Updated 11/14/2006 11:08 PM
Looks like I've knocked the Limerick Contest off the front page a solid two days before the deadline. I don't really want to sticky it, so I'm changing the date to bring it back to the top.

Originally posted 11/10/2006 12:30 AM
Some people have brought to my attention the fact that our new pitching coach, Dick Pole, has a somewhat amusing name. And since I can tell that people are just itching to use all their tasteless jokes, I saw an opportunity to provide the tasteless venue.

Hey, don't thank me. Serving the community is just what I do.

The task before you is to write the funniest Dick Pole limerick. To enter, submit your limerick in the comments on this post by 11:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, November 16. Enter as often as you like. The winner will be selected by which one makes me laugh the hardest, unless I can get the Crack Technical Staff to make me a poll by then. In which case the winner would be selected by poll. Pole poll.

The winner will receive the Reds crap I have lying around my desk, including but not limited to: a signed copy of the increasingly “collectible” Funnyball, a “Cincinnati GO REDS” bumper sticker that I picked up at the Reds caravan last year, and a fistful of Red Hot Mama matchbooks.

Good luck!

The Crack Technical Staff has been busy keeping the sidebar links up to date the last few days. Changes include:

• Reds (and Blues) changing URLs to redsandblues.com. The new site loads much better.
• Adding my first non-baseball blog link to Cornrows, an up-and-coming Pacers' blog. It's written by the first person I've known in person before they started a sports blog, and I like to think that RHM was something of an inspiration to him.
• Putting up a link to Deadspin that's long overdue, especially if you consider all the times they've linked to me. Did you see bit about Farney in their sportshuman of the year contest?

I'm desperate for content today, so I'm rehashing a story from Reds.com four days ago.

Young William Bergolla is having quite the winter in Venezuela:

Bergolla continued his scorching Venezuela Winter League campaign this week, going 10-for-21 in five games to improve his batting average to .402. The slick-fielding middle infielder has collected multiple hits in nine games and has only gone hitless in two of his 20 contests. He's been particularly impressive at home, hitting .469 in 49 at-bats.

At 23 years old, Bergolla's so skinny and sweet-faced that it would be easy to believe that he's 16, but maybe this is him coming into his own.

Also in Venezuela is another of my favorites, little Ray Olmedo. Of Ray-Ray they say:

Olmedo collected five hits in 17 at-bats, scoring three runs and driving in two in four games. He's hitting .323 with 15 runs, two homers and seven RBIs in 62 at-bats.

Not bad for a little fella.

If you think the minor league stuff might help get you through until Kriv-dawg pulls off a major blockbuster deal, there's a lengthy analysis of the Reds' farm system on MILB.com.

Today on the podcast we discuss:

• Bronson Arroyo's diary of his trip to Japan and the exhibition series in which he participated
• The hiring of Dick Pole as the pitching coach. Don't forget to enter the Dick Pole Limerick Contest. The Go Reds bumper sticker could be yours!
• Rumors: David Weathers, Rich Aurilia, Ryan Freel
• The updated ticket prices
• Signing Bubba Crosby, and the dedicated fans who will now be joining Reds-land
• A message on the voicemail line! It was a wrong number! A perverse wrong number!
• Cubs transactions: Kerry Wood and Aramis Ramirez are going to change everything
• Was the GM “bootleg” Buick ad inspired by the Arroyo bootleg car dealership ad?
• Athletics will build stadium in Fremont
• Gooden ready for release from prison Thursday
• Darryl Strawberry: Live And In Person

Episode 31: Ready for Some Real News (18.3 MB, 26:44)

Comment Line:
(513) 729-7106

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Top Prospect Alert has posted a list of the Reds' top 10 prospects. Not a lot of surprise here: Homer Bailey, Jay Bruce, and Joey Votto. Sure would be nice to see more pitchers in that list, huh?