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Blogs: C. Trent Rosecrans

The March to 162-0 continues...

C. Trent Rosecrans Cincinnati.com Blog 3/3/07

The march to 162-0 continues...

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Got the wireless issue all figured out here and the Reds have Boof Bonser figured out. 3-0 Redlegs after one.

 

End 1st: After Ryan Freel's lead-off double, Scott Hatteberg homered. After EE grounded out, Dunn pounded a hanging curve for a double and Phillips singled him in (yes, Dunn scored from second on the single up the middle). Josh Hamilton hit a ground-rule double to left. If it hadn't bounced over the wall, it would have been an easy triple and another run scored.

Mid 2nd: The bottom of the Twins order Boofed Harang here in the second. Two doubles to center (including a ground rule double that could have been more because Ryan Freel fell down in center). In all, three hits off Harang in the inning, five total. Just one run. Randy Choate in for Bonser

End 2nd: Freel singles, Hatteberg gets a single on a nice hit and run, then Encarnacion loads the bases on a catcher's interferrence. Dunn strikes out and Phillips grounds out. Livingston in for Harang. Harang -- 2 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, earned, 2 Ks

Middle 3: Livingston looked awesome. 3 up, 3 down. First guy, Tyner, grounded out to first. Then Kubel and LeCroy struck out looking. Twins are already in the 'who?' part of their pitching staff. Julio DePaula -- No. 85 in your program, No. 1 in your heart

3rd: Hamilton another double, this one to right-center. Gonzalez single, then Bellhorn singles in Hamilton. Ross doubles in two. Freel K. Bubba 4-3. Castro flies out to right. I'm sure our men just wanted to get out of here early today or they could have spend all day running around the bases.Rallygator, the Sarasota Reds mascot is tormenting children like the Redlegs are tormenting Twins pitching. 6-1.

End 4: Our men are unstoppable. As I was n the clubhouse talking to Aaron Harang, Brandon Phillips homered and another hit for Hamilton. 7-1. Livingston's line: 2 innings, 1 hit, 2 Ks

Middle 5: No idea why I'm still doing this, but a really nice 3-6-3 by Votto to end that inning. Santos on the mound.

End 5: Seriously, anyone still reading? Hopper singles, Crosby lays down a nice bunt, Twins' 3rd baseman throws it away, Hopper scores, Bubba to third. 8-1. 16 hits. 1 out in the 5th. I think I'm going home soon. Need to figure out where I'm going to go to dinner with the Minnesota writers. Maybe Columbia. Yum. Hamilton is the only Reds starter still in this game. Denorfia liner to left, Crosby tags up and scores. 9-1. Is there a 10-run rule in the Grapefruit League? There should be. Bulldog Jeff Keppinger keeps hitting. Single up the middle, setting the table for Hamilton. Hamilton walks. Still 3-for-3. After Thursday's game I said soemthng to him about Jerry saying he'll keep giving Hamilton at-bats, even if he goes 0-for-50. I said to Josh, 'guess you're off the hook now, right?' He thought I may have jinxed him. He got the infield single yesterday and today he said I was off the hook. Now I'm really off the hook. Janish doubles down the leftfield line, scoring Georgia Bulldog Jeff Keppinger. 10-1. C'mon Banker John, what kind of banker has to work Saturdays? Votto walks, loading the bases for nicest guy in the world, Chad Moeller. Some guy named Smith is now in for the Twins. Two photographers are shooting his warm-up pitches. Must mean they don't have any other pictures of him. NGITW flies out to deep center, 10-1 after 5.

Middle 6: Hamilton moves to center. Keppinger to third, Machado in at second. Hopper to right. Y'know, I'm kinda bummed Fay gets his name in his blog, while mine is like Reds TM and should have a freakin' barcode instead of my picture. It'd be an improvement, I'm sure. Santos mows down the Twins. Honestly, I thought it was still the first batter of the inning and see the guy swinging, and not only is he headed back to the dugout, so is NGITW

End 6: Can't stop Bubba Crosby. Bloop single to left. Two different fans asked for autographs from the press box today, neither asked for mine. Some guy had Marty sign a ball and then a woman asked Hal McCoy for his autograph. Me? Never been asked for my autograph. Wouldn't mind if the brunette in section CC would ask for it. It may be more appropriate if she were a row up. Yowza. Georgia Bulldog Jeff Keppinger singles in Bubba. 11-1. Hamilton is human, pops up to the SS on the left field line. Ligtenberg in, Hamilton out. Not sure why I'm still here.

7th inning stretch: Ligtenberg looked pretty good. 3-up, 3-down. He's still got a pretty nasty slider. My buddy Corey texted me to say he's reading, so that's nice. He's also listening to Thom and Brantley and he said it's pretty good. Anyone else got an opinion? Let me know.

End 7th: Janish singles off the pitcher, whose name is more difficult to pronounce than Janish. Not that Janish is difficult, it's just a tricky soft J. I love the soft J. Reds have 21 hits, the first time they've had 20 hits in a spring training game was March 9, 1994 vs. St. Louis in a 14-8 loss. The Brewers had 24 hits yesterday, so the Redlegs still have some work to do. Greg C. just came up to say hi and that he liked the blog. No autograph request yet. And Ms. CC hasn't even given me a single look. Have no idea what the Reds did in that inning, 'case I noticed they brought some Skyline cheese coneys to the press box and those badboys are good. It's still 11-1.

Middle 8: E3 on Votto. That thing on his right hand isn't the reason he's going to be starting at first in 2008. Besides that, little to no trouble for the Redlegs.

Bottom 8: CC is a photographer. Takng pictures of her blonde friend with quite the rock on her finger. CC doesn't have one, but have a feeling she's way, way out of my price range. Only the Yankees and Red Sox can afford the posting fee on that one. 4,889 here today, the largest crowd for a spring opener since 2002 (7.197). I think our friend in CC counts as more than one. OH NO! CC IS LEAVING. GOODBYE MY LOVE! I'm going to cry. I can see her walking down the concourse. Out of my life. So sad. God, I hope she has season tickets. She's still standing there. Maybe she's having secodn thoughts about leaving me. And just as I write that, she takes another step toward the exit. Story of my life. Georgia Bulldog Jeff Keppinger signles off the pitchers' leg to load the bases for Dewayne Wise. My girl doesn't want to miss the action. Wise singles sharply to right, scoring one. 12-1, 24th hit of the night. Bases still loaded for Janish. 1 out. Votto on deck. Hnaish lines out ro right, Denorfia scores. 13-1. My girl is still standing there. She doesn't want to leave the game early. Again, could she be more perfect? Never leave a game early. And she's waiting 'til the end, God love her. What a trooper, she's trying to stay warm and doing a little dance. Votto bloops one into left, scores Georgia Bulldog Jeff Keppinger. Ryan Jorgensen (unfortunately no soft J there) in for NGITW. oh yeah. 14-1, 25 hits fo rthose of you not keeping your own running tally. Jorgensen walks, Gardenhire's headed for a pitching change -- with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th. Everyone's headed for the exit, but not CC. She's a true fan and the perfect woman. OK, the pitchign change was just too much for her. She's gone. I miss her already. Seriously, you can't blame her. When Dan Conway is on deck, you really don't need to stick around. No offense to Mr. Conway, but it's not like he has a locker reserved for him at Great American. Oh yeah, bases full, Norris Hopper up. Norris Hopper goes down swinging.

Top 9: Corey's keeping me up to date on the Ole Miss-Auburn game. If the Rebels win and Alabama beats Mississippi State, Andy Kennedy's squad wins the SEC West. They were picked last in the preseason. Great coaching job by a great coach and great guy. Shackelford in for the Reds to close it out. The Reds' 25 hits are the most in a spring training game by any team since Florida had 26 on March 7, 2006. I think it was all about CC. We need to get her a season pass to the press box at Great American. There's an open seat right next to me. No. 89 is batting for the Twins. Viva la spring training! Seriously, No. 89 (Brad King). No.89 walked. I want this game over so I can comb the streets of Sarasota for CC. Nice play by Votto at 1st, one out to go. And no, I don't have a camera on my phone. Liner to Janish. 14-1. 25 hits. 3 hours, 4 minutes. 1 broken heart. Celebrate good times, c'mon...