MILWAUKEE -- Ten days ahead of Brewers pitchers and catchers reporting for duty, Tuesday was moving day at Miller Park.
In an annual tradition, the famous Racing Sausages helped load equipment onto a moving truck bound for Maryvale Baseball Park. It carried everything from the Brewers' new alternate jerseys to medical supplies to sunflower seeds, all packed for a three-day journey to Phoenix and the sunshine of Spring Training.
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"Not to get mushy, but it's about hope, it's about dreams, it's about what could be," said Brewers COO Rick Schlesinger. "Right now, all 30 Major League teams are tied for first, and everybody has reason to be optimistic.
"I don't care which team you are or what happened last year. There's a fresh start. New opportunities. New faces. There could be new heroes."
The Brewers are well stocked with new faces, starting with general manager David Stearns, who has made eight trades and counting since assuming control of the baseball operation in October. The Brewers will have a new Opening Day starting pitcher, first baseman, shortstop, third baseman and center fielder -- with more change possible in the weeks remaining before the club's April 4 opener against the Giants at Miller Park.
While manager Craig Counsell runs Spring Training on the west side of Phoenix, Schlesinger & Co. will be putting the finishing touches on Miller Park. The Brewers have spent the winter renovating a team store and kids area at Miller Park while building new meeting space on the club level.
"It's a sprint to the finish line, but this is fun," Schlesinger said. "This is energizing for us in the front office. It's exciting to be talking about the Brewers. The truck going down is a sign to our front office that this is real, this is happening, and let's all burn the midnight oil so on Opening Day and after, this is a great experience for the fans."