Notes: Stetson Allie to start season with Altoona

Tim Williams writes that Stetson Allie will start 2014 with Altoona. That's interesting, because after Allie's excellent first half at West Virginia last year, he didn't hit much at all after being promoted to Bradenton. Allie turns 23 next week. It looks like the first couple months of the season will be a big test. We'll know pretty quickly whether he's a real hitting prospect or not.

-P- Travis Snider (that's him in the picture up there, not Allie, obviously) went 3-for-3 with a homer as the Pirates defeated the Blue Jays yesterday, 6-4. That's what happens when you trade Travis Snider, Blue Jays! Jay Jackson, a minor-league signee, started and pitched two scoreless innings. Joely Rodriguez had two scoreless frames as well.

-P- I finished the final draft of my book today and sent it to be proofed, so please forgive the relative quiet on this end.