Spring training is fun in a way the NFL exhibition season could never be. Spring break meets casting call. Veterans amble, rookies hustle, and kids and old timers watch on surrounded by palm trees and cactus. Then there are the stats.

Baseball is the ultimate stat game. Everything is recorded, everything has a context. Then spring training comes and the world is turned upside down. Our statistical compass spins in place. Here is a look at the hot hitters and pitchers this spring:

Jeff Ellison, SF Giants (.765-0-9) Ellison has 13 hits in his first 17 at bats, 3 doubles, and 4 walks. Keep in mind this is Jeff Ellison, lifetime .255 hitter fighting for a job as Barry Bonds late inning defensive replacement. Todd Linden, Ellison's competition, is hitting a mere .478, but has more power.

Hunter Pence, Houston Astros (.722-2-7) The plan is that Pence will spend another year in the minors before becoming a starter for the Astros. He isn't buying into the plan. 18 times up, 13 hits, giving the lie to the perception he will have problems making contact in the majors. Jason Lane and Richard Hildago are competing for the same spot. Lane is hitting .423 with 3 homeruns and looks like he's finally living up to his talent. The Astros also want Hildago around for his defensive ability in center and right and strong arm (not to mention that he once hit 44 HR in a season early in his career). So, don't pencil Pence in just yet, unless Lane is traded.

Derek Lee, Chicago Cubs (1-2-.550) Eleven for 20 means Lee is back from last season's wrist injury and prepared to make Cubs opponents aware of the fact. Spring training stats are followed closely by roto hounds, all of whom are hoping no one else has noticed Lee's spring line.

Josh Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds (.478-1-3) The first pick in the 1999 amateur draft was a bust in Tampa Bay who struggled with heroin addiciton. The Cubs picked him up and traded him to the Reds. Hamilton is 25 and spent last season hitting .260 in Class A, so he's probably getting a long look before a trip to AA to start the season. Hamilton has enormous talent, though, so don't bet against him getting called up at some point this year.

Brad Eldred, Pittsburgh Pirates (.471-4-5) I saw Eldred four years ago in A ball. A classic hit or miss guy. But the power potential is definitely there. Unfortunately, the trade for Adam LaRoche closes off first base, Eldred's natural position. At 6'5" and 270 (his nickname is "Big Country") a move to the outfield is unlikely. If he gets some plate discipline he could be a useful backup, or better still get traded to the AL where he could DH.

Curt Schilling, Boston RedSox (1-1 1.93) He's back and he wants a longer contract. A healthy Curt Schilling is a concern to the rest of the AL East and it appears the right hander is ready to move back to the top of what now looks like a very tough rotation. One concern, only 3 strikeouts in 9 innings. Is Schilling's stuff back, or is this just evidence of a very smart pitcher at work against kids and bench warmers?

Jonathan Pappelbon, Boston RedSox (0-0 0.00) Be afraid, be very afraid. Here is his line so far: 5 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts.

Rich Harden, Oakland A's (0-0 0.00) Some writers throw off on Oakland A's GM Billy Beane in reaction to the press he got after "Money Ball". But give him this, he held onto Harden and let go of Tim Hudson when virtually everyone was singing Hudson's praises and asking who Harden was. Now they know. Spring line-5 innings, 4 hits, no runs, no walks, 9 strikeouts.

Matt Miller, Cleveland Indians (0-0 0.00) You've got to like this guy. A big old boy from Greenwood, Mississippi he has worn 15 different caps in his pro career. He's spent parts of the last three seasons with the Indians and is being looked at as a closer. So far, so good. In 4 1/3 innings he has given up three hits, no runs, one walk, 9 strikeouts.

Erik Bedard, Baltimore Orioles (1-0 0.00) From sad experience I know how little a Baltimore Oriole fan has to be optimistic about. Here's an exception. A 15 game winner at 26, a left hander, big time potential. Nothing this spring argues against a big year. He's faced sixteen batters this spring. One got a hit, six struck out. "It doesn't mean anything. It's spring training", said Bedard recently. Yeah, but for Baltimore fans it's something more. Hope.

Life is on schedule. It's warming up here in the Carolinas, I still haven't started working on my taxes, and in the Mets camp El Duque is now being called "El Duck ay" by terrified infielders fearing decapitation from line drives hit off the ancient one. Jeff Ellison is hitting .765. It's March 10th and baseball life is right on schedule.