My seat was great - in the 10th row, directly behind home plate - and no one sitting on either side of me. You'll get a sense of how good when you see my close-up pictures that capture both the pitcher and hitter.
The Reds starting eight stayed home today. So all the players competing for the last roster slots were on display. Also, Aaron Harang returned to the mound after his disappointing appearance vs. the Phillies five days ago. Would he put to rest the concerns some (including me) have been feeling about his pitching? The Pirates SP was Ian Snell, who is a possible bounce back candidate after a dreadful 2008 season.
Notes on the Pirates
Ian Snell - It was a bad sign for Snell when he walked the first batter on four pitches. While he did get out of the first inning, in the second the Reds pounded him for five runs. The two scouts who were sitting in the row behind me got up and left after this point, one saying "SOS today, Same old Snell" and the other chimed in "Sh*t on a Shingle."
Snell eventually settled down and threw a few good innings before leaving with what appeared to be a minor injury.
Matt Capps - Capps pitched back to back games today, after having given up a two-run homer to Jay Bruce yesterday. Today he pitched a fine sixth inning.
Nate McLouth - McLouth hit the ball hard several times today, twice off of Harang, with nothing to show for it. He made a couple of nice plays in CF.
Brandon Moss - Moss came to the Pirates as part of the three-team, Jason Bay for Manny Ramirez for prospects trade. He played LF for the Pirates last year, replacing Bay. But this year the plan is for Moss to play RF. He's been out for two weeks with a sprained thumb. Today was his first day back and he didn't do much at the plate.
Notes on the Reds
Aaron Harang - Harang no-hit the Pirates over six innings and 90 pitches, which was a great rebound from his last start. He had excellent command and seemed to be throwing more off-speed stuff than usual. He may be adjusting to his new lighter body weight by de-emphasizing the overpowering fastball and stressing craftiness. Or maybe he was just working on his off-speed pitches.
He threw a lot of pitches in the first inning, walking Freddie Sanchez, but after that he cruised. I watched carefully for signs of fatigue during his second time through the lineup, but instead he got even sharper, mowing down the Pirates in order. The Reds played some good defense behind him as well.
Harang contributed at the plate, with a successful sacrifice bunt and a line drive single over second base.
Johnny Gomes - Gomes is in competition to make the team, including a possible LF platoon with Chris Dickerson. Insiders have been reporting for a couple of days that he has made the team. He hit a gigantic home run today, to left field, dead into the wind. RHP Ian Snell hung a curve ball and Gomes jumped on it. The home run was the pitch after this one.
Adam "Pete" Rosales - Rosales, who started at 3B today and at SS two days ago against the Astros, continues to make a strong case for making the team ahead of utility infielder Jeff Keppinger. In addition to playing a flawless 3B (with several chances) he also had a hit and a walk.
Paul Janish - I mention Janish partly because I talked to him yesterday, and partly because he had a two-run double to start the scoring for the Reds today. He has a cannon for an arm at SS, and IMO is the best all-around defensive SS in the organization, including Alex Gonzalez. (And because he talked to me yesterday I'm not going to mention that he struck out a couple of times today.)
Darnell McDonald - Apparently McDonald is Dusty's favorite this spring, with good reason. McDonald played a great CF today, and hit two long doubles, one to LF and one to LCF, driving in two runs. He also stole 3B. Too bad instead we'll have to witness Willy Taveras' leading off/CF act. I'm not saying that McDonald should start for the Reds, but it seems that he can do the same things as Taveras plus he has power.
Daryl Ward - Just as the scouts sitting behind me were saying that Ward was in the best shape of his career and was a good matchup to face Ian Snell, Ward executed a perfect inside-out swing, lining one of Snell's pitches to left field for a hit. He had another hit later, and showed some very alert baserunning. I don't know if he'll make the team, but he does have a lot of pinch hitting experience.
Wilkin Castillo - Castillo didn't do anything to stand out today, but he did play catcher for Harang's 6-inning no hitter. He also laid down a perfect drag bunt up the first base line for a hit. Castillo came to the Reds, along with Micah Owings and Dallas Buck, from the Diamondbacks in the Adam Dunn trade. Castillo is above all an excellent athlete -- he plays OF, 2B and catcher. He's also got some pop in his bat. Even though catcher is supposed to be his weakest position, he did well today. I don't remember Harang once shaking off a sign. Castillo also rifled the ball to first and second trying to pick runners off. I don't know if there will be room on the roster for a third catcher in April, but Castillo is a valuable member of the organization because of his tremendous flexibility.
Laynce Nix - Nix batted third today, but didn't look that great at the plate except his last time up when he showed a good eye and walked.
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