For 2½ weeks now, an army of scouts has been pointing its radar guns -- and its eyeballs -- in the direction of spring training games. Here's a sampling of their observations so far.
STRIKE ONE -- THUMBS UP DEPT.: First, some players who have looked better than you might think:
Brett Gardner, Yankees (.393, 6 SB): Gardner is involved in a center-field competition with Melky Cabrera. But even though Cabrera is hitting .375, it's Gardner's stock that continues to rise: "If he just does the things he's done down here, he'll help that team," said one AL scout. "They should just put him out there, let him run and inject some speed in that lineup."
Jason Donald, Phillies (.350, 9 runs scored): With Jimmy Rollins off on WBC duty and both Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz recovering from surgery, Donald has gotten 40 at-bats already at second, third and short. And he's done nothing to dissuade the Phillies from thinking he might be ready to help them right now. "He really grows on you," said an NL scout. "I don't think I've seen him strike out yet. He reads pitches well. He squares up the ball consistently. I like him a lot. He's got some baseball player in him."
Phil Coke, Yankees (1-0, 2.25 ERA, 8 IP, 1 BB, 6 K's): Coke was the guy who almost got dealt to the Pirates in the Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte trade in July 2008. But he's starting to emerge as a guy who could win a bullpen job right now. "I love that kid," said an AL scout. "He can help them. He shows no fear."
STRIKE TWO -- THUMBS DOWN DEPT.: And now some players whose springs haven't gone so hot:
B.J. Ryan, Blue Jays (0-1, 18.00 ERA, 2 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 1 K): Ryan wasn't the same last year after Tommy John surgery, but this spring he really hasn't been the same. "I know it's early, but you watch this guy and you think, 'Uh-oh,'" said one AL scout. "His arm speed has gone way back, and I really don't think he's pacing himself. I just don't think anything is coming out."
Nate Robertson, Tigers (1-1, 5.14 ERA, 7 IP, 6 H, 5 BB, 3 K's): The Tigers need either Robertson or Dontrelle Willis to step up and win their fifth starter's job, just so 20-year-old Rick Porcello doesn't have to start the year in the big leagues. But Robertson has scouts shaking their heads over his "minus" stuff. "I really think it's over," said an AL scout. "He pitches like he's 40 years old. No life whatsoever. His stuff has gone backward across the board."
Kyle Kendrick, Phillies (1-1, 14.29 ERA, 5 2/3 IP, 14 H, 3 HR): Kendrick has fallen so far behind J.A. Happ and Chan Ho Park in the Phillies' fifth-starter derby, there is speculation the Phillies could even trade him before Opening Day. "He's got options left, so they don't have to move him. But they'd have to think about it," said one NL scout. "I don't see where he fits, quite honestly. You want to root for this kid, but the more you see him, the more obvious it gets that he doesn't have enough stuff. He needs to come up with another pitch to get the hitters off that sinker."
STRIKE THREE -- SPRING FEVER DEPT.:
Box Score Line Alert: Before the Mets shut down Tim Redding due to lack of arm strength, he let them know something was wrong with this messy outing Thursday versus Florida: 2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 3 HR (in a span of eight hitters). Redding is already a two-time box score line of the spring winner this year, which is never a good sign when you've only made two appearances.
Souvenir City Dept.: When Ryan Howard swings a bat, here's our advice: Watch closely. No matter where you are. Even if you're sitting in the press box. We know this because last week, Howard fouled off a pitch that flew directly through an open press-box window in Clearwater, somehow missed the occupants of two rows of seats and wound up putting a dent in the back wall -- a good 35 feet back of the window. "Just telling everyone: 'Pay attention,'" Howard chuckled. After the game, he traveled up to the box and autographed the dent: "Ryan Howard, 2009, W.O.B." Uh, W.O.B.? Stands, of course, for: "Watch Out, Bro."
Quote of the Day Dept.: From Pirates coach/witticist Rich Donnelly, on last week's 15-14 game with the Red Sox: "That game got so crazy, the catchers were putting down signs with two hands -- because they didn't know what to call."
Jayson Stark
