Lineups

I just finished up my notebook for tommorow. The lead is on the lineup. My best guess (provided Jay Bruce doesn't win the center field job):

Freel/Hopper CF
Hatteberg/Votto 1B
Griffey RF
Phillips 2B
Dunn LF
Encarnacion 3B
Gonzalez SS
Ross/Valentin C

That's based on some things Dusty Baker said:

On who hits leadoff when Norris Hopper or Ryan Freel doesn't start: “I hope one or other would be in the game,” Baker said. “That’s my hope. I don’t know many teams that have three (leadoff guys).”

On the lineup in general: “It probably won’t be a whole lot different than last year. Without Josh Hamilton, it will be different.”

On who hits second: “It’s probably equally important who the second hitter’s going to be. That’s a big, big spot. It’s a smart spot, a contact spot, a move-the-ball-around spot, an unselfish spot. It’s probably one of the more spots in the lineup. It depends who’s playing, you don’t want it to be a power guy. Gonzalez, Keppinger, Hatteberg. You’d like a little more speed.”

On Brandon Phillips hitting clean up: “Brandon will probably hit third someday. But, right now, I need to him break up Junior and Dunn."

On lighter note, one of great things to watch this spring is Bruce taking good-natured guff from Adam Dunn.

Today, somne copies of Reds Report with Bruce on the cover were in the clubhouse. The headline is "The Next Big Thing." Dunn made Bruce sign four copies, including one for Baker. Bruce then had Bruce deliver it to Baker and tell him: "You know, I'm the next big thing."

Bruce takes it well.