The Reds fell to the mighty Blue Jays today in Dunedin by a score of 6 to 3. Eric Milton got the start, and let's just leave it at that. After a whole off-season of telling ourselves that he's got to be better than last year, it's not psychologically healthy to think too much about today's game. He's still injured, after all.

In other news, a guy that we've all known all off-season can be just as bad as he was last year, Ramón Ortiz, got the start for the Nationals today. He pitched two innings and allowed seven runs. Though his team committed four errors in the 22-12 loss, all seven of his runs were earned.

Feel a little better? Good. Tomorrow Michael Gosling starts for half of the Reds against the Pirates in Sarasota. Marc says that Sean Casey and Joe Randa will both be there. The rest of the team will be led by Dave Williams in the charge against the Twins in Fort Myers. Both games begin at 1:05 p.m.

Our good buddy over at Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke? wrote up a little piece about a story from the post-gazette.com about Casey's prospects for staying in Pittsburgh when free agency rolls around at the end of the year.

Pat thinks it's premature for the Pirates to be considering extending Casey's contract at this point. I say it's moot. A quote like “I'm going to look at the situation this year and see what it holds,” out of Casey is like…I'm not even sure. I've never heard anything like that out of Casey. It's hardly a ringing endorsement, though.

We all know that Casey's an emotional, sensitive guy. He probably doesn't want to get all attached to his new team when he knows he'll probably have to leave again at the end of the year. Maybe, just maybe, he's even starting to get the germ of an idea in his head about going to a team that's actually going to win next year.

Boy, wouldn't that be a change of pace. Maybe the kind of change that will really get Casey going.

Or maybe he'll be crying his goodbyes to the Pirates next September. At least he can always go back to visit his folks.

While I was stirring up trouble over at Bleed Cubbie Blue, one of the posters brought this link at MLB trade rumors to my attention. It cites a story in Newsday and the fact that Adam Dunn started in left field the other day as evidence that the Reds are ready to trade an outfielder.

Now, just because I said the same thing back when the Reds signed Hatteberg doesn't mean I'm convinced now. Who's even offering the kind of pitching that the Reds want? I tend to think that if decent pitching were available for the minor cost of one Reds slugger, we'd have it by now.

Still, I'd be pretty thrilled if there were someone awesome we could get for one of our outfielders. I'm all for giving the Heartthrob a chance.

The Reds triumphed over the Phillies in Sarasota today, 5 to 2. Brandon Claussen finally got his first start of the spring training season and, in addition to allowing no runs on just three hits and a walk in three innings of work, also knocked in a couple runs with a double in the second inning.

Matt Belisle and David Weathers each gave up a single run in an inning of work apiece. Brian Shackleford, Rick White, Luke Hudson, and Allan Simpson also contributed scoreless efforts.

Some fella by the name of Earl Snyder who, according to his bio plays first base but according to the box score was playing third, hit a two-run home run in the eighth. Oh, and Tony Womack was caught stealing again. Maybe he's not as fast as he thinks he is.

Tomorrow the Reds travel to Dunedin to play the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:05 p.m.