Pics from Florida and Other Notes

A few notes, as well as a few more photos, including our final ballpark pics of the season.  By the way, this blog now includes tours of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as the parks in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago (Wrigley), Houston, St. Louis, New York (Shea), Cleveland, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Florida, and of course, Cincinnati.  They're all on here for you to enjoy.

Unbelievably tragic news about one-time Red Cory Lidle. He was the Opening Day starter in 2004. I can remember taping an interview with him in Dunedin, Fla., toward the end of Spring Training that year. The interview ran on Opening Day (starting pitchers are off-limits to media before games on the day they pitch, which was why it was taped a few days in advance). He was very excited about the opportunity. He was a guy who didn't have great ability, but he got the most out of what he had. Like so many already have, we offer our condolences to his family.

On the field, for Reds fans, the toughest thing to watch this postseason was Sean Casey injuring his calf. I think Sean has turned a lot of folks around here into (at least temporary) Tigers fans. It was so great to watch him celebrate with his new Detroit teammates after beating the Yankees. Also nice to see one-time Red Todd Jones in the postseason. He became the Tigers' all-time saves leader while the Reds were in Detroit this past season. He was my star of the game that day and was clearly happy to be back in Detroit. He also had good memories and good friendships from his brief stay with the Reds.

Congratulations to Marty and Thom Brennaman! Having Thom as part of the broadcast team is a feather in the cap of the Reds organization. And having the two of them broadcasting together will not only make for a great story, but for great listening as well.  Marty has been great to me from Day One. And Thom is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

And I continue to be overwhelmed by all of your kindnesses. I've heard from hundreds of fans, and I continue to get cards and letters and emails. You folks have been great to me here from my first day. Thanks again.

Now, on to the photos...

Here is Marty's cat, Palmer. .	The name "Palmer" won out over "Wily Mo," though emailers liked the idea of naming him after the former Red.  Palmer has an extra digit, which I'm sure comes in handy (somehow). .	Dolphin Stadium, home of the Marlins. Massive.  Efforts continue to get a new baseball-only ballpark. But you can't argue with the on-the-field success in their brief history. SuperBowl XLI will be played here Feb. 4, 2007. .
Normally it rains in the summer around batting practice time. On this day, the sprinklers went off accidentally. .	Cheerleaders entertain those in attendance. .	A look out my hotel room window. We stay in Fort Lauderdale at a marina, with very nice boats (yachts) all over the place. .
Also, someone wanted to see our scorebooks.  Here's Marty's. .	Here's mine (the important thing is I can read it!). .	.