While looking through all the photos I’d taken of the Cincinnati Reds over the last season, I discovered images I’d taken of Goodyear Ballpark with the intention of stitching them together to make a panorama, as I’ve done previously (Ed Smith Stadium, Great American Ballpark, Minute Maid Park 1, Minute Maid Park 2, Wrigley Field).

I never got around to making the panorama, but thanks to now having Photoshop, I was able to let the software do all the work for you. Click the image below to see a larger version of the Reds new Spring Training home. Hopefully, I’ll be able to visit again this year.

When Chris Jaffe of the Hardball Times sent a message about the Cincinnati Reds making an appearance in his list of the top 10 worst endings to postseason baseball games, thoughts of the ugly sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies last year swept through my mind. But it wasn’t like that.

The Reds were number four on Jaffe’s list for the National League championship series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates from October 1972.

The defending world champion Pirates entered the bottom of the ninth leading 3-2. A leadoff homer by Johnny Bench tied it, and then back-to-back singles put the winning run on second with no out. A flyout advanced lead runner George Foster to third, but the next batter popped up. With two outs and the game still tied, extra innings seemed to beckon. Or not.

Reliever Bob Moose threw a pitch in the dirt that took a crazy hop over catcher Manny Sanguillen’s head and rolled to the backstop. Thus, the Reds claimed the pennant on a wild pitch.

Definitely a much happier ending than the one we witnessed in 2010. Be sure to check out the rest of the list. The number one worst ending has got to be the best/worst example of a team snatching defeat from the jaws of victory I’ve ever heard of. And that includes all of the Reds games from the 2000s.

Some former Cincinnati Reds made the transaction news today, one of them more thankfully former than the rest.

First off, the replaceable Willy Taveras should give his agent a raise. Taveras signed with the Colorado Rockies today. Sure it’s only for a minor league deal, but Taveras has not been productive in the majors for a long time, despite his young age of 29. This marks Taveras’ fifth organization since being a blocker on the Reds in 2009, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and the Washington Nationals.

Next up, Micah Owings, a player the Reds never figured out exactly what to do with, returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Owings signed a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks and received an invite to Spring Training. Arizona plans to use him as a pitcher and as a power bat off the bench. I still can’t help but feel that Owings would be better off focusing on hitting. He has so much power.

Lastly, the one and only Todd Coffey sprinted from somewhere to the nation’s capital to sign with the Washington Nationals. Coffey’s deal with the Nationals is the only one of the bunch that’s a major league deal. Coffey will apparently get a chance to compete for the closer’s role. I wish the big guy the best of luck. As goofy as his sprint was, seeing it always brought a smile to my face.

This past weekend, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America held their annual gala to honor the best baseball players of the previous season. Joey Votto and Reds fan BubbaFan were there.

I’d never heard of this awards celebration, but then, that might be because the Reds have been out of the realm of “good” for so long, let alone this strange, uncharted territory of “great” that they seem to be flirting with. Votto was introduced to the black-tie optional crowd by Barry Larkin. Votto then stepped up to the podium.

“I’d especially like to thank [writer] Joe Strauss from St. Louis, who didn’t vote for me,” Votto quipped. “Guess who he voted for? As if Albert [Pujols] didn’t have enough MVP Awards already.”

Ah, Joey. How awesome you are.

BubbaFan was able to capture a few photos of Votto in his tuxedo. As someone who recently purchased his first tuxedo, Votto’s is nice-looking. I love that he’s wearing a bow-tie. It’s a touch big, though, and makes him look a bit like a boy at a wedding. Check out the rest of the photos over at RedReporter.

• 5 days till the Reds Caravan kicks off (7 till it makes it to Indy)
• 25 days till pitchers and catchers report
• 37 days till the Reds’ first spring training game
• 69 days till Opening Day

I think it’s about time for some baseball.