a700hitter

ALE 1. BOS [of course] ALC 1. DET ALW 1. LAA ALWC: Twins NLE 1. PHI NLC 1. CHC NLW 1. LAD NLWC: NYM

Dice K's ball has a lot of movement, but most of his sessions have been at 80%. I didn't see today's outing. Beckett is throwing very hard already, and he has been mixing in the curves too. Schilling has looked good. He's not going full bore yet, but his ball still has some life.

I would count on that. That's a business decision to which none of us are privy.

I thought Ichiro will be playing CF this year and Guillen would be the RF.

ORS, I think a sick and injured Helton is far superior to a prime and healthy Youklis. If Helton is healthy, it's not even close. Helton is only 33 years old. I see no reason why that couldn't hold true barring injury.

When I said they need to get him on the field and performing well, I meant that he has to show that he is healthy and throwing well. He's not ready to be put in Cordero's league. He's nowhere close to that. He has potential, but that's it.

My criticism of him has nothing to do with the stats that he put up at the end of last year. My criticism is based on my observation that he is a slow middle infielder, with an average arm. I question whether his range is as good as I am hearing and his hands are not that impressive either. At bat, he is a little guy with a big swing ands warning track power. IMO, he'll be an average second baseman for a couple or three years.

I'll correct myself. They are unknown quantities at the ML level. It only matters what they do at the ML level. Everything they do at the ML level is to earn a shot or to be used as a trading chip. In the end more prospects are useful as trading chips than as major leaguers.

This is not a matter of good pitchers working out the kinks in ST. There is a lack of talent in that bullpen. Theo needs to get Hansen back on the field and performing well and then package him to the Nats for Cordero.

He lost the closers job on opening day when he had a terrible outing and he was in the process of blowing the save when Crisp made a fantastic leaping catch on the dead run with his back to the infield. That poor outing in which he was topping out at arournd 84-85 coupled with Papelbon's great 8th inning performance caused the change.

No one east of the Mississipi has cared about the Dodgers since 1957 when they left Brooklyn.

Last year the closers job was Foulke's to lose, and he wasn't going to lose it in spring training. When he started off with a blown save in the regular season, he lost it. This yer there is no closer. Someone will have to step up by the end of the spring and win the job. While I agree that ST is for getting in shape and not for winning jobs, the bullpen guys are trying to win jobs. THe competition for bullpen jobs is fierce. These guys are out there to impress not just to get in their work.

I don't hate Pedroia. I hope he has the career that loretta has had, but my eyes are telling me a different story at this point. I don't like what I am seeing in the field or at bat. I'm judging him on what I am seeing now' date=' not last year. I just don't see much in the way of major league level skill from the kid. I'll be happy if he is an average second baseman. If 40 years of following every game makes me a newbie, then I plead guilty.

A comment on the kids in camp. I like the way Spann approaches his AB's, but I hate the way he fields at 3rd. To me it's easier to develop into an adequate fielder than learn how to hit. Also, where has Edgar Martinez been? Is he in camp?

I thought so, but JSinger wanted his head when the team was collapsing.

That doesn't make it the right option. They boxed themselves in and left themselves with no safety net. At best, he'll be an average second baseman in the league. At worst, he' ll flame out and the nation will be calling for his head in May. Not a good gamble with average b eing his upside potential. If average was his downside and his upside was Chase Utley, I could see leaving yourself with no other option. This was a gamble and not one I would have taken when so much has been invested in this roster.

I hope not.

Schilling seemed to be working on his pickoff move today. He made several attempts that were close and he picked off one guy at first. No one was taking a big lead, but Schill was getting the ball over there very quickly. He looked good again, this time working into the 4th inning, because his pitch count was so low. Several people commented that he looked as if he'd already dropped some weight. It could have been the slenderizing effect of the dark blue jerseys (with the red armpits--what's up with that?)? Theo sign Curt no for the one year $13 million if that's all he's asking. Go as high as $15 million if you have to before camp breaks. BTW: Although Ellsbury is very quick, I have concluded with my naked eye that he is not as fast as Crisp. Maybe I'm right maybe I'm wrong. The kid does take a full healthy cut at the pitch. Although he didn't travel with the team today, Pedroia is not Loretta with the glove or the bat. Just my opinion. Neither his hands or his footwork are impressive, and he is slow for a young middle infielder, well below average. He has no major tool and a big swing with warning track power. I am not looking forward to him being in the lineup every day.