Archive for the ‘Spring Training’ Category

Battin’ in the Rain

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Here’s a great little video from Corey Brinn, who works for the Reds single A affiliate Dayton Dragons. Apparently, the sprinkler system went off during batting practice at one of the Reds’ minor league practice fields out in Goodyear. Great stuff.

Speaking of video – Corey has some footage of Bronson Arroyo from Thursday night’s Woodjock. Check it out.

If you’re not, make sure you follow Corey’s personal blog as well as the Dayton Dragon’s Inside the Clubhouse. They are both great looks into minor league baseball and the Dayton Dragons.

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Posted in Spring Training, video | No Comments »

One. Oh. Two.

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Aroldis Chapman - 102
Apparently, Aroldis Chapman hit 102 MPH on a scouts gun during today’s spring training game against the Royals.

UN. REAL.

UPDATE: Looks like the scout that reported the 102 was nowhere to be found, but it still stands that Aroldis was tossing gas today.

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Posted in OMG, Spring Training | 5 Comments »

Five observations from Friday’s game

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

1) Mike Lincoln as a starter? I don’t get it. I missed the explanation about why the Reds feel they need to add Lincoln to the mix of contenders for the No. 5 spot. I’ve got nothing against him – had him sign a card at RedsFest and thought he was a very nice guy – but what is it about the back of his card that suggests he should go back to being a starter?

(Easy for me to say, I realize, after he went 1 1/3 and gave up four runs on seven hits.)

2) Dusty’s quote:

“I think there was some nerves and jitters with this new ballpark,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

Jitters? For Spring Training? In front of 4,631 fans? REALLY?

3) Kind of a rough day for our man Sam LeCure, unfortunately. He gave up a three-run bomb to Tribe prospect Nick Weglarz, a Canadian who probably wants to kick my ace for my tongue-in-cheek Votto post from the other day. :D Unearned runs, though … Sam should’ve been out of the inning. And we’ve still got Sam making the roster out of Spring Training AND being named Fans Choice Bobblehead for the July 31 game against Atlanta. Go Sam!

4) Even worse day, you could argue, for Yonder Alonso. 0-for-2 with 2 Ks … and 2 errors. Ouch.

5) I know I already mentioned it in No. 2, but is anyone else surprised that the Reds’ first Spring Training game ever at Goodyear Stadium only drew 4,631. It holds 10,300.

Also, Will Leitch’s Reds preview on Deadspin.com is entertaining and worth a read. He’s a huge Cardinals fan who acknowledges that “no team in the division scares me as much as the Reds do.” Interesting.

Posted in Spring Training | 1 Comment »

A whole new ballgame

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

I post CNATI’s video of Aroldis Champman’s first live batting practice session for two reasons:

1) ZOMG! Aroldis is a friggin’ beast! Holy crappa-ziodz! Hearing the reactions from Walt, Alonzo and others on his session and how good Alrodis stuff looks gets this Reds fan pretty jacked. Here’s some more vid from John Fay

2) The media ballgame has changed folks. The amount of information – data, video, photos coming out of spring training this year is unreal. You cannot keep up with it. Just for the Reds – between CNATI, The Fayanator, Mark Sheldon and Jamie Ramsey, there is so much media flying at you so fast, it’s hard to remember this is just THE FIRST WEEK OF CAMP. Two years ago (or even last year?) we would have never seen Aroldis’ bullpen session on video, much less within an hour of it happening. Getting instant reaction from players thru the media via Twitter is awesome.

Plus, we how else would we get such fine breaking news as Jonny Gomes’ mohawk? Seriously, we love it.

We’ll see how long the pace keeps up… but one thing is for sure, things in sports coverage have shifted in a big way – even from last season. Keep it up, guys.

Chapman vs:
- Chris Burke, Chris Heisey
- Chris Burke
- Yonder Alonso

Any more “Chapman vs:” video floating our there?

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On the Tube

Monday, February 8th, 2010

They're Here.

They're Here.


Just a heads up, Fox Sports Ohio will be throwing a few Reds Spring Training games on the tube this spring:

Friday, March 5 Reds vs. Cleveland Indians 3:05pm
Thursday, March 18 Reds @ Cleveland Indians 4:05pm
Monday, March 22 Reds vs. Colorado Rockies 4:05pm

From the press release, chicken grease:

FOX Sports Ohio will broadcast three (3) Reds 2010 Spring Training Games Beginning March 5.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – FOX Sports Ohio is excited to announce its 2010 Cincinnati Reds spring training television schedule. As the Cincinnati Reds enter their first Spring Training at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona, FOX Sports Ohio will be televising three (3) Reds Spring Training games this preseason as follows:

Friday, March 5 Reds vs. Cleveland Indians 3:05pm
Thursday, March 18 Reds @ Cleveland Indians 4:05pm
Monday, March 22 Reds vs. Colorado Rockies 4:05pm

March 5th marks the Reds’ first ever home game at Goodyear Ballpark, when they will take on the Cleveland Indians, who also play their home games at Goodyear Ballpark.

As the two Ohio-based teams share the ballpark, FOX Sports Ohio will partner with SportsTime Ohio (STO), the Indians television rights holder, in sharing game telecasts. FOX Sports Ohio will produce the March 5th game and share it with STO. In return, STO will originate the March 18th game, when the Reds once again battle the Indians, and share it with FOX Sports Ohio.

During the FOX Sports Ohio telecast on March 5th, fans will get a tour of the new Reds training facilities in Goodyear. Paul Keels, the newest member of the FOX Sports Ohio Reds broadcast team, will also be introduced for the first time. The main Reds play by play announcer Thom Brennaman will call the game alongside color analyst Chris Welsh. STO’s color analyst Rick Manning will also join them in the booth during the game.

On the STO-produced March 18th Reds-Indians game, Reds color analyst Chris Welsh will join Indians broadcasters Rick Manning and Matt Underwood in the broadcast booth.

FOX Sports Ohio will conclude their 2010 Cincinnati Reds’ spring training coverage with the March 22nd telecast between the Reds and the Colorado Rockies.

“We’re excited about this year’s slate of Spring Training games, and giving fans a first hand look in the Red’s new facility at Goodyear,” said Henry Ford, Senior Vice President and General Manager, FOX Sports Ohio. “The addition of partnering with SportsTime Ohio to distribute a couple of Reds vs. Indians match-ups will add a different element for viewers as well.”

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Posted in Spring Training, Television | No Comments »

Vegas, baby!

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Las Vegas 51s professional baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, announced today that the Cincinnati Reds will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a Major League Baseball exhibition game on Wednesday, March 31 at 7:05 p.m. at Cashman Field. The game will feature split-squads for both teams.

The “on sale” date for Reds/Dodgers individual game tickets will be announced at a later date.

The Las Vegas 51s were the top farm club of the Dodgers for eight seasons (2001-08). The Reds will be making their inaugural Las Vegas visit.

“Las Vegas is a great backdrop for the L.A. Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds to play an exhibition game,” said Rossi Ralenkotter, President/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Both teams have a rich history and will appeal to baseball fans who love the game and all that it represents.”

“We are excited to announce a third game to our Big League lineup in March,” 51s President/General Manager Don Logan said. “This adds a nice variety of teams that our fans will get to see play this March at Cashman Field (Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers, Reds). The Dodgers have a tremendous following in Southern Nevada and many of the players on the current big league roster played for the 51s before excelling on the Major League level. The Reds have a great baseball tradition and we welcome them for their first visit to Las Vegas.”

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Posted in Outstanding, Spring Training | 5 Comments »

Kearns sighting

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

In case you missed it, the Cleveland Indians signed former Red Austin Kearns to a Minor League deal, with an invite to Spring Training.

Kearns became a free agent when the Nationals didn’t exercise his $10 million option for 2010. He appeared in 80 games for Washington – batting .195 with three homers and 17 RBIs – before suffering a right thumb injury in August. (OUCH No. 1)

A quote from Tribe general manager Mark Shapiro:

“[Kearns is] a plus defender in the outfield,” Shapiro said. “He’s a guy who has had some recent struggles, but (manager) Manny (Acta) was very familiar with him. Due to his age and athleticism, the upside and the potential still exists for him to be a productive Major League player.” (OUCH No. 2 … I’m not sure that’s what you really want to hear a GM say about you)

Bleacherreport.com’s Adam Bernacchio offers a look at what’s happened to Kearns since 2002 when – you may recall – he finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .315 with 13 homers, 56 RBIs and 66 runs in 372 ABs.

The Plain Dealer’s Paul Hoynes doesn’t seem that excited about the Tribe adding Kearns and Shelley Duncan in what he calls “their ongoing scavenger hunt among the lower rungs of free agency.”

(OUCH No. 3)

Though Hoynes does point out that it’s not the first time the Tribe has expressed interest in Kearns. Apparently they discussed trading for him at least once when he was a Red.

Once saw Kearns (pre-2002 … it was either in ‘00 or ‘01) hit a monster home run at the Phillies’ old Spring Training park in Clearwater (Jack Russell) and got my ticket stub signed by him afterward. Always seemed like a good guy too, so I think it’d be great if he makes a nice comeback now that hopefully he’s healthy. I will, however, root against him May 21-23 and June 25-27. :D

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Posted in Spring Training | 1 Comment »

Send CNATI to AZ

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

C Trent, on repeat.
Help send one of our favorite local sportswriters, C. Trent Rosecrans, to Arizona to cover the Reds at Spring Training. He and CNATI.com are asking readers to “ChipIn” and help raise $4,000 to cover the cost of covering the Reds for six weeks out west. We threw in a few clams to help the cause and hope that you might consider doing the same. We really dig CNATI’s contributions to Cincinnati journalism and have mad respect for the trail they’re blazing with their independent website and sports coverage.

If anything, do it so we can all see C Trent rock a Cop ‘Stache.

Read more from C Trent…

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Posted in Spring Training | 2 Comments »

More photos from Spring Training

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Joey Votto hittin' the rock
We’re catching up on getting some more photos from Spring Training up over on the OMGreds Photo Blog. Another weekend, another OMGer down in Florida to catch the action. We’ve got photos from the Reds/Rays game this past Saturday, and photos are coming tonight for Reds/Phillies on Tuesday. We also snuck in a Yankees/Pirates game in Tampa too.

For all 2009 Spring Training photos, click here.

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Posted in Road Trip, Spring Training | 1 Comment »

Finally! More WBC photos

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Poor Joey Votto
We’ve posted some select photos of our trip to Toronto and the World Baseball Classic over in the OMGreds photoblog. Nothing too exciting – just some flavor from up north. A little Dunn, a little Votto… It’s all good in the hood.

Seriously, more photos this weekend. We’ll be at the Reds game on Saturday down in sunny Sarasota. Check the photoblog for the all the helmet sundae action.

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Posted in Spring Training | 2 Comments »

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