Eww.. A big stinker of a game.
Rick Helling sounded horrible – although the radio guys on Sunday said that he was experimenting with more breaking pitches than usual. I realize spring is a time to try things, and take your lumps, but you never want to see this happen anytime. :) On the positive side for Helling, he finished out his outing by retiring the last 8 batters he faced – so he eventually figured it out, but in a real season game, he would have been long removed before that happened.
We only had 7 hits – only two by one player (Ruben Mateo, who scored our only run). Pretty lackluster effort all around.

A pretty well pitched game on both sides of the coin.
We didn’t give up anything until the ninth inning, when Mike Munoz gave up a home run and the only two runs the Blue Jays got all day. Glynn went four, Chris Haney went two, Jeff Zimmerman went two – all giving up no runs. Munoz gave up two, and got a save (!).
On the other side of the coin, Ruben Mateo had a two run home run in the fourth for two of the three runs we got. Not a lot to write about on this one. :)

Well, it’s two nights in a row we lost at the end of the game, although it’s not as annoying as the Yankee loss; but then again what’s as annoying as losing to the Yankees? :)
This game was looking good, being up 3-1 into the 8th inning. We were up on two home runs – one by ARod, and the other by the pleasant spring surprise, Bo Porter. I’m hoping we can move someone (Curtis, or Ledee) so we can add Porter as the 5th outfielder. That speed is something we just don’t have otherwise.
Our pitching was pretty good for the most part. Darren Oliver continues his good spring giving up just one run on four innings. Mark Petkovsek went 3 innings giving up nothing. Danny Kolb (who looks like he’ll start the season on the DL) had a bad outing giving up 3 earned runs in less than an inning – Tim Crabtree came in and stopped that, pitching 1 1/3 giving up nothing. Overall, some great pitching, except for Kolb.
Even though it’s a loss, the team’s lookin’ good!

The Yankee curse continues, damnit! We were down to the last strike in closing the game out in the bottom of the 9th, and then they come back. Crap – crap – crap! It’s too bad, as I thought Kenny Rogers pitched good at the start, as did everyone who followed him – except Pete Munro.
You know, in the couple of years I’ve been doing this site, I’m tired of writing about the Yankees beating us, so I’m not going to do it now, either.

The spring fun continues. Heard something at the start of the broadcast where we have the #1 pitching staff in baseball to this point, and the #1 defense in the AL. Quite impressive. I realize we’re less than a dozen games into spring training, but I’ll take that now, it’s always nice to hear.
Our offense got off to a steady start – with 1 run in each of the first three innings. First was a home run by Chad Curtis to lead off the game. Andres Galarraga came through with another solo home run in the next inning, and Doug Davis looked great. While his line showed that he gave up two runs, they didn’t really belong to him – it was one of those fielding gaffes that wasn’t technically an error; the most annoying kind to a pitcher, I’m sure.
After the fifth inning, I had to stop listening to the game, as my wife and I had a few things we needed to take care of, but by this time, we were already up 4 to 2. We’ve now won 4 in a row, and the test comes tomorrow night against the Yankees.

Not available – too busy with work today.

Still no “Arod vs. Ken Griffey Jr” – as we didn’t bring Arod to the Reds park.
Well, today’s game falls into the “great game, not a lot to talk about” department – at least for me. Games like this are great to watch (and not too bad to listen to), but there isn’t a whole lot to report about when it comes time to talk baout the game.
The pitching on both sides was great – we only had two runs, and they had one. Ryan Glynn went three innings, with 3 strikeouts, and more importantly, no walks. Mark Petkovsek went two, giving up nothing, Mike Venafro pitched two scoreless as well. Jeff Brantley gave up our only run (quite frankly, I don’t expect him to make the club, so I don’t care). Aaron Meyette got the save in the ninth, I guess Tim Crabtree didn’t make the trip – I would imagine he would be tested in a true save situation would he have been here.
On the offensive side, the only thing we had going was a big two run home run by Pudge, but it turned out that’s all we needed.
The only other news is bad – being from the injury front. Ricky Ledee who got hurt yesterday has a torn hamstring tendon in his left leg. He’ll be out a minimum of two weeks, and may need surgery. He’s unlikely for opening day; longer if surgery is needed.
Gabe Kapler was hit in the hand with a pitched ball – was sent back to Port Charlotte immediately, more will be known later.
Chad Curtis, from a purely selfish standpoint, must like this, it increases his chances for playing time.