Today's game is something of a bizarro version of yesterday's opener. Same ballpark (or so it seems) but the Reds are now the home team, while the Indians are visitors. Wrong is right. Down is up. And I guess Monday is kinda the opposite of Sunday.
The Spring Battle of Ohio continues on the heels of the Reds' thrilling, come-from-behind 7-6 victory. David Sappelt has come charging out of the gates, following up a 3-3 performance in the intrasquad with a 2-run homer yesterday. Corky's "stache smash" (credit: Petey Hendrix?) was another high water mark yesterday. Matt Maloney and Daryl Thompson (who notched the win) looked solid, while Donnie Joseph won best visual effects for producing a 135.00 ERA.
Bronson will lead off the procession of pitchers in Game 2, which should be good practice for his encore performance to Opening Day. Dusty has penciled in Volquez, Bronson and Cueto for the first three games of the regular season. (The Volquez visa situation is still evolving, but it seems likely to be resolved within the next week or two.) Today is also Aroldis Chapman Day, as Bronson is due to be followed by Francisco Cordero, Dontrelle Willis, Nick Masset, the Cubandolero, Chad Reineke and Bill Bray
While it's hard to match the excitement of witnessing Chapman's 2010 spring debut, the buzz is replaced with the assurance of seeing Chapman, complete with a year of professional experience, pitching for the big league club all year. Both Chapman and yesterday's closer, Jose Arredondo, could make for a lethal late-innings duo - especially against left-handed hitters.
We're still waiting for the first spring televisuals (which come tomorrow on MLB Network), but 700 WLW will be covering the action again today for those with audio or antennas positioned in the Greatest Cincinnati area. Then there's Gameday Silent, which - thanks to several of you - I now know has put its hyperlinks out in the clear light of day.