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I actually heard somebody complaining recently about all these teams and players we have to deal with. Thirty teams … 750 players … what will we tell the children? I don't mind so much. The more teams and players, the more stories that can be told. I will admit, though, that I can't keep track of them all. Which is why every year at around this time, I like to scan the names of the rookies and learn something about those who were, until very recently, complete mysteries to me. And as a sort of public service, I'm happy to share some of this new-found knowledge with people exactly (or even sort of) like you. What follows is a partial accounting.

According to one story, Ken Ray's "lively fastball made quite an impression on [Bobby] Cox" this spring. Cox might be the first to be so impressed. With the exception of 11 innings in 1999, Ray has spent all 13 seasons of his professional career in the minor leagues. Sometimes really minor. Just within the last four seasons, he pitched in the Western League, the Atlantic League and the Northeast League. But the Braves signed him, and he pitched so well this spring that when two bullpen slots became available this week, they summoned hot prospect Joey Devine and 31-year-old Ken Ray. There's absolutely nothing in his past -- not even his recent past -- to suggest that Ray is actually good enough to pitch in the major leagues. But of course, stranger things have happened.

Cubs outfielder Angel Pagan certainly wasn't on anybody's radar screen this spring. In January, the Cubs received Pagan from the Mets in exchange for "cash considerations" (whatever that means). Baseball America didn't rate him among either franchise's top 30 prospects. John Sickels -- who typically identifies the top 30-some prospects in each organization -- doesn't mention Pagan in his book, either. I did finally locate Pagan in Deric McKamey's 2006 Minor League Baseball Analyst: "Became switch-hitter to take advantage of plus speed and does a fair job of slapping and bunting baseball. Plate discipline has improved, but no semblance of power. Tracks down flyballs in all directions, though his arm comes up a bit short in CF."

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