By “referees” I mean “people who were referred,” not “guys in striped shirts blowing whistles at Ken Broo.”

This week on the podcast:

• I ramble on for far longer than you'd think possible about the Hallmark Store.
• We welcome new listeners who found us via my appearance on Sports Rock. We go on to discuss a comment from Ken Broo's podcast The Broo View about bringing up Homer Bailey.
• Baseball finally makes its way into our discussion as we chat about the upcoming Cardinals/Mets series and how surprising it is that we actually care more about the Detroit/A's series. After all, Dmitri Young's birthday is on Wednesday.
• Speaking of, I happen to share my birthday with Dmitri Young. You know what I would love for my birthday? Some calls to the message line. (513) 729-7106.
• The Reds players who opted for free-agency today. You're just going to have to listen to find out who they are.
• We make fun of Thom Brennaman, to see how he likes it.
• Crack Technical Staff shares stories about David Wright's tips for picking up men and how the Padres angered the spirit of the candy factory. Don't piss of the red M&M, man. He's a mean one.

Episode 26: Welcome Ken Broo Referees (16.2 MB, 23:42)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Just when I was bracing myself emotionally to see Rich Aurilia head back to the Giants, columnist Joel Sherman starts throwing Richie's name around as part of The Moves to Make in today's New York Post. Putting our beloved Bad Man at first base (or as a utility infielder) is apparently part of Sherman's “bold offseason plan” for the Yankees.

FIND A FIRST BASEMAN: This is a more likely place to risk taking Aurilia or DeRosa. Jason Giambi must be made a near-regular DH. In addition, the Yanks have to resolve to play Melky Cabrera 3-4 times a week next year and rotate Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu between rest and the DH slot. This means Giambi might play only 120 games. So be it. The Yanks have to think about being a better defensive team.

OK, so that's columnists for the Giants and the Yankees writing about the prospect of bringing Aurilia aboard. Who's next? The Reds??

The Louisville Bats will have the 2008 AAA All-Star Game.

I predict the Louisville Bats will also have the 2008 AAA All-Star Game MVP: Aaron Holbert.

Via Marc

I know what you've been thinking: sure, technology has given me the microwave and the digital watch and the lifesaving organ transplant I needed at birth, but when is it going to come through with an application that uses a photo of me to say which celebrity I look the most like?

Well friend, your wait is over. Thanks to the good people at MyHeritage, face recognition software is now available to “Find the Celebrity in You.” So, of course, the first thing I did is run some of my favorite Reds photos through to see what came back.

Bronson Arroyo's #1 match was Sophia Loren. I think he ought to try the eyeliner; I think it would be a good look for him.

Did anyone else see the thing on the FSN pre-game where Kent Mercker asked all his teammates who spent the most time in front of the mirror, and they all said Scott Hatteberg? Perhaps, then, it's fitting that his best celebrity match was racing heartthrob Jeff Gordon.

Javier Valentín probably only really looks like Fred Durst with that hat on, but I think he always wears it, so there go you.

Ryan Freel's mugshot comes up looking the most like Kurt Cobain, but I like the Hanson boy myself. Mmm-bop!

I'm not for sure, but I think tonight might be the night my tiny little segment appears on Ken Broo's show. So tune in for Sports Rock after the 11 o'clock news on channel 5 tonight, if you're in the Cincinnati-land area and let me know how I did.

And, much like my first podcast, expect my first television appearance to be rough. It's hot and nervous up there in front of the cameras.

If you're a first-time reader who found your way here after catching the show tonight: welcome! It's always a pleasure to greet die-hard Reds fans who are willing to look past my on-air stuttering for a little baseball-related amusement. I'll see if I can't get something posted here for you momentarily.