ST Game Thread 3/5 Phillies vs Reds at Sarasota
By
Cincinnati Reds Video Poker
Posted at 2:01 pm
Lineups according to C. Trent:
PHILLIES
Rollins SS
Victorino CF
Utley 2B
Burrell LF
Dobbs 3B
Helms 1B
Bourn RF
Ruiz C
Lieber P
THE UNSTOPPABLE REDLEGS
Phillips 2B
Hamilton CF
Encarnacion 3B
Dunn LF
Valentin C
Gonzalez SS
Bellhorn 1B
Hopper RF
Wilson P
I'd have to say that Paul Wilson is the favorite for #5 pitcher at this juncture, with Bailey looking like he needed some more seasoning in the minors after yesterday's struggles in the 2nd inning. We haven't seen ELizardo at all, not sure if he is healthy or not. I guess Saarloos and Livingston are in the mix as well, but they can always use Saarloos as a swing man since he has bullpen experience, and I don't know if you want to do that with Wilson who is coming off of a major arm injury.. better to have him in a set routine.
I think it’s a little of both, RHM
And yes, Helms is a righthanded hitter, smartelf
Glad to hear that Arroyo’s “flu” has cleared up.
RHM- probably both. You bring your kid into that lifestyle and community… a lot of these guys all they know is baseball so of course they teach their kids at a young age and get them involved…and sure scouts take notice if a kid is related to a former player, because some of it might be in the genes (athleticism, body build), but also just the fact that their dad is their first coach and if he is a big leaguer all the better. He;s gonna teach you the right way to play the game.
Germano strikes out Dunn.
Or his hangover went away
The ol’ 24 hour flu bug… a lot of people are gonna come down with that on opening day.
fans in Cincinnati, I mean.
Now valentin stikes out. Germano not resembling the guy we remember.
Yep, that’s part of it, smartelf…and the other part is, if the kid shows any talent at all, somewhere there’s a guy his dad/uncle/whatever played with who’s a scout now and will come take a look at him just out of respect. And if the kid shows any potential at all, he’ll put it in his report, “So-and-so’s kid looks like a chip off the old block, keep an eye on him.”
AGON flys out I think… not sure, but the inning is now over.
YMCA playing at the ballpark.
“Young man….”
Just think: I could be opening my child up to the exciting world of smart-alec sports blogging! He’s a chip off the ol’ blog; you’ll want to keep an eye on him. 😉
Yea… but I think any scout would make a note of it. Just like when you read the racing form, it always mentions if a young horse has any kind of lineage working for him, even if the young horse hasn’t shown anything yet… the gambler has to factor the blood line into his handicapping.
Or, scout goes down to Puerto Rico to look at Jose Valentin, finds out he has a little brother who plays too, and he’s a catcher…five years later, the LLM is drafted by the Twins.
Absolutely, RHM! I bet that’s true though, I bet your kid is way sharper at computers than most kids his age… i know mine is.
Bill Bray strikes out Chase Utley looking.
actually seven years later…but they probably tripped over LLM while they were scouting his older bro
Chad Moeller now catching.
denorfia in left and Janish at short, are the other defensive changes.
Germano now strikes out.
beautiful play by Bellhorn diving to his left on a hot shot by Dobbs.
Good example though, RHM…your son will receive his initial instruction in reading and writing from his parents, who are both college grads. That gives him a leg up on kids who have to learn from parents who kent spel vary gud like half the people on AOL and Web-TV
Trade Conine, keep Bellhorn!
Called strike 3 on Bellhorn.
David Ross get s a new life as a ball lands harmlessly in foul ground between the catcher and first baseman.
Heh…duh! The Enquirer’s website still shows Paul Wilson pitching in the seventh inning, I guess they have some, uh, technical issues
I like Bellhorn’s chances of making the team because we simply don’t have many guys that can play 1B which is ridiculous since its the easiest position to play… but if Conine is gonna be gimpy and his age has to be a factor, you almost have to keep Bellhorn for his versatility. i agree Conine is looking like a bust, but who would want him?
Seriously, trade Conine, keep Bellhorn. If Bellhorn keeps it up, anyway.
Ross draws the walk — the first base runner against Justin germano. It took a super effor — fouling off multiple pitches, to earn the walk.
The Pirates? They took Casey…
How do you trade a 39 year old with a bad back making a couple million and playing a position where there is a ton of talent available all over the place? I just don’t see anyone wanting Conine.. and I think we were suckers for trading for him, although I guess admittedly we didn;t give up much. Our only hope would be some AL team needing a DH and back up 1B. But yea trade him if you can.
I did mean it seriously. Conine’s a platoon first baseman with hallucinations that he can still play the corner outfield slots. Bellhorn can play 7 positions. Bellhorn’s a switch-hitter, but he beats up lefties, he could platoon with Hatteberg over at first, but he’s done everything but pitch and catch at the major league level.
True dat, RHM… and then they dumped him off on the Tigers who were trying to make a world series run and just looking for a veteran bat. But Conine is 39 and hasn;t even made a plate appearance this spring.. That’s bad.
Not sure what Phillips did, but the inning is over.
Your preaching to the choir, I already said I agree Bellhorn should make the team. I just don’t know if we can trade Conine, that’s all I am saying. I suppose we could cut him and eat the 2 M salary but that would kinda suck.
Stanton pitching. He’s 39 too… but at least he is healthy and we need decent relievers in the worst way.
What’s the score, btw?
Bourn at 2B, I guess he doubled.
Encarnacion throws the ball low, gets past Votto… error on Encarnacion. Run scores, now an 8-4 ball game. Runner at 2B.
He rushed an off balance throw.
Mmm…okay, put him on injured reserve, then give him a coaching job in the minors next year. :hehe:
What are hatteberg’s career numbers vs left handed pitching? I seem to remember looking it up and thinking he really doesn’t need to platoon. He was an every day player for the A’s.
I wish I had a dollar for every time EE’s done that
Nevermind, Hatteberg is a career .239 hitter against left handers.
Scott Hatteberg splits:
AVG – .280 off RHP, .239 off LHP
OBP – .367 off RHP, .332 off LHP
SLG – .424 off RHP, .345 off LHP
OPS – .791 off RHP, .677 off LHP
What about Griffey at 1B? Hamilton’s threatening for CF, but there are plenty of strong options for RF, too. He’s going to need a place to play for the 20 games he’ll be healthy.
Gil with a leadoff double. Encarnacion on with a chance to redeem himself.
I don’t think Griffey will agree to play 1B but it would be nice, because we have plenty of young outfielders.
Encarnacion and the next batter both made outs. Moeller got beamed which was probably the only way for him to get on base, so Janish comes up with 2 runners on.
BTW, doesn’t it suck that Keppinger is out 4-6 weeks with a broken finger?
JANISH, drives in a run with a soft liner!
I think that’s something that should have been looked at two or three years ago, Griffey at 1B. If they move him there now, he’s just going to end up blocking Joey Votto.
The Kid has played 1B in the majors exactly twice in his career, and the last time was 1998
Which is why Bellhorn is almost a lock to make the team now, Keppinger was his main competition for utility infielder.
Another base hit… this one by Votto, drives in a run — Moeller scores. 8-6 a homerun gives the Reds the lead! I thin its Hopper at bat.
Well Hatteberg is good against right handed pitching… it should not have been difficult to find a right handed platoon compliment. Helms and Craig Wilson were both avail. in recent years, they should have been acquired when the opportunity was there. i know there must be other guys out there that can be traded for without giving much up. but we settled on Conine.
BASE HIT by Hopper! Janish scores…its a 1 run ball game!