“Since joining our organization in 2005, Ryan Braun has been a model citizen and a person of character and integrity. Knowing Ryan as I do, I always believed he would succeed in his appeal.

“I also want to reiterate my support for Major League Baseball’s strict substance testing program. It is unfortunate that the confidentiality of the program was compromised, and we thank our fans and everyone who supported Ryan and did not rush to judgment.

“The team is looking forward to seeing Ryan in camp tomorrow. With this now behind us, we return our focus to the ballpark and defending our NL Central Division title.

The sun is shining and temperatures are above average as today’s high will top off in the mid to upper 70s.  Plenty of action on the field as pitchers and catchers continued their on field workouts while a growing group of position players participated in some informal hitting and fielding drills.

Tomorrow, all position players will report to camp before Saturday’s first official workout.

–JOHN

johnandcait@brewers.com

Following two weeks of furious campaigning that resulted in more than a million votes on MLBFanCave.com, 30 finalists (including Stephen) vying to be contestants in the 2012 MLB Fan Cave have earned a trip to Spring Training for the final step in their quest for their baseball dream job. These 30 fans will travel to Arizona next week for a series of interactive challenges and interviews designed to determine the final group that will begin the 2012 season in the MLB Fan Cave in New York.  [Since I will also be down in Arizona next week, I'm hoping to catch up with Stephen and report back to you with another interview, so stay tuned!]

The 30 finalists emerged from an original group of 50 candidates culled from more than 22,000 applicants. This original group of 50 included Stephen and another Brewers fan, Kurt Peter. (You can read my interviews with each of them from last week here.)

The finalists earned the trip to Spring Training in large part by actively campaigning for votes–so thank you, Brewers fans!–and promoting their candidacy through social media, media interviews and other creative means, including viral videos featuring players and celebrities, celebrity endorsements via Twitter, and even a proclamation from a local government official.

Overall, in just two weeks, the candidates combined to earn more than 300 endorsements from players and celebrities on camera and through Twitter (including Tony Gwynn, Torii Hunter, David Price, Stephen Strasburg as well as celebrities such as Jerry Ferrara, Michael Rapaport and Andrew Dice Clay) and participated in more than 150 interviews with national and local TV and radio, newspapers and online outlets.

“All 50 of the fans who emerged from the initial 22,000 applicants deserve incredible praise and a hearty thank you from all of us at Major League Baseball because they truly are among the most passionate and dedicated fans we’ve ever encountered,” said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President, Business, Major League Baseball. “We had to make some extremely difficult decisions in order to determine the top 30, and while the Spring Training trip will be a lot of fun for all involved, in a way we’re really not looking forward to having to send any more of these entertaining baseball fans home.”

The 30 finalists include men and women from across the U.S. and Canada and represent a wide range of backgrounds and occupations, including recent college graduates, journalists, bloggers, actors, musicians, a self-described “unemployed comedian,” a made-up superhero and a professional wrestler.

The ultimate group of winners will begin the season in the MLB Fan Cave with the goal of watching all 2,430 MLB games on a large wall of big screen Sony televisions while chronicling their experiences online through videos, blogs, and social media. Along the way, they will compete with one another over the course of the season in a series of challenges, with fans online helping decide who gets to stay in the MLB Fan Cave and who gets eliminated with one eventual winner crowned before the end of the World Series.

In 2012, the MLB Fan Cave will return to the 15,000 square foot location at 4th Street and Broadway in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village that was formerly the home of Tower Records. The MLB Fan Cave is currently being redesigned to feature new technology and interactive elements. The MLB Fan Cave is a unique event space mixing baseball with music, popular culture, media, interactive technology and art. Supported by MLB Advanced Media, it also serves as a content factory providing baseball fans with a constant flow of online video and conversation via social media. The MLB Fan Cave has more than a quarter of a million combined followers on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/mlbfancave) and Twitter (@MLBFanCave).

-CAIT

johnandcait@brewers.com

The Brewers signed Aoki to a two-year contract on January 17.  The Brewers were awarded the negotiating rights to Aoki on December 19 after the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League accepted the highest bid.

Aoki, who turned 30 on January 5, has played his entire eight-year professional career with Yakult, batting .329 with 84 HR, 385 RBI and 164 stolen bases in 985 games.  He has batted over .300 in six of his seven full seasons and was Central League batting champion in 2005 (.344), 2007 (.346) and 2010 (.358).  He was 2005 Central League Rookie of the Year and is a six-time Golden Glove Award winner.

Aoki has participated in both World Baseball Classic events (2006 and 2009), batting .310 with 8 RBI in 15 games, and competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, batting .294 with 1 HR and 7 RBI in 9 games for Japan.  Aoki worked out for the Brewers on January 8 here at Maryvale Baseball Park.  He bats left and throws right and will wear #7 as a Brewer.

Aoki (left in jeans) arrives to Brewers camp today.

Doug Melvin along with Aoki, interpreter Kosuke Inaji and Ron Roenicke begin the press conference.

The group addressed questions from the media for around 30 minutes.

We can expect a large group of international media to follow Aoki all season long.

Aoki is planning on taking the field later this morning for an informal workout.

Aoki works with Inaji, Brewers Media Relations Director Mike Vassallo and Matt Vasgersian of MLB Network on a promotional read for the network.

Aoki was scheduled to participate in an informal workout today at 11:30 a.m. Phoenix time.  I will hopefully have pictures of that later in the day.

– JOHN

john.steinmiller@brewers.com

Below is a press release that details information on when tickets go on sale.  Please note that the direct link to the website won’t be active until March 1.

REGISRATION FOR TICKETS FOR PEANUT-CONTROLLED AREA TO OPEN MARCH 1

Tickets will be Available Online Only at Brewers.com/peanutcontrolled

MILWAUKEE – Last month, the Brewers announced the creation of a peanut-controlled area at Miller Park for three home games during the 2012 season to host fans suffering from mild peanut allergies. These games include: Monday, May 7 vs. the Reds; Thursday, July 26 vs. the Nationals; and Friday, September 14 vs. the Mets.

Beginning on Thursday, March 1 at 9 a.m., registration for tickets in the peanut-controlled area for these three dates will open at brewers.com/peanutcontrolled. Space is limited to accommodate approximately 100 people in this area for each of these three games.

The peanut-controlled area seating will be in Club Outfield sections 306 and 307. Ticket prices are $38 per ticket plus applicable service fees; limit six tickets per order. A Brewers sales representative will be in contact to complete the order.

Tickets will need to be picked up at Will Call, and all fans in the area will be required to sign a waiver.

–JOHN

johnandcait@brewers.com

You may be preparing by gathering your tent, blankets, grill, bags toss, etc., but have you already picked out your games?

You don’t want to have been waiting all winter for this chance and then be out in the cold, waiting in the line only to freeze when you get up to the ticket window—like Ralphie in front of Santa in A Christmas Story—when the sales staff asks you, “And what games would you like to attend this season?”

Never fear. Here’s the Cait’s Notes version to some of the best games -promo-wise- on the 2012 Schedule. [Fans buying online at brewers.com or via phone at (414) 902-4000, you’ll want to pay attention, too!]

My first tip?  In case you haven’t heard, our Brewers 4-Packs have returned for a limited time only. Now through tomorrow, Wednesday, February 22, fans can choose from five different 4-Pack plans and thus secure tickets to some of the best games before they go on sale to the general public on Saturday. Most of the plans include an All-Fan Giveaway date (one includes two!) and all five plans include at least one Gold or Marquee Game at regular game pricing, adding additional value to the packages, which start at just $64. For more information on these 4-Packs, bebop on over to brewers.com/4packs and get yours NOW!

Okay, so here we go. Print this out, study it hard and you’ll be ready this Saturday, February 25 at 9am when individual tickets go on sale to the general public, in person at the Miller Park Box office, online or by phone.

OPENING DAY:

The most popular game of the season is always Opening Day. This year, the Crew opens up at home on Friday, April 6 vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. And it’s this hot ticket that drives so many fans to our Arctic Tailgate party, as the Miller Park Box Office will be the only place where fans will be able to purchase individual Opening Day tickets on February 25; no phone or online orders will be accepted. However, there are only a very limited number of tickets for Opening Day that will be available at this event and each fan will be limited to a maximum of four tickets for Opening Day, based on availability.

Cait’s Notes: Hedge your bets. Purchase a Brewers 10-Pack instead, starting at just $160 and you’ll get 10 of the best games of the season, perks like regular pricing on Gold and Marquee Games, a guaranteed seat location and more ticket exchange options, plus Opening Day for FREE. Yes, you read that right—a free Opening Day ticket, plus more Brewers Baseball in 2012. And you don’t even have to wait until Saturday. Brewers 10-Packs are on sale now at brewers.com/10packs.

ALL-FAN BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAY DATES:

This season, six All-Fan Bobblehead Giveaways highlight the excitement at Miller Park.

They include:

1. Sunday, April 22 Brewers vs. Colorado Rockies: Jonathan Lucroy Bobblehead, compliments of Kwik Trip [Cait’s Notes: This game is included in the Double Bobble 4-Pack!]

2. Sunday, May 13 Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs: Yovani Gallardo Bobblehead, compliments of Robert Haack Diamonds [Cait’s Notes: This is Mother’s Day! What mom doesn't love Yovani Gallardo? Grab an extra ticket for her while you're at it. Boom. Mother’s Day shopping, done! Next!]

3. Sunday, June 10 vs. San Diego Padres: Nyjer Morgan Bobblehead, compliments of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board  [Cait's Notes: This game is included in the Weekend Plus 4-Pack!]

4. Sunday, July 1 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks: Italian Racing Sausage Bobble, compliments of Klement’s Sausage [Cait’s Notes: This is also Italian Heritage Day and the Brewers will wear special uniform tops.  This game is also included in the Double Bobble 4-Pack!]

5. Sunday, July 29 vs. Washington Nationals: Bob Uecker Bobblehead, compliments of Time Warner Cable  [Cait's Notes: This game is included in the Coast to Coast 4-Pack!]

6. Sunday, September 16 vs. New York Mets: Aramis Ramirez Bobblehead, compliments of Wild Impact Marketing  [Cait's Notes: This game is included in the Matinee 4-Pack!]

5-COUNTY, 5-DAY CELEBRATION:

The ever-popular 5-County, 5-Day Celebration will take place from April 17-21 this season (Brewers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, April 17-19; and Brewers vs. Colorado Rockies, April 20-21). During this time, all residents of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington and Waukesha counties can purchase tickets at a 50% savings on all reserved seats (excluding the Miller Lite Beerpen, All-Inclusive Areas and the $1 Uecker Seats). Grab your tickets early!

SPRING MADNESS:

This year, the Brewers Spring Madness celebration falls May 21-23 against the San Francisco Giants. All seats regularly priced at $38 and less will be available at a savings of 50% (excluding the All-Inclusive Areas and $1 Uecker Seats), leaving you with more money to spend on small Pepsi products and Klement’s hot dogs which will be just $1 each for these three games.

MILLER HIGH LIFE MONDAYS:

Speaking of great deals… Fans can purchase Terrace Reserved seats for just $8, courtesy of Miller High Life for all Monday home games (except Marquee Games).

RETRO FRIDAYS:

Still can’t get enough of the ball and glove logo? Then make sure you get your tickets for the last home Friday game of every month (April 20 vs. Colorado Rockies, May 18 vs. Minnesota Twins, June 29 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, July 27 vs. Washington Nationals, August 31 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates and September 28 vs. Houston Astros). And, if you’re making plans to come out for Retro Fridays, why not sit in the Miller Lite Beerpen and get a free t-shirt?

MILLER LITE BEERPEN:

For each Friday home game, all fans 21 and older can be part of the Miller Lite Beerpen in the Right Field Loge Bleachers. Tickets are $22 and include a Brewers t-shirt and special entertainment in the Miller Lite Beerpen. Offer excludes Opening Day. Tickets for the May 11 and May 18 games are $30.

KIDS AND SENIOR CITIZENS DISCOUNT DAYS:

For weekday afternoon Brewers games, kids 14 and under and seniors 60 and over receive up to a 50% savings on all seats except for Bernie’s Terrace and the $1 Uecker Seats. Offer excludes Marquee Games.

KIDS AUTOGRAPH SATURDAYS:

Speaking of kids…you’ll also want to bring kids 14 and under out for Kids Autograph Saturdays this season: April 21 vs. Colorado Rockies, May 19 vs. Minnesota Twins, June 9 vs. San Diego Padres, July 14 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates and August 18 vs. Philadelphia Phillies.  [Cait's Notes: The July 14 game is included in the Weekend Plus 4-Pack!]

ANNUAL TRIBUTE EVENTS:

Two other popular tribute events, Cerveceros Day (June 2 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates) and Negro Leagues Tribute Night (July 28 vs. Washington Nationals) are slated to return this season as well. Snap up your tickets early to these popular games!

So, there you have it. The Cait’s Notes guide to the 2012 Promo Schedule and Individual Ticket On-Sale!

Good luck!

-CAIT

johnandcait@brewers.com

In addition to the complement of pitchers and catchers who were involved in formal workouts, a number of position players took part in informal workouts. Included in that group were Nyjer Morgan, Mat Gamel, Logan Schafer, Taylor Green, Zelous Wheeler and Eric Farris.

Below are some photos from the action on the fields at the Brewers Maryvale complex.

This routine is scheduled for the rest of the week until Saturday when the position players take part in their first official full workout. I will continue to post photos and updates from Maryvale throughout Spring Training, so stay tuned!

–JOHN

john.steinmiller@brewers.com

This is the sixth year that the “Arctic Tailgate” party will mark the start of individual ticket sales and over the years, in spite of February usually being a cold, cruel month here, it’s become quite the Milwaukee tradition with some fans camping out days in advance (Note: For rules and guidelines, please see safety regulations below).

The Klement’s Famous Racing Sausages, Bernie Brewer and Brewers alumni players are always on hand to greet the fans and the first 2,000 fans in line receive a hot dog and soda, compliments of Klement’s, Pepsi and Sportservice, as well as an Arctic Tailgate t-shirt.

The hearty crowd, recalling past Opening Days that have been snowed out, or perhaps used to tailgating before Packers games at the Frozen Tundra, is not at all fazed by temperatures in single digits, snow, or swirling winds.

Indeed. Like the USPS quote, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays” these faithful fans from getting their hands on the hottest tickets before anyone else.

Many fans do it for the tradition and fun—it’s just like your typical pregame tailgate in the middle of July, with games of bags, brats on the grill, and cold beer (okay, maybe a little colder than normal)— but many also do it for the limited number of tickets for Opening Day that will be available at this event.

That’s right. The Miller Park Box Office will be the only place where fans will be able to purchase individual Opening Day tickets on February 25; no phone or online orders will be accepted. Each fan will be limited to a maximum of four tickets for Opening Day, based on availability.

Over the years, when I haven’t been down in Arizona during the event, I’ve been to Arctic Tailgate and I’ve talked with and interviewed fans, but I’ve always been there in the daytime, the day before the event; stopping by briefly the evening before; or working during the event on Saturday morning.

This year, I’ve decided to do something just a bit outside my comfort zone—I’m going to spend the night at Miller Park!

Now there have certainly been many late nights here at the office after games and I’ve camped out on the field before for our Field of Sweet Dreams event, but never in February. To be honest, I’m kind of a wimp when it comes to the cold, but I want to get the true experience that I’m helping promote to fans (plus it’s been the warmest February on record, so I figure now is the best time to do this!).

It's been warmer than average here in Milwaukee so far this month; however, this forecast still looks pretty Arctic to me!

So, with that being said—if you’re at the event, look for me! I will be roaming around, taking photos, interviewing fans and live blogging from Arctic Tailgate. I might even have some surprises for fans as well!

Of course, if you don’t want to brave the cold, you can always live vicariously through me by following along here online and then get your tickets and parking at brewers.com or by phone at (414) 902-4000 beginning at 9am on Saturday.

The Miller Park Box Office will be open until 5 pm that day.  Normal Box Office hours are 9 am – 7 pm Monday – Friday (beginning Monday, February 27), 9 am – 5 pm on Saturday and 11 am – 5 pm on Sunday.

For full details on the Arctic Tailgate event, click here.

Who should I look for on Friday night/Saturday morning?

-CAIT

JohnandCait@brewers.com

Please note the following safety regulations for the Arctic Tailgate. Participants will not be permitted to set camp prior to noon on Thursday, February 23. No hand-made or hand-built shelters shall be permitted. No shelters made of cardboard or wood shall be permitted. Shelters with a footprint greater than 100 square feet are not permitted unless otherwise approved by the Brewers. Miller Park power sources are not available for public use and gas generators are not permitted on the property. Only State-Approved gas/propane heating/grilling units with fuel-valve turn-offs and self-contained charcoal/wood units are permitted; provided, however, that they must be a minimum distance of 25 feet from the building or shelters. Activity and items permitted on the premises are subject to the approval of the Brewers. The Brewers reserve the right to remove any shelter, items, or individuals from the property.                                   

This day is a lot about administrative things more than on field work.  Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin, Manager Ron Roenicke and the rest of the coaching and baseball operations staffs met all morning to discuss camp operations.  While there was no formal workout scheduled, a number of players took part informal on field activities this morning.  Players came in to drop off equipment, organize their lockers and catch up with their teammates and staff.

Tomorrow, there are no formal workouts planned as players will undergo physicals.  Monday, regular on-field workouts will begin for pitchers and catchers and position players who reported to camp early will take part in voluntary activities on the field.  Position players report to camp on Friday.

Below are some photos from today’s activities at Maryvale Baseball Park.

Here are some important dates looking ahead at Brewers Spring Training:

Monday – First Pitchers and Catchers workout

Friday – Position players report to camp

Saturday, February 25 – First full workout

Sunday, February 26 – Photo Day

Saturday, March 3 – Intrasquad Game at Maryvale Baseball Park

Sunday, March 4 – Spring Training opening game at Maryvale Baseball Park vs. Giants

Stay tuned to the blog and Brewers.com for all the latest Spring Training news and insider information.  I arrived in Phoenix on Thursday and will be posting throughout the entire spring.

–JOHN

johnandcait@brewers.com

Now through Wednesday, February 22, fans can view video submissions from all 50 applicants on MLBFanCave.com and vote for their favorites. 

Based on fan voting, quality of the original submissions, and the ability of the contestants to generate buzz and interest in their campaigns, MLB will narrow the field to 30 finalists who will then earn a trip to Spring Training in Arizona at the end of February, where they will compete in a variety of challenges to determine the final group of contestants.

These winners will begin the season in the MLB Fan Cave in New York City with the goal of watching all 2,430 MLB games on a large wall of big screen Sony televisions while chronicling their experiences online through videos, blogs, and social media. Along the way, they will compete with one another over the course of the season in a series of challenges, with fans online helping decide who gets to stay in the Fan Cave and who gets eliminated with one eventual winner crowned before the end of the World Series.

 All 50 finalists have been hard at work rocking the vote since the announcement was made and this morning, I had the chance to catch up with these gentlemen so I can give you a little background on why you should, as always–VOTE BREWERS!

Kurt Peter 

Kurt Peter, a native of Elm Grove, Wisconsin, is a 23-year-old assistant athletic director at a local high school. He’s been a Brewers fan for as long as he can remember, even though his brother was a Braves fan growing up and he sometimes faced peer pressure to change allegiances.

Kurt believes fans should vote for him because, “I have a good personality, I love the game of baseball and I will ask the questions that some people might not,” he said, referring to the Fan Cave participants’ opportunities to interview players and celebrities throughout the season. Though he assures me he’s a Brewers fan, he’s most looking forward to the possibility of meeting Texas Rangers LHP Derek Holland.

Kurt has never been to Arizona to see the Brewers in Spring Training but was planning a trip to go out to Arizona for the first time this year; however, now he hopes that trip will be as one of the Top 30 contestants for the MLB Fan Cave. To get there, he’s got to campaign hard and so far, he’s been able to garner a good buzz, primarily through Twitter and YouTube (click here to watch some of Kurt’s mini videos). It also helps that he works at a high school; all of the students know about his quest and have been helping him get the word out.

If he’s lucky enough to make it to the actual Fan Cave in New York, he’s not scared of the city (though he’s been there only once) or the prospect of living with 5-7 others for the season. “I’d be fine with it,” Kurt said, “I mean, they’re hardly strangers at this point. We’ve all connected since the announcement and we’re helping each other.” Click here to vote for Kurt. Also, follow him on Twitter: @FalconKP.

Stephen Sievwright 

Stephen Sievwright is a 28-year-old student from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He’s been a Brewers fan since he was nine years old and took his first trip to County Stadium. It’s a memory that is still very vivid to him as he remembers getting to meet pitcher Jaime Navarro.

Stephen has a self-proclaimed dry sense of humor, which really comes through in his video essay. He feels he is best suited to represent the Brewers fan base in the Fan Cave because he takes it so passionately. “I will be watching every game whether it’s in Stevens Point or New York,” he told me. He also told me that he wants fans to know that he’s just a “normal guy from a really small town.”

Indeed, this process has given Stephen a new perspective on some things. “I was reading an article recently that said that Stevens Point has the best tasting tap water in all of the United States. It pointed out how the water came from a ‘tiny town of 25,000′,” he said. “I hadn’t really thought of it that way before, but when you compare it to a place like New York, it would certainly be interesting for me to be transplanted into a place of over 8 million people!”

Stephen has never been to New York before, nor has he been to see the Brewers in Spring Training, but he’s hoping that he’ll get to do both things this year if he remains in the running for the Fan Cave. He’s also hoping that Brewers closer John Axford will pay another visit to the Cave as that is the person he’s most looking forward to meeting.

When I asked him about his campaign strategy, he answered in his typical dry sense of humor style by saying, “Well, I just concluded an interview with the local paper. So we know that goes out to 25,000 people…oh, and I’ve got my sister locked away in a closet, voting and hitting refresh all day.” Click here to vote for Stephen. Also, follow him on Twitter: @Siev27.

So there you have it! The two Brewers Fandidates for the 2012 MLB Fan Cave.

Are you still here? Stop reading and go vote for Kurt and Stephen!

-Cait

johnandcait@brewers.com