Just In From the Desert

The hits just keep on comin'... for the Reds.  Tough outings for Justin Masterson (1.1 IP, 6 ER, 5 H, 3 BB) and Tony Sipp (IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB) and Cincy was 3-for-3 stealing bases off of Carlos Santana.  Oh yeah, they lost, again,12-7.

Hot Corner:  Lonnie Chisenhall (.500) started and singled in two trips.  Neither Chiz nor Cap'n Jack has showed any sign of giving away the position.

Left Of Center:  Felix Pie (.000) got the start in left.  He went 0-for-2, but scored following a 6th inning walk.  Pie is in the middle of my three contenders. 

#5:  Zach McAllister continued a string of impressive 2 inning performances by the 5th starter candidates.  ZMac held the Redlegs scoreless over innings 7 & 8, while allowing just a single and fanning three.  This has the making of the kind of tough choice that organizations drool over.

Out There:  Ryan Spilborghs (.000, 0-1) scored as a pinch runner in the 6th then brought home a run with a sac fly in the 7th.  Russ Canzler (1.000) maintained perfection with a 9th inning walk.  Ezequiel Carrera (.333) singled and scored as part of that same 2 run 9th.  

Bench Me:  No news is good news.

Mightier Than the Sword:  Dan Wheeler imploded, surrendering 4 earned on 4 hits in the 6th, inclduing a 2-run bomb to Corky Miller of all people.  This kind of resets the bullpen battle after just 3 days.  With the two most likely pen men (Wheeler and Frank Herrmann) both enduring disastrous outings, the brain trsust likely scraps both as the work of early kinks.  I find it incredibly likely that the Opening Day would include neither, so each can take a breath of relief thanks to the other.

Kevin Slowey, pushed back from a planned start today, takes the hill versus half of the Royals tomorrow @ the same bat time (3:05p).