Another spring profiile from the always-reliable Spencer Fordin at mlb.com focuses on Russ Adams, first-round pick last June out of UNC and middle-infielder for a Blue Jays team of the near future. Adams has received steadier playing time than he expected, thanks to Chris Woodward's ailments, and like other Jays prospects, he's really impressed those in the big-league camp. He comes across as the prototypical good rookie: earnest, eager to learn, willing to pay his dues.
It's been a feel-good spring in Dunedin, no doubt about it, judging from the media reports; even the curmudgeonly Richard Griffin actually went four columns with nary a discouraging word. Partly it's the sunshine, the grass and the fact baseball is back that puts everyone in an upbeat frame of mind. But I'm also getting the impression that this is a good camp: the veterans are enthusiastic and looking forward to April, giving of their time to the rookies and minor-leaguers, and the youngsters are picking that up and running with it. This can be directly attributed to JP assembling the right individuals for this squad, and Tosca and his coaches setting up an excellent Florida program. If there's a better place to be than a happy spring training camp, I'd like to know what it is.
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