Intrasquad!

BLUE TEAM

Trent Oeltjen  LF

Craig Counsell  SS

Jody Gerut  RF

Steffan Wilson  1B

Jim Edmonds  CF

George Kottaras  C

Mat Gamel  3B

Luis Cruz  SS

Adam Stern  DH

Rickie Weeks  2B

Carlos Gomez  CF

Ryan Braun  LF

Prince Fielder  1B

Casey McGehee  3B

Corey Hart  RF

Gregg Zaun  C

Alcides Escobar  SS

Joe Inglett  DH

LHP Manny Parra

Do the lineups look a bit lopsided? The reason is that the Brewers’ marketing department needs some fresh action shots of the regulars in their home whites, so camp coordinator Brad Fischer played along. 

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Braun’s agent, Nez Balelo, reported this morning that all contingencies have been met and Ryan Braun’s Waterfront Grill is a go. The new upscale venture will replace Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant, and the aggressive schedule is to open with a private party on April 3 and then a public open soon thereafter. Whether that’s Opening Day on April 5 or a few days thereafter depends on how remodeling goes.

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Macha has dinner plans on Wednesday night with advance scout Chris Bosio, advance scouting and baseball research manager Karl Mueller and digital media coordinator Joe Crawford to discuss how the team’s enhanced advanced scouting program will work this season. Bosio, who was the pitching coach last season at Triple-A Nashville and then in Milwaukee, is taking on a new role this year as the Brewers attempt to enhance their video-based scouting system. 

“Chris has done it before with [former Mariners manager Lou] Pineilla, which is good,” Macha said. “Chris has been here, so he’s seen some stuff that I work from, which is another positive. Bob Johnson was our advance scout with the A’s, so I’ll let [Bosio] know what he gave us, what was pertinent to me and what wasn’t.”

The men will also map out a travel plan for Bosio. For example, the Brewers would like to see Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis, who missed last season with an injury. The Brewers play the Rockies in the season-opening series. They will also take a longer look at some division newcomers, like Brad Penny of the Cardinals. 

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Alcides Escobar will miss the Brewers’ Cactus League opener on Thursday against the Giants because he has what promises to be an unpleasant appointment at the dentist. He’ll need a few more such visits during the spring, Macha said. Ouch. But Macha said this fits the plan anyway, because the Brewers planned to break Escobar in slowly considering he played extensively the Venezuelan Winter League.

Braun is to get Thursday afternoon off as the Brewers travel to Scottsdale to face the Giants. 

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