While I sit around and wait for the ink to dry on RayMoan's contract, I am struck dumb by excitement that Hernandez's signing has caused especially at one of the places work. My secondary work place is full of about 25 blue collar guys from 28 - 67 yrs. of age. these guys are big time sports fans - they talk sports, they eat and drink sports...to a man they are excited and relieved that Hanigan will not be considered for the starter's job in 2010. When I attempt to discuss Hanigan's on base percentage and moving him up to the #2 spot in the line up I am literally shouted down. Now I know I'm right and they are wrong but I can see why the Red's management could be heavily swayed to give the fans what they want. In this case Hernandez. And that management probably agrees with them.

Interestingly these same guys have little use for Taveris, Jannish or Dickerson. They love the Rolen move, love BP, Bruce (to a point) and Votto too. Guys like Gomes, Ballentien and Nix are shrug offs, nobody thinks that they are 'The Real Thing' and that the Reds need a big stick in LF (these are same guys that really hated on Dunn). Also interestingly this group of sports addicts are high on Stubbs and Fransisco.

I see the nearly 25 guys I work with 2.5 days week (who are totally into Football and Basketball right now) as comprising the average fan. They believe that Castellini made millions off the team in 2009, that the the reason for a lower budget for 2010 is so that Big Bob can make even more money, that the price to go to a game is outrageous and that we should be trading away guys like Harang and (many say) Jay Bruce for a proven veteran LF. Yet, half of these guys don't know who Todd Frazier is, 75% don't know Chris Heisey. Arroyo is their favorite pitcher with Voltron  Homer and Lehr next on the list. Pretty much to a man they think Harang is washed up.

Phil Castellini probably has had the same interactions that I have in talking to fans...hell he probably agrees with them. He'll pay attention to what fans say they want in an attempt to fill the seats. My guess is that this translates into a pretty boring and mediocre season for 2010.

The hopes I hold to is that Walt will pull off something...to spice up the roster or that one of the young guys will have a breakout Spring Training.

Enough of this as I really need to get to work on Slyde's novel.....