On May 9, 2006, I'm taking the day off work to drive all by myself to Cincinnati to attend Baseball 101: Luncheon for the Ladies. It sounds like an all-male revue, but it's probably going to be more like a quilting bee.

Last year's events featured:

• Jason and Heather LaRue
• Ryan and Erin Wagner
• Aaron and Jen Harang
• Dave and Andrea Miley
• Tom and Susan Hume
• Rich and Raquel Aurilia
• Todd and Nikki Coffey
• Jason and Joy Standridge

Could be pretty awesome. Could be pretty lame. But, seeing as I apparently have no place in the dugout, I've got to take advantage of any women-only opportunities that exist.

If anyone out there in reader-land is planning to go, drop me a line so I can be on the lookout for you.

Biography and Career Highlights on Reds.com

Claussen Statistics on Baseball-Reference.com

Claussen to chat at Hamilton Christian Center on Journal-News.com

On a fixed wing and a prayer: Faith gives Claussen strength after death of father, surgery on CincyPost.com

Biography and Career Highlights on Reds.com

Brandon Claussen Statistics on Baseball-Reference.com

Claussen to chat at Hamilton Christian Center on Journal-News.com

On a fixed wing and a prayer: Faith gives Claussen strength after death of father, surgery on CincyPost.com

Bellyscratcher was the first one I ever heard call Brandon Claussen “pickle,” and it was in this comment on one of our smack talk entries:

I guess Pickle Boy is more relish than Dill, eh?

She immediately apologized for the lameness of the pun, but the name stuck, and now he’s either “Pickle Man” or just “The Pickle” to me. It’s a great nickname, because it works regardless of whether he’s pitching well.

For example, after striking out the side, one might say, “Ha! I guess The Pickle left a pretty sour taste in their mouths!”

Or after walking yet another batter to load the bases, one could retort, “Dammit, Pickle Man, you’re in another…pickle.”

OK, now I’m the one who should be apologizing.

Bellyscratcher was the first one I ever heard call Brandon Claussen “pickle,” and it was in this comment on one of our smack talk entries:

I guess Pickle Boy is more relish than Dill, eh?

She immediately apologized for the lameness of the pun, but the name stuck, and now he's either “Pickle Man” or just “The Pickle” to me. It's a great nickname, because it works regardless of whether he's pitching well.

For example, after striking out the side, one might say, “Ha! I guess The Pickle left a pretty sour taste in their mouths!”

Or after walking yet another batter to load the bases, one could retort, “Dammit, Pickle Man, you're in another…pickle.”

OK, now I'm the one who should be apologizing.