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.

Last Game
Edinson Volquez started against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday and was wild, allowing 5 runs on 2 1/3 innings. The relief corps, including Dontrelle Willis and Aroldis Chapman, allowed plenty of runs, too, but the pitching staff was bailed out by the offense. Both Todd Frazier and Chris Heisey homered, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-8 victory.

Next Game
Bronson Arroyo heads to the mound for the Reds against Michael Pineda and the Seattle Mariners at 4:05pm EDT. This game, like all remaining Spring Training ones, will be broadcast on 700 WLW.

Fayman Gives Shortstop Prospect Hamilton Nickname
Cincinnati Reds beat reporter John Fay had a neat little blurb about up and coming Reds shortstop Billy Hamilton.

“We were playing on this field the other day. The left fielder just lost a ball,” [Bill] Doran said. “Billy took off. We were all like, ‘what’s he doing?’ He caught the ball over his shoulder, about 10 feet from warning track.”

In the title of the post, Fay dubs Hamilton, “Billy the Kid.” I only hope that Mr. the Kid deals with the oddity of shortstop with the greatest of ease, just like he dealt with the oddity of time travel.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The Reds start the 2011 season against the Brewers. This will be just the second Opening Day match-up between the two. The last one was in 2000, which ended in a 3-3 tie after 5 1/3 innings.