TEMPE, Ariz. -- Never underestimate the power of social media to bring players and fans together, in a positive way.
When Brewers fan Seth Jones -- @sjonesiegolfman on Twitter -- tweeted a video of his young sons admiring a framed picture of star outfielder Christian Yelich, he probably didn't think Yelich would actually see it, much less respond to it.
"Hey @ChristianYelich what do you say?! These kids are excited to see you play on Saturday! @Brewers," Jones tweeted.
And Yelich responded.
"See you Saturday! Let's make it happen," Yelich tweeted back.
The group -- Seth, his wife, Kyrsten, sons Jamison (age 4) and Lukas (2), and their buddy, Ryder Carmichael (4) -- met at Tempe Diablo Stadium prior to the Brewers' game with the Angels.
The conversation was lively.
"Christian Yelich," Jamison said.
"That's right," Yelich responded.
"Your number is on the back of me," Jamison said, turning around to show Yelich the No. 22 on the back of his Brewers T-shirt.
"I've got the same one," Yelich said, turning around and showing the back of his jersey.
Yelich signed the picture for the kids, much to the delight of everyone involved.
"Thanks @ChristianYelich and @Brewers for making dreams come true!" Seth Jones tweeted.
Tomlin delivers
Non-roster invitee Josh Tomlin has an uphill battle in trying to crack a loaded Brewers pitching staff, but he took a significant positive step on Saturday with five scoreless innings in Milwaukee's 5-1 win over the Angels.
Tomlin said better command of his changeup and elevating his fastball made the difference between this outing and his prior one, when he allowed six earned runs over three innings against the Reds.
"The feel of [the changeup] coming out of my hand, I was able to keep it down for the most part," Tomlin said. "It played off my cutter going in to lefties really well."
As a non-roster player, Tomlin doesn't have the luxury of peace of mind that comes with knowing where he's going to be playing this season. But he said he doesn't think about uncertainty of his situation while working on the mound.
"You never want those thoughts to creep up in your head," he said. "I think that takes away from the fact of what you're able to do well. If you're looking too far in advance of whether or not you're going to make the team, what's going to happen, then you're not putting your main focus on the goal ahead."
"Major League" memories
For any baseball-loving kid growing up in the greater Milwaukee area around 1987-ish, one summertime memory is indelible even to this day -- the filming of the movie "Major League."
The movie premiered almost 30 years ago -- April 7, 1989 -- and while the storyline centers around the Cleveland Indians, the crowd shots were actually filmed at Milwaukee County Stadium.
Thousands of fans flocked to the ballpark to be a part of action, and while Counsell wasn't among them, he did know some people who ended up as extras in the movie.
As a 16-year-old, Counsell played in an adult baseball league in order to get some experience playing against better players. Almost all of the players on his team were trying out to be extras in "Major League."
Remember all the Yankees players in the movie? Those weren't necessarily Hollywood actors -- they were mostly adult-league types who spent their weekends playing baseball.
Counsell learned of the opportunity to audition, and he wanted in, too.
"I said, 'I play with you guys. Why can't I be an extra?'" Counsell recalled. "They said, 'Well, you look like the batboy. You don't look like a Major League Baseball player.'"
Ironic, isn't it?
Counsell, of course, was the only one of the group to actually go on to play in the Major Leagues. The closest anyone else got to that status was serving as an extra in the movie. Counsell estimated at least one of the players from his league made the final cut.
"I remember the summer it was being filmed," Counsell said. "It was a pretty big deal. Going to the stadium was a big deal. It was something to do at night, go to the stadium for the movie filming."
Up next
The Brewers will host the Cubs on Sunday at American Family Fields of Phoenix at 3:05 p.m. CT. With a near-record crowd expected, the Brewers will open their gates 30 minutes earlier than normal -- 11 a.m. MT -- and encourage fans to arrive early. Right-hander Corbin Burnes will start for the Brewers, and the Cubs will counter with righty Kyle Hendricks. The game will be televised on FOX Sports Wisconsin.