Carlos Martinez is excited for baseball and so are you! - A Hunt and Peck

"Sometimes I get too excited," Carlos Martinez said through an interpreter to the media after his first start of Spring Training on Friday, "... but at the same time it really helps me and really motivates me to get out there and compete."

I think most of us can relate. Carlos is electric. Watching him pitch is exciting. He is an exciting person. And after an offseason of rehabbing and conditioning, he is happy to be pitching again.

Felt great being back on the mound. Ussss #springtraining

— Carlos Martinez (@Tsunamy27) March 11, 2016

It is great to have you back, Carlos.

what else is going on in baseball...

• Enjoy the many subtle reactions from one of the strangest double plays you'll ever see | MLB.com
• Mariners hope to benefit from new yoga classes | mariners.com
• Breaking down all the winners and losers in Knocked Up's 2007 fantasy baseball draft | MLB.com
• How the White Sox Could Win the Pennant | FanGraphs Baseball
• Francisco Lindor: Stop Bunting | FanGraphs Baseball
• Use baseball to pick your 2016 NCAA tournament bracket | SBNation.com
• Yasiel Puig cleared in MLB investigation of Miami bar fight | True Blue LA
• Barry Bonds just beat the Marlins in a home run contest | McCovey Chronicles
• Panthers respond to Goose Gossage by proudly tweeting a Cam Newton GIF | SBNation.com

what the cardinals are up to...

• Gay Cardinals Minor League player quit baseball when teammates said gays should be killed | Outsports
• MLB and St. Louis Cardinals taking 'kill gays' comments very seriously | Outsports
• Hochman: Keeping hostility to yourself | Benjamin Hochman | stltoday.com
• Time growing short for Cards' Bowman | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com
• Adams feels comfortable with swing changes | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com

KNOW THINE ENEMY...

the nl central

• Figueroa using analytics, physics for edge in making Pirates' roster | TribLIVE