Sermons from Second

This is the weirdest March in a long time for me.  I'm busy...but I'm happy busy.  I absolutely love what I'm doing.  I have never lied about that.  If I had the money, I would do what I do for free.  I love it.  So being busy doesn't bother me at all.

So...why is this blog worthy?? It shouldn't be...right?

Opening Day is six days away.  Actually, the first pitch is roughly 6 days and 30 minutes away as I write this.  And I think a lot about the Reds.  However....I'm not mentally there.  I know how the Reds and Opening Day and night consume me.  I normally can't wait and everything is baseball.  However, right now, my mind is elsewhere.  I'm thinking broomball and softball.  I'm thinking work stuff.  I'm thinking a lot...and the Reds are definitely part of that...but they are not the front of my thoughts like normal.

In no way does that say my love for the Reds has reduced at all, or my love of baseball.  Next week I'm going to be happier than most people could ever imagine when the season starts.

I think what I'm trying to say is overall there is MORE to be happier about and that I am enjoying than in previous years.  Things are great at home with Jennifer, Quinn, and Azrael.  Not that they weren't last year...but I am just so happy there.  Miami Entertainment is moving forward and MEGA...just wow.  It's great with them.  I really enjoy MEGA and have a great time with them.  They're coming over for WrestleMania.

So really...I just feel good.  Playing softball feels good.  Coaching broomball feels good.  Work and home life are great.  So while I am thrilled to have an important part of my life back...it doesn't get to consumer my life yet in April.  I'm actually missing two games in April to for things at work.  (I could miss another...but let's not go overboard...)

Come mid-May, I'm sure they will be a bigger part of things....but right now, I'm fine with the Reds sharing my time right now.  My students, Jennifer, Quinn, Azrael, friends, and work deserve some of my time also.  

Round Tripper Reviews: Batman (1989)

I'm going to try to blog more, and as part of that I'm going to try to do some more reviews.  I'm starting with the Batman movie from 1989 starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson and directed by Tim Burton.  I'm going to try to write comments as I watch them.

Batman (1989)

This was the first movie I was allowed to see without any adults with me in the theater.  My mom dropped my cousin Jeff and I off and we went to this movie.  And what a ride it was!  I've watched it a few times since then, and it still held up to me.  Let's see how it does now.

I love the opening credits, which is something I rarely think much about.  Elfman's music is perfect, and leads into The Batman stopping a crime that mirrors the crime that made him become The Bat.  This is followed by the always brilliant Robert Wuhl's introduction in the movie.  I absolutely loved him in the movie and think the Alexander Knox character is brilliant.  I wish Knox had been added to the comic book universe, as it is truly a fun character.  Either way, the character is one of the highlights of the movie for me.

Jack Nicholson...Jack is a tremendous actor...easily one of the best of my lifetime...and most people's.  He is amazing...and his role as The Joker is no different.  It is definitely a DIFFERENT take on The Joker than a lot of others, but I'm able to set apart the different universes....golden age comic, pre-Crisis comic, Burton movie, Batman Animated, etc.  They are all distinctly different and can have different takes on characters as long as you keep the basics of the character mostly the same.  One of the FEW characterizations I would fully criticize in this way in Bane in Batman and Robin which was NOTHING like the original Bane character...but I'm not sure we will get to a review of that anytime soon...

They do a good job of making the city feel like Gotham City, which is one of the most important "characters" in the Batman Universe!  The character of the city and it's people are correct in this movie.  The corrupt police.  The mayor that is blinded by making things better.

Harvey Dent as Billy Dee Williams...I always had issues with this.  He didn't have a Harvey Dent feel...even going past the racial changes.  He really wanted to be Two-Face in a sequel...I would have had to see that to judge him as Harvey Dent.

Commissioner Gordon (Pat Hingle) was amazing.

Kim Bassinger is easily one of the most beautiful women of the 1980s, and is amazing here.  Her as Vicki Vale was amazing, and her and Robert Wuhl/Alexander Knox was brilliant.  At points in the script BOTH characters were set to die.

Jack Palance...wow they did have huge name actors in this movie.  He was awesome!

Interesting fact-in the original script Dick Grayson was in it!  I think it was better without him...but it could have been interesting.

Originally considered for the role of Batman were Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Charlie Sheen, Pierce Brosnan, Tom Selleck, and Bill Murray.  The ONLY one from that group that I think would come close to Michael Keaton is Tom Selleck.  He would, at least, make an amazing Bruce Wayne.  Not sure about Batman.  Adam West also wanted to be Batman again...which was an obvious no.  This wasn't campy Batman.

Tim Curry, Willem Dafoe, David Bowie, and James Wood were considered for the Joker, and Robin Williams campaigned for the role.  Tim Curry could have been amazing, Robin Williams interesting, and the others I'm torn on.

There was way too much smoking in this movie.

How did Alexander Knox and Vicki Vale not know what Bruce Wayne looks like????

Michael Gough is Alfred to me.  He was spot on.

"Oh and...give Knox a grant."  Wonderful!!!

I love the scene where the Joker takes over the underworld by killing the guy with the joy buzzer.

The Joker kills someone on the steps of City Hall.  The police are there and do nothing to try to stop him.

And....something came up that I have to stop for now.  So.....more later.

Thoughts From Third: NL Central Rankings

I am so ready for baseball...and as such...I did a little experiment...I decided to use the Yahoo Fantasy Rankings to determine the NL Central Standings this year.  It falls closely in line to what many are picking, so my methodology may be sounds. :-)

Bad news for Reds Fans like myself and Anthony, Pirates Fans like Scott and Brian. I just used an EXTREMELLY scientific and mathmatic approach to figure out the NL Central Standings for this year. The lower the points the better.

1) Brewers 97

2) Cardinals 100

3) Reds 107

4) Cubs 109

5) Astros 130

6) Pirates 164

Pirates pitching KILLS them. If their starters were even equal to Houston's (next worst) they would be at 119; improve their closer and even better.

If you're at all wondering...I took the Yahoo Player rankings, and found where NL Central teams ranked position by position.  I used the official website (MLB website) for depth charts to decide where everyone landed except Reds catcher, because let's be real....Hanigan over Hernandez. 

For example:

2B: 

1-Reds/Phillips

2-Brewers/Weeks

3-Pirates/Walker

4-Cubs/DeWitt

5-Cardinals/Schumaker

6-Astros/Barmes

I totaled those to give the rankings...position by position.  

By position players it fell this way:

Brewers/Cardinals-25

Cubs-26

Pirates-28

Reds-29

Astros-35

Starters (higher numbers because 5 pitchers per staff)

Brewers-55

Cardinals-60

Reds-69

Cubs-74

Astros-76

Pirates-121 (REALLY bad)

Closers:

Cubs/Marmol

Reds/Cordero

Brewers/Axford

Cardinals/Franklin

Astros/Lyon

Pirates/Hanrahan (I think Meek should be the closer...but Hanrahan's listed first on the site)

Bullpen (top 2 relievers only)

Reds (Massett/Chapman)  

Cubs (Wood & Marshall)

Pirates (Meek & Resop)

Cardinals (McClellan & Motte)

Brewers (Hawkins & Saito) and Astros (Fulchino & Arias)

I think Hawkins and Saito are better than they have them....

So there you have my methodology.  With all of this work I think I'll blog this also...

Thoughts from Third: Baseball Predictions Edition!

So this time my thoughts aren't on current news stories.  Instead my thoughts are predictions for the Reds this season.  We'll see if I get any right in a few months through October.

• The Reds are going to be hit with 3 major injuries that take players out for a large portion of the season. 
• The first injury will be Scott Rolen.  He'll go down in May with a season ending injury.  The Reds will try Juan Francisco at third, but it won't work.  They'll give Todd Frazier the chance, and he'll have a good rookie campaign.  
• The second injury around the same time will be to Ramon Hernandez.  The Reds will bring Corky Miller up initially, but with Devin Mesoraco raking for the Bats they'll give him the chance...and he'll take the starting job.  He'll finish top 5 in Rookie of the Year balloting and be the Reds starting backstop for quite a while.
• The third will be to Bronson Arroyo.  He'll deny it at first (never having missed a start in his career) but will eventually have to go to the DL for the first time. 
• Francisco Cordero will have a VERY rough April, and be de-seated by Aroldis Chapman as closer by Mid-May.
• The Reds will limp into the All-Star break where they'll have three representatives-Aroldis Chapman, Brandon Phillips, and Joey Votto.
• Speaking of Brandon Phillips, he'll have a career year.  He'll be consistent and by mid-summer will have agreed to an extension to stay in the Queen City for 5 more years for a hometown discount...5 years, 40-42 million.
• Homer Bailey gets converted to a reliever.  He's not happy at first and it shows, but by mid-season has accepted and adapted to the new role.  Homer ends up leading the team in appearances out of the pen and allows barely any runners to score-inherited or of his own.
• Mike Leake starts the season in the minors, but comes back up when Arroyo goes down/Homer moves to the pen.  He ends up nearly un-hittable the rest of the year, going 14-3.
• Travis Wood again shows his brilliance and locks himself in as a fixture of the rotation.  Despite a rough stretch in July, he ends the season 14-8. 
• Johnny Cueto emerges as the ace of the staff.  By mid-season he has 14 wins, and ends the season with 22.  
• At the end of the season it's ALMOST enough for the Reds, but they have to go to a 1-game playoff for the Central division.  
• Anything can happen in one game, which Travis Wood gets to start....

So...predictions for 2011.  I'll actually be surprised if ANY of them come true, but...you never know...

Thoughts From Third: Buddy TV List

So....I had trouble deciding what this fit under, but I decided it was Thoughts From Third.  Or "JS is taking a day to say which females on TV he thinks is hot" but that's a really long title...so let's stay with Thoughts from Third, shall we?


So...Buddytv.com (which I don't believe I've ever visited before today) came out with their list of "TV's 100 Sexiest Women of 2010".  It's a pretty good list, but I picked the 15 I think should be higher on the list.  Not that I have the ranking they SHOULD be...just I think they are my top 15.  So, I will share here with art (not the pics they use, which aren't all flattering.  Basically, I'll put the number they had the person and name, etc how they have it, then a picture.  I may comment on some...but not sure how many.  Anyway...here is my list for no other reason then, well...why not?

#99 Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Really...is anyone surprised I like the Geek look?

#98 Lea Michele, Glee

She's just really cute.

#82 Alyson Hannigan, How I Met Your Mother

Cute redhead...are you surprised?

#81 Emily Deschanel, Bones

Sometimes it's all about the eyes.  I found a picture with her also amazingly cute sister Zooey.  

#63 Sarah Lancaster, Chuck

Here is why I don't say sexiest...I say hot or cute.  She is just adorable.

#49 Allison Mack, Smallville

Chloe (her character) is just amazingly cute.  I always like her more than Lana or Lois on the show.

#35 Julia Stiles, Dexter

This one goes way back and I think has more to do with her intelligence, or at the least perceived intelligence.

#30 Laura Vandervoort, V

She's Supergirl...what do you expect??

#29 Cassidy Freeman, Smallville

Another cute redhead.  You know...there needs to be more.

#21 Olivia Wilde, House

Like I said...sometimes it's all about the eyes.  

#17 Erica Durance, Smallville

She's no Chloe...but she IS Lois Lane.

#11 Jennifer Morrison, How I Met Your Mother and House

Once again...adorably cute.

#10 Heather Morris, Glee

As you can tell, sometimes the character they play adds something.  Most definitely true here.  

#5 Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory

Funny story...I thought she was just the SECOND cutest on her first big TV show...Amy Davidson was much cuter.  

Amy Davidson, for reference:

Yeah...cute redhead trumps cute blonde.  

And the final person I think is rated too low???

#1 Yvonne Strahovski, Chuck

How can you be #1 and still be ranked too low???  When you are as cute, beautiful, stunning, etc. as Yvonne Strahovski.  

Funny thing...none of the Divas from WWE were on the list.  I would possibly add one or two.  

Anyway....there is my Thoughts from Third Base on Buddy TV's list.  

Thoughts from Third Base: December 9, 2010

Let's start with a trailer this week.



I enjoyed the other two Transformers movies.  People judge them (and the GI Joe movie) too harshly.  There are changes, but they keep the feel of the old cartoon.  A bit more cohesive of stories.  But remember-these are movies based off of a toyline.  Deal with it.

Sadly, the first (WAY too short) season of The Walking Dead has ended.  It's going to be a LONG wait until next October for a longer season 2.  Two interesting pieces of news, however.  Not only was The Walking Dead the most pirated series, the ratings of the show INCREASED with every episode.  Interesting.

American Pie 4 is being made, and they are hoping to bring back the entire original cast.  The biggest issue seems to be how busy Alyson Hanigan is.  That's what talent gets you!

Glee characters will get replaced as they graduate. They've done a good job of NOT saying what year anyone is in really, but this is only good news.  We can't keep them around forever.  Maybe Brittney.  She could easily fail year after year.

Randy, the best character in the Scream movies, may be back in Scream 4.  Sure he died in Scream 2...but...

Rob Liefeld, the creator of Deadpool, is slamming Fox for trying to PG-13 the character.  He has a point.  Deadpool needs to be R-Rated...some characters just need that.

The Hobbit movie is set to continue deviating from the books, as Orlando Bloom/Legolas is set to return.  I'm ok with it...he was the best character in LOTR...which I now want to rewatch.  Maybe on my 3-week break from work...

Rumor has there being a FULL trailer for the most anticipated game of next year (followed closely by Portal 2 and LBP2) this weekend, but here's a teaser:



The Wackowski Brothers are set to revamp Robin Hood.  I'm good with that.  A movie with an archer is always worthwhile.  :-)



The next TV series based on a DC Comics character may be based on the Teen Titan Raven.  This would definitely be a teen-focused show, but could be good.  It's an interesting character to choose.

The iPad 2 is rumored to ship in February.  I'm waiting to get my iPad until the 2 is out, so I'm ready.

Tons of other news and rumors flying...but that's good for today.

Round-Tripper Reviews: iTunes Top 25

So...Review is a lose term...but I'm going to list and comment on my current Top 25 played in iTunes from the past 3 months or so.

26 (dropped off while I was writing the blog).  dugdig by ytcracker
ytcracker is a nerdcore rapper.  He had an album that was all to the tune of old NES music.  This is one of the two best.

25. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Theme
Leonardo Leads...ok, so I listen to interesting things, and these should prepare you for that.  There actually isn't anything from Winnie the Pooh, although there are several of the songs Jennifer and I listen to a lot.

24. Curse of the Randy Bird by Stolie
This is what knocked ytcracker off the list.  I just discovered recently they had the uncensored version of this song on iTunes and immediately downloaded it.  I really enjoy Stolie's music, and this song got us to book her at Marshall when we saw her @ NACA.

23. Sadie Hawkins Dance by Reliant K
I like Reliant K.  They're a lot of fun...and this song just makes me happy.

22. boom boom pow KUNG FU by K.Flay
This is one of a few artists I discovered through NACA.  I heard her at Showcase Selection and loved her stuff immediately.  She is one of the reasons I hated missing NACA this semester...I really wanted to see how she did.

21. Today is Gonna Be A Great Day by Bowling for Soup
Yes, this is the theme song for Phineas and Ferb.  Yes...there are a ton of kids that think it's awesome I know the song.  You actually will (I believe) only see two BFS songs on this list, which may seem low since it's my favorite group.  Also, they both are really low.  The reason why is that there are SO MANY of their songs I listen to, very few get extended play.  Saving Jane actually falls into the same boat.

20. Stimulate by Eminem
I like Eminem's meaningful songs and the funny ones.  This is meaningful.

19. A Friendly Goodbye by Bowling for Soup
Yes, already the other BFS song.  They are talented musicians...but if you know me well you know I care more about the lyrics.  And that is where BFS shines.

18. Anything but Ordinary by Avril Lavigne
I typically like artists that I like a lot the first time I hear them  Saving Jane & BFS were that way...so was Avril.  I really enjoy her music.  As a bonus, this song was used in the underrated TV Show Birds of Prey.


17.  Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne
Yes...already the other Avril song on the list.  This song never gets old for me.  I mean, don't pretend...

16. Bang a Drum by Bon Jovi
I've liked Bon Jovi my whole life, and have often made the case his music is the music of the past 30 years.  If a band is flopping all they need to do is pull out a Bon Jovi song and they get the crowd back.  The Young Guns II soundtrack is just excellent.

15. Our Song by Taylor Swift
I have a broad sweep of music I enjoy.  T-Swift is on there.  She's very talented, and a lot of fun.

14. I Wish I Could Go Back To College from Avenue Q
Avenue Q and Wicked are easily the best musicals of the last 11 years.  Both are amazing.  This song hits is perfect with the end...college was great times...but you can't go back.

13. I'm Not Setting the World on Fire by Brad Yoder
I met Brad at NACA and am happy to call him my friend.  He sang at Jennifer and I's wedding, which is one of the most important parts of the day.  His music is perpetually on this list, and different songs.  It actually falls into the BFS category of there are so many songs I listen to not many can make the list. I just hope he's not upset about some of the people that fell above him the last few months.

12. Fort Bragg by Beki Hemingway
I also met Beki at NACA.  We had her perform at Marshall for two or three straight years.  I listen to some of her songs a lot as well...but this is my favorite.

11. If I Had $1,000,000 by Barenaked Ladies
Jennifer and I have an entire playlist of songs we sing together.  This is one of the ones we sing the most.  They're also just a lot of fun.

10. Lucky from Glee
There are three songs from Glee on the list.  I''m a little surprised at this one being so high.

9. Poker Face from Glee
I'm not surprised by this one.  I really enjoy it.  I don't really listen to Gaga, and so I heard this before the original.  This version is good...I didn't like hers as much.

8. Hot As Ice by Britney Spears
Ok...say what you want.  She doe have talent, and this is a good song.

7. Worst of Me by Saving Jane
This is about timing.  There are a ton of Saving Jane songs I listen to constantly.  As a matter of fact before I had to format my computer this year the song I listened to most was One Girl Revolution.  So...it changes.

6. Re: Your Brains by Jonathan Coulton
He has some amazing songs, and this is easily the best.  How can you top a song about Zombie office workers?

5. American Saturday Night by Brad Paisley
I really like the theme of this song...how America is a mish-mash of tons of different cultures.

4. The Burbs by V.P.
Another NACA find.  This song is awesome.  I think his music would be a hit at Miami.

3. The One That Got Away by Katy Perry
Katy Perry is very talented, though her choice in men baffles me.  Regardless, this is a wonderful song.  I'm not sure how much Jennifer likes me singing it, though.

This is a good time to mention I'm actually really surprised there's no 3OH!3 on the list.  There are several of there songs I've been listening to heavily.

2. American Friday Night by Bucky Covington
A song discovered at King's Island in one of their shows.  Elissa worked at King's Island, and I keep picture her dancing in one of the shows...

1. Billionaire from Glee
This song actually has a good message if you pay attention.  From wanting to help disaster victims to providing for those that are needy...as well as the things for yourself.  I really enjoy it.

I will probably reset the play counts around the new year/my birthday, so I will be able to start fresh.

Happenings from Home: Redsfest 2010

As you all know, the past two days have been one of my holidays...Redsfest 2010.  There are several big days per year.  Opening Day.  Opening Night.  This year we had the Civil Rights Game, the Reds Hall of Fame induction, the celebration of the 1990 team, and the first playoff game in Great American Ballpark history-all of which I attended!  We also have Redsfest.

Friday I arrived at the Duke Energy Center at around 8 am.  We have the past 3 years, and sat along the walls inside the building.  This year, I arrive, and they aren't going to open the doors until noon.  So, Bob and Zach Volk, myself, and 20 other people wait outside in the cold until noon to be the first inside.  They let a guy in a wheel chair who came an hour later (he was in a wheel chair because of low blood sugar) and let him in the front of the line.  Not to sound like a jerk, but I don't think that's right.  I won't rant...it's not worth it.  However, there was no reason he could not have waited outside like everyone else.  Anyway...

So at noon we went to wait a few more hours until the doors open.  One of the people we had been waiting with was actually able to sneak and get a picture of 3 of the 5 autograph slots. So we were all able to see and prepare for several of the autograph times.

We all were sure that at 4:15 (as normal) they would have an autograph slot, as well as one at 9:15.  They had both.  When we were waiting to go in, the guys we were with kept saying "Run straight to A, that's where the best will be!" (There are 5 autograph lines...A, B, C (season ticket holders only), D (Kids only), and E.  Bob was ready to do so, and I talked him into heading to the center to look first, like we do every year.  It's never served us wrong.  At 3:35 they let us in. We did as I suggested...and immediately turned around and headed for B.

I had already decided this year wasn't as much about autographs as the last few years.  I ended up spending a lot more time looking around and at the main stage.

I took a picture of the line:

That was behind me...I was fourth in line.  Bob was seventh.  At 4:15, it was time for our first autograph. 

Aroldis Chapman, with the 105 MPH fastball and jewels everywhere, was one of the few I hoped to get.  It was a great first treat.  The man in grey is Chapman's translator. He has an interesting way of signing...he turns the ball and signs sideways.  So when you look at the picture below, he turned to where the part with his autograph was with the C at the top and n closest to him to sign.  It was rather interesting.  

Behind it you can see my World Baseball Classic ball I won.  It is one of four commemorative baseballs I have.  The other four are near the end of the post.

After that, I went and enjoyed the highlight reel of the season.  It really was a tremendous year!  It was the most fun I can imagine for a season...I can't wait to see what next year holds.  After that I checked out some memorabilia.  They had some cool things (a ton) and I picked up a few smaller things. I picked up a couple more small things today.  Possibly the coolest thing I picked up was this:

That is the Reds team yearbook from the year I was born.  Sure I was only alive for 13 hours that year...but it is still from the year I was born, which I thought was nifty.  I also got it for $10 instead of 15 and in that awesome case.  

Anyway, after the main stage and memorabilia, I took a picture with my future wife.  (A joke...Jennifer and I won't ever be separated...and she's not a real person...but it's a fun joke.)

Rosie Red and I

A Rosie ornament I got at Redsfest

I went to go see Jamie Ramsey, who has one of the best blogs in the business, Better Off Red.  Great blog from a Miami grad.  We chatted for a few, and I moved on and looked at pretty much all of the booths around Redsfest.

After that, I went over to the kids only autograph line, where one of my favorite players of the past decade was signing for kids...of which I don't count at Redsfest.  As he was walking from kids only to a picture, I asked him to sign a ball for me, and he did. I had forgotten what I really wanted him to sign in my office.  I stopped and got it today, and waited in line for him to sign it today.  I also got Sam LeCure to sign an unused playoff ticket (the Reds did not get to that game).  Here are pics of each:

Dontrelle Willis McFarland from 2004

Sam LeCure ticket from Game 4 of the playoffs...which was never played.

The first day ended, and we moved on to day two...some of which you just heard about.  Bob Wilson joined me today, and we had a good time with everything.  We watched several things on the main stage, got some autographs, shopped a little, and had a great time.  It was tiring but fun.  This blog is already long, so I'm not going in to everything...you get the idea.  But below are some images with captions that will show you more about Redsfest (and a small bit of my Reds collection...maybe 10% of it.

Walt, Dusty, and most of the Coaching staff

Marty and the Cowboy, fresh off new 3-year deals

Marty asking Walt for the inside scoop on upcoming deals

Why does no one pay attention to us?

"So, Dusty...how are you going to use that many starting pitchers?"

"This year, I think the Reds need to focus more on modern dance."

"Did you see what Chuck D is wearing?  It's great having fans that into this!"

Chuck D, the #1 Reds Fan, waiting in line to ask a question.  He didn't get to.

"I wish I was golfing."

"I could use some fried chicken right about now."-Cowboy thinks

"The reason we led the league in runs scored? It was all me." -Third Base Coach Mark Berry

"Dusty...can we get past the first round next year?"

"I'm telling you-dance is the answer!"

Bob Wilson with the four Reds All-Stars

NL and Reds team MVP Joey Votto.
 

Joey: "What I do in the bathroom, I do to myself." (He actually said that)

The bags they gave us...replicas of the new batting practice jerseys.  I want a jersey!

The Reds travel mugs they gave us.

Autographed balls from Redsfest.

L-to-R: Dontrelle Willis, Matt Maloney, Devin Messorasco, Bob Castellini, Chris Valaika.  

Behind it you can see my autographed Barry Larkin ball and the pic of us together. 

My current Reds autographed ball shelf, minus the new balls.  L-R

Top: Dusty Baker, Ryan Hanigan, Coco Cordero, Sam LeCure, Mike Leake

Second Row (cases): Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto

Third Row front: Corky Miller, Homer Bailey, Nick Massett

Third Row Back: Jared Burton, Bill Bray, Mike Lincoln, Micah Owings, Logan Ondrusek, Danny Ray Herrera

Fourth Row: Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Orlando Cabrera, Todd Frazier, Scott Rolen, Paul Janish

Fifth Row: Lance Nix, Drew Stubbs, Johnny Gomes, Chris Heisey, Jay Bruce

(I'm not moving any free agents until they sign elsewhere)

Former Reds players.  

The left half is mostly former Reds (except one who never was a Red, Brandon Webb)

The right part is some of my balls from the 1990 team.  Not all of them are there, I believe.

The other commemorative balls I have received in batting practice or at games.  

Front: Nationals Park Inaugural Season, last out of an inning, tossed up by Garrett Anderson

Second: Shea Stadium (Mets) Final Season, tossed up in BP by Eric Gagne

Third: Target Field (Twins) Inaugural Season-BP, hit out by an Astro

I LOVE this headline, and now I have the paper signed by Jay Bruce!  

There it is...Redsfest 2010. A wonderful time.  I can't wait until the season!