Considering the large returns on traded stars so far, I'm thinking that Doug may well have done the best job of upgrading without giving up anything of consequence. And let's hope that Rickie gets well fast, which in itself would be equivalent to a deadline deal.

Lopez is certainly helpful as a switch-hitting IF. Hairston has played everywhere but catcher & the Boston Pops, with decent defensive metrics.

Just an open question to chew on: Though he does still have value as a defender & a good eye at the plate, does this foreshadow the end of Counsell's time in MIL as a player?

Crew Acquires Hairston, Jr.

Just came through... no word on what went back to the Nats.

UPDATE: The Nats receive minor-league OF Erik Komatsu. Komatsu at AA this year: .294/.393/.416. Hasn't shown much HR power since being drafted in '08, but has solid OB skills. Plays all three OF positions. Ranked 14th by Baseball America in the Brewer's system.

Doug continues to reshape the bench with flexible vets. Hairston's numbers this year: .268/.342/.385, nice OBP ahead of the boppers. Some combo of Hairston, Lopez, Counsell should be able to hold down 2b while young Rickie is out. There's plenty of offense to go around in the Crew's lineup.

Meanwhile, here's the pitching numbers over the past few games:
- 17/20 quality starts (six or more innings, three earned runs or fewer)
- 2.62 starters' ERA in those 20 games
- Bullpen: 0 ER in last five games, spanning 12 1/3 innings

Getting past the "we're done" feeling when Rickie went down, Melvin made a helluva move getting Felipe Lopez for nothing. In '09 he had a great second half. Surprisingly, he's been ok in the field the last couple years. I think Lopez can hold down the fort quite well at the moment.

Losing Rickie is obviously on par with losing Prince, but I think we can withstand it for a few weeks, no pun intended.

Wil Nieves traded to ATL

The Brewers may or may not get cash in return (that's the "considerations" part), but they don't really lose anything, either. You know, other than the 20 games we had to watch him hit .140/.189/.180
UPDATE: Nieves was traded to Atlanta for $1. I suppose he's worth a McChicken off the Dollar Menu - James Langrehr "The Brewer's Bar"

I read that last line as totally deadpan in my head. I laughed so hard I just thought I would share the humor.

Big music news revealed last night (well, big for me anyway), ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy & ex-Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes are forming a power trio with an as-yet-unknown bassist.

Sykes, of course, was the unheralded star of the mammoth Whitesnake album in 1987 & the leader of the criminally underrated Blue Murder.

Look for it sometime early in '12.

Hey, Ron, that's how you use Loe correctly... (see File In Noggin For Future Use)

righties, righties, righties. Only.

Two stories you won't be reading in mainstream papers, both exposing Walker's budget plan as what it is... fiscally responsible & working.

Walker's Vindication

The New Normal

Collective bargaining is not a "right", at least not by the classic definition. In fact, if you really look at this entire fight, collective bargaining was a nice shroud to cover public theft.