Opening Day in Milwaukee

By David Marasco

David "Stormy" Weathers took the mound for the Brewers in the ninth. He was protecting a one-run lead. Aaron Boone flew out to center, as did Pokey Reese. Kelly Stinnett ran the count full, but the Weathers struck him out swinging. The Brewers took the game by a final of five to four, Weathers notching the win. Then the Brewers opened the roof to new Miller Park, revealing - stormy weather. As the segments of the roof retracted, rain poured onto the field. It would have been a miserable opening day in County Stadium, but nobody was aware of the outside conditions. One game in and Miller Park has already proved its worth.

But that's starting at the end of the story. The start of the story took place a half hour before gametime. Bob Uecker took the field and welcomed the fans to new Miller Park. After quick video highlighting the history of baseball in Wisconsin Uecker introduced the woman in charge, Wendy Selig-Prieb. Selig-Prieb thanked a long list of people who made the ballpark possible, starting with her father and the local brewery (yes, Bud and Miller), going through the politicians and corporate sponsors, and then ending with the fans. I may have missed it, but I think she forgot a very important group. Tonight saw lots of high-society guests. The first game in Miller Park, an exhibition with the White Sox, honored the local state and city politicians who helped bring about the new stadium. It was before the second exhibition game, an event that didn't sell out, that the construction workers were thanked. Thumbs down for the Brewers, but thumbs up for the fans. When they saw the men and women in hard hats walking onto the field the crowd rose and gave them a spontaneous standing ovation.

After Wendy came John Bowlin, head of Miller, and then Bud Selig. Milwaukee is the only place in the country where Bud Selig will not be booed. Bud brought out Robin Yount and Mark Loretta to present the team flag. Then Bud Selig and the President known as W tossed out the first two pitches at Miller Park. Bud brought home the bacon, but the Prez bounced it in. I was a little surprised at the crowd reaction to W. It was mainly positive, but there was an undercurrent of boos. Given the affluence of those in attendance I didn't think there would be that much dislike. Then again, rich people are funny. Due to the size of the crowd, the parking lots were full and many had to be bussed in from the parking lots at the county fairgrounds. The bus driver had to keep telling people to move to the back of the bus. I sat there wondering "what's wrong with these people, haven't they ever been on a bus before?" For many of them, the answer may well have been no.

With that there was an opera singer for the anthem and a huge flag in the outfield. The tame bald eagle, brought in for truly patriotic events, made an appearance. Last time I saw the bird was when Air Force played in a bowl game last winter.

The game eventually got underway. No, the scoreboard still doesn't calculate OBP correctly, it still lists it as (hits+walks)/AB's. It's really sad that nobody in the Brewers organization has noticed it and corrected it. Jeff D'Amico mowed down the Reds in the first inning and Rob Bell returned the favor in the bottom half. Sean Casey got the first hit in the new ballpark with a single to center in the second. The first run was Barry Larkin, who came in on Michael Tucker's fourth-inning homer, the first in the stadium.

Bell gave up a single to Tyler Houston to start the bottom of the fourth, and quickly marked a pair of strikeouts. Then the wheels came off. Eight of the next nine pitches were balls and bases were loaded. Jose Hernandez took advantage and stroked a double to center to push the Brewers ahead three to two.

A Jeromy Burnitz solo-shot to right pushed the lead to four to two, but in the seventh the Reds struck back. Dmitry Young started the frame with a dinger to right. Casey reached, but was forced at second by Ochoa. Ochoa tried to swipe second, and was called out until the umpire noticed that the Brewer had dropped the ball. D'oh. Exit D'Amico, enter De Jean. Aaron Boone put a single into left off of De Jean and the game was tied. De Jean put more fuel on the fire, but Ray King came in and took care of business.

In the bottom of the eighth Ritchie Sexson took Dennys Reyes deep to left field. That was the lead that the Brewers would not surrender. The Brewers brought in the new ballpark with a win. Hopefully there will be many more big game wins in the building.