Wednesday's Frosty Mug: Is It Opening Day Yet?

Some things to read while drawing the line.

Good morning and welcome to day two of spring training 2013, where the Brewers are preparing for their first official workout. Day one was a pretty quiet affair, although Adam McCalvy has a story on Yovani Gallardo as the clear leader of the starting rotation and video from interviews with Gallardo and Mark Rogers.

Rogers is one of four pitchers battling for the final three spots in the rotation this spring, and I attempted to handicap that race yesterday. Dave Radcliffe of Yahoo is predicting Wily Peralta will be the odd man out, while Wally from Pocket Doppler agrees with my suspicion that Mark Rogers will open the season in the bullpen. Tom Haudricourt also has a look at the final roster spots.

Nick Bucci is in big league camp for the first time, although he'll be leaving eventually to join the Canadian WBC team. Paul Owen of the Sarnia Observer has a profile of the young pitching prospect. (h/t @Mass_Haas)

Elsewhere in WBC notes, Ryan Braun is still expected to represent the US in the World Baseball Classic despite his recent brush with controversy in the Biogenesis scandal. Jon Morosi of Fox says that even if Braun and others are suspended, it almost certainly won't happen before the March event. Gary D'Amato of the Journal Sentinel says Braun is struggling to maintain credibility in the face of all these rumors.

It's been a quiet winter for the Brewers, but not everyone thinks that's a bad thing: Conner Boyd of Reviewing the Brew makes the case that the Brewers are underrated this spring.

Maybe these pieces of advice can help the Brewers outperform expectations: Tim Muma of Brewers Mix has three strategic changes he'd like to see the Brewers make for 2013.

Even if the Brewers do struggle in 2013, they're getting at least six FOX Saturday Baseball appearances. The 2013 schedule was announced yesterday and these games will be featured:

Many, if not all, of these games will be part of regional coverage.

In the minors:

• The Janesville Gazette's "Peace and Glove" blog has an interview with 2012 Wisconsin pitcher and Fond du Lac native Chad Pierce.
• The Brewer Nation profiled 2012 Nashville Sounds reliever Donovan Hand as part of their "Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers" series.

Yesterday was such a slow news day in Brewer camp that one of the top stories just might have been the ugly jacket Mike Vassallo is giving away in exchange for a picture of one lucky fan in their ugly jacket.

We're running out of time (I think today is the last day) to get friend of the site Kevin Kimmes selected for the 2013 MLB Fan Cave. Go vote for him here, over and over again.

Around baseball:

Mariners: Signed pitcher Kameron Loe to a minor league deal and designated infielder/outfielder Mike Carp for assignment.
Pirates: Signed third baseman Brandon Inge to a minor league deal.
Reds: Avoided arbitration with pitcher Mat Latos (two years, $11.5 million).
Royals: Acquired infielder Elliot Johnson from the Rays as the PTBNL in the James Shields deal.

By the way, the Mariners have officially announced Felix Hernandez's seven-year, $175 million contract. The deal had been put on hold temporarily following some concerns with the star pitcher's elbow.

When Nick Bucci was announced as an injury replacement for Team Canada it gave the Brewers 15 players in the World Baseball Classic, but not every organization is so committed. Pitcher Pedro Figueroa removed himself from the Dominican Republic's roster yesterday, and now the A's don't have anyone going.

My favorite spring training story of the day comes via Big League Stew, who has video of a Phillies workout set to steel drums.

In former Brewers:

• Don Money will be the featured guest for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' 2013 Leadoff Experience, leading Chris Mehring of Rattler Radio to remember a game-winning homer taken away from Money in 1976.
• Prince Fielder is the subject of the world's largest baseball card.
• Value Over Replacement Grit has Robinson Cancel, Nelson Cruz and current Brewer Alex Gonzalez on their "Fat Tuesday" team.

This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History marks 1970's and '80's Brewer and 90's Brewer GM Sal Bando's 69th birthday. Plunk Everyone notes that Bando's 75 career HBP are the most ever for a player born on February 13.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to run.

Drink up.