We just bought our tickets for Redsfest 2010! This is the first time the family is heading out for both days, and since it requires interstate travel to get there, we’ve also booked a hotel. So, it’s an official commitment; two complete days of autographs, climbing the Powerade rock wall, and watching whatever wacky stuff they put up on the stage.

Sorry fourth-grade basketball team that our son is on: we’re skipping the Saturday morning game because we have our sport priorities in order. Sorry kitty cat who will not have us to meow at all night: you’ll just have to mew in an easterly direction and hope the message gets through.

I don’t know about you, but this is just about the most excited I’ve ever been for a Redsfest. There’s just so much up-beat stuff to talk about and so much promise for the future. Plus, since it’s coinciding with the semester drawing to a close, it means not only content to write about, but also time to write it.

I hope to see you at Redsfest. Keep an eye on RHM for photos galore.

The writers got it right! With 31 of 32 first-place votes, Joey Votto was awarded the Most Valuable Player award. Oh, and whoever didn’t vote for Votto might want to look out.

Votto led the Cincinnati Reds to their first division title and first playoff appearance since 1995. Coincidentally, the last time a Red won the MVP award was in 1995, when Barry Larkin did the heavy lifting for Cincinnati.

Lots of fans, myself included, had some apprehension that Votto might be snubbed, as he had been for the All Star vote. Thankfully, he wasn’t. Because there was no way for fans to vote him in later.

Enjoy this one Joey. And I’d love to see you and Jay Bruce battling each other for the award next year.

On this, the day we’re all expecting Joey Votto to be announced as the recipient of the National League Most Valuable Player award, MLB wants you to know that there’s another award up for grabs. The 2010 This Year in Baseball Awards has Votto up for best hitter.

I would link to or quote a description of the awards, but it’s a huge mess of unlinkable Flash. You can go here to vote for Votto, though.

The Manager of the Year award winner was announced yesterday, and Dusty Baker was not the winner. That’s actually not surprising. Bud Black, manager of the San Diego Padres, won with less talent, a lower payroll, and a much harder division.

Baker had a great year, I think, becoming a bit more flexible than he had in his previous time with the Reds and while with the Cubs. It’s possible this was because of the players available, but it seemed like we saw him give young players plenty of opportunities to overcome slumps and get used to major league baseball. Granted, it had to help that Willy Taveras and Corey Patterson are long gone, but that’s under Walt Jocketty’s purview. Baker took the players he had and took the Reds to their first winning season in a decade and their first playoff appearance in 15 years. His reward? Missing the Manager of the Year award by 1 vote.

I would have voted for him, but Black with the Padres was very deserving, too.

Baker was his typical down-to-earth self. “It’s the second time I came in second after a narrow vote,” Baker said. “In 2003, it wasn’t this close but I lost to [the Marlins'] Jack McKeon. You’re disappointed, of course, but we’ll just have to come back next year and win the whole thing.”

Here’s to that. A Reds World Series in 2011 would be a wonderful consolation prize.

After not getting enough playing time to trigger his option for next season, the Cincinnati Reds signed free agent Ramon Hernandez to a $3 million, one-year contract.

Hernandez was a solid part of the catching duo that the Reds fielded last year, as he split playing time with Ryan Hanigan to form one of the best catching combos in the game. Combined, they batted .296 and had an on-base percentage of .375.

On re-signing Hernandez for a second straight year, Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty said, “We wanted to provide our young pitching staff with some continuity. We felt all of our pitchers were comfortable pitching to Ramon.”

It’s a signing that makes sense, as the Reds system is low on catchers. This was evidenced by the call-up of Corky Miller for a portion of the 2010 season. It also speaks to the Reds opinion of the other available free agent catchers.

My only concern is about who gets the most playing time. Hanigan is coming along as the better of the two catchers, and 2011 is the time for him to get the bulk of the playing time. By 2012, Devin Mesoraco should be ready for his chance in the bigs.

Yesterday, in the excitement of the Reds winning 3 Gold Gloves, I missed this press release from the Cincinnati Reds. Redsfest will be held on December 3 – December 4, and tickets are on sale now.

Tickets for FOX Sports Ohio Redsfest are on sale now at reds.com, by phone at (513) 381-REDS, all area Meijer stores, Reds.com ticket kiosks and Great American Ball Park administrative offices.

The annual fan festival will be held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, December 3 from 4 to 10:30 pm and Saturday, December 4 from 11 am to 6:30 pm.

One-day tickets are $17 for adults and $7 for kids 12 and younger. Two-day tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for kids.

New for 2010: With paid admission, all fans will receive one free View Level ticket to the Friday, April 15, 2011 Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game at Great American Ball Park. Also, the first 10,000 fans each day will receive a free drawstring backpack and Reds travel mug.

Redsfest features more than 200,000 square feet of activities, including autograph and photo booths with current and former Reds players, interactive games for fans of all ages, hard-to-find memorabilia and much more.

More than 50 current and former Reds players and coaches are expected to attend including Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Bronson Arroyo, Jonny Gomes, Aroldis Chapman, Dusty Baker and many more.

For more information and updated details about Redsfest, please visit reds.com/redsfest. Fans can also register on reds.com for the Redsfest VIP Sweepstakes and to bid on Autograph Fast Passes.

“Redsfest is one of the finest fan festivals in all of Major League Baseball,” said Reds President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini. “It’s the best way for fans to get an up-close experience with the current Reds from the 2010 National League Central Division Champion team along with veterans from the past and the future stars of tomorrow.”

All current and former players in attendance will be introduced live on the Redsfest Main Stage on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

A special tribute to Reds manager Sparky Anderson is planned for the Main Stage and in booth #10 on the Redsfest floor.

Specific times for player appearances will be announced one hour prior to the autograph and photo sessions on the info screens on the Redsfest floor and on the Reds official Twitter page at: twitter.com/cincinnatireds.

The Redsfest Main Stage will feature popular activities such as kids-only press conferences involving players, a Reds Idol karaoke contest and the Reds Hot Stove Report with President of Baseball Operations and GM Walt Jocketty and Manager Dusty Baker.

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum will again have a presence at Redsfest, including a display featuring the ’75, ’76 and ’90 World Series trophies, Reds artifacts, Reds trivia and more. Redsfest is a great opportunity to purchase a 2011 Reds Museum membership.

The annual Reds Community Fund Celebrity Poker Tournament takes place on Saturday, Dec. 4. Registration and side games begin at 3:30 p.m. with the tournament starting at 5 p.m. Sign-up today at reds.com/poker or call (513) 765-7240.

An exhibit highlighting the Reds Spring Training home in Goodyear, Arizona will return this year. Tickets for 2011 Spring Training will be on sale.

The Chipotle Wiffle® ball Tournament finals kicks off the weekend of programming on the 10,000 square foot Gorilla Glue Field of Dreams that also includes a celebrity Wiffle® ball home run contest on Friday evening.

Redsfest is the first chance to purchase a 2011 Reds Heads Kids Club membership. The $20 Reds Heads merchandise kit makes a great holiday gift for children ages 14 and younger, which includes vouchers for free Reds tickets and exclusive club gear.

Proceeds from Redsfest benefit the baseball-themed outreach programs of the non-profit Reds Community Fund.

In a year that saw the Cincinnati Red win for the first time forever, you knew there had to be a good chance for some hardware to be won after the season. The first such awards were announced today, with the Reds getting not one, not two, but three Gold Glove awards.

Cincinnati third baseman Scott Rolen won his eighth Gold Glove, while two teammates, second baseman Brandon Phillips and pitcher Bronson Arroyo, were also honored. Phillips’ award was his second, Arroyo’s his first.

I was confident that Phillips would win the award again; he was great again this year. I’m a little surprised by Arroyo and Rolen, although they are no slouch in the defensive department. But not giving one to Jay Bruce does seem like a crime to me. Bruce’s arm was constantly a runner-stopping presence. And he stole a home run or two from hitters, as well.

There’s always next year. Plus, it seems a little silly to complain about enough Reds not being lauded. Cincinnati won the most gold gloves of any team. Imagine that, award-winning defense back in Cincinnati!

On Thursday, former Reds’ manager Sparky Anderson died from complications from dementia. He was 76.

Of course, like any Reds fans, I know the name, but not having been born yet when Anderson was busy managing the Reds to their Word Series greatness, I wasn’t sure what I was going to say about the hall-of-fame manager that could possibly live up to his legend status.

Enter Chris Jaffe, author of the book Evaluating Baseball’s Managers, who has written up exactly the kind of knowledgeable and relevant piece that I am unable to. I might not have minded a touch more Cinci-centricity, but nobody’s perfect.

His baseball teams played a style of baseball many sabermetrically-inclined fans would approve of. His teams slugged the ball, were willing to draw walks, and accepted strikeouts as they came….Getting good offense was key because that’s how Anderson’s teams won.

Read the entire article on HardballTimes.com.

And be on the look-out for a review of the book on RHM. I received excerpts over a year ago, and I expect to have time to read them as soon as my MBA is done in August.