GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- So, here we are. This is going to be a 6-inning game. Chapman is schedule to pitch after Harang for the GrayLegs, so he'll be facing, possibly, guys from the WhiteLegs, which looks like the Oepning Day lineup plus Devin Mesoraco.
Because of that, I won't exactly be live-blogging it. Chapman's going to talk to us after his inning, so I'm going to watch that from behind home plate and then get down to the clubhouse at the stadium to talk to him afterwards. That'll also allow me to shoot video, hopefully from behind home plate, and you'll be able to see that up soon enough.
So, here are the lineups:
GrayLegs
Dickerson cf
Janish ss
Nix lf
Francisco 3b
Balentien rf
Alonso 1b
Frazier 2b
Hanigan c
Castillo DH
Harang p
WhiteLegs
Stubbs cf
Cabrera ss
Votto 1b
Phillips 2b
Rolen 3b
Bruce rf
Gomes lf
Hernandez c
Mesoraco DH
Bailey p
So, as we wait for that, I'll give you ac ouple of morning observations.
* Joe Morgan was around, in uniform. He had the Red BP top with 8 and Morgan on the back. He spent time talking to a lot of players, including Brandon Phillips. He told Phillips, "you know I'm watching you."
* As Jonny Gomes littered the desert with baseballs, Morgan said, "he's in mid-season form." The ball absolutely flies out here. I'm sure pitchers aren't too excited about that.
* We'll also have a photo gallery later -- Brian Baker is out here for us and he'll be here the next couple of days. So we'll have a gallery today and tomorrow for the real opener.
* It's a gorgeous day out here. Just perfect weather. As we were on the side fields, Homer Bailey said,"if you can find something to complain about with this weather, you've got some problems." He was right.
* Just about every announcer the Reds have is out here -- Marty and Thom, the Cowboy, Paul Keels. Hell, I'm looking around for Steve Stewart. As the old saying goes, the Reds lead the league in mascots and announcers.
* Is there any song worse than this damn "I've Got a Feeling" song? I think it's worse than that stupid New York song they played every inning during the World Series. I'd rather listen to "We Built This City" on an endless loop....
TOP 1: Single down the first-base line for Dickerson to start the game. Homer was ahead 0-2, threw 2 balls and then Dickerson singled. Janish then grounded into a double play, 5-4-3. Nix goes down swinging. And then instead of three, they're going to get Homer some more work and pitch to Francisco. Francisco takes a 1-2 pitch up the middle for a single, and that's the end of the inning. WhiteLegs 0, GrayLegs 0
Looks like Chapman will throw for the WhiteLegs, not the GrayLegs, so I'll be moving down there in a bit.
BOTTOM 1: Drew Stubbs goes down swinging. Cabrera 4-3 and I'm headed down.
FINAL: Whitelegs 4, Graylegs 2
Well, that was a cluster. I'm writing my Chapman story now... In a word, impressive. He was around the zone, a little wild at times, but still impressive. The radar gun said as high as 97, add to that a 82 mph change. Wilkin Castillo K'd on the change and said later, "I had no chance." Final tally, 1 IP, 1H (2B by Alonso), 1 HBP, 2 Ks.
Will have more up later
* From the Reds; "Todd Frazier has a bruised right quadriceps. No x-rays were necessary. He will be evaluated again tomorrow.
As Dusty mentioned post-game, Aaron Miles on Tuesday suffered a fracture on the tip of his right middle finger while fielding ground balls. Once his swelling subsides, he should be good to go."
Totally didn't realize until today that one of the advantages for me about the reds being in Arizona is that I'll actually get to listen to the preseason games on my way home from work thanks to the time difference.
Aw Trent, did you just knock Starship? What other rock anthem has so little guitar? The Black Eyed Peas definitely their share of air time. They probably get a few other acts' share of air time. I couldn't watch a movie last year without hearing "Boom Boom Pow." It's very pop and lockable.