Autographs

My daughter got quite a few autographs. We have always told her to say please and address the players as Mr., as in " Mr. Zumaya, may I have your autograph, please." Works almost every time. She got Leyland and Knapp. Robertson and Rodney. Santiago and Everett. Perry and Porcello, Inge, Robert Zumaya and Casey Fein. I got Joel Zumaya(her favorite) and Tom Brookens for her on Thursday. She was tickled, but it is all about the get for her. She put the autograph book down right after we got in the car and almost forgot it.

A couple of days in Lakeland

I love spring training. You go watch a practice and people are quiet. Just straining to hear what they say to get some insider info. I went on Tuesday for the whole practice and just for a bit on Thursday because of some crummy weather(for Florida, that is, I would trade their weather for mine today).

Cabrera and Polanco were talking about the new Tiawanese pitcher, Fe Ni. My wife the Spanish teacher did some translating for me. During bunt drills, attendend by about have of the pitching staff, he and Polly were chatting. I could tell they were talking about him based on body language. Miggy asked Polly if he had been watching him and he said he was. That everything he does he does well. Cabrera started saying everyone needed to hustle because he was making everyone look lazy. About then it was Ni's turn at the drill and Polly covered 1st and Ni zipped a BB at him hitting him in the palm. It is nice to see them loose and having fun.