 extreme excitement, but right now I'm not too concerned about that.
Checking the news now, gonna hop in the shower and pick the ladyfriend up at 7:00 and hit the road.
Reds win 7-3.
Omalleys here we come,,22nd straight opening day,,need them peanuts at omalleys,,,,GO REDS!!!!!!
We're leaving in a few! Woo Hoo!
To those of you going to the festivities - have fun, and be careful. The weather is gonna be perfect for baseball.
http://images.ibsys.com/2005/0402/4340594_80X60.jpg (http://www.channelcincinnati.com/sports/4342204/detail.html)The big day is here, and News 5 will have special three-hour coverage of the parade and festivities beginning at 10 a.m. EDT. If you can't watch it on TV, watch it here on our livestream. We'll post a link on our front page at 9:55. Click on the headline for details about the game and the parade.
God Bless Opening Day. Could there be better weather???
Well, Jimenez is a swith hitter.
But, unless you want some poorer hitters separating the LH hitters, what choice is there?
Griffey, Casey, Dunn and Kearns have to hit 2-5 (perhaps 3-6), so you will have a LH group somewhere for sure. If you could suggest a better balance with our best hitters still getting the most AB's I'd like to consider it.
OK, I'm skipping out of work early...2pm here we come.
Can't wait. Skipping out of work plenty early.
For those of you lucky enough to be able to go, have a great time.
These next three hours could be torture...
In the most sincerest of fashions... GO REDS!
OK, opening day, time to get the regular season complaining under way...
I dont like AD in the 5 hole either, but its a losing battle with Miley....
I'm still kinda in disbelief that they signed Rich Aurelia, much less the fact he is the starting SS. I guess he just must be a ball player's ball player or some other cliche we will here about....
I have a pretty cool boss. He was out last week. I updated him this morning, and put together a tentative plan for this week. He looked at me and said, "What are you still doing here? Isn't there some sort of baseball game on today?"
I just picked up a Subway sub and made some fresh iced tea! I'm all set!
I can't find the parade on TV though!
The parade came on. I think it was delayed with Pope coverage.
I'm heading down to the park in a few minutes. I'm getting a late start; here's hoping I find parking somewhere!
I wanted to see Chip!
I can't wait. I am leaving work in a few minutes to head home to watch the game.
Tried to mention this on Saturday's thread about Griffey at # 2, the thread that got locked.
One advantage occurs if, but only if, there is a runner on 1B ahead of Junior and less than 2 outs, say if Jiminez walks, singles, etc...
Then the defense may not shift against KGJ, but instead play for the DP; that may prompt some of Griff's hard grounders to make it through the right side.
If they do shift, the DP becomes more difficult with the 3B guy making the "pivot", or the out-of-position SS taking the feed from an unfamiliar and awkward angle.
Sort of beats the defense by simply hitting Jr. 2nd.
Further, not today perhaps, but when 100%, Griffey was not a base-clogger and may well still go 1st to 3rd better than several other #2 slot options.
Also, batting 2nd will get him more plate appearances over the long haul.
It's still open. I think there were duplicate threads, so the second one was closed.
Is there a reason this would be isolated to having Jimenez on ahead of Griffey? Couldn't that be said if any batter is on first in front of him regardless of lineup position?
Yeah, he's not the same baserunner he used to be. Ever since his legs started to go, he's been far less adept at taking those extra bases. Now, after an unprecidented hammy injury, I don't question the motor but I do question the wheels. I'd also note that Junior is going to have to deal with impact to that hammy as well because, with Casey hitting behind him, I expect a lot of attempts to break up DP's.
It would be better to get either Dunn or Kearns those additional PA's.
Just got home from work 5.45 here :) I'll be watching this game like every other game this season ON MY OWN :( No one understands over here.
I watch EPL games on Sunday instead of American Football.
I assume via MLB.TV internet?
What type of connection do you have all over there?
When I was at Mildenhall, I had dialup with a local company. If I remember correctly, I had to pay 3p per minute for peak hours and 1p per minute during non-peak hours just for the local calls.
Our best bets for RH hitters in that #2 hole (when Jimenez is facing a RH pitcher) would be either Kearns or Randa *ducks*.
I'd like to see an expiriment of Jimenez-Dunn-Kearns-Griffey-Casey-Randa at 1-6. I'm surprised no one has talked up Casey for the 2 hole also.
Main point is, I disagree with Junior in the 2 hole. Not enough contact skills to hit there.
Here's something to chew on... Series Notes.
Last season, the Mets finished 71-91 and in fourth place in the NL East. That led to Art Howe's departure and the hiring of Willie Randolph, who is on the job as a major league manager for the first time.
Mets general manager Omar Minaya opened the wallet of team owner Fred Wilpon and signed Martinez to a four-year, $53 million contract. Minaya then ironed out a seven-year, $119 million pact with All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran.
Martinez comes over from the World Series champion Boston Red Sox. The three- time Cy Young Award winner went 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA last season. The 33-year- old had pitched the last seven years for Boston, going 117-37 with the Red Sox, and last season helped the team to their first World Series title since 1918. Unlike the Red Sox, the Mets have not had a winning season since 2001 and last won a division title in 1988.
Mike Piazza is back behind the plate for the Mets, while 2001 Gold Glove winner Doug Mientkiewicz is at first base. Jose Reyes and Kaz Matsui switched positions up the middle of the infield, with Reyes now at shortstop and Matsui at second base. The centerpiece for the Mets though will be Beltran, who hit.267 last year with 38 homers, 104 RBI, 42 steals, and dominated the playoffs, helping Houston to its first ever postseason series triumph.
The Mets have won three of their last four season openers.
The Reds enter the season and this three-game series with new hope, as Ken Griffey Jr. and Austin Kearns are healthy again. Paul Wilson will get the start today for Cincinnati. Griffey hasn't played a full season since joining the Reds in 2000, and his outfield counterpart has been in only 146 games over the last two years. Griffey had 20 homers and 60 RBI last year, but tore his hamstring and he's played in only 206 contests over the last three seasons.
The Reds finished 76-86 last season, in fourth place in the NL Central. They were decimated with injuries and spent money in the offseason to upgrade their pitching, signing Eric Milton and trading for Ortiz. They also inked third baseman Joe Randa. The Reds haven't had a winning record since 2000. The big difference in the lineup this year will be at shortstop, as Barry Larkin has retired and is replaced by Rich Aurilia.
Wilson went 11-6 with a 4.36 ERA in 29 starts last season. The righthander, who starts his third season in Cincinnati, is 1-1 in four career games (3 starts) against the Mets.
The Reds have lost five of their last six season openers, not including the 2000 game against the Brewers, which was tied before being suspended.
Griffey is 0-for-12 lifetime against Martinez.
If only we had a two-time MVP hitting third behind him. But, hey Case isn't that bad, either.
I'm sad that Lopez isn't staring at SS.
I'm glad that Randa isn't hitting in the 2 hole.
KG batting 2nd. wow.
Dunn should be batting 4th. But compared with other potential lineup sins, not bad.
Now let's get this game started and see how long it takes Freel to take DJ's job at 2nd base.
My over/under on Aurelia starting is 24 games.
yeah, who needs a steady, dependable SS??
are you