MLB2k10, don't fuck me. 2ksports releases it's annual MLB title here in a few weeks. Again, I don't have my hopes up but with owning an XBOX360 my options are limited to only this shitty and unreliable product unless I want to fire up the old N64 and some Griffey baseball. I'm royally screwed, I'm sure of it. [7th Inning Stache]

Reds Truck Arrives in Goodyear

Do you all know what this is kids? This is the Reds equipment truck arriving in Goodyear, Arizona for Spring Training. This is a sign of good things to come.

Oh and take notice of the arrow. We know that girl. We used to work with her at the Cincinnati Bengals ticket office. Her name is Stephanie.

She's preparing the Reds for Spring Training. We're making sales calls and blogging about it. How far we've come.

Not sure that I'd ever want to really work for my favorite MLB team though. Then you pass from outsider to insider and you lose the gloss and neatness of the whole experience a little bit once you know the fellas. And plus the fact it becomes a job and not a hobby.

We're happy with leaving MLB to being a hobby, other then of course writing about it.

.....56 more days

Reds fans: we drew a bad bull for April 5th

Adam Wainwright ladies and gents. Get a good look at him. Unless something weird happens, he's going to get the ball on April 5th when the Cardinals open up their season in Cincinnati.

We'll be there, and it will most likely be a long day in which we scratch across one run (on an error) with four hits.

So keep your fingers crossed that a turf-toe rares it's ugly head. Otherwise, he's gon' get.

And here to illustrate what happens when you draw a bad bull, our old friend Bodacious:

It's Basically Baseball Season

Now that the Super Bowl is over, you know who is on deck.

The big guys. The boys of summer. What we live for. We've almost made it. It's all over but the waiting game now.

We're under two months until Opening Day, and now that the NBA and NHL are the only sports in action; we're going to really focus in on giving you exponentially obsessive baseball coverage on absolutely everything.

From now until mid-summer, you'll notice that the number of posts really picks up on the site. E-mail us some ideas and feedback, diamondhoggers_at_gmail_dot_com.

And hang on for the ride. It's gonna be fun.

The Baseball Show Interviews Zizzy Mane

Tonight we were lucky enough to interview song writer and producer Zizzy Mane. Zizzy produced and wrote the song "The Deal" which will serve as our boy Jay Bruce's batter walk-up theme in 2010 at Great American Ball Park.

We want to thank Zizzy again for stopping by and talking a little baseball with us.

Folks, check him out at MySpace, iTunes, and YouTube. Come March, you're going to have this song stuck in your head.

As Zizzy tells us in the interview, look for this beat to be available on iTunes in March; just in time for baseball season!

The Baseball Show by Diamond Hoggers

And here we thought there was some technical difficulties with the show. Turns out it worked just fine, and it was a pretty good show on tap for you.

Sorry we didn't have it for you in time for your workday, but it's a decent listen nonetheless.

Check out the show topics here, or just click the player and wait for it to load.

Don't let the Cincinnati Reds surprise you. "Pretty much every year, there’s a team that the projection systems are optimistic about, relative to the general feel of baseball fans and analysts at large. This year, it looks like that team may be the Reds, who haven’t been seriously talked about as contenders by too many folks, but who look like they could be pretty good on paper." [FanGraphs]

Tonight's Show Topics

It's Thursday, which mean's it's time for another installment of The Baseball Show by Diamond Hoggers.

-We're going to talk Cincinnati Reds. Who is the most pivotal Red for 2010's success?
-We'll debate whether or not Major League Baseball should ban the consumption of alcohol in all MLB clubhouses.
-We'll preview tomorrow's show with Zizzy Mane (Zach Hall), who wrote "The Deal". This will be Jay Bruce's 2010 theme song played on the loud speakers at GABP.
-Other MLB odds & ends.


If you want to be part of the show, send us some topics you want to hear us talk about at Diamondhoggers_at_gmail_dot_com and we'll get to it.

You can also follow us on twitter, which is a great way to interact with us.

Esteemed baseball writer Murray Chass details the New York Mets mess: "But more than one agent cited the Mets’ inability to deal with more than one free agent at a time as the primary reason they lost out on free agents. “We’re interested in your guy,” more than one agent recalled the Mets saying, “but we have to deal with this other guy first.” [Murray Chass on Baseball]

The Cars: Drive. What is it about?

This is the greatest Rock and Roll song of all-time in my opinion. It's one of my favorites. Sweet ass video. When you watch it, and you listen to the lyrics; it's hard to say what it's really about. So anyone out there that comes across this post, what the hell is this classic about?

But being a baseball fan, and a huge fan of the Cars; I always imagined it could be talking about a star hitter driving in the runner from scoring position to win the game late in the bottom of the 9th frame.

"Who's gonna drive you home, tonight?"

Anyone watch Nip/Tuck last night? Cool ending. That's what got me thinking about this song.

2010's Most Indispensible Cincinnati Red?

A good question was recently asked twittered: Which one player is the 2010 season most predicated on?

We answered Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey, and soon thereafter had our hand slapped for answering more then one player. But listen to the reasoning behind it all.

Yes, these are our two favorite Reds players. Yes, these two guys are expected to be the franchise. These two will be popular picks, we would think. However, the Reds have a pretty good core group.

My reasoning behind saying Bruce and Bailey, is because they really are the "X" factors on this ball club. If your organization is going to have a breakout year, you have to get performances from all your veterans they've come to be expected to have. Then a few youngsters with high ceilings have to jump off the page.

That means that Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, Brandon Phillips, Orlando Cabrera, and all the other mainstays have to do what they're expected to do. They're all going to have to do what they've came to be expected to do without really having too much of a drop off.

But if you get a Bailey or a Bruce to jump off the page--something that scouts who are paid to know this game have been saying that they're capable of doing--you could see something special on your hands.

By something special, we'd mean Homer Bailey going out and winning 16-20 games. Something that is within the realm of possibility but by no means is a given.

Or in the case of Bruce, a guy who figures to start the year hitting in the 6th hole; hitting 35 homers with a .270 average and near 100 runs and 100 RBI.

You get either one of these guys to have that type of performance in addition to the veterans doing what they've become paid commodities to do, and you're going to see the Reds making a run until late in the year.

It's hard to just pick one player here. If either of these guys do what they have been projected capable of doing; it's going to be a fun summer. If they both have All-Star type seasons; you'll never forget 2010 Reds fans.

We'd be against banning booze in the clubhouses of MLB

Pretty good read over at Fox Sports from Jon Paul Morosi.

Morosi feels that Major League Baseball should prohibit the consumption of all alcohol in the clubhouse after home games. Morosi leads into his article by talking about the alcohol abuse by Miguel Cabrera and then drops this bombshell:

A universal ban on alcohol in major league clubhouses is long overdue. Until every team removes beer from the working quarters of its employees, each day on the baseball schedule will include the most unsettling of possibilities – that alcohol consumed in a clubhouse could contribute to injury or death on the road.

I struggle to think of a good reason why baseball clubhouses should be viewed differently than all the other workplaces where alcohol is forbidden. The NFL gets this. Roger Goodell has a simple, easy-to-remember policy: If you’re in the locker room, bus or airplane of an NFL team, you can’t drink. Period. It’s time for Major League Baseball to do the same thing, rather than continue leaving the decision to individual teams.

First off, it's unfair to compare our sport to the NFL. That isn't apples to apples. Do we have World Series Media Day? No. Two different leagues, two different grinds, and two different types of individuals who play the sport.

We'll say this: drinking in the clubhouse, (and we don't mean pounding shots of Old Granddad or Jim Beam); but having a few cold beers after the game is as much of a part of this game's rich tradition as Cracker Jack's and the 7th inning stretch.

That's right.

Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris washed down a few suds after every game in that great 1961 season. The Godfather of this game, Babe Ruth; was known for his love of the ales. When Mark McGwire hit that mammoth homerun at the former Jacobs Field back in the late 1990's, what sign did he hit it off of? A Budweiser sign.

You can try to ignore it, but alchohol--and more specifically--beer and baseball have been joined in holy matrimony for a long time now. This is not like the NFL breaking up that marriage

When I go to the ballgame, I smell the beer. It's the first thing that hits my nostrils that lets me know that I'm in a big league venue. I don't always partake, but there's nothing that creates the atmosphere like a cheap beer and being at a Major League Stadium.

Major League clubhouses aren't a lot different really. The men who grew up playing this great game are usually of the good ol' boy make-up. They hit homers. They get their hands dirty. They drink a few beers. I was a ballplayer and that's what came with the territory. I didn't have a choice, the other 35 guys I played with in college were the exact same way.

Look at the teams who allow alcohol consumption in the clubhouse after home games: Braves, Reds, Indians, Tigers, Angels, Brewers, Rays, and Rangers.

The following teams prohibit alcohol consumption in the clubhouse after home games: A's, Diamondbacks, Orioles, Rockies, Astros, Dodgers, Twins, Mets, Pirates, Cardinals, Nationals.

The following teams declined to say what their clubhouse policy was or did not respond: Red Sox, Cubs, White Sox, Marlins, Royals, Yankees, Phillies, Padres, Giants, Mariners, Blue Jays. Aka, it goes on.

By the time these guys reach the big leagues, they're adults. They're certainly being paid like adults. They're doing adult things, they're leaving the ballpark to go to adult establishments, and they're going to probably get into adult activity that is a little more harmless then drinking a few beers while talking to their favorite, friendly home news reporter.

To take away this fraternization after home games for all MLB players would be pretty silly really. They're going to find that fun elsewhere if it's not in the clubhouse. And then they might be throwing back shots.

Once again, they're adults. They all should know that to get completely banged up in the clubhouse after 'work' and try and drive home is a major no-no. Many of them have families waiting for them anyway, so having that beer or two is no different then many of you having a glass of wine after work to wind down.

Other's have very strict workout regimens and simply won't allow themselves to pound six to twenty beers after a game.

This is a fun part of baseball that should remain relaxed. There are enough rules. This is not the National Football League. There are other parts of our sport that should try and model itself after the NFL. The boys having a few big boy pops after playing 9 hard innings is not one of them.

Justin Upton's offseason workout

You can find some good stuff while floating around twitter these days. One of our favorite young players, Justin Upton is now twittering. Today, we found a clip of Justin's offseason workout.

The above workout he says was his "toughest one yet". It doesn't look all that tough, but we'll take his word for it because we know that baseball workouts often appear a lot easier then they really are.

So this is how you prepare for a 40-40 season at 22 years old?

Day Late Thoughts on MLB suing Upper Deck Trading Cards

Here's a quick snapshot of the situation with MLB suing Upper Deck Trading Card Company:

Major League Baseball has filed a lawsuit against The Upper Deck Company, accusing them of trademark infringement for using MLB logos in their new line of 2010 baseball card products. Upper Deck produced MLB licensed baseball cards from the time of their inception in 1989 up until the January 1st of this year, when MLB opted not to renew their contract with Upper Deck and instead granted the exclusive rights to The Topps Company.

In Major League Baseball's suit against Upper Deck they accuse them of releasing two new baseball card products, 2010 Upper Deck Signature Stars and 2010 Ultimate Collection Baseball, which illegally make use of MLB trademarks. They go on to say that Upper Deck "is on the verge" of distributing a number of additional unauthorized baseball card sets.

Alright, I'm a long ways off the cusp of the trading card industry; but I couldn't help but take notice as MLB calls out one of it's mainstays dating back to the days when I was a kid.

Upper Deck got started in 1989. Doesn't everyone remember that 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card? I sure the hell do. It was the card. It put the Upper Deck company on the map and made them the trend setter in all-things cardboard for card collecting.

The cool kids all had Upper Deck Will Clarks. Other kids all had shitty bent Bowman Kevin Mitchell's.

Remember when those glossy, new Fleer Ultra's came out in 1992-1993ish? As cool as they were (and seemed), they failed to put Upper Deck out of the market.

Fast forward to present day, where a lot of money has exchanged hands for these two giants. MLB and Upper Deck should find a way to make this work. There is a lot of money to be made (if kids are still like they were when I was a kid in the late 80's and early 90's) if these two sides don't ruin it all with greed.

Simple solution: come to some type of agreement with a dollar figure involved and allow Upper Deck to do their thing. When I think of baseball cards, I don't think of Topps. My father's generation might very well, but I think of the newer, more hip Upper Deck logo pictured above.

If Upper Deck ever goes out of business, I'd have to question the hobby altogether. So would millions of others who grew up in my generation.

Friday's Show Guest: Zach Hall (Zizzy Mane)

This Friday we're going to hold a very special edition of The Baseball Show by Diamond Hoggers. Our guest this week is Zach Hall, aka Zizzy Mane; and if you don't know him now you will know him very soon.

If you enjoy hot beats, check out Zach's MySpace page. Or iTunes. Or YouTube.

How does Zach tie into the baseball kingdom of Diamond Hoggers? Zach is the music artist who wrote Jay Bruce's 2010 theme/batter walk-up song to be heard on the loud speakers in 2010.

The name of the song? "The Deal".

That's right, after the very moniker that we gave Jay during his rookie season. It seems that it's caught fire a bit. We heard a preview of the song last night, and let us say that it's going to be a hot item on iTunes when it comes out for release.

So tune in Friday as we kick around some questions for Zach Hall. It's going to be a lot of fun.

Bruce the right fit for Reds right field. “What I like about Jay is that he loves baseball,” Dayton Dragons manager Todd Benzinger said during the Reds Winter Caravan stop at Miami University on Sunday, Jan. 31. “He’s passionate about the game. That tells you not just where he is but where he’s going to be. In order to practice and play enough baseball to be good at it, you have to love it. Jay has that passion and if he stays healthy he’s going to have 10-15 years of great baseball.” [DDN]

AWESOME-NESS

Nuff said on this one. This is just perfection.

*Hat tip to that little turd who writes for Sabo's Goggles a few times each month.

Thank God for Addition by Subtraction

Today, I sent a text to my friend telling him that the Reds had traded Willy Taveras and Adam Rosales to the Oakland A's. I didn't tell him who we got in return. That wasn't important.

His response?

"That's awesome."

And he's right. It really didn't matter who we got in return, even though Aaron Miles is a pretty good guy to have coming off of the bench. He was born to play in the NL Central.

But Rosales isn't a guy who is ever going to do a lot at the Major League Level. Really nice kid. Just not a big leaguer.

And Willy Taveras?

Taveras would have been the whipping boy all year long. It's clear that the Reds told Oakland if they wanted to complete the deal, they had to take Taveras off their hands. And Oakland complied. And then hours later they designated him for assignment. That's how highly Oakland thought of Willy 'automatic leadoff out' Taveras.

The Reds just keep making good moves. Maybe a new era really is upon us.

Reds Spring Training Memories from Cincinnati Writers. This is an absolutely great read that's going to get you ready for the start of baseball season and Spring Training. We're under the 20 day mark until Pitchers & Catchers report to Goodyear, Arizona. [Cincinnati.com]

ESPN's Neyer on the Reds chances to compete

ESPN's Rob Neyer is a pretty respected writer in our opinion. He's also the lone, true baseball blog that exists on that site. All the other 'blogs' on ESPN's MLB site are imposters.

On Neyers blog SweetSpot; he had this to say about the Reds chances of competing in 2010:

Cardinals - 92

Reds - 85

Cubs - 84

Brewers - 81

Pirates - 70

Astros - 69

Really, just one noteworthy item here, as the Reds look like serious Wild Card contenders.

How? Well, they did win 78 games last year, so it's not like they've got terribly far to go. Joey Votto is fast becoming a superstar, and young Jay Bruce still figures to someday get on base more than 30 percent of the time. But other than Bruce in right, what will the outfield look like? Will Willy Taveras be allowed to throw away hundreds of plate appearances? How will Dusty Baker divvy up the time for speedster Drew Stubbs, Triple-A slugger Wladimir Balentien, on-base machine Chris Dickerson, and Double-A star Chris Heisey?

There's plenty of talent there for a reasonably productive outfield, but it's impossible to know if Baker's smart enough to put the puzzle together early enough to make a difference.

Anyone trying to construct projected standings has to wrestle with issues like this for every team. It's relatively easy to come up with a reasonably effective method to project the performance of individual players, because a player's past performance leaves big footprints in the sand. But even atop the inherent random variation, there are the generally unpredictable (and often unreported) physical injuries plus the vagaries of management and changing conditions as the season goes along.

These projections are just snapshots, based on solid statistical assumptions and questionable assumptions about personnel decisions. I do believe that the Reds have the talent on their roster for a solid season. Whether the luck and the management line up behind the talent ... well, that's your proverbial "known unknown."

He brings up a couple of really good points.

1) The outfield is a cluttered mess at this point, and they need to decide who is going to be playing as the every day guys in left field and center and not waver on it should those guys that win the job out of Spring Training falter the first few weeks of the season. We also concur that giving Wily Taveras at-bats is a waste of time and the more he climbs in the box this year the more our chances of winning ballgames goes down statistically.

2) It's going to come down to luck (staying healthy and a few bounces of the ball the right way) and management. The talent is there for these guys to be darkhorses in the NL.

Believe it! Reach for the silver rings this year Redlegs. For once, surprise us all.