Freel's OK, well sort of

Ryan Freel said he could play today, despite some very sore ribs on the left side, some more soreness near his scapula on the right side, and some nasty road rash on his left arm.

All was a result of the spectacular catch he made last night in Clearwater.

Freel has been told. "I told him to try to play at 80 percent," Jerry Narron said. "Maybe he wasn't going 100 percent. If he was going 100 percent, he would have really gotten hurt."

Freel says he's trying to try less.

"In the back of my mind, I think I should," he said. "But I see a flyball, and I don't think about it."

Freel's lucky. His shoulder hit the padding of wall at full speed. His head hit next. He said he didn't lose consciousness. He stayed in the game but his back began to spasm when he returned to dugout. He was going for x-rays, but it looks like he'll be all right for Opening Day.

I stopped on Starbucks on my way in today. I don't drink coffee. But I needed an iced tea to get going -- day game after a night game and all. The woman working the counter was easily the perkiest person I've seen in years. I was looking for IV line pumping espresso right into her. She thanked me for waiting in line, thanked me for ordering, thanked me for picking up the order. It was like something straight out Saturday Night Live skit.