A few things that I'm thinking about as we move within 2 1/2 weeks of Opening Day.
*When Carl Pavano pitches like he has in his last 2 Florida starts -- 8 innings, 1 hit, 0 walks -- it makes me wonder if he can recapture his form of 2004, when he went 18-8 for the Marlins with a 3.00 ERA. After that, he signed with the Yankees and his troubles set in. Maybe he's more than the No. 3 starter and sage voice for the younger pitchers that we've imagined.
*If the Twins don't have a young fourth outfielder that's ready for the majors, maybe Jacque Jones is a viable candidate to be the center field backup. I'm not seeing anyone else who's going to fill that role, and Jones' "future" isn't exactly going to be hurt if he gets 100 at-bats or so as the fifth outfielder.
*Would people be touting Jon Rauch for the closer's job if he was 5-foot-11 instead of 6-11? Right now, I'm betting on Matt Guerrier.
*Matt Tolbert is 0-for-17, Alexi Casilla is 2-for-20. Could they be opening the door for Luke Hughes to sneak the utility infielder's job that could have gone to one of those guys?
*I've been in the 219mobile for parts of the last two afternoons when Kris Atteberry was filling in doing play-by-play. from Florida. Anyone else think he was pretty good? Could Atteberry be the Ben Revere of Twins broadcasting?
