First, you had Nyjer Morgan getting fired up and into a Twitter war. Then, it was Francisco Rodriguez with eyebrow-raising comments about his displeasure with his current role.
Now, Prince Fielder tells Brian Anderson, in an interview that will air Sunday as part of TBS' Major League Baseball coverage, that this is "probably (his) last year" in Milwaukee.
"It's the same thing I've been saying," Fielder said after the Brewers' 6-2 loss to Colorado Wednesday.
Actually, Prince, it isn't. The 27-year-old has been asked repeatedly about his future in Milwaukee after this season. And while everyone and their brother knew that he is as good as gone, he's answered the question with comments like these:
"People can ask all they want but it's going to be the same answer: "I'm here to play baseball and we'll see what happens' ... "I just want to win. Losing is frustrating.'' – USA Today, Feb. 20
"We have a good team. It's easy to block things out when you know you have a good team and you have a chance to win. That's my main goal. I'm here to play baseball and see what happens." – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 20
"Not right now because I play for the Brewers, and that would be selfish of me to think about next year, because I'm signed here, and I have a job to do here.'' (When asked if he'd given thought to his future) – Chicago Sun Times, June 14
"I just want to keep winning ... We don't know what will happen (after the season). I'm trying to win in 2011." – June 24
The familiar refrain has always been something along the lines of the future is uncertain, anything can happen, he doesn't know whether or not hell be back next year, he's not thinking about it ... you get the picture.
Which makes it all the more odd that now, with the postseason just around the corner and his team trying to claw his way in, he would choose to all but officially announce the end of his time in Milwaukee.
"It's exactly what I've said," he said. "Actually, you guys (the media) said it last year. It's, 'probably.' It is what it is."
OK, let's be honest here; neither development, be it K-Rod's desire to close or Prince's eventual departure, are any secret to Brewers fans and, on the surface, neither nugget seems particularly noteworthy to those who follow the team on a daily basis but again, it comes down to timing.
The Brewers have not been playing well lately. Since capping off a 27-5 stretch with a three-game sweep of the Cubs August 26-28, to go 10.5 games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central race, they've gone 6-8 and their lead in the division is down to 6 games (pending tonight's outcome).
Distractions have been minimal this year, even with the looming reality of Fielder's departure. Any time it was brought up, Fielder toed the company line and said he wasn't worried about it, it wasn't hanging over his head and you never know what might happen.
Why, then, would he suddenly make comments to suggest otherwise, even though it's no secret? That's the mind-boggling thing here. Fielder and the Brewers had done such a good job downplaying the situation all year that, let's face it, it was easy, sometimes, to forget that he would be gone come this time next year.
Say what you want about the 2011 Brewers, but they've managed to avoid controversy – at least, internally. They've kept quiet, they've talked their way around dangerous topics (Fielder's contract, Rodriguez's role). Chalk it up to the manager and his influence.
Ron Roenicke has run an incredibly tight, yet loose and fun, ship this year. The players have been happy. The fans, for the most part, are happy. The front office, which is counting turnstiles to the tune of some three million fans, is happy.
But you have to wonder if, right now, everybody in the clubhouse is happy. And if things continue to be difficult down the stretch, if these little ripples could become something much, much bigger.
