Breakout Star?

Written by Jamie Samuelsen

Thursday, 14 February 2008

What's the best part of spring training for you?When it’s 14 degrees and cloudy and the roads are like giant bumpy cakes, spring training represents hope. Hope that the good weather is right around the corner. When you listen to Dan and Jim on the radio, you can almost hear and feel the sunshine coming through the speakers, can’t you? It just makes you feel warmer.

But my favorite part of spring training is easily the break-out star. I know Sparky became famous for his bold proclamations about Torey Lovullo and Chris Pittaro. But he’s hardly the only one. Every spring, we get a guy who is either a journeyman who puts together a hell of a spring, or a young player who performs way beyond what’s expected. All the media get excited and tout this guy as the surprise of spring training. It’s great theater every year. Remember Mike Rivera’s spring in like 2001 or 2002. This guy seemed like the next Lance Parrish in Lakeland and ended up playing 43 games for the Tigers total. Or the famous Marcus Thames – Bobby Higginson battle in 2005, as if either one of those guys would have spelled the difference between 100 wins or 100 losses. I can’t wait to see who it’s going to be this year. Some name will emerge and it will seem like there’s no way Dave Dombrowski or Jim Leyland can keep that guy off the roster. My prediction for 2008 – ??????????? BRACE YOUSELF!!!

My prediction for 2008 – Timo Perez. LENNY;ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080213/SPORTS02/80213060/1050