Last ST Game - Reds vs. Rays 3/29/08

[Screwball]

Edited lineup:

Patterson
Hopper
Kepp
Phillips
Dunn
EE
Votto
Ross

Cueto's also going today. Dusty says they're going to try and stretch him out some more in preparation for his first start on Thursday.

[membengal]

Actual line-up is:

Patterson - CF
Hopper - RF
Kepp SS
Phillips 26
Dunn LF
EE 3b
Votto 1b
Ross c
Cueto 9

[VR]

I like Ross getting more ab's, AND catching Cueto to get some quality game time receiving in with one of the kids.

[Screwball]

Iwamura take a strike then lines a single the other way. 1 on, nobody out for the Rays.

[OnBaseMachine]

Looks like the Rays have their Opening Day lineup out there. Hopefully Cueto can have a nice game, he struggled mightily against these guys last time out.

[OnBaseMachine]

This is the second straight start Cueto has pitched on five days rest.

[Screwball]

Carl Crawford steps in. Cueto goes way behind to him 3-0. CC then takes ball four. Two on, nobody out.

Carlos Pena now up.

[membengal]

Bad Cueto so far. The Rays must scare him.

[OnBaseMachine]

This is starting to look like last Sunday all over again.

[Screwball]

Cueto gets ahead 0-2. Pena takes a ball, but then goes down swinging. Big strikeout there.

Runenrs still on 1st and 2nd. 1 down.

[membengal]

That beats the 3-run HR that Pena hit off of him last Sunday.

[Screwball]

Cueto gets a quick strike on BJ Upton. Ross goes out to the mound, and EE joins them to serve as an interpreter.

After a foul ball, Cueto's ahead 0-2. Then gets Upton swinging on a down and in strike. Another huge strikeout.

2 down.

[membengal]

There he goes! Well done, so far, rook.

[Screwball]

Cueto saws off Eric Hinske, but the ball goes foul. 2-2 count. Strikes him out on a low change-up!

0-0 with the Reds coming up to bat.

[membengal]

Great comeback for Cueto.

[OnBaseMachine]

Great job by Johnny to get out of that!

[kbrake]

Very good to see, well hear same thing.

[Screwball]

Patterson digs in. He walks somehow.

Apparently Doug Davis of the D-Backs has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer but will still pitch the third game of the season against the Reds.

[Screwball]

BTW, Edwin Jackson is pitching for the Rays.

Hopper behind 1-2. He loops one into RF. Runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.

[Screwball]

Marty wants Hopper to platoon with Patterson in CF. I agree.

1-0 count to Kepp. He flies out to center, but the runners can't advance. 1 down.

[Screwball]

Phillips hits into a, well, Phillips. 0-0 after 1.

[Screwball]

Cueto will face Gomes. He works the count full. Cueto then walks him.

[Screwball]

EE makes a nice snag on the 3B line, but he then throws the ball away. Runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out.

Bartlett now up.

[OnBaseMachine]

Rough spring for EdE. I still think he has a big year.

[Screwball]

Cueto gets ahead 1-2. High chopper to 3rd. EE takes the out at 1st, but Gomes scores. Navarro stays at 2nd.

1 down, 1 runner on.

[Screwball]

The pitcher Jackson flies out to RF. 2 down, runner on 2nd.

Cueto will face Iwamura again.

[VR]

Rough spring for EdE. I still think he has a big year.

His glove has been solid, hasn't it? That's a much bigger concern for me...we all know he can hit.

[OnBaseMachine]

His glove has been solid, hasn't it? That's a much bigger concern for me...we all know he can hit.

I think his defense has been pretty good aside from the throwing error today.

[Screwball]

In a discussion with his son Thom about the weather on OD, Marty says he would have more respect for meteorologists if they threw up their hands and said they had no idea what the weather will be. Whatever you say, Marty.

Iwamura works the count full. Cueto strikes him out though. Good job to limit the damage there. 1-0 Rays.

[membengal]

Marty is going to wear EE out if EE gets off to a slow start this year. Mark that. He is absolutely spoiling to, and it oozes out of the broadcasts.

[Screwball]

Dunn to lead off the bottom of the 2nd.

He goes down swinging. EE due up.

[Screwball]

EE with a hard hit liner but it's right at Upton in center. Quickly two down.

Votto steps in.

[Screwball]

Questionable called strike runs the count 2-2. Votto gets a hard hit single though into RF.

[Screwball]

Ross hits one hard to right but the RF makes the catch.

1-0 Rays after 2.

[Screwball]

Marty and Thom still talking about the weather forecast for OD. We get it, there's a chance of rain.

Cueto gets the leadoff hitter to fly out to center. 1 down.

Pena due up.

[Screwball]

Cueto runs the count full to the dangerous Carlos Pena.

Cueto walks him. 3 walks now in the game. A little disconcerting there, even if he does have 4 strikeouts.

[OnBaseMachine]

Cueto has had horrible command his last two starts, both against the Rays.

[Screwball]

Cueto will face Upton with 1 out and runner on 1st.

Breaking ball gets Upton looking. Backwards K for the 2nd out. Runner still on 1st.

[WMR]

Dunn to lead off the bottom of the 2nd.

He goes down swinging. EE due up.

Wonder how many times we'll see Dunn leading off the 2nd inning this season b/c of where he hits?

[Screwball]

Hinske settles in.

2-2 count. Cueto hangs a slider but Hinske only fouls it off. Cueto then gets him to go down swinging. 1-0 Rays as we head to the bottom of the third.

[OnBaseMachine]

6 K's in 3 IP for Cueto.

[Screwball]

I think that's 6 strikeouts to go with the 3 walks. Dude can really rack up the Ks.

[Screwball]

Cueto will lead off the 3rd. All he knows is strikeouts, so he goes down swinging.

1 down with Patterson due up.

[Screwball]

Patterson with a sharply hit grounder to 2nd. 2 down, nobody on.

[Kc61]

Marty is going to wear EE out if EE gets off to a slow start this year. Mark that. He is absolutely spoiling to, and it oozes out of the broadcasts.

EE could avoid the problem by getting off to a fast start this year. Playing well usually helps avoid criticism by announcers.

But if EE want to feel better, he can just read RedsZone, in which he is Pie Traynor.

[Screwball]

Hopper with a smash into RF. The single will put a runner on 1st and Kepp will step in with 2 down.

[gm]

In a discussion with his son Thom about the weather on OD, Marty says he would have more respect for meteorologists if they threw up their hands and said they had no idea what the weather will be. Whatever you say, Marty.

And I'd have a lot more respect for Marty if he ended his rants with "but what do I know?"

(Baseball seasons and the weather are like a box of choc-lates, Jen-ny)

Wonders to himself...how many BBs will it take before Cueto slips into the "Bailey needs to work on his command" category?

(but what do I know?)

[membengal]

Or, maybe, Marty can chill and see how it plays out. I don't think he is the second coming, but, as usual, it would be nice not to flinch in anticipation of a bad thing happening when certain players are up as disgust fills Marty's voice. It really would.

[Screwball]

Country Kepp grounds out to SS.

1-0 Rays after 3.

[OnBaseMachine]

Cueto has never had a history of control problems except for a two start stretch he seems to go in every season. I'm not really too concerned about it.

[Screwball]

Or, maybe, Marty can chill and see how it plays out. I don't think he is the second coming, but, as usual, it would be nice not to flinch in anticipation of a bad thing happening when certain players are up as disgust fills Marty's voice. It really would.

Yeah, EE has warrante dhis share of criticism, but the utter disdain Marty has in his voice when discussing Edwin rubs me the wrong way.

[gm]

Yeah, EE has warrante dhis share of criticism, but the utter disdain Marty has in his voice when discussing Edwin rubs me the wrong way.

Hey, EdE's just got to earn Marty's respect, like Adam Dunn finally did

(but what do I know?)

[Screwball]

Cueto goes behind 3-1. A two hopper to 1st forces Votto to throw from his knees, and couldn't get much on the ball. Cueto leaps to catch it, but the runner is safe at first. One on, nobody out.

Navarro steps in.

[Screwball]

After the infield single, Navarro pulls a liner into RF for a single.

Cueto in another jam. Runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.

[Screwball]

Bouncer to first. Votto fields and tosses to Cueto covering first. 1 down, but the runners advance to 2nd and 3rd.

Infield in as Iwamura faces Cueto.

[Screwball]

Cueto quickly gets ahead 0-2. Iwamura takes a ball, but Cueto gets him looking. Cueto with another big strikeout. Two down, two on.

[gm]

Baseball is the only sport where, when you don't have the ball, you're on offense.

Is Cricket a sport?

[Screwball]

Cueto goes behind 3-0 to Pedroza (sp?). He must've had a green light because he lines the 3-0 pitch into LCF for a double. Two score.

3-0 Rays.

[Screwball]

Is Cricket a sport?

It contradicts my sig, so no, it isn't a sport. :p:

[Screwball]

Rays taking out all their starters. Cueto gets Andruz to hit a comebacker to him. He flips onto first for the 3rd out.

Reds down 3-0 heading into the bottom of 4.

[gm]

Cueto goes behind 3-0 to Pedroza (sp?). He must've had a green light because he lines the 3-0 pitch into LCF for a double. Two score.

3-0 Rays.

Adversity is a good thing for a young pitcher...we hope. But JC's gonna need to spin a shoutout to beat Davis next week...if the Red's past offensive woes against DD are any indication

[membengal]

Marty and Thom would have absolutely hated Tim Lincecum in a Reds uniform, as beside themselves as they are with Cueto's pitching line today.

[Kc61]

Hey, EdE's just got to earn Marty's respect, like Adam Dunn finally did

(but what do I know?)

Thing is, as much as Marty is easily annoyed by EE's mistakes, I find EE to be incurably overrated around here. Probably it's best if we all sit tight and see how he does.

Meanwhile, Cueto is struggling today. I hope they let him pitch through it. Don't want to see a fast trigger on Cueto if he struggles. Having made the decision to go north with Cueto as a starter, team should give him the full shot. With some major league innings under his belt, I think he'll improve and settle in.

[Screwball]

Edwin Jackson stays in to pitch. Phillips, Dunn, EE due up.

BP draws a walk.

[OnBaseMachine]

With a little better defense from the corner infielders today Cueto is most likely pitching a shutout. But the walks haven't helped either.

[gm]

Thing is, as much as Marty is easily annoyed by EE's mistakes, I find EE to be incurably overrated around here. Probably it's best if we all sit tight and see how he does.

Give Red's fans a break, they/we haven't had a decent/complete 3rd baseman since...Heine Groh

(other than Buddy Bell and Chris Sabo, for a short period of time)

Cueto's the golden boy now, he'll get at least as much slack as Jack Armstrong did

(not sayin' Johnny doesn't deserve his props)

[Screwball]

Wild pitch in the dirt allows Phillips to advance to 2nd.

Full count to Dunn. He flies out to LCF. Phillips tags up and advances to third. 1 down.

[membengal]

Thing is, as much as Marty is easily annoyed by EE's mistakes, I find EE to be incurably overrated around here. Probably it's best if we all sit tight and see how he does.

Meanwhile, Cueto is struggling today. I hope they let him pitch through it. Don't want to see a fast trigger on Cueto if he struggles. Having made the decision to go north with Cueto as a starter, team should give him the full shot. With some major league innings under his belt, I think he'll improve and settle in.

Yes, we all need to let it play out. And that includes the announcers.

[Screwball]

EE goes behind 1-2. He gets the next pitch into LF, though, for a sac fly.

3-1 Rays with two down and nobody on.

[Screwball]

Votto grounds out. 3-1 Rays after 4.

[gm]

EdE sac fly!?...now if THAT doesn't cause Marty to jump on bandwagon #28, nothing will

[Screwball]

Cueto's day is done. I thought he'd go longer. Lincoln in.

Reds changes in the field: Justin Turner at 2nd, Chris Heisey in LF, Chris Valaika at 3rd.

[Screwball]

Mike Lincoln facing Rashad Eldridge.

Grounder to first for the first out. Apparently, Hatteberg has replaced Votto.

[Screwball]

80 pitches for Cueto today. 46 were strikes.

[OnBaseMachine]

Cueto finishes the spring with 19 K's in 17.2 innings. Volquez had 26 K's in 20 innings.

[Screwball]

Lincoln gets somebody to ground out to 2nd. 2 down, nobody on.

[gm]

This game's in the hands of the Chattanooga roster, now

"Son you don't wanna be out drivin' and drinkin'...and out there ridin' in that HOT...ROD...Lincoln"

(guitar solo and fade)

[Screwball]

Marty says the bullpen has the makeup to be pretty good IF they can get solid innings out of their starting pitching.

As he says that, Lincoln Ks the batter for the 3rd out. 3-1 Rays in the middle of 5.

[Screwball]

Trevor Miller the pitcher for the Rays.

Ross will lead off the bottom of the 5th. He grounds one down the 3rd base line, and the 3rd baseman snags it but has no play to first. Runner on 1st, nobody out.

[lollipopcurve]

Ross will lead off the bottom of the 5th. He grounds one down the 3rd base line, and the 3rd baseman snags it but has no play to first. Runner on 1st, nobody out.

Speed does not slump!

[Screwball]

Hatt to face Trevor Miller. He quickly goes behind 0-2.

He still gets a looping single into left field. Runners on 1st and 2nd, nobody out.

Patterson bunts down the 1st base line, giving himself up but advancing the runners to 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.

Sean Henry steps in for Hopper.

[Screwball]

Henry hits a high fly ball. It's deep enough to score Ross, but Hatt stays at 2nd.

2 down. 3-2 Rays. Everybody's favorite Juan Castro digs in.

[Screwball]

Castro smashes it into right but it's right at the RFer.

3-2 Rays after 5.

[Screwball]

Coffey will pitch the 6th. Drew Stubbs in CF. Henry in RF. Valentin behind the plate.

Shawn Riggins steps in.

[Screwball]

First pitch fastball lined into left. Riggins cruises into second for a leadoff double.

[*BaseClogger*]

Just curious--how many liked that sac bunt?

[Screwball]

2-2 pitch bounced to 2nd. Reds get the out but the runner advances to 3rd. 1 down.

[Screwball]

Another first pitch fastball lined up the middle. This one goes for a single and it scores Riggins.

4-2 Rays with 1 out in the 6th.

[Screwball]

Coffey then induces the 4-6-3 Phillips. 4-2 Rays after Coffey gives up his first run of the spring. Sounds like the Rays hitters were sitting on the heat early in the count.

[BCubb2003]

"The World Famous Tired Old Ed Smith Stadium Grounds Crew"

[Screwball]

Just curious--how many liked that sac bunt?

Not me. With Patterson's speed, a DP isn't too likely. But at least the Reds got a run out of it.

[Screwball]

Justin Turner to lead off followed by Chris Heisey. Somebody named Hunter pitching for the Rays.

Turner chases some high heat and goes down swinging. 1 down.

[Screwball]

2-0 hanging breaking ball lined into left by Heisey. The single puts a runner on 1st with 1 down.

[BCubb2003]

This game's in the hands of the Chatanooga roster, now



Look out!

[Screwball]

Marty says for anybody who hasn't seen Mike Lincoln pitch when healthy, you're gonna like what you see out of him. I hope you're right, Marty.

Hunter to face Chris Valaika. CV gets a single into right.

Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 down, and Valentin digs in.

[Screwball]

Marty not happy with the pick of high school catcher Mesoraco in last year's draft. Says he was very unimpressive in his first year of pro ball.

Javy Uppercut smokes one into deep right. Home run! 5-4 Reds.

[Screwball]

Drew Stubbs your batter.

He breaks his bat on a 1-0 pitch and flies out to right. 2 out.

[Screwball]

Hatt chops one over the mound and it bounces out of the SS's glove and Hatt beats out the 2nd baseman's throw easily. Runner on first, 2 out.

[Screwball]

Denove gets a base hit into right. He tries to go to 2nd but gets thrown out to end the inning.

Reds get three though thanks to Javy's bomb. 5-4 Reds after 6.

[Screwball]

Jim Brower toes the rubber. He Ks the leadoff hitter on a nasty slider.

Chris Nowak in to face Brower.

[NC Reds]

Chris Heisey is the new Denorfia.

Chris Heisey Fact #58 - Chris Heisey once ate a whole cake before his friends could tell him there was a stripper in it.

Nice of Marty to dismiss Mesoraco after a half season of rookie ball.

[Screwball]

Brower drills Nowak with a fastball. "Get off my plate!" he yells. (Okay, I made that last part up but he did hit him)

Runner on first, 1 down.

Eldridge gets a single up the middle. Runners on 1st and 2nd now with 1 out.

[Screwball]

Brower dealing to Hughes. Gabby Martinez in the on deck circle. I wish my name was Gabby Martinez.

Bouncer to Turner at 2nd. He flips to Castro but they can't quite turn the Phillips. Runners on the corners with 2 down.

My boy Gabby Martinez up.

[Screwball]

Gabby with awesome, awesome plate discipline to work the count 2-0. But he grounds out weakly to first. Ump must've missed catcher interference or something.

Anyway, Reds still up 5-4 in the middle of 6.

[dougdirt]

Marty not happy with the pick of high school catcher Mesoraco in last year's draft. Says he was very unimpressive in his first year of pro ball.


Thats what happens when you only look at stats and take absolutely nothing else into account. Marty would have said Derek Jeter sucked after his first half year in pro baseball too.

[Screwball]

Conine has apparerntly signed a contract with Florida so he could retire a Marlin.

Sean Henry now up. Not sure who the pitcher is for the Rays. Whoever he is gets Henry to go down swinging.

Juan Castro settles in hoping to regulate.

[Screwball]

Castro regulates a swinging strikeout.

BTW, the pitcher's last name is Howell.

Justin Turner now up.

[Screwball]

Turner behind 1-2. He Ks looking and Howell has fanned the side. I bet Gabby would've at least made contact.

Still 5-4 Reds after 7.

[dougdirt]

Castro regulates a swinging strikeout.

BTW, the pitcher's last name is Howell.

Justin Turner now up.

Thurston or JP?

[Screwball]

Thurston or JP?

No idea, sorry.

The leadoff batter for the Rays in the 7th pops up to Hatteberg. 1 down.

[Screwball]

High chopper to Turner at 2nd. He tosses to Brower who's covering first. Quickly two down.

[Screwball]

Marty makes a good point in saying other than Matt Belisle, the Reds have basically no SP depth. If Cueto and/or Volquez turn out to be ST flashes, the Reds are in serious trouble.

[Screwball]

Brower gets a backwards K for the 3rd out of the inning.

5-4 Reds in the middle of 8.

[Screwball]

Jeno Gonzalez the pitcher for the Rays. He gets the leadoff batter out somehow (I wasn't paying attention).

Valaika steps in.

[Screwball]

Valaika crushed one to deep left. It hits off the wall and Valaika cruises in with a double. 2-2 for him today.

[Screwball]

Bako swings and misses for strike three. Two down, CV still on 2nd.

Stubbs settles in.

[Screwball]

Stubbs works a walk.

Hatteberg will step in with two down and runners on 1st and 2nd.

[Screwball]

Hatt drives a pitch into RCF for a double. CV scores easily and Stubbs also comes in to score. Hatt has had himself a great spring.

7-4 Reds now.

[Screwball]

Another base hit and Hatteberg comes home to score. 8-4 Reds.

[Screwball]

Sean Henry the batter with two outs and a man on (still not sure who and on what base).

He swings and misses for strike three. 8-4 Reds after 8.

[Screwball]

RHP Jon Adkins now in to relieve Jim Brower.

Adkins will face Pedroza to lead off the 9th.

[Screwball]

Pedroza hits a high chopper to first. Hatt fields and tosses to Adkins. 1 down.

[BoydsOfSummer]

Marty makes a good point in saying other than Matt Belisle, the Reds have basically no SP depth. If Cueto and/or Volquez turn out to be ST flashes, the Reds are in serious trouble.


How the season goes depends on what those two do more than any others I do believe. I'm hoping for league average out of them. That would go a long way I think. Volquez especially should be ready to do at least that.

[Screwball]

2-2 count to the batter. Adkins gets strike three call. Two down.

"4,685 turn out for today's titanic struggle."

90,489 total attendance during this year's ST sets a new record.

[Screwball]

Adkins induces a fly ball to right to end the game. Reds win 8-4!

The Reds end ST 17-15 and have won 3 games in a row. I've already printed WS tickets, so let me know if you need any.

[dougdirt]

Marty makes a good point in saying other than Matt Belisle, the Reds have basically no SP depth. If Cueto and/or Volquez turn out to be ST flashes, the Reds are in serious trouble.

That also makes the assumption that Matt Maloney and Homer Bailey stagnate to their spring selves and make absolutely no progress to speak of.

[gm]

Marty makes a good point in saying other than Matt Belisle, the Reds have basically no SP depth. If Cueto and/or Volquez turn out to be ST flashes, the Reds are in serious trouble.

Homer Bailey...is his 2008 ML chance of success written off already?

[lollipopcurve]

You've also got Bailey, Maloney and guys like Lehr, Gardner and Pettyjohn at AAA -- so long as one of those guys is throwing well the system will be able to cough up a fifth starter if more than 1 starter gets hurt or implodes. That's assuming Belisle gets healthy and is the first reinforcement. Franchester needs a reality check -- the Reds have it no worse than most teams, probably better than most.

[Screwball]

Homer Bailey...is his 2008 ML chance of success written off already?

He's had command problems for a while. He could get it together by mid season, but I think a more likely target is September of this year or perhaps 2009.

[gm]

The Reds end ST 17-15 and have won 3 games in a row.


Dusty is riding "Big Mo" into the championship season

[NC Reds]

Thanks for the play by play. I appreciate it.

[Hoosier Red]

Marty makes a good point in saying other than Matt Belisle, the Reds have basically no SP depth. If Cueto and/or Volquez turn out to be ST flashes, the Reds are in serious trouble.

That will definately put us behind all the teams with at least 6 major league quality pitchers and the top pitching prospect waiting at AAA.

[Screwball]

That will definately put us behind all the teams with at least 6 major league quality pitchers and the top pitching prospect waiting at AAA.

Just because other teams don't have an abundance of pitching doesn't mean the Reds shouldn't strive to get it themselves. Without a strong rotation, this is a team that really isn't much better than the one that lost 90 games last year.

[Falls City Beer]

I think it's safe to say that neither Maloney nor Bailey represents the kind of safety net (if healthy) that Belisle represents.

Maloney and Bailey are essentially complete unknowns right now.

[Highlifeman21]

That also makes the assumption that Matt Maloney and Homer Bailey stagnate to their spring selves and make absolutely no progress to speak of.

I don't think that it's unreasonable to say that if Cueto, Volquez or Fogg struggle out of the gate, we really don't have any "ready" options in AAA. We have guys that could come up for an emergency start, but I wouldn't want Homer or Matt to be an emergency starter. If and when Homer or Matt come up in 2008, I want it to be b/c they are ready, rather than we're in an emergency.

I fully expected Bailey and Maloney to progress from their ST woes in AAA, but I also don't expect either of them to magically get it all figured out in April or May in AAA.

[Highlifeman21]

He's had command problems for a while. He could get it together by mid season, but I think a more likely target is September of this year or perhaps 2009.

I think that's an accurate and realistic window.

[mth123]

Thanks for the PBP Screwball. Very enjoyable.

[Screwball]

No problemo. The chance to enlighten millions to the awesomeness that is Gabby Martinez made it all worthwhile.

[*BaseClogger*]

No problemo. The chance to enlighten millions to the awesomeness that is Gabby Martinez made it all worthwhile.

Is Gabby Martinez the modern version of this guy?

http://www.thelin.net/laurent/cinema/films/tt0071230/60257.jpg

[Screwball]

Is Gabby Martinez the modern version of this guy?

http://www.thelin.net/laurent/cinema/films/tt0071230/60257.jpg

Garble garble garble

Hey, where all da white women at? :thumbup: