I'm so close to having a post every day this month that I can't let tonight slip away without a quick hello to all of you out in Red Hot Mama land. But really, the details of my trip deserve more attention than I can give as I sit here in my car, outside the Remax office, weasin' the juice off their sweet Wi-Fi.

I understand the Reds won today in Bradenton. I was there, but bailed in favor of Chuck E. Cheese when the rain delayed the game and my four-year-old's lingering cold made itself an issue. Nevertheless, it sounds like I was there for all of the scoring, and if there's one part I don't want to miss, it's the scoring.

In case you can't tell, I'm up to five beers for the night. I'm going to have to hurry if I'm going to beat my previous record, but I think I can do it. I'll let you know in the morning, assuming I can get myself out of bed.

The Reds fell to the Indians on Tuesday by a score of 2-5 on Bingo Day at Ed Smith Stadium.

Brandon Claussen started and allowed just one run through five innings. Unfortunately, Jake Robbins came in to give up four runs in the sixth and get the loss.

Edwin Encarnación found a field other than left when he hit a center field double in the 2nd inning. He later scored on an Austin Kearns sacrifice double-play.

Chris Denorfia stole second base in the sixth inning and later scored to give the Reds their other run.

Chris Hammond pitched a scoreless top of the seventh, and it really looked like there was hope for the Reds when Danny Graves came in in the bottom of the seventh. But alas, the longhaired wonder proved to be too much for Dewayne Wise, Frank Menechino, and Jacob Cruz, who went down in order on ground balls. Proof positive that we were wrong to say goodbye to Graves.

Rick White pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Kent Mercker pitched a scoreless ninth, but it was too late for the Reds, who suffered the first loss of the spring that I witnessed in person. And let me tell you what: it stinks.

The loss brings the Reds’ record to 11-10. The Reds visit the Twins in Fort Myers tonight at 7:05 p.m., and I take the day off. This vacation has been as much work as work is.

Hoping to repeat the rampant success of Danny Graves, the Reds started David Weathers in their win against the Blue Jays on Monday in Sarasota.

Weathers allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit through two innings of work. Ryan Wagner gave up the other Toronto run on two hits in the third inning. Brian "Love" Shackelford, Jason Standridge, and Todd Coffey each put up a hitless inning, with Coffey getting the win. Michael Burns contributed two hitless innings. Jake Robbins’ scoreless inning saw two hits.

Rich Aurilia had a good day with an RBI double in the sixth inning and an impressive heads-up play to throw a guy out at home. Especially encouraging, since he’ll probably be seeing quite a bit of time at first. Ryan Freel also provided an RBI and Brian Buchanan provided two.

The woman in the row in front of us was selected as the Carraba’s sweetheart of the game, and was presented with flowers and a gift certificate. She had spent most of the game consulting with her mother about the sunburn on her shoulders and reading a celebrity magazine, so she definitely didn’t see it coming, even after they announced her section, row, and seat number. She also narrowly avoided a foul ball a few innings earlier, so it was a big game for her. Too bad there isn't a Jumbo-tron at Ed Smith.

The win brought the Reds' record to 11-9. They would go on to host the Indians on Tuesday afternoon.

Bobby Basham for David Ross, this time. Standridge DFA'd to make room on the 40-man for Ross. This has to be paving the way for either a LaRue or Valentin deal, or it makes absolutely no sense. Wait, scratch that. Even if one is traded, it makes absolutely no sense. Ross is a career .217/.288/.406 hitter with poor defense and the inability to do anything but hit the occasional homerun. So far he's failed as a catcher with the Dodgers, Pirates, and Padres, all within the last year. The man is simply not worthy of a major-league roster.

Of course, in acquiring him, Krivsky got rid of Basham, who showed a lot of promise in AA last year, and got rid of Standridge, who was competent at the major league level last year. He's not gonna get an amazing deal for LaRue or Javy, so this has to be chalked up as more idiocy from Krivsky. I long for the days of Dan O'Brien.

Wowza: what a day.

Monday started off calmly enough with a quick trip to the beach to let the tot make a sand castle. After that, we had the regular problems finding a convenient Internet connection and a quick trip to the frame shop before heading to Ed Smith Stadium.

It was a calm morning that belied the eventful afternoon.

I already recounted how I heard about the Wily Mo trade. A couple of innings in, I took my boy to the restroom. In one of those highly dramatic, movie-type moments, we passed by George Grande. This scintillating conversation ensued:

Me: Hi, George.
George: (Looking at me blankly, trying to figure out whether he should know me) Hi. Good to see you.

And then he patted me on the shoulder. Wow.

Just when I thought the game couldn't get any more exciting, my hubby spotted Raquel Aurilia in the stands. I went over to say hi and spent most of the rest of the game chatting with her. It was mostly stuff about our kids and her music career, but I asked how Rich likes playing first (which he was doing as we chatted). Richie, she said, is happy to play wherever they put him. She, on the other hand, sounds like she would like to see him consistently at second.

After the game, we made yet another abortive attempt to find an Internet connection, this time at Starbucks. Once I finally find a convenient and comfortable place to access the online Reds news I need so desperately, I'm going to have to sing its praises at some length. Just to warn you in advance.

Before I had a chance to properly get up to speed on this Bronson Arroyo character, it was time to head to FinDaddy's for the broadcast from 6 to 9.

The restaurant was packed, but the super-friendly greeter said she would “see what she could do.” It turned out that a table had been reserved but someone had sat that party somewhere else, so it was available for us. Apparently the group that it had been reserved for was a group of VIPs because we were seated next to Joe Nuxhall.

BTW--for people who are coming to spring training looking for autographs, you absolutely should not miss FinDaddy's. It's a cozy atmosphere and everyone signs stuff. Plus, the servers are absolutely the friendliest people in the state.

At six o'clock, Bob Castellini was on the program. I got in line to meet him, and while I was waiting, chatted a little with Dewayne Wise, who was also signing stuff before he appeared on the program at 7. Wise was being very good, with a lot of “I just hope I can keep it going for the next week and a half” kinds of comments and a lot of nodding and smiling while gray-haired women told him all about how they'd beed Reds fans since back when the team was called the Red Stockings, but I think he's got a little bit of edge to him. He let a little bit of bravado come through later when he was telling Andy Furman how much he could bring to the team and how Chris Chambliss was “amazed” at how the ball jumped off his bad.

I liked Wise very well.

Finally I was up to meet Castellini. I had only a few seconds before they went back on the air, so the conversation was short. Here's a complete transcript of my chat with the richest person I've ever spoken with:

Me: I don't have anything for you to sign. I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Amanda and I maintain a weblog about the Reds called Red Hot Mama. (handing him my card and matchbook)
Bob: You're a blogger? (This question isn't as dumb as it sounds. It was very loud in there, and I got the feeling he figured it out from my card, not my introduction.)
Me: Yeah.
Bob: You any good?
Me: The best.
Bob: (smiling and as Furman goes back on the air) It was nice to meet you.

Still a little trembly, I worked my way back to my table. As I sat down and started to tell my husband about the interchange. That's when I noticed who would be the guest in the next hour standing a few feet away.

It. Was. The. Latin. Love. Machine.

Live and in person. I got in line for that one right away and had introduced myself before he was even on the air. I asked if it was OK to take a photo and gave him one of my matchbooks. Here's the complete transcript of the LLM-iest person I've ever spoken with:

Me: Is it OK for me to take your picture for my weblog?
LLM: Sure.
Me: You're one of our favorites over on my blog.
LLM: (looking at matchbook quizzically) 'Red Hot Mama'? What is this?
Me: (only slightly emotionally decimated that he'd never heard of it) It's a website where I write about the Reds. I talk about you a lot.
LLM: Oh, OK. (pocketing matchbook)

I had a similar conversation with Aaron Harang, and then snapped a photo of Jacob Cruz without even asking.

We ended the eventful day with a trip to a coffee house we'd heard had Internet access. It was closed, but I did get to sit in the parking lot and read how displeased with the Arroyo trade the people on RedsZone are until my son announced that he had to pee.

What an exciting day. Who knows what kind of excitement Tuesday will hold. Maybe I'll see Chris Welch.