PHOENIX -- No matter how cold and crummy the weather in Wisconsin, the Brewers' Cactus League opener is a sure sign of spring.

That happens today, when the Oakland A's visit Maryvale Baseball Park. The Brewers tuned up for the opener, playing two abbreviated intrasquad games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bill Hall had a two-run double to lead the "home" team to a 2-1 victory in a 4 ½-inning game Tuesday.

All the players were itching for some real games after several days of drills, workouts and basically playing catch.

"It's always good to play in a game situation, no matter where it's at," first baseman Prince Fielder said.

A couple players will be held out of the early spring games. Pitcher Yovani Gallardo is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Relievers Salomon Torres and Eric Gagne will likely sit out the early games. Torres is building up his arm. Gagne is suffering from the flu.

Claudio Vargas starts the Cactus League opener on Thursday. The Brewers travel to Phoenix to play the A's on Friday.

Over the weekend, the Brewers play in Tucson against the Rockies and host the Angels.

On the Mend: Gallardo, who underwent his surgery last week, is walking without a limp and feeling virtually no pain.

"I feel really good," he said. "I hope I can still be ready for the opening of the season. We'll just have to see."

Gallardo said he's never had knee problems before. "This was a freak thing during one of the early workouts down here," he said.

Veggie Prince: Fielder has been getting a lot of media attention after going on a vegetarian "diet."

"It's really not a diet; more of a life choice," said Fielder, who played last season around 260 pounds and still is listed at that weight. "I saw some things on how they handle our meat and just decided no more.

"I have more energy. I don't feel bloated at all. I feel clean and really good."

More from Prince: Fielder said spring training is a lot different for him this year.

"I'm not putting so much pressure on myself to prove what I can do to the team," he said. "Last year, even though I had played as a rookie, I was still trying to show what I could do to the team. Now, I think they know.

"I think it's different for a lot of us younger guys. After getting close last season, I think we know what we have to do to win. That's what spring training is about, getting ready to win in the regular season."

The Big Switch: Manager Ned Yost likes what he has seen of Bill Hall at third base and Ryan Braun in left field.

"Billy has looked good," he said. "On the first day, they told me he missed every third ball. Since then, I don't think he has missed three overall. There will be adjustments.

"You will make errors at third base. You can win a Gold Glove at that position with 20 errors. But, Bill will be fine over there.

"Ryan also has looked good in workouts. This is a tough place to learn to play the outfield (high skies and desert breezes). Ryan is working hard out there though."

The switches make room for veteran Mike Cameron in center field. Cameron is playing with the Brewers this spring, but will miss the first 25 games of the season because of a suspension for taking a banned stimulant.

Cactus League Switches: The Brewers will soon have more company in the Valley of the Sun. The White Sox already have announced they will move from Tucson in 2009 and play at a joint facility in the Phoenix area with the Dodgers, who are moving from Florida.

The D-Backs and Rockies, who train in Tucson, also are talking about moving closer to Phoenix. Casa Grande and Goodyear, just to the south of the Phoenix metro area, have been mentioned.

Goodyear also has been mentioned as a possible location for the Reds, who are thinking about moving from Florida.