I’m a little late starting the live blog today–I got out of work late, then traffic was bad, and that just threw off everything for the rest of the night. Plus, Zeldink was busy writing up that bit about Brandon Phillips new contract. But I’m here now, and wearing entirely different clothes than yesterday. And so far, it’s working: only one home run allowed in the first inning this time!

Damn those Cardinals

1. Jay, CF
2. Beltran, RF
3. Holiday, LF
4. Berkman, 1B
5. Freese, 3B
6. Molina, C
7. Descalso, 2B
8. Greene, SS
9. Lohse, P

And Your Cin…Cinnati Reds

1. Harris, 2B
2. Cozart, SS
3. Votto, 1B
4. Rolen, 3B
5. Bruce,RF
6. Heisey, LF
7. Stubbs, CF
8. Mesoraco, C
9. Leake, P

Just the second series of the season and we’re already hosting the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s always a fun series to comment on, even if it’s not always a fun one to watch.

The way live blogging goes around here is that I’ll add comments to this post throughout the game. Occasionally others pipe in, and you’re welcome to as well, but I won’t let the lack of someone responding stop me from talking. I don’t let it stop me when walking down the street, and I don’t see why I should let it stop me now.

What will it be like to see the Cardinals sans LaRussa, Pujols, and Carpenter? Or is Carpenter still around, complaining about everything that crosses his path from the far end of the bench? I am confident that he’s complaining about something, somewhere. I can just feel it.

Here’s your line-ups:
Those Darn Cards

1. Furcal, SS
2. Beltran, RF
3. Holliday, LF
4. Berkman, 1B
5. Freese, 3B
6. Molina, C
7. Jay, CF
8. Descalso, 2B
9. Westbrook, P

Pitcher hitting ninth? What would LaRussa say??

and now, your Cincinnati Reds

1. Phillips, 2B
2. Cozart, SS
3. Votto, 1B
4. Rolen, 3B
5. Bruce, RF
6. Heisey, LF
7. Stubbs, CF
8. Hanigan, C
9. Bailey, P

This may be totally premature, but I’m so psyched about the first spring training game today that I’m groaning like a drug addict upon hearing Marty talk to Baker about the game.

So it seems like a game thread is in order. Hooray baseball!

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds	3	0	2	2	0	0	2	0	0	9	14	0
Cards	3	0	0	1	0	4	0	0	0	8	15	1

Boxscore

The Reds just took a one game lead in the NLC and avoided the sweep tonight. Despite the best efforts of the officiating staff, the Reds won 9-8. The Reds were kickin’ it at the plate, with Scott Rolen and Jonny Gomes totally busting out. Even so, they were the supporting characters in this one.

It was Joey Votto’s triumphant return after the week-long stiff neck, and you’ve never seen him so pissed off. It’s like the internal struggle between sweet Joey and the Canadian Hulk, finally played out an an all-around hitting machine, a Vottomaton, if you will emerged. And he was hungry.

Tomorrow Sam LeCure takes the mound for the Reds against Chris Carpenter. Pah, that’s nothing. They’ve seen Carp a million times. Tonight a schlub no one had ever hit against before was on the mound, and you know the trouble the Reds usually have with that type.

An all-around bad-ass game. It’s nice to know that the worst that can happen tomorrow is that the Reds will go into an off-day tied for the lead in the central, but it would be even better to see it play out again tomorrow. I haven’t gotten the chance to tweet “Votto SMASH!” yet.

Reds Lineup:

• Cabrera, SS
• Cairo, 1B
• Phillips, 2B
• Rolen, 3B
• Gomes, LF
• Bruce, RF
• Stubbs, CF
• Hernandez, C
• Arroyo, P

Cardinals Lineup:

• Lopez, SS
• Ludwick, RF
• Pujols, 1B
• Holliday, LF
• Freese, 3B
• Rasmus, CF
• Molina, C
• Schumaker, 2B
• Garcia, P

I’m inordinately sad to see Cairo in the line-up again. 🙁 I hope the rest of the team can cheer me up. Nick Lachey on the Cincinnati Bell commercial isn’t hurting, either.