Photos from Scottsdale: Pablo Sandoval can still hit

I watched this game with my wife from third row seats down the left field line instead of in the press box, so hardcore analysis will be tough to come by this evening. Yeah, yeah, just like always.

At least I was an active participant, taking plenty of photos as per usual. This afternoon’s home split-squadder didn’t pack quite the offensive wallop we saw yesterday in Phoenix, but we’ll start with Pablo Sandoval, who looked ready for the WBC with a home run to right.

Pablo Sandoval rounds second after his first HR of the Spring

In case you were wondering what Cole Gillespie looks like (he very well may make the 25-man)

Gregor Blanco checks the scene while running out his 4th inning triple

Think Buster Posey has fun playing baseball?

While Posey makes everything look easy, Hunter Pence does not…

Pence made it back to second safely here (there was no throw on the play)

Note: at one point during warmups between innings, Brett Pill threw a “grounder” from first to Brandon Crawford. Instead of using his glove, Crawford used his right foot to deflect the ball straight up. It spun up his body, off his stomach and directly into his right hand, and Crawford flipped the ball to first as if nothing out of the ordinary occurred. And based on his “And-One Mixtape” hijinks during practice, this really was old hat for Crawford.

Well, I didn’t get a photo of that, so you get this. Sorry.

This isn’t Brandon Crawford doing an impression of Lionel Messi

Remember Nate Schierholtz? He’s the Chicago Cubs’ everyday right fielder until we’re told otherwise, and he walked and later scored against his old team today.

The look of a man who doesn’t have to fight with Blanco for playing time