Instructs, Day Four: Bright side.

His name sounds like it came straight out of a Chip Hilton novel. He once listed his hobbies as body-boarding and playing video games, as if you needed to ask. His fastball whistles like others' don't, with that subtle tail of flame that Max always insisted didn't exist only in picture books. His slider might as well be named after the three Rice Krispies dudes. His curve would make Beckham proud. His change? Check out the perfect parachute landing. He's all business throwing a bullpen session in sleeves and shorts at 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning, bouncing, almost fidgeting, like the third Festrunk Brother (look it up), as he peers in for the signal (or, in this case, signals the pitch himself), seemingly getting restless waiting to break your bat, or buckle your knees. Right now, he's probably walking someone's four great-grandmothers across the street. And I bet he recycles. Back home from Surprise, I'm exhausted this morning, but reviewing a Tanner Scheppers side doesn't need to come in essay form, and probably could have been done in a Twitter-length economy of words. He's gonna be gooooood. =========================================================== To join the free Newberg Report mailing list so you can get e-mail deliveries of every edition of the newsletter, daily minor league game recaps, and frequent Newberg Report News Flashes, go to www.newbergreport.com and click the "Mailing List" link on the top menu bar. (c) Jamey Newberg http://www.newbergreport.com Twitter @newbergreport If you want to be removed from this list, please e-mail me at newbergreport@sbcglobal.net