Eveyone is Very Impressed With Aaron Harang, Reds 2-0

The Reds finished out the weather-shortened series with Pittsburgh on a high note, with a nice, clean 2-0 victory over the P-rats. Harang was economical, treating the Pirate offense with much disrespect. Kyle Lohse and his tiny, novelty beard, also threw a complete game shutout, but Harang's was first. So, suck it Lohse. And that is the pitching performance that the Reds Rocket is going to expect for the rest of the season, from everyone.

Phillips went yard in the first and that's all the offense bothered with for the day. They new Harang was on and they could focus on eating sunflower seeds and playing pinochle. They got runners over to 3rd a couple of times but weren't too concerned with pushing them across. And hey, first triple play of the season, nice job Eddie. When the Pirates think about that, they can remember hte 3 hits they got over 9 innings. But, as they say, you can't put your arms around a memory.

Reds hit the road for the longest road trip of the year with tour stops in Milwaukee, Houston, and Chicago. I can't wait for the beating they're going to lay on the Cubs. Reds! Reds! Reds!

Reds Say 'Forget Your Early Season Optimism, We're Getting Blown Out By the Pirates' Bucs 10-2

Cueto's first start of the season receives mixed reviews from the Reds Rocket. He struck out 9 over 6 innings but also got knocked around by a Pirate offense which features, not only Jack Wilson, but two DeLoage brothers. One of whom is putting up Alex Gonzalez 0 for the season numbers. But he, Cueto, didn't get much in the way of offensive support either. The Reds didn't get their first hit until Phillips' single in the 4th. Eddie followed that with a roller to right but Votto was thrown out of home. After that the team packed it in. Though, two members of the offense who have been quiet early, Phillips and Bruce produced the two runs (Phillips scored twice, Bruce knocked him in both times). That's the kind of effort we're looking for out of you two.

There appears to be some reason for concern regarding fairly reliable member of last season's cowpen, Mike Lincoln. He got hammered for the second time in two outings. I heard him discussing overgoing a procedure to undo the extensive surgery that made him one of last innings feel-good stories. Maybe he decided to go through with it and that's probably his prerogative. So, we'll wish him the best. Reds win today behind big ugly.

Votto Helps Remind Reds Oliver Perez is Awful, Reds 8-6

We here at the Reds Rocket have long been Oliver Perez detractors. It likely has something to do with how well he typically pitches against Cincinnati despite his aforementioned awfulness. Regardless, he returned to form today. I'm sure the Mets will be happy with for the life of the $36 million they're paying him.

Votto looked pretty sharp again today. After looking like he got kicked in the head by a mule in his first at bat, he recovered, and hit a three-run bomb for the second day in a row. That homer, which followed main man Darnell McDonald's two-out rbi single, put the Reds up 4-3. After giving allowing the Mets to tie things up, Paul Janich Yanich, of all people, picked the team up with another two-out rbi single. That's why he's on the roster, his bat. I'm pretty sure we can disregard his first two at bats and his outright refusal to allow Perez to walk him.

So, evidently Arroyo wasn't full of shit when he said he was ready to go. He, of course, brought the pre-made salad mix but even showcased a little velocity. Did I really see 91 mph flash up on the screen? That guy can bring the heat. Nice first win of the year. Mets, get the hell out of town. Reds! Reds! Reds!

Even With Hat Slanted Slightly Askew, Volquez Off, Mets 9-7

Volquez's first start of the season wasn't exactly the dominating performance I was looking forward to seeing. But that's what he gets for raising expectations last year. He should have worked into it. 17 wins in your first full season is not the way you do things. While I am certainly in favor of taking the bats out of the hands of Brian Schneider and Luis Castillo, the top of the Mets order got to see Volquez for the third time by the fifth inning. Those guys are predatory in nature.

The Reds offense showed some times of not being completely inept, which is certainly a step in the right direction. Though, I may be off base, but the strategy of leaving runners on third base with less than two outs as the Reds have utilized to great success in year prior, may not be the most effective approach to wining games. But, as I've said many times before, I'm certainly no expert. You get Laynce Nix quality late inning at bats early in the season and it's going to pay off. You just wait, Nix is just waiting for the games to start meaning something.

Arroyo gets the ball tomorrow afternoon in the final game of the set. In interviews he's said that he now regrets taking that temp data entry position over the winter. Carpal tunnel's the shits. Trainers fitted him with those bowling glove-looking braces and he should be ready to go tomorrow, tossing out some of the grade-A salad. Reds salvage the final game tomorrow.

Getting To Know - Dusty Baker

There is not much debate that Dusty is the finest skipper in the history of the game but what, other than being friends with Hank Aaron, makes him so great? I wouldn't get any sleep, and I've got a full day of incredibly important television to watch in front of me, if I went through the whole list. So, we'll just stick from the motivational stuff from Spring Training.

Dusty on developing young talent:
When the kids first come up from the farm, I bring them over to Casa de Dusty. I've got a tent set up in the back yard and every day, every goddamn morning, those boys are up at 9 a.m. working that skillet. I tell those boys, seriously son, you got a lot to learn. How you going to hit a big league hook if you can't even poach an egg. Bring me a couple slices of honey dew too, that's part of the learning process too.

Dusty on life:

You can't just go around choking people. It's just life boys, no matter how much you want to. You think Dusty wouldn't like to choke a few people? I'll tell you what, I can think of more than a few. I've got about 35 people in my mind right now and you know what? You set them in front of me, I'd be choking them right now, right here with all you people around watching.

Dusty on Hank Aaron:
You know, when people ask me, what's one thing that people don't know about Dusty Baker, you know what it is? I am close personal friends with Hank Aaron. Oh yeah, we go way back. Many people forget, when he hit number 715, you know that night I'm talking about in Atlanta? The tv broadcast shows those two guys running out on the field as he's rounding the bases, you know what I mean? That's me. Me and my homey Big Ass Fritz running out there to congratulate old Hank on breaking that home run record. Then we all went out after the game and got ice cream. I remember I had a sundae and Old Hank got a banana split with an extra banana, just like he did after the 714 he hit before that. Good old Hank.

Dusty on Frankenstein:
Shit, I hate fire too.

Dusty on fishing:
Fishing's a lot like baseball. If you got a big fish with a strong arm, you just keep running that fish out there every five days. Or say, you got a smaller fish that can run pretty fast. That fish may not be good enough to marry your daughter, but shit, you can't teach speed. That fish is going to hit lead off every day for the entire fishing season. That's what I like about fishing, all the different types of fish you can catch.

Harang Will Humble Mets Next Time

The Reds opened the season with everyone's favorite sufferer of gigantism hitting the hill. Papa Harang held the Mets in a stanglehold for five innings before retiring to the clubhouse to eat three pizzas and two of Mr. Mets' children. They were illegitimate, so weren't really people, no one was too concerned. But, the offense was nervous and unable to perform and he took home the first loss of the season. He'll keep it on his mantle so he can remember the feeling and make sure this doesn't happen again.

The offense, predictably, without new leadoff extraordaire, Wilmy Taveras heading the lineup, struggled to get much going against Senor Santana. Don't worry, he'll be back soon, bunting four times a game and playing a strong center field. In his absence we'll get to see what new pal Darnell McDonald has to offer. My guess is quite a lot. He may have taken a couple of bad routes on balls hit his direction and committed the team's first error of the season, but we here at the Reds Rocket are expecting big things from the kid. You don't get to be a 30-year-old journeyman without having a high level of ability.

As pointed out by one of the many astute readers of this weblog, yesterday, we also saw the departure of Jonny Gomes. There's a chance he'll clear waivers and accept the demotion to Louisville but I wouldn't count on it. What I will count on is that American Championship ring of his being on ebay in a couple of years. So, looks like we'll get to enjoy the presence of Lance Nix. The true scouting report on him is that he is not below average at all aspects of the game but a fine gentleman who knows how to treat a lady right. And, in the end, that's all that really matters.

The Baseball Tonight highlights consisted of Bruce baiting Wright into rounding third before nailing him at the plate followed immediately by highlights of Ray Jay taking three straight fastballs from Santana, all very near to down the middle of the plate. *Correction, Votto. They're still Assholes. He put a nice swing on that double off the wall, so we're still expecting a big season from the right fielder. And Ramon Hernandez had a nice debut, showing that all those projections of a poor defensive catcher and eroding offensive skills were misplaced. He is actually left-handed and has one of the more unique Palsies, which hopefully explains the throws to second. Ryan Church can have that stolen base if he wants it that bad. Ramon has bigger things on his mind. He's anticipating running for City Counsel. He has you, the people of Cincinnati, in his mind and, in his heart.

So, even with the loss, we remain optimistic for the season. And George Grande, great to here that velvet voice of yours again trailing off and not making any sense. As a side note, both Dunn and Griffey went yard today. Traitors. Day off tomorrow. Volquez Wednesday. Nice to see everyone again.

Hello Friends

Mr. Redlegs reminded me that the Reds Rocket was suffering from a lack of new content less than two days from the beginning of the 2009 Major League season. So, the generators were fired up and and all systems are go based upon the following write-up from our nerdy friends at Baseball Prospectus:

"...now that the Reds have something of a stating rotation they can count on going forward, the Reds may finally close the book on this long, misguided era."

That sounds like reason for optimism. Hooray for Reds.

We said goodbye to several good friends at the end of the 2008 season and during this last off-season but look at all the new faces: Willy-Wilmy Taveras made the trip over from Colorado (from Prospectus "the Rockies tried to trade him, but when they realized nobody was interested, they just let him go") and he will undoubtedly be outstanding leading off and playing center. And how about Jonny Gomes in left ("for the most part he has been a strange combination of a strikeout-prone slugger with a touch of speed and poor defensive skills who gets more at-bats than he deserves") Okay, sounds great. Let's see if we can't find a way to get him 400+ at bats. And look new catcher Ramon Hernandez (Hernandez clearly isn't what he was in the late 20's, but Camden Yards loves its righty hitter and might have camoflauged a more precipitous decline). Nothing not to like there. Where do I order the Ramon Hernandez Fat Head for my dining room wall?

A more appropriate greeting for the returning members is forthcoming. But based on the busy offseason, the team should be expected to contend in 2009. Anything less than 74 wins is going to be a serious disappointment. Reds! Reds! Reds!