Now through April 30, fans can vote on reds.com to decide which Reds pitcher will be featured with a 2009 bobblehead. The Fans Choice Bobblehead will be given to the first 30,000 fans on Saturday, July 18 and is part of a collectible set of four bobbleheads that fit together to form a special ballpark background. The three other bobbleheads in the series are Joey Votto (May 9), Jay Bruce (July 4) and Brandon Phillips (Aug. 15).

 

Vote now at www.reds.com/fanschoice.

-JM

Major League Baseball and the Cincinnati Reds announced today the three MLB Beacon Award Recipients at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.  The MLB Beacon Awards recognize individuals whose lives are emblematic of the spirit of the civil rights movement.  Past award winners include Vera Clemente, Spike Lee, Buck O’Neil, Ruby Dee and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and National Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson. 

The 2009 MLB Beacon Awards will be presented to Bill Cosby, Hank Aaron and Muhammad Ali. 

The recipients will be honored on June 20th at the Duke Energy Convention Center during the MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon, to be held the afternoon of the 2009 MLB Civil Rights Game between the Reds and Chicago White Sox.

In attendance at today’s press conference were former Negro Leagues players, current MLB personnel and Reds representatives.  Here are some photos from today’s event.

Reds president and chief executive officer Bob Castellini made the historic announcement for Cincinnati to host the MLB Civil Rights Game for the next two years.

Fox Sports Ohio’s George Grande met up with former Reds players Chuck Harmon and Frank Robinson during today’s announcement.

Everyone in attendance gathered for a group photo. Seated left to right are Negro Leagues players Don Johnson, Leo Cardenas, Tom Turner, Ron Warren and Chuck Harmon. Standing left to right are Negro Leagues player Charlie Davis, Reds manager Dusty Baker, Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, MLB’s Jimmie Lee Solomon and Reds president and chief executive officer Bob Castellini.

-JM

Gamenotes 4-6-09 vs NYM Opening Day.pdf

METS

Reyes 6
Murphy 7
Wright 5
Delgado 3
Beltran 8
Church 9
Schneider 2
Castillo 4
Santana 1

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REDS

Hairston 7
McDonald 8
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Bruce 9
Encarnacion 5
Hernandez 2
Gonzalez 6
Harang 1

Just a few last minute things to report before Opening Day tomorrow…

TRANSACTIONS: Today the Reds optioned to Louisville IF Adam Rosales, IF/OF/C Wilkin Castillo, RHP Homer Bailey and RHP Bill Bray; reassigned to minor league camp OF Jonny Gomes.

Micah Owings pitched today in a minor league game in Sarasota. He will pitch Thursday vs the Mets. Arroyo will pitch Sunday vs Pit.

Owings’ line: 5ip, 5h, 1er, 0bb, 2k, 73 pitches

-JM

For today’s exhibition game in Dayton, we couldn’t have asked for a better day.  At first pitch, the temperature was 54 degress without a cloud in the sky.  We can only hope for something close to that for Opening Day.  For now, enjoy these pictures from Fifth Third Field in Dayton, OH.

Reds infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. stopped to sign some autographs after arriving at the ballpark in Dayton.

The field is in great shape and this ballpark is truly a beautiful facility.

Directing traffic for a team photo is always a chore.

The finished product: The 2009 Reds Futures Team.

Dragons’ GM Gary Mayse and Reds first baseman Joey Votto address the local media before the game.

Reds manager Dusty Baker and Reds Hall of Famer Eric Davis discuss strategy during batting practice.

Assistant GM Bob Miller and President of Baseball Operations/GM Walt Jocketty discuss the Opening Day roster.  Better get to work, it’s due at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.

We’ve got a packed house at Fifth Third Field and the fans are excited to see their former Dragons favorites.

-JM

Gamenotes 4-4-09 at Dayton.pdf

TODAY’S GAME: Is the Reds’ spring training finale and the second of 2 exhibitions scheduled against their talented minor league Futures team…they squared off last night at Class AA Carolina’s beautiful Five County Stadium in Zebulon, North Carolina…the minor leaguers won, 12-4…the Reds finished the Florida portion of their spring training schedule with a 13-20 record.

TODAY’S TIDBITS: Reds Hall of Famer Eric Davis will throw out the ceremonial first pitch…the Reds Hall of Fame will have a traveling display at Fifth Third Field…gospel recording artist Shawanda Smith will sing the National Anthem…Reds President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini will address the crowd.

RHP Johnny Cueto vs RHP Jordan Smith

The Reds have arrived at Zebulon, North Carolina’s Five County Stadium, home of the Carolina Mudcats.  The Class AA affiliate is playing host to an exhibition in which the Reds are taking on the best of the organization’s minor league system.  Another Futures game will take place tomorrow at Dayton’s Fifth Third Field.

Reds manager Dusty Baker took some time to chat with the local media.

Reds pitcher Bill Bray is seen here signing autographs for fans of all ages.

Reds President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini met with a few Reds fans at the ballpark.  I believe that they have decided on who will make the 25-man roster.  The rest of us will have to wait.

What would minor league baseball be without the world’s largest motorized shopping cart?

More from Dayton tomorrow…

-JM

The Reds have officially left Sarasota spring training for the final time.  After 12 years at Ed Smith Stadium, the Reds compiled a 99-85-2 spring training record.

Shown here are the players and Reds traveling party boarding the bus from Sarasota for the final time.  So long, Sarasota.

-JM 

Gamenotes 4-3-09 at Carolina.pdf

TONIGHT’S GAME: Is the first of 2 spring training exhibitions the Reds will play against their talented minor league Futures team…they will square off again tomorrow afternoon at their Class A Dayton affiliate’s Fifth Third Field…the Reds finished the Florida portion of their spring schedule with a 13-20 record.

TONIGHT’S TIDBITS: Tonight’s National Anthem will be performed by Cinnamon Davis…first pitches will be thrown by Jacob Erickson of presenting sponsor Assurant Health and Clay Council, a local coach who was former Red Josh Hamilton’s batting practice pitcher during the 2008 All-Star Game Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium.

RHP Bronson Arroyo vs RHP Dallas Buck

Gamenotes 4-2-09 vs Pit.pdf

FINAL GAME IN SARASOTA: Today’s game is the Reds’ final spring training exhibition at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium. Next year the team will move to Goodyear, Arizona.

QUEST FOR 100: The Reds record in 185 games at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium is 99-84-2.

PIRATES

Morgan 8
Vazquez 4
Doumit 2
Hinske 3
Monroe 7
Moss DH
LaRoche, An 5
Cruz 6
Broadway 9

Pitcher TBA

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REDS

Taveras 8
Dickerson 7
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Bruce 9
Encarnacion 5
Hernandez 2
Hairston 6
Volquez 1