The off-season has been a wild ride, with players getting injured like it's going out of style (it's not), some playing that may or may not have been too "rough", Clemens drama, and Santanamania, but we must remember the most important part of spring: players impressing me.

Last week I gave out the first round of the prestigious Yankees Chick Player of Spring Training Thus Far awards to Giambi, Cano, and Damon, and while those three have all continued their award-worthy performances - particularly Damon, who last week only got the award because of his philanthropic efforts but in the last week has made himself worthy with actual baseball playing - now that several more games have been played it's time to discuss the accomplishments of a few more players. This week's YCPOSTTF's are going to:

Bobby "I Have Yet to Exhibit Enough Personality to Warrant a Real Nickname" Abreu: In 19 at-bats, Bobs Big Boy has had 10 hits, including a double and a homer, and shown us that he hasn't lost his keen eye by walking three times. Good work, Bobster.

Phil "Aren't You Glad You Didn't Trade Me?" Hughes: 5 innings, no hits, two walks, and a strikeout. 'Nuff said.

Alex "If Anyone Boos Me This Year I Will Sic My Crazy Wife on You" Rodriguez: A-Rod's mega-contract and the accompanying scrutiny it will bring for the next ten years (how many times will we have to hear "oh he's TOTALLY not worth it, he struck out one time and only hit 40 homers instead of 3098234098324, what a waste of money" from morons?) don't seem to be affecting him, for now at least. He's hitting .500 with two homers and four walks.

Shelley "Spirit Coordinator" Duncan: Yeah that's right, he's winning another one. He won the first YCPOSTTF and he's earned himself another by maintaining an average of .421 and a .476 OBP; he's also smacked two homers. Most importantly, though, he's continued to coordinate that spirit like nobody's business.

Congratulations to the winners! Hopefully the other boys will follow their example and aspire to achieve such a glorious status themselves.


I'll be back this afternoon to pontificate about today's game against the Rays, as it seems there was yet another bout of "rough playing." The game is still in progress at the moment so I'm waiting to discuss in case more dramz occur, but stay tuned...