By Jim Owczarski Sports Editor Published Sep 16, 2014 at 1:04 PM Photography: David Bernacchi

OnMilwaukee.com is catching up with Milwaukee Brewers players in this occasional series called "5 questions for ..." Sometimes we'll talk baseball, sometimes we won't, but regardless you'll get new insight into some of your favorite players.

Scooter Gennett got a taste of the big leagues in 2013, and now he's helping the Milwaukee Brewers make a playoff push in his first full season. We caught up with the second baseman to talk about what he's learned about the Cream City, being set on fire and how he likes to relax on off days.

OnMilwaukee.com: Now that you've been in Milwaukee for the entire year, what have you learned about the city that maybe you didn't know, or learn, during your stints last season?

Scooter Gennett: My first year in low A in Appleton was the first time I really experienced the Wisconsin fans, so I think just coming here more often, just being around more often, I just feel like I'm fortunate to be here because they're there. They were with us last year when we weren't doing too good. Obviously this year we're doing a lot better but it's probably the same; we're probably drawing the same crowds. Really loyal and just great fans.

I'm sure in the winter there's not a whole lot to do other than watch the Packers or that kind of stuff. That's probably one thing I've learned about Milwaukee, is that there's good fans and good people. It's not dangerous to walk out in Downtown Milwaukee. Like all the other places we go, it's like hey, don't go here, don't go there. Here, and in Wisconsin in general, it just seems to be good, blue-collar type people that aren't going to talk crap if they see you out about how you did that game. They're just good people and good fans.

OMC: You've had some off days lately. Is there something you really like to do when you have that day?

SG: For me, it's sleeping in. Sleeping in and just relaxing, if it's down at the pool or going out. Me and my girlfriend go to the park up at Brookfield that has a little pond and beachfront area (Fox Brook Park). Just getting out and doing something I wouldn't normally do. I'm sure a lot of these guys do stuff even when we do play games (because) we don't have to be here until like 2 o'clock, so there's some stuff to do, but getting away from the game, getting away from whatever's on your mind is probably the best thing to do on an off day.

OMC: OK, I've got ask you about the postgame interview you conducted back on June 26. Have you ever been set on fire before?

SG: That's the first time that's happened to me. It's nice to get it out of the way, but I think if they wouldn't have thrown water on me it probably would have been pretty bad. That was the first time I've gotten the hot foot.

OMC: To that end, what's it been like for guys like you and Khris Davis who are essentially "first year" players in this clubhouse?

SG: It's awesome. We've learned a lot of things that we should do and shouldn't do, especially as guys just getting into the big leagues. We're not, me and Khris we're not the veteran-type guy yet, so we have to know how to act, how to play, how to do certain things that maybe we're not accustomed to doing, certain things like getting the water when we get off the plane for the guys. It's all good because you pay your dues and then one day you can have someone carrying your stuff or whatever it is.

As far as getting crap, or people talking crap, it's not like it offends you. We're all up front and pretty open, so if you mess up out in the field we'll joke about it and just get a good laugh in. It's not the intent to make you feel bad or put you down. I've heard some stories in that sense, the rookie stuff, and it's gotten a little better now. I talked to some guys before that they dreaded coming to the ballpark, but that's not the case for us. I think a lot of it has to do with how you take what they say. if you get mad and stuff it just gets worse. When it comes to that, I think that me and Khris do a pretty good job.

OMC: Finally, do you have a piece of equipment or anything that you absolutely must have in order to feel like you're ready to play, aside from a bat and a glove, of course?

SG: Materialistic stuff, not really. It's just more getting the work in, getting in the cage, doing my routine. I feel like everybody has some type of routine that they do. There's my chain, which means something to me, but I don't need it. As long as I feel like I've prepared the right way, then I feel comfortable out on the field.

Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.

A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.

To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.

Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.

In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.

Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.