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My Spring Training Notes

Decided to go AFTER Spring Break this year. The foul stench of the Rangers in October has faded and feeling good about the boys again.

Today's game was a preview of things we we need to see but won't see this year, which is Elvis leading off and Gentry getting to play. Naturally, both went well, but don't expect Wash to change. The FO is really slipping because I actually had better seats than Jon Daniels.

Other than a Thermonuclear bomb blast by Votto, Yu looked real good.

A couple of things I've noticed so far.

The team looks healthy. No limping around, no extra attention by the trainers, the guys look good.

Profar looks ready for the show at the plate, but not at 2B.

Burkman has trimmed down, but he's not in a groove at the plate yet. Even his throws when he was playing 1B were off at times.

Our supposed Ultility infielder guy "name escapes me" has been unimpressive in the extreme.

Murph hasn't sucked, but he hasn't impressed either.

Leonys Martin looks ready for Prime Time.

Moreland is trimmer and hitting everything. Even lefties Wash!

Colby was throwing off the rubber at about 90%. If you didn't already know, you wouldn't think he was coming off major surgery.

Pudge needs to work on his golf cart driving skills.

They are keeping Jairo Beras away from the public areas as far as I can tell.

Prospect notes:

Joey Gallo looks far more ready for prime time than I imagined. He's tall and athletic, and I can easily imagine a corner OF transition if he's ready before Beltre is ready for the pasture.

Olt didn't impress in the little I saw.

Brinson has noticeably fast hands at the plate. He looks far less polished than Gallo as a player, but with that quick bat, and a few years to bulk up his lean frame, and he could be knocking on the door. An everything goes great projection has him as a Tori Hunter comp. The tools are there. now it's just grinding those skills out.

Some kid named N. Williams could really hit.

More later.

There's been a humongous drop in Japanese reporters since last year.