March 2, 2007
Spring Training Game Thread 3/2 Reds vs Twins at Fort Myers
By
Cincinnati Reds Video Poker
Posted at 1:12 pm
Starting pitcher for the Reds is former Twin - Kyle Lohse, and pitching for the Twinkies is former Red - Ramon “the barber” Ortiz.
Game time is 7:05 EST
Ok, so John Fay reports that Conine is day-to-day with a sore back, which explains his scratch from the lineup yesterday. It doesn’t explain why he was replaced with Bellhorn instead of Hatteberg, but hellm who am I to question the nature of things?
Here’s tonight’s lineup according to rosencrans:
Here’s the lineup:
Hopper LF
Hamilton DH
Encarnacion 3B
Hatteberg 1B
Valentin C
Bellhorn 2B
Castro SS
Denorfia RF
Gil CF
Lohse P
Bellhorn gets more action, I see… hmm interesting.
I don’t think the decisions about who plays in Spring Training games this early are that important. It’s just a matter of getting everybody at bats and playing time so the management can see if their assumptions are correct.
The Reds aren’t broadcasting tonight’s game, but it looks like the Twins’ feed is available via MLB Gameday Audio. Sweet.
My point is Bellhorn has like 10,000 career at-bats already. What more do we need to see from him? True, Hatteberg and Conine are also well experienced.. but maybe a guy like Votto should start at 1B. Bellhorn is at the end of his rope and Conine isn’t a spring chicken either… we don’t have anything invested in Bellhorn so why squander at-bats on him.. that is the point I am trying to make. A guy like Votto can use the experience of facing major league pitching and he has a bright future in this organization. We went thru this last year with that putz Catalono or whatever, the little midget 2B who has no future… he stole ABs from the likes of Olmedo and Bergolla – legit prospects. You don’t give washed up vets ABs in preseason when you can give much needed experience to legit prospects.
Once again I am getting a rock n roll radio station instead of sports radio.. apparently this one is not being broadcasted by WLW so we are at the mercy of mlb.com and Minnesota’s radio feed….
OK, we have the feed…. although the announcers don’t know it… they are saying “testing, testing” etc.
I am getting the feed now.
I think the longshots like Bellhorn will get a lot of playing time in the early days of ST. They want to get a good look at them. They don’t need to look at the first-stringers.
Votto is no first stringer.. he is a young guy that could use experience against MLB pitching… Bellhorn? Please.
Apparently we missed the first half of an inning…as suddenly the twins are batting.
Votto may not be a first stringer, but he’s not going to be cut loose, either.
He got a lot of playing time yesterday. I’m sure he’ll be in tonight’s game, too, before it’s over.
infield hit by Mauer off of Hatteberg’s glove, runners at 1st and 2nd, 1 out.
Well I am in a bitchy mood.. I am owed a $600 commission check and I just got delayed by the corporate office… I couldn’t be more pissed right now.
Yeah, they’ll probably play Bellhorn early to determine that he is a washed-up veteran. They know what Votto can do; he’s done it for them throughout the minor league system. Bellhorn, they don’t.
Besides, Votto has no chance of making the opening day roster.
Mauer shoulda been MVP.
So don’t start debating me over Bellhorn right now, is what I am saying. The guy is a bum… PERIOD.
Bases loaded for Morneau… Cuddyer walked I think, right?
Fielders choice, Hatteberg to Lohse… Punto scores. Lohse stumbled and the trainer is looking at him. I think he is ok.
Uh-uh. Lohse injured?
He seems to be ok
HUNTER beamed in the skull!
Hunter just got hit in the head.
Lohse beaned Torii Hunter.
I got a bad feeling about this game.
He is still on the ground.
WOW…new pitcher… Lohse is shaken up as is Hunter…
Hunter helped off the field by the trainers.
Brian Meadows warming up.
Gawd. I hate to see injuries, especially in a freakin’ spring training game.
I do like Chris Denorfia. Even when announcers do call him Denor-FRI-a.
:laugh:
Hatteberg, double in the gap.
Sorry for my rude demeanor earlier, boys.. I just lost my power pak (and opening day tix) because I can’t afford to buy it now.. I was counting on that commission check…DAMN!
Valentin struck out.
They just mentioned how Ortiz used to be called “mini-Pedro”…jesus.
Theya re saying he could be a #2 or #3 in their staff…pathetic. Good luck to ’em.
Bellhorn, base hit up the middle, Hatteberg scores. 1-1 tie.
Mark is going to prove me wrong, isn’t he?
Bellhorn thrown out at 2B, caught stealing by Mauer.
Castro ground out… 1-1 going to the bottom of the 2nd.
I don’t think so.
Bellhorn. Good hitter, not so good baserunner… 😀
Base hit, double play, ground out…
Twin announcers just mentioned Reds biggest need is closer and failed to mention the recent signing of Hermanson.
Hunter is ok…no concussion. Denorfia at bat.
Ground out to short.
Gil hits a Wicked grounder past the 3B, single. Hopper hits into a 4-4-3 double play.
Mike Stanton making his Reds debut.
Again they talk about closer without mentioning Hermanson… I am getting the feeling they don’t know about that signing.
Punto pops out to Gil.
mauer groundsout to Bellhorn.
Cuddyer flys out to the right…heading for the 4th inning.
hamilton K’d
Enacarnacion HOMERS down the RF line!
I’m hoping Encarnacion has a great year. The Reds could really use a good right-handed bat. Aurilia was good last year, but besides him, the Reds haven’t had a decent one since Aaron Boone.
What did they not like about Javy???
No clue. Apparently they didn’t realize he was th Latin Love Machine.
I didn’t know he came up via the Twins.
hatteberg grounds out, Valentin Walks, Bellhorn flies out.
Yea they said something about Javy’s mannerisms as a cathcer bothered someone on the staff… who knows.