Arizona.....

Hal McCoy says it is almost for sure now.

Quality Bruce gag

Jay Bruce rushed to the Ed Smith Stadium complex this morning. Bruce was back in the lineup for the tonight's second game against Pittsburgh.

But Adam Dunn called Bruce and told him he was in the first game, as well. Bruce was sleeping when the phone rang. Dunn said Bruce fell for the gag. Dunn wanted to call it off.

"You can't mess with someone's sleep," Dunn said.

But a couple of others talked him into not making the second call.

They let Bruce think he was playing for a few minutes before Dunn told him the truth.

"I thought they could be messing with me," Bruce said. "But I didn't want to take the chance."

Best line came from David Weathers when Bruce still thought he was in both games: "Don't they know what you did at Double-A last year?

Source: John Fay

A little something different

By Paul Daugherty

Because I sometimes tire of writing the same ol' about our Local Heros, I'm going to start using This Space, occasionally, for other things. Dude can only write the name "Joe Blanton'' so much before his head explodes. In that vein...

I got asked yesterday for about the millionth time "what are the players really like?'' I answered for the millionth time, "I have no idea.'' I mean, I can tell you the image they project. I can write what I observe. But often, that's only what they want me to observe. Stanley Wilson, standing in front of me, was quiet and humble. Stanley Wilson, in his hotel bathroom the night before the '89 Super Bowl, was someone else.

Eugene Robinson went from NFL man of the year to chasing hookers on Biscayne Boulevard, in a matter of days. And so on.

What's Griffey like? Beats me. I'm not in that circle. Never will be.

But just for the fun of it, for purposes of amusement only, here are a few glimpses, sideways and skewed maybe, but accurate from how they are in front of me, of current Reds. See if your image matches mine.

Kent Mercker: Guy I'd most like to have a Keystone Light with.

Dusty Baker: Blues club, table in the back, nods and silence as the music plays.

Adam Dunn: General disdain daily, would smash my face with a shaving -cream pie if he had the energy to put one together.

Scott Hatteberg: Sunday New York Times crossword, drinking a latte on his deck facing Puget Sound. Some guys (Dunn) you have to talk to. Others you enjoy talking to. Hatteberg is in the latter category.

Brandon Phillips: In the club, sitting VIP. Also, at home, just being with family. Guy most likely to "keep it real'' and stay true to how he was raised. I could be way off on this one. That's part of what makes covering sports so interesting. I hope I'm not.

David Ross: Next door neighbor, helping you move in. My daughter loves David Ross. He got wind of that (er, somehow) and called her, just to say thanks. Jillian will never forget it.

Bronson Arroyo: Big boat, blue water, guitar. Cool. Very cool.

Todd Coffey: Wants so much to do well, to please. Should develop an edge, please himself.

Joey Votto: Solid, physically and otherwise. Guy you call at 3 am from the lockup, and he's there. I'm waiting to see if September was a mirage. Lots of kids hit in September, often against other kids.

Jay Bruce: "Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States...''

Matt Belisle: Best friend from high school. Fun (does a dead-on Wayne Krivsky impression), with a streak of Texas mule. Can think too much. Needs to let it fly. Kinda like me on the radio.

Junior Griffey: A guy I've wanted to know better, who never let me in.

Reds Sign a 16 Year Old

This is an article by Baseball America that you will want to read. This kid is being dubbed better than Vladamir Guerrero. 6 foot 6 with 80 out of 80 power.

Reds Fan Speaks Out!

BURNING BISCUITS
by LetsTalkReds.com fan, Petey Hendrix

I've got three things that are really making my biscuits burn this week. And
as Dusty baker will tell you, nobody likes burnt biscuits!

First of all, the search for a Reds leadoff hitter should being and end with
Joey Votto. He has speed and a great OBP - why shouldn¹t he be considered?

Secondly, I think it¹s a no-brainer that the Reds should sign Mike Piazza to
an incentive-laden 1-year deal. He¹s exactly the right-handed power bat that
our lineup needs. He also is a great part of a Votto-Piazza lefty-right
platoon at 1B. This would allow us to trade away Scott Hatteberg, making
this more affordable. Plus this allows Dusty to carry 3 catchers without one
of them being named Bako. Paul's pathetic career OPS level of 611 is more
than just substandard - the average NL catcher comes in around 734. That
makes Bako 5 pounds of suck in a 10-pound bag. And at age 35, Bako is likely
to improve, but only at shuffleboard.

Finally, there is one more free agent we should go grab for dirt cheap.
What's more, I don't think I'd want him on my team. His name is Kelly
Stinnett. Please allow me to explain...

You see, spring training is a magical time when hope springs eternal, and
there are more young arms who need work than in an octopus kindergarten. So
another veteran catcher is a great thing to have around, not only to be
another ready and qualified glove to receive those yet-to-develop sliders
and changeups, but to share his knowledge and experience that will
inevitably help the youngsters. Now Kelly isn't talented enough to make the
Reds roster, and would come in at 5th or 6th on the depth chart. So while he
has no shot at making the roster, he's worth the meal money for the rest of
the spring. And here's one more notion in this regard: Don't we owe it to
him? Strictly speaking, the Reds don't owe him so much as a Skyline 3-way.
But I believe that if there is an aging veteran who is a former member of
your team, and he's trying to hang on for one more year, you give him the
shot at staying healthy and showing off his skills, as long it doesn't
affect your organization negatively, be it financial or personnel-wise.
Seeing as he would only cost only meal money and would not be taking a
roster spot from anyone else, this seems to be that rare opportunity in life
where doing the right thing for a person and the best thing for an
organization are the same thing.

I say, welcome, Kelly Stinnett! Here's uniform #96 1/2. You'll be catching
batting practice for the minor leaguers for 3 hours, then Alexander Smit's
bullpen session after lunch. I hope you impress the Royals' scouts and they
give you a shot at AAA. And here's your $130 meal money check for the week.
Try not to eat it all in one place.

It's literally the least we could do. Other than signing Jerry Hairston, Jr.
instead. Ugh.

CALLING ALL REDS FANS!

Sorry for the slow posts this week but I've got a hectic schedule. If anyone is interested in becoming a blogger for the site let me know. You would put up any news you hear. I am also looking for someone who is interested in writing some opinionated posts for the site. If you are interested in being a part of the site, let me know.

(It would all be volunteer. I don't make any money to pay you!)

Thanks.

Reds sign Patterson, Hairston

The Reds have signed Corey Patterson and Jerry Hairston Jr to minor-league deals.

"Patterson will come in and compete for the center field job," Reds GM Wayne Krivsky said. "Hairston is another versatile guy that can play infield/outfield. Patterson is 28 and Hairston is 31. They've got some experience, but we gave them no guarantees. They'll come in and compete."

This likely precludes the Reds from signing free agent center fielder Kenny Lofton.

"I'd rather not talk about individual guys," Krivsky said. "But we're pleased with the guys we have in right now."

Patterson, a left-handed power-speed hitter, hit .269 last season in 461 at-bats with the Orioles. He had eight home runs with 45 RBI and 37 steals in 46 attempts. His on-base percentage was .304. He really came on after the All-Star break, hitting .313 when he became a full-time starter.

In 2006 Patterson hit .276 with 16 homers and 53 RBI with 45 steals in 54 attempts. His on-base percentage was .314.

Patterson is a former blue-chip prospect who came up with the Cubs and made his major-league debut as a 21-year-old in 2000. In his career, he has 168 steals, 94 homers and 329 RBI and is a .258 hitter.

Hairston, a right-handed hitter, also has Cubs ties, playing with them in 2005 and 2006.

He hit .189 last season with Texas in 159 at-bats. He played all the outfield spots and shortstop, second base and third base. He's a lifetime .253 hitter with a .325 on-base percentage in 2,534 at-bats since 1998 with 112 career steals.

Source: John Fay

A little more about Dusty

Here is a good article about Dusty from CBS.com

Read it here.