Friday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while searching for water.

Despite having won the first two games and carrying a lead into the seventh inning of game three the Brewers were forced to settle for a series split with the Marlins after losing 4-0 yesterday. Morineko has the recap, if you missed it.

Mike Fiers left yesterday's game having allowed one run over 7.1 innings, but the bullpen allowed three more runs (one inherited runner plus two of their own) to score while recording the game's final five outs. Nick Michalski of The Brewers Bar asks if this bullpen can be salvaged.

Speaking of Fiers, Ryan Kartje of FS Wisconsin has a great story on the unique path he took to the majors. If you only click on one link in today's Mug, make it that one.

Norichika Aoki had hits in each of his first two at bats yesterday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Jeremy Warnemuende reports that Aoki has heated up since toning down some of his workouts.

Other notes from the field:

• Ryan Braun tied a franchise record by grounding into three double plays yesterday, and became the first Brewer ever to do it three times in a nine inning game.
• When the Marlins scored in the fourth inning yesterday it ended a 21.1 inning scoreless streak for Fiers.
• The game-time temperature at Miller Park was over 100 for the second consecutive day.
• The Chorizo won the sausage race.
  

The Brewers wrap up the first half with a three game set in Houston this weekend. Trey Scott has the MLB.com preview for tonight's Yovani Gallardo/J.A. Happ matchup.

Rickie Weeks went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts yesterday, snapping a five game hitting streak. He's also the second baseman on Scott Miller of CBS Sports' anti-All Stars.

It looks like the Brewers are going to spend a few more weeks in limbo: Doug Melvin told Jerry Crasnick of ESPN that the team opens the second half with nine games against the Pirates, Cardinals and Reds and will likely wait until after those games to decide on possible moves.

Elsewhere in limbo, Shaun Marcum was supposed to play catch yesterday but still isn't sure when he'll be ready to pitch again.

Here's today's Zack Greinke notes:

• Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle says there should be lots of scouts in attendance for Greinke and Wandy Rodriguez's matchup on Saturday.
• A day after suggesting the Cardinals could be interested in Zack Greinke, Ken Rosenthal now says they're not interested.
• Jon Heyman says some polled GMs say Cubs pitcher Matt Garza, who has a year left on his contract, would be more valuable than Greinke or Cole Hamels.

In the minors:

• Baseball America has Tyler Thornburg 48th on their midseason list of the game's top 50 prospects.
• The affiliates had an 0-5 night last night but you can't blame it on Drew Gagnon, who pitched six shutout innings in Brevard County's 1-0 loss to Tampa. You can read about that and more in today's Minor League Notes.
• John Sickels of Minor League Ball has a look at Scooter Gennett and the other hitters on the US team for Sunday's Futures Game.
• Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has an interview with Tyler Thornburg.
• Greg Rachac of MiLB.com has a story on Helena outfielder Raul Mondesi Jr.

Ever wondered if it's worth it to spend $100 for the opportunity to slide down Bernie Brewer's slide? Amanda Rykoff of espnW.com did it on Monday and documented the experience, along with her bumps and bruises from it.

If you'd like more Brewer coverage today but you're sick of reading, I've got a couple of options for you:

• I'll be making my weekly appearance on The Home Stretch with Justin Hull on 95.3 FM/AM 1570 The Score in Appleton at 2 pm today. I'll be in studio for roughly an hour taking your Brewer questions.
• My appearance on The Watercooler with Jimmie Kaska in Eau Claire yesterday has been archived.

Finally, congratulations are due out to drugstorecowboy6, yesterday's winner in our 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.

Around baseball:

Angels: Placed pitcher Dan Haren on the DL with lower back stiffness.
Blue Jays: Released pitcher Jamie Moyer.
Braves: Placed reliever Jonny Venters on the DL with an elbow injury.
Dodgers: Are expected to place shortstop Dee Gordon on the DL with a dislocated thumb.
Mets: Claimed pitcher Chris Schwinden off waivers from the Yankees.
Pirates: Placed outfielder Alex Presley on the 7-day DL with a concussion.
Red Sox: Are expected to place second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the DL with a thumb injury.
Royals: Are expected to release catcher Humberto Quintero.

Since Opening Day Schwinden has been in the Mets, Blue Jays, Indians and Yankees organizations and is now back where he started with the Mets. Carson Cistulli of NotGraphs says his season is probably a metaphor for something.

I mention it a fair amount but it's worth noting again that I probably use the B-Ref Play Index ten or more times daily during the season to research many of the stats you see here and on Twitter. If you've never subscribed to the Play Index and you'd like to know what you're missing, it's free to try through the 12th.

This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History notes the anniversary of the end of Corey Hart's 20-game hitting streak in 2010, the sixth longest in franchise history. Today is also 1991 Brewer Willie Randolph's 58th birthday, and Plunk Everyone notes that his 38 career HBP are the third most ever for a player born on July 6.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find the hubcap stand.

Drink up.