BJ Upton from the Tampa Bay Rays here...

Hey guys its Rays CF BJ Upton checking in from Port Charlotte about a week before the season begins. It has been a longer than usual Spring Training this year due to the World Baseball Classic but I am of one of the few guys that is happy that it is longer. I had off season shoulder surgery so I'm glad to have as much time as possible to get 100% healthy before the 2009 season begins. As of now I wont be travelling with the team for the first series of the season, I'll be staying back in Port Charlotte to get some ABs and be ready to play when the team returns to Tampa for the season opener. Rehab has been going well and I feel great and I'm very excited for the upcoming season.

Last season was amazing. To win the AL East, make the playoffs and then make it to the World Series was such a great experience for me and my teammates. The fan support was amazing and it felt good to bring that kind of excitement to the area after all those years of struggling. I'm sure that the fans will show up again this season as we try and make it back the World Series and this time come out on top. Almost everyone is back and we added a few important pieces as well. Pat Burell will give us some much needed pop in the middle of our lineup and Gabe Kapler will give us some outfield depth and bring a great veteran presence that Cliff Floyd provided last season.

I can't wait to get back on the field and to defend our AL East division title. We wont be sneaking up on anyone this season and we are going to get every one's A Game but I know we're ready for it and we proved last year that IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING!

Justin Masterson here...

What a whirlwind it has been starting last season and continuing into this spring training and, well, continuing into this upcoming season. The offseason seemed as though I didn't even have one, because the season before was the longest that I've ever had going all the way into October.

What a blessing it was last year to have a chance to not only be in the playoffs, but pitch in almost every game. It was such an exhilarating and humbling experience.

Then put into the mix that this off season my wife and I purchased a new home. It seemed as though we were always running around here and there trying to find just the right thing to put here and there. If I knew it was that taxing I may have just bought a studio instead, haha. Then to end the off season we purchased a new car, a mini cooper. Yes I am about the same size as the car, but that thing is pretty cool.

Coming into spring training is such a great feeling of knowing that I will be in the big leagues. What a comforting feeling that is. I feel honored and humbled in that fact too, because so many are having trouble finding work and at least for another year I have a job. For no reason would I ever take this for granted.

I've worked hard and love the team that we have put together and I see many wins in the future, as long as we can stay healthy. I can’t thank you enough for your support and love for this game. Everyday is a joy to come to the park and when that subsides it will be the time to go.

I hope this year that we may share in the joy that this wonderful game can bring.
Thanks,
Justin

Justin Upton checking in...

What's up adidas baseball fans, this is Justin Upton of the Arizona Diamondbacks checking in from Tucson, Arizona where I'm preparing for the 2009 season at Spring Training.

I feel great so far this spring, all the hard work in the off-season is really paying off and I am very excited for the upcoming season. We made some great additions this off-season with guys like Jon Garland, Felipe Lopez and Tom Gordon and we're all focused on getting back to the playoffs like we did in 2007.

Getting back to the playoffs and making it to the World Series is why we put in all the hard work. I spent a lot of October with my brother BJ who was playing in the playoffs and World Series with the Tampa Bay Rays and seeing him play so well on the biggest stage in baseball made me work harder and want to get their even more.

Our fans have been as great as always and I hope they're as excited as I am for this season. I'm looking forward to taking my game to the next level and being one of the big reasons the DBacks are back in the playoffs in 2009.

Thanks for letting me keep in touch with you and be sure to check me out in the adidas mens training campaign soon!

It's Ryan Church checking in...

Spring Training has begun here in St. Port Lucie, Florida and I finally can say that I'm back to 100%, the concussions are a thing of the past! Things have been pretty good so far and I really can't wait for the season to begin. Looking forward to the brand new stadium in New York. Here's to a very healthy and productive '09!! Thanks for letting me blog and I'll check in with you again later this season with another update.