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I try to stay balanced, weight on the balls of my feet, hands held about chest high, both eyes on the pitcher. I try to stay comfortable, and ready to hit.

At a couple of Ron Shandler’s First Pitch Forums this spring I answered the inevitable What sleepers do you like questions with a variety of names, some good some bad, but most of all I featured Brent Butler.

My hunch was based on the way he hit in limited duty last year, as well as my evaluation of the offensive merits of Juan Uribe, Ronnie Belliard, Chris Stynes, Greg Norton and Pablo Ozuna.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I was wrong. Despite the limitations of all the Rockies guys, they were all (except the injured Ozuna) better than Butler, who was designated for assignment today.

They were also all better than Gabe Kapler, who was released last week, and Jose Hernandez, who was traded. In fact, these three (Kapler, Hernandez and Butler) were the three worst hitters on the Rockies this year so far (by OPS), and now all three are gone. Next on the list?

Greg Norton.