John Donovan notes the Devil Rays are likely to field their most talented team ever, especially with three of their more devilish youngsters coming to the majors. So far, they're handling themselves well:

Young, 21, listens to a visitor's questions and readies to punch them back like so many batting practice fastballs. He spends way more time talking about his bat-toss than he does about his future, making it all but impossible to put the incident behind him.

"How do you?" he says to a reporter. "When you guys stop asking me about it, that's when it'll stop."

Young says this nicely enough, though with a measurable amount of exasperation. But the fact that he doesn't storm away with smoke pouring from his ears probably speaks volumes about how far he's come. Earlier in the week, Maddon predicted that Young would handle himself better this year, and through at least three interviews in a couple of days last week with various media members, Young did his manager proud.

"I really think he's going to do a great job, on and off the field this year. That's my call," Maddon says. "He's going to handle it in a way that's so good, you'll be surprised."

Let's hope that prediction works out. Dukes is later quoted as saying that this team can finish over .500. We'll see about that, but I'd much rather see a team losing with developing talent than with over-the-hill free agents. You'd rather be the 1986 Twins than the 2006 Orioles.

What does bother me a bit is all three of these trouble makers look like they're headed for outfield spot. I'd be a lot more impressed if Upton ends up in the middle infield.