Pitchers and catchers have begun reporting to spring training, with position players due in camp by Friday, marking the official start of a new season of MLB shenanigans. Out in Tempe, Ariz., Los Angeles Angels Manager Mike Scioscia is famous for sending out his players on strange missions during spring training. Even the Angels' new superstar, Albert Pujols, should be on high alert: As Bobby Abreu, John Lackey, and Vernon Wells can attest, it's not just rookies who Sciosca targets. Here are the 10 funniest challenges, surprises, and other pranks that have gone down in Scioscia’s clubhouse in years past.

1. Scioscia sent a couple players to a local ostrich festival he read about, telling them to report back. The guys traded cash and autographed baseballs for an ostrich that they brought back with them and let loose in the clubhouse. Players got out of the way fast, especially pitcher Ramon Ortiz, who jumped into his locker and started yelling in Spanish about a giant chicken.

2. When pitcher John Lackey was in college, he missed his algebra final, probably because it was scheduled five days before the 1999 draft and also because he hated math. Nine years later, Scioscia had Arizona State (not even his college) hand-deliver a sophomore-level algebra exam, and had Lackey, along with three other players who were given twice as much time, complete the test.

3. Bobby Abreu was always talking about the basketball team he managed in Venezuela, and mentioned the improvements they needed. Hearing this, Scioscia had members of the Harlem Globetrotters come and show off their skills for Abreu, telling him he “had some guys that wanted to try out for his team.”

4. Noticing he had some shy players on his team, Scioscia took matters into his own hands and sent them out into the frightening world of beautiful women. Their assignment was to interview the Phoenix Suns' cheerleaders and report back, writing about each of their personal histories.

5. Scioscia, who is bilingual, sent rookie Brandon Wood, an English speaker, to dinner with Erick Aybar, Kendry Morales, and Albert Callaspo, all Spanish speakers. Wood was told he could only speak Spanish, while the others were to speak only in English.

6. Veteran Vernon Wells signed an $86 million, four-year contract when he first joined the Angels. He was told to take the players who weren’t so well-paid out to dinner.

7. Scioscia told two of his pitchers to create a fielder’s glove and catcher’s mitt from scratch, requiring, among a great deal of patience, a trip to a leather store.

8. Pitcher Jared Weaver, who liked golf, was sent to check out every golf course within 50 miles of the team and report back. His presentation had to include a map of his findings, displayed on a poster board.

9. Though outfielder Reggie Willits’s mission has become a tradition for all the Angels, it started with the simple task of going to Toys 'R' Us and buying thousands of dollars worth of toys. He then wrapped the toys and gave them to teammates who had newborns or children visiting during training. All the extra toys were given to a women’s shelter.

10. Two rookies who listened to heavy metal were sent to Medieval Times, where Scioscia tasked them with discovering the connection between metal and the Middle Ages.