FORT MYERS -- A few quick sights and sounds from my first day at Twins camp:

(*) Inside Hammond Stadium, four guys stepped up for batting practice against third-base coach Scott Ullger: Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jim Thome and Michael Cuddyer.

They put on quite a show, smashing several balls over the fence. Then Opening Day starter Scott Baker took the mound, and there wasn't much hitting after that. Pitchers are definitely ahead of the hitters at this time of spring.

(*) Just behind the main stadium, on Field 5, Jacque Jones was facing RHP Anthony Swarzak. It struck me that I was watching two guys, 10 years apart in age and at such different stages of their careers, but each with so much to prove this spring.

Swarzak, by the way, has a nasty slider. Gardy called it "The Razor," hinting at the way it could slice through bats.

Jones circled behind the batting cage and joked with Gardenhire and bench coach Steve Liddle about the good old days. Whenever Gardy would try giving Jones a day off, Jacque used to sidle up to the coaches, practically begging to go in. Gardy said he'd eventually relent, just to create some sanity on the bench.

Jones couldn't stop smiling.

"Just like coming home?" I said.

"Oh, yeah," he said.

(*) La Velle and I will have more for tonight's first editions, including a look at some players on the spot, and Gardy's plans for center field (beyond Denard Span) during exhibition play.