This is a new feature I'm hoping to include every day. See if you can identify this player from the only slightly cropped photo I took at a spring training game. I'll reveal the answer when I post the next photo.

OK, so I haven't really had the time or Internet access to do a proper job of researching Broson Arroyo, but I'm 90% confident that I'd be saying the same thing after proper research as I'm going to say now: I think this was an adequate move.

Arroyo might not be the best pitcher in the world, but he's an improvement over our options. And the Reds just didn't need Peña's home runs and lack of defensive skill. We've got tons of that already. I'm super-psyched to think that this move opens up some space for Dewayne Wise or even (dare I say it?) Chris Denorfia.

And don't forget the benefit to Peña. He's a young guy with tons of potential that just keeps not getting met in Cincinnait. He never quite fit in with the Outfield Buddies, and he never seemed to be getting a chance. He's in a good place to give a new venue a try. Maybe the change of pace will be what it takes to let him finally put it all together.

Thanks to the anonymous person who sent me a couple photos of Arroyo, as well as some rather disheartening sound bytes. I credit you with that 10% lack of confidence in this move.

According to a story in the Indy Star, Fox Sports Midwest will air some Reds games this season:

Fox Sports Net Midwest will televise 63 Cincinnati Reds games beginning with opening day against the Chicago Cubs on April 3.

Not that 63 games is remotely enough, but given the amount of difficulty I had finding anyReds-related merchandise while I was Christmas shopping, I'm prepared to call this a step in the right direction.

My first full day in Sarasota is in the books, and I'm pleased to say that my beer consumption is way, way up. That's how you know a vacation's a success, after all.

I rolled out of bed this morning, got a beer, and started preparing for the day's events. I needed to put the finishing touches on a gift for Jerry Narron that I've been working on for weeks. It didn't come together, so I'm going to have to take it to a framing store or something, but be on the lookout for some photos as soon as it's delivered. It's freakin' bad-ass.

Soon it was time to head to the game. At Ed Smith, I had a couple beers, tried to find the rhythm of the game, and started working on my sunburn. It was a very nice game that started the winning streak that I'd like to think my boys will sustain for the next two weeks, just for me.

After the game, children 12 and under were invited to run the bases. I don't think you can properly appreciate how cute this event is until you have a 12 and under of your own. My boy ran just like all the other kids except that he didn't hit a single one of the bases. And that he ran slightly bent at the waist with his arms sticking straight behind him like a super hero cape.

I headed back to the condo for a couple more beers. Actually, those particular beers might have been a little too much, because I was pretty much unable to get off the bed for the better part of the hour before we left for FinDaddy's. Or maybe it was that I'd had only half a hot dog by way of food so far for the day. Whatever.

FinDaddy's is the restaurant and bar from which the Reds broadcast during spring training. While we were there, I enjoyed a beer and heard Andy Furman talking to Jerry Narron. But I didn't really hear Narron respond. The frequency of his voice is apparently too low to penetrate the crowd noises.

Wayne Krivsky talked next, and we could hear him much better. He recounted how Kirby Puckett always called him “Kriv-dog” or “Kriv-daddy,” which is, of course, how I will refer to him from this day forward. I wanted to introduce myself, but after the interview Kriv-dog was off like a prom dress, so I didn't get the chance.

Bucky Dent was next, but by then our 4-year old had fallen asleep. It was time to head back to home base.

Beer count: seven. Not really that many for a whole day, but I'm just getting started. Tomorrow is a whole new day.

(P.S. -- And to think Kriv-dog didn't let slip a syllable about Wily Mo! He's sneaky.)

I was sitting in my seat on the first base line when one of the ushers came over to a woman in the row in front of me and said:

“Did you see the news? Wily Mo is gone?”

The woman had seen the news, and after the usher left, I asked what was up. She said he'd gone to Boston. For whom? She had to ask her husband:

“Some guy named Arroya or something?” he responded. A few minutes later a guy in our row got an instant message confirming the news. Later, I would be the first to tell Raquel Aurilia about it.

Anyway, I have to run to FinDaddy's. It's probably getting packed. But welcome Bronson Arroyo. May you have a heck of a year. And good luck Wily Mo.