3.18 Reds at Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have started using a renovated field in Port Charlotte for their spring training games. While it's a new site for them, it's actually one of the older facilities.

It seats about 5000 in fixed seats, making it one of the smallest capacities in that regard. But addition fans can sit on the grassy area along the third base side. There is also a wooden deck that runs around the length of the outfield fence, giving great views of the bullpen.

Wednesday was cool by central Florida standards, somewhat cloudy. My seat was on the first base side of home plate, about 12 rows back. I was in the shade, for which my pasty Midwestern skin was thankful.

One noteworthy fact - this park is huge. The home run fence is 343 feet down the lines and a whopping 414 feet in dead center. Add some pretty strong wind blowing in yesterday and it was going to take a real jack to get it out.

Dick Vitale, Tampa Bay fan, was at the game yesterday, prompting the awkward question of whether he is stalking me. Hopefully the return of the NCAA tournament will require his return to Bristol, CT. He does get great seats, though.

Two Debate World Fantasy League Issues

First, we've received photographic evidence that the league trophy - The Gibby - has arrived to its new residence in Arizona. The Adam Ants will possess our traveling award for the next year. I'll include one of the pictures Adam sent yesterday showing it off. Color me green with envy.


Also, in the fifth inning, Carlos Peña and Brandon Phillips got together to discuss the DW trade where they were exchanged straight-up by the Ybor Rollers and the Curse of the Deciders.



Notes on the Tampa Bay Gabes

What are the odds that the two major league players with the first name of "Gabe" would not only be on the same team, but bat next to each other in a given line up? Yesterday Gabe Kapler and Gabe Gross batted 6th and 7th respectively. Too bad the Reds former relief pitcher, Gabe White, wasn't here to face them.

Pat Burrell missed another chance to impress his potential fantasy owner by hitting into a bases-loaded double play to end the first inning.

Starting pitcher Jason Harrell, who apparently is aiming to make the team as its fifth starter, looked just so-so, having trouble in the first two innings, but having no problems in the third and fourth.


Here, Carlos Peña batted in the first inning with a runner at third.


Notes on the Cincinnati Reds

Another loss for the Reds, although this time the fault did not lie with the starting pitching. Edinson Volquez, who was far from sharp, did not surrender a run in his three innings (71 pitches) of work. He seemed to lack focus early in innings, only to regain it when the bases were loaded. He also seemed to be throwing his curve ball more than usual, along with his fast ball that he was having trouble controlling. When he resorted to his go-to pitch, the change up, it produced devastating results. Carl Crawford flailed at two consecutive off-speed pitches with bases loaded in the second inning, making the third out.


Willy Taveras missed another bunt attempt, walked (WALKED!), stole second on the first pitch and then failed to score on Chris Dickerson's liner up the middle, more bad baserunning by Willy T. Here Willy misses a bunt attempt.


Dickerson had another line drive hit, and he stole a base as well. Joey Votto, who continues to swing a strong bat, was victimized by the park dimensions and wind, on a ball he hit to deep CF in the first. It did result in a Sac Fly, however. Brandon Phillips, of course, struck out watching, failing to score Dickerson with one out from third.

Jared Burton and Arthur Rhodes looked great in relief. Young phenom Pedro Viola pitched an inning. David Weathers said of Viola's stuff, "He throws harder in PFP (pitchers fielding practice) than I do in a game. I never seen anyone that free and loose throw so hard." This is a pic of Viola waiting in the bullpen yesterday.


Three Important Questions for the Reds


Does Brandon Phillips = Corey Patterson against RHP? Almost. Keep in mind that Phillips bats cleanup in Dusty Baker's everyday lineup. Last year, in almost 400 AB vs. RHP, Phillips' line was: .247/.293/.383. That's right, against the pitchers who throw with their right hands, the ones who take the mound 70% of the time, Dusty Baker's cleanup hitter has less than a .300 OBP and a woeful slugging percentage. By comparison, Corey Patterson's line vs. RHP was: .209/.244/.358.

Should Jeff Keppinger make the major league squad out of spring training? He's barely batted over .100 and all six of his hits are singles. He hits ground balls (easy double plays with his speed) all the time. Wednesday, his defensive liabilities were exposed. Keppinger is generally regarded as a solid but not flashy fielder. Yesterday, in the decisive fifth inning, he waved at a one-bounce grounder to his right. Then, with two out and the bases loaded, and the Reds still leading 3-1, he charged a routine (and that's giving it too much credit) ground ball and just didn't throw to first. Result: six unearned runs.

Will Edwin Encarnacion ever become more consistent? Wednesday in the field was a microcosm of his entire career with the Reds thus far. He made the toughest, by far, play of the day that went his way, stabbing a sharp ground ball and turning it into an inning ending double play. Then he made an error on a basic play (dubbed "E5E5" by someone more clever than I). At bat, when someone makes the mistake of throwing him a first pitch fast ball, he crushes it (seriously, scouting reports?). But he has trouble with anything else.