It's tough to tell how well a game is played when you don't have any audio or video to back it up, but for a 2-1 game, this one looks like a real stinker.

• If the story of the day is not Homer Bailey, it has to be among the main plot points.  Some might say that it's just the Pirates, but last time I checked they were a team the Reds lost to 9 times last year in 15 games.  Bailey has now struck out 6 batters in 4 innings this Spring while only allowing 2 base runners (1 hit, 1 walk).  The ball is now in Micah Owings' court.
• The bullpen looked pretty good, with solid outings from Mike Lincoln, Ron Flores, and Daniel Ray Herrera.  Aaron Fultz gave up a hit and two walks, allowing a run in the 6th.  That can't help his chances of joining a bullpen that really only has one open spot up for play.  Josh Roenicke was hurt by a catcher's interference that extended the inning in the 8th and ultimately led to the winning run for the Pirates.
• The offense didn't do much today.  Brandon Phillips doubled in the fourth and was brought around on a ground out and sac fly by Edwin Encarnacion and Jonny Gomes respectively for the Reds only run.
• Laynce Nix, Kevin Barker, and Paul Janish each added doubles as well, not that it mattered much.
• Team Havoc continues to drive me bonkers.  They made three more outs on the base paths today, two on steal attempts and Janish was thrown out at home plate in the 8th.  The base running mistakes are starting to get laughable.
  

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game goes to Homer Bailey.  He takes home a 50lb bag of venison and a tub of Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce.

The Reds are now 3-3 on the Spring.  Tomorrow they try to avenge their 16-5 loss to the Red Sox.

From Fay:

“I don’t believe that on-base percentage stuff. That’s overrated to me. If you get hits, you’ll be on base. That’s what it’s about.”

Brandon Phillips has led the Reds in outs for each of the last two seasons, this even while he missed the last 3 weeks of the season last year.  He is a very good player right now, but he would be an incredible player if he learned to not swing so frequently and just take an occasional walk.

I had an interesting conversation with someone a couple of days ago where we talked a lot about sabermetric concepts.  One of the things that we both marveled at is at the idea that on base percentage is a new idea built out of sabermetrics.  This is something that has been around for almost as long as the game, and was being frequently used by people such as Branch Rickey to evaluate players.  This is not a new idea and it amazes me that so many in the game find it to be a silly concept.

Yes, Brandon, if you get hits, you get on base.  But unless you are hitting .350 or better, you need to start supplementing your hits with fewer outs.   There are times when the value of a hit is much, much better than the value of a walk.  But there are many more times when the value of not making an out is better than the risk of trying to get a hit.  Isn't it time for big leaguers to start realizing that?

Well, that sucked.  The main story of the game is the pitchers inability to get anyone out.  They spent most of the game against the Sox backup guys, and even though the Reds didn't bring an elite staff on the road trip, they put up a pretty terrible effort.  The lowlights:

• Nick Masset is digging himself a pretty deep hole to make this rotation, and is putting Walt in a tough spot.  4 ER in his one inning of work and a throwing error isn't turning any heads.  If early indications mean anything, Owings or Bailey will likely be the 5th starter, and Walt will need to decide whether to keep Masset on the team because of his options or give him the DFA in favor of another guy who can help the bullpen.
• Also not helping their cause: Jeff Kennard (1 IP, 3 R) and Sam LeCure (2 IP, 3 R).  Enjoy Carolina, guys.
• I think we were all looking forward to seeing Stubbs lead off tonight, but got a disappointing late addition to the lineup when Taveras got the nod instead.  It's probably tied to Taveras going to the WBC, so don't fret, we'll most likely be seeing more of Stubbs here in the next week or so.  That being said...
  
• Taveras: 0-3, Stubbs: 1-2, 2 RBI.  Just sayin'.
• Votto's been hitting well, adding two more hits tonight.  Hopefully he can pick up right where he left off last year and put up another solid season.
• Burton, Fisher, Fultz, and Pettyjohn all pitched scoreless outings.

Other than that, not much else to get excited about.  Let's put this one behind us by beating the Yanks tomorrow.

Joe Nuxhall Honorary Memorial Star of the Game

The Red Sox' Brad Wilkerson.  His 2-run shot off of Manuel in the 2nd inning started the rally that put the Reds down 10-0 after two, sealing the deal for the Red Sox.  He gets New England clam chowder for two at Montgomery Inn.

The Reds showed us again today what a high powered offense they'll have as long as they face Triple-A pitching all year, defeating the defending World Champs by a score of 10-3.  Some highlights:

• Joey Votto was 2 for 2 with a run-scoring single and a solo home run.  After the slow Spring he had last year, it's good to see him get a jump on the game this year.  Hopefully he can keep it going when it counts.
• Jonny Gomes had two doubles and two RBI in his first real opportunity to stick his hat into the LF race.  I won't lie to you, I'm really hoping for a Dickerson/Gomes platoon in LF.  In my eyes, that's the Reds best chance for putting a legitimate LF in the lineup.
• Juan Francisco had his first hit, an RBI double.  Three children were eaten at the celebration.
• Willy Taveras tacked his first unoffical glove up on the board today and he also took a walk.  HAVOC ensued.
• Speaking of HAVOC, the Reds had two base runners make outs on the base paths today.  That is now 5 outs on the bases in 3 games.  And yet the Reds are still averaging 7 runs per game.  HIGH.  POWERED.  HAVOC.
• Pitching-wise: Arroyo had a little trouble in the first but settled down.  Matt Maloney did not help his cause at all, allowing 2 runs in 2 innings.  Daryl Thompson got the win with 2 shutout innings and the rest of the pen struck out 4 in the final 3 innings while allowing only one hit.

The Joe Nuxhall Honorary Memorial Star of the Game goes to Joey Votto.

Special thanks to Petey Hendrix for the play-by-play in today's game thread.  If you missed the action, I suggst you check that thread for all of the details.

This one wasn't on the radio today, but by the looks of it, we didn't miss much.  Here are the highlights:

• Micah Owings had a great start (3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K, 0 BB).  If he didn't already have the upper hand on the fifth starter spot, he does now.
• You know who didn't help his cause today?  Ramon Ramirez.  Madville's favorite gave up 5 runs on 3 hits in his inning of work.
• Coco and Rhodes were both not good.  That being said, it's a spring training game, so it's not time to panic yet.
• The Reds got no-hit for the first 4 innings of this game, and Phillips was the first one and got picked off at first.  Not very havoc-like, if you ask me.
• Once again, it's a spring training game, so it's too early to get worried, but errors by Richar and Alonso are kind of disheartening.
• On the bright side, Weathers and Roenicke had solid innings.  Good to see.
• Kevin Barker, Craig Tatum, and El Nino Destructor with RBIs.  Whoopee.
• Not being able to listen to the game was a real drag, wasn't it?  Anybody know why the Reds announcers are only working weekends for the next month or so?  Seems pointless to even send them down there otherwise.  The good news is that the game will be broadcast on MLB.com tomorrow, through the Phillies site.  Better than nothing, but you need a GameDay Audio subscription to listen.

Joe Nuxhall Honorary Star of the Game

Gotta be Owings, right?  Really, the lone bright spot on a pretty dismal afternoon.

As I was setting up the game thread for today, I realized that the radio broadcast schedule for this Spring is sporadic.  So, as a public service, here is the schedule, after the jump.  (From Reds Internal Affairs)

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That's a great way to start the Spring, don't you think?  A quick recap of the action, in case you missed it:

• Edinson Volquez looked solid, though he threw a few too many pitches for 3 innings of work (49 pitches, 28 strikes).  Still, you can't be upset with 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 SO in the first start of the year.
• Johnny Cueto was much more efficient, throwing just 28 pitches over 3 innings.  He allowed only one base-runner (a 4-pitch walk) but struck out 3 batters as well.
• Homer Bailey was probably the most impressive pitcher of the day.  He threw just 7 pitches, striking out 2 batters and inducing a groundout to the third hitter in the 7th.
• Most of the Reds offense came in the 5th inning as the speedsters showed what they can do.  Three straight singles off of Randy Choate loaded the bases for Jerry Hairston Jr.  Hairston launched one over the left-field fence for a grand slam and the Reds were up 4-0.  They tacked another run on when Adam Rosales reached on a two-base error and Darnell McDonald singled him in.
• Rosales homered in the 9th to add two more runs to the board.  Rosales is a quiet player that could end up sneaking on to the roster if someone like Alex Gonzalez goes on the DL.  I'd keep my eye on him.
• The base running in today's game was suspect at best.  The Reds had two guys thrown out on the basepaths, including Joey Votto at home plate in the 4th inning.  Havoc was most definitely created.

The story of the day was definitely the pitching as Volquez, Cueto, and Bailey were all impressive.  It's not surprising since it usually takes a week or two for the hitters to start catching up, so I wouldn't put too much weight on what happens in a game like this.  That being said, it's still great to see things go well for all three.

Joe Nuxhall Honorary Star of the Game

This year we'll be naming a star of the game after every game, just like Joe Nuxhall used to do back in the day.  Today's star is Jerry Hairston Jr.  The pitchers were all impressive, but Hairston gets the recognition for reminding us that all of the havoc in the world can't top the speed of a grand slam.

Tony Dejak/AP

These are five things that, if they happen, could point to the Reds being something better than we expect them to be at this time, maybe even in serious contention for the playoffs:

1. Homer Bailey wins the 5th starter spot on his own merit.

Micah Owings has shown to be a pretty good pitcher, and would be a pretty good fifth starter if he wins it.  But if Homer Bailey can put together a Spring like Johny Cueto had in 2008 and make it known that he is ready for the big leagues, this pitching staff could be very formidable.  If Homer can finally harness that potential and turn it into something special, who knows what this team could do?
Alternative Positive Outcome: Micah Owings kicks ass on the mound and at the plate.

2. Alex Gonzalez's and Jeff Keppinger's knees are healthy.

If the Reds are going to be successful this year, shortstop cannot be the hole that it was last year.  If Gonzalez's knee is healthy enough to actually flash some leather at the position, it will be a huge step up for the defense compared to 2008.  If Jeff Keppinger is healthy enough to be a solid right-handed bat off the bench and utility infielder, then the bench may actually become a positive instead of the gaping hole it's been the last couple of years.
Alternative Positive Outcome: Chris Valaika plays so well in Spring, the Reds name him the Opening Day shortstop.

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