I just got this press release in the inbox. It gave me such a moment of joy to think that I might be able to catch some of Sunday’s game on t.v. that I wanted to pass the information on.

Secaucus, N.J., March 22, 2013 – The Cincinnati Reds at Texas Rangers Spring Training game Sunday, March 24 at 4:00 PM ET will be available live on MLB Network in the Cincinnati television market. Bronson Arroyo is scheduled to pitch against Alexi Ogando of the Rangers.

MLB Network is available in Cincinnati on Cincinnati Bell, DirecTV, DISH Network, FAVE and Time Warner Cable, among other providers. Local channel listings are available here and MLB Network’s complete Spring Training game schedule is available here.

With the way the weather is acting, this might be our last chance to see a game where the guys aren’t all shivering until sometime in June.

The Cincinnati Reds and 700 WLW have renewed their broadcast rights agreement. Perhaps more importantly, the Cincinnati Enquirer has discovered that more Spring Training games will be broadcast, too.

All but four split-squad games will be broadcast from Arizona on WLW-AM (700), Fox Sports WSAI-AM (1360) or streamed at Reds.com as part of the team’s new radio rights extension with Clear Channel Cincinnati.

Flagship WLW-AM will air 16 games, including the opening weekend Feb. 22-24. WSAI-AM will carry 11 weekday games starting Feb. 26. The first of seven games streamed online will be Monday, Feb. 25.

That’s great news. There was one year where Steve Stewart broadcast online all of the Spring Training games not covered by 700 WLW, and it made for very enjoyable workdays. I’m glad to see that level of coverage returning.

As for the agreement between the Reds and the radio station, that is outlined in the press release below.

CINCINNATI (Feb. 5, 2013) – The Cincinnati Reds and 700 WLW announced today the renewal of the radio rights agreement to broadcast all regular and postseason games through 2017.

As part of the agreement, 700 WLW’s game coverage will serve as the flagship for the Reds Radio Network, one of the largest in sports with 93 affiliates in nine states.

“The Reds and WLW have been linked together for almost 90 years and our fans are very passionate about both,” said Bob Castellini, Reds President and CEO. “We’re excited about continuing one of the best broadcast partnerships in all of sports.”

“We take great pride in delivering Cincinnati Reds programming to Reds Country on 700 WLW,” said Chuck Fredrick, Market President, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment Cincinnati. “We are thrilled to extend our highly successful relationship with the Reds and continue providing great coverage for Reds fans.”

WLW first went on the air in 1922 under the direction of future Reds owner Powel Crosley, Jr. and aired the first broadcast of a Reds game in 1924. Since 1969, WLW has served as the Reds’ flagship station.

“There’s been no greater marriage than Reds radio and WLW radio,” said Hall of Fame Broadcaster Marty Brennaman. “And it’s great for our fans to know that this relationship will continue.”

The 2013 season will mark Brennaman’s 40th year of broadcasting the Reds on WLW and he is one of three Reds radio broadcasters to receive the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Fricke Award, joined by Red Barber and Russ Hodges.

No sooner do I put up a post suggesting that the Reds and Dusty Baker should part ways for the sake of his health than the Reds announce they’ve re-upped for another two years.

The timing of this announcement is not well thought out. People are still pretty pissed off at Baker and the Reds in general. Hearing “2 more years of the same!” is a message that will sound pretty good in a few months, but just makes my head want to explode right now.

And I pray he doesn’t really die of a stroke on the field next season.

Here’s the press release:

The National League Central Division champion Cincinnati Reds and field manager Dusty Baker have agreed to terms on a 2-year contract extension through the 2014 season.

The formal announcement will be made today at a 3:00 p.m. press conference at Great American Ball Park by Reds President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini and President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty.

“In Dusty’s five seasons here he’s taken us to the Postseason twice and has proven he can lead our teams to championship-caliber play on the field,” Castellini said. “He’s the right manager to continue the building process that will take us deeper and deeper into the playoffs in the future.”

Baker, 63, in October 2007 originally was signed by the Reds to a 3-year contract through the 2010 season, then in October 2010 received a 2-year contract extension through 2012.

The 2012 National League Manager of the Year candidate led the Reds to the playoffs twice in the last 3 years to become only the third skipper to lead the club to the Postseason more than once (Bill McKechnie, 1939, ’40; Sparky Anderson, 1970, ’72, ’73, ’75, ’76). The Reds’ 97-65 record in 2012 was the second-best in the Major Leagues.

He is 419-391 (.517) in 5 seasons with the Reds and 1,581-1,432 (.525) in a 19-year Major League career that includes 5 division championships with 3 teams, including the San Francisco Giants (1997, 2000), Chicago Cubs (2003) and Reds (2010, 2012). He ranks 19th on Major League Baseball’s all-time victories list and ranks sixth in wins in franchise history.

Baker already has been named NL Manager of the Year 3 times by the BBWAA, twice by The Sporting News and once by The Associated Press. He also finished second twice, including in 2010 by a single voting point.

The Cincinnati Reds released today what had kept manager Dusty Baker away from the team for so long. As everyone feared, it was more than just an irregular heartbeat. Baker had a stroke on Friday.

While in Chicago on Wednesday, Reds manager Dusty Baker was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, commonly referred to as an irregular heartbeat. As he was being discharged on Friday, he suffered a mini-stroke and immediately was treated by the hospital’s stroke team, which minimized the effects of the stroke.

Dusty returned to Cincinnati on Sunday, and his condition has improved dramatically. His Cincinnati neurologist, Dr. Joseph Broderick, and cardiologists, Dr. Dean Kereiakes and Dr. Daniel Beyerbach, expect Dusty to make a full recovery and return to the dugout, possibly as soon as the season’s final series next week in St. Louis.

Dusty said, “While at Wrigley Field I was blessed to have our trainer, Paul Lessard, have the good sense to call in Cubs team physician Dr. Stephen Adams, who examined me in the clubhouse, immediately determined how serious by condition was and personally rushed me to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr. Broderick and Dr. Kereiakes are going to make sure I’m ready to handle the duties of managing before I return full time. My family and I are very grateful for the support we’ve received the past few days from Mr. Castellini and our ownership group, Walt, our friends, the baseball family and especially Reds fans. I’m feeling much better, and it’s great being back here in Cincinnati. Chris Speier and my staff are doing a terrific job, and I look forward to getting back to the dugout.”

I hope Baker is able to recover enough to manage the team again soon. He’s already had to miss the division-clinching night. Missing the playoffs would be tragic. Get well soon, Dusty.

As part of their “11 Days of Larkin” celebrating the enshrining in Cooperstown of Cincinnati Reds’ shortstop Barry Larkin, the Reds will be holding a meet-and-greet opportunity at the Reds Hall of Fame Museum this Thursday, August 23 at 5pm.

The Reds Hall of Fame welcomes Reds and National Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin for an exclusive fan meet and greet on Thursday, Aug. 23.

The newest member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame will greet and take photographs with fans in the Reds Hall of Fame’s Great Teams Room from 5 to 7 p.m.

Mr. Larkin will not be signing autographs during the event.

Pricing for this unique opportunity to meet a true Reds legend is $11 for Reds Hall of Fame members and $16 for non-members.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the celebration and preservation of Cincinnati Reds and baseball history.

The Barry Larkin Meet & Greet is one of the events held during the “11 Days of Larkin,” a series of celebrations from August 16-26 that include the retirement of his uniform number 11 on Saturday, Aug. 25.

Tickets for the meet and greet are available at the Hall of Fame box office or by calling 513-765-7923.

Barry Larkin Meet & Greet at the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum
Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m.
$11 for Reds Hall of Fame members; $16 for non-members
www.redsmuseum.org or 513-765-7923
**Photos only, no autographs please.