Our heroes opened the season with a tough loss to the Phillies, who used to be the Nationals, 8-7 at Bob Sorenson Field in Ocoee. The Old Reds battled back from a couple of deficits, and cam within an eyelash of tying the game in the 9th, but some old bastard got tagged out at the plate with what would have been the tying run, after the Phils dropped what should have been a game-ending pop. 

Steve Haugh and Craig Feeney were nails on the mound, giving up only 3 earned runs on the day, and Feeney came within an eyelash of making a highlight reel catch of the three run double that scored the earned runs, or the outcome surely would have been different.

Offensively, Don Payan and Craig Feeney each launched bombs, both shots into the teeth of a strong cross wind. Payan said he crossed off one of the items on his bucket list with his blast, and added two solid singles to grab Player of the Game honors. Feeney had 2 hits of his own, Haugh launched a long double, Johnny Kovalick had an RBI single and caught a great game, and rookie Pat Compton had a knock and a pair of stolen bases and scored twice.

But the game-ending play was a microcosm of all that is frustratingly interesting about this game of baseball. With the tying runs on 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs, Kovalick popped up in the infield with what should have been the third out. With the old adage of being on 2nd ringing in the old timer ears, he took off for the plate at what he conveniently recalled as full speed. Was it? He's not even sure...in any event, the ball was dropped, but retrieved in plenty of time to throw him out at the plate, thwart the chance to elongate the game, and depriving wily vet Ken Davis of earning the talent. Was he hustling all the way? Could he have got back to 3rd? Would Davis have delivered? Did a 55 year old bastard with a bum wheel have any business even attempting such a play? We'll never know, and the game is in the books. More baseball angst to chew on, at least for another week.

We'll know that schedule in the next little while, I will be in touch!