This week on the podcast, the Crack Technical Staff and I are pleased to welcome Lambo and Sketkar of the Astrocast to the program to share their insights on the Astros and how they think the season is going to play out.It’s the first time we’ve had two guests on the show at the same time, and I think it worked out well, thanks in large part to me shutting up for a change and letting the guests do most of the talking. The Crack Technical Staff feels very bad that he forgot to unplug the laptop, which is the cause of the hum and some of the other weird noises you hear throughout the program, but I think he’s probably being too hard on himself.

Hopefully you’ll still be able to make out their voices, despite us not having the greatest connection in the world, because this is the first preview of another NLC team we’ve done where the guest isn’t totally down on the Reds. It’s nice to have someone recognize.

Episode 50: Astros Preview with Lambo and Sketkar (12.4 MB, 18:04)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We’ve been interviewing NLC bloggers for weeks now to get previews on the competition in 2007, and this week it’s time for a little introspection. The Crack Technical Staff and I use this week’s program to discuss what we think are the biggest transactions of the off-season, the likely roster, and how the team will fare in the coming season.Here’s our projected roster, BTW:

Starting Rotation (5)

• Aaron Harang
• Bronson Arroyo
• Eric Milton
• Kyle Lohse
• one of Kirk Saarloos/Paul Wilson/Matt Belisle/Elizardo Ramirez

Jon won’t even let me bring up the topic of Homer Bailey (though I do anyway in the show), but I agree that he’s not likely to make the team on Opening Day.

Bullpen (6)

• Dustin Hermanson
• David Weathers
• Mike Stanton
• Rheal Cormier
• Todd Coffey
• Bill Bray

It is with some bitterness that I note the absence of Gary Majewski. Not that I’m anxious to get him back on the mound or anything.

Catchers (3)

• David Ross
• Javier Valentí­n
• Chad Moeller

I actually can see some benefit to carrying three catchers, but not this way. 1) The Reds already have emergency back-ups in Scott Hatteberg and Ryan Freel, and 2) the benefit of having a third catcher does not outweigh the loss suffered by taking up a roster spot that one of our other promising hopefuls could be using.

Infielders (6)

• Scott Hatteberg 1B
• Brandon Phillips 2B
• Alex Gonzalez SS
• Edwin Encarnaci´n 3B
• Juan Castro All things to all people
• one of Jeff Conine/Mark Bellhorn to platoon at 1B and play backup infielder

Conine’s already hurt, but the Reds’ management’s love of old dudes might get him on the Opening Day roster anyway. In either case, you sort of wonder whether it’s really worth it to take the ABs away from Hatteberg. I mean, it was one thing with Rich Aurilia last season, but this is a totally different situation.

Outfielders (5)

• Adam Dunn LF
• Ken Griffey CF
• Ryan Freel anywhere and everywhere
• Josh Hamilton RF unless he can wrest CF from Griffey
• Bubba Crosby backup

Dunn’s set in left field, but any of the rest of those guys could play center or right on any given day. And knowing Jerry Narron’s love of changing around the line-up, they probably will all play everywhere.

We also find some time for news from around baseball:

• Several rule changes in effect for 2007
• Sunday recap: White Sox 13, Cubs 2
• Sosa finds power stroke against Royals

Episode 49: Reds Preview with Us (29.2 MB, 42:37)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Yeah, I know we just previewed the Cardinals with Bellyscratcher, but if you have the opportunity to have a celebrity blogger like Will Leitch from the Deadspin.com on the show, you take it. I mean, we’re talking about the guy who glogged the Super Bowl!On tonight’s show we talk about how Deadspin began, how it grew to what it is today, and how they get the community to provide most of the content–and that’s just the stuff before we start talking about baseball.

Episode 48: Cardinals Preview with Will Leitch (15.5 MB, 22:32)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Tonight on the Red Hot Broadcast we’re pleased to welcome our favorite smack-talker, Bellyscratcher, to give us a preview of the Cardinals 2007 season.Ms. Scratcher talks about the big, throbbing question mark that is the St. Louis starting rotation (can you believe Ryan Franklin is in the mix??), the future of Colby Rasmus, and how any team with Albert Pujols doesn’t have to worry about offense. Also hear first-hand how the home of Busch ran out of beer one fabled night.

Check out Ms. Scratcher’s site, bellyitcher, on a regular basis. Many thanks, Belly, for being on the show. I can hardly wait for the smack to begin!

Episode 47: Cardinals Preview with Bellyscratcher (13.3 MB, 19:26)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week on the podcast, Jon and I are pleased to welcome Pat Lackey of Where Have You Gone, Andy Van Slyke?, which is my favorite Pirates blog, if only because I like to abbreviate it to WHYGAS? and then answer the question in parentheses. For example:This week on the podcast, we’re pleased to welcome Pat of WHYGAS? (‘cuz it’s more fun than the brake).

Pat seems to prefer to abbreviate it WHYGAVS?, though. To each his own, I guess.

Anyway, Pat gives us an overview of the Pirates’ moves this off-season and his expectations for the coming year.

Thanks to Pat for agreeing to be on the show.

Episode 46: Pirates Preview with Pat Lackey (13.1 MB, 19:07)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download