The 2008 foreign contingent on the Orix Buffaloes is looking good to me, and it seems to be getting better as we inch toward the opening of spring camp on Feb. 1.
It starts with manager Terry Collins, bench coach Jon Debus and pitching instructor Mike Brown, who tutored the Pacific League champion Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters for manager Trey Hillman in 2006.
Then you've got slugging position players Alex Cabrera at first base, Greg LaRocca at third and Tuffy Rhodes (who does not count against the team's four-man foreign player quota because he's got more than 10 years experience in Japan) in the outfield.