It’s amazing the things you notice when you’re waiting for Cactus League ball to start. Earlier today, A’s starter Joe Blanton offered up one of the most impressive sights you’ll ever see.

Blanton’s pre-game long toss took him to nearly the center-field warning track. There, he threw the ball near straight as an arrow to catcher Justin Knoedler who was standing down the left-field foul line. Blanton unleashed the ball at least 70 yards in the air with each toss, and at least outwardly, it seemed to take as much effort as tossing BP to a 7-year-old.

Anyway, that’s the only impressive thing about his day so far. Blanton was ripped for three runs by Milwaukee in his opening inning, the lowlights of which where Prince Fielder’s laser double to left-center and Ryan Braun’s home run to dead center.

Now, repeat the mantra: It’s only spring-training.

By the way, the A’s may have suffered their first injury of the Cactus League. Ryan Sweeney, one of the men in the Nick Swisher deal, seemed to hurt himself when he clipped first baseman Fielder while running to first and has been replaced by Aaron Cunningham.