Bullet points

Some random stuff I discovered whilst surfing the web:

• While all standard sample size warnings apply, LaTroy Hawkins has recorded each of his outs this spring via the groundball. Considering his whole shtick coming in was that he transformed himself into a sinkerball pitcher last year, this is nothing but encouraging.
• Former Marlins’ first rounder Jeff Allison is back in camp with the team after 15 months of sobriety. I was hoping Allison would fall to the Yanks at the 27th overall pick in the 2003 draft, but alas, they ended up with Eric Duncan after the Fish made the high school southpaw the 16th overall pick. Allison’s story is a bit more self-destructive than Josh Hamilton’s, but if Hammy can come back, maybe Allison can too.
• Which pitching line is the ugliest: Josh Wymer’s, Craig Chaput’s or Kevin Nabors’? I say Nabors’.
• The more I think about Pedro Alvarez’s injury, the more I realize there’s almost no chance he falls all the way to the Yanks at #28. Mark Teixeira broke his ankle his draft year and not only went fifth overall anyway, he also received a deal worth $9.5 million. Alvarez isn’t in Tex’s class, but there are some out there that think he is. Something crazy could happen.
• There’s still a big chunk of Spring Training left, but I can totally see Scott Patterson making the team. Girardi’s been using him in a fireman role – bringing him in the middle of an inning to work out of a jam – and he’s been perfect so far. Brian Bruney may have lost some weight and grown out his hair, but he’s still craptastically ineffective. Patterson’s making the most of his opportunity; Bruney isn’t. Simple as that.
• Here’s your top two prospects for the 2009 draft. Gibson’s video doesn’t do him justice; he’ll be the best pitching prospect to come out of the draft since Prior.
• Eric Erickson is now 3-0, 2.75 ERA, 0.81 WHIP with a 23-2 K/BB ratio in 19.2 IP with Miami this year. The Yanks drafted Erickson out of high school in the 43rd round of the 2006 draft, but didn’t sign him. He’s the lefthander the system is sorely lacking. Ho hum.
• More from the “What Could Have Been” files: Rick Porcello is having himself a damn good spring considering he’s a 19-year-old in big league camp. 9-1 GB/FB ratio so far. Wow.
• Torre’s been getting a mixed bag from some of his personal favorites so far. At least Joe’s third base decision just got a whole lot easier.
• Last but certainly not least: I know steroids are bad and everything, but weren’t the games more fun to watch when the players could do this? I’d say so.