Hard to believe that Redsfest is only 4 days away. Sometimes, time flies. On the other hand, I’ve already blocked out huge portions of the 2012 postseason, so maybe time doesn’t fly that fast after all.

Here’s some information Redsfest that FS Ohio sent. They’re going to have the “FOX Sports Ohio Girls” in attendance. I bet they’ll be wearing something inappropriately tight. I dare you to ask them when they think they’ll be grown up enough to be called “FOX Sports Ohio Women.”

CINCINNATI, OHIO – FOX Sports Ohio is proud to once again be the title sponsor of this year’s Redsfest. It will be held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati this Friday, December 7 from 3pm to 10:30pm and Saturday, December 8 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 booth at the event, offering fans the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities.

* The FOX Sports Ohio Girls will be on site to meet fans, play games, and give away prizes.
* On Friday, fans will have the chance to have their photo taken behind the FOX Sports Ohio Reds Live desk.
* On Saturday, Reds broadcasters Jim Day, Jeff Piecoro and Jim Kelch will stop by the tent throughout the event to sign autographs.

Redsfest has grown to over 250,000 square feet of activities, including autograph and photo booths with current and former Reds players, interactive games for fans of all ages, hard-to-find memorabilia and much more. Over 50 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 Friday at 5:30 p.m.

New this year, Redsfest will expand to the third floor of the Duke Energy Convention Center to create a bigger and better Reds Heads Fun Zone for kids of all ages featuring a photo opportunity with Santa, arcade games, inflatables, player story time sessions, live music, circus performers and more.

With paid two-day admission, fans receive one free View Level ticket to the Reds vs. Angels Opening Night game on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at Great American Ball Park. Additionally, the first 10,000 fans each day will receive a free Reds winter headband and drawstring backpack.

Redsfest tickets are on sale now at reds.com, by phone at (513) 381-REDS, at the Great American Ball Park box office and at select Kroger stores with Ticketmaster retail outlets. 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.

RedsFest was this weekend, and there were lines, autographs, entertainment, lines, some hints of news, and more lines. Redleg Nation has a nice recap of the nuggets that pertain to the future of the team.

Among them, Bronson Arroyo has been working hard to regain velocity, and Yonder Alonso has been working hard to become a better left fielder. And Zach Cozart has reached the point in recovery from Tommy John surgery that he can resume baseball activities.

But one of the most interesting pieces of news came from Cincinnati Enquirer Reds beat writer John Fay in his post of leftovers from RedsFest.

I got the impression that the Reds hold little hope of re-signing Francisco Cordero. The way the closer market has settled, the Reds might be able to get Cordero back at one-year deal in the $7 million range.

Given the Reds’ cash-strapped ways, even that price seems pretty steep, especially considering he converted just 86% of his save opportunities. Fay does suggest an in-house solution.

Another possible candidate? Edinson Volquez. He’s long shot for the rotation at this point. He’s throws 97 and has a great change-up. That could work in the ninth inning.

That’s…a really good idea. Volquez has shown over the course of his Reds’ tenure that he’s not really starting pitcher material. Sure, there was that Cy Young contending first year, but he’s never had consistent control since then. So why not try him in the 9th inning? As Fay states, he has the pitches to do it.

I know Volquez was horrible in his first inning of work almost every start in 2011, but I don’t think that necessarily means anything. It’s something that’s worth a shot, and I hope the Reds try it out in Spring Training.

I dunno…the fact that the only bona fide baseball activity coming out the Reds world is Brandon Phillips tweeting about his lack of contract kinda has me down. But gosh, it’s a little early to be getting all negative already doesn’t it? So rather than go off on a rant, I clicked on another of the unnecessary navigation buttons in the Redsfest landing page on Reds.com and copied out the list of Cincinnati-land celebrities who will be in attendance:

Brandon Phillips is not on the list, but then, neither am I, and I’ll be there.

With one week to go till Redsfest, the Red Hot Family has secured a hotel room and started planning our trip through the event. It’s a bit of a PITA because they’ve put every piece of information on a separate page on Reds.com, so there’s entirely more clicking than ought to be strictly necessary, but maybe they did that as intentional foreshadowing of all the line-standing.

I’ve grabbed the main stage schedule to save you one click at least. In case you were worried you wouldn’t be getting your RDA of shitty ’90s grunge music, worry not! Arroyo is closing out the event again this year.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2
4:00 p.m. — Redsfest Opening Act featuring Funky G & the Groove Machine presented by Coca-Cola
4:45 p.m. — Topps Pack Wars
5:25 p.m. — Reds Tribute to former owner Carl Lindner
5:30 p.m. — Introduction of Cincinnati Reds past & present
6:00 p.m. — Introduction of new mascot Mr. Red
6:25 p.m. — Kids Only Press Conference presented by GearUP
7:25 p.m. — 2011 Reds Team Awards Presentations
8:15 p.m. — Reds Hot Stove report featuring Walt Jocketty & Dusty Baker presented by FOX Sports Ohio
9:15 p.m. — Cincinnati Got Talent Semi-Finals presented by Toyota

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3
11:00 a.m. — Redsfest Opening Act featuring Tropicoso presented by Coca-Cola
12:00 p.m. — Introduction of new mascot Mr. Red
12:10 p.m. — Chiquita “Hero of the Game” 2011 Yearly Award Presentation
12:15 p.m. — Reds Hot Stove Report featuring Walt Jocketty & Dusty Baker presented by FOX Sports Ohio
1:45 p.m. — Topps Pack Wars
2:05 p.m. — Kids Only Press Conference presented by GearUP
3:05 p.m. — Reds Alumni “Bull Session” presented by Reds Fantasy Camp
4:00 p.m. — Cincinnati’s Got Talent Finals presented by Toyota
5:10 p.m. — Bronson Arroyo Concert presented by Best Buy

The baseball season is over and we’re well into November which can mean only one Cincinnati Reds-related piece of news: RedsFest. Oh, and tickets go on sale today.

Take it away, press release!

Tickets for FOX Sports Ohio Redsfest presented by PNC will go on sale Wed., Nov. 9, available 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.

The annual fan festival will be held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, Dec. 2 from 4 to 10:30 pm and Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11 am to 6:30 pm. One-day tickets are $17 for adults and $7 for kids 12 and younger. Two-day tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for kids.

With paid admission, all fans will receive one free View Level ticket to any Monday-Wednesday game in April 2012 at Great American Ball Park. Also, the first 10,000 fans each day will receive a free drawstring backpack and Reds knit gloves.

Redsfest features more than 200,000 square feet of activities, including autograph and photo booths with current and former Reds players, interactive games for fans of all ages, hard-to-find memorabilia and much more. New this year, the aisles on the floor of Redsfest will be significantly wider and additional seating has been added in the concession areas.

“Redsfest continues to be best fan fest across all of Major League Baseball,” said Bob Castellini, Reds President and Chief Executive Officer. “There is no better way for fans of all ages to get up close and personal with all their favorite current and former Reds players and broadcasters.”

More than 50 current and former Reds players and coaches are expected to attend including Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, Yonder Alonso, Dusty Baker and many more.

Redsfest Autograph Opportunities for 2011
Over 100 player autograph sessions and player photograph sessions are free of charge with a Redsfest general admission ticket. Specific times for player appearances will be announced 30 minutes prior to the autograph and photo sessions on the info screens on the Redsfest floor and on the Reds official Twitter page at: twitter.com/reds.

New for 2011: Autograph Opportunity Sweepstakes and Elite Pass Auctions
Passes to six of the autograph sessions featuring some of the Reds biggest names will be available to fans on reds.com. Players scheduled to appear in these autograph sessions are:
— Friday: Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman and Scott Rolen
— Saturday: Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto and Brandon Phillips

Fans interested in attending one of the these autograph sessions have two options only on reds.com:
• Autograph Opportunity Sweepstakes
— Fans can register on reds.com through Nov. 16 to be selected for one of the free autograph sessions.
— Two hundred names will be selected at random for each of these six autograph sessions, for a total of 1,200 lucky winners. Winners will receive their special pass in the mail prior to Redsfest.
• Elite Pass Auctions
— Fans can guarantee spots in these autograph sessions by bidding on Elite Passes that are being auctioned on reds.com.
— Twenty-five (25) passes are being auctioned off for each day of the event and winning bidders will receive passes to all three exclusive sessions on either Friday or Saturday. Fans can place bids on Elite Pass auctions on reds.com from now through Nov. 21. The 25 winners for each day will receive their special pass in the mail prior to Redsfest.

Redsfest Main Stage: The main stage will feature popular activities such as kids-only press conferences involving players, Cincinnati’s Got Talent contest and the Reds Hot Stove Report with President of Baseball Operations and GM Walt Jocketty and Manager Dusty Baker. All current and former players in attendance will be introduced live on the Main Stage on Friday at 5:30 pm. A special tribute to former Reds owner Carl Lindner is also planned for the Main Stage on Friday night.

Mr. Red is Back! Ceremonies unveiling the new “Mr. Red” mascot will be Friday with teammates Gapper, Mr. Redlegs and Rosie Red.

Cincinnati’s Got Talent: Singers, dancers, magicians, comedians and performers of all ages are invited to showcase their talents in the inaugural Cincinnati’s Got Talent competition. Open auditions are Nov. 19 and 20 at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The semifinals and finals will be held at Dec. 2 and 3 at Redsfest. The grand prize winner will take home $1,000 and the runner-up will win $500. For more information, please visit reds.com/talent.

Live Auctions: New in the Game Used Merchandise area will be live auctions for game used jerseys, bats, balls, bases and autographed memorabilia from Reds player and coaches. Examples of auction items are a Joey Votto game used jersey and a “Jay Bruce Feel The Game” package that includes a Bruce game used jersey, bat and pants. The live auctions will begin at 4pm on Saturday.

The Reds Hall of Fame & Museum will have an expanded presence at Redsfest, including a display featuring the ’75, ’76 and ’90 World Series trophies, Reds artifacts, Reds trivia and more. Redsfest is a great opportunity to purchase a 2012 Reds Museum membership.

The annual Reds Community Fund Celebrity Poker Tournament takes place on Saturday, Dec. 3. Registration and side games begin at 3:30 pm with the tournament starting at 5 pm. Sign-up today at reds.com/poker or call (513) 765-7240.

The 2012 Reds Heads Kids Club membership will be for sale at Redsfest. The $25 Reds Heads merchandise kit makes a great holiday gift for children ages 14 and younger, which includes vouchers for free Reds tickets and exclusive club gear. A special Reds Heads gift will be included in memberships purchased at Redsfest, while supplies last.

Proceeds from Redsfest benefit the baseball-themed outreach programs of the Reds Community Fund.

You can find all the information about RedsFest here.