It was a quick podcast tonight, apparently to save time for the three posts that went up today. You can just feel the baseball in the air!

The formal agenda was the final arbitration update.

• The Astros defeated Valverde in arbitration, but have to wait a couple days to hear the decision for Mark Loretta’s case.
• The Brewers reached a one-year deal with shortstop J.J. Hardy for $2.65 million.
• The Reds signed Brandon Phillips to a 4-year, $27 million contract.

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This week on the podcast, the Crack Technical Staff and I were feeling very mellow. Our smart alecry sounds a little weird in our Perry Como voices.

This week we talk to Reds history buff Jim Farmer about how some of the most widely held ideas about Reds history are false.

But before that, we discuss the little tidbits of news going on around the NLC.

Minor League Contract with Invite to Spring Training:

• Cardinals – OF Juan Gonzalez
• Pirates – Doug Mientkiewicz
• Astros – C Joshua Johnson
• Reds – Craig Wilson AND Kent Mercker

Also, the Brewers Picked Up Manager Ned Yost’s 2009 Option. w00t!

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There’s not a lot to say on the baseball front this week, but we’re very pleased to see the Patriots lose and the end of the football season.

We did, however, get together 15 minutes together about:

• Pirates signed Freddy Sanchez to 2 year deal with option for 3rd. He’s getting $4.3 M in 2008.
• Reds signed Matt Belisle to $1.25 M. And how much are they offering Phillips again?
• Astros have 2 arbitration eligible players, INF Mark Loretta and Closer Jose Valverde.
• Nobody in the central landed Johan Santana

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This week on the podcast we talk to Dan Gordon, co-author of the book Haunted Baseball.

Haunted Baseball: Ghosts, Curses, and Eerie Events
Mickey Bradley and Dan Gordon
$10.17
http://www.hauntedbaseball.com/

As if that weren’t enough, we’re also featuring some of the crowd questions from the Q&A session at the Reds Caravan stop in Muncie, IN.

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Despite the recording software crashing during the first take and the home network losing its connectivity, the podcast has been made.

Listen as we discuss the following things a second time, trying to make it sound like the first!

• Bud Selig’s contract extension.
• The Screaming Mimes CD release.
• The Reds signed left-hander Jeremy Affeldt.
• A roundup of NLC teams and their players heading to arbitration.
• The Cubs had a convention.
• Albert Pujols wants you to know he didn’t use steroids.
• And the Reds are likely moving their Spring Training home.

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