Raindrops are falling in Fort Myers, so today’s workout has been delayed some. The position players are able to hit in covered batting cages, so it was cool to watch Denard Span and Carlos Gomez work with hitting coach Joe Vavra while Delmon Young warmed up by hitting off a tee.

That’s right. D.Y. is here. We tried to grab him before he went to the cages, but he was unsure what the routine with the Twins is so he asked to hold a presser later. That was cool with us.

Jason Kubel is here, too. “I don’t recognize a lot of people in here,” he said.

He’s right. According to the Twins, 30 different players are in this camp from last year, which is 10 more than the year before.

No Dennys Reyes sighting yet.

I’m going underground the rest of the day. Joe C. is handling the daily stuff while I finish up a feature. Brackin, don’t even think about calling me.

I’m hearing that Concordia baseball coach Lunch McKenzie is on my case after I suffered a brain cramp and wrote that his squad was playing the Twins today in an exhibition game.

Lunch, please have mercy on me while I go have my brain examined. I always look forward to your squad coming down every spring to face the Twins in exhibition games. I know you look forward to taking on your buddy Gardy and getting into arguments with Stelly.

The game, by the way, is scheduled for next Tuesday. My mistake.

Back to regular programming…

Craig Monroe reported around midday. I watched Tommy Watkins get hit where no man wants to get hit during catching drills. The drills actually were entertaining, as Terry Steinbach had everyone practice the proper technique for blocking pitches in the dirt. Steinbach is one of a handful of former Twins who show up for stretches of spring training to work with the team.

Hitting coach Joe Vavra has a thick stack of reports on all the new hitters in camp and likes what he sees out of many of their swings. He does want to figure out why Carlos Gomez doesn’t have more doubles. He said Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau appear to have made slight adjustments to their swings that should help them this season.

Morneau is one of the first players at camp each morning, arriving as early as 7 a.m. (Eastern) to work out before the workout.

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Twins bench coach Steve Liddle, a couple trainers, a couple reporters and fans stood outside Hammond Stadium this morning to hear the sonic boom of the space shuttle shortly before it landed at the Kennedy Space Center.

I know this comes across as somewhat lame and has little to do with baseball but things get so regimented down here that the slightest diversion is welcomed.

The other boom came from Rays outfielder Carl Crawford, who apparently couldn’t provide any guidance to Delmon and Elijah Dukes last year in Tampa and has decided to take shots at them since they’re no longer in the same clubhouse.

Young hasn’t reported yet, but almost all the position players are here. A glance around the clubhouse showed Young, Jason Kubel, Craig Monroe and Alexi Casilla as the only position players not in camp yet.

Denard Span reported today and immediately let it be known that he’s here to win the starting center field job. “It’s not over,” he said. “Whoever wins the job is going to have to earn it.”

Let the battle begin!

Twins GM Bill Smith expressed disappointment on Monday about reliever Dennys Reyes’ late arrival to camp.

Reyes only recently discovered that his passport is due to expire in a few weeks, so his arrival from Mexico has been delayed until he gets an updated one.

“The best way to characterize it,” Smith said, “is careless.”

Reyes is expected to be in camp by Wednesday.

Reyes, if you’re wondering, can’t be fined because the MLB mandatory reporting date is Mar. 1.

Alexi Casilla missed his appointment last week to pick up his visa due to what Smith said was, “a legitimate family medical emergency.” Casilla is trying to have his appointment rescheduled as soon as possible, with help from the MLB office. There’s a chance he’ll miss the first full-squad workout on Saturday.

As for Francisco Liriano - who had to undergo a tougher visa process because of his drunken driving arrest in 2006 - he’s scheduled to meet with a panel physician on Tuesday. The Twins are crossing their fingers that he can be in camp as early as Thursday, depending on when he gets his visa and when he can get a flight out of the Dominican Republic. Friday is more realistic.

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In past springs, you’d see an unfamiliar face and wonder, “Who’s he?” This spring, five guys walk by and I’m like, “Who are those guys?”

Joe C. and I spent the morning introducing ourselves to a gaggle of new players in camp.

Philip Humber - Great guy. It’s Philip and not Phil. The H in Humber is silent.

Deolis Guerra - Very polite. He’s a biggun’ and it’s pronounced Day-OH-leece (rough phonetics here).

And other stuff… 

Ricky Barrett has lost about 15 pounds from winter ball.

Boof Bonser strutted into the clubhouse pointing to his lack of stomach.  He looks like he’s lost more than 25 pounds.

Answering some questions from yesterday:

Jama: I know you are a fantasy player. Any suggestions on a top 10 Fantasy Baseball list?

No. I haven’t played fantasy baseball in 15 years. I am doing rather poorly in a fantasy hoops league though.

Greg: Of the players picked in Minor league phase, would the Twins reclaim any of them?

Also, what do scouts do in the winter? Difference between an area scout, professional, advance.

Not sure which players the Twins would want back. I’ll see what I can find out.

As for scouting, draft preparations are heating up. I called Mike Radcliff, the Twins vice president of player personnel, late last week. He was at game scouting for the draft.

Me: “So where are you this time?”

Radcliffe: “Ah, If I told you I’d have to kill you.”

Terry Ryan has been known to check out high school games during spring training to look at potential draftees.

Area scouts focus on amateur talent. Major league scouts work spring training and look at players who may be cut or traded.

Un:Are there hotels near the ballpark? Is it easy to get around without a car? I’m thinking about going down there for a few days and wondering if I’ll need to rent a car or anything or if i can walk everywhere..

Un, there are hotels in the area, but you’re going to have to Google them. Good luck getting decent rate at this time of year.  And yes you need a car!!!!!!