Last Game
The Cincinnati Reds lost for the fourth time in a row, this time to the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1. Bronson Arroyo started and miraculously turned in a quality start, but it wasn’t enough. The only offense was provided from a double from Joey Votto. But the Reds are still in first place, despite having a .500 record at 9-9. It’s a share of the Central, as most of the teams are tied with them, but it’s a share nonetheless.

Next Game
The Reds will turn to Mike Leake to stop the losing today and prevent the sweep by the Diamondbacks. Daniel Hudson will start for Arizona. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:35 pm EDT, and the game will be televised on the MLB Network.

Bailey’s Start Pushed Back
Although Homer Bailey’s last rehab start for the Louisville Bats was a success, his next start will be pushed back a day or two.

“Just a little bit tired,” Bailey said today. ”My pitch count doubled (from last time). Why go out there and pitch if my shoulder is tired? We can wait a day or two and we’ll be fine. It’s like if you haven’t run for a while and you go out and run five miles, the next four days you’ll be sore. You need to take a day or two.”

It’s not being described as a setback, but it will keep Bailey from the big-league club for longer. And we all know the Reds could use some reinforcements.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Last week when the Reds won a game, it was manager Dusty Baker’s 250th win. He has done that with all three teams he’s managed, a feat that has been accomplished by just 10 other managers.

Last Game
Edinson Volquez started for the second time this season and was still not very good, allowing 4 runs over 5 innings. However, all those runs were in the first, and he settled down enough after that to get the win. That was thanks to the offense, which piled on run after run en route to a 12-4 victory.

It’s been interesting hearing Sean Casey broadcast the last couple games. I get the feeling that he might be a little envious. This Reds team is a far cry from the teams he played for.

Next Game
Sam LeCure makes his first start of the season tomorrow, going for the sweep of the Houston Astros. The Astros will counter with Brett Myers. It’s an afternoon game, but it is televised. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:35pm EDT.

Attendance Up, Despite Tuesday
On Tuesday, the Reds drew just 11,821 fans to the ball park. After a great opening weekend that drew more than 100,000, that seems really low.

“(Tuesday) night was all about the weather,” said Phil Castellini, the club’s chief operating officer. “We expect better. We throw a lot of extra events on Opening Night. That’s how we’ve been able to build that up. Fireworks, a band, giveaways and all that stuff.

“It’s hard to do that every game. At some point, we’re relying on weather, opponent, team play. Unfortunately after a huge weekend and team that’s playing very hot, it’s still a challenge of Tuesday night in April when it 40 degrees or whatever.”

Forty degrees is cold for a baseball game. Attendance was up yesterday, with 17,719 showing up to see the Reds’ rout. Season ticket sales are up, and the team is projecting 2.4 million–an increase of 300,000–people to attend games this year. They’re clearly going to need better weather and better opponents. I have a feeling they’re going to continue winning.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The Reds’ impressive start to the 2011 season is drawing comparisons to some historic previous years. The last time the team started 5-0 was in 1990 when they won their first 9. The 43 total runs they’ve scored in the first five games is also the second most they’ve ever scored, second to the 1976 team.

Last Game
The last Cincinnati Reds game was a meaningless exhibition affair, although the Reds did win it.

Next Game
The most important baseball day of the year: Opening Day. The Reds open the season at home, naturally, against the Milwaukee Brewers. Edinson Volquez gets the honors for Cincinnati, while the Brewers send out Yovani Gallardo. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Ohio and broadcast on 700 WLW. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:10pm EDT, but there’s another cool thing before then.

The Other Cool Thing Before Then
That cool thing before the first pitch of the first game would be the Findlay Market parade. This year marks its 92nd time, and the grand marshal will be Joe Morgan. The parade starts at 11am.

The Cincinnati Enquirer has put together a nice guide to Opening Day, with tips on places to park and best spots to watch the parade, as well as what to wear and pack. The best tip is probably this one:

Arrive early, leave late. Don’t be fashionably late to Opening Day.

It’s a holiday in Cincinnati, so make sure to enjoy it.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Edinson Volquez’ start today will be the first opening day start for a pitcher not named Aaron Harang since 2005, when Paul Wilson got the ball.

Last Game
It took until the penultimate game of spring training, but the Cincinnati Reds finally managed to put both good hitting and good pitching together over the course of a single game’s 9 innings. The offense provided 4 home runs–including a solo shot from Jonny Gomes and a 3-run shot from Drew Stubbs–and the pitching only allowed 1 run. Mike Leake even had a great start. Now that they’ve done it once, let’s hope this team can do that 90-some times during the regular season.

Next Game
Bronson Arroyo starts the final spring training game against the Cleveland Indians, who will be sending out Justin Masterson. The Reds will be looking to win the spring training Ohio Cup, as the series is currently tied. Game-time is 3:05pm EDT, and it will be on 700 WLW.

Kaisan at the Ol’ Ballpark
Great American Ball Park will be the Reds home for the ninth year this year. One thing that the Castellini ownership group has done ever since taking over has been making improvements and changes to the park every year. This year is no different. The Cincinnati Enquirer highlights the new features.

• UDF Reds Market on View Level: GABP now has two UDF Reds Markets, one on the Terrace Level and, new for 2011, one on the View Level. This “grab-n-go” store on the top View Level features a variety of new items including sandwiches and wraps made fresh daily, fresh fruit, an extended selection of import and domestic beers, wine, Coca-Cola products, snacks and candy, plus sundries such as sunscreen, batteries, diapers and more.

• New Terrace Level food bars: Two new food bars located along the first base line and third base line will serve Mexican shredded beef or chicken nachos, and tacos with Mexican rice.

• Riverfront Club now open to all: The Riverfront Club offers extraordinary views of the Ohio River and GABP and is now open to all fans. Fans can enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet or order appetizers or entrees off the menu. The buffet is $26 for opening day and night games, $20 for day games.

Another UDF Market? I wonder if they’ll have twice as much sushi.

The season is almost upon us. I can hardly wait to try some of these things for myself.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
With their win today, the Reds secured their first winning record in their second year of spring training in Goodyear, Arizona.

Last Game
Yesterday’s game was televised, which made it nice that it lasted extra long, taking 3 and a half hours to complete. Unfortunately, the Cincinnati Reds’ pitching continued to struggle in the thin, dry Arizona air, as they allowed 15 runs and 17 hits. The offense continues to take advantage of the opposing team’s pitching, as well, scoring 13 runs yesterday. It wasn’t quite enough, though. I’m choosing not to worry and focus on how 13 runs will win a majority of times during the regular season.

Next Game
The Reds will try again tomorrow to keep their opponents from reaching double digits when they send Edinson Volquez to the mound against the San Diego Padres. His ERA of 11.57 doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence. The Padres’ starter will be Wade LeBlanc. Game-time is 4:05pm EDT and can be heard on 700 WLW.

Roster Competitions Winding Down
As spring training winds down, every club has to decide which players to choose for the final spot or two on the roster. It’s no different for the Reds. John Fay recently broke down the open spots.

They’ll likely go with 12 pitchers and 13 positions players. That’s eight regulars and a second catcher and four bench players. Miguel Cairo, Edgar Renteria and Chris Heisey will get three of the spots.

That leaves one bench role. Fred Lewis and Jeremy Hermida are the front-runners for it, with Dave Sappelt and Juan Francisco as long-shots. (Sappelt isn’t on the 40-man roster.)

Manager Dusty Baker seems to think it’s between Lewis and Hermida, though.

“It comes down to Hermida and Lewis. Hermida has had a better spring,” Dusty Baker said, “Freddie Lewis is one of the better athletes on the team. He hasn’t really demonstrated what we all feel he is capable of doing. We haven’t decided what the solution is yet.”

Of course, Baker also thinks Francisco is very important.

“You can see the potential and what’s in there. It’s just matter of him — if he can get a good pitch to hit most of the time — he’s going really hit. Most of the time when he’s out, they trick him on bad pitches.”

To increase his versatility, Baker is having Francisco start in the outfield today. We’ll see in a few days if that factors into Baker’s decision

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Of the 40 players on the Reds’ 40-man roster, 13 of them were drafted or acquired by previous general manager Wayne Krivsky.