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!

Every year, it seems there’s a baseball player or two who have Visa problems upon entering the United States. This year, the lucky recipient seems to be Edinson Volquez.

The U.S. government has yet to approve Volquez’s work visa. The right-hander, who is from the Dominican Republic, is in the country on a traveler’s visa but it does not permit him to perform in games in front of paying customers.

Because of that, Volquez will not start today’s spring opener against the Cleveland Indians as originally planned. Instead, Matt Maloney, who’s competing for a bullpen spot, will get the chance to impress. Volquez will continue working out and likely pitch in minor league games until the Visa issues are cleared up. Hopefully, that will be soon, but no one knows when it may happen.

“It’s up to the government,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. “He can stay here until it’s approved and when it’s approved, we’ll send him back [to big league games].”

As long as it’s by opening day.

The Cincinnati Reds played some actual baseball today. Sure it was just a 5-inning scrimmage against themselves, but it’s one of those steps to real, live games.

Apparently, a guy you’ve likely never heard of, Dave Sappelt, was the hitting star. Fresh off being the 2010 minor league hitter of the year, he went 3-3 in his first major league camp “game.”

“It’s definitely good to do well in front of the big league staff,” he said. “You want to show them what you can do.”

Logan Ondrusek struggled, giving up three runs on two outs, while Travis Wood was solid. Wood retired six of the seven batters he faced. That one he didn’t get out? A home run from Jonny Gomes.

This was obviously just a warmup. The first Spring Training game is tomorrow against the Cleveland Indians at 3:05pm EST.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jonny Gomes started some controversy following news of the elbow injury to St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright yesterday. According to Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News, he heard Gomes happily singing, “Wainwright’s gone! Wainwright’s gone!” Mention of this has since been removed from McCoy’s post.

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Reds beat reporter John Fay had a different take on events.

Gomes walked out of the players dining room singing the Karate Kid song: ”You’re the best around. I’ll never let you down . . .”

He continued and mentioned Adam Wainwright. Gomes said he sang “Is Wainwright gone?

Fay then says he didn’t remember what Gomes sang, but obviously he didn’t find it news- or quote-worthy. In fact, when Fay interviewed Gomes later, he said, “I would never wish injury on anyone. If he’s hurt, I wish him a speedy recovery. I know Wainwright. He’s a good dude. It’s a great organization.”

What’s interesting about this story is the firestorm it created online, especially on Twitter. It seems Cardinals fans don’t like opponents being happy when their best player gets a season-ending boo-boo. Sampling the comments on McCoy’s article gives an overview of the vitriol.

“Garbage. That’s what the whole Reds organization is.”

“The Reds can take pleasure in Wainright’s injury. But that won’t change the fact that they are a band of losers.”

“What a piece of garbage Gomes is for being happy about the injury of another player.”

I don’t get it. This doesn’t sound like the “best fans in baseball” to me. Assuming Gomes did say what McCoy quoted him as saying, isn’t that a sign of respect? It’s acknowledging that Wainwright is a very, very good pitcher. I understand the disappointment of losing one of your favorite team’s best players to injury. I followed the Reds when Ken Griffey Jr was there, after all. But the angry verbal attacks from Cardinals fans against the Reds is worse than what they purport to be offended by.

Overall, I think the Cardinals fans have gotten too used to winning to know how to lose. I think that Brandon Phillips’ comments about the Cardinals from last year ring more and more true. “All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them, they’re little bitches, all of ‘em.” It certainly applies to a good portion of Cardinals fans right now.

The big news of the day is not good news for the St. Louis Cardinals or, for that matter, Major League Baseball. Adam Wainwright injured his elbow and it’s almost a certainty he will need Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2011 season.

Wainwright had some twinges in his forearm at the end of last year, but managed to win 20 games. Just Monday when throwing some batting practice, though, he “suffered additional damage to his right ulnar collateral ligament.” The Cardinals have always been reluctant to discuss details of injuries, but have been rather open about this one, with general manager John Mozeliak actually mentioning the likelihood of the ligament replacement surgery.

The MRI results are in, but Wainwright will be looking for a second opinion, as anyone in his position would. It sucks for him. And while it makes the National League central division a little easier for the Cincinnati Reds, I would really rather see the Reds defeat the Cardinals with both teams at full strength. Plus, I prefer seeing a strong division, as opposed to the one with only two good teams that 2010 brought us.

Those in favor of morbid coincidences should like this bit, though. Two weeks ago when discussing the joint issues he’d had at the end of 2010, Wainwright said, “My ligament is intact and strong. It’s not like it’s ready to pop.” Famous last words.