The game times for all the Cincinnati Reds playoff games against the Philadelphia Phillies were announced today.

• Wednesday, 5:07 p.m. (TBS)
• Friday, 6:07 p.m. (TBS)
• Sunday, 7:07 p.m. (TNT) or 8:07 p.m. (TBS), Reds play at 8:07 if Yankees-Twins series ends in three games
• Monday, 5:07 p.m. If necessary, TBS (moves to 7:37 if Giants-Braves series ends in three games)
• Wednesday, 6:07 p.m. If necessary, TBS (moves to 8:07 if Giants-Braves series ends in four games)

This is going to be a new experience for me, and I’m not sure exactly how to respond. I mean, the last time I saw the Reds in the playoffs, this happened. That was 20 years ago. I can drink beer now.

But I sure would love to see Joey Votto do something like that tomorrow.

High off of making the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, the Cincinnati Reds wasted no time in taking care of manager Dusty Baker’s contract situation, awarding Baker with a 2-year extension.

Why 2 years? Apparently, like the majority of players, Baker’s a little superstitious. “I’ve had some of my best success on two-year contracts,” Baker said.

No financial details have leaked yet, but it’s likely he’ll have gotten a bit of a raise. Baker’s first contract was a 3-year deal reportedly worth $10 million. In those 3 years, the Reds improved a bit every year, going 74-88, 78-84, and finally 91-71 this year.

Despite the great improvement this year, Baker’s record with Cincinnati sits at just .500, 243-243. In his four years with the Chicago Cubs, he went 322-326, but then that team worsened every year as he seemed to lose control of the clubhouse and the respect of the players. Clearly, that’s not happening for the Reds. Not with quotes like this from Nick Masset.

“That’s awesome. I’m really excited for him,” said Masset, who Baker stuck with when he struggled early in the season. “He’s been such a huge asset for the team. He’s really someone we look up to and can confide in daily. He’s such a wonderful person to have around. He’s very family-oriented. He would do anything for us and we’d do the same for him. It definitely makes it a good atmosphere to be in when he’s around.”

So now that the question of Dusty Baker’s future is out of the way, let’s get to the playoffs.

Come send off your NL Central Champion Reds to the playoffs!

CINCINNATI (Oct. 3, 2010) — The Cincinnati Reds announce “Reds Rally on the Square” to be held Monday, Oct. 4 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Fountain Square.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman will host the festivities, which will include speeches from Reds President and CEO Bob Castellini, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty, Reds Hall of Famer Joe Morgan and Manager Dusty Baker.

Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, Brandon Phillips and the entire Reds team and coaching staff will appear on stage as well.

The team will appear at the Reds Rally on Fountain Square at approximately 3:30pm, then will fly to Philadelphia.

“This is a unique opportunity for Reds fans to send off their team as we take the first step in the 2010 Postseason,” said Bob Castellini. “It’s sure to be an exciting experience for our fans, and we want to show our players, coaches and staff that all of Reds Country is behind them as they begin their playoff run.”

In addition to the team’s appearance, the rally will feature plenty of food, drinks and fun, including live music from Funky G and the Groove Machine. Reds mascots Gapper, Mr. Redlegs and Rosie Red and the John Morrell Reds Rally Pack will entertain fans as well.

Fans also will have the opportunity to pick up official Reds Postseason merchandise from a special Postseason merchandise trailer at the Square.

Boxscore

The 2010 baseball season has come to a close, and the Cincinnati Reds were victors for the 91st time. That’s right. 91 wins. It’s been a good year. It’s been a very good year.

Aaron Harang made what was likely his last start and appearance ever for the Reds. He started strong, striking out the first batter he faced on 3 pitches, but had to leave early due to a blister on his pitching hand. His final line was 2 innings, in which he allowed 2 runs and struck out 3. Harang’s contract is up at the end of the year, and there’s no reason for the Reds to bring him back, especially with the glut of good young pitching the Reds have. I’ll miss him, though, and always remember him fondly for the years when he was the only good thing happening in Reds baseball. It’s a shame he wasn’t able to lead the team into the playoffs.

The bullpen took over and didn’t allow the Brewers to score any more runs. And Jay Bruce hit his 25th home run on the year in the fourth inning to give the Reds the lead.

The Reds end the year in first place with a record of 91-71. It was an unqualified success for a team without a winning record since 2000, and without a postseason appearance since 1995. Now they get to prepare to face the Philadelphia Phillies next week.

Oh, by the way, the last time the Reds won 91 games? Just an insignificant little year in Reds history with the number 1990.

You may remember the other night when the Cincinnati Reds clinched the 2010 National League Central Division. They were happy, the fans were happy. There was champagne and beer spraying all over the clubhouse. Oh, and some victory cigars were passed out by Orlando Cabrera, too.

Apparently, some killjoys with a knowledge of Ohio state law phoned in some complaints upon seeing those stogeys.

Five people called a statewide smoking ban complaint hotline, Merz said. Those complaints were sent to the city health department today for investigation. [Bob] Castellini will get letter soon notifying him of the alleged violation.

Now, the Reds get to look forward to having a health inspector come within 30 days.

It does make you wonder, though, if one cranky, unpleasant manager in the Central with a law degree might have been watching and been one of those 5 callers.