If you're in the mood to repeatedly gasp and stammer at some unbelievable naïvete, allow me to recommend the article Casey contract talks on the horizon from today's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Discussions with Pirates first baseman Sean Casey on a contract extension are expected to begin after the All-Star break.

A three-year deal totaling $18 million is a safe starting point for negotiations, according to a source within the organization.

Three years! Casey is about two weeks short of 32 years old.

The article continues:

The signing of Casey would be a popular move, not only with the franchise's fan base, but in the clubhouse.

“I think it would be a huge thing for the Pirates,” outfielder Jason Bay said. “They always talk about trying to get good baseball players who are also good people.

“Sean hasn't been here long, but he has more than lived up to his reputation as one of the best people in baseball and, obviously, what he can do on the field goes without saying.”

Yes, he's good people. But three years! He's got three concussions!

The article continues:

This season, the Pirates are paying 37-year-old right fielder Jeromy Burnitz $6 million. They will pay him another $6 million in 2007, unless they choose to buy out his contract at a price of $700,000.

Well, then in that case, it's OK then.

I've updated Javier Valentín's human league profile with information from the rather ominously named column Fathers loom large in Reds' memories in today's Post.

During Brandon Claussen's start against the White Sox tonight, if you could call two innings a start, I couldn't help thinking that we may be seeing the last of The Pickle for a while. Marc Lancaster seems to have additional support for that theory.

It's safe to assume Brandon Claussen won't be making his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Mets. Asked that question directly tonight, this is what Jerry Narron had to say:

“Brandon Claussen’s been in our rotation all year. He did have a good outing last time, we are looking for him to be more consistent and give us some good outings. We definitely gave Joe Mays a chance to get stretched out a little bit tonight. You face a lineup like that, you’ve got to have good stuff. You cannot go out there half-stepping.”

Go read the rest of Marc's post; Claussen's response is quite interesting.

The big Raquel Aurilia/Bronson Arroyo concert was last night. Because it was on a work night I couldn't make it, and I have yet to see an online account from anyone who did go, but according to the coverage it received on FSN before the game, it was a very successful, sold-out event.

I recommend the concert wrap on the official site. Not only does it use the phrase “new kid on the block” to refer to Arroyo, but it also says that he refuses to “take the bait” in a paragraph about his teen fans.

A&E and Major League Baseball has put together a seven-DVD collector's edition of the 1975 Big Red Machine World Series. I won't have time to review the set until this weekend, but just looking at the box, you can tell this is a beaut. Click the “More” link below to read all about this DVD set.

I am also pleased to announce that I have three promotional copies to give away for absolutely free. That's no small prize, my friend. The very, very cheapest you're going to get this thing for is $41, and that's before shipping.

• I'll select the winners by random drawing.
• To enter, post a Reds' or otherwise baseball-related haiku (seventeen-syllable verse form, arranged in three lines of five, seven and five syllables) in a comment on this entry.
• Poems must be posted by 11:59 p.m. EDT Monday, June 19, 2006.
• Since you have to register to post, I should be able to track you down from your username.
• All are welcome to enter, so tell all your friends.