Brewers Fantasy Camp

[cbustim]

Got the Camp packet in the mail today. It's getting closer!

[Chris.Barbian]

25 days... not that I am counting down or anything.

[reillymcshane]

25 days... not that I am counting down or anything.

Very, very cool. Hope you have a blast.

 

You should post some photos for all to see when all is said and done. I bet a lot of people would find it interesting.

[homer]

25 days... not that I am counting down or anything.

Very, very cool. Hope you have a blast.

 

You should post some photos for all to see when all is said and done. I bet a lot of people would find it interesting.

 

Yes! I would love daily recaps if you have the time. Or at least a summary at the end.

[deersveum12]

Just stay out of Club 101 at Fantasy Camp. It's a very seedy joint and the guys who run it are sketchy at best.

[sveumrules]

Definitely hope to make it one of these years while my body still kind of works.

[AKCheesehead]

Definitely hope to make it one of these years while my body still kind of works.

 

That’s where I’m at although I’m suspecting my body would forbid it by the time I have the time.

 

For anyone who’s been there, what’s roughly the median age?

[deersveum12]

Average age is probably 40-45ish. I think the ages have skewed younger over the last couple of years. But, there's guys who are 65+ that go every year that have a blast.

[Chris.Barbian]

I will do my best to try to get this page a daily recap of some sort and possibly some pictures.

 

I started planning to do this in my early 30's. I decided to wait until I was 40 to actually go. I definitely feel that I completely missed my window of athletic ability though.

[cbustim]

There is a daily newsletter each morning of Fantasy Camp that gets posted on the Brewers Website as well. Typically they do a quick recap of the prior day's game and talk about some Brewers/Baseball lore of yesteryear.

[Chris.Barbian]

Looks like they have already divided us into teams.

[stoutdude04]

Looks like they have already divided us into teams.

 

They should do it old school. Stand in a line and pick 2 captains.

[Chris.Barbian]

As a first time camper, I don't know how they normally handle this. But this does eliminate my chance of being last pick. 8 teams of 14 players.

[cbustim]

Normally there is a draft that is conducted behind closed doors after a day of drills and a simulated game. With the increased number of people (essentially 28 more, 2 teams) than normal, they bypassed the draft this go around. With at least 50% being returnees each year, many of the coaches know what people can and cannot do. I believe they were making calls to the first timers to see what their comfort level was at various positions. Pitching is always a big thing, especially in Fantasy Camp. I think one big plus of doing the teams ahead of time is splitting up the known pitchers to even that part out. We get 2 additional games this year by doing it this way, so that is a huge plus.

[Chris.Barbian]

I did get a text from Jerry Augustine (Yes, I'm still giddy about that), asking about playing experience and comfortable positions.

 

I'm honestly impressed with the amount of returning campers. I'm all in on two extra games.

[Chris.Barbian]

An extra story that goes in line with the numerous times I have felt like a little kid again while planning for this camp.

 

I will have Chuck Crim and Ed Sedar as coaches, last night my 11 year old daughter and I were unwrapping a few packs of cards from 1990 that she got for Xmas and sure enough she got a Crim card. Its probably the 8th time in the last few months I ran through the house to show my wife something I thought was super cool.

[cbustim]

Well, did you make it out with any injuries? Was it what you wanted it to be?

[Chris.Barbian]

I did make it out with no injuries. Only went to the trainers once for ice.

 

It was completely all I could have imagined. I underestimated the amount of interaction there is with the staff and coaches, and was blown away by how involved the coaches are not only on the fields and in the clubhouse, but at the hotel and on the buses.

[cbustim]

Did anyone make it this year?  After a two year hiatus due to Covid, it was back and still an amazing time.  The weather kept us off the fields early on, but still proved to be an incredible experience.

[owbc]

18 hours ago, cbustim said:

Did anyone make it this year?  After a two year hiatus due to Covid, it was back and still an amazing time.  The weather kept us off the fields early on, but still proved to be an incredible experience.

I'm planning to do it for my 40th birthday which is approaching faster than I would like. I have close to zero baseball experience, other than slow pitch softball. Would love to hear about your experience! As well as what is unique about the Brewers version of fantasy camp. 

[cbustim]

22 hours ago, owbc said:

I'm planning to do it for my 40th birthday which is approaching faster than I would like. I have close to zero baseball experience, other than slow pitch softball. Would love to hear about your experience! As well as what is unique about the Brewers version of fantasy camp. 

There is such a wide range of abilities and they generally do a very good job of splitting up the "talent".  I wouldn't be surprised if they go back to a draft format with  maybe a morning of evals just to make sure that pitching and big bats get evenly distributed.  The returning campers are known, but each year there are some newbies that can play.  The bulk of the group are guys (and girls) that played baseball as a kid and maybe into high school.  Also a good amount that play some slow pitch softball.  Everyone gets their playing time and their at bats. It is truly an amazing time.  

[hawing]

owbc, if you get there and Vinny Rottino is still on the coaching staff, tell him you know me.  Vinny'll take care of you. 😀

[cbustim]

Vinny was an awesome addition this year!

[hawing]

On 1/24/2023 at 8:09 PM, cbustim said:

Vinny was an awesome addition this year!

Vinny seems like a no-brainer for a fantasy camp coach type of role.

[kestrel79]

It's on my bucket list to do some day, my 40th bday this year would of been nice. Instead we're going to Spring Training for the first time. Maybe 45? Gotta start saving now...

I saw on Cory Hart's Twitter they had a lot of players from the 2006-2012 era which is amazing.