Red Reposter: I Wish I Knew How to Quit Choo

Rosenthal - Reds Not Giving Up on Choo

In his report from the GM Meetings in Orlando, Ken Rosenthal states that Reds haven't completely shut the door on the Choo era.  Lil' Kenny surmises that the Reds would need to rid themselves of the contracts of both Brandon Phillips and Homer Bailey to make the payroll work.

We've said this here again and again, but a 5+ year/ $100 million + contract for Choo is not going to end well.  As much as I enjoyed seeing him play for the Reds this past season, I think Walt needs to get creative, not sentimental this winter.  I'd also be very wary of trading Homer this offseason unless the deal was too good to pass up, this is a pitching first team, and Homer is one of the best three pitchers the Reds have.  It is interesting, however, to see how many media types are conceding that BP is as good as gone.

Moose Mattair Nominated for Stenson Award

The Arizona Fall League is wrapping up (expect your first Farmers Only post of the winter soon), and during the championship game the AFL will award one of six finalists the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award.  This is, of course, named after the late Reds prospect who was murdered in Arizona back in 2003.  The AFL championship game will air Saturday at 3pm on MLB Network, though the Reds affiliate will not be playing this year.

CTrent is Taking his Talents to OTR

Mark your calendars next Thursday for an evening at MOTR Pub with CTrent and the Reds Director of Baseball Research/Analysis, Sam Grossman.  The event starts at 7pm.  Or #justskipit and come hang out with me at Japp's right down the street, as I'll be working happy hour that night.

Flip Flop Fly Ball - Baseball Tree of Life

I'm a big fan of Craig Robinson's work, and this here might be his magnum opus.  The piece was apparently two years in the making, and the attention to detail shows.  The Reds are only represented by the Crosley Field floodlights and Pete Rose, with no hat tip for being the first professional team, but there is so much awesome to get upset about that.  As soon as prints are made available, I'm buying one and framing it.  (Read Cee Angi's kind of heartbreaking reaction to seeing the piece here.)

Cats Rule Everything Around Me (C.R.E.A.M.)

Matthew Kory over at the mothership makes fun of Tony LaRussa and his 17 cats.  I can't even imagine how disgusting Tony LaRussa's house smells.