Homer Bailey big league debut

Homer Bailey made his big league debut last night and we wanted to make sure this was covered here on the site. If last night was any indicator of things to come, this guy is going to win a lot of big league games for the Cincinnati Reds.

In front of a crowd of 38,696 Bailey displayed poise beyond his 21 years of age and a low 90-91 fastball that got the big strikeout in big situations to get him a victory in his first career start. Bailey struck out Grady Sizemore twice and David Delucci with the bases full in the 5th inning with 2 outs to leave with a lead and ensure that he’d have a chance to remain the winner in his first outing.

The more I hear about Bailey the more I like. He’s from Texas (like Dunner), and he grew up on a farm with 70,000 chickens. That’s a an army of chickens. His parents were at the game and seem like good, down-home people that would teach their son to have a good and concious head on his shoulders. He looks like a carbon copy of his mother (did anyone else see that?).

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 577th career homerun and Jeff Conine and Brandon Phillips also homered to give the Reds their 4 runs. That is all the Reds would need on this magical night as David Weathers notched his 12th save, getting 4 outs at the end of the ballgame.

There was a buzz in the air, and I wish I could have been part of the sold-out crowd. I know I will get to see Bailey pitch many times as long as he stays healthy and it should be a treat. I am glad I picked him up on my fantasy team as he is now owned overnight in 25% of fantasy leagues. Between Bailey, Felix Hernandez, Phil Hughes, Cole Hamels, Jake Peavy, and others–we now are seeing a bunch of young guns that can easily be a factor in this sport for the next decade and a half.

Box Score