3/08/09 - Reds v. Blue Jays (Owings Pitching)

[Caveat Emperor]

Discuss. :)

[_Sir_Charles_]

Thanks CE. I didn't know I was able to start a game thread, otherwise I would've posted here. Oh well, now I know. Thanks for the heads-up BossHog

In regards to the game...Micah is rolling along very nicely. 2 ip, 1 hit and 5 k's.

At the plate, we've had a couple of BB's (Cota & Phillips), a HBP (Jones) and a SB (Jones), but other than that things have been pretty well contained by BOTH starters.

[paintmered]

Anyone in the ORG can start a game thread, but it must be approved by a moderator so we have some control over the start time of the thread and avoid dupes.

Nice to see Micah rolling. It would be absolutely huge if he is a viable 5th starter this year.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Reds Lineup:
Jones (lf)
Gonzo (dh)
Dickerson (cf)
Phillips (2b)
Gomes (1b)
Nix (rf)
Keppinger (3b)
Cota (c)
Janish (ss)

Pitching: Owings

Toronto:
Inglett (2b)
Coats (cf)
Lind (lf)
Overbay (1b)
Rolen (3b)
Snider (rf)
Barrett (c)
Arencibia (dh)
McDonald (ss)

Pitching: Purcey

[_Sir_Charles_]

So far, the only Red to hit the ball hard has been Nix. He drove the ball deep and it was only held in the park by the wind blowing in hard.

Top of 4th, no score.

[_Sir_Charles_]

K #6 for Owings on Overbay.

[_Sir_Charles_]

3 up 3 down for Owings. No score middle of 4.

I've thought Owings has been very impressive this spring, but this is BY FAR his most dominant start.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Pitching Change: Brett Cecil

Thank goodness, we weren't coming CLOSE to touching Purcey.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Phillips leads off with a hard single down the line for the Reds first hit.
Gomes homerun! :jump: 2-0 Redlegs
Nix strikes out looking
Keppinger grounds out to thirdbase
Cota gounds out to third

2-0 Reds after 4

I think I'd pull Owings now. 4 great innings and he'll get the W.

[jesusfan]

That 5th spot is going to have options that's for sure... If we aren't at the top of the National League in pitching this season something is wrong...

[Caveat Emperor]

With Owings and Bailey both pitching well, it gives the Reds interesting options as the season progresses.

Having veteran pitching available to trade (Harang, Arroyo) is never a bad thing, especially for a team that might need help at the dish.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Arthur Rhodes in to start the fifth. Hopefully he'll have something decent this time out. He's been shelled everytime he's toed the rubber this spring.

[_Sir_Charles_]

3 up, 3 down for Rhodes. All groundballs. Now THAT'S nice to see. I am loving the way this pitching staff is shaping up. It could be REALLY devastating this year. :)

[_Sir_Charles_]

1-2-3 fifth for Cecil. AGon struggling with the stick today. 2 k's and a soft dribbler to short. I'm not that concerned about his hitting, I'm really wanting to hear how he's doing in the field. Has anybody heard when he might actually get some time using the leather and not just DH'ing?

[_Sir_Charles_]

Tatum in at C
Weathers now pitching
Bankston in for Gomes at first

[_Sir_Charles_]

Weathers sits down the first 2 batters, then ex-red Buck Coats lines a hard single to center. Lind grounds out to end the inning. Nice solid inning from David. Other than that one outing, he's been pretty darn good this spring.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Dickerson HBP right on the hand. He seems to be okay. Thankfully.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Phillips K's and Dickerson out trying to steal second. Barrett picked it out of the dirt, DOUBLE-CLUTCHED, and STILL threw out Dickerson. That must've been one HORRIBLE jump. Yikes.

Bankston pop out in foul ground to end the inning.

2-0 good guys at the end of six.

[nate]

The Reds have really had some dreadful baserunning this ST.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Hopper in Left
Stubbs in Center
Valiaka at second
McDonald in right
Rosales at third
Bolivar at short
Cordero on the mound

[_Sir_Charles_]

Homerun from Arencibia, 3-2 Toronto. I missed the beginning of this inning, so I don't know how they scored the first runs. Sounds like 2 hanging breaking balls for 2 HR's from the sound of Brantley.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Rosales with a great leaping snag to steal a hit and end the inning.

Cordero has be dreadful so far this spring.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Rolen hit the other dinger in the first half of that last inning.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Leadoff double for McDonald down the line.
Adam Rosales grounder behind McDonald to advance the runner but Adam's out at first
Linedrive down the rightfield line. Single and RBI for Craig Tatum. Tie ballgame.

Pitching change: PJ Beam

Luis Bolivar grounds to short, but a high throw from the second baseman sends Bolivar to second on the error. Tatum out at second.
Hopper up (and apparently swinging for the fences...lol) Stolen base by Bolivar. 2 down, man on third for Hopper. Grounded out to end the inning.

3-3 at the end of 7

[RBA]

Sir Charles? I thought you were doing 3 days in jail down in Arizona?

[_Sir_Charles_]

Matt Maloney takes the hill to start the 8th

[_Sir_Charles_]

Sir Charles? I thought you were doing 3 days in jail down in Arizona?

They let me bring my laptop with me. I slid the guard a few bucks.

[remdog]

Sir Charles? I thought you were doing 3 days in jail down in Arizona?

:lol:

Reports are that Sir Charles has been a model prisoner so they are letting him use the internet. ;)

Rem

[_Sir_Charles_]

Matt gets the first hitter to ground out to Valiaka. Second hitter gets an infield single but Valiaka dives to get it but can't get the runner motoring down the line. Trying to hold the runner on, Maloney throws the ball into the tarp and runner advances to second.

Triple down the rightfield line for Russ Adams. 4-3 Blue Jays.

Bloop single over Bolivar to score Adams. 5-3 Toronto. I'll try to update the Blue Jays' hitters, but I don't know many of them so it'll be hit and miss. Maloney gets a K and a ground out to get out of the inning.

5-3 Toronto middle of 8

[remdog]

I'm glad to see Dickerson get some time in CF. Maybe he will impress Dusty.

I'm not sure why they are giving Bankston so much playing time but I'm guessing that it's because so many players are at the WBC. As that changes I'm guessing that Bankston will be gone.

Impressive performance by Owings. Maybe the Reds should go to a 6 man rotation. That's how trends get started in baseball. :)

Rem

[_Sir_Charles_]

Other than Alonso, they don't really have any other firstbasemen. I still think I'd prefer to give the bulk of the playing time to Yonder though instead of breaking in Bankston & Gomes (and Ward IIRC).

Devin Mesoraco in and lines a single into left on the first pitch
Drew Stubbs draws a walk. 1st & 2nd, no outs.
Valiaka rips a base hit to rightcenter. Mesoraco scores, Stubbs to third. 5-4 Blue Jays
Bankston strikes out looking
McDonald pops up to second. Stubbs still stuck at third.
Rosales drives a hit into center. Stubbs scores to tie the game, Valiaka advances to second. 5-5 game
Tatum flies out near the wall to end the inning.

5-5 heading to the ninth

[_Sir_Charles_]

I know they have tie games in ST, but when do they call the game? Certain inning? Certain game length? Darkness...no, they've got lights. Anybody know? Anybody? Bueler?

[lollipopcurve]

I think Mesoraco is showing solid potential with the bat. The issue with him is defense. Patience is required.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Kenard in to pitch the ninth

1-2-3 inning by Kenard. 5-5 game with the Reds coming up.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Bolivar, Hopper, Mesoraco due up.

Managers discussing how many pitchers they have left. I guess that answers the extra innings question. Managerial decision I guess.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Bolivar grounds back to the pitcher

[_Sir_Charles_]

Hopper drills one, but right at the rightfielder. 2 down

[_Sir_Charles_]

Devin grounds out to short to end the inning.

And we'll have some extra frames it seems. Teams head back out for the 10th.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Kenard still pitching. But this will be the final inning Thom just said.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Kenard gets the first two, but a long double off the wall by Russ Adams extends the inning. A strikeout looking ends the inning.

[Tornon]

I know they have tie games in ST, but when do they call the game? Certain inning? Certain game length? Darkness...no, they've got lights. Anybody know? Anybody? Bueler?

I think they call games when one of the teams runs out of pitchers they brought with them

[_Sir_Charles_]

Bottom of the 10th (and final inning of the day)

Perez on the mound

Stubbs flies out on the first pitch to rightfield
Valiaka bullet of a line drive and a great catch by Adams. Durnit.
Bankston basehit up the middle. 3 pitches, 3 hard hit balls.
McDonald single to left. Bankston to second.
Richar pinchrunning for Bankston.
Rosales singles and scores Richar to win the game. Adam "clutch" Rosales comes through again! 6-5 Redlegs! :jump:

[_Sir_Charles_]

2 consecutive AB's for Rosales with 2 outs and he comes through to drive in the run. I really hope Adam makes the club. He's a fun player to watch and his effort is infectious.

[lollipopcurve]

Great job, Sir Charles. Appreciate the PBP!

[Spring~Fields]

Super play by play, great reading. Almost like I was there in person, thank you.

[11larkin11]

Valiaka rips a base hit to rightcenter. Mesoraco scores, Stubbs to third.

As we stare into the future?

[_Sir_Charles_]

As we stare into the future?

I was thinking the exact same thing. I love watching/listening to ST baseball for that exact reason.

[11larkin11]

Very possibly if Dusty is manager. Catcher bats 8th, CF leads off, SS bats second. That could be those people in those spots