OMC: Speaking of players moving around today, you, Jim Gantner and Paul Molitor played together longer than any other trio in baseball history. Do you still talk with those guys?

RY: I don't see as much of Paulie, but we still talk to each other a couple times a year. I talk to and see quite a bit of Gumby. He comes down here for a couple weeks every year. I called him the other night, but missed him.

OMC: How was the Brewers' organization when you were there versus how it is now?

RY: When I was with the Brewers, they treated people very fairly. Bud (Selig), my brother, Larry, and me would sit down and negotiate contracts directly. I think I was the last player that Bud still did that with at the end. The general manager wasn't even involved in the negotiations.

I heard some things during some of the years I was gone that made me think 'That's not the organization I played for,' but to be fair it was all hearsay. What I see now, I like. I think things are being done the right things around here. I'm really excited to be back with the organization. I think I always knew I would get back with the Brewers in some capacity when things were right.

OMC: How about Milwaukee as a baseball town?

RY: It was a great place for me to play. In fact, I don't know if I could have had the success I had if I had played in New York or some other bigger market. I always had a great relationship with the fans. They supported me and the team. I think they are again. I've stayed in touch with the town. I've been in and out of there a couple times a year almost every year since I retired. I'm looking forward to being there again.

OMC: You said you wanted to wait until your children were raised before getting back into baseball. Was that part of things being right for your return?

RY: My last daughter will graduate from high school this spring, so I jumped the gun by a few months. But, that is part of it. My wife Michelle did a great job of raising the kids while I was playing baseball. She understood I loved the game. You want to do what you can to pay them back for that understanding, so I did want to be around more for family.

My one daughter was able to compete internationally in figure skating. I went to China with her for one competition. I was involved with other things with them. So, I'm glad I took that time.

I've always been about more than baseball. I still own part of a (car) race team, although I'm not as involved as I once was. I still own some Harleys.

You know, I've lived my whole life trying to live one day at a time. I still live that way. It seems like only yesterday, and we had babies. Now they're grown up. It sometimes seems like yesterday when I was just starting to play baseball, but now the career has passed and here I am coaching young players. Time passes quickly.

But, while my body has aged, I don't know if I've ever grown up between the ears. I'm still trying to live life one day at a time.

OMC: This game ties you up for seven months, with a lot of time on the road. Are you ready for that, and all that goes with it?

RY: I can't say I really missed it. What's important to me is out there (on the field)? I love the competition, my teammates and the game. I still don't feel comfortable in front of TV cameras. I don't mind this, sitting down with you guys like this, but I feel most comfortable out there.

OMC: Most of us knew you hid from reporters as a young player after games.

RY: I thought, 'If I wait long enough those guys will go away.' I guess I did grow up in that way a little.

OMC: I actually have been somewhat surprised at how vocal you are when working with the players during workouts. Is that a change for you?

RY: I think you have to communicate with these young players. They want to learn. You can see it in their eyes when you are talking with them and showing them something.

OMC: It probably helps that they know they are getting their coaching from a Hall of Famer. Don't you think?

RY: They'll see through that in no time. Seriously, I don't know. Maybe. All I know is I'm going to give them the best I have.