So far so good in Brewers camp.  The Crew is throwing around some serious lumber in the early going.  A few bumps and strains but, overall, the health of the team is very good.  The health of the announcers is also very good.  I’m trying to get a little fatter (preparing for next winter) and "Rock" Schroeder is on a mission to lose 20 lbs before April 1st.  After three days in Arizona, he now has to lose 25 lbs.  Calling baseball again has been an absolute blast.  I can’t describe to you, without sounding like a total wuss, how blessed I am to get a chance to call Brewers games.

You can thank Tyler Barnes for arranging the FREE webcasts.  In a related note, plans are in the works for a charity fundraiser to replace the six months worth of paychecks that Tyler will no longer be receiving.  Way to take one for the team TB!

We’ve enjoyed taking emails during the games [broadcast@brewers.com].  They’re coming in fast so remember, questions only. Short and sweet.  I’m not smart enough, nor talented enough to read long email’s and call the game at the same time.  We certainly don’t want to miss any action so save the filibusters for the blog and keep ’em tight. 

With that in mind…allow me to respond to a few now:

To Crew82: On the Blog…18 Spring Training webcasts, 140 regular season TV games + playoffs…believe me, you’ll hear PLENTY of Brewers "X’s and O’s" from my trap.  The blog is for the "side" stuff and the mailbag.

Glad to see there are so many "Texas" Music fans out there…it’s an acquired taste, for sure.  I’ll keep the links coming and I’ll search for a better video player.
To Jskill: My starting 9 of Texas ‘tonkers:
1) Pat Green
2) Jack Ingram
3) Reckess Kelly
4) Robert Earl Keen
5) Cross Canadian Ragweed
6) Cory Morrow
7) Mickey and the Motor Cars
8) Charlie Robison/Bruce Robison (platoon)
9) Kevin Fowler
Manager: Willie
Here’s a great station in New Braunfels, Texas if you’re into it. CLICK.

To Megan: I like all kinds of music, not just the "hick" stuff.  From Switchfoot to Haggard to Zeppelin to Bach.  I just can’t do most of what’s on the pop charts.  I try to stick with artist’s who can write it AND play it.  My music inventory would make you laugh.

To Adam and Rob: Good work on The Brewer Nation.  Way to keep it sharp.  I like your breakdown’s and while I’m not a big stats guy, I am all for numbers that tell a good story.  If I ever say a .300 hitter is "3 for his last 10,"  Shoot me!  Yessir, I am truly living a dream but keep that between us.  I’m applying an unhealthy dose of paranoia to my daily work so as to wipe this stupid grin off my face.

To Delaats:  Thanks for the current Milwaukee weather update.  Slap!  BUT, having actually fried a summer egg on my street back home, I can’t wait to experience that glorious Milwaukee summer.  As for the winter, it’s a pretty safe bet my heating bill will be the highest in Wisconsin history. 

Note: I’m working on an outing for Brewers fans.  An "extended" January defrost-fest in Austin (Hyatt Lost Pines Resort). Interested?  Golf, live music, fishing, etc…

To hchutch:  Dead ball and dead bird, right?  In a related story, I once played golf with Detroit Tiger great Lance Parrish…he hit a 3-wood into a large oak tree, dropping a bird…a bird that appeared to have chirped his last chirp.  Except moments later, spooked bird rallied, shook it off, and staggered away.  Sometimes par is better than a birdie!

To Germany Julian:  Thanks for the nice comments and so glad to hear you’re going the extra (kilometer) to stay connected to the Crew.  Keep ’em coming!

Home Run call entries…that I’ll never use:
from Michael: "Clean up in aisle 3, section 102."
from Giffy…a golf theme: "Fore right."  Or "Fore left."
from hurles12: "More cowbell, please!" Or, any other "Cow" reference.
from Big Rygg: "Baseball, I bid you a fond farewell. Good night, now!"
from pigzig: "ha-ha!"  (Nelson-style, from The Simpson’s). 

To Marty G:  You’ve got $1,350 coming your way.  Put it on Chorizo and double your money!

To Spring Valley Brad: For a 1:05 game, the Brewers will start surfacing on the field around 11am.  The visiting team, unless coming from Tucson, will do their work on their own field then bus over.

To Luke: Bill and I both keep a scorebook during the games.  Keeping a scorebook is a lost art, I’m glad you still do it at the games.  I couldn’t do a game without it.  Mine is more like a pitchers chart.  I’ll scan a copy of my book and post it here soon so you can check it out.  I doubt you’ll be able to read it but I agree, it’s always interesting to see how others score a game.

Thanks all.  Play ball.
BA

Here’s a legend.  Enjoy: CLICK HERE