Monthly Archives: March 2007

March 5, 2007

ST Game Thread 3/5 Phillies vs Reds at Sarasota

Lineups according to C. Trent:

PHILLIES
Rollins SS
Victorino CF
Utley 2B
Burrell LF
Dobbs 3B
Helms 1B
Bourn RF
Ruiz C
Lieber P

THE UNSTOPPABLE REDLEGS
Phillips 2B
Hamilton CF
Encarnacion 3B
Dunn LF
Valentin C
Gonzalez SS
Bellhorn 1B
Hopper RF
Wilson P

I'd have to say that Paul Wilson is the favorite for #5 pitcher at this juncture, with Bailey looking like he needed some more seasoning in the minors after yesterday's struggles in the 2nd inning. We haven't seen ELizardo at all, not sure if he is healthy or not. I guess Saarloos and Livingston are in the mix as well, but they can always use Saarloos as a swing man since he has bullpen experience, and I don't know if you want to do that with Wilson who is coming off of a major arm injury.. better to have him in a set routine.

March 4, 2007

Spring Training Game Thread 3/4 Reds vs Pirates at Bradenton; Part 2

With all the confusion this morning, I'm only mostly sure that this is the line-up for this afternoon's game:

March 4, 2007

ST Game 4B: Reds 5, Pirates 0

It was a B game that was scheduled on the fly, was only six innings long, and wasn't covered much by anyone, but the Reds won anyway. I haven't got a boxscore, but here's what C. Trent says:

Dewayne Wise was 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs. Michael Gosling -- in for Bronson Arroyo, suffering from “flu-like symptoms” (no word if it's the same flu he suffered with on media day in Pittsbrugh for the All-Star Game last year) -- started, went 2 innings, gave up a walk and a hit and struck out 3 B-Pirates. David Weathers, in his spring debut, 1 inning, 1 hit, 2 walks, 1 K. Phil Dumatrait, 2 innings, 1 hit, 2 Ks. Jared Burton, 1 inning, 1 K.

The win would have brought the Reds' spring training record to 4-0, if it had counted. However, the A game that's about to begin will count. Homer Bailey is taking the mound.

March 4, 2007

Spring Training Game Thread 3/4 Reds vs Pirates at Bradenton; Part 1

Much to my surprise, the Reds scheduled a game with the Pirates today at 10 a.m. I can't find any way to find out what's going on with the game, but I hate not to have a game thread up since I've been enjoying them so much lately.

UPDATED 11:06 a.m.
I'm finding this whole situation very confusing, but from what I can put together, the “B” game, which is of course happening first, is what's going on right now in a secondary field at McKechnie Field in Bradenton. Bronson Arroyo was scheduled to start, but he's “sick” (i.e. didn't want to get up this early) so Michael Gosling is going instead.

You can try your hand at figuring out what's going on at C. Trent's site if you're so inclined.

No one is covering this game for the media. It's a six-inning affair, but there should be some actual coverage for the one at 1 p.m.

March 3, 2007

ST Game 3: Twins 1, Reds 14

About this time the Reds are making me feel a mite stupid for wondering where the offense was going to come from this season. Sure, spring training doesn't matter, blah, blah, blah, but they won over the Twins 1-14.

Aaron Harang led the change and worked his two innings adequately, allowing one run on five hits. If Jeff Brantley is to be believed, he was pounding his fastball all afternoon.

Speaking of Jeff Brantley, I didn't like him. I'm sure he's a heckuva guy, but something about his style just rubbed me the wrong way. I found myself wanting to disagree with everything he said just out of spite. I'll try to keep that under control, but if you notice that I've started going off on rants just to be contrary to Brantley, feel free to call me on it, and I'll feel free to glare at you and go grumble in the corner for a while.

Bobby Livingston and Victor Santos each allowed a hit in their scoreless pair of innings apiece. Kerry Ligtenberg, apparently pronounced “LITE-en-berg” despite not having an H, didn't even yield a hit in his two innings. Brian “Love” Shackelford walked a batter in the scoreless eighth.

And if you thought it took a long time to run down the pitchers, the RBI are even more prodigious!

First, the home runs: Scott Hatteberg and Brandon Phillips each contributed one. Mark Bellhorn, David Ross, Chris Denorfia, Paul Janish, Jeff Keppinger, Dewayne Wise, and Joey Votto also knocked in runs. Beyond that, it's all a blur. You can read an inning-by-inning account on C. Trent's blog, where he also takes some time to admire a particular lady in the stands. It's like the male version of RHM!

The win brings the Reds' spring training record to 3-0. Tomorrow the Reds will go up against the Pirates in Bradenton at 1:05 p.m. I thought they said Homer Bailey would be taking the mound, but that might be later in the week.