MARCH

- 3/30/01
I made the cut! I pitched one inning yesterday, and I pitched great. I was able to get ahead of every batter and had a 1-2-3 inning. I will be on the Wisconsin team (TimberRattlers • www.timberrattlers.com) in the midwest league, barring any last minute changes. And in this game of pro ball, things change all the time. I will keep you posted. Russ

- 3/22/01
Hope all of you are doing well. Things around camp are getting pretty busy. They have started making cuts and moving players around to different teams. Fortunatly for myself I made it through first cuts. Spring Training is a stressful time. You must be at your best all of the time to impress coaches and player development personel.

Today I pitched for the Triple A club in an intersquad against the Double A team. I did well. My control could have been better but I battled. I threw 2 innings giving up 1 hit and 1 walk, striking out 1, Oh yeah, and 1 HP. No runs scored. My walk was a damn 0-2 walk, which is the worst kind. I think thats worse than a walk a four straight. But overall not too bad.

Next cut day is on Tuesday. Most of the guys are nervous arriving at the clubhouse on that day. But all you can do is perform and let the chips fall where they may. I will write again when I have some info to pass along.
See you later. Russ

- 3/19/01
Hi everyone. Hope you guys are all doing well. Today we started our minor league exibition games. We played our Advanced A team. I pitched 2 innings and had no runs and no hits. I felt good, it was good to be back out on the mound again in a game situation. For the remainder of spring training we will be playing games in the afternoon and have practice in the morning,
with lunch in between. So the days will feel longer. But playing games makes the time go by faster, and it prepares you well for the upcoming season. As always I will keep you guys posted. Russ

- 3/01/01
Hi everyone! Beautiful day here today. Temp 78 and sunny. Threw a bullpen today, 40 pitches and I felt good. We used half the bullpen mounds because the big league pitchers were using the other side to practice bunting. Afterward, I went with my roommate to watch the first spring training Major League game, Mariners vs. Padres. Tomorrow we are off. see ya later. Russ