Gamenotes 3-21-09 vs Pit.pdf

FOR THE SAKE OF COMPARISON: Reds baserunners have 25 stolen bases through 21 Grapefruit League games this spring (10cs)…last season through 21 spring games, the Reds had swiped 13 bases (8cs)…Reds pitchers this spring have allowed 105er over 183ip (5.16) compared to 130er over 181.2ip (6.44) at this point last spring…Reds batters have belted 21 homers this spring compared to 14 homers through 21g last spring.

PIRATES

Morgan 7
Sanchez 4
McLouth 8
Doumit 2
LaRoche 3
Hinske 9
Vazquez 5
Wilson 6
Maholm 1

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REDS

Taveras 8
Gonzalez 6
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Bruce 9
Encarnacion 5
Dickerson 7
Hanigan 2
Bailey 1

The line at Fountain Square for Opening Day tickets has grown a bit since yesterday and nobody blew away with last night’s high winds.  The forecast calls for higher temperatures this weekend, so expect a larger crowd by tomorrow’s 9:00 a.m. sale.

John Morrell grilled up some hot dogs for everyone waiting in line.  On the video board is the Reds/Astros game on Fox Sports Ohio with college basketball in the corner with the picture-in-picture feature.

Gapper + Girl Scout cookies = empty boxes. 

-JM

Gamenotes 3-20-09 at Hou.pdf

Travel Roster 3-20-09 at Hou.pdf

TRANSACTION: Following last night’s game the Reds optioned to Class AAA Louisville RHP Carlos Fisher and C Craig Tatum…the Reds currently have 42 players in camp.

REDS

Hopper 8
Keppinger 4
Nix 9
Gomes 3
Jones 7
Rosales 5
Janish 6
Hanigan 2
Cueto 1

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ASTROS

Matsui 4
Erstad 8
Berkman 3
Lee 7
Tejada 6
Blum 5
Abercrombie 9
Quintero 2
Ortiz 1

LaRosa’s was kind enough to provide lunch for those waiting in line for Opening Day tickets at Fountain Square.  It looks like Rosie, Mr. Redlegs and Gapper are working up quite an appetite.

First in line for Opening Day tickets are Sherry Strunk (left) and daughter Kristin (right) from Cincinnati.  They are Reds season ticket holders and veterans to the Opening Day ticket scene.  They’ve lined up for years at the ballpark for Reds tickets.

How do those in line stay entertained?  The giant Fountain Square video board (with full audio) will be showing the televised Reds game at 7:00 p.m. tonight against the Boston Red Sox.  Also on the schedule, the Reds/Astros game tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. and some college basketball to fill the voids.

Stay tuned for more Opening Day news, only 17 more days!

-JM

Gamenotes 3-19-09 vs Bos.pdf

TODAY’S GAME: Is the third of the Reds’ 4 spring training games vs the Red Sox…they meet again here at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium on Wed, 3/25 (1:05)…on 2/27 the Red Sox beat the Reds 16-5 at Ft. Myers…on 3/3 the Reds beat Boston 9-8 at Ft. Myers.

YESTERDAY’S MINOR LEAGUE: RHP Micah Owings in a minor league game vs Tampa Bay Rays went 4.1ip, 9h, 7r, 6er, 5k, 1hb (71TP, 51K)…at the plate he went 1-2 with a solo homer…Alex Gonzalez went 1-4, with double (2r, 1bb, 2k)…Norris Hopper went 2-5 with a solo homer and a double (2r, 2k).

ON THE HILL: Relievers available in the Reds bullpen today are RHP Francisco Cordero, LHP Aaron Fultz, RHP Jeff Kennard, RHP Mike Lincoln, RHP Josh Roenicke and RHP David Weathers.

RED SOX

Baldelli 8
Lowrie 6
Wilkerson 3
Bailey 9
Carter 7
Green 4
Chavez 5
Brown 2
Lester 1

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REDS

Taveras 8
Gonzalez 6
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Bruce 9
Encarnacion 5
Dickerson 7
Tatum 2
Arroyo 1

The Cincinnati Reds and Fountain Square have announced that 2,000 tickets for the April 6 Opening Day game will go on sale Saturday, March 21 at 9 a.m.

The Opening Day tickets include 1,000 “Standing Room Only” and 1,000 “View Level” tickets to the season opener vs. the New York Mets.

Ticket prices are $22 for Standing Room Only and $29 for View Level.

There is a limit of six tickets per person. Cash and major credit cards will be accepted.

Fans interested in forming a line for the tickets can start at 9 a.m. on Thursday. Fountain Square Management Group will provide overnight security.

These tickets are only available on Fountain Square, not at the ballpark ticket windows.

Reds mascots will make appearances on Fountain Square along with Reds partners and sponsors.

The Fountain Square video board will show two Reds spring training games live on FOX Sports Ohio from Sarasota:

? Thursday, March 19 – Reds vs. Red Sox at 7 p.m.

? Friday, March 20 – Reds vs. Astros at 1 p.m.

From Thursday through Saturday morning, Reds-themed entertainment will be shown on Fountain Square’s video board in addition to selected NCAA basketball games.

This is the second year in a row that the Reds have offered Opening Day tickets to fans on Fountain Square. Last year’s tickets sold out in about one hour.

Consider this my bid for endorsements.  I hope executives from these companies are reading… 

The hours required to work in media relations are often very demanding, especially during the season.  The downtown location of Great American Ball Park makes it easy to get food on the go and bring it back to the ballpark.  All the places listed below are within walking distance of the ballpark and part of my regular rotation. 

SUBWAY
Usual Order: Footlong ham and cheese on wheat or honey oat.  Toasted, American cheese, lettuce and light mayo.  Diet Coke and chips. 
Subway is the closest option for food to GABP.  In addition to proximity, Subway is also the healthiest option on the list.  The smart food options make it acceptable for me to eat there 2-3 times a week.

WENDY’S
Usual Order: Value menu mix and match.  I’ll usually have some mix of cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches and fries.  And again, one of my favorite beverages on the planet, Diet Coke.
You can find me enjoying square burgers about once a week.

JIMMY JOHN’S
Usual Order: #1 (ham and provolone), no tomato, skinny chips and DC (addict-speak for Diet Coke).
Jimmy John’s is an old college favorite.  Their promise, “subs so fast, you’ll freak.”  And I do every time.  I’ll have JJ’s about once every week or so.  Subway’s proximity to the ballpark often makes it the favorite over Jimmy John’s.  It should also be noted that I have attended a Jimmy John’s restaurant with a John (John Steinmiller, Milwaukee Brewers media relations manager).  Surprisingly, you don’t eat for free when a Jimmy and a John show up together.

CHIPOTLE
Usual Order: Chicken burrito, chips, Diet Coke.
Chipotle is the furthest walk from GABP, but worth it.  I would walk across the desert if there was a Chipotle on the other side.  The Fountain Square location is always busy at lunchtime.  The wait is usually about 15 minutes, but again, worth it.  You can find me in line about 2-3 times a week.  Worth it.

Every once in a great while, I’ll pack a lunch.  It is often much more time efficient for me to run out for a few minutes and bring something back.  Since moving to Cincinnati, I have not yet jumped on the Skyline Chili wagon.  However, LaRosa’s and Montgomery Inn are a few of my local favorites.  I even have a bottle of Montgomery Inn sauce in my refrigerator. 

While on the subject, let me thank the good people at the Coca-Cola company.  Coke is now the exclusive provider of soft drinks at GABP.  With the advent of Diet Coke to the press box, expect stock prices to soar. 

While I am propositioning for endorsements, let me mention Nike and Mercedes Benz.  They produce fine products as well.

-JM

Gamenotes 3-18-09 at TB.pdf

Travel Roster 3-18-09 at TB.pdf

ON THE HILL: Relievers available in the Reds bullpen today are LHP Arthur Rhodes, RHP Jared Burton, LHP Bill Bray, RHP Carlos Fisher, LHP Ron Flores, LHP Aaron Fultz, LHP Daniel Ray Herrera, RHP Jeff Kennard and LHP Pedro Viola…also today RHP Micah Owings will pitch in a Reds minor league game.

REDS

Taveras 8
Dickerson 7
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Bruce 9
Encarnacion 5
Jones DH
Keppinger 6
Hanigan 2

Volquez RHP

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RAYS

Bartlett 6
Crawford 7
Aybar 4
Pena 3
Burrell DH
Gross 9
Kapler 8
Ensberg 5
Hernandez 2

Hammel RHP

Reds fans can bid now on reds.com for seats in the new Champions Club Boxes on Opening Day.

The Champion Club Boxes feature an outdoor bar area and in-seat service, in addition to access to the new all-inclusive FOX Sports Ohio Champions Club and its unlimited food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Packages of four, six and eight tickets are available, with auctions ending either Friday, March 20, at noon ET or Friday, March 27, at noon ET.

Link to auction page: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/ticketing/clubbox_auction.jsp

The FOX Sports Ohio Champions Club (formerly known as the FSN Ohio Club 4192) is located on the first base side of GABP.

The 2009 Opening Day game is Monday, April 6 vs the New York Mets. First pitch is 1:10 p.m.

All proceeds from the Champions Club Box auctions will benefit the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

All winning bids will receive annual memberships to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

Gamenotes 3-17-09 at Phi.pdf

Travel Roster 3-17-09 at Phi.pdf

TRANSACTIONS: Today the Reds optioned to Class AAA Louisville RHP Sam LeCure, LHP Matt Maloney and RHP Robert Manuel; optioned to Class AA Carolina 3B Juan Francisco; reassigned to minor league camp RHP James Avery, IF/OF Wes Bankston, 1B Kevin Barker, IF Luis Bolivar, LHP Ben Jukich, C Chris Kroski, LHP Adam Pettyjohn and RHP Jordan Smith…44 players remain in camp.

REDS

Taveras 8
Dickerson 7
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Bruce 9
Encarnacion 5
Gonzalez 6
Hanigan 2
Harang 1

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PHILLIES

Utley 4
Bruntlett 6
Ibanez 7
Howard 3
Stairs 9
Feliz 5
Mayberry 8
Ruiz 2
Myers 1