As we pulled into the Ed Smith complex today, we noticed a minor league game going on in one of the practice fields. It looked like the Pirates.

In fact, it was some guys from the Pirates' organization. A-level, I guess. However, Eric Milton was pitching for the Reds, getting his work in. John Fay has the details:

Eric Milton gave up five home runs in six innings to the Single-A Pirates. He gave up 11 hits and threw 93 pitches. The wind was blowing out, but it was less than 100 mph.
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You can't put much stock in the spring stats, and Single-A players swing from the heels against a big leaguer, but Milton is becoming PR nightmare for the Reds. Matt Belisle has a 2.08 ERA; Bobby Livingston has a 1.23 ERA and one of them is going to start the year in Triple-A. Milton is 16-23 with 5.89 ERA in two years with the Reds and he's getting a spot on track record.

Rumor has it that the Reds are still actively looking for pitching (yeah, but who isn't?). Maybe they're not looking for yet more competition in the fifth slot, huh?

We're just about to head off to the game, so be on the lookout for more photos forthcoming. Josh Katzowitz filling in for C. Trent has the line-up:

CF Ryan Freel
LF Adam Dunn
2B Brandon Phillips
RF Ken Griffey, Jr.
3B Edwin Encarnación
1B Scott Hatteberg
SS Alex Gonzalez
C David Ross
P Bobby Livingston

I guess Hatteberg is feeling better, and I'm glad to hear it. We do not need Dunn trying to fill in at first again.

In other news, Mark Bellhorn was cut today and has a couple days to decide whether he wants to accept minor league assignment. Also cut were Ryan Jorgenson, Anderson Machado, and Dewayne Wise.

Yesterday the Reds were in Dunedin facing the Blue Jays, so, like the seasoned reporter I am, I skipped the away game and screwed around in Sarasota instead.

After putting up several photos from the game on Saturday, we headed to The Broken Egg for brunch and it was off to the Mote Aquarium to go on a nature boat ride. The ride didn't leave until 4:00, so it was off to the Smuggler's Cove miniature gold course for some wacky putt-putting fun before our boating adventure.

It's our annual tradition to putt putt at Smuggler's Cove, but this year was something special because that's where we spotted Marty Brennaman. He's working on his short game, I guess. I said hi and mention it here and now it's a business expense. Gotta love it.

Today and every day from here on out we're back to the baseballing. I'll continue to post photos about them, though my unbelievably pathetic showing in the Sports Illustrated poll has me wondering whether anyone even cares. Oh well--it's an honor just to be nominated, right?

We rode into town for a monumental game. It was Ken Griffey, Jr.'s first game of the spring, and he was starting in right fied.

When it came time to warm up with some long toss, Griffey threw with Adam Dunn. In left field. From right field. He made Ryan Freel warm up with the ballboy.

Why did Griffey do such a thing? Perhaps he was demonstrating that even though he's not in center, he's still calling the shots. Perhaps he was easing in to his position change. Perhaps he was giving Freel the cold shoulder, or was confused about what he's supposed to do in right. Most likely, he thought it was funny.

For the first pitch of the game, Jr. was straddling the right field foul line, all the way back at the fence. When the first pitch didn't head for the right-field wall, Griffey gave a shrug and headed back toward a more neutral position. He's still working on the logistics of his new position.

I don't know if it's Bob Castellini's influence or if everyone was just in a good mood yesterday, but everyone we interacted with at the stadium was friendlier than in previous years. The woman at the souvenir stands was a character, the people selling the pizza and nachos were chatty, and the players were anxious to give the autographs.

As if they somehow knew that I'd be in attendance on the right-field line, Red after Red came up to the wall to sign autographs. Since we were sitting just beyond the end of the tarp, they all came up right in front of us. If I were an autograph collector, it would have been a great day for me.

When Ryan Freel took the field and came over to sign some autographs, I wasn't too surprised. Now that Sean Casey's gone, Freel's the one known best for his willingness to sign for the kiddies. But when Adam Dunn came over, I was pretty surprised. What a nice guy, I thought.

I was standing in an interminable line for an ice cream cone when Edwin Encarnación came by to do the autograph thing. Three starters giving autographs in the same day? Amazing!

I was still away when Brandon Phillips was giving his autographs. Phillips was flashing the smile all day, especially after a great double play maneuver. That guy's got some an energy, I tell ya!

Josh Hamilton came by to give autographs before the game as well, and during the game came over to start his stretching before taking over in the field. He was chatting with the fans in the stands. One guy in the second row says, “You gonna show that old man in right field what it takes to play the game?” Hamilton turned around to look who was in right (as if he didn't know), turned back, and smirked. Very cute.

Perhaps the most impressive of the autographers to come by was the Sarasota Reds Gator. He actually plopped down in a seat in the row in front of me to interact with the kiddies. One kid asked for an autograph, which was cool, but that set off all these other kids who would get an autograph, run back to their seat, grab something else, and come ask for another one. It degenerated fast, and soon they were asking for multiple autographs on pieces of trash. Empty water bottles, peanut wrappers, cardboard cup holders. Most of the trash he refused, though he did autograph a napkin.

And you wonder why people grow weary of signing autographs.