Here’s a press release from FOX sports about a press conference they’ll be airing in a couple hours. If you’ll still be in the office, you can catch it on their website.

Tune in to FOX Sports Ohio or log on to FOXSportsOhio.com today at 5pm to watch the live press conference with the newest baseball Hall of Famer, Barry Larkin. Larkin was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Broadcaster Jim Day will be live in FOX Sports Ohio studio to cover the press conference taking place in the FOX Sports Ohio Champions Club at Great American Ball Park.

At the conclusion of the press conference, time permitting, FOX Sports Ohio will have a one-on-one interview with Larkin.

For more information on the announcement, including a feature article and a video of Larkin expressing his excitement, click HERE.

Tomorrow’s the big day when we find out whether Barry Larkin has finally gotten good enough to be put into the Hall of Fame. He fell just short last year, but I’m sure he’s been training hard for the last 12 months and has finally gotten himself up to snuff.

Secaucus, NJ, January 3, 2012 – The results of the 2012 National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot will be announced on MLB Network and simulcast on MLB.com on Monday, January 9 at 3:00 p.m. ET as part of a two-hour announcement show beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. Featuring National Baseball Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson, coverage will include interviews with any electees and be anchored by Matt Vasgersian with MLB Network’s Bob Costas, Greg Amsinger, Brian Kenny and Harold Reynolds, Hall of Fame award-winning baseball writer Peter Gammons, and Hall of Fame voters Jon Heyman, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci. Hall of Fame coverage and reaction will continue on MLB Network’s Intentional Talk and Hot Stove starting at 5:00 p.m. ET.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) 2012 Hall of Fame ballot features 27 players with 14 holdovers from previous elections, including Barry Larkin, Jack Morris and Tim Raines, and 13 newcomers, including Tim Salmon, Ruben Sierra and Bernie Williams.

Former Chicago Cubs third baseman Ron Santo was elected to the Hall of Fame in December by the Golden Era Committee. Santo will be inducted along with any candidates who receive votes on at least 75 percent of all ballots cast from Monday’s BBWAA vote.

Former Major League catcher Tim McCarver, who has served as a national television analyst for FOX, NBC, CBS and ABC, has been selected as the 2012 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting. Toronto Sun journalist Bob Elliott has been named the 2012 winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award presented annually to a sportswriter for “meritorious contributions to baseball writing.”

The 2012 election marks the 69th Hall of Fame election held by the BBWAA. The 2012 National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will air exclusively on MLB Network and MLB.com on July 22.

The fresh-faced hope and naivete of the 2012 season officially kicks off tomorrow as Redsfest rolls into the Cincinnati Duke Energy Convention Center. Honestly, this event is so great that it outshines the season itself. At least in August.

Hopefully you can make it in person, because it really is a good time, but if you can’t, we’ll be posting all manner of cell phone photos here on RHM. Here’s a press release about the whole thing.

FOX Sports Ohio Ready for Redsfest

Tickets are available now for the Cincinnati Reds fan festival to be held Dec. 2-3 at Duke Energy Convention Center

CINCINNATI, OHIO – FOX Sports Ohio is proud to be the title sponsor of this year’s Redsfest, the Cincinnati Reds’ an offseason event featuring fan interaction with current and former Reds players, interactive games for kids of all ages, hard-to-find memorabilia and much more! It will be held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati on this Friday, December 2 from 4pm to 10:30pm and Saturday, December 3 from 11am to 6:30pm. Proceeds from the event benefit the Reds Community Fund.

As the TV home of the Cincinnati Reds and title sponsor of Redsfest, FOX Sports Ohio will have a tent at the event, offering fans the opportunity to play games, win prizes, and participate in a variety of activities. All fans who visit the FOX Sports Ohio tent will have the chance to register to win an autographed Jay Bruce mini helmet.

On Friday, FOX Sports Ohio will be shooting footage of the event, and fans will have the chance to share their favorite Reds memories on camera for possible on-air inclusion next season. On Saturday, Reds broadcasters Jim Day and Jeff Piecoro will stop by the tent throughout the event to sign autographs.

In addition to FOX Sports Ohio’s presence, the Cincinnati Reds have many other activities at Redsfest. Fans will have access to autograph and photo booths featuring current and former Reds players, interactive games, hard-to-find memorabilia and more. More than 70 current and former Reds players, coaches and broadcasters are scheduled to appear, and over 100 player autograph sessions and player photograph sessions are free of charge with a Redsfest general admission ticket. All current and former players in attendance will be introduced live on the main stage on Dec. 3 at 5:30pm.

With paid admission, all fans will receive a free View Level ticket for any Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday Reds home game in April 2012, subject to availability. Also, the first 10,000 fans each day will receive a free drawstring backpack and Reds knit gloves.

Tickets are on sale now at reds.com, by phone at (513) 381- REDS, at the Great American Ball Park box office and at Ticketmaster Outlets including select Kroger stores. Tickets will be available at the door starting Friday at 2pm and Saturday at 9am. Proceeds from Redsfest benefit the baseball-themed outreach programs of the Reds Community Fund.

For more detailed information about the two-day event, visit www.reds.com/redsfest.

Former Reds’ first baseman Sean Casey will be among the next three players inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

No word on whether or not Casey will be driving his 1995 Honda Accord to the ceremony next June.

Take it away, press release.

Three-time All-Star Sean Casey, Big Red Machine infielder Dan Driessen and 19th century first baseman John Reilly will be the next three players inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

Casey was selected by the fans through the Modern Player Ballot presented by Cincyfavorites.com. The Veterans Committee selected Driessen and Reilly to make up the Reds Hall of Fame Class of 2012.

The trio will be honored June 22-24 during Reds Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, which will include on-field ceremonies at Great American Ball Park, the star-studded Hall of Fame Induction Gala and a variety of festivities at the Hall, including meet and greets with Reds Hall of Famers and alumni.

One of the most popular players to ever wear a Reds uniform, Casey came to be known as “The Mayor” during his eight-year Reds career.

A versatile infielder of the Big Red Machine clubs of the 1970s, Dreissen played 12 seasons for the Reds from 1973 to 1984.

A Cincinnati-native and dominant first baseman in the 1880’s, Reilly wore a Reds uniform for his nine-season Major League career and held Reds records for most singles, double, triples, home runs, runs scored, RBI and games played.

Casey was the top vote-getter of the thousands of ballots cast online at RedsMuseum.org, at Great American Ball Park and at participating Skyline Chili and Montgomery Inn locations.

Driessen and Reilly were selected by the Reds Hall of Fame’s Veterans Committee, comprised of members of the media, Hall of Famers, historians and Hall of Fame executives.

“Since 1958, the fans have played an integral part in the Hall of Fame election process, and this year was no exception as record participation resulted,” said Reds Hall of Fame Executive Director Rick Walls. “I’d like to thank Cincyfavorites.com, the thousands of fans that voted, and the Veterans Committee for recognizing the contributions of these players.”

The addition of Casey, Driessen and Reilly will bring the Hall’s membership ranks to 75 players, three managers, and three executives.

The Cubs have hired Theo Epstein in their latest effort to break the century-long shame spiral. I don’t know whether it will work, but it’s got a helluva lot better chance than signing Soriano did.

CHICAGO- The Chicago Cubs today named Theo Epstein as the club’s President of Baseball Operations, reporting to Chairman Tom Ricketts. Epstein and the Cubs have agreed to terms on a five-year contract. Further terms of the deal were not disclosed. Epstein will oversee all aspects of the club’s baseball operation. Crane Kenney, President of Business Operations, will continue to oversee all aspects of the club’s business operation and report to Ricketts.

“When we began our search a few months ago, I identified three traits our baseball leadership must possess,” said Ricketts. “I talked about finding an individual with a commitment to player development, someone with a strong analytical background and someone who has been in a winning culture with a track record of success.

“With two World Championships, six playoff appearances and nine winning seasons in nine years as Boston’s general manager, Theo Epstein has an established track record of winning thanks to a solid balance of analytical thinking and traditional scouting methods. And with a nucleus of homegrown players contributing to that annual success at the major league level, Theo has shown a strong commitment to player development.

“My family and I are extremely proud to welcome Theo and his family to the Chicago Cubs. We are eager to begin the next chapter in the storied history of this franchise and have every confidence that Theo will lead us to the championship our great fans so richly deserve.”

“It is truly an honor and a privilege to join such a special organization,” said Epstein. “I would like to thank Tom Ricketts and the entire Ricketts family for putting their faith in me and for giving me this incredible opportunity. I wouldn’t be here without their commitment to the fans and their long term vision for the organization.

“Building a foundation for sustained success starts with a commitment to scouting and player development and requires a team of people working passionately to support a common vision of what the Cubs can become. Together, we will work to define and implement a new vision for the Cubs, and I can’t wait to help lead the way.”

Epstein, 37, joins the Cubs after 10 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, the last nine as the club’s general manager. He built World Champion ballclubs in 2004 and 2007, including the organization’s first World Series title in 86 years, and saw four teams advance to the American League Championship Series (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008). Epstein, the youngest general manager in major league history to win a World Series, is one of only two individuals since World War II to win two World Championships in his first five years as a general manager, joining New York’s Brian Cashman, who won the World Series in each of his first three years from 1998-2000.

Overall, Epstein’s clubs combined to go 839-619 in the regular season, a .575 winning percentage that included a run that featured six seasons with 95 or more victories during his nine-year tenure as general manager. He became the youngest general manager in major league history when named to the post on November 25, 2002.

Epstein’s commitment to scouting and player development has been the centerpiece of Boston’s sustained success at the big league level during his time with the Red Sox. Boston’s first pick (second round) in the 2004 Draft, Dustin Pedroia, was named the 2007 A.L. Rookie of the Year and the 2008 A.L. MVP, and is part of a core of homegrown, developed talent such as Jon Lester, Jonathan Papelbon, Kevin Youkilis, Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Bard, Clay Buchholz and others who have helped the Red Sox to their run of success.

Additionally, the Red Sox were honored by Baseball America as the Best Drafting organization of the decade encompassing the 2000s.

Epstein, who last season marked 20 years working in the major leagues, began his baseball career as a summer intern for the Baltimore Orioles from 1992-94. He worked for the San Diego Padres for seven seasons from 1995-2001, advancing to the position of director of baseball operations, before joining the Red Sox in March of 2002 as the club’s assistant general manager. A native of Brookline, Mass., Epstein would be named general manager of his hometown team just eight months later.

A graduate of Yale University and the University of San Diego Law School, Epstein was named the 2008 Baseball America Executive of the Year. In 2009, Epstein was recognized by Sports Illustrated as baseball’s General Manager of the Decade, and he was also named Executive of the Decade by The Sporting News for the same period of time.