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Bailey to make much-anticipated debut
Cincinnati (23-38) vs. Cleveland (36-22), 7:10 p.m. ET
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com



Three years of hype, anticipation and speculation have culminated into this.
Top prospect Homer Bailey will make his long-awaited Major League debut on Friday night for the Reds in the opener of a three-game Interleague series against the Indians at Great American Ball Park.

"I expect him to do well," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "I'm sure he's going to be excited. No matter where he'd start, there's going to be a lot of adrenaline pumping. It'll be an exciting time for him and his family -- and [for] us, too.

"A lot of us have been waiting for him to show up and pitch. We're looking forward to seeing how he does. He's going to get a chance more than one time. This is not a one-and-out."

The seventh overall selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Bailey was 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA, 24 walks and 51 strikeouts in 10 starts for Triple-A Louisville this season. The 21-year-old right-hander began accelerating quickly last season, splitting the year between Class A Sarasota and Double-A Chattanooga.

After he was in big league Spring Training as a non-roster player, Bailey started 2007 with Louisville.

"I could be playing in rookie ball or playing in the big leagues, and I'll be nervous before every game," Bailey said. "That's part of why we play, the anticipation. Leading up to it, I'll be more nervous than normal. Going up to an hour before my first pitch, I'll get into my normal routine [and] I'll forget all about it."

Bailey has drawn a significant challenge for game No. 1 of his Major League career. Cleveland, which took two of three against the Reds in a series at Jacobs Field last month, will come to town in first-place in the American League Central. The Reds own the worst record in the National League.

But the Indians will be without the services of the designated hitter in the NL ballpark. That likely means slugger Travis Hafner could be on the bench.

Cleveland is 4-5 all-time at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati, which snapped a four-game losing streak with Thursday's win over St. Louis, is returning home after a 4-5 road trip.



http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/arti...sp&c_id=cin

Are you ready for another BUTT KICKIN?!

This time in your park...!!

Homer is gonna pitch a complete game no hitter.

The only problem I can see is Bailey might be a little homer prone.

His fly ball to ground ball ratio isn't great, and that ball park is a launching pad.

I can't help but thinking he's going to be pretty nervous in his major league debut, and facing the Tribe offense, he might get knocked around a good bit. Hope not, but we will see!

Let's compare the standings, shall we?

Cleveland (36 22) -
Detroit (34 25) 2.5 games back
Minnesota (29 29) . 7.0 games back
Chi White Sox (26 30) . 9.0 games back
Kansas City (22 39) . 15.5 games back

Milwaukee (33 27) -
St. Louis (26 31) 5.5 games back
Chi Cubs (26 32) 6.0 games back
Pittsburgh (26 34) 7.0 games back
Houston (24 35) 8.5 games back
Cincinnati (23 38) 10.5 games back Poor Reds

Gee, thanks for the breaking news. Don't the other kiddies in your neighborhood invite you to go out and play ever? That's kind of sad.

Most rookies as young as he is will get into trouble in the first inning.


They always tend to try and overthrow their pitches, the adreneline gets to em.

If he is spotting his pitches in the first inning, and doesn't walk anyone in the first look out.


also, Cliff Lee has been an absolute bumb since coming off the DL.

Don't worry, the Reds hitters can make even the worst pitcher look like Cy Young.

Psst... Jules....

GO REDS!!

Poor old Reds

Can someone who has a good eye for baseball watch this game and tell me how his fastball and breaking pittches look.


I am sure I can tell from the Boxscore how he pitched but not how his pitches move.

GO REDS!

I'll be watching him carefully however, I will give no information to the fantasy and team enemy!

Oh you are a sly one.

Reds are a big disappointment this year after a pretty good year last year, let's hope they keep up their torrid pace

alright, stop...your sounding like Clown Hunter.

Yes in deedy. They play in the same city as the Bengals

I mean you can only ding dong ditch so many times a day..

Let's cut out their spleens and sell them on the black market! God I hate everything about that city in Kentucky. Moreso than Pukesburgh sometimes.

Go Reds.

LETS GO TRIBE!

Well, old Homer didn't last long..

Suprisingly, it's 3 - 2 Reds......Oh, well, we all know how badly your bullpen is, since you bag about it everytime.. Maybe the they'll blow the game for us..

Garko with Pinch - Hit Homer!!

3 - 4 Reds...How ya feel about that pen now?

Thought you had something to do tonight.

REDS WIN!