Last Games
Yesterday was a split-squad affair for the Reds. It also featured two starts by the final two guys in the running for the 5th starter spot, Mike Leake and Travis Wood. Leake pitched first against the A’s and picked up the win, despite his lineup of backups behind him.

Wood traveled with most of the A-listers to Las Vegas for the evening game against the Dodgers. The offense seemed to respond to the trip, scoring 9 runs in the first 2 innings. There will no doubt be plenty of jokes about not wanting what happened in Vegas to stay in Vegas. Try not to get too irritated. As for Wood, he didn’t fare so well with the large lead. He started great, but struggled with his control in the 3rd and 4th innings. He received the win, but his final line was 4 innings, 3 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. He’s not giving Baker an easy decision between him and Leake.

Next Game
The Reds host the Texas Rangers in Goodyear at 4:05pm EDT. Johnny Cueto will start, and be followed by Carlos Fisher, Nick Masset, and Francisco Cordero.

This Cut is the Deepest
Neither Mike Leake nor Travis Wood may make the Opening Day roster, according to John Fay. The Reds will not need a 5th starter until April 11, and John Fay quotes Dusty Baker as saying, “(We might) carry another position player until then.”

Of course, this may just be Baker discovering another way to torture his players. He seems like such a nice guy. Who knew he was such a sadistic bastard? It’s either that or he’s incapable of making hard decisions. Clearly, he has no script for which players to keep like he does when he makes his lineups.

But today has been declared as the day when a huge chunk of the 36 players left in major league camp, so Baker will have to give up his childish games.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Aaron Harang’s last two starts haven’t been good. He ended the spring with a 9.88 ERA, but isn’t concerned. C. Trent Rosecrans talked to him about his performance.

I feel great, it’s the best I’ve felt in spring training, the outcome isn’t want you want, what you expect. It doesn’t count. It’s about getting ready for the long haul of the season. Overall I feel very comfortable with all the new stuff and mechanics. I feel like the ball is coming out really well. It’s a matter of taking it out and stretching it over the course of a game.

Last Game
Aaron Harang made his final start and wasn’t very good as the Reds lost to the Padres 7-5. Joey Votto continued his excellent batting, though, with 1 hit and 2 walks.

Next Games
The Reds play their final split-squad game of the Spring Training season, two games that will help decide whether Mike Leake or Travis Wood wins the 5th starter’s spot. In the afternoon, Leake starts against the A’s at 4:05pm EDT. He will be relieved by Aroldis Chapman and Micah Owings.

In the evening, the Reds will travel to Las Vegas where Wood will start against the Dodgers. Justin Lehr, Logan Ondrusek, and Kip Wells are also scheduled to pitch. Gametime is 10:05pm EDT, and this game will be broadcast by Fox Sports Ohio. Also, the Reds are expected to make several cuts after the game.

Chapmania Put to Rest. For Now
The Reds 5th starter will be a young, inexperienced rookie, but it won’t be Aroldis Chapman. Walt Jocketty indicated yesterday that Chapman’s injury has taken him out of the running. The next Chapman thing to speculate about? Which Reds minor league team will he be assigned to?

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The St. Louis Cardinals named Chris Carpenter as the Opening Day starter against the Reds. Carpenter is obviously hoping this isn’t his only start, like last year.

Last Game
The Cincinnati Reds pushed their losing streak to 5, losing 8-1 to the Chicago Cubs. The Reds used nothing but relievers, and may be able to eliminate some thanks to poor performances from Carlos Fisher, Kip Wells, and Matt Maloney. The offense was punch-less, continuing a theme from last year, although Joey Votto picked up a couple hits.

Next Game
The San Diego Padres travel to Goodyear to face Aaron Harang and the Reds at 4:05pm EDT. The game, as all remaining Spring Training games, will be broadcast on the Reds radio network. Jared Burton, Arthur Rhodes, and Daniel Ray Herrera are scheduled to relieve Harang.

Sickels on Cueto
Prospect rater and writer-extraordinaire John Sickels focused on young Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (via Shawn’s Fanhuddle Reds’ blog). Sickels finds some decent comparable pitchers to Cueto, and says that if Cueto can stay healthy and further develop his secondary pitches, then he “has a very good chance to be a very solid major league starter” and “a small chance to be a genuine superstar.” After all these years of crappy Reds pitching, either option sound good to me.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Jonny Gomes is tied for the Cactus League home run lead with 5.

Last Game
Over the weekend, the Reds lost every game they played by 1 run. On Sunday, Bronson Arroyo started against the San Diego Padres. Arroyo was good, allowing 2 runs in 6 innings, but the offense managed only 1 run thanks to an RBI single from Wladimir Balentien.

Next Game
Today the Reds again travel to Mesa, Arizona to battle the Chicago Cubs. The Reds will be having a bullpen day, with Carlos Fisher leading the way, followed by Justin Lehr, Jared Burton, Kip Wells, Matt Maloney, and Arthur Rhodes. Game-time is 4:05 pm EDT.

Aroldis Chapman Feeling Better
If you noticed the faint sound of what appeared to be thousands of joints popping yesterday afternoon, that was probably most of Reds fandom moving their fingers again after having them crossed since Chapman had back issues. Chapman pitched for 1 inning in a AAA game, allowing 1 hit and striking out 2. Afterward, he said, “I feel like I did before, good, really good” which makes everyone who hadn’t crossed their fingers expel a breath they didn’t realize they’d been holding.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The Reds have 40 players on their active roster and will need to reduce that by 15 before the season starts on April 5. Dusty Baker said no cuts will be made until after a game in Las Vegas on March 31.

Last Game
Aaron Harang had such a bad start that everyone will shrug and say, “It’s only Spring Training.” He allowed 7 runs in 2 2/3 innings in leading the Reds to a defeat at the hands of the Rockies.

Next Game
Mike Leake will start against Seattle today at 4:05pm EDT. He will be followed by Kip Wells and Travis Wood. All remaining Spring Training games are on the radio, so tune in to see if Joey Votto gets a hit.

The Search for a Year of Innuendo-laden Headlines
Remember how much fun it was when the Yankees activated Wang? You’re not the only one. The Reds want a piece of that lucrative snicker-worthy headline business, or at least Reds beat writer John Fay thinks so. He’s checked the calendar and the schedule and is predicting the Reds will choose either Travis Wood or Mike Leake as their 5th starter.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Drew Stubbs has a 7-game hitting streak, which includes an inside-the-park home run.