The Reds are off today, travelling to Houston to face the woeful Astros. Beating Oswalt is just not a realistic expectation for this team, but taking the other 3 games in the series is a distinct posibillity given the way the Astros have been playing.
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Micah Owings was a little disappointed in his performance last night, giving up 4 runs in 5 innings. "The last thing I'm going to do is make some excuses. I felt pretty good," said Owings, who last faced big league hitters in an exhibition on March 31. "I felt like we were right there in the game. That's all we can ask for."
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Redlegs Rundown is less than happy that Phillips is still batting in the clean-up spot. I think he's been bonkers there so far this season, and as long as he is hitting (and walking) like he has been he's just fine there for me.
- Fay tells us Dusty Baker is very happy to see BP and EdE walking more. Count all of us here at Red Reporter in on that one.
The Reds are third in the league in walks. It goes back to being selectively aggressive. Edwin Encarnacion is tied for third in the league with eighth walks. Brandon Phillips is tied for fifth with seven.
“It’s something we’ve really been preaching with Brandon and Eddie,” Baker said. “Every pitch changes the equation of the at-bat. Swing at bad pitch 1-1, now you’re 1-2 instead of 3-1 or you’re instead of 2-2. Concentrate and focus on that one at-bat.
“The youngest guy on our team who still has to lead that is Jay (Bruce).
This makes me very, very happy to hear. Very happy.
- Check this out from Reds.com. Remember how were talking yesteday about the pros and cons of speedsters on the basepaths? Here is what Jerry Hairston has to say about it: "I know being a basestealer, I can see [pitchers] being a little distracted," Hairston said. "When you have Willy there, it definitely is good for the hitter."
- Now for some news from around the NL Central:
- The severed head of a goat was found on the statue of Harry Caray before the Cubs home-opener on Monday. I'm glad I'm a Reds fan.
- The Astros have placed Brian Moehler on the DL, so the Reds will not be facing him in the up-coming series. The Astros are 2-6, and were counting on Moehler to be a steadying veteran in their thin rotation. I'm glad I'm a Reds fan.
- Rickie Weeks is all right, after being hit in the face by a Volquez fastball the other day. When it happened I was sure he wasn't getting up for a while. Unfortunately, he didn't wait long to get his retribution as he hit a 2-run homer in last night's game to seal the deal.
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Nyjer Morgan looks a lot like Juan Pierre, and with the Pirates just trading for Delwyn Young he may be sitting the bench just like Pierre too.
- Viva El Birdos worries about the sanity of their manager. Outside of having McDonald on the roster, I can't think of any instance (so far) this season where Dusty has really befuddled me. Uhhh, I didn't just jynx that, did I?
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Ian Kinsler is good. In case you missed it, he went 6-6 last night with a homer, 2 doubles, a triple, and 2 singles. He is the first player in 119 years to hit for the cycle and collect 6 hits in a 9-inning game. The Rangers beat the O's 19-6.