Players have been coming into the clubhouse at Turner Field for the last month, at least, but Jan. 30 marked the first official day of the traditional early throwing program.
It's voluntary and open also to the organization's minor-leaguers, who are always amazed that pitching coach Roger McDowell spends as much time with them as with the established pitchers.
Because right-handed prospects Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado attract so much attention, it's easy to forget that right-hander Brandon Beachy and left-hander Mike Minor are young pitchers, too.
As are left-hander Jonny Venters, right-hander Craig Kimbrel and even, for that matter, right-handers Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson.
"It's going to take some patience and some bumps in the road," McDowell...
