MLB Opening Day 2012: Brewers vs. Cardinals Live Blog, Play-by-Play Reaction

The wait is finally over.

Opening Day for the Milwaukee Brewers is upon us. Fittingly enough, the defending National League Central division champions open the season where their last one ended: at Miller Park against the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. 

Of course, both clubs come into the beginning of this season with markedly different appearances from the last time they met.

Over the last few months, both of these squads have experienced massive roster realignments.

For the Brewers, they lost longtime first baseman Prince Fielder, third baseman Casey McGehee and hitting coach Dale Sveum. Fielder signed on with the Detroit Tigers, McGehee was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Sveum became the new head skipper of the Chicago Cubs.

For the Cardinals, it was the farewell of former first baseman and three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols and the retirement of future Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa. Pujols agreed to a 10-year, $254 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels last December.

Nevertheless, both teams will be forced to progress without their lost pieces. Today marks the beginning of what looks to be a very enticing season in the National League Central division.

My name is Alec Dopp, and I'm here to take you through a live play-by-play blog of today's Opening Day events at Miller Park. First pitch is set for 3:10 PM CT, but I will continue to keep you updated throughout the day as information becomes available.

Baseball is finally here, folks. Kick off the season right here at Bleacher Report.

Final score: Brewers 5, Cardinals 11

Alec Dopp covers the Milwaukee Brewers as a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @alecdopp and read his blog.