Nothing is sweeter in the Spring than the sound of Marty Brennaman back in the booth describing the action on the baseball diamond. The Cincinnati Reds kicked off their Spring Training schedule yesterday with a 6-6 tie against the Cleveland Indians yesterday afternoon.
–Dusty Baker said on the pre-game show that his planned rotation heading into the start of the season is pretty much how he has them lined up now. Mike Leake is most likely going to be #4. Bailey #5.
–Scott Rolen was 2-for-2 in his first game action since shoulder surgery
–Mike Leake got the start, giving up 2 runs, 1 earned, in 2 innings. He stuck out 1 and walked 0.
–Nick Masset, Logan Ondrusek, and Jose Arredondo each pitched an inning of scoreless relief mid-game, combining to allow just 2 hits, 0 walks, and 4 strikeouts.
–Both Reds homeruns came from minor league prospects: Neftali Soto and Todd Frazier. Frazier is fighting for one of the Reds final bench spots
–Homer Bailey and Aroldis Chapman will both be pitching today. Homer will start the game, and Chapman will follow in “relief”. Both are building up their workload to pitch as starters.
–Zack Cozart will start again today, showing that his surgerically repaired elbow can already go back-to-back days
–Juan Francisco is hoping to be cleared to resume workouts today. He has been held out most of the Spring due to a calf injury