Volquez is the Opening Day Starter

Edinson Volquez will start the 2011 season on the mound against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 31.

"After much deliberation and talking to Bryan (Price), we are going to open with Volquez.  Arroyo will be secoond.  Then Cueto.  We wanted to go hard soft, hard soft.  We don't want Volquez and Cueto to try to out-radar-gun each other.  Whoever the fifth starter Homer maybe would be not soft but softer than the number one starting back."

Volquez, who was obtained from Texas along with Daniel Ray Herrera for the reigning American League MVP, Josh Hamilton after the 2007 season, will break a string of five opening days with Aaron Harang as the starter.

Harang signed with San Diego.

Volquez started just 12 games last season after recovering from an August 2009 elbow surgery.  He was the victim of Roy Halladay's no-hitter in the first game of the Division Series in October.

"It's been a long way back," said Volquez, who turned down a three-year contract for a one-year deal in hopes that this season will get him a bigger contract in the end.  "They gave me the opportunity to be the number one here.  The only thing I want right now is to win the first game."

"He's very confident and we think he can handle it," Baker said.  "Nothing much bothers him."

Volquez wears number 36 which was one by the Reds former ace from the Dominican Republic, Mario Soto, who started six opening games.

"I was looking for 45 but they gave me 36.  Mario was joking around and told me if you wear that number, you have to be a number one," Volquez said.

"He has the stuff to be a number one," Soto said.  "I know he's very happy about it."

Notes:

Baker would like to get Scott Rolen 50 at bats this spring.  He is most likely to bat behind MVP Joey Votto.
"If the guy batting behind him isn't ready, Joey isn't going to get much to hit," Baker said.

The Reds had a meeting with Frank Robinson and Umpire Supervisor, Randy Marsh to go over rule changes.  "They will tell us to be nice," Baker said.  "There are always a couple rule changes and the last couple years they talked about the speed of the game," Baker said.

Live batting practice has been pushed back until tomorrow.

"We always hated that day," Baker said.  "You have to see live pitching sooner or later but you don't get anything out of it.  You have to take some extra bats.  Even though they're your teammates they enjoy breaking your bats.  The smart pitchers get their work in but try to get you ready too.  Like Don Sutton, they know that if you're ready you can get them some runs.  Tommy LaSorda used to save the younger kids for the veteran group to ask us what we thought."