3/1 Reds (Milton) at Pirates (Duke)

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I'm listening on Gameday Audio.

 

Milton gave up a leadoff homerun.

 

Jack Wilson is batting second. Thank you, Jim Tracy, for this gift to the rest of the NL Central.

 

The Reds' announce team says that Jack had an awful 2005 but really bounced back in 2006.

 

Jack Wilson in 2006:

 

.273 .316 .370

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Dunn just hit a no-doubter homerun.

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Josh Hamilton grounds out to first.

 

Reds analyst mentions that if he doesn't stick on the roster, he has to go back to Chicago.

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Reds commentators say Alex Gonzalez could hit 20 homeruns this year playing his home games at GAB.

 

PECOTA says he's likely to hit 12.

[Outshined_One]

Reds analyst mentions that if he doesn't stick on the roster, he has to go back to Chicago.

 

Remind me again how people are able to get jobs in sports broadcasting despite not knowing about baseball?

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Eric Milton gives up another homerun, this one to Jose Hernandez.

 

Marty Brenneman says that, even though Milton has given up two homers in two innings, we're not seeing the "same old Eric Milton" because the wind is to blame for both longballs.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Reds analyst mentions that if he doesn't stick on the roster, he has to go back to Chicago.

 

Remind me again how people are able to get jobs in sports broadcasting despite not knowing about baseball?

 

Why would he becoming back here? :?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Reds analyst mentions that if he doesn't stick on the roster, he has to go back to Chicago.

 

Remind me again how people are able to get jobs in sports broadcasting despite not knowing about baseball?

 

Why would he becoming back here? :?

 

He wouldn't.

[E.J.]

Dunn just hit a no-doubter homerun.

 

I read somewhere that Dunn came to camp having lost some weight and looking like he's in great shape. That's a scary thought for the rest of the NL Central if it's true.

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Freel hits a double off of Tom Gorzelanny.

 

Also: I didn't know Dick Pole was with the Reds now. It's always good to have Dick Pole around.

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Dunn just hit a no-doubter homerun.

 

I read somewhere that Dunn came to camp having lost some weight and looking like he's in great shape. That's a scary thought for the rest of the NL Central if it's true.

 

I've read that, too. The Reds announcers were emphasizing that he's working on his defense and trying not to be overly selective at the plate - he's going to try to swing at any pitch he thinks he can drive, even if it's one that's outside the strike zone. Conversely, he might take pitches that are strikes that he doesn't think he can drive.

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Dunn walks in his second PA.

 

Marty Brenneman wants Dunn to get more RBI's, raise his average, and lower his strikeouts.

 

:roll:

 

It would, of course, be entirely possible for Dunn to do all three of those things without improving as a player.

 

1. Dunn's RBI totals will largely depend on who hits in front of him and behind him. He could play exactly as he did last year and have more or less RBI this year.

 

2. I'm all for raising BA and lowering K's, but it's possible to do both while also lowering OBP and SLG.

 

Also: the reds have signed Dustin Hermanson.

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Luis Matos hits his second homer of the day - earlier I said Jose Hernandez hit one, but now the radio guys say it was Matos.

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Freel gets on base, Brandon Phillips homers, and the game is tied.

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Marty Brenneman and Jeff Brantley complain about how often Bellhorn strikes out.

 

Bellhorn promptly hits a two-run homerun.

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Josh Hamilton "mashes" a "towering" homerun to dead center.

 

Marty Brenneman says that the Cubs have spent money like a drunken sailor, giving lots of money to some players who have been "average at best."

 

And at that, I'm changing channels to listen to the cubs.

[Outshined_One]

Marty Brenneman and Jeff Brantley

 

Say no more. Yeesh.

[E.J.]

Josh Hamilton "mashes" a "towering" homerun to dead center.

 

Marty Brenneman says that the Cubs have spent money like a drunken sailor, giving lots of money to some players who have been "average at best."

 

And at that, I'm changing channels to listen to the cubs.

 

Marty Brenneman is "average at best".

[Laura]

Marty Brenneman and Jeff Brantley complain about how often Bellhorn strikes out.

 

Bellhorn promptly hits a two-run homerun.

 

BELLHORN!!!!!!!

[BigbadB]

Gotta love Rotoworld's take on things:

 

Top prospect Andrew McCutchen homered and doubled off Eric Milton as the Pirates' left fielder on Thursday.

 

Well, sure, but let's see how he does when he faces some major league pitching. McCutchen is expected to open the season at Double-A Altoona.