What we learned this week: March 15, 2014

Hey everyone. I'm not feeling well today so it's going to be a quick one.

Roster Cuts

A lot of cuts this week, here is the complete list:

Released
- P Michael Olmsted

Outrighted
- P Jose de la Torre

Returned to minor league camp
- OF Kentrail Davis
- SS Hector Gomez
- IF Taylor Green
- OF Mitch Haniger
- P David Goforth
- OF Kevin Mattison
- C Matt Pagnozzi
- IF Eugenio Velez
- P Dustin Molleken

Optioned to Triple-A Nashville
- 1B Hunter Morris
- 1B Jason Rogers
- P Jimmy Nelson
- P Ariel Pena
- P Johnny Hellweg
- P Mike Fiers
- 1B Sean Halton
- P Hiram Burgos

Optioned to Double-A Hunstville
- P Brooks Hall
- P Kevin Shackelford

Cram Session

- For the fifth straight year, it will be Yovani Gallardo making the Opening Day start for the Brewers. It is a Brewers record for number of consecutive Opening Day starts, though Ben Sheets made six nonconsecutive starts.

- The first Brewers tracking poll of the season came outQuick lessons this week, including the Opening Day starter, a mysterious injury, and the first tracking poll of the season.. Voters preferred Mark Reynolds to serve as the primary first base starter, keeping Will Smith on the roster as a reliever, and a soft platoon at second base.

- We have our first freak injury of the spring. Francisco Rodriguez stepped on a catcus barefoot and missed some time due to it. Good luck figuring out how that happening. In other news, Adam McCalvy learned that cacti have spines, not thorns.

The Box Scores

3/8/2014: Brewers 7, Royals 6 (Game Preview/Thread)
3/9/2014: Cubs 10, Brewers 8
3/9/2014: Indians 4, Brewers 2
3/10/2014: White Sox 6, Brewers 3 (Game Preview/Thread)
3/12/2014: Angels 12, Brewers 2 (Game Preview/Thread)
3/13/2014: Brewers 8, Padres 0 (Game Preview/Thread)
3/14/2014: Brewers 9, Diamondbacks 8 (Game Preview/Thread)

The Collection of Mugs

3/10/2014: Inching closer
3/11/2014: A quiet day to reflect
3/12/2014: Back from the links
3/13/2014: Garza gives up more
3/14/2014: Ovetures on Opening Day