Cactus League Game 14: Staying alive

Sorry for the lack of game threads the last couple days. Refunds will be issued. Hold your web receipts.

Today's lineup:

Norichika Aoki - CF
Omar Infante - 2B
Eric Hosmer - 1B
Billy Butler - DH
Carlos Peguero - LF
Salvador Perez - C
Mike Moustakas - 3B
Lorenzo Cain - RF
Jason Donald - SS

Jeremy Guthrie is on the mound.

News from today:

-- Alcides Escobar isn't in the lineup and has received a cortisone shot for his sore shoulder. Does this impact Danny Valencia's chance to make the roster? We have a keystone combo where both players are battling shoulder issues and the Royals are going to take a third baseman as their backup infielder? Not to put much stock in spring training numbers (or any stock for that matter) but Valencia is hitting .200/.286/.320. Pedro Ciriaco is at .435/.435/.696. Don't hurt me in the comments. Just throwing it out there. Because it will come up at some point.

-- This sentence appears in the above link:

Gordon walked through the clubhouse without any visible limp, and all his limbs also appeared to be attached.

It's the small things in spring.

-- This afternoon's recommended read is by Eno Sarris at The Hardball Times on learning the culture of the clubhouse. Notable for the inclusion of Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Mike Moustakas.

This seems to be a hot button topic these days and I'll have some more to say about it later.

Until then...