Before we head out to try a new spring training watering hole tonight, here are a couple of things about Monday in Surprise.
The weather was bad, colder than in Arlington and raining. It didn't keep the Rangers from hitting though. Among those in the batting cages were Ian Kinsler, Craig Gentry and Mike Olt.
Speaking of Olt, he's ready for a crash course in the outfield. He things he can be good out there with practice. He played a few games in right this winter in the Dominican Republic. Olt is also happy he got out of Connecticut before Nemo smacked the Northeast and happy that he's still a Ranger. One thing that stood out was how unfazed he was about the trade talk this offseason.
Rangers manager Ron Washington is already ready to go. He was driving around in his golf cart looking for players to work with. As always, Washington is excited about spring. Expect a lot of pitching drills over the next couple of days. Rangers pitchers cut their error total from 16 in 2011 to seven last year. But covering bases and making the right decisions will still be a point of emhasis.
Joakim Soria threw off the mound for the first time since having Tommy John surgery and will do it again Wednesday. There is a chance free agent Kyle McClellan, who is coming off two surgeries last season, will be a little behind the other pitchers to start camp.
We may be trying something new with video during the time I'm in spring. It will take some player cooperation. Hopefully tomorrow I'll know something for sure. Watch out at @aandro on Twitter for more details.
And finally, in a fashion statement right out of the 1980s, the Korean teams working out at the Rangers facility have some awful jackets. I mean bad. I'll send a pic of them tomorrow. It will be better than the one of I sent of Craig Gentry today.
