When I gave one of my new matchbooks to a woman at work, her response was:

Girl, you're out of control.

OK, maybe my level of giddiness when 2500 of these babies arrived on my porch yesterday does border a bit on the obsessive side. But can you blame me? I mean, they're Red. They're Hot. And they're about the cheapest thing you can buy en masse to hand out to people you just met to encourage them to visit your site.

Mega-props to matchbooks.com who not only had a Web interface for designing the covers, but also caught a typo and called us at home to check it out. Unheard-of customer service!

I can hardly wait for someone to ask me for a light.

If you missed the Reds Week programming last night, you can catch most of it tonight in a slightly different order on Fox Sports Net Ohio:

• 7:00 p.m. Hot Stove Special
• 7:30 p.m. Hall of Fame: Tom Seaver
• 8:00 p.m. Interview with Ken Griffey, Jr.
• 8:30 p.m. Interview with Bob Castellini
• 9:00 p.m. Unspecified topic
• 9:30 p.m. 1990 Reds

Consider Javier Valentín. He's coming off not only a fantastic 2005, but also a fantastic off-season. He's got a new baby boy at home. And to top it all off, he's got a fabulous new goatee.

You can just tell it's going to be a great year. Go Reds!

I was watching the Reds Week programming on FSN Ohio tonight. During an interview with George Grande, Reds CEO Bob Castellini acknolwedged that he was consulted before the Casey trade went through and that he concurred with the decision.

Castellini said that “baseball reasons” were the impetus for the decision and that monetary concerns are a part of the baseball reasons. He said you have to spend something of value to get pitching and recounted a heartwarming tale of a neighborhood scamp giving his daughter grief over the deal.

I always figured that a trade of that magnitude wouldn't go down with at least a consultation with the probable new owner, but I didn't think he'd say anything about it for a while. Then if Dave Williams sucked, it would be easy enough to fall back on the It-Happened-Before-I-Was-Here excuse; alternately, Castellini could always claim some of the credit later if Williams rocked.

But, of course, Mr. Castellini doesn't seem to be the type to shirk the responsibility. Good for him.

SARASOTA, FL -- The Reds announced Jung Keun Bong as the projected opening day starter today after 29 of the 30 pitchers currently at spring training were injured during bunting practice.

In a desperate attempt to improve the bunting ability of the Reds pitching staff, manager Jerry Narron threw his pitchers right into bunting against live pitching today.

“Looking back on it, we probably should have let them warm up against something a little softer,” said Narron. Instead, he had the notoriously wild flamethrower Allan Simpson throw bunting practice.

“They just went down one after another,” said Narron. “[Aaron] Harang took a fastball in the eye, and [Dave] Williams got hit in the shoulder.”

“I just kept thinking 'there's no way he's going to keep hitting them.' I was wrong.”

Simpson himself tripped walking off the mound and sprained his wrist. Only Bong, who is in Japan training with the Korean team for the World Baseball Classic was spared and is likely to be the only pitcher healthy enough to work on opening day.

“At least it won't be [recently released pitcher Josh] Hancock,” said Narron.

Narron Looks Ahead, Hires Hatcher
The Reds announced that former Reds outfielder Billy Hatcher will replace John Moses as first base coach. Moses retired suddenly last Thursday. Narron chose Hatcher because of his experience working with Lou Piniella.

Hatcher most recently coached first for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays where he worked with Piniella. Reds CEO Bob Castellini has made no secret of wanting to bring Piniella in to manage the Reds when he's available.

“Might as well bring in someone who has a shot at keeping the job next year,” Narron explained.

Lopez Backs Out of WBC
All-star shortstop Felipe Lopez backed out of playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic so that he can bond with new infield coordinator, Bucky Dent.

Lopez says he'd like to have as big an impact as Dent. “Anybody who can piss off Boston fans so much is someone I'd like to get to know,” said Lopez. “Maybe someday, if I'm good enough, they'll call me 'Felipe Fucking Lopez' or something.”

He's also looking forward to getting to know the new first base coach.

“I've been playing his video game all day, and I'm really looking forward to talking giant eggs with him,” said Lopez.