Just filling time as the first rain delay of the 2008 season is upon us.
Or as they used to say and probably still do in the military, "˜Hurry up and wait.'
While we were waiting for an abbreviated introduction ceremony and the National Anthem, WGN-TV re-ran the ceremony from this morning that honored former Cub great and Hall of Famer Ernie Banks.
Even Ernie's "˜Let's play two' mantra would be tested today.
How about "˜Let's play two "¦ at Miller Park.'
The Cubs unveiled a statue of Banks "Mr. Cub" in a ceremony at Clark and Addison outside the ballpark.
Among the dignitaries present were Hall of Famers Henry Aaron and Reggie Jackson. Much of today is dedicated to honoring Banks, who is to be feted in an on-field ceremony prior to throwing out the ceremonial "first pitch." He is also due to sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.
The Chicago City Council has also declared today to be "Ernie Banks Day" in the city of Chicago.
Following are some pre-game notes.
TODAY'S GAME: The Milwaukee Brewers open the 2008 regular season at Chicago in the first game of a three-game series. Following this series, the Brewers return to Miller Park
for a six-game, seven-day homestand against San Francisco (three games) and Cincinnati (three games).
OPENING DAY ROSTER: PITCHERS (12) - RH Dave Bush, RH Eric Gagne, RH Seth
McClung, RH Guillermo Mota, LH Manny Parra, RH David Riske, RH Ben Sheets, LH Brian
Shouse, RH Jeff Suppan, RH Salomon Torres, RH Derrick Turnbow, RH Carlos Villanueva;
CATCHERS (2) - Jason Kendall, Mike Rivera; INFIELDERS (6) - Craig Counsell, Joe Dillon,
Prince Fielder, Bill Hall, J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks; OUTFIELDERS (5) - Ryan Braun, Gabe
Gross, Tony Gwynn, Corey Hart, Gabe Kapler.
IN THE TRAINER'S ROOM: LHP Chris Capuano (sprained ulnar collateral ligament in left
elbow), LHP Randy Choate (bruised fourth metacarpal on left hand) and RHP Yovani
Gallardo (torn lateral meniscus in left knee) all open the season on the disabled list.
SPRING TRAINING: The Brewers finished with an 18-11-3 record in Cactus League play this
spring.....Maryvale, AZ served as the Brewers' spring training home for the 11th consecutive
season.....the Brewers drew 88,499 fans to Maryvale Baseball Park, setting a new Maryvale
attendance record.....the previous record of 78,131 was set in 2002.....the Brewers averaged
5,900 fans per game at Maryvale this spring, breaking the team record for spring
training.....the previous record of 5,593 was set in Chandler, Arizona in 1993.
THE NEW BREW: Newcomers to the Brewers this season include RHP Eric Gagne, RHP
Guillermo Mota, RHP David Riske, RHP Salomon Torres, OF Mike Cameron, OF Gabe
Kapler and C Jason Kendall.
GONE FROM 2007: Gone from last season are RHP Greg Aquino (Orioles), RHP
Francisco Cordero (Reds), LHP Ray King (Nationals), RHP Scott Linebrink (White Sox),
RHP Matt Wise (Mets), C Johnny Estrada (Nationals), INF Tony Graffanino (unsigned), OF
Geoff Jenkins (Phillies), OF Kevin Mench (Rangers) and C Damian Miller (unsigned).
MANAGER: Ned Yost returns for his sixth season as Brewers manager, a position he was
named to on 10/29/02, replacing Jerry Royster.....the Brewers finished in second place in the
National League Central Division last season, going 83-79.....Yost owns a career managerial
record of 374-435 (.462).
COACHES: Returning from last season's coaching staff are bullpen coach Bill Castro (17th
season), pitching coach Mike Maddux (sixth season), first-base coach Ed Sedar (second
season), batting coach Jim Skaalen (second season) and third-base coach Dale Sveum
(third season), who switched from his previous position as bench coach.....new on the staff is
bench coach Ted Simmons.
PRINCE-LY TALE; When asked  what it would take to keep Prince Fielder out of the lineup on opening day manager Ned Yost quipped: "I don't know if (a disease) has been developed yet,"  Yost said.
Fielder missed the final exhibition game on Saturday and was also excused from Sunday's workout at Wrigley Field because he was ill.
"I feel a lot better," Fielder said. "No way I'm not playing."
The rest of the opening day lineups follow:
Milwaukee
Rickie Weeks 2B
Tony Gwynn CF
Prince Fielder 1B
Ryan Braun LF
Bill Hall 3B
Corey Hart 3B
J.J. Hardy SS
Ben Sheets SP
Jason Kendall C
Chcago
Ryan Theriot 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Derrek Lee 1B
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Kosuke Fukudome RF
Mark DeRosa 2B
Geovany Soto C
Felix Pie CF
Carlos Zambrano P