Time to move on

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Feb. 18, 2006, 2:39AM
ASTROS SPRING TRAINING
Turnaround specialists
Less than four months ago, Orlando Palmeiro made the last out in the World Series. Now it's time to move on

By BRIAN MCTAGGART
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

"KISSIMMEE, FLA. - When you win the National League and advance to the World Series as the Astros did a year ago, the offseason is full of pats on the back, congratulatory handshakes and fond memories.
The offseason also is shockingly brief, something the Astros were coming to grips with Friday as pitchers and catchers trickled through the clubhouse at Osceola County Stadium for the start of spring training.
All the players who were expected to report indeed checked in Friday. The Astros will carry 24 pitchers and six catchers in camp.
"It came too quick," righthander Chad Qualls said. "This is the shortest offseason I've ever had. I was telling a lot of people I might actually need these six weeks to get back into shape a little bit."
The Astros will take the field this morning for their first workout, which manager Phil Garner promises will be brief. The players also will undergo drug tests and physicals today while trying to get settled into their spring homes.
"It gets harder to leave the kids every year, but at the same time it beats working for a living," righthander Russ Springer said. "I'm glad to see the guys again. All the bullpen is already here. We'll play a little catch and shake loose some of the weariness."
Position players will report Thursday, and the first full-squad workout will take place Friday. The first exhibition game of the year will be at Osceola County Stadium on March 2 against Cleveland.
"It seems like I just got done playing about a month ago," said lefthander Mike Gallo, who arrived from California on Monday to get extra time to beat jet lag.
"It was kind of more of a mental break than it was physical. Physically, I feel fine and when I started playing catch my arm was in decent shape. I didn't feel like I had a long way to go to get it going."
Garner said the club's first spring training as defending NL champions won't mean the Astros can rest. He still expects the players to get their work in, and he still plans to stress fundamentals."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3668889.html