What We Learned: Opening Day is finally here

This Weekend's Results

Astros 4, Brewers 2

Brewers 7, Shuckers 4

Brewers News & Notes

Links from BCB

• It's officially Opening Day. The final two countdown posts focuses on #2 Scooter Gennett and the one-day reflection back on the countdown series.
• The final roster spots were set over the weekend. In a bit of an unexpected move, the Brewers signed Carlos Torres to a minor-league contract and placed Corey Knebel on the DL.
• The Brewers announced their final decisions in the outfield as well, choosing to keep Keon Broxton and Kirk Nieuwenhuis. In addition, Alex Presley was offered to all 29 other teams as part of a clause in his deal for not making the roster.
• In the final two parts of the bold predictions series, Derek listed his bold predictions for the 2016 season, as well as my bold predictions for 2016.
• The Reds waived outfielder Jake Cave over the weekend. Kyle believes that Cave would be worth a pickup for the Brewers.
• In the 19th edition of the BCB Mailbag, Derek looked at topics around the Brewers with only 3 days until the regular season.

Other Brewers News and Notes

• In an interview with Craig Counsell, Adam McCalvy spoke with the Brewers manager about center field and Opening Day.
• Following his exit from a start in Houston, Adam McCalvy reports that Matt Garza is on schedule to make his first start of the regular season.
• The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has their preview for the 2016 posted. Topics include the payroll for 2016, giving the Brewers the benefit of the doubt, and ranking the Brewers roster. (Note that they have a paywall which will limit the number of articles you can view.)
• Brad Krause of Miller Park Prospects breaks down how each of the 25 Opening Day roster players were acquired by the Brewers.
• Have we seen the worst of the Brewers offense already? Jake Covey of Disciples of Uecker compares the 2015 offense to the 2016 projections.
• While he won't be broadcasting tonight, Lane Grindle will be part of Brewers broadcasts this year. Adam McCalvy of Brewers.com spoke with Grindle about his first Opening Day.
• With the first homestand of the year here, Cait Covers the Bases has some highlights to look forward to in the first six home games. Also, the Brewers were out on Sunday to get some support for the regular season, and Cait Covers the Bases has some pictures from their activities.

April Fools Day

• In a satire FanPost, KegelExercise wrote about the Brewers trading for Mike Trout and signing shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to a three-year contract.
• On The First Out At Third, Justin Schultz writes that Prince Fielder was traded back to the Brewers.
• Craig Counsell hasn't made much progress as Brewers manager, so JD of The View From Bernie's Chalet has decided to start a #FireCraigCounsell movement.

Minor League Update

News & Notes

• Aaron Cheris of SkySox.com previews the pitchers who could be a part of the Shuckers roster in 2016.
• Marcus Young of Miller Park Prospects has some notes from Saturday's game between the Brewers and the Shuckers. He also has a list of under-the-radar prospects to watch in 2016.

NL Central Update

Yesterday’s Division Games

• Pirates 4, Cardinals 1

Today's Division Games

• Phillies (Jeremy Hellickson) @ Reds (Raisel Iglesias)
• Cubs (Jake Arrieta) @ Angels (Garrett Richards)

Around Baseball

Roster News

• The Angels signed Neal Cotts to a minor-league contract.
• Athletics pitcher Jarrod Parker had a third reconstruction surgery on his right elbow.
• The Blue Jays acquired Chris Leroux from the Phillies for cash and signed reliever Franklin Morales to a one-year, $2 million contract.
• The Braves designated Michael Bourn and Emilio Bonifacio for assignment. They also added Drew Stubbs and Alexi Ogando.
• Cardinals catcher Brayan Pena will start the season on the 15-day DL following arthroscopic knee surgery.
• Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock fractured his right elbow and will require surgery.
• The Dodgers signed RHP Dale Thayer to a minor-league contract.
• The Indians designated Zack Walter and Giovanni Soto for assignment.
• The Mariners designated catcher Rob Brantley for assignment.
• The Marlins designated LHP Brad Hand and outfielder Cole Gillespie for assignment. They also placed Mike Dunn and Raudel Lazo on the 15-day DL and Carter Capps on the 60-day DL and selected the contracts of Craig Breslow, Dustin McGowan, and Chris Narveson.
• The Nationals released LHP Sean Burnett and outfielder Reed Johnson.
• The Orioles outrighted LHP Zach Phillips to the minor leagues. Also, reliever Chaz Roe has cleared waivers and been assigned to Triple-A.
• The Padres signed RHP Jeremy Guthrie to a minor-league contract. They also designated RHP Josh Martin for assignment.
• The Pirates signed Gregory Polanco to a five-year contract extension. They also placed infielder Jung-ho Kang on the 15-day DL. They also designated RHP John Holdzkom and infielders Pedro Florimon and Jake Goebbert for assignment.
• The Rays released first baseman James Loney and acquired catcher Carlos Corporan from the Yankees.
• The Reds signed RHP Steve Delabar to a minor-league contract. They also claimed RHP Dan Straily off waivers and designated Jake Cave for assignment. In addition, they placed starting pitchers Homer Bailey, Anthony DeSclafani, John Lamb, Michael Lorenzen, and Jon Moscot on the disabled list.
• The White Sox signed RHP Miguel Gonzalez to a minor-league contract.
• Yankees LHP Andrew Miller has been cleared to continue pitching with a broken bone in his right non-throwing wrist.

Other Notes

• FanGraphs came out with their staff predictions for 2016. One writer thinks that the Brewers will take one of the wild card spots this year.
• Jonah Keri of CBS Sports has a preview of the NL Central.
• Nick Michalski of The Brewers Bar has a preview of the Reds season with the blog Chris Sabo's Goggles..
• Mark Townsend of Big League Stew ranked all 30 Opening Day starters, with Wily Peralta coming in at #29 of the 30 starters.
• The annual salary of a MLB player is $4.38 million in 2016, up 4.4% from last season.

Today's Action

The Opening Day game is just hours away. Game 1 will feature Wily Peralta against Madison Bumgarner. First pitch is at 1:10 pm.