Game Thread---3/2/2006 Reds at Tigers

[membengal]

Hey, I can open one of these in the spring with no fear of reprisal should they lose.

Looking forward to hearing Reds baseball again.

The lineups, per Marc:

Reds
Ryan Freel, RF
Tony Womack, 2B
Felipe Lopez, SS
Wily Mo Pena, LF
Scott Hatteberg, 1B
Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
Jacob Cruz, DH
Quinton McCracken, CF
Dane Sardinha, C
Ben Kozlowski, P

Tigers
Ivan Rodriguez, C
Placido Polanco, 2B
Carlos Guillen, SS
Magglio Ordonez, RF
Dmitri Young, DH
Carlos Pena, 1B
Brandon Inge, 3B
Marcus Thames, LF
Curtis Granderson, CF
Nate Robertson, P

[oneupper]

Pudge leading off...that's kind of cool.

[Red Leader]

Looks like the Tigers are going with their Opening Day Lineup.

[oneupper]

Looks like the Tigers are going with their Opening Day Lineup.

So are the REDS :(

[KronoRed]

Womack 2nd again.

I sense impending doom.

[flyer85]

Freel is getting a lot of work at 2nd. Reds ought to just come out an admit that the 2b job will go to either Woemack or Aurilia.

[flyer85]

Womack 2nd again.

I sense impending doom.almost enough to make someone(not me, of course :evil: ) root for an injury.

[cumberlandreds]

Ah.....It's good to see these game day threads again!

[traderumor]

almost enough to make someone(not me, of course :evil: ) root for an injury.
I know people.

[BRM]

Womack 2nd again.

I sense impending doom.

Don't worry. He won't be hitting 2nd on opening day...he'll be leading off. :help:

[jhiller21]

Is this game going to be on 700?

[Chip R]

Is this game going to be on 700?
Yes.

[CN-RED]

What is the internet link for the games. I had it on my other computer that no londer works.

[KronoRed]

Is this game going to be on 700?
With all the solid vetness you can handle :D

[Danny Serafini]

Are spring games free or do you have to have paid for the Gameday Audio package? I haven't paid for this season yet, and right now all I'm getting is dead air.

[membengal]

Taken my XM for its maiden spin, and am surprised that the broadcasts don't include the pre-game stuff. Is it that way for the regular season too?

[Doc. Scott]

700 WLW appears to be using its XM feed as its Internet feed. I don't think they're running the game from 700wlw.com.

Danny: I was just told when logging into Gameday Audio that I had to pay first. Oh, well, I was going to do that anyway.

[cumberlandreds]

Are spring games free or do you have to have paid for the Gameday Audio package? I haven't paid for this season yet, and right now all I'm getting is dead air.

Me too. I got an e-mail from MLB Audio the other day that said it would automatically renew about mid month. It worked yesterday as I turned it on to the White Sox/Rockies game for a couple of innings. I don't know what's happening today.:(

[cumberlandreds]

Taken my XM for its maiden spin, and am surprised that the broadcasts don't include the pre-game stuff. Is it that way for the regular season too?

Tell me how you like your XM. I'm thinking about gettting it very soon.

[joeberk]

Looks like they plugged the cable back in. Spring training for everyone, it seems...

[cumberlandreds]

Me too. I got an e-mail from MLB Audio the other day that said it would automatically renew about mid month. It worked yesterday as I turned it on to the White Sox/Rockies game for a couple of innings. I don't know what's happening today.:(

Ah.....it just came on.:thumbup:

[Danny Serafini]

Audio just popped up for me.

[traderumor]

Are spring games free or do you have to have paid for the Gameday Audio package? I haven't paid for this season yet, and right now all I'm getting is dead air.I have it now, got a message the other day that said if you subscribed last year, they'll just take it off your card in mid march.

[rdiersin]

Ah, its great thing. Its snowing here, but at least I get to listen to some baseball.

[Doc. Scott]

So, anyway, the Reds don't score in the first. I think Womack got a hit and was thrown out stealing.

[cumberlandreds]

No score after half inning. Womack thrown out trying to steal 2nd. Marty thought he was in safe.

[Danny Serafini]

Good thing Womack is speedy and good on the basebaths! Where would we be without him?

[KronoRed]

How many caught stealing's is that in 3 games so far?

[jhiller21]

Pudge homers. 1-0 Tigers

[Doc. Scott]

I-Rod homers for Detroit. First batter, second pitch.

[cumberlandreds]

Reds pitching picks up where they left off from last year. HR for IRod. 1-0 Tigers.

[KronoRed]

Are we SURE that isn't Milton pitching?

[Danny Serafini]

Guess Milton didn't get scratched after all. ;)

[Red Leader]

He's back on the juice. ;)

I think they said he picked up about 12-15 lbs this offseason.

[Sean_CaseyRules]

Milton is definatly pitching, 2nd pitch, no one is good enough to do that except milton..........

[Doc. Scott]

Kozlowski walks the second batter, then gets Carlos Guillen on a fly to center. Magglio Ordonez comes within a small amount of slamming a two-run homer. Instead, he grounds in to a 6-4-3 double play.

Detroit 1, Cincinnati 0 after one.

[cumberlandreds]

Mags just missed a homer. I'm convinced Milton is pitching.;)

[membengal]

Tell me how you like your XM. I'm thinking about gettting it very soon.

I am deeply in love with it. Well beyond infatuation. THis is the real thing. I got the MyFi, and have a docking station for at work, and it is set up for the stereo at home and it works in the car. It came with the home/car adapters as a part of it. Best part so far is the running score/inning/outs on the display for the game you are listening to.

I could not recommend a product any higher. For an out-of-town zealot like myself, I have hit heaven.

Still a little disappointed the pre-game stuff was not on XM, but, I will get over it. Having the play by play like I am sitting in the middle of Cincinnati rather than the middle of Memphis like I am is as good as it gets.

[Sean_CaseyRules]

I agree with cumberlandreds, milton is pitching! LOL

[cumberlandreds]

Mags hits into dp to end the 1st. 1-0 Tigers.

[Doc. Scott]

Top of 2.

Pena leads off. Marty praises his walking twice yesterday in the intrasquad game. Just after that, Wily Mo waves at a bad pitch. On a full count, he strikes out. But at least it was a good pitch.

Hatteberg up. First pitch hacking, he pops up to the catcher.

Encarnacion. Another full count, another K swinging.

[Sean_CaseyRules]

Reds are VERY lucky to only be down 1.........

[cumberlandreds]

I am deeply in love with it. Well beyond infatuation. THis is the real thing. I got the MyFi, and have a docking station for at work, and it is set up for the stereo at home and it works in the car. It came with the home/car adapters as a part of it. Best part so far is the running score/inning/outs on the display for the game you are listening to.

I could not recommend a product any higher. For an out-of-town zealot like myself, I have hit heaven.

Still a little disappointed the pre-game stuff was not on XM, but, I will get over it. Having the play by play like I am sitting in the middle of Cincinnati rather than the middle of Memphis like I am is as good as it gets.

Sounds great! My wife says she is going to get XM for me for my birthday in April. I hope she follows through with it. If she doesn't I may just get it anyway. What type of docking station do you have for work?

[Doc. Scott]

Bottom of 2.

Dmitri Young hammers an 0-2 pitch to the warning track in RF. Freel catches it and runs into the fence.

Carlos Pena grounds hard to Womack.

Brandon Inge is hit by a pitch.

Marcus Thames walks. That's two, plus the HBP.

Curtis Granderson smacks a double into center, scoring Inge. 2-0 Tigers.

I-Rod grounds a two-run single to center, off Womack's glove. 4-0 Tigers.

Polanco lines to second.

End of 2, 4-0 Detroit.

Needless to say, Kozlowski hasn't been what one would call "impressive". He's a little wild and the hits have been hit pretty hard.

Elizardo Ramirez looks to be pitching the third.

[Chip R]

Seems like Kozlowski is getting hit pretty hard. Any word on the condition of the fence?

[Danny Serafini]

Add a HBP to Kozlowski now. Oops.

[cumberlandreds]

Kozlowski is fitting right in!:rolleyes:

[Chip R]

Who needs Hudson when we can have Kozlowski.

[Sean_CaseyRules]

Kozlowski is fitting right in!:rolleyes:

That would only be if O'Brein was still GM

[Danny Serafini]

After a walk Curtis Granderson hit a double to center that brought home a run, 2-0.

[Casey_21]

Kozlowski is fitting right in!:rolleyes:

:laugh:

[Danny Serafini]

The Lizard is warming up by the way.

[cumberlandreds]

Granderson doubles in another Tiger run. 2-0 Tigers.

[Danny Serafini]

Pudge singles up the middle off Womack's glove for 2 runs, 4-0.

[cumberlandreds]

Irod singles in two more runs! 4-0 Tigers. I think 2006 is begining to feel like Ground Hog Day.:p:

[Danny Serafini]

You can tell people are starved for baseball when we've got 43 people viewing this thread right now!

[Doc. Scott]

Top of 3. Right-hander Colon on for Detroit.

Cruz works a full-count walk.

McCracken grounds a single to right, moving Jacob to second.

Sardinha pops out to shallow center.

Freel flies out as well.

Womack goes hacking and gets down two strikes. Then he works the count full. He pops up foul, but 3B Inge bumps into the tarp roller and drops the ball. Pop fly to right finishes the frame.

4-0 Tigers after 2.5

[Danny Serafini]

Ramon Colon is now in to pitch for DET, don't know a thing about him.

[CRedsLarkin11]

Well, nothing like a good start, huh? :D

[KronoRed]

Can't get worse? ;)

[dougdirt]

What the heck is a grounder OVER the first baseman?

[cumberlandreds]

Cruz walks. Rally Time!

[Danny Serafini]

McCracken singles

[Chip R]

What the heck is a grounder OVER the first baseman?

A very short 1st baseman?

[cumberlandreds]

What the heck is a grounder OVER the first baseman?

Baltimore Chop?:help:

[dougdirt]

Chip, all I coudl think of was a smurf playing first base...I have problems.

[flyer85]

Baltimore Chop?:help:if it was a chop no way it would have gotten by Dmitri.

Oh, Da Meat Hook ain't playin' first.

[Chip R]

if it was a chop no way it would have gotten by Dmitri.


:bowrofl:

[NJReds]

Looks like our pitchers are in midseason form.

http://static.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/images/mccarroll/CharlieBrownbaseball002.jpg

[Danny Serafini]

Two popouts and a flyout end the threat, no runs. 4-0

[Doc. Scott]

Roman Colon is an ex-Brave, I think. Reliever.

The Lizard on to pitch the third.

First batter grounds out, as Hatteberg has to range to grab EdE's throw. One down.

Ordonez pops the first pitch to Lopez at SS.

Dmitri knocks a base hit.

Pena walks.

Inge runs the count full. McCracken makes a nice snag of a solidly spanked fly ball to end the inning.

4-0 DET after 3.

[flyer85]

Looks like our pitchers are in midseason form.

http://static.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/images/mccarroll/CharlieBrownbaseball002.jpg

I almost fell out of my chair.

Maybe the Reds need to try the Gallagher idea of a pitchers hole instead of a mound.

[Doc. Scott]

Top of 4. Colon still out there.

Lopez waves at the first two. Grounds to second, nice backhand play by Opera Boy.

Pena embraces striking out on three pitches like Linus rediscovering his blanket.

Hatteberg pushes a windblown fly over the RF fence. 4-1 Reds.

Encarnacion rips a screamer foul, then takes a pitch off the hip.

Cruz walks on four in a row.

McCracken lines hard to first.

4-1 Tigers after 3.5.

[pedro]

mlb.com won't work for me.

[Danny Serafini]

Scott Hatteberg hits it out to right! Welcome to the Reds, Scott. 4-1

[flyer85]

Hatteberg pushes a windblown fly over the RF fence. 4-1 Reds.there's our 1B.

Could an infield get any srcappier than having Aurilia, Woemack and Hatteberg? There certainly couldn't be a group anywhere that's knows more about how to play the game.

[Strikes Out Looking]

I wouldn't link Hatteberg in with Woe!mack and Rich "play me 'cuz you can't find anyone to trade for me" Aurilia.

[LincolnparkRed]

there's our 1B.

Could an infield get any srcappier than having Aurilia, Woemack and Hatteberg? There certainly couldn't be a group anywhere that's knows more about how to play the game.

So if he is playing first, who is your guess to be leaving out of JR,Wily Mo, Kearns or Dunn

Got an inside scoop?

[Doc. Scott]

Ramirez back out there in the fourth.

Thames leads off with a single.

With Granderson batting and Thames stealing, Sardinha wings one into center for an E-2. The announcers blame Felipe. 3-2 count, man on third. Granderson then flies out to LF, too shallow. One down.

Rodriguez smacks a single to make it 5-1 Tigers. Four RBIs for I-Rod.

Polanco gets ahead 3-0 and walks a couple of pitches later.

Chris Hammond in the bullpen.

Carlos Guillen flies out to left.

Ordonez makes the third out.

Two innings, one run for Ramirez. Not noteworthy, not terrible.

[flyer85]

Got an inside scoop?Nah, just being Chicken Little at the moment.

[cumberlandreds]

mlb.com won't work for me.

Mine kept going out on me and I just quit trying. It's not like this is a crucial game.:)

[flyer85]

I wouldn't link Hatteberg in with Woe!mack and Rich "play me 'cuz you can't find anyone to trade for me" Aurilia.actually Hatteberg wasn't Woemack(-8.9), however, his VORP was only 4.2. That is actually much lower than RA(26.1) last year.

[Strikes Out Looking]

Yeah, but I haven't heard Hatteberg complain about playing time. (yet)

[Danny Serafini]

It's 5-1 now, but couldn't hear how the last run scored. Chris Hammond is warming up.

[Danny Serafini]

Jason Grilli is now in for Detroit.

[Doc. Scott]

RH Jason Grilli on for the Tigers in the fifth.

Sardinha works a full count and walks (!).

Freel avoids a DP because Opera Boy wings the relay over Carlos Pena's head. 5-4 force, one down.

Ryan steals second on the next pitch.

Womack smacks a single to center, and the Reds cut it to 5-2.

Lopez' grounder is mishandled by Polanco- E-4. The would-be DP instead puts runners on the corners. Ray Olmedo on to pinch-run.

Pena waves at a breaking ball away. Falls behind 0-2. Checks swing. Swing and a miss, three Ks in a row.

Hatteberg. Gets ahead 2-0, and flies out to LC.

5-2 Tigers after 4.5.

[dougdirt]

I walked out of the room for a little bit, would that run have scored on Elizardo is Dane hadnt thrown it into CF?

[flyer85]

Yeah, but I haven't heard Hatteberg complain about playing time. (yet)Hopefully RA won't have to complain. The base case scenario I can see at the moment is that RA is the everyday 2B. That means EE will be playing 3rd and Woemack is either gone or hopefully buried on the bench. I just don't see any reason to believe that Freel is being considered as the everyday 2b.

Plus if RA is the starter they have no backup for SS, so maybe they would keep Olmedo and release Woemack.

[dougdirt]

Hopefully RA won't have to complain. The base case scenario I can see at the moment is that RA is the everyday 2B. That means EE will be playing 3rd and Woemack is either gone or hopefully buried on the bench. I just don't see any reason to believe that Freel is being considered as the everyday 2b.

Plus if RA is the starter they have no backup for SS, so maybe they would keep Olmedo and release Woemack.

Well, if the idea is to have Freel on the bench, the backup SS would probably be Aurilia and you could play Freel at 2b at that time. But lets get rid of Womack regardless.

[Space Cowboy]

Wily Mo back in form. K #3

[Strikes Out Looking]

Freel should be playing 2b everyday unless an OF or Ed E. is hurt. Woe!mack and Aurilia should be sitting on the bench, teaching others how to play the game.

[SidneySlicker]

I guess i'm not as low on Womack as everyone else. We need more speed on this team. Freel and lopez are not enough. I think if Womack shows some success at the plate in the spring training, we should keep him if not anything for someone who can come of the bench and give us someone who can run the bases. We between freel and aurillia were going to need probably at least 20-30 games of someone else at 2nd. We need players who can do some of the fundamental things such as bunt to advance runners etc. We've lacked this for awhile now.

[flyer85]

Freel should be playing 2b everyday unless an OF or Ed E. is hurt. I see no reason to believe that will happen. I think it is a bit of a sign that so far Freel has only played in the OF.

[flyer85]

I guess i'm not as low on Womack as everyone else. We need more speed on this team. Speed that can't find first doesn't help and Woemack is a defensive laibility at every position he plays as well. Speed is a nice to have, not a necessity. Sacrificing speed for offensive ability with no defensive payout is sheer stupidity.

From THT on Perry's new book


One of the longest chapters of the book is The Base Stealer (or, Uses and Misuses of Speed) and Perry uses the space to drive home two points. The first has become common knowledge to statheads, and that is that in the long run base stealing simply doesn’t add that much to offensive production and that break-even success rate for stolen bases is around 72%.

[Doc. Scott]

Bottom of 5. Hammond now pitching.

Inge doubles and Young's on third with one out as I return.

Thames is called out after a failed attempt to check his swing. Two down.

2-2 count on Curtis Granderson. Couple of fouls. Full count. Hammond gets him-didn't hear how- and the inning ends. Nice getting out a jam by Chris.

[Strikes Out Looking]

What should happen and what will happen our different things. Mr. Narron and I do not seem to see eye to eye on this matter. However, as I'm sitting in an office and he's in the dugout writing out lineups, I can only advocate for Mr. Freel to be permanently inked into all 162 lineup cards at 2b and leading off. To paraphrase Barry Goldwater, deep in your heart, you know I'm right.

[flyer85]

What should happen and what will happen our different things. Mr. Narron and I do not seem to see eye to eye on this matter. However, as I'm sitting in an office and he's in the dugout writing out lineups, I can only advocate for Mr. Freel to be permanently inked into all 162 lineup cards at 2b and leading off. To paraphrase Barry Goldwater, deep in your heart, you know I'm right.That is true but honestly I can live with RA a 2nd, provided he bat down in the order. A case can be made for RA. However, under no circumstances can a case be made for Woemack to be on the roster(unless you are willing to devote a roster spot solely to a PR), much less starting.

Around here a lot of people like to point to the Cards and Jocketty on how to run a fracnhise. The Cards knew they got lucky with their one year of Woemack(his career year) and couldn't let him leave fast enough and replace him with Grudz.

[Doc. Scott]

Top of 6.

Maxim St. Pierre, Kevin Hooper, Omar Infante, Alexis Gomez, Reggie Taylor, Mike Hessman, and Chris Shelton are in for Detroit.

Encarnacion grounds out to third.

Cruz. He's walked twice. Slams a rocket to the RF fence for a double.

McCracken. Slapped into left-center for an RBI single (the ball, not Quinton). 5-3 Tigers.

Sardinha damn near ties the score, missing by a little on a long shot to LF. He then grounds to third, where Hessman butterfingers it and everyone's safe. DeWayne Wise runs for Dane.

Denorfia now in. He grounds one to short, but beats the throw to first after the force.

Menechino now batting (and in at 2B). Corners, two out. High fly to shallow left to end it.

5-3 Tigers after 5.5.

[SidneySlicker]

The thing that has bothered me the last couple of years is the fact that we really don't have anyone that is an adequate bunter, stealing bases may not be a major proponent in scoring runs, however getting runners moved into scoring position is. Let me preface that by saying with only 25 roster spots you can't bring someone one in simply because they have the ability to bunt. This is why I said he needs to show something this spring. If he can't get on base and do the little things at the plate right, I have no problem getting rid of him.

[Doc. Scott]

Bottom of 6. Allan Simpson now pitching. Miguel Perez now catching, Menechino at second, Wise in CF, Denorfia in the OF somewhere.

Leadoff single for St. Pierre.

Hooper. Simpson guns the first pitch behind the batter. Oopsie! Later, he fires another one off Hooper's bat (without him swinging). I guess that counts as a strike. Fly to center, one out.

Infante. Lines a base hit to center.

Gomez. Looks at a fastball for strike three. Two down.

Josh Phelps. Strike one on the check swing. Strike two. Swing and a miss for the K.

Simpson's never boring. 5-3 Tigers after 6.

[flyer85]

The thing that has bothered me the last couple of years is the fact that we really don't have anyone that is an adequate bunter, giving away outs is not a way to enhance the ability to score runs. It is only useful in very specific circumstances when attempting to score only ONE run. Woemack is an out machine and a defensive liability. Keeping a guy on a roster solely to pinch run and bunt is a waste.


If he can't get on base and do the little things at the plate right, I have no problem getting rid of him.That's a given as to what will occur during the season regardless of what he does in ST.

[TRF]

I thought game philosophy discussions were for outside game threads. I know its ST and all, but...

[Casey_21]

Give Cruz Wily Mo's spot.

[flyer85]

I thought game philosophy discussions were for outside game threads. I know its ST and all, but...what game?

[Doc. Scott]

Top of 7. Detroit has RH Chad Durbin on the mound. (RH Fernando Rodney in the pen.)

Olmedo grounds out.

Abad smacks a base hit.

Votto. Gets ahead 2-1. Strike two called. Two balls in a row for the walk. Two on.

Encarnacion, one of the few starters still in. Gets behind 0-2, then runs the count full. Foul. Low, ball four. Bases loaded!

Cruz. Ball one, outside. Foul fly to left. (Rally Time is wearing #80, in case you're wondering about his chances of making the Tigers.) Ball two. Inside, ball three. Fouled to the screen for a full count. Ball four, high!

5-4 Tigers. Abad scores.

Miguel Perez now hitting. First pitch in the dirt, nice save by St. Pierre. Fly to right, caught by Gomez, and Votto scores. RBI ties the score at 5-5.

Wise. Flies out to end the inning.

Gotta go to lunch.

[Heath]

Spring Training games don't count????

Since when????


:)

[KronoRed]

They only mean something when the team does well ;)

[djsauter]

REGGIE TAYLOR HOME RUN.

Why couldn't he do this for us?

[djsauter]

Wagner: HR, BB, HBP, BB.

Bases loaded. Not looking good.

[SidneySlicker]

Flyer we lost 16 games last year by one run and 11 games by 2 runs. So we lost a total of 27 games by two runs or less. I think a situational run here or there last year would have done some good for this team.

[Danny Serafini]

Rough inning for Wagner. Got the first two before giving up the HR, and he's now loaded the bases.

[Danny Serafini]

2 run double for Omar Infante, 8-5 DET

[Falls City Beer]

Rough inning for Wagner. Got the first two before giving up the HR, and he's now loaded the bases.

I said it last year: they Reithed Wagner. The kid's got the spine of a marshmallow. And I don't really blame him so much. He becomes totally unravelled--it's pretty obviously mental (and I don't say that about many players).

[Danny Serafini]

Somebody (didn't here who) struck out to end the ininng. 8-5 after 7.

[Danny Serafini]

Denorfia singles to left off of Fernando Rodney to start the 8th.

[flyer85]

Flyer we lost 16 games last year by one run and 11 games by 2 runs. So we lost a total of 27 games by two runs or less. I think a situational run here or there last year would have done some good for this team.and the point of your straw man is?

[Chip R]

Flyer we lost 16 games last year by one run and 11 games by 2 runs. So we lost a total of 27 games by two runs or less. I think a situational run here or there last year would have done some good for this team.

Actually I think if our pitchers could give up less runs, that would do more good for the team.

[Danny Serafini]

Menechino grounds into a force at 2B that even the Tiger fans think was safe.

[Danny Serafini]

Olmedo strikes out for out #2

[Danny Serafini]

4,015 on hand to witness today's "titanic struggle". Marty's already in regular season form. Andy Abad singles to left field, he's 2-2 today.

[Johnny Footstool]

Flyer we lost 16 games last year by one run and 11 games by 2 runs. So we lost a total of 27 games by two runs or less. I think a situational run here or there last year would have done some good for this team.

Home runs provide great "situational" runs. Sometimes, bunting a runner over means sacrificing an opportunity for your better hitters to hit.

If you want to convince me that "manufacturing runs" would have made a real difference, you'll have to break down all those 1-run losses play-by-play and point out how a sacrifice bunt or more team speed could have changed the outcome of those games.

[Danny Serafini]

Votto K's on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning. 8-5, middle 8th

[westofyou]

The thing that has bothered me the last couple of years is the fact that we really don't have anyone that is an adequate bunter

Yep, that's right on the top of my list too.. right after the lack of cabbage leaves on hot days and right before the lack of adequate beaver shooting places in D.C.

[RedsManRick]

Home runs provide great "situational" runs. Sometimes, bunting a runner over means sacrificing an opportunity for your better hitters to hit.

If you want to convince me that "manufacturing runs" would have made a real difference, you'll have to break down all those 1-run losses play-by-play and point out how a sacrifice bunt or more team speed could have changed the outcome of those games.

Agreed. Analysis has shown the pretty much the only time it makes sense to bunt is when you are tied or down 1, it's late in the game, there's a runner on 1B or an extremely slow runner on 2B, there are 0 outs, and the bunter is an otherwise poor hitter. That scenario aside, you're hurting your chances to win the game by bunting.

I cringed so much this season living in Chicago and watching Dusty Baker sacrifice runners over in the first inning. It's as if he's convinced that if they can just eek out that 1 run in the first, it'll be smooth sailing the rest of the way.

[Danny Serafini]

Mike Burns on to pitch. Gets the first batter to line out to 2B, Chris Shelton then doubles.

[Danny Serafini]

Burns gets a K, then Shelton manages to get picked off of second. 8-5 after 8, last roundup for the Reds coming up.

[LincolnparkRed]

I said it last year: they Reithed Wagner. The kid's got the spine of a marshmallow. And I don't really blame him so much. He becomes totally unravelled--it's pretty obviously mental (and I don't say that about many players).

I am wondering how short a leash he will get this year. I say make him stay in Louisville for a couple of months and then come July if there needs to be a change do it. Don't give a spot because he pitched well for two months after he got drafted and part of 2004.

[Danny Serafini]

Dayton native Chris Spurling in to pitch for Detroit. Earl Snyder pops up to 3B, 1 out. Cruz is up, he's 1-1 with 3 walks and an RBI double today.

[KronoRed]

Rally hats on

[Danny Serafini]

Cruz singles to get on base for the 5th time today. Miguel Perez up to bat.

[Danny Serafini]

Perez flies out to left, 2 down for Dewayne Wise.

[Danny Serafini]

Grounder to 2B ends the game. Final score: Detroit 8, Cincinnati 5

WP: Durbin (1-0)
LP: Wagner (0-1)
HR: Hatteberg (1), I. Rodriguez (1), R. Taylor (1)

[KronoRed]

Rally hat failure.

[registerthis]

Yep, that's right on the top of my list too.. right after the lack of cabbage leaves on hot days and right before the lack of adequate beaver shooting places in D.C.

There's one just down the street from my house, WOY. You can cross that one off your list.

[M2]

Flyer we lost 16 games last year by one run and 11 games by 2 runs. So we lost a total of 27 games by two runs or less. I think a situational run here or there last year would have done some good for this team.

The Cardinals lost 25 games by one run and 11 by two.

The White Sox lost 19 by one run and another 12 by two.

[Chip R]

The Cardinals lost 25 games by one run and 11 by two.

And that's why they didn't make the World Series. :evil:

[Heath]

And that's why they didn't make the World Series. :evil:

ask astrobuddy ;) :evil:

[M2]

And those bunt-happy Astros lost 21 one-run contests and 16 two-run affairs.

[westofyou]

And those bunt-happy Astros lost 21 one-run contests and 16 two-run affairs.

So what you're saying is that teams lose games by one run eh?

[M2]

So what you're saying is that teams lose games by one run eh?

Unless the pitching's awful. Then they lose by a lot more than that a lot more often.

[TeamBoone]

Friday, March 3, 2006
Kozlowski's first day not stellar
Reds notebook
BY JOHN FAY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

LAKELAND, Fla. - Left- hander Ben Kozlowski knew he would be on the trip to play the Detroit Tigers a couple of days ago.

He didn't find out until Wednesday afternoon that he'd be starting. Kozlowski filled in for Eric Milton (strained calf) as the starter in the spring opener.

He didn't attach any added significance to the start.

"It's spring training; you go out and try to find your mechanics," Kozlowski said. "... I felt good."

Things, however, did not go well. Kozlowski, a 25-year-old non-roster invitee, gave up four runs on three hits.

He surrendered a lead-off home run to Ivan Rodriguez. He walked the next batter, Placido Polanco, but settled down briefly.

Things fell apart with two outs in the second. He hit a batter, walked another, then gave up run-scoring hits to Curtis Granderson and Rodriguez.

"You get two quick outs, you've got to close out the inning," Kozlowski said.

Kozlowski split time between Double-A Chattanooga (4-4, 4.04 ERA) and Triple-A Louisville (2-3, 4.63) last season.

Kozlowski was once a hot prospect. He was the Texas Rangers' minor-league pitcher of the year in 2002, going from Single-A to the majors in one year. He had elbow surgery in 2003, and the Reds signed him off waivers in 2004.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060303/SPT04/603030347/1071/SPT04