Last call

• Roenicke and general manager Doug Melvin will lead a Brewers contingent to a meeting with Major League Baseball officials on Monday in Scottsdale, where teams will get further information about baseball's new replay system. They will meet at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the home of the D-backs and Rockies, where the system was tested in the Arizona Fall League.

Among the coaches expected to make the trip are bench coach Jerry Narron and "eye in the sky" John Shelby, who might end up being in charge of monitoring replays in the regular season and calling to the dugout when he believes Roenicke should challenge a call.

• The Brewers on Friday called over some players from Minor League minicamp to face big league pitchers in the first live batting practice of the spring. It's too early for the Major League hitters, who just reported to camp, to step into the batter's box, though catcher Lucroy took some cuts Friday against Donovan Hand.

"Our guys will get plenty, more than they probably would like," Roenicke said. "It's a tough day on the hitters when you have to hit against live pitching."

• Roenicke was surprised by the number of position players who reported for duty before Friday's formal report date. As of Friday morning, only Ramirez, Jason Rogers, Kentrail Davis and Eugenio Velez had yet to appear. Velez was working on a visa issue.

"We have plenty of time," Roenicke said. "There's more games than there's ever been, and it's a long time for the regulars. I think some of the young guys, when they're at home, they're getting in more work than they would here."

• Right-hander Alfredo Figaro took a pitch off his right thumb during a bunting drill this week and was set back a few days. It's a bruise, and it's not serious, Roenicke said. Figaro believes he will be able to pitch by Monday. Also on the medical front, Tom Gorzelanny played catch Friday for the first time since a minor offseason shoulder surgery.

• Smith has been garnering rave reviews. Roenicke called Smith's last bullpen session, "incredible."

"His fastball is down in the zone with life on it, great breaking ball, he's got that bulldog mentality, a big, physical guy," Roenicke said. "He goes hard in all of our workouts and our rotations and he talks a bit in our meetings, so I think he's getting more comfortable."