Game Thread #1 and #2: Old School Reds v. Modern Pirates

plus, I hedged

oh snap!

Can we read anything into the fact that the Reds are scoring a bunch of runs early in ball games when real Major League pitchers are in the game?

His stats certanly looked good.

After the 10 minutes of said staring contest...

the shootout in hockey

No, wait.  That's precisely what that is.

Cueto pretty much just pwnt

in case we have guests come over.  Did you clean up your room like I asked?

at least once.

I have this hunch that one of our pitching youngsters is going to start the season in the bullpen.  I don't necessarily have a problem with this, since I'm just excited to have them up in the bigs at all.  My question is which one(s) would be in the 'pen?  Going into Spring Training, Cueto seemed like the most likely to start in AAA, but he's had the best spring so far.  Homer seems more like a starter and less like a reliever, although I guess we can't discount the option that he starts in AAA.  Does Volquez still have options?  He seems like a 'pen candidate to me.  I guess my question is how does the perception of our young guys jibe with the reality of their performances this spring, and what's anybody's updated guesses as to where they start the season?

thanks Richie.  Well done.

Adkins probably gives up just that one hit on purpose knowing those two runs go on Gardiner's record.  Screw the competition!

that the first Spring Training paychecks went out today, so I guess they aren't being cheap and chopping to save money.  They have 2 split squad days next week.  I'd guess that most of the guys will be kept for those, but after that you'll start to see more cuts.

they haven't cut anyone yet.  Other teams started days ago.

It's not like the Reds are hurting for left-handed hitting outfielders.

I would personally prefer the Cookie Monster:  "Drew T. is for cookie, that's good enough for me!"

Or how about Grover?  "Neeeaar (patter patTER PATTER of his little blue feet). Faaar (PATTER PATter patter of his little blue feet).

Either way, it has already been clearly established here at RR that Drew T. Anderson is happening.

That is the sound of... inevitibility.

this is gonna be ugly

with you losers, i went to see the bank job. it was quite a bit of fun. a little like guy ritchie meets inside man. that dude from the transporter is always the balls.

But #12 is money.

..here ya go.

A lot of us are cold and snow-bound as well but I think most Reds fans are pretty happy about Cueto's performance today: 3 IP, 1 hit, 4 Ks, 0 runs.

And check out what some blizzard-livin' Canuck was saying about him after his lesser performance against the BJays:

"* I have seen the future and it looks a lot like Pedro Martinez. The single most impressive thing I've seen this spring was Cincinnati Reds prospect Johnny Cueto pitching against the Toronto Blue Jays.

My god, this guy looks like Pedro looked when he first came to the Montreal Expos - a little thicker through the hips, maybe, but he's got the jaunty leg and arm swing that Pedro has when he finishes off a pitch and feels as if he's healthy. Bill Lee once told friend Mitch Melnick that Pedro must be one helluva dancer because of the waye he uses his hips to generate power and the statement's kind of stuck with me. Oh, sure: you're already hearing some B.S. about whether or not Cueto's strong enough. Rubbish. Manager Dusty Baker, whose handling of young pitchers has never been a strong suit, is already saying he might let Cueto make the team as a reliever and build him up in the majors. Based on what I saw, I'd have no problem letting the guy run with it. There is nothing in spring training - nothing - that beats seeing a good young arm, either in a game or in the bullpen. Still takes your breath away."

Hack, I think maybe your Reds fan heart is two sizes too small.