Well, we finally made it. My experience with the drive to Sarasota these last two years is that just when you think you've been driving forever and can't possibly make it any longer, you have about two hours to go.

But finally the drive is done and I sit here in front of the Daiquiri Deck with my laptop computer out. I feel like a bit of a dumb ass as I am passed by 1) 20-somethings in various degrees of undress and 2) retirees living the night life at 7:40 p.m. One guy walking by did smile at me, though. I won't tell you to which group he belonged.

If you've been reading Red Hot Mama since the very, very beginning, you might know that last year's accommodations were less than desirable, but the condo this year is just lovely. I imagine I'll have very specific nice things to say about it when I'm no longer staying there.

Anyway, for any of you who were worrying, you'll be glad to know that we made the trip safely. And the Daiquiri Deck is now seating #36. That's the family with the kid who argued with my son about whether “20” is “twenty” or “twenty-zero,” so I'm glad they're moving on so we can avoid the tension. We're #40, so I'd best wrap it up.

Tomorrow: our first game. Go Reds!

The Reds shot down the Blue Jays this afternoon, 9-2 in Dunedin.

Justin Germano gave up one run on six hits through four innings of work. He got the win and led the pitching staff to hold its opponents to just two runs for the second game in a row.

Michael Burns and Jake Robbins each contributed a scorless inning, and Matt Belisle contributed two scoreless. Todd Coffey gave up a run on two hits through his inning.

Adam Dunn seems to finally be rumbling to life. After his home run yesterday, Dunn went 2-for-3 today with an RBI and a run-scored. Hopefully some of that rubs off onto Austin Kearns, who got his own potential hot streak started today by going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Rich Aurilia and Dane Sardinha each had 2 RBI, with Frank Menechino and Dewayne Wise each had one.

Speaking of Wise, after a couple unremarkable games everyone's favorite unlikely scored two of the team's runs today.

The win brings the Reds's record to 10-6 and their winning streak to three. Tomorrow the boys visit the Pirates in Bradenton at 1:05p.m., about the time I hope to be well into the great state of Florida. I'll certainly be in a great state of exhaustion after this trip, but that will quickly be remedied by the first game I'll attend in person on Sunday.

And a mere 10 1/2 hours later, I'm set up in the hotel room in Atlanta. We were on pace to arrive some two hours ago, but Atlanta traffic is epic. I worked on my cross-stitch project, which helped the time go by, though it couldn't do much to block out the repeated playings of the Lazy Town sound track.

Anyway, I'll try to take a closer look at today's win over the Blue Jays after we get back from dinner with the in-laws. I'm psyched to see that Kearns finally turned it on.

The car is packed and we're bundled up to head out into the 30-degree Indiana morning and begin our adventure. Next time you hear from me will probably be from the hotel in Atlanta where we'll be stopping for the night.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

The Reds buckled the swashes of the Pirates today in Sarasota, 7-2.

That was a ridiculous thing to say, and I apologize. Let's start over:

The Reds swashed the buckles of the Pirates today in Sarasota, 7-2.

Brandon Claussen put in four innings to start. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits with four freakin' strike-outs. You go boy.

Ryan Wagner came in to pitch the fifth and retired the three batters he faced on just nine pitches with no strike-outs. I guess he hasn't worked past that whole “pitch-to-contact” idea just yet. Hard to complain though. You, also, go boy.

David Weathers, Kent Mercker, Rick White, and Chris Hammond also each contributed a scoreless inning. All you boys go.

Adam Dunn contributed one of his signature solo shots in the fourth inning; it was his second home run of the spring.

Felipe Lopez, Heartthrob Denorfia, and Quinton McCracken each stole a base. Everybody's favorite base stealing machine, Ryan Freel, went 1-for-3 on the day with a run scored, but his two strike out limited his base pilfering opportunities.

Little Eddie Encarnación went 2-for-3. He scored two runs, but failed to knock any in. And not even one home run. Poor kid. Dewayne Wise, recently very hot, did nothing worth mentioning. So why am I mentioning it?

The win brings the Reds's Grapefruit League record to 9-7. Tomorrow the Reds visit the Blue Jays in Dunedin at 1:05 p.m. We should be approaching Georgia's northern border about then.