I started collecting autographs in 1998, and so far I have collected 30 bats on which players of different teams have signed,

I am not saying the players will get any better - but they can't become any worse.

Having the depth is where good teams become great, as far as I'm concerned. I think he's the best, if not one of the best, depth guys in the league. If you can even call him that. He's a great asset to have, no doubt about it.

With the unbalanced schedule, over a third of our at-bats are against these teams so it's important for him to go out and get a feel for these guys. Obviously we don't expect anybody to hit .450, but the best thing you can do is keep running him out there and letting him have good at-bats.

The thinking therefore could only have been that Lara will somehow reunite the team and the region in less than a year, with approximately 20 one-day games to play before the competition starts.

If you strain body too much it will refuse to accept the challenge.