For the first time since 2001, the Brewers head to Spring Training without the memory of a last-place finish in the National League Central the season before.

An 81-81 finish in 2005 was good enough for third place in the division, the team's best in five years, and it snapped the franchise's 12-year streak of losing seasons. That means expectations are high as the team regroups for 2006, when a relatively young but talented Brewers team looks to take another step in its building project.

Manager Ned Yost is back for a fourth season and has many pieces to work with. The outfield and starting rotation likely will return mostly intact, but there are some questions about the Brewers' young infield and an improved but still largely unproven bullpen corps.

As Brewers fans prepare for their journey to the desert, here's some information that should help.

When do the Brewers arrive at camp?
Milwaukee's pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training on Friday, Feb. 17, with the first workout scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19. Position players will report on Friday, Feb. 24, with the first full-squad practice set for Saturday, Feb. 25.

When do games start?
The Brewers begin Cactus League play on Thursday, March 2, with a pair of split-squad games. One group will remain at Maryvale Baseball Park for a home game against the Giants, while another will travel to Tempe for a game against the Angels. The Brewers will split again the next day for games at the A's complex and at home against the Giants.

That's a change from years past, when the Brewers and A's, teams that play in ballparks operated by the City of Phoenix, would open with two days of charity contests.

In another change, the Brewers will play their entire spring schedule in Arizona, finishing with a pair of games against the Rockies on March 31 and April 1. In recent seasons, the team had traveled home for tuneups at Miller Park before heading out for Opening Day on the road, but this year the Brewers are playing their opener in Milwaukee for the first time since 1995.

How do I get tickets?
Tickets are available in four seating areas: infield box ($17), infield reserved ($13), outfield reserved ($11) and lawn ($6). Tickets can be purchased online or by phone at (800) 933-7890 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT. Tickets will also be on sale at all Sports Authority stores in the greater Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas and all Tickets.com outlets.

Information about Spring Training season tickets, group sales (25 or more) and skybox rentals can be obtained by calling the Brewers at (414) 902-4000.

Maryvale Baseball Park has 7,000 seats; for a spot in the shade, choose one of the upper rows behind home plate. For a true Spring Training experience, bring a blanket and head to the outfield berm.

Where is the ballpark, and how do I get there?
The stadium is located at 3600 N. 51st Ave. in the Maryvale neighborhood on the western edge of Phoenix, and there are several ways to get there. From downtown, take I-10 west, exit at 51st Avenue and head north (right) to the parking lots. Or from I-17, exit at Indian School Road and head west, then turn left onto 51st Avenue to the parking lots.

The area around the ballpark is improving, but there are limited pregame lunch options. A better option might be to enter stadium parking lots (on 51st Avenue between Thomas Road and Indian School Road) early for a Wisconsin-style tailgate. Maryvale Baseball Park features ample parking.

How can I watch the team work out?
Because it features smaller crowds than the Giants' home in Scottsdale or the Cubs' home in Mesa, laid-back Maryvale Baseball Park is a great place to watch a Major League workout.

There is no admission charge to see the Brewers work out on their eight fields at Maryvale Baseball Park. The Major League squad typically takes the practice fields at 9 a.m., and usually uses a quad of fields named after Brewers legends like Paul Molitor and Robin Yount. That means fans can quickly move from field to field to watch their favorite players take batting or fielding practice and can listen in on coaches' instructions. There is also a large bullpen where fans can stand just a few feet away from Derrick Turnbow fastballs.

Where can I get autographs?
The best-kept secret in the Cactus League is that Maryvale Baseball Park is one of the easiest places to get autographs. To get from the clubhouse to the practice fields each morning, Brewers players walk through a large parking lot scattered with autograph seekers. The best time to catch players is probably after the morning workout when they return to the clubhouse for lunch and typically have some time to sign.

Fans can also get autographs inside the main stadium. A tunnel from the clubhouse area opens in the right-field corner, and players walk down the first-base line to the dugouts. Many sign for fans along the way.

The Brewers' Minor League facility is also on-site, and those players are also accessible starting in March. The tough part can be identifying players with uniform numbers in the 80s and 90s.

What else is there to do in the area?
Besides lounging at the pool with a margarita? You could head to Maryvale Golf Course (59th Avenue and Indian School Road) for a round of golf, but most of the action is further east in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe.

The beauty of Spring Training in Arizona is that nine teams train within a short drive of one another -- the Brewers and A's (Phoenix), Giants (Scottsdale), Cubs (Mesa), Angels (Tempe), Padres and Mariners (Peoria) and Rangers and Royals (Surprise). Three others -- the White Sox, Diamondbacks and Rockies -- are about a two-hour drive south in Tucson. Any trip to see the Brewers in Spring Training should include a road game or two.

When do the Brewers open the regular season?
After consecutive losses to the Pirates in Pittsburgh to end the 2005 regular season forced the Brewers to settle for .500, there is a chance for payback. The Brewers host the Bucs to open the 2006 regular season at Miller Park on Monday, April 3, at 1:05 p.m. CT.