A few hours before Friday’s game against Pittsburgh, Reds manager Dusty Baker finally got to fill out a lineup card with the starting combination he hopes to be using for the bulk of the 2009 season.
With right-hander Jeff Karstens starting for the Pirates, Cincinnati had Willy Taveras leading off and playing center field and left fielder Chris Dickerson batting second.
That’s the pairing Baker expects will help jumpstart the Reds’ offense and solidify the defense.
Taveras’ illness kept him sidelined for the first two games, while the left-handed-hitting Dickerson didn’t start Thursday against New York left-hander Oliver Perez.
“It wouldn’t be new if people were healthy and fresh, but we haven’t had it like that,” Baker said about the lineup.
Dickerson, who celebrated his 27th birthday Friday, batted .286 against left-handed pitchers and .309 against right-handers in 31 games last season, which suggests he could start against left-handers.
“He’ll start some against left-handers,” Baker said. “It depends on the lefty.”
Pirates-Reds Postponed: Manager Dusty Baker probably won’t get to use his projected lineup until Sunday after Friday’s game was postponed because of rain. The Pirates elected to skip right-hander Jeff Karstens and will stick with left-hander Paul Maholm as Saturday’s starter. Baker will push Friday’s scheduled starter, right-hander Johnny Cueto, to Saturday and move Saturday’s scheduled starter, right-hander Micah Owings, to the bullpen until at least Wednesday at Milwaukee. Friday’s game has not yet been rescheduled.
Notes, Quotes
• RHP Mike Lincoln celebrated a birthday Friday. He turned 34.
• During a pre-game meeting Friday, players and coaches received information on how to make tax-deductible contributions to the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT) to help pay the substantial medical expenses of Reds minor-league pitcher Pedro Viola’s mother, who faces a series of expensive operations.
• Non-roster OF Jonny Gomes, reassigned to Class AAA Louisville in perhaps the most surprising of the Reds’ last moves on Sunday, accepted the assignment on Wednesday. Gomes was expected to make the team based on his major league experience and a solid spring performance, which included 12 RBIs—tied for second on the team—and a team-leading four home runs.
• Manager Dusty Baker, in his third managerial job, entered the season 34th on the all-time wins list at 1,236, three behind Bill Rigney for 33rd.
By The Numbers: 3—Reds regulars who hit .300 or better this spring (LF Chris Dickerson, .323; 1B Joey Votto, .314; RF Jay Bruce, .300).
Quote To Note: “This is a tough day when you make the final cuts, probably the toughest day of the year for me.”—Manager Dusty Baker, on April 5.
Player News:
• OF Jerry Hairston Jr. was available Friday, two nights after leaving Wednesday’s game because of a tight lower left leg, the result of fouling two balls off of his shin.
• RHP Bronson Arroyo had no problems with the carpal tunnel syndrome that bothered him during spring training in his start Thursday against the Mets. The problem, which cost him spring training work and prompted the team to give him a cortisone shot, led to him getting tired more quickly than usual, but he still got the victory.
• RHP David Weathers and LHP Arthur Rhodes teamed up to retire all 13 batters they faced in a combined five relief appearances over Cincinnati’s first three games.
Medical Watch:
CF Willy Taveras (flu) missed the season opener. He returned to action April 8 as a pinch hitter, and he started April 9.
OF Jerry Hairston Jr. (left leg tightness) left the April 8 game, and he didn’t play April 9. He is day-to-day.