Happy New Year, everyone! This year, the Crack Technical Staff and I are pleased to bring you a show, newly named the Red Hot Broadcast, for your listening enjoyment. Today on the Broadcast we discuss:

• How different it's going to be from last year when pitchers and catchers report this year. Well, the catchers will be different. The pitchers are pretty much the same.
• The Reds extending their contract with the Bats through 2010. Yippee!
• Trading for Conine. It's nice to see a roster move I can at least grok the purpose of.
• Griffey breaking his hand and the mystery that shrouds the event. Our current estimates have him out till June.
• RHM reaches 100,000 hits. You like me! You really, sort-of like me!
• Titans' T-Rac subject of suit
• Meet The Ms. Dice-K

Episode 39: The Red Hot Broadcast (16.3 MB, 23:49)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In April, the real baseball was finally upon us. At last!

April

Opening Day! Here at RHM we made a little light of the persistent injuries to Cubs pitchers. On the field, the Cubs made a little light of the persistent sucky defense of the Reds in this 16-7 debacle.

Wayne Krivsky acquired Brandon Phillips from the Indians. It was a pretty confusing move at the time, given the abundance of second basemen on the team at the time. It was about a week before the Reds had only one second baseman.

Bronson Arroyo's first and second starts of the season came against the Cubs and pitted him against Glendon Rusch. After Arroyo hit a homer in the first game, I called for him to hit one in the second game. But I didn't think he'd actually do it.

Ken Griffey, Jr. went on the DL for the first time. He lasted 10 games!

The Crack Technical Staff and I took a field trip to the new stadium in St. Louis to meet up with Bellyscratcher and talk smack in person. Podcasts of the event can be found here, here, and here.

I got to interview Tom Browning on the podcast. That was pretty awesome.

The Reds DFA'd Tony Womack. It was a big deal at the time.

Finally, the first month of baseball was over. The Reds ended April with a 17-8 record. It was no secret that the bullpen was a ticking timebomb, but the wins kept coming.