Sarasota - night game. Cincinnatti Reds 5- Toronto 3.

Jays away in Sarasota. 5 hits in a losing cause.
Here's the test for Jays fans.
Jackson, Coats, Jerolman, and Kratz.... four of the five hits..... ???

The other was Wells, who at least does seem to be getting some consistency. Buck Coats should definitely be going north he has been good all spring.
Kratz (C) hit was a double and Jackson (SS) was a triple. There is a lot of speed in the minors but zilch in the big team apart from Rios and Wells.
Jays once again leave a load on base. 8 this time and two double plays.

Left-hander Jesse Carlson, competing for a spot in the Blue Jays bullpen, pitched the first inning so he could face some of the Reds' top hitters. He gave up a single and induced a double-play grounder from Ken Griffey Jr.

Shaun Marcum followed Carlson and gave up Adam Dunn's solo homer and a two-run shot by Joey Votto. Gosling finished off the game. Marcum went six innings, giving up five runs and seven hits with six strikeouts and only one walk.
"When he was down, he was good," manager Gibbons said. "And when he was up, he got hit." (I love these Gibbonsisms, perhaps I will start a line of Jays t-shirts with the quotes of the season)

Marcum is now scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Saturday when Jays first team are wrapping up Spring training with two in Philadelphia. Marcum will start Toronto's home opener against Boston on April 4.

Cincinnati's Homer Bailey gave another off-the-plate performance. The 21-year-old pitcher failed to last five innings in a start that will go a long way in deciding his immediate future. Bailey walked six in 4 1-3 innings, throwing only 42 strikes out of 84 pitches. In the fifth inning alone, he threw 21 pitches - only six strikes - while walking the bases loaded. At that point, manager Dusty Baker decided he had seen enough.
"He's looking better," Baker said. "He's got to find a way to eliminate those walks. He's got the stuff. Six walks - in the big leagues, that will haunt you."

The former first-round pick came into spring training hoping to win a spot in the rotation, but struggled with his control while two others passed him by. Right-handers Johnny Cueto and Edison Volquez have moved ahead of him, leaving Bailey and Josh Fogg essentially competing for the last spot in the rotation.
Baker decided to start Bailey in the major league game Monday night instead of having him throw against minor leaguers earlier in the day. In his most important start of the spring, Bailey would have center stage.
"Yeah, it's a big start for Homer," Baker said before the game. "It's not do-or-die, but it could sure help his cause a lot."
The right-hander kept his pitches to a minimum at the outset, the main thing he hadn't done all spring. The longer he went, the more he lost his touch.
"That's probably the first time I've gone on three days' rest since A-ball, and I just got a little tired," Bailey said. "I think I've thrown all right. There's always a few things you can work on - maybe those one or two batters where I kind of lose focus and end up walking them. If I cut those out, it's not so bad."

Tuesday the Jays are at home for the Rays, more speed again...
Interesting to see Hinkse playing for a place in the Rays squad. Last night 3 at bats, 2 hits, 2 runs and 1 rbi from his HR AND he had a stolen base. Maddon is sending his whole team to steal this season.
Incidentally Reed Johnson is attracting attention from a number of clubs including the Rays...

The Vancouver fan has left Knology Park after taking in several games, the Jays, Dunedin and the fans will miss her enthusiastic support and batting practice photography and her reminder to Frank to moderate his language as he returns to the dugout after popping up for the 99th time this spring.. Thaks for the great memories Jess.
By the way Vancouver is well represented here, I have seen Granville Island Brewing shirts behind home plate, in right and left field stands, in the berm at Bright House Field and behind the Jays dugout...even downtown Dunedin, great marketing and great shirt. Thank you Granville.