Here are all of the pictures I took at yesterday’s Reds-Cubs game at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Arizona. You can click any image to view a larger version.

Former Cincinnati Reds slugger George Foster, along with several former Chicago Cubs greats, signs shirts, baseballs, and cards at HoHoKam Park in the concourse by right field.

A Chicago Cubs groundskeeper’s grass-tending tools lie unused in center field.

The visiting bullpen at HoHoKam, with the Reds supplies ready for the pitchers.

Former Cub Ron Santo’s number behind home plate, in remembrance of his passing during the offseason.

A few Reds players and coaches in their dugout before the game.

Stretching with the trainer before the game.

Jay Bruce and Edgar Renteria walk through the outfield to the foul line to begin their pregame stretching.

Homer Bailey and Ramon Hernandez get their arms loose before the game.

Scott Rolen long-tosses before the game.

There’s nothing like drinking some Heilman’s Old Style at a Cubs game. Plus, it’s the cheapest beer at HoHoKam!

Edgar Renteria knelt to pray upon taking the field to start the game.

Jeremy Hermida got the start in left field.

Chris Heisey started in center field.

And Jay Bruce started in right.

Chris Heisey throws to cut-off man Edgar Renteria as Brandon Phillips covers second base after a Cubs hit.

Scott Rolen bats against Carlos Silva.

Marlon Byrd smiled to the crowd after someone yelled, “Marlon Byrd! You’re my hero!”

Homer Bailey delivers a fastball.

Brandon Phillips and Yonder Alonso get into defensive position as Bailey pitches.

Jeremy Hermida touches home plate after his home run.

Dontrelle Willis on the mound in relief for the Reds.

Dontrelle Willis walks with a trainer after tripping on a bat in a play at the plate.

Logan Ondrusek pitches with Paul Janish ready at short.

We were having such a good time today at HoHoKam Park watching the Cincinnati Reds play the Chicago Cubs–and eating Island Noodles–that we whipped out the audio recorder and grabbed our ramblings to share with the wide world at large.

There are also lots of pictures of the Reds 7-6 win, and those will be uploaded later.

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The day has finally arrived! After a day of packing and getting the house ready (and maybe one or two beers in the afternoon), I and my family will be hopping our flight to Goodyear, AZ.

It’s just a long weekend; nothing like the glories of the 1- or 2-week long visits of the past, but who can complain about a forecast like this? (Not the current temperature; it’s still only 6 a.m. there.)

Nevermind that it’s going to feel like flying into the depths of Hell after a few weeks of getting used to 55 feeling like t-shirt weather out here in the Midwest.

So, as soon as this evening, RHM will be hosting some southwestern pictures, though we don’t actually attend a game until tomorrow until we see the non-Las-Vegas leg of the split squad game at the Cubs facility. Then Sunday we’ll go to our only home game against the Angels, and Monday we’ll go out to the Rockies park.

I’d like to spend more time at the Goodyear facility when we go out for these weekend trips, but the team never seems to have a significant homestand. At least we’ll get to try the island noodles at three different parks.

Time to pack. Stay tuned.

This year’s winner of the dubious distinction of hottest Spring Training performer out of the gate falls to one Dave Sappelt. Through yesterday’s game, he’s batting .500 and getting on base 47% of the time. But then again, not only is it Spring Training, but he’s also had just 18 at-bats. It’s not the stuff of which legends are made.

It is, however, the stuff that gets people’s attention. Who is Dave Sappelt?

When I first looked up information on him for this little post, I had thought he was an older, journeyman outfielder who was still hanging on and hoping for one shot in the majors. What I found out is that he’s actually a 24-year old prospect.

Sappelt was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 9th round of the 2008 amateur draft. He’s worked his way through the Reds minor league system over the last three years, moving from Billings to Dayton to Sarasota to Lynchburg to Carolina to Louisville. And he’s hit everywhere along the way.

John Fay wrote about him yesterday.

Whenever Dusty Baker is asked about Dave Sappelt, he says: “We know he can hit, but there’s more to it than hitting.”

That “more” has been made clear to Sappelt, too. “I think they want to see how consistent I can be on the base paths. I haven’t made a mistake yet in games. I think if keep that consistency, that confidence, I’ll be a real helper of this team.”

Sappelt has had issues on the basepaths, getting thrown out 42% of the time he attempted to steal last year. That’s not good, but he’s young and has time to learn. He’s also realistic about his chances of making the team this year.

“For me personally, it wouldn’t bother me if I didn’t make it,” he said. “Right now, they have a nucleus of guys that are set to help this team win. I look at myself as guy who’s going to be ready in Triple-A. I’ll be ready to come up and help immediately. I’ll be a guy who can come in and spot start and pinch-hit.”

If he keeps hitting the way he has and learns some better base-running skills, he may do more than that.