While the snow piles up in Toronto, some people, like Mike Hansen, are in Florida. There's an eyewitness account of Monday's Jays-Yanks game in the latest installment of his baseball blog. Mike's also made a generous offer to buy a t-shirt at the game Friday -- and try to get an autograph or two on it -- to donate as the grand prize in the BBFL. On behalf of every other owner in the league, we all owe you a beer at a game someday. Thanks!
The recap is great:
Anyway, this insight is that pitchers are "ahead" of the batters in spring, as it takes time for the hitters to get their timing back. Or something like that. It did look like that theory proved itself for the most part, with hitters generally fouling balls off to the opposite field and generally hitting the ball weakly. So I think that despite only allowing one hit to what will probably be the Yanks Opening Day lineup, Hendrickson probably won't be All-Star material just yet. He was putting pitches where he needed them.
Some pitchers need three or four outings to get where Halladay and Lidle already seem to be, but if they're in a decent groove, they have an advantage. Very few hitters can take a few months off, then hit a pitcher's best stuff right away. However, my enthusiasm for Mark Hendrickson is uncurbed. Mike, we all look forward to your next report, and have fun at the Red Sox game.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20030305083841999