Carlos Silva has struggled the last two seasons but he had an impressive outing in his third spring training start.  He gave up only 2 hits to the Texas Rangers in four scoreless innings.

I don't want to get too excited just yet but maybe things are about to change for Carlos.  He received good news from his mother, Zulay, when she called him from Venezuela before the game.  She wanted to let him know that she had received her 10-year visa.

"That was a big headache the last couple years," Silva said. "She had been getting denied, denied, denied. I think that's why I was fired up today.

We're all aware that players aren't robots and no doubt this message lifted a huge weight from Silva's broad shoulders.

"The last two years haven't been easy for me," Silva said. "If I started counting, everything I was doing or everything I was worried about was never going to end. It was a very tough two years. This is a fresh start, this is a new start. I feel very comfortable with this team. The only thing I have to do is my work. That's it."

I have to admit I'm a little disappointed that his mom didn't save this long awaited relief for an actual regular season start.  Since that's rather mean-spirited, I have to wonder if there isn't a way to inspire Carlos before every start.

"I have to talk to my mother before the game and after the game," Silva said. "If I showed you the message I sent to her, I said, 'The way I feel today I haven't felt for a long, long time.'

"Great news,  Publishers' Clearinghouse sent me a letter and I may have already won $10 million. Good luck today. Besos, Mama"  The text is ready to go, now I just need his digits.