This is Bud Daniel, just checking in from spring training. I’m off to a raucous start here so far, and it looks like I could have a great season ahead. Here’s my current line.

B. Daniel – .517, 11 2Bs, 6 HRs, 26 RBIs in 13 games

If you extrapolate that to my half-season’s worth of at-bats last year (316 vs. 58 this spring), we’re talking 33 homers and 141 RBIs. Now, if we took that to a full season (barring injuries), I could end up with 65 dingers and 200+ RBIs. Right. I’ll believe that when I see it. I think my first hypothetical line (33 and 141) would be a more likely seasons worth of production. Hell, if I get 20 homers and 100 RBIs I’ll be ecstatic.

In other news, my fielding has come along nicely. I’ve yet to make an error this spring, but my arm’s accuracy could use some help.

All in all, it looks like I might be able to help my team towards a pennant race, so long as our pitching holds up. That is the issue, isn’t it? We’ll see what happens.

- Bud Daniel

Meet Luke “Lights Out” Louis, my closer in the Texas Rangers’ system. Pitching for the Frisco Rough Riders, he was anything but lights out. The big problem he had was with batters hitting the ball right back up the middle, one after another. He finished his first year in Double-A, but pitched just well enough (3.03 ERA with 32 Ks in 21 games) to get a spring training invite with the parent club.

He came up and had a decent first appearance, but his second game was a save situation. The pressure was on! He gave up two quick hits to put runners on second on third, but struck out the next two hitters to bring up what could be the last batter, or possibly the winning run.

Luke was Lights Out and slammed the door with another K. The Angels never knew what hit ‘em. Luke only has a fastball and a slider, and neither is very accurate, but he’s learning. Maybe one day he’ll truly live up to his nickname.

Well, my rookie campaign is over, and I didn’t win Rookie of the Year. The White Sox won the World Series and we didn’t even make the playoffs. On the bright side, I have some impressive numbers to stand by.

In 73 total games I hit .332 with 17 doubles, 18 HRs, 66 RBIs, and ended the year on a 24 game hitting streak. On the flip side, it looks like I’m going back to the outfield this season. I don’t know about that, since I felt so comfortable at first.

All in all, it was a good first year, and a good learning experience. We’ll see if going back to the outfield helps or hurts my offense this season. I was errorless at first in the majors but had three errors in right while in Double-A with Akron. I’ll have to work on my range more then I did at first. I did, however, continue to work on my arm strength all season, anticipating this event, so it hasn’t totally blindsided me. On to my second year!

- Bud Daniel

Ka-boom! After flubbing it over and over in late-game situations, I finally came through. 11th inning, Royals in town, and I blasted the ball over the left field wall for a walk-off home run – the first walk-off hit of my career. I’m now batting .324 and my hitting streak is nearing 20 games. I may win Rookie of the Year yet.

- Bud Daniel

I wrote previously that I was hitting .273 on the season, and that I was proud of myself. Well, I’m now batting .315 and am on a 12 game hitting streak. I’m getting better each game and have become our most reliable RBI machine. I also recently hit my career long home run, which measured in at 463 ft. So far I have 12 total home runs. I still have some contact problems, but my timing is getting better. Earlier in the month, I was 7th in Rookie of the Year voting, and I can only be moving up.

- Bud Daniel

Just checking back in. August is history, and I made strides during my first full month. I was the  Rookie of the Month for August, and overall AL Player of the Week for the last week in the month. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I’m doing pretty darn well overall. My biggest issues still include my lack of any clutch hitting ability at all, and my propensity to swing the bat way, way way too soon. Seriously, when I’m off, I can’t stop myself from swinging as soon as the pitcher releases the ball. The ball isn’t even over the dirt around home plate and I’m swinging!! That’s not cool. I tell myself, “don’t do that again,’” and yet I do it all the time. Oh well, apparently it’s getting better or I wouldn’t be Rookie of the Month.

- Bud Daniel

Poor Detroit. I was batting pretty well – 11 RBIs in 10 games – when I pulled in to Comerica Park. We lost the first two games of the three-game series but in game three… well, it’s fair to say that I had the game of my career.

I hit three homers (distances: 428 ft, 382 ft, and 424 ft) amounting to a 4 of 5 day at the plate with 8 RBIs The third home run was my first career grand slam. Boom!

So far, as a major leaguer, I’m batting .273 with 3 doubles, seven homers and 29 RBIs through 35 games. If you calculate that out to a full season (and c’mon, what baseball fan doesn’t love useless stats?), it comes out to about 14 doubles, 32 home runs and 133 RBIs. Not too shabby for a rook.

- Bud Daniel

I’ve had a string of bad games again, but like last time they were capped off by a big blast. Actually, after playing terrible for a week or two, I recently had a hot streak that MLB.com noticed. In my last week or so, I’ve batted ..415 with a homer and three RBIs. That’s not enough to offset Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo’s ice-cold hitting though. In not unrelated news, I now bat cleanup for the Tribe.

On another hand, I think I should qualify for Gold Glove because I’ve been flawless at first.

I was worried about how I’d transition, but it’s been no problem. I have no errors and I make every play that comes my way. Yes!

- Bud Daniel

Five games into my Major League career and my defense had far outstripped my offense. In those five games, I was batting  .150 with six Ks and no RBIs. Come game six, though, I broke out.

Fear the Monster! (that’s my nickname) I had four hits in five at bats against Minnesota with five RBIs and a dinger. It felt so good! I was finally able to contribute to the team. Now, to keep it up.

- Bud Daniel

Boom! Another home run! I hit seven in abut a month in AA-ball with the Aeros before the Indians decided to see what they had. Yup, that fast, I’m off the majors. I struck out allot, but hey – they’re the Indians. They can’t be doing that much better.

My defense wasn’t exactly suspect, either. I robbed this home run earlier in the month. However, I am – as seen here – a right fielder. The Indians brought me up to play by secondary spot, first base. I’ve not played first base since I got to be a pro. That sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

Anyway, I guess it’s off the big leagues for me. I’ll check back once I get settled in with Cleveland.

- Bud Daniel