Late last night I referenced a story in the Dayton Daily News that described a couple alleged hand injuries suffered by Dunn last season that he kept quiet.

Today, however, Marc Lancaster reports:

You've seen the published report today that says Adam Dunn broke his right hand twice last year and it is still bothering him.

According to the Reds, there are currently no problems with the hand and any suggestion otherwise is “100 percent not true.” They say Dunn is fine and has been fine.

I'm mystified. If the team statement means that they believe that the incidents described in the story didn't really break Dunn's hand, that's one thing. Narron employed a small bit of exaggeration to defend one of his guys and it got blown out of proportion in the media. No big deal.

On the other hand, if the team meant that Dunn was never hit in the hand and that Hal McCoy made all this up, that's another situation entirely. McCoy included some specific and verifiable details; unless he is delusional, there is some basis in reality for this story. And to deny it, especially when a bum hand would work in the Reds' favor in an arbitration case, could imply that the team has a deal in the works for Dunn.

All conjecture, of course. Nevertheless, I'll be very anxious to read the clarification of what the Reds mean when they say that Dunn “is fine and has been fine.”

A couple stories came through about Adam Dunn today. This one, via Marc Lancaster's blog, describes how Dunn was honored tonight at the Hilton Americas-Houston for the 21st annual Houston Baseball Dinner. He was recognized as the area's Major League Player of the Year.

In this story in the Dayton Daily News, we learn that Dunn actually played much of last season with a broken right hand.

“Yeah, I had it checked this week and the doctor said I should put a splint on it, but the heck with that,” said Dunn.

Hear hear, I say! To heck with that! Who needs healthy, pain-free hands? And it makes total sense to refuse treatment now during the offseason, too. After all, next year he could be in the running for the Area's Baddest Ass Award. Sure, he might take home the trophy just by virtue of being a home-run machine, but also enduring a healthy dose of agony while he does it sure couldn't hurt.

Well, except for the agony part.

I know it's stunningly late for me to only just now be acknowledging my binky's big accomplishments, but I figure it's never too late to give it up for The Latin Love Machine, Javier Valentín.

Congratulations to Javy on being named MVP in the Puerto Rican championship series and all of the accomplishments that led up to it. Just for fun, let's take a quick look back at this post about The Power of Love. And heck, let's check out the Bouncing Javy Head too.

Via ESPN.

Reginald Riddle, one of two men charged with the kidnapping and murder of Reds' prospect Dernell Stenson in 2003, plead guilty to first-degree murder charges today. By pleading guilty and agreeing to testify in the trial of co-defendant David Griffith, Riddle avoided a possible death sentence.

Riddle and allegedly Griffith kidnapped Stenson, stole his SUV, and shot him to death when he tried to get away. Riddle faces 25 years to life in prison. Griffith still faces capital murder charges.

On a personal note, I was not fully indoctrinated into the Reds culture when this tragedy took place, but it stands out in the memory of my mind and heart. And I'm not the only one; when I mentioned Stenson before, RHM got some of her most impassioned comments ever.

It's not that I think convictions will make it all better or anything. But it will be nice to have this part of the process in the past.

The Cincinnati Reds caravan made its first stop tonight at Pinheads in Indianapolis. The event was hosted by WNDE Sports Radio and covered by WISH-TV 8 and WRTV-6. The joint was jumpin' with standing room only and people willing to wait in the autograph line through the entire Q&A period.

I arrived about 35 minutes early, so I had gotten my free sticker, entered my name in the drawing for the opening day tickets, and found a seat in the second row before most fans had found their way down the winding path to the Pinheads parking lot.

I sat there, chatting with the guy sitting next to me (apparently there is a farm near Connersville whose claim to fame is being the exact midpoint between Cincinnati and Indianapolis) and being available for someone to come ask for their free copy of Funnyball. But no one claimed the book, so I guess I'll just keep it nearby for the next time I need paper for origami or something to wedge under a wobbly table leg.

Finally the program was underway. Hall of Fame announcer Marty Brennaman gave a short introduction of the panelists, pictured here. From left to right they are Chris Denorfia, Dave Williams, Phil Castellini, Marty Brennaman, Jerry Narron, Lee May, and Steve Stewart. Jerry Narron had a short statement about how excited he is to work with the new management and about the potential of Wily Mo Peña and Austin Kearns getting regular playing time, and before we knew it, the floor was open for the Q&A.

Apparently the crowd was not ready for the Q&A, because the queue failed to form. Since I had prepared questions, I leapt up to the microphone to be the very first person in line. My first question was for Mr. Denorfia:

RHM: With Adam Dunn moving to first base and rumors swirling about trading Austin Kearns, how do you feel about your chances for becoming Cincinnati's next big outfield heartthrob?

::crowd laughter and general embarrassment from Denorfia::

CD: You know, this would be the first question I got. I thought I might sneak out of here, but I got this question right away. I'm really looking forward to making it very hard on these guys this year. I'm really going to try to press as hard as I can the guys that are in place and I'm just looking to get an opportunity. That's all I can do and that's what I'm looking forward to and I'm really excited.