Xavier Nady is headed back to Lake Elsinore to start the season. The California League employs a full-time DH, so Nady will be able to play every day while his elbow continues to heal. From a selfish standpoint, I’ll be glad to get a chance to see him again. He could put up some silly numbers there.

Dennis Tankersley is struggling this spring, and there is talk that he could start the year at Double-A Mobile to continue his work with Darren Balsley, who is credited with helping Tank break through last season. Given his recent struggles and the fact that he was shut down early last year, it’s probably not a bad idea to let him regroup at a lower level for half a season before calling him up to Triple-A or the parent club.

Ruben Rivera. What a waste. He’s now calling what he did "a rookie mistake." Sorry, but most rookies know better than to steal equipment from a teammate. It would’ve been bad if he’d stolen from, say, Randy Choate, but he had to go out and take some of Derek Jeter’s stuff? Rivera’s agent supposedly is talking to some other clubs, but I don’t see it happening. What a waste.

USD lost yesterday at home to unranked USC, 15-5. The 18-5 Toreros currently are ranked #20 but this game won’t help their cause. USF is in town for three games this weekend. Southpaw Ricky Barrett is expected to take the mound Friday night.