Where else can we start today's look at the implausibly positive spins found at baseball Spring Training than in Fort Myers, Florida. Perhaps it was the steak-and-sausage pie at the Mucky Duck, perhaps the car auction was cancelled or maybe, just maybe, Manny Ramirez is trying professionalism on for size but the oufielder showed up three days earlier than expected at Red Sox camp. Sporting braids with red highlights and a full beard, the addle-brained slugger got right to work in the cage without speaking to reporters. Jason Varitek's reply upon learning Ramirez had arrived: "Good for him." Sounds like he's happy to see the guy, just like Terry Francona's sure to be. According to Bill Madden of the Daily News, Francona implored GM Theo Epstein to trade the eccentric slugger over the winter. Epstein tried, but couldn't find a team willing to give him equal value for his cleanup hitter.
- Cleveland Indians second-year pitcher Jeremy Sowers has a cat named Tum Tum. He took the name from a character in the movie "3 Ninjas" which I haven't seen but I'm sure is shitty. Sowers may or may not be - "He's 23, but he pitches like a veteran in his late 30s," teammate Paul Byrd said of Sowers. "When I give him my thoughts on something or how to pitch a guy, he's one of the best I've seen at applying it. When you pitch like that and you're able to apply something you learned in the locker room hours before, the sky's the limit."
- Scott Rolen and Tony LaRussa's feud didn't stop the Cardinals from winning the World Series last year but it was a problem that needed to be solved. The hatchet's been buried but that doesn't stop the manager from making the past seem rosier than it was. "There wasn't one time I've ever done anything with Scott that was not in his and our team's best interests," La Russa said.
- "We are going to find Baker at-bats, but we want to give Brad (Hawpe) every opportunity to take that next step," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "If he hits 10 points higher and takes a small step in every area, he's closing on .300 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. That's not hoping. That's factual. I think Brad can be a very special player."
- Piazza turned it on during coaches' batting practice, according to manager Bob Geren, who said, "Mike was just killing the ball. He hit a ball off the center-field batters' eye.''
- Royals GM Dayton Moore on Angel Berroa : "But we think Angel is going to play better. He knows there's a sense of urgency to come out and play. I think he'll be fine." Nothing could be finer than a .259 on-base percentage.
- Brewers manager Ned Yost on Rickie Weeks: "He's a little like Rickey Henderson."
- "I like the way he throws," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "I think right now, I'm not leaning toward him, but the way he throws we're going to take a [close] look at him and see how he does, because he can make our club better." Guillen's discussing Gavin Floyd who had a 7.29 ERA in 11 starts with the Phillies last season.
- "I feel really, really good, and mentally, too," Cota said. "Winter ball really got me back into my groove, got my confidence back. And it was everything. I went down there and relaxed and tried to get my game back to the level it was when I was a prospect and how it was in '05. I'm trying to find that Humberto Cota all over again, the guy that was a top prospect, the guy that came up in the majors when he was 22." Here's hoping he finds it. The Humberto Cota that was around last year couldn't even hit .200.
- Manager Charlie Manuel continues to be impressed with what he has seen from righthander Antonio Alfonseca. Manuel also has liked outfielder Karim Garcia, saying he thinks he is a better player than former outfielder David Dellucci
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