SPRING (TRAINING) FEVER

Dear Reader --

Tamra Reynolds, the Brewer Babe, has been burning up the telephone lines to get the latest information on our Major League baseball franchise in advance of Thursday's exhibition game opener.
We'll let her cover the milwaukeeworld posting duties today, since your Editor / Publisher is inextricably tangled in Mardi Gras beads as he prepares for a final fling before purifying his soul in the ashen cauldron of Lenten self-abnegation.

Laissez les bons temps roulez!

Michael Horne
Editor / Publisher
1 414 978-8039


BREWER BABE : 34 DAYS TO GO!
By Tamra Reynolds

Hello again, Brewer fans! Well, spring training is well under way and we have a mere 34 days to go until the start of the most anticipated Brewer season in over a decade. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited, and have been counting the days all winter!

Reports from spring training have been trickling in and here’s what we know so far. All players on the 40-man roster have been signed for the upcoming season except for Bill Hall. The rumor there is that a deal is in the works to offer Hall a multi-year contract, which would keep this great player in our stable, as well as buy out his first couple of years of arbitration eligibility. Also in the works is a contract extension for Derrick Turnbow, which would accomplish the same two goals.

Brady Clark hasn’t slacked off at all after his breakthrough season last year, as some expected him to do. It was reported in the Journal Sentinel this morning, Tuesday, that Brady remains the first person on the field in the morning, and the last to leave in the evenings, frequently taking extra batting practice. It seems Brady is determined to not experience that “sophomore slump” that derailed Scott Podsednick, whom Brady replaced as lead off batter. Yes it’s true this won’t actually be Brady’s sophomore season, it is his second season as an everyday player.

Dale Sveum and Rickie Weeks seem to think they’ve ironed out the wrinkles in Rickie’s defense at second. After watching some tapes of Rickie last season, Sveum zeroed in on what he thought was the problem area. It seems Rickie’s positioning at second was off just a bit, so by playing more to his right, Rickie should be able to get some more fluidity to his movements and get off quicker throws. It appears Rickie’s injured thumb was partly to blame for his team-high number of errors last season, and since his surgery, it looks as though he will be a little less sieve-like this season.

Prince Fielder reported to camp a few pounds lighter last week. Could this be an effort to maximize the agility and quick reflexes that he will need to successfully replace Lyle Overbay at first base? Heaven knows the last thing we need is another 20-error season out of one of our everyday players, even if he is still classified as a rookie. Also up in the air is how Fielder will handle Capuano’s wicked pickoff. Overbay has said that he always sensed when Cappy would attempt a pickoff, and was therefore always ready for it. Let’s hope that Fielder can develop that same sixth sense and work as well with Cappy as Overbay did.

Speaking of Capuano, he is expected to start in the Brewer’s first exhibition game Thursday against San Francisco. Chris took a shot to his left hand while practicing bunts last Sunday. Luckily, he was unhurt and returned to the plate to finish up his practice. That’s one player we cannot afford to lose. Chris is one of the better hitting pitchers on the Brewer staff, and we’re looking to him to get 20 wins this season.

On the subject of wins, the Brew Crew’s fearless leader Ned Yost has set a goal of 1 ½ to 2 extra wins per month this season, to reach a 90-93 win season. Based on the numbers from the 2005 season, 90-93 wins would put them in the thick of the wild card race. Ned and his players alike are determined to play into October this year. Going into this season, the Brewers are being viewed by many sports writers as the “sleeper team” to watch going into the playoffs. Well I say wake up! With the group we have assembled this season, we’re not just possible contenders, this team could go all the way to the playoffs.

Ned Yost, for one, is determined to get this team there under his tutelage. He discussed his position as manager after receiving his contract extension on Saturday. "I never took this job to get another job," he recently told Drew Olson, of the Journal Sentinel. "I took this job to come over here and help turn this organization around and win a world championship. Until that feat is accomplished, I'm not going to be happy. When I said three years ago that I want to be the Brewers' manager, I wasn't lying. I love Milwaukee. I love these kids. I love this team. I love Miller Park.” Well we love you too Ned, and I, for one, am thrilled that we’re going to have you for another 2-3 years.

Geoff Jenkins seems to believe in the possibility of October as well. Jenkins is viewed as the team leader, being the veteran of the bunch, going into his 9^th season with the Brewers, and he was quoted by the Journal on Friday when he spoke to the team before a workout in Maryvale. "I'm excited," Jenkins said. "I think we've got a really good team. I think we've got the right group of guys in place, the right coaching staff, and we've got the right guys calling the shots off the field. It's a good group of people.” He later said that for the first time, those words weren’t lip service. “I really believe that we've got a shot."

Apparently, the fans agree with Ned and Geoff. Eager fans started lining up outside Miller Park at 5:30 am on Saturday morning in an effort to secure tickets to their first choice games. A record-high 94,000 single tickets were sold in an eight hour time frame at the park, online, and by phone. One frustrated fan told me that by the time he got to the ticket window at 10:15, after being in line since 5:30, tickets to opening day were gone, and had been since 9:30. However, a quote by VP Rick Schlesinger in the Journal Sentinel on Saturday indicated that there were still tickets available in the $30 range, as well as obstructed view seats. When I checked the Brewer website Saturday evening, though, there were no tickets to be had for opening day. A quick call to Vince Trovato at the Brewer ticket office cleared things up. According to Vince, there are some standing room tickets still available, as well as some obstructed view seats, but they have to be purchased either at the ticket office or over the phone. Thanks for clearing that up, Vince!

So there you go, Brewer fans. One-stop shopping for all of your Brewer updates in one handy location. Until next time, it’s 33 days, 17 hours and counting until we’ll hear the sweet sounds of cheering crowds and cracking bats at Miller Park. Go Brewers!