It's Almost Here...

For much of 2011, even as Spring Training began, Opening Day seemed to be nothing more than a concept, a distant event that impatience ensured remained unbearably far-off. With one week until the Brewers open their season in Cincinnati vs the Reds, Opening Day finally seems real. It's almost here, folks. I, for one, can feel the excitement.


A few things are certain. Our favorite stars will take the field next Thursday as they begin their attempt to bring a playoff birth to Milwaukee for just the second time in over a quarter century. Barring a freak occurrence, homegrown ace Yovani Gallardo will throw the first pitch of the year by a Brewers' pitcher. Over the next week players and fans alike will continue to talk about how good the team looks on paper, a Brewers team that appears to be better setup to compete than any in our memory, or perhaps ever. Inevitably, the sheer unpredictability of baseball will intervene in one direction or the other, in spite of stats and projections that can truly predict only so much.

Still, questions remain as the regular season draws near. Who will fill-in as Milwaukee's fifth starting pitcher? Who will win the backup infield and outfield spots? Which of the Brewers' expected Opening Day starters will begin the season on the disabled list? We'll get answers to all of these over the next week. The wait is almost over. Go Brewers.