Cincinnati Enquirer reporter John Fay wrote a little bit about one Joey Votto yesterday, and as usual, Votto came off as more focused than your average bear.

“My only complaint is the number of meetings we have,” Votto said. “Other than that, I think the pace goes well and guys get enough work in. I don’t think there’s any excuse come season time to not be ready.”

Yup, Votto likes practicing the fundamentals, and it sounds kind of like he’d get pissed off at teammates who loafed and messed up because of it.

“It could happen in the middle of June when we’re tied for first in a big game against Adam Wainwright. It’s important to start here and build from here.”

So it’s a good thing Votto wasn’t on the team for most of the 2000s, otherwise I’m pretty sure his stare of disapproval would’ve withered everyone on that error-prone team.

Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty confirmed today that the team is close to a multi-year extension with reliever Sean Marshall.

“That’s one of the things we said we wanted to do when he traded for him,” Jocketty said. “We want to get it done sooner than later. We’d like to get it done before games start.”

Jocketty would not say how many years.

“It’s not done yet,” he said.

After the trade was confirmed shortly before Christmas, an extension was said to be something that was desired, but further news of it kind of faded away. Of course, what team wouldn’t want more than one year of Marshall? He’s one of the best relievers in the majors. I’m glad to see that the team has continued working on it.

I haven’t seen any details released, but I’d guess it be in the neighborhood of 3 years at $5-7 million per year.

Just like in years past, Fox Sports Ohio will be televising 145 games of the Cincinnati Reds during the 2012 season.

Basically, they’re not covering those day games when everyone is at work and wouldn’t be watching anyway. Oh, unless the Reds do super-well and are picked up by national networks, in which case, FSOhio would have to pick up some other games. And all the games will be broadcast in HD, no matter what DirecTV or other content providers try to say.

Here’s the press release.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – FOX Sports Ohio today announced its 145-game Cincinnati Reds television schedule for 2012. The Reds regular season begins with their home opener on Thursday, April 5th at 4pm against the Miami Marlins at Great American Ball Park. The entire schedule is below.

The network will kick off its coverage of the home opener at 3pm with a special hour-long Reds Live pregame show, presented by Ray St. Clair Roofing. Jim Day and Jeff Piecoro will take the field to feature all the Opening Day festivities. FOX Sports Ohio is also happy to partner with Local 12 WKRC-TV to simulcast Reds Opening Day.

FOX Sports Ohio will continue its comprehensive pregame coverage of the Reds all season long with the return of Reds Live featuring co-hosts Day and Piecoro and feature reporter Brian Giesenschlag. The pregame edition of Reds Live, presented by Ray St. Clair Roofing, will once again provide fans with commentary, features, and in-depth pregame coverage of the Reds 30 minutes prior to every game telecast. Immediately following the final out of each game, the post-game edition of Reds Live, presented by Kings Honda, will feature highlights, player interviews and analysis.

Play-by-play announcers Thom Brennaman, Jim Kelch, and George Grande, and color analysts Chris Welsh and Jeff Brantley will return to the booth to call all the action this season.

Behind-the-scenes on all of FOX Sports Ohio’s Reds productions are producer Josh Hall; directors Brian Hunterman and Roy Alfers; and Reds Live producer Kent Weaver.

The full schedule is available here.

As has become Cincinnati Reds’ manager Dusty Baker’s custom, today he announced that the 2012 Opening Day starter would be Johnny Cueto. If you’ll remember, last year he selected Edinson Volquez before any games were played.

Dusty Baker confirmed what he’s said this winter: Johnny Cueto will start Opening Day.

My reaction to hearing this news was to utter a quote from The Wedding Singer. No, it probably wasn’t the one you’re thinking of.

They’ll be divorced in a year!

Yeah, that’s the one. Given Cueto’s youth and success with the team, though, I kind of doubt he’ll flame out like Volquez did and be traded away. Really, the only question concerning Cueto after is his ability to stay healthy. But if he isn’t on the disabled list come the start of the season, then he’ll already be ahead of last year.