I’d been building up the idea of the first podcast after Red Hot Mama’s change to all NLC teams, all the time. Finally, over a month later, the Crack Technical Staff convinced me that we just have to get it over with so it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Oddly familiar persuasion on his part.

Today we discuss what we’re thankful for in regards to baseball, and manage to be only mostly sarcastic about it. We also talk about the recent acquisitions, briefly mention the GM meetings, and remember Joe Nuxhall.

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So, it looks like Dusty Baker has signed on with the Reds for three years. Dusty Baker. He whose managing quirks we have seen first hand for so very long.

I was just saying earlier today that I thought I might need a break from the blogging scene. I didn’t expect it to be three years long, but Baker’s not likely to last three years anyway, so it might just work out after all.

I wonder if I can get “fireDustyBaker.com” from that Cubs guy. In the meantime, you can listen to the heartbreak in my voice in this episode of the Red Hot Broadcast. Whether there are further episodes will depend on whether my need to express my rage outweighs my need to demonstrate how severely the Reds have alienated me.

Episode 79: Dusty Baker as Reds Manager (12.8MB, 18:42)

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I wasn’t satisfied that I’d worked through all of my end-of-season Reds issues during the Eighth Inning Show during the game this afternoon, so I kept the Crack Technical Staff up way past his bedtime to review posts from the 2007 season and discuss the team for almost an hour. It was therapeutic.

On the podcast we discuss:

• How the postseason is shaking out, including a former Red’s contribution.
• Who we’ll root for as the playoffs progress, assuming we’re still paying attention by then.
• The differences in performance and expectations for several of the Reds players. Some disappointed, such as David Ross and Bronson Arroyo; others surprised, such as Brandon Phillips and Adam Dunn.
• The management of the team over the course of the season. No podcast would be complete without a little bitching about the management.
• How bleak and un-fun the content on Red Hot Mama was all season long, and whether the team will be more enjoyable to follow next season.

And, so much more. Plus, I throw in several instances of the word “shit” and its derivatives, so this episode will get the “Explicit” rating.

Episode 78: Season Wrap-Up (39.8MB, 57:58)

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The whole Hot Mama family attended the titanic struggle today between the playoff-bound Cubs and the playoff-bereft Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The game didn’t mean a lot, contention-wise, but it was a beautiful day for it and it was nice to see Cub fans sitting quietly as they watched the Reds score eight.

It wasn’t just the Reds who scored the eight, either, but the Reds back-ups. Injuries have decimated the roster and the lack of importance has made it hard to really risk anyone out there. The name with the most Reds experience on the line-up was Edwin Encarnación. It just feels like a spring training game when EdE is the veteran leadership.

We were sitting in the lovely Riverfront Club today, and it was our first time in this exclusive locale. Except for the vague feeling that I wasn’t really welcome to leave the club once I’d arrived, I thought it was fantastic. Possibly my favorite place in the ballpark.

In the eighth inning, the Crack Technical Staff and I turned on the recorder to talk a little about the game and the season for a few minutes before our son’s desperate need for a lemon chill became our top priority. It was OK, though, because we got our thoughts together for a more organized, much longer podcast later in the night.

Episode 77: The Eighth Inning Show (11.4MB, 16:35)

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This special Saturday edition of the Red Hot Broadcast features a very special interview with the Reds newest pitching star—yes, I realize that is not saying much, but still—Tom Shearn.

We discuss:

• His win last night and the redemption he earned after his last appearance against Milwaukee.
• His potential place with the Reds next year, starter or bullpen.
  How close he came to quitting baseball before finally breaking the bigs a few days before turning 30.
• His family’s role in keeping him playing baseball, even after 12 years in the minors. Does “well, what else are you going to do?” really count as support?
• Living in the groundskeeper’s trailer at Slugger Field.
• The impact of Ryan Jorgensen’s substance-related suspension.
• His goals for the future and message to the fans.

Tom’s a nice fella. Not talkative, though, so this one is short and sweet.

Episode 76: Interview with Tom Shearn (5.51B, 7:47)

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