sims and Nevada high school first baseman Joey Gallo with their first round picks.

Congratulations are due out this morning to Kiev 'n Rice, yesterday's winner in our SB Nation Pick 6 contest. Here's the full leaderboard:

Today's action starts at noon, so you're running out of time to get your picks in if you haven't already. And don't forget to make your Prognostikeggers predictions, too.

Around baseball:

Astros: Placed pitcher Fernando Abad on the DL with an intercostal strain.
Blue Jays: Placed outfielder Ben Francisco on the DL with a hamstring strain and designated pitcher Ryota Igarashi for assignment.
Braves: Placed third baseman Chipper Jones on the DL with a leg contusion.
Diamondbacks: Signed catcher Miguel Montero to a five year, $60 million contract extension.
Dodgers: Placed infielder Justin Sellers on the DL with a bulging disk in his back.
Indians: Placed catcher Carlos Santana on the seven-day DL with a concussion.
Marlins: Acquired outfielder Justin Ruggiano from the Astros for a minor league catcher.
Mets: Released pitcher D.J. Carrasco.
Orioles: Designated infielder Bill Hall for assignment and signed outfielder Adam Jones to a six year, $85 million contract extension.
Pirates: Designated outfielder Nate McLouth for assignment.
Rockies: Placed catcher Ramon Hernandez on the DL with a hand problem.
Twins: Designated outfielder Erik Komatsu for assignment.
Yankees: Signed pitcher John Maine to a minor league deal.

The Brewers lost a game in the standings to the Reds, Cardinals and Pirates yesterday, as the top three teams in the division all picked up wins. You know that and more if you've read this morning's edition of Around the NL Central.

Meanwhile, the Cubs lost again yesterday, and are now losers of 12 straight games. Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times notes that the Brewers haven't lost 12 straight games since 2004, and two franchises have never done it.

In former Brewers:

• 60ft6in asks if Pete Vuckovich was the worst Cy Young Award winner of all time.
• Jerry Hairston Jr. had five hits for the Dodgers yesterday and is now hitting .381.

This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History remembers Jonathan Lucroy's walkoff suicide squeeze to beat the Giants one year ago today. Today is also 1953 Brewer Bill Doran's 54th birthday, and Plunk Everyone notes that his ten career HBP are the fourth most ever for a player born on May 28.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to start running.

Drink up.