ST Observations - Tue., Mar. 9

ST Observations –Tue, Mar. 9:

-how come when Johan Santana gives up three runs in the first inning of his first ST outing, no one panics? He went 1.2-IP on a strict pitch count and gave up four earned runs.

-Oliver Perez's ST ERA is lower than  Santana's...

-did you notice that the lineup today is getting closer to what it will look like on opening day? It seems to me that Gary Mathews Jr. might be taking the starting CF position away from Angel Pagan.


-David Wright seems to be serving notice that he will return to long ball this season. Hit another yard ball against Brett Myers in the 1st inning… bet David loves doing that against Brett.

-RP Matt Lindstrom pitched two scoreless innings against the Mets. Jeez, I still miss his 100-mph heater...what aperfect 8th inning guy before K-Rod.

-you sort of knew whoever caught Santana today was one of the catchers that’s going to Queens next month. Chalk one up for Henry Blanco.

-nice to see OF Cory Sullivan playing the outfield for the Astros today… he’s currently batting .111.

1B Ike Davis started with the big boys today and went yard again. I'm sure we're seeing more of him than expected because of the Fernando Tatis injury.

I'm taking P Eddie Kunz off of the SP Circus (look at the left top side of page one here). Someone early said he was told that he would be looked at this spring as a possible starter, but, frankly, it hasn't happened for Eddie and it looks like he will return to Buffalo for the start of the season.

C Josh Thole doubled in a run late in the game.... one last observation about the current BA of kids like Thole and Davis...  let's try and remember this is the first half of spring training, where most of the pitching is done by players that aren't going to be on the opening day roster of these teams.  Yes, the kids are allright... but it ain't real baseball yet.