Today there is an extra skip in our step, and song in our whistle. All across Arizona pitchers and catchers are reporting to work, which means Spring Training is underway.
Our Happiness Reports to Peoria
Today's Target: Andy Pettitte
Vitals: Andrew Eugene Pettitte, 34 yo LHP. Born in Baton Rouge, LA. 6-5, 225. 188-105, 3.79 career. 2-1, 2.72 in 2007.
Tonight's Target: Rich Harden
Arsenal: Harden throws a mid-90s fastball, a tight-breaking curve and, his unhittable out pitch, a late-breaking splitter called the "ghost pitch" (because it seems to disappear) or the "spuckle" (because it breaks as dramatically as a knuckleball). Opponents bat .164 against this pitch. Pure nastiness.
Elsewhere in the Ist-a-verse
DCist is screwed in the event of an oil crisis. Not that we're not all screwed in the event of an oil crisis, just D.C. is more screwed. Don't sell your car yet, District resident, a cabbie can kick you to the curb if he doesn't like your address. Not even Metro can save you now.
Elsewhere in Ist
Londonist prepares a Happy Birthday bath for Buddah this week and then things get all cliched. A madman goes on a rampage while axe-wiedling and London's mayor warns an American diplomat to avoid the kitchen if the heat bothers him so much.
World Baseball Classic creates a new, angry Ichiro
In a game with the intensity of a World Series Game Seven, Korea beat Japan 2-1 last night to secure a spot in the World Baseball Classic semifinals. Ichiro didn't take the defeat lightly, showing emotion on the field for the first time we've ever seen.

