Monday, March 3, 2008

Grapefruit League Tour 2008: Reds vs. Blue Jays



As I did earlier this week, over the bridge I went yet again in an attempt to watch my first spring game of the year. On Sunday fortunately it didn't rain. And to make anyone living in normal winter climates jealous, it was a balmy 77 degrees with a slight breeze and not a cloud in the sky. But enough about weather.

Today's journey was to Dunedin, Florida, about an hour from my apartment and spring home to the Toronto Blue Jays. Although I saw the Reds last year in Sarasota, this is the first time I have ever seen the Blue Jays in action. In all honesty, I am actually somewhat Blue Jay-stupid, as during the game I had to ask a Jays fan who was in their starting rotation besides Roy Holladay and A.J. Burnett. I can't help it, I'm from "the states", and the most geographically southern one at that.

Speaking of Burnett, however, the former Mets prospect and former tattooed wild child started today's contest opposite Cincinnati's (nee Boston's) baseball rock hero Bronson Arroyo. So it was metalhead's pitcher's duel for the ages in scenic, serene Dunedin, Florida.

And it wasn't just a battle of rockin' pitchers, either. Today's match-up featured a duel of the scrappy overachieving (read: white) infielders, David Eckstein and Ryan Freel, and a slobberknocker of former iconic Marlins back-up catchers: Paul Bako of the Reds and Baseball Prospectus's Practically Perfect Backup Catcher, Gregg Zaun of the Blue Jays.

(Side note: has it really been over 10 years since Gregg Zaun did the movie review on ESPN? The year was 1997. I was in the military and Zaun was playing for the Marlins watching movies in my parents' town [where the Marlins used to train]. If I wasn't a thousand miles away and was at home living with my folks, I probably would have hunted Zaun down and tried to catch a flick with him. And I would probably still have a restraining order on me. Moving on ...)

As per tradition, I arrived late to the game. When I finally got to my seat, the Blue Jays were batting in the bottom of the 1st. This was the first time I noticed the helmet the base coaches are wearing this year, with good reason of course. The base line umpires, however, who stand only feet away, remain unprotected. Things that make you go hmmmm.

In the bottom of the second I not only had a chance to see Ryan Freel hit, but also Reds uber-prospect Jay Bruce. Bruce did not disappoint, lining a 2-run double off the left-center wall. But back to Freel for a moment: I wonder if Farney had better luck scoring some action this pre-season?

Random thought of the day (and something I might just do a little research on): are fans less likely to go gallivanting across Florida or Arizona to see spring games with gas prices as high as they are? For many people it is a rite of passage to travel across the state seeing cheap baseball. But what happens when it becomes more expensive to travel?

Back to the game: did you know the Reds have both Kent Mercker and Mike Stanton? If only they brought back some other ancient Braves. Who's for a Derek Lilliquist sighting? Not to be outdone, the Blue Jays countered with Lance Carter and Shawn Camp, both of whom were last seen doing poor impersonations of relief pitchers in the Tampa Bay bullpen.

Ok, well I have written too much and said too little. To sum up, the final score was 8-4 Blue Jays. And I must say, it's good to have baseball back.