All right, now this is the kind of game I like to see. The scrubs the Reds sent out to Fort Myers actually scored one fewer run than their counterparts in Sarasota, but also allowed 16 fewer and came out of the afternoon with a big win.

Again with the bullets:

• Starting pitcher Michael Gosling shut the Twins out over three innings of work. He allowed three hits and struck out a batter.
• Official team hottie Jason Standridge also shut out the twins in his inning of work. He allowed one walk.
• Edwin Encarnación, the closest thing resembling a starter on this trip, launched a two-run home run in the first inning to get the scoring going for the Reds. Encarnación wasn't done: he hit another homer in the sixth. He was 3-for-4 on the day.
• Starting for the Twins was Brad Radke. Do you think they call him Bradke?

Clearly there's a lot more to the game than that. You can check out the box score here.

Less than an hour now until Aaron Harang takes on the Yankees. Go Reds!

The Reds split their squad on March 3 to host the Tigers in Sarasota while also visiting the Twins in Fort Myers. As you might expect, most of the starters got to stay home. As you might not expect, it was also the starters that took the thumping.

Let's do the bullet thing:

• Justin Germano started things off and gave up two runs and four hits in two innings of work. He walked one and struck out two.
• Reliever and would-be closer David Weathers gave up six runs and five hits in one inning. Ouch.
• Luke Hudson gave up one run on a home run and walked three in two innings of work.
• Adam Dunn started at first base and hit a solo home run in the first inning. I hear it was on ESPN, but I haven't seen it yet. (I did see Griffey talking about the WBC and saying he's not worried about getting hurt. I'm glad someone isn't.
• Aaron Holbert also hit a home run, though his was a two-run number in the ninth. That one didn't make SportsCenter.
• Aurilia contributed on an RBI single in the third inning, but he and Womack also each contributed an error apiece. Continuing fodder for the perfectly civil discussion of those two in the diaries.
• Little Ray Ray Olmedo knocked in two on a single in the fourth inning. ::contented sigh::.

After I write up something about the other half of the split squad day, it'll be almost time for the Reds to start against the Yankees in Tampa. 1:15 p.m. on MLB Radio.

Yesterday former Reds reliever Gabe White decided to end his career on his own terms. The 34-year old left-hander pitched for the Reds, Rockies, Yankees, Cardinals and Expos. White pitched for the Reds 1997-2000, 2002-03, and 2004. Last year, White was released by Atlanta at the end of spring training and cut by St. Louis at the end of July. This year he was a non-roster invitee to Minnesota Twins spring training competing in a three-man race for lefty-specialist.

After a single-inning appearance where he gave up two triples and two runs, White was already swelling and feeling the aches and pains. White reportedly sat up all night in bed, staring at the television before making this decision. He pondered his physical ability and the ethical issue of whether it was right to continue playing a game that he couldn't give his all to anymore.

Isn't that beautifully descriptive? Can't you just feel exactly what he felt, barely aware of the infomercials flashing across the screen, watching the minutes tick by, desperately waiting for that passion for the game that's always just been there to show up again? It's like a movie.

And good for Gabe, I say, to follow his heart even when his heart tells him to do something as scary as giving up baseball. That takes guts.

I always liked White. He seemed like a character. Not the funny kind, of course. If anything, he seemed like kind of a crank, but that made me like him even more. I imagine that if I knew Gabe White personally, I'd give him a hard time about something, he'd grumble grumpily in response, and I'd giggle.

Plus, he always reminded me of a pirate. Too bad that none of the five teams he played for in eight years was Pittsburgh.

So with those sentiments in mind, RHM bids Mr. White a fond farewell, and presents this gift of a photo of what he'd look like as a swashbuckler. If you listen carefully, maybe you'll hear him grumbling. Or at least me giggling.

Via Marc's spring training blog and the Twins official site.

Reds pitching coach Vern Ruhle was diagnosed with cancer during his annual physical this season. He is not sharing the exact variety of the disease he has, but is planning to remain in camp as much as possible while he undergoes treatment.

Ruhle took over as pitching coach when Don Gullet was relieved of his duties along with manager Dave Miley in June 2005. The pitching staff enjoyed a marked improvement with Ruhle at the helm.

The diagnosis was made before symptoms began to appear. We here at Red Hot Mama are glad the disease was discovered so early and wish Mr. Ruhle the very best. I'm looking forward to hearing that the cancer is in remission and Ruhle can go back to focusing his attention on this woeful pitching staff.