Homer's debut

Homer Bailey's debut was nothing to write a huge blog entry about, but I did. Bailey went two innings and allowed three runs on three hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday. He walked one and struck out one.

Update on the game: Reds lead 10-3 in the eighth. They are about to go 4-0 (5-0 if you count the "B" game). Rheal Cormier, Brad Salmon Jon Coutlangus, Todd Coffey, Calvin Medlock all have pitched a scoreless inning. The Pirate pitching has not be so good. The Senator Allan Simpson got a big oviation for finally throwing a strike after nine straight balls).

Now, back to Bailey:

Reds TV analyst Chris Welsh was in the stands behind home plate for the Bailey Show.

"He looked good," Welsh said. "I don't care if gave up three runs. He's got a great delivery. You just can't get the ball up."


Bailey on Bailey: "It wasn't too bad. The same thing I did the last time. I was rushing the fastball from the stretch. You can kind expect that early on. The breaking stuff I was pleased with. Throw some good changeups. The thing I heard most about last year was improved. First game, guys."

“I didn’t think the squared the ball up real hard. They were going the opposite way. They’re going to be late on a fastball this early. It’s part of it.”


Any different being in a big league game? “Home to pitcher’s mound is still 60 feet.”

Does he have the luxury of working on stuff? "It’s a little bit of both. I definitely working on stuff but I’m trying to show what I have. Earlier on, I was working on the breaking stuff. There’s always work to be done. But you’ve got to go out there and compete.”


He was unfazed, obviously, by the outing.


The wind is not blowing out like it was Thursday when eight home runs were hit.

The Pirates were throwing Shawn Chacon. It's 71 degrees.

The Reds were up 2-0 when Bailey took the mound.

Bubba Crosby walked to start the game. Bubba's playing a twinbill. He started the "B" game as well. Scott Hatteberg just went deep in the first inning for second straight day. Reds, 2-0.

Brandon Phillips flied out to left. Josh Hamilton grounded out. By the way, he's struck out only one in 13 at-bats. David Ross struck out to end the inning.

Pitch-by-pitch coverage of Bailey's outing:

First up: Chris Duffy. Called strike. Ball low. Fastball on the outside corner. 1-2. Groundball to shortstop Juan Castro. Castro makes a nice play to get him.

Don Kelly's up (this is A lineup for the Pirates). Foul ball. Routine grounded to Brandon Phillips at second.

Nate McLouth falls behind 0-2. Pops out to center. 1-2-3. Seven pitches, by my count.

Chris Denorfia singles with two outs in the second. Bailey takes a third strike. Never claimed he could hit.

Adam LaRoche up for the Bucs. Fastball outside. 2-0. Shot just foul. Ball high. 3-1. Check swing. Ball four.

Jose Baustista takes a strike. Foul ball. Fastball high. Foul back. Base hit to right on a change-up.

Jose Matos up. Ball 1. David Ross goes to the mound. Ball 2. Flyout to right. LaRoche advances to third.

Jose Hernandez up. Ball 1. Swing through a change-up. Ball, 2-1. Foul ball. Foul back. Ball inside. Full count. Foul ball. Shot into the right-field corner for a double, scores two.

And Bailey's at 17 pitches in the inning.

Einar Diaz falls behind on 0-2, then drops a single into right field. Hernandez holds.

Chacon's up and bunting. Fouls one back. Takes a strike. Hernandez scores on a wild pitch. Ball 2. Called Strike 3. Two outs.

Another wild pitch. Duffy grounds out to end the inning.

Two innings, three hits, three runs.

Rheal Cormier takes over in the third.