It is a gloomy day outside.  Perhaps some Brewers news can make it a little brighter for you.

• Ken Rosenthal from FOX Sports says that the Brewers should trade Mike Cameron, J.J. Hardy, or Prince Fielder for some pitching help, especially now that Salomon Torres retired.  I got a kick out of hearing Melvin say a GM from a different organization called and offered a "fifth starter" type pitcher for Hardy.  I do not really know what to say about that proposal because it is so bad.
  
  Rosenthal puts out this purely speculative thought: Prince and Cameron for Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, and young pitchers.  My gut reaction is to say, "Not even close."  It would depend on the number of young pitchers, I suppose.  At first glance, however, this is an awful deal for the Crew.
• MVN Outsider plays Brewers GM, and let's just say I am glad Doug Melvin is calling the shots.  I am not sold on Phil Hughes yet, and Rickie Weeks is not going to net the Brewers Garrett Atkins.  Casey Blake is also on the downslope of his career and will demand a multi-year contract.  No thanks.  If we are trading Prince Fielder to the Yankees, I would want a package like Ian Kennedy, Hughes, and Cano.
• Adam McCalvy has a mailbag.  Nothing groundbreaking, but it still offers something to read when craving Brewers news.
• I cannot remember if I have ever posted the ZIPS projections for the 2009 Milwaukee Brewers.  Now you have them.
• Brewerfan.net has their October version of Farm Hops posted.  I found it interesting that Jeremy Jeffress got the Pitcher of the Year for BF.net, rather than Chris Cody.  Cody did nothing but impress all season, while Jeffress was up-and-down through three-quarters of the season.  Sure Jeffress is more high-profile and has a higher ceiling, but Chris Cody deserves the award.  At least the Brewers organization gave the left-hander the award in real life.  I am extremely interested to see how he fairs in Huntsville next season.
• Speaking of Farm Hops, Brew Crew Ball has their Fall/Winter League Update from yesterday.  Lorenzo Cain continues to knock the cover off the ball, as well as Brad Nelson.  Good to see Cody Scarpetta dominate through five innings of work.  That kid could be something special in just a couple years.
• It turns out that the Brewers organization at Maryvale gives players just turning 21 a tour of Tent City prison to scare them straight.  The organization does not want any out of control drinking habits.  I did enjoy reading that Mike Tyson spent some time at Tent City and that it's supposed to surprise Brewers prospects.  Mike Tyson in prision does not, and should not, surprise anyone.
• Dugout Central notes that while Salomon Torres did not pitch in the major leagues for five years while he took a break, that is nowhere near the longest hiatus from the bigs.  Paul Schreiber spent 20 years in between Major League appearances.  That is intense.
• As you all probably know, Tim Lincecum won the NL Cy Young.  He deserved it.  The San Francisco Gate, however, is upset that one writer from Chicago did not include Lincecum in his top three.  Why Giants fans care that one voter thought three other pitchers were better than Lincecum, I have no idea.  I also have no idea how the writer from Chicago did not include Lincecum.  The idea that Brandon Webb should have won is ludicrous. 
  
• Pat Neshek, whom members of SportsBubbler have coveted in the past season, will miss all of the 2009 season with a torn ligament in his elbow.  He will undergo Tommy John surgery.  Best of luck to you, Pat.  I hope to see you on the mound again in 2010.