Wednesday's Frosty Mug: Cue the second half!

Some things to read while getting to be on TV.

Today we lead with our Tweet of the Day:

We now return you to your regularly scheduled #Brewers season.

— Howie Magner (@howiemag) July 17, 2013

The Brewer representatives were largely bystanders in the NL's 3-0 loss in the 2013 All Star Game. We've got the recap, if you missed it. Jean Segura and Carlos Gomez each grounded out against Mariano Rivera in the eighth inning and, while Segura did start a couple of double plays, the single most notable Brewer contribution might have been Carlos Gomez's missed diving attempt that led to a Prince Fielder triple.

Other notes from the field:

• Jason Beck of MLB.com talked to Gomez and Segura about their experience.
• Gomez and Segura are two of just six former international free agents among the 37 players selected to the NL roster.
• Gomez also received a $50,000 bonus for being selected to the All Star team.

Even with that extra $50,000 paid out, Carlos Gomez's new contract is really looking like a bargain. Dave Cameron of FanGraphs has Gomez 33rd on his updated trade value rankings, and credited Doug Melvin with "the best decision of the year." Matt Hunter of Beyond the Box Score has him fifth in the race for NL MVP.

$50,000 can pay for a lot of travel. Cheeseandcorn went back to the maps for the position player installment of his look at how Brewer players reached Milwaukee.

Meanwhile, back in Milwaukee, the Brewers report that "just under 44,000" fans paid to see Paul McCartney perform at Miller Park last night (Twitter link). In a related note, I'm not sure my wife will ever forgive me for the fact that we were not among them. However, if early traffic reports were any indication, some of those people might still be there:

You're going to be shocked to hear this, but Miller Park was apparently totally unprepared for 50,000 people trying to leave the parking lot

— Rubie Q (@Rubie_Q) July 17, 2013

In the minors:

• Alec chimed in yesterday with a midseason look at the Brewers' top 15 prospects. Jimmy Nelson and Tyrone Taylor's big seasons did not escape notice here.
• None of those players (or any other Brewer minor leaguers) made Marc Hulet of FanGraphs' midseason list of baseball's top 50 prospects.

If you haven't yet, please take a moment today to vote in our BCB Tracking Poll. It will remain open through the day today and results will be posted tomorrow.

Around baseball:

Royals: Claimed infielder Pedro Ciriaco off waivers from the Padres.

All five NL Central teams were, of course, off yesterday. Here are today's standings, along with a look at each team's active leader in hits:

I've complained plenty about two Brewer representatives playing pretty limited roles in last night's All Star Game, but it's worth noting that it could have been much worse: Better than a dozen players on the two rosters didn't appear in last night's game at all, including catcher Jason Castro (the lone Astro), pitcher Travis Wood (the lone Cub) and shortstop Everth Cabrera (the lone Padre).

Meanwhile, despite baseball's assertion that it doesn't, the ongoing BioGenesis debacle continues to cast a dark cloud over everything else. After weeks of speculation that MLB would announce suspensions immediately after the All Star Game, yesterday the MLBPA raised the possibility that they won't actually be announced or served until after the appeals process, which could delay any actual punishments until September or 2014.

This could add to the ongoing delays: MLBPA union chief Michael Weiner's health is deteriorating pretty rapidly and the organization is expected to appoint a deputy director within the next couple of weeks. (h/t BBTF)

Today In Brewer History was off this morning, but we do still have several bits of history:

• Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times notes that it's the 26th anniversary of Dale Sveum's three homer game in 1987.
• Today would have been longtime Milwaukee Brave and brief Brewers manager Roy McMillan's 84th birthday, and Plunk Everyone notes that his 57 career HBP are the most ever for a player born on July 17.
• Today is also Pete Ladd's 57th birthday, and his nine hit batsmen are the fourth most ever for a pitcher born on this day.
• nullacct named reliever Ken Sanders as the face of the 1972 Brewers.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find a reason to stay home.

Drink up.