Hilarious. Another year where all we hear about in Spring Training is fundamentals and defense and making the routine play and pitching to contact... and then the team heads north from Sarasota and NONE of that happens. The Reds can't afford to lose games they should win -- and tonight certainly qualifies. When your ace falls behind early but is then staked to a two-run lead, you're supposed to win. But not when you boot the ball around, get picked off on a double steal, and make mistakes in the heart of the plate to the opposing team's most dangerous hitters. That 9th inning rally may have softened the blow just a bit on the surface, but not for me.
If this team doesn't play defense and doesn't pitch, they'll win 65 games. Tops.
One more note: Volquez was just awful tonight. He had no command of his change-up and still doesn't have a plus breaking ball, which terrifyingly turns him into a one-pitch pitcher. And when he has no command of either his two-seamer of four-seamer like he did tonight, the other team will quite simply tee off on him. If you don't believe me, just ask Carlos Delgado.
Day game tomorrow... let's hope Arroyo is up to the challenge despite his bum wrist. Famed Reds killer Oliver Perez goes for the Mets.
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