Not to act too much like a mainstream journalist or anything, but I came across this post on Al's Ramblings and had to repeat it here:

I'm going to paraphrase Bob Uecker from this weekend.

"If you're scoring at home to spring training games, you must be out of your mind."

That's not to suggest that spring training and spring training games have no importance, but it certainly does suggest that you cannot assume a consistent level of competition, talent, and effort throughout.

How [uh, Chris Duncan] progresses defensively is more noteworthy than who is leading the team in batting average, for example. Relax, enjoy the games, and pay attention to the little things players are working on instead of the big things, like who won or lost.

As mentioned before, I don't really get into spring training. The season's a month away, there is way too much Brian Falkenborg than I'm comfortable with watching, and there's college basketball on anyway. The big event this week is Selection Sunday.

However, it is time to prepare for the upcoming season, so we here at The Birdwatch have done a little housekeeping. The links on the left sidebar have been updated, at long last; many had gone idle in the two years since that had last been done. (Note: if you have a blog or site that you would like us to link to, feel free to drop me an email.) In addition, this particular "journalist" is going to do his utmost best to post at least once a week until the season starts, and up that to twice a week during the season. Some forthcoming posts include:

• Chris Duncan projection using the comparative analysis shown here
• Anthony Reyes projection
• Adam Wainwright projection
• Minute Maid Park review
• Wrigley Field review/photographic essay (depending on my travel schedule)
• Something steroid-related (since it's hard to avoid the subject)

So strap yourselves in, people, it's going to be a fun year.