Wednesday's Frosty Mug: Lighting the hot stove

Some things to read while settling for what's available.

The big story for the Brewers yesterday was Doug Melvin's end-of-season press conference. Adam McCalvy has the full story and video from the event, but here are some of the highlights:

• He acknowledged that the team will consider a reunion with Corey Hart, who will become a free agent this winter.
• Melvin mentioned the possibility of moving Ryan Braun to right field for next season to get Khris Davis more opportunities to play, but said he hasn't talked to Braun about it yet. (h/t @AdamMcCalvy)
• It sounds like the organization is still in the internal discussion phase regarding a possible contract extension for Jean Segura.
• Melvin suggested that Scooter Gennett will come to spring training as the favorite to get regular playing time at second base, but also said no final decision will be made until spring.

Meanwhile, John Steinmiller and Caitlin Moyer have the Brewers' 2013 end-of-season media notes.

On the field inside Miller Park, crews have torn out all the grass and will re-sod before next season. @Haudricourt has a picture. @Todd_Rosiak reports that this is done once every five years.

While Doug Melvin was meeting with the media Tuesday, the ink was drying on the Brewers' first three invitations to 2014's big league camp (h/t @BrewersPD). Players getting a locker in Maryvale include:

• Veteran infielder/outfielder Eugenio Velez, who appeared in 38 games down the stretch for Nashville and hit .377/.437/.523 over 175 plate appearances, finishing the season with a 22-game hitting streak.
• Catcher Robinzon Diaz, a 12-year pro who appeared in 108 games between Huntsville and Nashville in 2013 and hit .302/.335/.433 between the two levels.
• Shortstop Hector Gomez, who played in 113 games for Huntsville in 2013 and hit .196/.238/.255.

Meanwhile, we continue the slow approach towards award season. Jonah Keri of Grantland has Carlos Gomez ninth on his ballot for NL MVP.

There was a period of time this season where it looked like Jean Segura might enter the MVP conversation. He faded a bit from there but still had a pretty impressive first full season, and Benjamin Orr of Reviewing the Brew gave him an A- for his efforts.

In the minors:

• The Brewers announced yesterday that 2012 21st round pick Austin Blaski has elected to retire (h/t @BrewersPD). Blaski posted a 2.01 ERA in 12 appearances for Wisconsin before getting hurt this season, and was a Midwest League All Star.
• Chris Mehring of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers has a look at the team's five best road wins in 2013.
• Steven Goldman of SBNation.com has an annotated look at the 2014 MLB Draft order, but most of the Brewers blurb is just an unwarranted pot shot at Ryan Braun.

If you'd like more Brewer coverage this morning but you're sick of reading, my weekly appearance on The Home Stretch with Justin Hull on 95.3 FM WSCO in Appleton has been archived and can be heard at this link. We wrapped up the 2013 season, discussed Doug Melvin's press conference and looked ahead to the winter in our last weekly conversation for a while.

If you haven't yet, please take a moment today to vote in this week's Brew Crew Ball Tracking Poll. It will remain open through the day today and results will be posted tomorrow.

Around baseball:

Astros: Reassigned pitching coach Doug Brocail and announced that first base coach Dave Clark and bullpen coach Dennis Martinez will not return for 2014.
Mariners: Are expected to make a qualifying offer to first baseman Kendrys Morales.
Royals: Signed manager Ned Yost to a two-year contract extension.

Today in baseball economics: MLB games drew over 74 million fans this season but it was still only the sixth highest attendance in league history. The top ten seasons for historical attendance have all come in the last ten years.

This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History marks the 56th anniversary of Game 1 of the 1957 World Series. Today is also 2004-05 Brewer Victor Santos' 37th birthday, and Plunk Everyone notes that his 23 career hit batsmen are the fourth most ever for a player born on October 2.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a new horse.

Drink up.