We just bought our tickets for Redsfest 2010! This is the first time the family is heading out for both days, and since it requires interstate travel to get there, we’ve also booked a hotel. So, it’s an official commitment; two complete days of autographs, climbing the Powerade rock wall, and watching whatever wacky stuff they put up on the stage.

Sorry fourth-grade basketball team that our son is on: we’re skipping the Saturday morning game because we have our sport priorities in order. Sorry kitty cat who will not have us to meow at all night: you’ll just have to mew in an easterly direction and hope the message gets through.

I don’t know about you, but this is just about the most excited I’ve ever been for a Redsfest. There’s just so much up-beat stuff to talk about and so much promise for the future. Plus, since it’s coinciding with the semester drawing to a close, it means not only content to write about, but also time to write it.

I hope to see you at Redsfest. Keep an eye on RHM for photos galore.

The writers got it right! With 31 of 32 first-place votes, Joey Votto was awarded the Most Valuable Player award. Oh, and whoever didn’t vote for Votto might want to look out.

Votto led the Cincinnati Reds to their first division title and first playoff appearance since 1995. Coincidentally, the last time a Red won the MVP award was in 1995, when Barry Larkin did the heavy lifting for Cincinnati.

Lots of fans, myself included, had some apprehension that Votto might be snubbed, as he had been for the All Star vote. Thankfully, he wasn’t. Because there was no way for fans to vote him in later.

Enjoy this one Joey. And I’d love to see you and Jay Bruce battling each other for the award next year.

On this, the day we’re all expecting Joey Votto to be announced as the recipient of the National League Most Valuable Player award, MLB wants you to know that there’s another award up for grabs. The 2010 This Year in Baseball Awards has Votto up for best hitter.

I would link to or quote a description of the awards, but it’s a huge mess of unlinkable Flash. You can go here to vote for Votto, though.

The Manager of the Year award winner was announced yesterday, and Dusty Baker was not the winner. That’s actually not surprising. Bud Black, manager of the San Diego Padres, won with less talent, a lower payroll, and a much harder division.

Baker had a great year, I think, becoming a bit more flexible than he had in his previous time with the Reds and while with the Cubs. It’s possible this was because of the players available, but it seemed like we saw him give young players plenty of opportunities to overcome slumps and get used to major league baseball. Granted, it had to help that Willy Taveras and Corey Patterson are long gone, but that’s under Walt Jocketty’s purview. Baker took the players he had and took the Reds to their first winning season in a decade and their first playoff appearance in 15 years. His reward? Missing the Manager of the Year award by 1 vote.

I would have voted for him, but Black with the Padres was very deserving, too.

Baker was his typical down-to-earth self. “It’s the second time I came in second after a narrow vote,” Baker said. “In 2003, it wasn’t this close but I lost to [the Marlins’] Jack McKeon. You’re disappointed, of course, but we’ll just have to come back next year and win the whole thing.”

Here’s to that. A Reds World Series in 2011 would be a wonderful consolation prize.

After not getting enough playing time to trigger his option for next season, the Cincinnati Reds signed free agent Ramon Hernandez to a $3 million, one-year contract.

Hernandez was a solid part of the catching duo that the Reds fielded last year, as he split playing time with Ryan Hanigan to form one of the best catching combos in the game. Combined, they batted .296 and had an on-base percentage of .375.

On re-signing Hernandez for a second straight year, Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty said, “We wanted to provide our young pitching staff with some continuity. We felt all of our pitchers were comfortable pitching to Ramon.”

It’s a signing that makes sense, as the Reds system is low on catchers. This was evidenced by the call-up of Corky Miller for a portion of the 2010 season. It also speaks to the Reds opinion of the other available free agent catchers.

My only concern is about who gets the most playing time. Hanigan is coming along as the better of the two catchers, and 2011 is the time for him to get the bulk of the playing time. By 2012, Devin Mesoraco should be ready for his chance in the bigs.