Morning Wrap: New Double A Baseball Team Named after Oysters

((ht: cbssports.com))

Wait, what? The headline says this story is about Oysters? Or does it?

One of the great things about Minor League Baseball is you often get some crazy team names and some wacky promotions.

The latest: A new Southern League (Double A) team in Biloxi, Mississippi. The team is an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

And Monday night, they debuted their new name....

Ladies and Gentlemen… Your Biloxi Shuckers! pic.twitter.com/6YH2PXmcAb
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) November 25, 2014

Yes...the Shuckers...feel free to come up with your own jokes...

Check out our four cap logos! pic.twitter.com/ClUJAULiKw
— Biloxi Shuckers (@BiloxiShuckers) November 25, 2014

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you, they have a "B.S" cap logo. Or at least they are planning on having one.

Personally, we think they should have a jersey featuring hot sauce, saltine crackers and beer, but that just may be us...

You might want to add biscuits to, especially on June 15th when the Shuckers travel to Montgomery, Alabama to play the Biscuits.

I'm getting hungry just thinking about that game.

DEVELOPING: Marlins' Stanton Hit By Fastball In The Face

((HT: MLB.com))

And it went downhill from there...

Here's what started it all...


Then, pinch-hitter Reed Johnson came up to complete the at-bat and he got hit in the hand with the next pitch.

Benches clear and we had ejections.
((HT: Ryan Berenz))


In the 6th, Marlins reliever Anthony DeSclafani was ejected after hitting the Brewers' Carlos Gomez.

Then, we had more ejections.

The update from the Marlins:

Giancarlo suffered a laceration on the left side of his face. He is having x-rays and a CT scan performed at a local hospital.

Fan Loses Beer, Booth Replaces It

((HT: MLB.com))

The HQ has seen the beginning of the story before, but not the ending...

There's always the guy (or more than one) that chases after the foul ball like it is made of palladium or something. He might get the ball, but there will be collateral damage.

Could be a crying kid, could be a piece of food or clothing flying around or off an upperdeck perch, or it could be a spilt beverage.

Happened in Milwaukee...
But the broadcast crew for FS North gets a lot of props for the make good on the back end...

Yasiel Puig Breaks Bat on Check Swing

((ht: mlb.com))

Whoa! Despite our general disdain for the fact Yasiel Puig seems to make the highlight reels for just showing up, we had to share this.

Check out what happened Friday night during the Milwaukee Brewers vs. LA Dodgers game at Chavez Ravine. A game won by the Brewers 9-3.

Puig tries to hold back his swing on the pitch and is able to do so. However the barrel of the bat didn't cooperate. The barrel goes flying and the ump has no choice other than to call it a strike.

Which leads to the question: Was the bat defective or was Puig's grip just that strong?

A 3-Run Wild Pitch...??? Yup...

((HT: MLB.com))

The HQ can't recall the last time we saw something like this...

One run, maybe two, but not three on a wild pitch that come around to score...
Evidence below...


So, Rockies pitcher Christian Friedrich threw a wild pitch- run scores
Catcher Michael McKenry throws it past Friedrich on the cover at home- another run scores
The ball rolled all the way to the Brewers dugout, Juan Segura scores...

Wonder what the conversation in the Rockies clubhouse was like after the game..>???

Giancarlo Stanton: Two Words, Two Homers

((HT: MLB.com))

At one point last night, the Miami Marlins had three hits... all three were solo home runs...

Two were absolute bombs by Giancarlo Stanton..


Milwaukee was in complete control of the game- winning in Miami 9-5, but the HQ can't wait for arbitration and free agency for some of their kids...

ICYMI: Ryan Braun Knocks Teammate Out of Game

Ooopsie...

Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun needs to either (a) pay attention to where he is or (b) think before swinging a bat in the dugout.

Why?

Because Braun for some reason decided to try loosening up before hitting. Not while in the on-deck circle, but while standing on the top step of the dugout.

And he never saw starting shortstop Jean Segura standing behind him. The bat drills Segura upside the head and Segura had to be helped back to the clubhouse.

He didn't return.

Reports say Segura was more stunned than anything else, had a cut near his eye and probably a heck of a headache.

Braun apologized and felt pretty bad about the whole thing.

Your video from MLB.com:

Pirates and Brewers Brawl Over Carlos Gomez

Say what you will, but Milwaukee Brewers star Carlos Gomez is a talented guy. A fantastic baseball player, who hits for power, has speed to spare and can go get them in centerfield.

But Gomez also seems to be a lightning rod for trouble because he shows off.

In 2013, he set off a bench clearing situation with the Atlanta Braves on a home run when Braves catcher Brian McCann wouldn't let him cross the plate.

Sunday afternoon, his casual bat flip after hitting a ball off the wall in dead centerfield during a game with the Pittsburgh Pirates set off a wild scene that saw punches fly, Gomez get tossed around and Pirates outfielder Travis Snider get his hat knocked off by an attempted punch.

After the bat flip, Gomez eventually ran full speed before beating the throw to third with a headfirst slide. Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole who went to back-up the throw began shouting at Gomez, who shouted back and the chaos ensued.

Gomez and Snider were ejected along with Milwaukee bench coach Jerry Narron. Nobody appears to have been injured and you can expect the fines to begin rolling in on Monday.

Brewers to Put Uecker Statue in Last Row (Of Course)

((ht: milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com))

How approrpriate....

The Milwaukee Brewers announced Wednesday afternoon they are going to honor legendary team broadcaster Bob Uecker.



Yeah, that guy.

The team decided a statue of Uecker, a former Major League baseball player (catcher) who's been calling Brewers games for decades and is also known for a bit part in the movie Major League along with a series of Miller Lite commercials back in the 1980's.



And of course, the statue will be located at the very top of Miller Park.

According to a Brewers press release, the seats will be in row 422 of the Uecker seats on the Terrace Level.

Read more about it from the team themselves RIGHT HERE

Yes, obviously we like Uke--though we are aware those of you youngin's reading this may not know who he is.

If you are a baseball fan, you should know about him. If you don't, shame on you.

Congrats to the original "Mr. Baseball" for an honor well earned.

Brian McCann: Enforcer For The Love Of The Game

((HT: FS Brewers/MLB))

Carlos Gomez is not, apparently, Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez when it comes to admiring his handiwork...


But Braves catcher Brian McCann will be more than happy to tell you when you break the code...

Gomez, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Gerald Laird were ejected. The umpires said that the Gomez run counted even though he had never touched home plate, invoking Role 7.06(a), which says an "obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction."

Gomez and Maholm have a history... On June 23 at Miller Park, a Maholm fastball hit Gomez in the left knee. Gomez thought Maholm had intentionally struck him.

When Gomez rounded third base, he pointed at his knee while yelling at Maholm... connecting the two incidents...

At least, in theory...

Ryan Braun Apologizes for Using PED's Sort Of

So...Ryan Braun apologizes.

The former N.L MVP is serving a 65 game suspension after Major League Baseball was able to link him to  Biogenesis a Miami area facility that allegedly provided steroids and other performance enhancing drugs to professional athletes.

Braun had been suspected for a couple of years. In early 2012, he was able to beat MLB after allegedly failing a drug test. In that test, he accused the Fed-Ex driver who transported his sample to a lab of mishandling the contents among other things.

Today, Braun  released a statement through the Milwaukee Brewers saying that he "Deserved to be suspended" and nobody should be blamed for what he did other than himself.

He also apologized, sort of to the Fed-Ex driver Dino Laurenzi, Jr.

While apologetic in tone, Braun still couldn't muster the courage to look reporters and others in the eye to apologize, rather he released this statement via the Brewers website:

Now that the initial MLB investigation is over, I want to apologize for my actions and provide a more specific account of what I did and why I deserved to be suspended. I have no one to blame but myself. I know that over the last year and a half I made some serious mistakes, both in the information I failed to share during my arbitration hearing and the comments I made to the press afterwards. 

I have disappointed the people closest to me -- the ones who fought for me because they truly believed me all along. I kept the truth from everyone. For a long time, I was in denial and convinced myself that I had not done anything wrong. 

It is important that people understand that I did not share details of what happened with anyone until recently. My family, my teammates, the Brewers organization, my friends, agents, and advisors had no knowledge of these facts, and no one should be blamed but me. Those who put their necks out for me have been embarrassed by my behavior. I don't have the words to express how sorry I am for that.

Here is what happened. During the latter part of the 2011 season, I was dealing with a nagging injury and I turned to products for a short period of time that I shouldn't have used. The products were a cream and a lozenge which I was told could help expedite my rehabilitation. It was a huge mistake for which I am deeply ashamed and I compounded the situation by not admitting my mistakes immediately. 

I deeply regret many of the things I said at the press conference after the arbitrator's decision in February 2012. At that time, I still didn't want to believe that I had used a banned substance. I think a combination of feeling self righteous and having a lot of unjustified anger led me to react the way I did. I felt wronged and attacked, but looking back now, I was the one who was wrong. I am beyond embarrassed that I said what I thought I needed to say to defend my clouded vision of reality. I am just starting the process of trying to understand why I responded the way I did, which I continue to regret. There is no excuse for any of this. 
 For too long during this process, I convinced myself that I had not done anything wrong. After my interview with MLB in late June of this year, I came to the realization that it was time to come to grips with the truth. I was never presented with baseball's evidence against me, but I didn't need to be, because I knew what I had done. I realized the magnitude of my poor decisions and finally focused on dealing with the realities of-and the punishment for-my actions.

I requested a second meeting with Baseball to acknowledge my violation of the drug policy and to engage in discussions about appropriate punishment for my actions. By coming forward when I did and waiving my right to appeal any sanctions that were going to be imposed, I knew I was making the correct decision and taking the first step in the right direction. It was important to me to begin my suspension immediately to minimize the burden on everyone I had so negatively affected- my teammates, the entire Brewers organization, the fans and all of MLB. There has been plenty of rumor and speculation about my situation, and I am aware that my admission may result in additional attacks and accusations from others. 

I love the great game of baseball and I am very sorry for any damage done to the game. I have privately expressed my apologies to Commissioner Selig and Rob Manfred of MLB and to Michael Weiner and his staff at the Players' Association. I'm very grateful for the support I've received from them. I sincerely apologize to everybody involved in the arbitration process, including the collector, Dino Laurenzi, Jr. I feel terrible that I put my teammates in a position where they were asked some very difficult and uncomfortable questions. One of my primary goals is to make amends with them.

I understand it's a blessing and a tremendous honor to play this game at the Major League level. I also understand the intensity of the disappointment from teammates, fans, and other players. When it comes to both my actions and my words, I made some very serious mistakes and I can only ask for the forgiveness of everyone I let down. I will never make the same errors again and I intend to share the lessons I learned with others so they don't repeat my mistakes. Moving forward, I want to be part of the solution and no longer part of the problem.

I support baseball's Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program and the importance of cleaning up the game. What I did goes against everything I have always valued- achieving through hard work and dedication, and being honest both on and off the field. I also understand that I will now have to work very, very hard to begin to earn back people's trust and support. I am dedicated to making amends and to earning back the trust of my teammates, the fans, the entire Brewers' organization, my sponsors, advisors and from MLB. I am hopeful that I can earn back the trust from those who I have disappointed and those who are willing to give me the opportunity. I am deeply sorry for my actions, and I apologize to everyone who has been adversely affected by them.

ICYMI: Walkoff Weekend: Baseball Game-Winning Fun on Friday

Say what you will about baseball being boring, slow, dull or whatever, but nothing gets the heart of a baseball and good sports fan racing more than a walk-off hit.

And Friday night, there were some good ones.

Justin Upton of the Atlanta Braves with perhaps the most dramatic, a 10th inning line drive, that cleared the fence and set of chaos in the A-T-L:


Jose Lobaton of the Tampa Bay Rays with the 9th inning triple breaking a 4-4 tie with Toronto:



And Jonathan Lucroy of the Milwaukee Brewers with the 2-strike, 2-out, 2-run game-winning HR off the supposedly unhittable Aroldis Chapman of the Cincinnati Reds:

Braun Gone: MLB Suspends Slugger For Rest Of Season

Apparently, now no longer using the "guy tampered with my sample" defense, Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun has now admitted what most of us thought all along... that he violated the MLB Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program

"As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect," Braun said in a statement released by Major League Baseball. "I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership and the fans in Milwaukee and around the country.

"Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed -- all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love."

In October of 2011, a sample tested for a higher than normal acceptable level of testosterone. He won his appeal in February of 2012 by challenging the chain of contact for the sample.

He has, since, been linked to the Biogenesis investigation and Tony Bosch- appearing on ledgers as "money owed" to Bosch. Braun's legal team said that, when asked about it, Bosch was used as a consultant during his initial appeal with MLB. When questioned in late June about Biogenesis and any possible link he had to them, reports surfaced that he refused to cooperate.

MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred released this statement: "We commend Ryan Braun for taking responsibility for his past actions. We all agree that it is in the best interests of the game to resolve this matter. When Ryan returns, we look forward to him making positive contributions to Major League Baseball, both on and off the field."

Here's analysis from ESPN


"I am deeply gratified to see Ryan taking this bold step," said MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner. "It vindicates the rights of all players under the Joint Drug Program. It is good for the game that Ryan will return soon to continue his great work both on and off the field."

Ryan Braun Doesn't Answer Questions

((HT: ESPN))

A new "Outside The Lines" report from ESPN details the lack of cooperation during the interviewing process that the Brewers' Ryan Braun and that Major League Baseball may be handing down as many as 20 suspensions in and around the All-Star Break.

Names like Braun, Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Bartolo Colon, Melky Cabrera, Jesus Montero, Jhonny Peralta and Everth Cabrera may be linked and could cause serious damage to a bunch of fantasy teams across the world.

Braun is also set to return to action after his bruised thumb is no longer hampering his swing. A-Rod is in minor league rehab currently trying to find his swing.

Jim Basquil catches up with a bearded TJ Quinn

ICYMI: Carlos Gomez Robs Joey Votto Of A Home Run To End The Game, Reaction From Reds Mgr, Dusty Baker



Carlos Gomez

This was a great catch by the Brewers Carlos Gomez denying Cincinnati's Joey Votto a

2 run home run in the top of the ninth.

And here's Gomez after the game.




"Any time Votto hits a ball up in the air like that, you're not sure. The ball carries well here, as we know," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "Even when 'Gomey' got to the wall, I couldn't get a good feeling for it. I was hoping it wasn't too far."

Here's Red's manager Dusty Baker's reaction:




When Votto reached second base he wanted the umpire to confirm Gomez had the ball.  Gomez did.

"I thought off the bat it was going to be a non-catch," Votto said. "He went up and made pretty big play in the game. I just wanted to confirm that he had it."

"It was kind of a random way to end the game." Votto said.  "In all likelihood it was going to put us up. It would be a homer -- an actual homer over the fence. Then to have the center fielder take it away from you -- one I'm ironically going to play beside at the All-Star Game -- the whole thing is kind of a random occurrence.

 

Twizzlers Do Not Help Your Batting Average

((HT: MLB.com))

At least, if pitchers apply to the theorem...

Cliff Lee was waiting for a plate appearance last night in Milwaukee when...


Lee grounded out...
Out! Damned Twizzler!!!

Heads Up: Brewers Sideline Reporter Hit By Foul

((ht: sportsgrid.com))

Maybe we just didn't hear the "heads up" because this was recorded off TV. Or it did not happen.

Either way, the video here is pretty funny.

Sophia Minnaert, sideline reporter for the regional Fox Sports Net that does Brewers games is caught by surprise Sunday afternoon when in the middle of a report, a ball goes flying in her direction and hits her...in the microphone, knocking it out of her hands.

Minnaert stands there stunned for a second before picking up and continuing her report.

She's lucky and props to her for staying focused.

APB: One Racing Italian Sausage Missing in Milwaukee

Photo Courtesy: Milwaukee Brewers

((ht: jsonline.com))

Milwaukee Police are on a heightened state of alert after reports that one of the town's most beloved mascots has gone missing after an alleged night of barhopping.

No, there is no truth to the rumors he was found cut to pieces in a bowl of cooked peppers and no, he wasn't found inserted in a giant roll, slathered with onions either.

It appears, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, someone stole the Giant Sausage costume, used as a part of the "Sausage Races" at Milwaukee Brewers games. During the off-season it seems you can rent the costume from a local costume shop.

Check out the JSOnline story RIGHT HERE

We are reasonably certain that unlike the recent hullabaloo surrounding the Giant Teddy Roosevelt head who broke his winless streak at Washington Nationals game, this is not a publicity stunt by the Brewers. Though in a way, it would be highly applaudable if it were.

It is kind of amusing to think of what the APB for such a thing would actually be: "Attention all cars--be on the look out for a missing person. Age unkown, wearing what appears to be a giant Italian Sausage costume. Be advised, the Sausage is known for having sprinters speed, please exercise care if found".....

Greinke Ejected After Four Pitches

((HT: MLB/FSAstros))

This is what happens when umpires decide to make themselves the center of attention...

In the Milwaukee-Houston game last night, Brewers starter Zack Greinke was late covering first base. In his disappointment, he spiked the baseball in the field of play and got an ejection for his actions...

The Astros got the win after Greinke was removed...
Greinke discusses...

Braun Sample Taker Fires Back

((HT: Fox6now.com Milwaukee))

The gentleman's name is Dino Laurenzi...

And he isn't going to take being accused of a felony lightly...

At his welcome back press conference, Milwaukee Brewers reigning Emm-Vee-Pee Ryan Braun basically intimated that Laurenzi was the one who tampered with both of Braun's samples to give the "false positive."

On both...

With exactly the same reading...

Laurenzi has fired back, going through the step-by-step process of something he's done over 600 other times... and he ain't quiet about it...

Here's Henry Rosoff in the newsroom...


So, the HQ thinks it knows who went through six different seals to get to the sample...


Hans, boobie...