Now, I'm no fan of the tough-guy, no-smile pictures that some baseball players are so fond of taking for their team mug shots. Scowling at a camera doesn't make you tough, OK? It makes you look like you never learned how to say “cheese.”

But when you're sitting in your office, watching a game on the MLB.com Gameday application and your favorite player just made a bonehead play, it's really irritating to look up at his goofy grinning face.

For example, you'd probably have no problem with this face when it seems to be saying “Hey, I'm on pace for 162 home runs.” But when it's saying “My net effect on today's score was negative two runs,” don't you just want to wipe that smile right off?

Or what about when you're staring down the opposing pitcher on your team's behalf. It's kind of hard to get the appropriate emotional tension when he looks like the comic relief in a teen romance movie.

I think the ideal Gameday face is tricky, because it's going to depend on the player's personality. Does he want to say, “Hey look, I'm not so bad,”

or “What are you looking at, sucka?”

Does he want to make you feel a little sad,

or give you the opportunity to giggle at his adorably goofy ears?

Yes, the expression in the mugshot on Gameday colors the entire perception of the game. I'm just glad they didn't use this photo:

The Reds are about to take on the Cubs again, older, wiser, and a little less sucky in Great American. Our newest pitcher, Bronson Arroyo, takes the mound to set the tone for his 2006 season. No pressure, kid.

The Baby Bear Boo-Boos game that I posted for opening day took only one day to become the second-most read post on RHM ever, so lots of people must be anticipating those injuries.

Welcome Reds fans and all visitors to Red Hot Mama. For those of you who haven't been here since last August (or ever), I'm recapping some of my favorite stuff that's appeared here in the off-season. Yesterday we looked at what happened in September and October 2005. Today, let us consider November and December:

• We discussed the very nature of good and evil.
• Funnyball was released in stores everywhere, much to the excitement of about three people.
• I got all preachy about how winning isn't everything.
• Casey got traded. Ouch, that one hurt.
• Griffey changed numbers. This may have been the single most confusing thing to people in the stands at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota this spring. I overheard every possible explanation for it, from “that must just be his spring training number” to “I think his dad is the base coach now and wanted his number back.”
• Literally tens of people took the Reds jersey quiz to determine the Reds' jersey that best suited their personality. Don't you think it's time you did too?

Tomorrow, a recap of the beginning of 2006. You won't want to miss it: it includes Freel getting arrested again.

It's Red Hot Mama's blog day. At one year old, she's just taking her first steps, speaking in one-word sentences, and drooling all over herself.

My nemesis, JinAZ has introduced a new feature on JinAZ On Baseball and the Reds called Better Know a Red. BKAR features provide statistical analysis of each player on the Reds' 25-man roster. Meanwhile, Red Hot Mama's own Human League profiles provide a lovey-dovey, touchy-feely kind of analysis of each player.

They're the yin and yang of baseball player analysis.

So in the interest of informing the public, encouraging inter-site travel, and lending RHM some stat-based legitimacy, JinAZ and I will be linking our player profiles together. Finally, all the information you could want about a Red, all in one place! Well, two places! With a convenient link in between!

Today we start with Dave Williams. Check out his Human League Profile, then head right over to JinAZ's BKAR feature to get the rest of the story.