Monday's Frosty Mug: Brewer News, Links And Notes That Got Swept Away Over The Weekend

Some things to read while ringing your bell.

The Brewers are in Philadelphia this morning (Tyler Thornburg recommends the cheesesteak at Pat's) but left their floundering 2012 playoff hopes in Cincinnati, where they were swept in a three game set over the weekend to drop back to six games under .500 and 10.5 back in the Central. Noah has the recap, if you missed it.

Ryan Braun went 4-for-13 with four singles and six strikeouts this weekend, and his second hit Friday night was the 1000th of his career. He's the second fastest Brewer ever to reach that mark, behind Cecil Cooper. According to Dave Cameron of FanGraphs he also carries baseball's sixth highest trade value.

Corey Hart's 12 game hitting streak was snapped Friday night, so he'll have to settle for being tied for the third longest streak by a Brewer in 2012. The new longest active streak belongs to Cesar Izturis, who has a hit in six straight games. He's raised his OPS by 62 points during the streak, but is still well under .600.

Hart, by the way, has played 40 games at first base this season without making an error. He's the only major leaguer that can claim that in 2012.

Other notes from the field:

• Yesterday's game was the first homerless contest at Great American Ball Park since July 29, 2011, 74 games ago.
• Aramis Ramirez's double yesterday was hit 31st. He's on pace for 53 this season, which would break Lyle Overbay's franchise record.
• Michael Fiers hit Miguel Cairo with a pitch yesterday, the first hit batsman of his career. Plunk Everyone has more on the accomplishment.
• Saturday's start for Yovani Gallardo snapped a streak of 14 straight appearances where he had pitched six innings or more.
• Carson Cistulli of NotGraphs captured some audio of Bob Uecker discussing Homer Bailey's genealogy.

The Brewer road trip continues tonight in Philadelphia where Roy Halladay and Randy Wolf open a three game set at 6:05. Jeremy Warnemuende has the MLB.com preview, while noted leisured gentleman Carson Cistulli of FanGraphs gave tonight's matchup a four out of ten on his NERD scale. On paper this contest seems like a pretty solid mismatch in the Phillies' favor, but Mike Vassallo notes that the last time these two pitchers met the Brewers picked up a blowout victory.

Looking ahead a day, Zack Greinke is scheduled to start for the Brewers tomorrow night and you can bet there will be a wealth of scouts in attendance to see one of this trade season's hottest commodities. The Brewers still appear to be making an effort to retain Greinke, though, with Jon Heyman reporting they're rumored to have offered him a deal worth close to $112.5 million. Greinke confirmed the offer, and here's what Adam McCalvy said about the conversation:

But Greinke, a free agent after the season, felt uncomfortable revealing more, including whether he and agent Casey Close were receptive to such an offer, or whether talks would continue.

That paragraph is actually somewhat encouraging to me. If the two sides were nowhere close and there was no hope of a deal, I feel like Greinke would have said that instead of hedging like he is here.

Elsewhere in potentially moveable parts, Aramis Ramirez's name continues to come up in trade rumors. He told Adam McCalvy he's been traded before and isn't worried about it happening again.

There's also a chance, although perhaps not a big one, that Nyjer Morgan could move as part of a deal over the next two weeks. Jim Owczarski of OnMilwaukee.com sat down with Morgan as part of the site's "Milwaukee Talks" series.

Michael Fiers was a tough-luck loser yesterday, allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts over six innings. He's still our Brewer of the Week, though, and has been for two of the last three weeks.

In the minors:

• The Brewers have reportedly signed 16-year-old Venezuelan pitching prospect Yosmer Leal to a $370,000 deal. He'll report to the team's training academy in the Dominican Republic.
• The affiliates went 2-3 yesterday and Eric Farris had three hits and a pair of stolen bases in Nashville's 3-2 win over New Orleans. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
• Rattler Radio has video highlights from Wisonsin's 7-5 loss to Lansing. I'll be back at Time Warner Cable Field tonight to cover the series finale for the Timber Rattlers Notebook.
• AZL Brewer Deivi Mejia hit for the cycle on Friday.
• 2012 first round pick Victor Roache told me his rehab is going well and he still expects to be healthy in time for instructional ball this fall.
• Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has interviews with Taylor Green and Sounds first baseman Sean Halton.
• If the season ended today the Brewers would have the #10 overall pick in the 2013 draft.
  

Finally, congratulations are due out this morning to badgerman59, who edged out sauveb by a tenth of a point in yesterday's SB Nation Pick 6 contest. Here's the full leaderboard:

Tonight's action starts at 6:05, so there's still plenty of time to make your picks for today. And, of course, a new series brings a new set of Prognostikeggers.

Around baseball:

Astros: Claimed pitcher Mark Hamburger off waivers from the Padres.
Athletics: Placed shortstop Cliff Pennington on the DL with elbow tendonitis.
Blue Jays: Acquired pitchers J.A. Happ, Brandon Lyon and a minor leaguer from the Astros for reliever Francisco Cordero, ourfielder Ben Francisco, four minor leaguers and a PTBNL and placed reliever Jason Frasor on the DL with forearm tightness.
Braves: Placed outfielder Matt Diaz on the DL with a thumb injury.
Diamondbacks: Claimed pitcher Brad Bergesen off waivers from the Orioles.
Indians: Signed reliever J.C. Romero to a minor league deal.
Mets: Placed pitcher Johan Santana on the DL with an ankle sprain and designated pitcher Miguel Batista for assignment.
Nationals: Placed shortstop Ian Desmond on the DL with an oblique tear and designated outfielder Xavier Nady for assignment.
Orioles: Acquired infielder Omar Quintanilla from the Mets for future considerations and designated infielder/outfielder Steve Pearce for assignment.
Padres: Signed outfielder Carlos Quentin to a three year, $27 million contract extension.
Phillies: Designated outfielder Jason Pridie for assignment.
Pirates: Placed pitcher Juan Cruz on the DL with shoulder inflammation.
Rays: Placed DH Luke Scott on the DL with a mild right external oblique strain.
Rockies: Acquired pitcher Jonathan Sanchez from the Royals for pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.
White Sox: Acquired reliever Brett Myers from the Astros for two minor league pitchers.

In former Brewers:

• Takashi Saito, signed for $1.75 million this winter, finally came off the DL and debuted for the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
• Lookout Landing has a must-see gif of a Chris Capuano bunt fielding attempt gone horribly wrong.
• Francisco Cordero is now closing for the Astros after this weekend's megadeal sent him to Houston and the team traded incumbent closer Brett Myers away.
• The Platoon Advantage has Kevin Seitzer among five players who were once released on their birthday.

Brewers Live pre and post-game shows on FS Wisconsin from this weekend were held in Wisconsin Dells, which creates a weird situation where Brewer news is briefly covered (if at all) between infomercial-level reporting on the tourist attractions in the city. If knowing someone else shares your pain will help you feel better, then you may appreciate knowing that Twins fans were exposed to it too.

This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History marks what would have been the 136th birthday of Rochester, WI native, Beloit College alum and late 1800s-early 1900s major leaguer Ginger Beaumont. Plunk Everyone notes that his 30 career HBP are the third most ever for a player born on July 23.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go see if there's any cake left.

Drink up.