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Some things to read while sharing. (h/t PocketDoppler.com)
Day 35 of spring training will once again feature the Brewers trying to bounce back from an ugly loss, as they fell behind in the first inning Sunday and limped to an 11-1 loss to the Dodgers. Noah has the recap, if you missed it. Brewer pitchers have now allowed 43 runs in their last five games.
Yovani Gallardo started on short rest yesterday and lasted just two innings, allowing three runs on five hits with a strikeout and no walks. He's now lined up to pitch on Opening Day, but has just two more exhibition starts and still hasn't thrown more than 50 pitches in a game this spring.
Aramis Ramirez didn't play yesterday, but appeared in Friday and Saturday's games for the first time since spraining his knee on March 2. He legged out an infield single on Friday, so his knee mustn't be too sore. If Ramirez is healthy, he could become the first Brewer All Star third baseman since Jeff Cirillo in 1997. Ramirez, by the way, was the subject of one of The Brewer Nation's recent editions of "Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers." Caleb Gindl was the other.
Carlos Gomez continued his hot spring yesterday, going 1-for-2 with a walk. His new contract continues to be a hot topic, with Tim Schaefer of Disciples of Uecker taking a look at expectations, Dave Radcliffe of Yahoo saying the deal won't haunt this team and Mike Mulvenna of Beyond the Box Score predicting his power will regress.
Speaking of power hitters, Khris Davis hit a pair of home runs on Saturday and now has six on the spring (counting one against Team Canada). Adam McCalvy says Davis has hit his way into consideration for the Opening Day roster.
Other notes from camp:
- Michael Olmsted picked up the save on Friday and leads all Brewer pitchers with eight appearances and three saves this spring.
- The Dodgers wore their green hats and jerseys yesterday for St. Patrick's Day, but the Brewers didn't do anything unusual.
- ASU student Jason Galvin of the JS has a profile of Kosuke Inaji, translator for Norichika Aoki.
- Brewers Rumors has a look at the winners and losers in Brewer camp to date.
- Mike Vassallo has a photo of Bob Uecker doing play-by-play while joined by former WWE Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man.
Cactus League play continues today as the Brewers travel to Goodyear to take on Ubaldo Jimenez and the Indians. Marco Estrada will start on short rest today to line himself up to pitch in the regular season's second game, and Baseball In-Depth notes that he was one of just five pitchers to post over four strikeouts per walk and over nine strikeouts per nine innings in the second half of 2012. Ray Guilfoyle of Fake Teams predicted that he'll have a better 2013 season than Yovani Gallardo.
Meanwhile in Miami, the WBC continues for Martin Maldonado and Puerto Rico, who beat Japan last night to advance to the final on Tuesday. Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy have rejoined the team now that the US has been eliminated, and talked to Owen Perkins of MLB.com about the experience.
Hiram Burgos is on Puerto Rico's roster but won't be rejoining the major league team after Tuesday's final: He's been optioned to Nashville and will report to minor league camp. @Mass_Haas notes that this is his first option, although if he continues to pitch like he has the Brewers probably won't need his options in 2014 or 2015.
Rickie Weeks didn't play yesterday but is among the Brewer leaders with 32 plate appearances this spring and is hitting .344/.382/.531. The Book of Gorman has a look at Weeks and the other players who could play second base for the Crew in 2013.
A bounce-back season from Weeks could really raise these numbers: David Pinto of Baseball Musings says the Brewers' likely Opening Day lineup projects to score around 4.42 runs per game, but will get a significant boost when Corey Hart comes back.
Speaking of Hart, he's backed away from his previous statements about hoping to get back to the lineup in April. He hasn't suffered any setbacks in his rehab on his surgically repaired knee, but told reporters he doesn't want to come back before he's ready.
Elsewhere in spring training stories that won't go away, MLB Daily Dish has the latest update on Kyle Lohse and the Brewers. There's still no apparent interest here, but it's likely to keep coming up until Lohse signs somewhere.
It's probably too little too late for him to make the Opening Day rotation, but Mark Rogers threw a live BP session on Saturday and was upbeat about his results. He and the team haven't announced his next step yet.
If you like Brewer coverage but wish it was a little more dated, Razzball has just posted my answers to season preview questions they asked me back in January. Come for the questions about Mat Gamel, and stay for my thoughts on Carlos Gomez's pending free agency.
In the minors:
- The Brewers announced some minor league releases over the weekend, and we'd like to wish 2011 ninth round pick Malcolm Dowell, 2008 16th round pick Stosh Wawrzasek and 2012 Helena Brewer Emmanuel Quiles best of luck in their future endeavors.
- Scooter Gennett was recently moved to minor league camp and had a big day there on Saturday, going 5-for-6 with a pair of extra base hits.
- Photographer Brad Krause does a great job documenting minor league spring training, and you can see his latest spring training diary here.
Today in previews, power rankings and whatnot: FanGraphs has the Brewers 19th in their shortstop power rankings.
If you'd like more Brewer coverage today but you're sick of reading, the View From Bernie's Chalet Podcast is up and featured topics include Carlos Gomez's new contract, the bench and impressive players in camp.
Around baseball:
Blue Jays: Claimed pitcher Guillermo Moscoso off waivers from the Royals.
Diamondbacks: Returned pitcher and Rule 5 pick Starling Peralta to the Cubs.
Marlins: Returned pitcher and Rule 5 pick Braulio Lara to the Rays.
Padres: Third baseman Chase Headley may miss Opening Day with a jammed thumb.
Rangers: Pitcher Kyle McClellan will open the season on the DL with a lat strain.
Yankees: Signed outfielder Brennan Boesch to a one-year, $1.5 million deal and released outfielder Matt Diaz.
Today in former Brewers:
- Carlos Villanueva will start for the Cubs when they face the Brewers on Friday, but feels strongly about not talking to opposing players on the field before the game.
- Zack Greinke is no longer in Milwaukee, but Owen Perkins of MLB.com reports he still keeps up with the Brewers.
- The Cardinals are in the market for a shortstop with Rafael Furcal out for 2013, and are reportedly interested in Yuniesky Betancourt.
- Speaking of Yuni, Bradley Woodrum of NotGraphs has a gif of him making an error at third base, but then throwing out a runner trying to advance.
- John Sickels of Minor League Ball has a look back at CC Sabathia as a prospect in the Indians organization.
- MLB Trade Rumors has the Richie Sexson trade as a nominee in their poll to determine the most one-sided trade of the last decade.
Yesterday was, of course, St. Patrick's Day and that means finding green in the middle of some unusual color schemes. Mike Oz of Big League Stew has a look at some of the weirdest green caps worn around baseball yesterday.
This morning's edition of Today In Brewer History marks 2005-06 Brewer pitcher Tomo Ohka's 37th birthday. Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times notes that it's also the 60th anniversary of National League owners unanimously approving the Braves' move to Milwaukee.
Finally, if you occasionally take time away from the Brewers to watch other sports you may know that yesterday was Selection Sunday for the NCAA tournament. I haven't made an official BCB Bracket Challenge yet this year, so instead I'll refer you over to Anonymous Eagle's version and see if one of us can win theirs.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a movie to make.
Drink up.