Tuesday's Frosty Mug: And Then There Were 40

Some things to read while taking over.

Day 36 of spring training 2013 will open with just 40 occupied lockers in major league camp: The Brewers reached that number yesterday by releasing infielder and comeback candidate Bobby Crosby. Crosby hit just .188 in limited spring playing time in his first professional baseball since 2010, but his agent told Adam McCalvy he's still hoping to catch on with another team. Miller Park Drunk has a recap of Crosby's tenure in Milwaukee.

Crosby's departure from camp opens the door a little wider for someone like Jeff Bianchi or Donnie Murphy to make the Opening Day roster. Bianchi needs to get healthy first, though: He's currently dealing with a hip flexor strain related to his earlier groin strain. Bianchi is also the subject of The Brewer Nation's latest edition of "Brewers By the (Jersey) Numbers."

Back on the field, Brewer pitchers fared better but still picked up another loss as the team fell 4-2 to the Indians in Goodyear. Jordan has the recap, if you missed it.

Other notes from the field:

• Marco Estrada pitched 2.1 innings on short rest yesterday, allowing a run on three hits and three walks with a strikeout.
  
• After the game Estrada "ordered" Adam McCalvy and Todd Rosiak to write something nice about longtime Brewer minor league catcher Dayton Buller, who made his first Cactus League start.
• Fellow catcher Blake Lalli started at first base yesterday and went 2-for-3. He's played his way into consideration for a roster spot as the third catcher and backup at first base.
• ASU student John De Groote of the JS talked to Khris Davis about playing Cactus League games near his hometown of Glendale.
• Adam McCalvy has the latest update on Mark Rogers, whose next step still isn't clear at this point.
• ASU student Edmund Hubbard of the JS talked to North Carolina alum Rob Wooten about his NCAA bracket. By the way, you can enter BCB's Unofficial Bracket Challenge here.
• ASU student Justin Marshall of the JS has photos of Ryan Braun and Robin Yount in Brewer camp.

Cactus League Play continues today in Maryvale, when Wily Peralta and the Brewers will face Jason Vargas at 3 and Ryan Braun is expected to be back in the lineup for the first time since before the WBC. Today's game can also be seen on FS Wisconsin and heard on WTMJ.

Rickie Weeks had a hit yesterday and has now reached base safely in each of his last ten spring appearances, including all nine in March. Adam Wieser of Disciples of Uecker has a look at expectations for Weeks in 2013.

Carlos Gomez went 0-for-3 with a couple of strikeouts yesterday but is still hitting over .400 on the spring. Curt Hogg of Reviewing the Brew has a look at his favorite Gomez moments.

The fact that the Brewers have Gomez and others locked up long term is one of several things Ryan Topp of Disciples of Uecker says the organization has going for it.

Back in Milwaukee, John Steinmiller and Caitlin Moyer have an introduction to Tim Rappe, the Executive Director of the Brewers' new baseball academy.

Around baseball:

Angels: Signed catcher Chris Snyder to a minor league deal.
Nationals: Released catcher Chris Snyder.

The World Baseball Classic reaches its epic conclusion tonight as the Dominican Republic takes on Puerto Rico in the championship game. Last night's Dominican/Netherlands game gave Big League Stew's Kevin Kaduk a chance to ask one of nature's most fascinating questions, though: How do seagulls know when to show up at WBC games?

My favorite spring training story from today is this one: Athletics infielder Eric Sogard's glasses have their own blog. (h/t Baseball Nation)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I can't find Liberty. (h/t PocketDoppler.com)

Drink up.