'We have some unfinished business': Brewers equipment truck loaded, headed to Arizona for Spring Training

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It may be below freezing in Milwaukee this week, but the Milwaukee Brewers are thinking of the Phoenix sunshine and a fresh start in 2023.

Pitchers and catchers are due to report to Spring Training on Feb. 16. The first full squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 21 and the first game of 2023 Spring Training is set for Feb. 25.

"For people in Wisconsin who are debating whether to come to Phoenix for Spring Training, I think if they look at their thermometer today, I think that should tip the scales," joked Rick Schlesinger, president of business operations for the Milwaukee Brewers. "We love seeing all the Wisconsin people (in Arizona). It's tremendous support we get."

On Tuesday, with the help of the Famous Racing Sausages, crews finished loading up the team's equipment truck, set to complete the over 1,700-mile journey to Phoenix on Feb. 4.

The truck is packed with all the essentials including approximately 20,500 baseballs, 1,000 baseball bats, 200 batting helmets, 2,000 shirts, 250 batting gloves, 400 batting practice jerseys, 200 game jerseys, 300 pairs of baseball pants, 500 pairs of socks, 20 cases of bubble gum and 60 cases of sunflower seeds.

Bob Uecker's radio booth chair and microphone will also be loaded onto the caravan as the Brewers legend prepares to celebrate his 52nd year as the official voice of the Milwaukee Brewers.

"Every square inch of that truck is filled," Schlesinger said. "There's a method to the madness."

Schlesinger made it a point to acknowledge the disappointing end to the 2022 season that saw the Brewers miss the playoffs after leading the NL Central for a good chunk of the season.

"We have some unfinished business," Schlesinger said. "We didn't finish where we wanted to last season. I think the fans expect more. I expect more. We all expect more. The players, most importantly, expect more, so I think there's a lot of motivation."

He says the team's annual trip to Phoenix for Spring Training is a great time to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

"You want to go into Spring Training with a sense that your team can do something very special. We've had that sense for a number of years," Schlesinger explained. "We haven't reached our goal. Our goal is to get a World Series and win it."

Opening Day for the Brewers this season is March 30 against the Cubs in Chicago. The home opener is set for April 3.