A Bad Omen?

Last night, I dreamed that I was watching the Reds’ Opening Day game. It was a tight affair until David Weathers came in the game. The final score was Mets 28, Reds 5.

Now Weathers isn’t just limited to giving me headaches during my waking hours. This isn’t a positive development. 🙂

Anyway, in terms of more substantial items, we have this:

No decision has been made on the Reds’ fifth starter.
But manager Dusty Baker said Bronson Arroyo’s carpal tunnel flare-up is not delaying the decision.

“I’m pretty sure about Bronson. He’ll answer the bell,” Baker said.

Homer Bailey and Micah Owings are in the running. Both have pitched well. Bailey closed his spring Wednesday by allowing two runs, four hits and one walk in six innings with eight strikeouts. He was 0-1 with a 2.61 ERA.

Owings was 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA.

“I don’t want it to be an easy decision,” Baker said.

Said Bailey: “I did what I planned to do. Now, I’ll wait and see.”

Bailey was proudest of the fact he walked only four batters.

“I didn’t give up free passes,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing. My fastball command was better, and I had better control of the breaking ball.”

I’m on the record as saying Bailey needs to make this team, whether as a starter or a reliever. Nick Masset, bless his heart, is just a below-average pitcher.