Spring Game 14: Astros at Reds
The Reds face off against the Astros for the first time this spring. The Astros aren't exactly having the success that one would hope for in the Grapefruit League as they are just 1-10 so far. None of that means much today though or during the regular season.
Aaron Harang will be the starter for the Reds. He's obviously still trying to find his rhythm this Spring, but it sure would be nice if that started happening sooner rather than later. Like, say, today would be good.
Homer Bailey will be following Harang today since tomorrow is Bailey's normal day to pitch and the Reds have the day off. Also available are Francisco Cordero, Jared Burton, and Arthur Rhodes. It'd be nice to see Harang and Bailey pitch 7 innings between them.
On the mound for the Astros is 29-year old right-hander Jeff Fulchino. Fulchino spent most of the last 8 years in the minors, without a lot of success. He's pitched a full 14.1 innings in the majors, without a lot of success (career 8.79 ERA). I wouldn't guess that he's a big threat to make the Astros' rotation, but stranger things have happened.
See the lineups after the jump.
Game time is 1:0pm. No home audio, but there is Gameday or you can follow along with BK on the Red Reporter Twitter feed.
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You guys seem a little down on Bailey today
Unless Berkman hits a homer (which seems really likely), I don’t think he gives up a run and strikes out at least 3.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not down on him
I just expect that given that it’s not his normal work day, he’s going to hit a bump in the road.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
I'll say four.
There are a lot of junior astronaut space campers in Hoston’s lineup today.
"I accidently put the night light in the washing machine."
by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 11, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Who have lost ten spring training games in a row, by the by
Personally, as excited as I am to see Homer drop the hammer, I’m looking for a big game from Harang today. I’d love to see him strike out Berkman.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Max and Jinx... Friends... For-e-ver.
is it possible that Joaquin Phoenix (then as Leaf Phoenix) was adversely affected by his time in space while they filmed that movie?
"How big IS your magic wand?"
by Slyde on Mar 11, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Now that's a reference
Rec for you, sir.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you read Slate's "insane-or-genius-like-Kaufman-or-Brando" article?
"I accidently put the night light in the washing machine."
by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 11, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Hint: His friend is making a documentary about his rap career.
"I accidently put the night light in the washing machine."
by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 11, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Except
His friend is Casey Affleck. So this is probably part of Ocean’s 14.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I just got a 3 chicken strip meal from popeye's, and they gave me four chicken strips!
Score!
Made from 100% recycled awesome,
by chandrathan on Mar 11, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions
That means he likes you.

"I accidently put the night light in the washing machine."
by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 11, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
i don't really see what you did there at all
(i don’t own a television or live in North America)
Tanzen!
by Verka Serduchka on Mar 11, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Citation needed.
"I accidently put the night light in the washing machine."
by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 11, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Got it now.
I did live in North America and own a television when while I was in elementary school.
Tanzen!
by Verka Serduchka on Mar 11, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I have no idea why, but I've been thinking about Total Recall a lot lately
Maybe I’ll ask for it for my birthday.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
you can't recall why you keep thinking of Total Recall
Ironic or just lame on my part?
"How big IS your magic wand?"
Don't touch that! Get away, get back!
What are you afraid of? Turn it on.
It's all fun and games until someone gets herpes. - Fox 4 News
by PeteyHendrix on Mar 11, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
the astros announcer just said he suspects chris dickerson is probably on BA's top 100 list
i guess we’ll take it
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions
top 100 prospects
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
and tell the color man to sit closer to the mic
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
That's racist!
It's all fun and games until someone gets herpes. - Fox 4 News
by PeteyHendrix on Mar 11, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
He also just said...
“that there are a lot of Reds playing today that we’ll see during the regular season.” I dunno— 4.5 of the batting lineup? Dickerson (platoon), Philips, Bruce, Hanigan (platoon at best), Keppinger (platoon at best). Maybe he’s thinking of the pitchers. He’s definitedly not impressing me, regardless.
"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
by "Red" Moskau on Mar 11, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
or anything besides his 100 AB sample size
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions
Tweet from BK
So far so good, Bruce sac fly in a run, Dickerson creating some HAVOC, and BP doubles him in! 2-0 Reds with 1 out in the 1st.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
2-0 BP moved to third on the shallow fly out by ward
HAVOC-esque?
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
My bad--
“Havoc by any other name will stil get you a base.”
"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
by "Red" Moskau on Mar 11, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
BP stole 3rd
Apparently the ‘stros haven’t been reading Dusty’s quotes. The PBP guy is surprised how “aggressive” the Reds are on the bases.
"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
by "Red" Moskau on Mar 11, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Aggressive is fine until you get caught
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

It's all fun and games until someone gets herpes. - Fox 4 News
by PeteyHendrix on Mar 11, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
When referring to mosquitos.
"I accidently put the night light in the washing machine."
by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 11, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
C'mon BK!
Twit or get off the pot!
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Will BK be twittering the SEC tournament?
it’s in Tampa
Made from 100% recycled awesome,
by chandrathan on Mar 11, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
me too :-(
Made from 100% recycled awesome,
by chandrathan on Mar 11, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
nah...
i depend on red reporter for my college basketball news
Made from 100% recycled awesome,
by chandrathan on Mar 11, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I really like that he's not one of the guys who was "sent where they needed to be going."
Faaaaint hope that he’ll make the squad?
"I accidently put the night light in the washing machine."
by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 11, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
You need to learn to love aggressive HAVOC!
"I accidently put the night light in the washing machine."
by Fat Vegas Alan on Mar 11, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
You want to send a guy down because he can't take a pitch?
We won’t be able to field a team!
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
RBI single
and another Houston child goes missing! ROAR!
"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
1-2-3 inning for harangatang
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:42 PM EDT reply actions
hanigan single, somebody lined out, ward singles hanigan to third
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:45 PM EDT reply actions
Um...
There’s five batters between Hanigan and Ward. Just sayin’…
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
haha mcdonald singled
not good at this working and listening thing
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea but
this is Dusty we’re talking about.
by ThePensive on Mar 11, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
From the Houston PBP
“Apparently everyone here in attendance has personally witnessed all 85 years of Sarasota’s Spring Training history! I hope they all have sunscreen.”
“This is my least favorite spring training stadium. Where’s the bullpen? I guess you have to go back between the buses to warm up?!” (Does go on to say that Sarasota is a great town for Spring Training)
From the color guy: “Ryan Hanigan is channeling some Ernie Lombardi— he’s 9 for 17 on the spring!”
"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
I'm kind of impressed that he didn't just make a Johnny Bench reference
But now who’s 85 years old?
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
i'm 189
in dog years!
Made from 100% recycled awesome,
by chandrathan on Mar 11, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I definitely can't argue with both of those quotations
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
by BK on Mar 11, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
hunter pence robs dickerson of a opening day start, hanigan home on the sac fly
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:49 PM EDT reply actions
HAVOC
mcdonald to 2nd
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions
Six year old Dusty-used toothpicks
Um, thanks for sharing, Dr. Odd.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
are they tea trea toothpicks?
if they aren’t then they ain’t dusty’s
Made from 100% recycled awesome,
by chandrathan on Mar 11, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Why "Dr. Odd?" Maybe it's "D-Rodd"!?!

"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
by "Red" Moskau on Mar 11, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
TWEET
More HAVOC by McDonald, after Dickerson sac flies in a run. 4-0 Reds now after 2.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
The team is meeting its quota for Harang run support early this year
It’s good to get it out of the way.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
So much HAVOC today, I couldn't keep up
And we weren’t killed on the basepaths, either.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
by BK on Mar 11, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions
TWEETS
Skinny Harang looks absolutely filthy on the mound today.
Gomes, Jones, and Tatum in for Bruce, Ward, and Hanigan, respectively. Dusty auditioning all of his OFers to back up 1B too?
"How big IS your magic wand?"
How many pitches in is Harang?
Will Homer be coming in for the next 3/4 innings?
it's hard to say
they don’t openly track that stuff for the spring games.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
looks like around 55
if you believe Gameday’s pitch-by-pitch. Generally we don’t for ST games, but it appears to be working today.
Dennis Hopper is only 72
There’s no way he’s here today.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Fay Tweet
Reds 4, Astros 0 after 4. Harang: 4 IP, 3 hits, 0 BB, 4 Ks. By far his best outing of the spring.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
Now that's some good news
If we get strong pitching fom 1-4 (or even 1-5), then anything can happen this year.
The season doesn't start until the Cincinnati Reds take the field! Reclaim The Opener!!
Tweets from BK
Bailey in to pitch, throwing hard so far.
Homer gives up a hit, but gets a K and groundout to get out of the inning.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
bullocks
“throwing hard so far” is not measurable, therefore it must be considered invalid data.
SABR’d
"Hey! Look at the kid in the sombrero!"
um, throwing hard is too measurable
remember, we went to the Reds HOF and were measured to find that we did not throw that hard?
"How big IS your magic wand?"
true dat
but i can elaborate.
One nameless RR’er hit the top of the batting cages netting causing the ball to fail to make it to the plate. (verdict: not hard thrower)
Another nameless RR’er bounced a ball about 15 feet in front of the mound causing the ball to fail to make it to the plate. (verdict: not hard thrower)
A third nameless RR’er had his pitch make it all the way to the plate where the speed was recorded by the radar gun. (verdict: hard throwing mothereffer)
As jch will vouch….hard measurement is all relative to the competition
"Hey! Look at the kid in the sombrero!"
"As jch will vouch….hard measurement is all relative to the competition"
Too easy, pass.
I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....
Tell Ed Smith Stadium to get a radar gun to validate my data
Otherwise, suck it.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
by BK on Mar 11, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Tweet
Creating more HAVOC on the basepaths leads to a Rosales double for 2 runs, Reds now lead 6-0!
"How big IS your magic wand?"
Tweets
Homer’s in a bit of a jam, let’s see how he responds…
Diving catch by Gomes in RF saves 2 runs! Homer’s out of trouble this time!
"How big IS your magic wand?"
Mr. Has-No-Glove really wants to make the team
And I am 100% okay with that.
by Brendanukkah on Mar 11, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't see how he doesn't make it now.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
by BK on Mar 11, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
tweet
Rhodes in to pitch, defense is Nix, Hopper, Bankston in the OF, Janish, Bolivar, Rosales, Barker in the IF and Kroski catching.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
Say it aint so...
from my count on the boxscore…do we really have 5 stolen bases so far today, with no CS? HAVOC!!!!!
HAVOC...your everyday solution to clogged bases
Why this spring has been amazing so far
Homer Bailey’s spring ERA right now, including today: 0.90
He’s not the front-runner for the last rotation spot.
Dickerson’s AVG: .350
Gomes’ AVG: .316
Hanigan’s AVG: .529
These are backups/platooners.
its definately exciting stuff
I would love to see Gomes win the LF position outright…I think he could have 25 + HR if he played consistently
HAVOC...your everyday solution to clogged bases
I still believe we may get better
production from a C-Dick/Gomes platoon
by fourrunhomer on Mar 11, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
easily
Gomes doesnt hit righties particularly well, and Dickerson crushes them.
My millions are unconventional!
by Charlie Scrabbles on Mar 11, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
oh
and Dickerson is 10 times the glove that Gomes is.
My millions are unconventional!
by Charlie Scrabbles on Mar 11, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Understandable
I just am curious as to what each could do with 500+ ab’s what kinda numbers do you think we are looking at combined from each if they do in fact platoon?
HAVOC...your everyday solution to clogged bases
it'd be interesting to see
Gomes career against LHP: .266/.369/.510
CDick career (minors) against RHP: .272/.364/.464
So, if they were both to reach those numbers in a platoon (big IF, especially for CDick), that’s probably something like .270/.365/.480 I would guess. Definitely not Dunn-like production, but I think it would be better than what either would put up as a starter on their own.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
That would come out to an 845 OPS
versus a MLB average for starting corner OF’ers of 826 (measured since start of 2001 thru mid-2008 among batting qualifiers).
Even if C-Dick comes in below his minor league averages by 20 OPS pts, we’d still have an above-average offensive LF starter…and perhaps C-Dick’s good speed and defense might supersede the defensive limitations of Gomes, leaving us with + defense at the position, as well.
That’d be as tasty as an original chicken sandwich from Burger King, and cost only a little more.
It's all fun and games until someone gets herpes. - Fox 4 News
by PeteyHendrix on Mar 11, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
A six man
rotation would mess things up pretty bad, no?
by fourrunhomer on Mar 11, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
w/ Homer and Owings
so does Masset go to the bullpen for long relief? I feel like he is fading fast from the 5th starter convo……and how long till this happens?
HAVOC...your everyday solution to clogged bases
I think a 6-man rotation would be hard on guys like Harang and Arroyo
and probably not worth it to have two lesser pitchers (Homer, Owings) pitch more frequently
"How big IS your magic wand?"
If we had a 6-man rotation
Dusty would have 2 – 3 starters available every day for those extra inning games in San Diego! How awesome would THAT be??
"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
by "Red" Moskau on Mar 11, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
And they could schedule
more doubleheaders
by fourrunhomer on Mar 11, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I think
we should start DH’ing Owings. In case Homer wins the 5th spot, it’d be nice to see what Micah could do with the bat if we had him in the pen
If we went to a 6-man rotation,
that would be even more AB’s from Owings as a PH. Yummy.
It's all fun and games until someone gets herpes. - Fox 4 News
by PeteyHendrix on Mar 11, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
If someone
uses twitter, does that make them a twit?
by fourrunhomer on Mar 11, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
It originally said that Smith hit it
but right after the box score page reloaded it said Sutton…so all is right with the world now
HAVOC...your everyday solution to clogged bases
The scoreboard operators must have been taking a nap when that happened.
"Sometimes I listen for Griffey’s infectious laugh or Dunn’s humor and wit. But they’re gone." - Dusty
by BK on Mar 11, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions
nix 2-run jack
we will have the best AAA team in history
"Turns Out Craig Counsell Was Actually Best Baseball Player Of Steroid Era"
-The Onion 2/13/09
by RedinWrigleyville on Mar 11, 2009 3:42 PM EDT reply actions
No, that distinction goes to
The AAA team that’ll be playing in Minute Maid Park. They can’t even pray for rain after Oswalt thanks to the dome.
"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
by "Red" Moskau on Mar 11, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Offense...lack of?
I remember seeing so much stuff before ST began saying that we would be run starved this year, and would have a hard time getting guys across the plate….now granted, we have had a couple games with anemic run support (last night against the Yanks), but other than that it has seemed that we have not had too much trouble in that department…..any thoughts?
HAVOC...your everyday solution to clogged bases
I've been of the opinion
that we will not have much of a power drop off. Everybody just assumed that since we did not sign the big RH LF bat that we would not have any power. i think there is going to be a lot of HR from this team. Maybe more than last year.
by fourrunhomer on Mar 11, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
It's still early in spring
and the majority of the game is still being pitched by guys that aren’t likely to make the other team. I wouldn’t put too much weight on what has been done offensively just yet.
I think they’ll score as much as last season, but I don’t think they’ll have a huge boost, maybe just 20 or 30 runs over last year, unless Bruce and EdE bust out and they get solid production from LF and SS.
"How big IS your magic wand?"
good point
I think IF Dickerson and AGon have productive seasons this is a decent lineup. Votto seems primed to take a step up that ladder and Bruce should improve upon last year’s numbers and Hernandez has a better bat that last year’s catching slop. EE and BP are what we thought they were.
"Hey! Look at the kid in the sombrero!"
Lot of AA/AAA pitchers
There are some weak pitching prospects and guys taking time to get back to form (like Cordero for us). I think our good offense is a sign of decent depth and good invites. I would probably side with the experts though when it comes to the regular season. I’m really pulling for Hanigan as a starter. He’s producing.
Understandable
but at least we are not producing against AA and AAA hurlers
HAVOC...your everyday solution to clogged bases
Is there really a case for Nix to take a bench spot?
I guess he could supplant Hopper in the pecking order. Bruce and Taveras are entrenched. Cherry is OF capable and is definitely sticking as an IF alternative. Maybe if C-Dick doesn’t make nice with Dusty’s daughter? Maybe Gomes doesn’t have enough of that “young energy?”
"Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you!"
Happy Meal
McDonald’s making a case too. At least they are on minor league contracts and can be tucked away for injury callups. I just hope they don’t take away AAA starts from Dorn and company.
It is good
to have to ponder these things in spring training.
by fourrunhomer on Mar 11, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Brian Buchanan/Andy Green/Rob Stratton
Those are some of those spring wonders that disappeared if my memory serves. I like the athleticism of Nix and McDonald and Gomes has a high ceiling. It’s just tough to say how they will hit against the Zambrano’s of the world.
Maybe if
we treat Cherry as primarily an infield option? Then we have our 5 OF’s (Bruce, T-Virus, C-Dick, Gomes, Nix), 6 IF’s (EdE, Gonzo, BP, Votto, Cherry, Kepp) and 2 C’s? Then 12 pitchers?
Or am I missing someone?
i mean this...
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8377384806370495255&postID=765830364703963980&page=1
HAVOC...your everyday solution to clogged bases
Reds Win
even though it was over the shitty Astros…..i always hated them when they were good….but its becoming increasingly hard to….just like the Pirates…they are like the little LD kid down the street that you feel sorry for
HAVOC...your everyday solution to clogged bases
The Dueling Couches article is a worthless fart.
The Reds are trying to make the transition from being a power hitting ball club, to one that empathizes speed and defense.
We empathize with speed and defense. /justin’ed
Brandon Phillips is coming off his a down year.
/justin’ed
The Reds are really asking way too much from rookie Joey Votto
Not a rookie.
Christopher Valaika – Power hitting SS that will compete with our next minor
/justin’ed
It's all fun and games until someone gets herpes. - Fox 4 News
by PeteyHendrix on Mar 11, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
lay off the Couch
There's action across the street. It's Snowman! Take him!
by Man Mountain on Mar 11, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

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