Home opener on deck

Everything you need to know about Monday’s home opener.

– Start with the particulars:

1. The game is sold out.
2. Parking lots open at 10 a.m. CT. Ballpark gates open at 11:10 p.m. CT.
3. Weather.com says it will be 43 degrees and windy at noon, so bundle up for your pregame revelry.
4. This is the home opener. It is not Opening Day, no matter what the painting on the field says. Opening Day was Thursday, and it didn’t end well so stop bringing it up.

– The first pitch is a secret, or at least it’s supposed to be. But thanks to safety Nick Collins, tight end Tom Crabtree and a number of other Tweeting members of the World Champion Green Bay Packers, we have an idea. Ryan Braun told me that Aaron Rodgers won’t be able to make it.

– You can bet that longtime Brewers fan Bob Koehler will follow the club’s instructions and be in section 114, row 3, seat 5 at Miller Park in plenty of time for those first pitches. He’ll be attending his 34th consecutive Brewers home opener and says there is something special about Opening Day. (Oops, I broke Rule No. 4 above.)

“I’m a hunter, and it’s the same thing,” Koehler said. “You remember the opening day of pheasants, the opening day of deer. It’s the anticipation of the thing.”

– After a dismal opening series in Cincinnati, the Brewers headed home to mark a milestone. Monday’s home opener against the Braves falls on the 10th anniversary of the first regular-season game there.

– Chris Narveson gets the start for the Brewers, and will try to treat it as just another game. Good luck to him.

– Did I mention the dismal opening series? Judging from Rickie Weeks’ comments after the game, the Brewers should be ready to go against Brandon Beachy and the Braves.

– Looking for something to get you fired-up after the disappointing weekend? Here’s the “open” that will air on the huge new scoreboard at Miller Park in 2011, and here’s a time-lapse video of the scoreboard project. I’m looking forward to seeing the new board in person.

See you at the ballpark.

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