April 3, 2008
12:35 PM
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Thursday's (POLITICALLY INCORRECT NAME ALERT) Businessman's Special (There. I said it.) is more than the rubber game between the Reds and Arizona. It marks the regular season big-league debut for a Reds phenom. His mound opponent was recently diagnosed with cancer, but is still making his scheduled start before treatment begins. If the rain holds off long enough to get the game in, it promises to be an interesting day at Great American.
Probable Starters
ARI: RHP Doug Davis
2007: 13-12, 4.25 ERA
Career vs. CIN: 14 GS, 6-2, 3.40 ERA
@ GABP: 7 GS, 4-1, 3.26 ERA
DAVIS OWNS...
LF Adam Dunn (6-32, .188 BA, 9 SO, 2 HR, 2 RBI)
RF Ken Griffey Jr. (5-26, .192 BA, 1 HR, 6 SO)
3B Edwin Encarnacion (1-13, .077 BA)
UTIL Ryan Freel (1-21, .048 BA, 8 SO)
Better hope Freel doesn't get a spot start anywhere.
DAVIS IS OWNED BY...
1B Scott Hatteberg (6-18, .333 BA, 1 HR, 4 RBI)
2B Brandon Phillips (7-15, .467 BA)
If I were a cynic I would say Davis is being forced to start because of his past success against the Reds. A former Brewer (2003-06), Davis has tons of comparables with the Reds of that era, mostly tilted considerably in Davis' favor. It will be difficult not to pull for Davis somewhat just knowing his story (diagnosed with thyroid cancer during spring training, leaving the team soon to start treatment but making this start) but it unfortunately will be the Reds job to beat him. Here's all my hopes for a speedy recovery in the future.
CIN: RHP Johnny Cueto
Major League Debut
After a mostly-scintillating spring, the Reds sent rookie phenom Johnny Cueto to the mound for the final game of the series. A non-roster invitee to camp, Cueto dazzled to the point of forcing the Reds' hand coming into the season. Into the rotation he goes, and the story of his rookie year is one of the most interesting coming into 2008. It all begins tomorrow.
REDS TAKE MOMENTUM INTO SERIES FINALE
It will be a short night for the Reds, who picked up their first win of 2008 Wednesday night in a 6-5 thriller over the Diamondbacks.
PLAYING FROM BEHIND
The Reds haven't spent much time on the "Smiling Side of the Scoreboard" so far this season. Cincinnati trailed the entire Opening Day game Monday, then only led after the fourth before immediately relinquishing the lead in the fifth Wednesday. They would not lead again until Edwin Encarnacion's walkoff homer gave them the lead for good.
BIG DAY FOR CUETO
Thursday marks the big-league debut for Cincinnati prospect Johnny Cueto. Last year saw the Reds bring up three rookies for starts in their big-league debuts:
RHP Homer Bailey (6/8 W vs. CLE, 5 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 SO, 4 BB)
LHP Phil Dumatrait (8/2 L @WAS, 3 1/3 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 SO, 3 BB)
RHP Tom Shearn (8/26 W vs. FLA, 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
4/4 Philadelphia 7:10
4/5 Philadelphia 1:10
4/6 Philadelphia 1:15
4/7 Philadelphia 12:35
4/8 @ Milwaukee 5:05
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