Sweating with Pedroia.

During the off-season Dustin Pedroia once again worked out at API in Arizona. This year, however, he was visited by ESPN. The video isn't too different from what we already know about Pedroia but it's worth watching to see Dustin run with a sled. It's amusing to watch him run the bases (He runs like a little kid. He pulls his shoulder blades together, which forces his chest up and his hips backward.) so watching him run really hard only to not get anywhere is even more amusing. Or, at least, I thought so.

Around the World.

Team Dominican Republic played an exhibiton game this afternoon against the Florida Marlins, which they won 10-1. David Ortiz went 1 for 3, with 1 RBI as the result of a pinch hit single in the fifth inning. I normally don't feel bad for Alex Rodriguez but this statement:

"It's nice for me to come in and try to jell as much as I can. So far, so good."

made me laugh. Translation: "I could do a little jig, they don't hate me yet. It's awesome."

Unfortunataly for Rodriguez, the Yankees, and Hanley Ramirez (who greatly enjoys the protection afforded him by Rodriguez' presence in the lineup), this evening the Yankees shipped Alex off the Colorado to have a cyst in his hip examined which may preclude him from playing in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Team USA beat the Yankees 6-5. Dustin Pedroia went 1 for 4, with a strike out and a walk. He was also caught stealing. Kevin Youkilis went 1 for 3, with 2 RBI. He was also on the receiving end of a Derek Jeter balletic spin-throw that didn't quite make it all the way to first base and took a funny hop when it bounced back up to him. And as a result, Youkilis couldn't quite come up with it, much to Michael Kay's delight. Youkilis did manage to have a "what the hell?" kind of look on his face, though.

Team Canada was also in action today. They beat Toronto 6-4. Playing centerfield, Jason Bay went 0 for 1, with a strike out and two walks. He also scored a run.

Red Sox at Mets.

On Friday morning at 10am the tickets for the Red Sox v. Mets exhibition games on April 3 and 4 at the new Citifield will go on sale. They will probably fly off the Internet as the St. John's-Georgetown game sold out in forty-five minutes. At least you'll know quickly if you manage to procure tickets.

Bard of Catawba.

Daniel Bard seems to leave a nice impression in his wake. He and his two younger brothers (Jared and Luke) have all pitched for Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, NC. Says the baseball coach:

"They are great kids, great citizens who'll do well in life whether they're baseball players or not. They're extremely talented, but they're humble and they work hard. They'll give you 100 percent no matter who you're playing or what's the score.”

Also, he's apparently close with his brothers. Says his mother:

"What touches me the most is how they encourage and support each other. They're always calling or texting to see how the other one's doing. That's just a blessing to me. They're all humble and don't brag on themselves. They've been gifted, but work hard at it.”

Say it with me: Awww.

A New Home for Bell.

(Lifted from sittingstill.net)

He was never the best player but Mark Bellhorn has always been one of my favorites. I used to use Anita Bellhorn as an Internet pseudonym (stop laughing). Last year he ended up with the Dodgers AA affiliate only to be released in July. In January he went to an open try-out for the Brewers but didn't make the team. Today he signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies. Good luck to Bell.

Where's Mel Gibson Now?

Watching Josh Bard's body language (because it's a Heidi interview I had to work my courage up to turning the sound on), he seems like he's a good listener--he's very still. He also seems immune to Heidi's giggly, flirtyness. I think I might like him.

Josh Bard pluses:

He likes good food. He likes to dance. He's self-deprecating. And he likes his family; in four minutes he mentions his wife twice, his brother, and his parents.

Josh Bard minuses:

His taste in movies. He lists Braveheart and Bull Durham as being among his favorites. I suppose they're not necessarily negatives--I don't think I've ever seen Braveheart in it's entirety because it was boring and Bull Durham had it's moments but was too long. He's also kind of literal (but I could chose to believe that he's being purposefully obtuse, which would be a positive.)

Josh Bard trivia:

He hit a walk-off homerun in his very first game.

Positive News.

Daisuke Matsuzaka's second outing of the spring was quite a bit more successful than the first. Earlier today Matsuzaka threw three innings against the Yomiuri Giants, allowing no runs and only one hit. Of his thirty-two pitches, twenty were strikes and he walked only two. If this is what he meant by pushing himself (thirty-two pitches in three innings), then I'll take it. At that pace he'd regularly last nine innings. Of course, he'd be walking six batters per game-which wouldn't be too hot.