Topperanton

See Drew? This is how you do it without gloves.

KC. The White Sox will be even more of a mess than the Twins but it's time for KC's prospects to start paying off

I think the scarier question is who this reliever is stepping in for -- maybe Swarzak or Doyle could fill in for Blackburn or Marquis if one of them falters or gets injured but if Baker/Liriano/Pavano goes down our rotation looks even scarier than it does now

Is Salcedo not an intriguing potential ace in the farm system? I would like to think he is. And maybe Hermsen and Stuifbergen aren't potential aces but I'd consider them front of the rotation starts like a Baker or top-form Liriano

Shot and completely NOT SUBTLE, ha

This is a very typical Seth thread...

Is anyone by chance going to the Season Opener in Baltimore? I think I'm going to make the plunge since they're so close to New York. I'll probably try to hit up Saturday too

Shake Shack is a great place -- the lines will be ridiculously long though. You can also get Shake Shack burgers in Bryant Park in Manhattan for cheaper and better and that's the original location so the burgers are actually even better there (maybe I'm an elitist). Check out Blue Smoke at the field (upper deck behind home plate in the beer garden). Less long lines and the food is delicious BBQ. Unfortunately Yankee Stadium food there isn't anything special to speak of. There used to be an amazing Italian sub shop behind home plat at the old stadium, but I haven't found them at the new one yet. I will be at each of the games though, so we should certainly grab a beer there at some point!

Yes, Captiva is gorgeous. You'll have plenty of time in the afternoons to get away for the day since Spring Training wraps up early enough in the day for the players to go out too. So utilize that time to explore the area around Ft Myers like Captiva, Naples, maybe even Sannibel

Agreed. It's fun to go to a couple games there but some of the best things to do are go to the complex when there aren't games and when the team is away. There are less fans, you get closer to the players, everyone is even more relaxed. The thing to be warned about though is to go early. Especially the major leaguers, even though they put in practice time on days when there aren't games or the squad is traveling, they like to get out by lunch time to go enjoy Florida just like anyone else. So get there at breakfast and catch several hours and then around 1ish they'll be clearing out to their cars to go home

I've been going down for several years and I spend most my time in Naples which isn't too far away (extended family live over there so it just makes it easier). It's a hike, but you should definitely check out Michelbob's Ribs in Naples and Fernandez the Bull also in Naples are definitely WELL worth the trip. I brought Nick Nelson and Seth Stohs to Fernandez last year and I think they'll agree about it -- Michelbob's is widely known as one of the best places to eat there as well

I'm looking at being there March 24 - April 2. Not settled on the dates yet. Seth, bummer you can't make it this year, last year was great!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]161[/ATTACH] Sticking with the running theme of celebrating pitchers & catchers reporting -- a Shakespearian sonnet: The grassy fields of Hammond Stadium Are live this morn with sound of bat and glove. Walkways and bleachers filled with fandom's hum As sunlight and hope stream from skies above. Mauer stretches and tests an achy knee, While Cisco winds and loosens up his arm, And Revere runs the fields smiling with glee As prospects show early to prep for the farm. The spring is here and summer can't be far. Soon mascots, organs and anthems will sing. Fans will fill stadiums, their couch and bar, To see teams begins the quest for a ring. We get seven months before sign of fall, It's time to enjoy the beauty of ball. (also available at http://www.curveforastrike.blogspot.com)