Tuesday- Taking the opportunity

Some things to read while getting angry.

Sometimes playing good baseball means taking what you’re given and not giving it back. That was the case for the Milwaukee Brewers Monday night as they took advantage of multiple defensive lapses in a 5-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Derek Harvey of Brew Crew Ball has a recap, if you missed it.

The Brewers also took advantage of a Reds team playing significantly shorthanded. First baseman Joey Votto and second baseman Brandon Phillips are still on the disabled list for Cincinnati, but outfielders Ryan Ludwick and Jay Bruce also sat out Monday’s game. Reds manager Bryan Price said it was just a routine day off for Bruce.

Of course, beating the Reds still required a strong outing from Wily Peralta, who allowed a single run on just three hits over seven innings. He also helped his own cause by singling in a 10-pitch at bat in the third inning, then coming around to score on Ryan Braun’s double.

• Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton homered for the only run off Peralta. Hamilton has six home runs on the season, and each of his last four have come against the Brewers (h/t @AdamMcCalvy).
• Aramis Ramirez was hit by a pitch on Monday for the 118th time in his career, moving him into a tie for 50th place on the all-time list. Plunk Everyone has more on the accomplishment.
• Reds manager Bryan Price was ejected from the game in the sixth inning for arguing a strike call on a check swing.
• Also in the sixth inning, Ron Roenicke challenged a call on Reds outfielder Skip Schumaker’s steal of second base but the call on the field was confirmed. The unsuccessful challenge snapped a streak of five consecutive reviewed calls overturned for Roenicke.
• The Polish won the Sausage Race.

The series continues at 7:10 p.m. tonight when Jimmy Nelson takes on Homer Bailey. Alec Shirkey has the MLB.com preview. The Brewers are still just 4-7 against the Reds this season, and 51-38 against everyone else.

Tonight’s game may feature the debut of the newest Brewer, reliever Jeremy Jeffress. The Brewers made a surprise decision to add their first round pick from the 2006 draft to the 25 and 40-man rosters yesterday, optioning Rob Wooten to Nashville and moving Jim Henderson to the 60-day disabled list to make room. Jeffress is with the Brewers for the first time since making ten relief appearances in 2010 and being traded to the Royals in the Zack Greinke deal. 

Over the years Jeffress has battled with his control, both on and off the field. He’s been suspended multiple times for marijuana use, but told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com he’s “clean and sober” and no longer has the anxiety and seizure issues he used to deal with. Brad Krause of Miller Park Prospects also has a profile of the newest Brewer. Jeffress had a 1.51 ERA in 30 relief appearances for Nashville this season, striking out 45 and walking 18 over 41 2/3 innings. Jason Mast of Grading on the Curve reminds us that Jeffress is still only 26 years old, but also called him a bust.

Meanwhile, Rob Wooten returned to Nashville a day after giving up the walkoff hit in the loss to the Nationals on Sunday. He had a 7.15 ERA over his final 14 relief appearances with the Brewers, including a meltdown outing against the Reds on June 15. He was sent down on his birthday, making for an awkward Twitter moment. Jim Henderson’s move to the 60-day DL does not impact his return plans in any major way: He went on the DL on May 2 so he’s still eligible to return anytime now.

While we wait for Jeffress’ debut, the Brewers have still used just 33 players in a game this season. That’s the second-lowest total in all of baseball, trailing only the Giants (32) (h/t @MikeVassallo13).

Ryan Braun had two hits and drove in a pair of runs Monday night, extending his hitting streak to nine games. He’s been getting hot lately, but here’s a sign of how far his stock has fallen in some circles: Nick Malofy of Dobber Baseball compared Braun to Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter for fantasy purposes and declared it a draw. Hunter is 39 years old and in his 18th MLB season.

The non-waiver trade deadline is now just nine days away, so speculation continues to swirl. Randy Miller of NJ.com suggested the Brewers as one of three teams that could be interested in Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, and Noah Jarosh of Brew Crew Ball has a look at the possibility. Howard is hitting just .222 with a .302 on-base percentage and .378 slugging, is four years older than a somewhat similarly-producing player in Mark Reynolds and is due at least $60 million from the Phillies between 2015-17, plus the remainder of his $25 million salary for this season.

In the minors:

• Recent Dominican signee Gilbert Lara was in Milwaukee on Monday taking batting practice and attending his first MLB game. Lara will be eligible to play for the Brewers’ Dominican Summer League affiliate next season, but the team is talking about having him skip that level and going straight to the Arizona Summer League.
• Back on the field, the affiliates went 2-4 on Monday and one of the wins came from Wisconsin, where the Timber Rattlers came back to tie the game in the eighth inning and beat Dayton 5-4 in 11 innings. You can read about all of the day’s action in the Brewerfan.net Link Report.
• Brad Krause of Miller Park Prospects has a photo gallery from Wisconsin’s win, and Chris Mehring of Rattler Radio has highlights and more.
• Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has an interview with Sounds manager Rick Sweet.

Back in Milwaukee, if you’re planning on heading out to Miller Park tonight or Wednesday you might be interested in knowing that the “Double Clutch” stand on the Loge Level is serving “Cincy Sliders” for the Reds series. The mini sandwiches feature marinated sirloin, roasted onion aioli, carmelized onions and Swiss cheese.

Also, if you’re free on Friday afternoon you might want to head out to Miller Park for a free autograph from All Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Lucroy will sign for the first 250 people in line when the gates open at 12:30, and perhaps more if time allows.

In power rankings:

• Jonah Keri of Grantland has the Brewers as baseball’s 10th-best team this week, down from seventh a week ago.
• ESPN also has the Brewers 10th, also down three spots..

Around baseball:

Angels: Signed catcher John Buck to a minor league deal.
Blue Jays: Designated reliever Sergio Santos for assignment.
Giants: Placed pitcher Matt Cain on the DL with elbow inflammation and signed second baseman Dan Uggla to a minor league deal. Also, infielder Tony Abreu has opted out of his minor league contract and is now a free agent.
Rockies: Placed first baseman Justin Morneau on the DL with a neck strain and designated pitcher Jair Jurrjens for assignment.

The Morneau news will likely temper speculation that the Brewers or another team could trade for the longtime former Twin. The DL move was made retroactive to July 14, so Morneau won’t be eligible to play again until July 29 and the non-waiver trade deadline is July 31.

Let’s go around the NL Central:

• The Pirates dropped a game in the standings with a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers. Los Angeles first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was on base five times in the game with three hits and two walks.
• The Brewers, as you likely know, held on to first place with a 5-2 win over the Reds.
• The Cardinals and Cubs were off on Monday.

Today is the Brewers’ 108th consecutive day in first place (h/t @joe_block).

Here’s a story I hadn’t heard before that caught me off-guard: Carrie Muskat of MLB.com talked to Bob Uecker about the time he briefly lost his vision during a Brewers/Cubs game at Wrigley Field in 2009. The incident led to Uecker undergoing pancreas surgery during the offseason and heart surgery that caused him to miss some time in 2010.

Finally, with help from the Baseball Reference Play Index, we’d like to wish a happy birthday to:

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Brewers beat reporter Tom Haudricourt, who turns 60.
• 1973-78 Brewer Tim Johnson, who turns 65 (Today In Brewer History).
• 1970 Brewer George Lauzerique, who turns 67 (Today In Brewer History).
• Appleton, Wisconsin native and UW-Madison alum Stu Locklin, who turns 86. Locklin played in the majors as a member of the 1955 and 1956 Cleveland Indians.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to catch someone.

Drink up.

Don’t forget to follow Kyle on Twitter @BrewFrostyMug, and check out and “like” the Mug’s Facebook page. The Frosty Mug runs mornings Monday-Friday and is brought to you by Legends of the Field, a sports memorabilia company you can trust.