The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

We're less than two weeks away, and here's how things are shaping up in Ft. Myers.

The Good:
Craig Monroe still isn't worth $3.8 million, but if his .333/.367/.630 hitting line is any indication, he may have something left in the tank.
Delmon Young has not thrown any equipment at any umpires, and he's hit .361/.395/.500
Joe Mauer looks ready to make a run at the MVP award (.458/.548/.833).
Mike Lamb has actually had decent reviews for his defensive work so far, while posting a .381/.435/.524 line at the plate. I have a hunch he might put up better numbers at 3rd than Nick Punto did last year.
Randy Ruiz has pretty much no shot at making the team, but he's been the best hitter on the team through spring, hitting .407/.448/.704. Players like him and Jon Knott (.250/.250/.542) are actually great to have. They provide depth, and it's nice to have people available that are actually capable of contributing when someone goes down.
Meanwhile, Denard Span, the minor leaguer everyone seems to hate, has had a good spring, and might open the season as the starting CF. Thanks to improved patience at the plate, he's hitting .290/.421/.419. I still think he'll be somewhat over matched by big league pitching, but if he can draw a walk here and there and use his speed, that would be a start.
Carlos Gomez is 8 for 8 stealing bases, and has two doubles, two triples and a homer. But his OBP is a mere .267.
I really don't have any idea who has the upper hand in the CF race.

There have been some positive developments on the mound, too.
Phil Humber has worked 12 innings, allowing just 8 hits, 2 runs and 2 walks with 7 Ks.
Brian Bass has allowed two runs in 10.1 innings with 8 Ks and 2 walks.
Dennys Reyes has worked 7 innings, allowing 7 hits and 1 walk and 7 Ks.
Joe Nathan and Pat Neshek have been unhittable as usual.
Boof has allowed only 3 runs in 9 innings, but has walked 5.


The Bad:
Punto has been Punto. He's hitting .172/.250/.241.
Unfortunately, Brendan Harris, his competition for the 2B job, is hitting .176/.222/.265, and has been unimpressive in the field. Justin Morneau has a .359 SLG%.
Brian Buscher opened camp by hitting line drives all over the place, but is probably headed back to Rochester, as his hitting line has plummeted to .148/.258/.259.
Matt Guerrier has a 6.43 ERA. Juan Rincon has walked 6 batters in 6 innings.
Kevin Slowey had 13 Ks in 10 innings, but has allowed 17 hits, and has a 5.94 ERA. Glen Perkins has a 5.43 ERA, and only 6 Ks in 11 innnings.

The Ugly:
Livan Hernandez has worked 13 innings and allowed 15 runs on 24 hits.
Brian Duensing was thought to be a darkhorse candidate for the rotation, but was one of the first cuts after posting a 19.29 ERA.
Randy Keisler, a veteran lefty, had an outside shot to make the team as a second lefty out of the pen, and while his 4.82 ERA isn't terrible, he has walked 8 in 9 innings.
Garrett Jones, who seems to have a leg up on the final roster spot, hit a monstrous homerun off Joba Chamberlain in a nationally televised game two weeks ago, but in his other 24 at-bats, he's managed 3 singles, a double and 9 Ks.