Edinson just threw out his first pitch and I know at least some of you guys are watching.  That said, I though a game thread would be in order.  And, of course, rather than going to the person who claims "First," bonus points go to the first person to post the flag.

UPDATE: I am under 75 words, and our own Edinson Volquez is facing some serious HAVOC.

UPDATE #2:  Still under 75, and Edinson is apparently limited to 60 pitches.

I don't know if anybody caught this a few months ago, but I was rooting around for baseball previews this morning and found it.  Wow.

Who spends this much time and effort just to talk trash?  

That being said, he does highlight some of the drawbacks to having Dusty as your manager, including his tendency to play vets and wear out his pitchers.  But the shots at Josh Hamilton are unneccessary.

The two weeks that begin tomorrow and run until pitchers and catchers report are by far the toughest of the offseason for me (and I am sure for many of you). I am desparate for anything baseball (I just procrastinated for 2 hours watching top play archives on reds.com). Thankfully, for the last three years, I have been able to turn to this blog. So really, I just wanted to express my gratitude. This is truly a fantastic community, something that seems to be exceedingly rare on the internets, and I feel kind of ashamed for regressing back into lurker status for the last six months or so.

Here is to a great 2008 season with you all (and hopefully, some success for the Reds)!

With the shenanigans going on around here over the last few days, I thought it would be appropriate to create this poll. What Red Reporter reject got on your nerves the most? Whose inane arguments and irrational hatred for Adam Dunn made you want to resort to violence? Over the last few seasons, who have you found to be more annoying, michael or NEILYNG?

I wonder what it would have taken for the Yankees and Red Sox to have NOT led off BBTN tonight? Another no-hitter? perfect game? 27 up, 27 K's? 

I understand that it was a pretty thrilling finish, but do they have to talk about that game for 25 minutes of 40 minute show? I know I'm preaching to the choir, but goodness gracious, it's just absurd.

I really think that the Brennaman Report (with the game recap and the scores from other games) gives more equitable treatment than BBTN. Why don't they just call it what it really is: Yankees and Red Sox Tonight.

Sorry... I just had to vent somewhere. I don't really expect anyone to comment on this diary, though I know most of you feel the same way.

Per C. Trent: Freel signed a two-year extension today, ensuring that he runs into outfield walls and talks to imaginary little people for the Reds through the 2009 season...

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Farney Freel... Farney Freel... Farney Freel... What's the deal with Farney Freel... 300 characters is for real... kick a rhyme seal the deal... Ryan Freel is off keel

Am I the only one so desperate for baseball that I continue to follow meaningless exhibition games. If so, this thread ought to be awfully lonely. We join the action in the top of the 3rd inning... and Roy Hobbs just keeps on hitting.

(Apparently that wasn't 300 characters... hopefully this is.)

The nation does not believe in you.  I might as well be driving your bandwagon, but people around the country seem to think that Sammy Sosa has a better chance at a comeback than you do.  To me, this sentiment is ridiculous.  Sammy is about as washed up as a mama's boy before supper, but the polling on ESPN, as I write this, shows that 57% of the nation thinks that Sosa is more likely to make a comeback than your are (and there have been nearly 14,000 votes casted).  This shocked me, and all I can ask is that you prove that 57% wrong.

BobbyO

On a more serious note, Hamilton could be one of the best stories the game of baseball has ever seen.  I am really rooting for his success.

From the Enquirer:

Harang and Bronson Arroyo give the Reds a solid 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation for the next two years at least. Arroyo is signed through 2008.

"That's a good two-fifths (of a rotation)," Krivsky said. "(Kyle) Lohse and (Eric) Milton have to step up and whoever does wins the fifth spot.

"But those two guys at the top is a good start."

I read this as meaning that either Lohse or Milton will be the fifth starter, and the other will be in the bullpen.  Does this mean that Krivsky is guaranteeing Saarloos a spot?  Or is he just talking about 2008 when Homer should be in the rotation?

In light of JD's post on Extra Innings' exclusivity agreement with DirecTV, I was wondering if anybody has any information about Reds games being broadcast in HD this season.  The reason why I ask is because my cable provider just added FSN HD to its lineup and Columbus Bluejacket games are broadcast in HD on that channel.  Would it be that big of a jump for the Reds to broadcast in HD too?  

I haven't been able to find anything on the subject, so I thought I'd toss the question out to you guys.

ESPN.com is running an AP article (sorry forgot how to insert hyperlinks) that quotes Barry Bonds as supporting the induction of Pete Rose and Mark McGwire into the Hall of Fame.  I can understand Bonds' support for McGwire, as they will likely share similar fates, however, Bonds' support of Rose seems kind of odd.

Like any Reds fan worth his or her salt, I believe that Rose should be in the Hall.  Unfortunately, I don't think his case is helped any by a recommendation from the game's most notorious cheater.

Does anybody have any thoughts on why Bonds is doing this?

The Reds reveal their new uniforms tomorrow.  I am very afraid that the Cincinnati Reds are going to look like the Cincinnati Cubs if this whole "blue trim" thing comes to fruition.  Or maybe we rock the shorts like the White Sox in the 1980s.  Or squared off caps like the Pirates.  Predictions go below...

AP reports that "Everyday Eddie" will undergo Tommy John surgery.  That folks, is what you call a career ending injury.  What a shame.  I really got to like the guy, he was a serious gamer.

Doesn't this further indict our training and medical staff.  These guys seem completely clueless.  Remember Edwin's sprained ankle.  Remember Griffey's injury earlier in the season.  Day-to-Day becomes 15 Day, and, in this case, 60 Day/end of career.  How can they be so wrong.  I wouldn't be surprised if later this week Griffey is diagnosed with a torn bicep.

Forget about personnel moves.  Castellini/Krivsky's first play in the offseason should be to get rid of our training and medical staff.  Bunch of bums, veteran presence be damned.

I have been very curious about this topic, unfortunately I am not a "stat guy".  Could someone come up with a split of Griffey's numbers with Aurillia protecting him in the line up as compared to all others.  I think Richie is doing some good things this year, but I think his batting cleanup is having a serious effect on the pitches that Griff is seeing at the plate.

Come on stat guys, step up to the plate and clear up this mystery.

ESPN has finally caught on to the great run the Reds have put together so far--as I write this ESPN.com's MLB frontpage is dedicated to the Reds. Unfortunately, all of the articles are Insider only. I was hoping that someone with Insider access could give us a recap of what ESPN is writing about the Reds.  

For more on the national coverage of the Reds, look out for a feature on Brandon Arroyo this week in USA Today.

Just for the record, I definitely prefer getting my Reds fix from this blog and others, but it is interesting to see what people outside of Reds' Nation think of the team's success to date.

The Enquirer reports that Ken Griffey Jr. was placed on the 15 day DL this evening, retroactive to April 13. I don't know what to make of this. The thing that makes me the most upset is that Doc Kremcheck initially said that the injury was not even serious enough to merit an MRI, but today Griffey had an MRI, after a 5 day delay, only to find inflammation of a tendon in Griffey's knee. Why not order that MRI earlier?

Well that probably puts the nix on the whole LaRue for Penny rumor, and the Ross deal is starting to make more sense.  What is more disturbing than LaRue's bad knee is that this new regime is looking no more transparent than the old one.  This seems like a classic O'Brien move--secrecy for no good reason.  

I was okay with the Casey trade, but how wrong does that uniform look on him... or is it just me?

To fill up the character requirement why don't I just reminisce about Casey's awkward rumble down the first base line on those myriad opposite field hits... those were the days... I sure will miss that intensity.

i found this amusing.  it is the last entry in my ill-fated blog.  the date was 5/1/05, though it seems like i wrote it ages ago.  i feel like the reds have come a long way since writing this (for better or worse):

send him down to teeball.
joe valentine is john reidling lite--just as miserable with half the talent. i thought the reds' bullpen was supposed to be better--instead it looks like the reds are going to continue to run guys out there who couldn't throw a strike from six feet six inches, let alone sixty.

joe valentine is a joke, his stuff may be close to major league caliber, but he is a headcase with a serious control problem and that is a combination that doesn't work in the big show. i can't believe this organization was actually trying to trick us into believing that he could someday be the reds' closer.

after four devestating losses i don't know how the reds will ever rebound. but i do know one thing--the situation won't change unless some moves are made. so i say to dave miley, if you'd like to keep your job, send down the bums like valentine and play the hot hands you have in louisville. managers have been fired for less than this short string of ineptitude, so you better get it together unless you'd like to spend another twenty plus years down on the farm with the likes of joe valentine.