3.26 Yankees at Phillies

Today the New York Yankees made the short trip from Tampa to Clearwater to face the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies. The game was played at beautiful Bright House Field, the Phillies new spring home. One of the nice features of the stadium is the way they use the OF areas, sprawling lawns and a gigantic bar called Frenchy's.

Both teams were playing the majority of their starters, and each was sending a highly regarded young pitcher to the mound. Carlos Carasco started for the Phillies and Joba Chamberlain took the ball for the Yankees.

The game also featured the two starting shortstops for the American WBC team, Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins.



Yankees Notes and Pictures

Derek Jeter, captain of the Yankees, had a nice day at the plate in his new role as lead off hitter, with a couple of hits and a stolen base.

Mark Teixeira, the latest addition to the Bronx Bombers, hit the ball hard a couple of times. Equally important, Teixeira brings his Gold Glove first base skills to the Yankees infield.

Hideki Matsui got the Yankees scoring going with a first-pitch home run pulled on a line drive down the right field line, scoring himeself and Jeter.

Yankee 3B Alex Rodriquez, um, Cody Ransom, hit a long home run to LF.

Joba was hit hard by the Phillies in the first inning, getting behind both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard who took him deep. He settled down for a couple more innings then was lifted after giving up a walk and double in the 5th.

Late in the game Melky Cabrera and Nick Swisher each homered. The Yankees ended up winning 10-2.

Phillies Notes and Pictures

Carlos Carasco got off to a poor start as well, surrendering the home run to Matsui. He was lucky to escape the first having given up only two runs. After that he settled down and pitched easy second and third innings before giving up Ransom's solo homer in the fourth.

This was Jimmy Rollins' first game back in the lineup after the WBC. I'm sure the Phillies fans are anxious for him to return to form, alongside 2B Chase Utley who had major offseason surgery on his hip.

Utley hit a long home run to right field in the first inning.

Later in the first, Ryan Howard, the Phillies 1B, hit a gigantic opposite field home run - probably the longest homer I've seen this spring. The woman sitting in front of me turned around to say that Howard was going to have a big year because he had lost a lot of weight.

The Phillies didn't score again after the two first inning home runs. Chase Utley took a called third strike with two on and two out in the fifth inning, ending their best chance to add to the first inning runs.

Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge, who didn't blow a save through the entire 2008 season, came in to pitch a clean 7th inning.

3.25 Reds vs. Red Sox - Pitchers Duel

This afternoon's game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox at Ed Smith stadium featured two pitching prospects, 23-year old Johnny Cueto and 24-year old Clay Buchholz. Both teams played most of their starting units, so this game promised to be a reasonable test for both young arms.

It was a spectacular day in Sarasota, sunny and 79º. The game was completely sold out, thanks to the many Red Sox fans in attendance.


My Talk with Chris Welsh

In the later innings I moved down and stood behind home plate. In the ninth inning, Reds TV broadcaster Chris Welsh walked up and stood next to me. A former major league pitcher, Welsh has been a Reds broadcaster since 1993, forming a long-time continuous announcing team with George Grande. I barely recognized him since he has shaved off his distinctive moustache.

I started talking about the Reds with him, including specific players, and I was very surprised at how candid he was about them. I've decided not to repeat his specific comments here, since he probably didn't think they would be published on the internet and could possibly cause him some trouble. But they were fascinating. If you're curious, ask me and I'll tell you in person.

Immediately after the game, Dusty Baker held a press conference on the field. Welsh is the guy in the white shirt with his back to the camera. Hal McCoy, the Hall of Fame baseball writer for the Dayton Daily News is in the salmon-colored shirt.



Reds Pitching

The Reds staff came into today's game having thrown 21 consecutive scoreless innings. Taking the mound was Johnny Cueto, my previous choice as the breakthrough pitcher for the Reds in 2009. I like his increased maturity and experience.


Today, Cueto completely dominated the Red Sox. He faced the minimum 18 batters over six innings. He did allow two runners on singles, both of whom were immediately erased through double plays. He struck out 5 and walked none. Most importantly, he kept his pitch count down - throwing only 69 pitches - against a team built by Theo Epstein on OBP.

Ryan Masset, who according to rumors, the Reds are shopping, pitched two clean innings in the 7th and 8th, so the Reds had extended their shutout streak to 29 innings.

Then came the 9th inning and LHP Bill Bray. Bray came to the Reds from the Washington Nationals in the Austin Kearns trade a few years ago. I like Bray - he is a hard throwing pitcher who generally gets the job done. He has been inconsistent this spring, and there have been published reports that he might be considered expendable due to the emergence of lefty specialists Daniel Herrera and Pedro Viola, both of whom I have written about in this blog.

Facing Red Sox back-up hitters, Bray walked the first batter at a full count, narrowly missing on the 2-2 pitch. He then was victimized by a perfect hit and run play, with the lead runner moving to third. Bray earned a temporary reprieve by striking out the next hitter, but then gave up a down-the-line ground ball double to left, scoring two runs. He walked a couple more batters before finally retiring the side, having surrendered the Reds 1-0 lead.

Bray may end up traded or find himself pitching in Louisville for the Reds 'AAA' team.

Red Sox Pitching

Clay Buchholz held up his end of the pitching duel, giving up just one unearned run and a few hits.

With the score tied 0-0, Buchholz induced Paul Janish to hit a routine ground ball to the shortstop, who proceeded to let it go right through his legs (E-6). Buchholz compounded the problem by throwing past 1B Kevin Youkilis on a pickoff attempt, allowing Janish to advance all the way third. It looked like Buchholz would work himself out of the jam when Jeff Keppinger hit yet another ground ball to the shortstop. Keppinger somehow beat the throw (fwiw, I thought he was out) driving in Janish with the first run of the game.

After that the Sox bullpen closed the door on the Reds. Jonathan Pappelbon, the best closer in baseball, pitched the 7th. He did give up a hit to Reds catcher Ryan Hanagan, but otherwise had no problems.


Reds Hitting

Willy Taveras lead off the game with a single, and ala Corey Patterson, proceeded to be picked off at 1B. He later struck out and, in the sixth, with one out, popped out with the go-ahead run on 3B.

Fun Facts: In nearly 500 AB last year for the Rockies, Willy Taveras had 26 RBI. In 2005 with the Astros, he had just 29 RBI in over 590 AB. By comparison, leading off for the Reds in 2008, Chris Dickerson and Jerry Hairston, combined for 51 RBI in only 360 AB.

Jeff Keppinger's hitting woes continued. He grounded out to the shortstop every AB except one, where he narrowly beat out the SS throw for his 7th hit (all singles) of the spring.

Catcher Ramon Hernandez saw his first action for the Reds after returning from the Venezualan WBC team. His career .326 OBP fits right in with the Reds. He'll be starting in front of Ryan Hanagan, who has a .375 OBP this spring and managed a .367 OBP last fall for the Reds in nearly 100 AB.

30-year-old CF Darnell McDonald continues to impress. He went in for Taveras late in the game and gunned down a Red Sox runner at the plate in the ninth inning to record the third out. His throw on a medium-deep fly ball clearly beat the runner to home.

McDonald's hitting line batting lead off this spring (35 AB) is: .371/.395/.629, with 1 home run and 10 RBI to go along with 3 SB.

Willy Taveras' hitting line batting lead off this spring (28 AB) is: .250/.344/.286, with 0 home runs, 0 RBI and 3 SB. That's not a typo - his slugging percentage is .286.

Chris Dickerson, who could play CF, has posted: .341/.388/.523 with 2 HR, 6 RBI and 6 SB.



Red Sox Hitting

The Sox didn't hit much today, but I do want to give a shout out to Cincinnati native Kevin Youkilis, who did single. The Gold Glove, All-Star "Youk" not only was born in Cincinnati, but played his college baseball for the University of Cincinnati. The Reds, of course, didn't draft him. Probably because he was busy clogging up the bases.


2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia lined to left one of the two singles given up in 6 innings by Johnny Cueto.

3.24 Pirates at Braves

This game report will be relatively brief for two reasons. First, I was having focus issues with my camera. Second, I was too busy talking to take pictures and notes after the first inning.

The Atlanta Braves play their spring training games in Champion Stadium, which is literally on the property of Disney World, in Orlando. It's about 30 minutes from the Astros park, where I had been earlier in the day.

I stopped in between games to eat at a Latin restaurant called La Gota Fria. I had planned to eat at a seafood restaurant, but not only was it gone, but the business that had taken it's place had been abandoned. So I tried La Gota Fria, unscouted.

My meal at La Gota Fria was excellent. I had some pupusas for the first time on this trip, filled with pork and cheese. They are like grilled stuffed tortillas, although thicker. They come from El Salvadoran cuisine as an appetizer - I used to order them frequently when I lived in DC.

For my entrée I had grilled chicken, rice, beans and plantains. Very yummy.

Back to baseball. Champion Stadium feels larger compared to other minor league stadiums in the sense that it has a pretty significant upper deck. It also has more of a big time feel, kind of like a small major league park.


It is unique in two other ways. First, they are the only place I've been so far that offers free parking. Also, they have a pitch speed indicator on the scoreboard.

My seat -- initially -- was in the twelfth row, just behind home plate, about 10 feet to to the first base side. Just as the game was about to start, a guy (I'd guess around 17-18 years old) got up from his first row seat in front of me and started up the aisle to get some food. As he saw me, he said "Go Dragons". I was kind of confused until I realized I was wearing my Dayton Dragons hat - they are the 'A' club for the Reds. He asked me if I lived in Dayton and volunteered that he used to live in Ohio and was a Reds and Dragons fan. I asked him how he and his father got such good seats and he said they are family friends with the Atlanta GM, Frank Wrenn. He went up the rest of the steps, bought his food and sat back down.

At the end of the first inning the guy walked back up the aisle and asked me if I wanted to sit with them in the first row. They had three seats but his mother decided not to go to the game. Uh, YES!

So I spent the rest of the game in the first row, right behind the catcher. Quite a view. Even though I've had some good seats, this vantage point revealed the speed and power of the game. The Braves on deck circle was immediately in front of us. When Yunel Escobar warmed up to hit I thought he was going to his us with his bat.

Anyhow, I spent the rest of the game discussing sports with this father and son, who had very similar sports team interests as I did, especially the Reds, and they also had detailed knowledge, so it was fun talking with them. I did poke my camera lens through the home plate webbing to take two pictures, both of which are a bit blurry because of the camera issues.


Javier Vazquez and Ross Ohlendorfer pitched really well, especially the latter. I don't really know much about him other than what I saw last night, which was a hard fast ball and devastating curve.

Chipper Jones played for the first time in a while, as he had been injured.

3.24 Mets at Astros: Pudge, Pelfrey, and the President

The Reds were off Tuesday so I ventured to central Florida to catch two games. In the afternoon match-up the Houston Astros played the New York Mets at the Astros' home, the Osceola County Stadium, in Kissimmee. It was a sunny, beautiful day, with a steady wind blowing in from RCF.

The President

Just as I was settling into my seat, about 20 rows up over the third base on-deck circle, I spotted a couple guys in sport coats walking in, which immediately caught my eye. My suspicions were further aroused when I noticed they were wearing ear-pieces. "Hah, that's just like the Secret Service," I chuckled to myself. A split-second later, the 41st President of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush made his way through the crowd to a seat right behind home plate, to warm applause.


Pudge and the Astros

As you Astro fans know, the team signed catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez to a contract last week. Tuesday was Pudge's inaugural game in an Astros uniform, and he got off to a great start.

The announcer pronounced his name "Eye"-van (emphasis on the first syllable, of course) all day. I guess you can take the team out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the team.

I was glad to be there to document Pudge's day of firsts. His first pitch caught:


His first at-bat:


His first hit:


And yes, his first home run:

Pitching for the Astros was another Rodriguez, Wandy. He didn't give up any runs against this no-name Mets line up (more on that later) although he was hit hard at times and worked out of a couple jams.


Hunter Pence, who might be the fastest player in MLB, still has a wide enough stance to run for the Senate in Idaho.


Miguel Tejada, who I've mentioned that I love to watch play, turned a nifty double play at second base.


Houston closer Jose Valverde pitched an impressive 6th inning.


Houston's hitting leader for the day was 3B Geoff Blum, who had several hard hits, including a bases clearing double pulled down the RF line in the fifth inning.

Michael Bourn, who still hasn't learned how to steal first base, did touch all the bases on an error by the Mets RF. Bourn hit a ground ball through the first-second base hole, and when the RF charged it he let it get by his glove and it rolled all the way to the fence.

Carlos Lee looks every bit as if he'll continue to be an RBI machine.

There's little doubt the Astros are going to hit the ball this year - their lineup is now: Matsui, Pudge, Berkman, Lee, Tejada, Pence, Blum, Erstad/Bourn, pitcher.

Pelfrey and the Mets

The Mets didn't bring most of their starting eight to the game yesterday. Only Dan Murphy and Fernando Tatis, the presumptive LF platoon, made the trip.

SP Mike Pelfrey got rocked on the mound and didn't help himself at the plate or in the field.

Early in the game, with the score still 0-0, Pelfrey came up with runners at first and second and no outs. Instead of laying down a bunt, Pelfrey did the "fake bunt then square up and swing" not once, but twice - missing both times, strike one and strike two. Then when he did finally lay down a bunt, despite the IF playing back with two strikes, he bunted back to the pitcher so hard Wandy Rodriguez easily forced the runner at third.

In the field, again with the game still 0-0, Pelfrey had to cover 1B on a ground ball by Kat Matsui to the left side of the IF. When he stepped for the base with the ball, he missed (see pic), leading to the first of many runs by the Astros.


Pelfrey was booed by the Mets fans when he ultimately was taken out of the game.

Ah yes, the Mets fans. I have to say the number of Mets fans who drove a couple of hours to see their team play in Kissimmee was impressive. The Mets generally play their games on the Atlantic Coast, and Kissimmee is in central Florida, near Orlando. On more than one occasion in the first few innings the stadium was completely taken over by "Let's Go Mets!".

Those who made the trip must have been disappointed by the star-deficient lineup that their team put on the field Tuesday. I'm sure they (and I) would rather have seen the real Jose Reyes...


the real Carlos Beltran...

the real David Wright...


the real Carlos Delgado...

even the real Kieth Hernandez...

3.24 The Broken Egg, Awesome Baby!

My favorite Sarasota-area breakfast place is The Broken Egg. It's location at a Bradenton intersection with I-75 locates it right on my path to several of the northern ball parks. One other notable feature of The Broken Egg is that Dick Vitale eats breakfast there every morning.

I'll confess that I'm not a huge Vitale fan, but I appreciate his effort and passion for college basketball. The Broken Egg sells Dickie V products, such as his new book, and if he happens to be there at the time, he'll sign it. You can also pick up one of these creepy bobble head dolls.


Yesterday, Vitale was there, with his friend Howie Schwab, star of the former ESPN sports trivia show, "Stump the Schwab." I loved watching that show.


As fate would have it, I was paying my breakfast bill at the same time that Vitale and Schwab were leaving. Dickie V gets all the attention, so as he got dragged away for a book signing and picture-taking, I found myself standing next to Howie Schwab. So I decided to introduce myself, which I did.

As we were talking (he seems to be a very nice guy) I mentioned that I had recently googled him and that his Wikipedia site claims his record was 64-16 on the show, which I didn't believe, because I thought he rarely lost. He seemed impressed that I knew his record and said "yeah, I guess I'm human." Vitale came back into the restaurant, and summoned his sidekick. But as Howie Schwab started to walk away he turned back, held out his hand and said "It was nice to meet you."


As for my breakfast, it was Awesome Baby, a real trifecta! The giant chocolate chip pancake was a real Skywalker! The Bacon was my Diaper Dandy! And the fresh fruit cup, was ready for Prime Time, a real PTP'er!