The Milwaukee Brewers' home opener is less than three weeks away.
The grounds crew is bustling around the field, essentially waking it up after a short offseason.
"(It's the) latest we've played on the field for the season-wise and then the end-of-the season concert we had this year," said Michael Boettcher, director of grounds.
Boettcher and his crew have been planning for weeks on how best to get the field ready for Opening Day.
"We make sure we don't have a crazy amount of work because we never know what the springs are going to give us here," said Boettcher. "So we try to do as much as we can in the fall to make sure we're as close to ready as we can."
And don't try to tell them it's just grass.
"How we manipulate this surface and how we try to advance this surface, it's just like the players and teams as a whole are trying to advance their game," Boettcher said.
He added that they eagerly await the natural, warm sun.
"We make sure we don't have a crazy amount of work because we never know what the springs are going to give us here." — Michael Boettcher, director of grounds at Miller Park
"If we can get some natural light — Mother Nature gives us that heat — we'll take it," he said.
But really seeing any green grass now gives everyone hope summer is just around the corner.
"Here in this state, to see the green grass, I think it's a sense of revive for everybody and excitement for the season," said Boettcher. "And just hopefully warming everybody up as we stand here in our winter coats."
Opening Day is March 28 at Miller Park. The Brewers host the St. Louis Cardinals, and first pitch is at 1:10 p.m.
