Former Cardinals outfielder joins rival Cincinnati

Former Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty continues to recycle one time Redbirds in Cincinnati.  Outfielder Ryan Ludwick his latest acquisition.

(AP) Ryan Ludwick and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a $2.5 million, one-year contract Monday, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. 

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday night because the deal was pending a physical and no announcement had been made by the team.

An All-Star in 2008 with St. Louis, the 33-year-old Ryan Ludwick was traded from San Diego to Pittsburgh at the July 31 deadline last season. He batted a combined .237 with 13 homers and 75 RBIs.

Ludwick could give the Reds the right-handed bat they've been seeking to complement lefty sluggers Joey Votto  and Jay Bruce. He figures to see playing time in left field, a spot filled mostly by Chris Heisey down the stretch last season after Cincinnati traded Jonny Gomes to Washington in late July.

It's the latest move in a busy offseason for the aggressive Reds, who had previously been focused on pitching. Cincinnati acquired starter Mat Latos and left-handed reliever Sean Marshall in separate trades before reaching an oral agreement on an $8.5 million, one-year contract with free-agent closer Ryan Madson.

Ludwick had a $6,775,000 salary last year.

Clay Zavada signs with Cincinnati

Courtesy: Justin Walker

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Former Southern Illinois Miners pitcher Clay Zavada signs a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

Zavada has 49 career Major League appearances, all in relief for Arizona in 2009 (3-3 with a 3.35 era). 

He spen last year with the Diamondbacks' AA affiliate in Mobile.

Zavada was involved in (what many believe to be) the first player for player trade between a Major League team and an unafilliated team.

He was sent from the SI Miners to the Arizona Diamondbacks for first baseman Brad Miller.

Copyright 2011 KFVS. All rights reserved.

TWAS The Night Of Christmas 2011

My annual sports-spin on Clement Moore's classic "Twas The Night Before Christmas".

Enjoy...

Jackson hires Brent Eckley as new football coach

The Jackson Indians have a new head football coach with the hiring of Brent Eckley.

Coach Eckley comes last coached at Union high school near St. Louis where he posted a 62-18 record in seven years.

He took Union to the playoffs six of the last seven years.  There is no questioning his win-loss record Eckley is 101-32 in his career.

Tthe Iowa native played college football at William Penn.

Girls Holiday Classic has new title sponsor

An excited tournament director Mark Ruark called tonight to tell me the Girls Holiday Classic has signed Kelso Supply as it's new title sponsor.

A couple weeks ago Mark said if a title sponsor was not found the tournament could come to an end or at least take on a smaller feel (move to an area high school instead of the Show Me Center).

The newly named Kelso Supply Girls Holiday Classic begins Tuesday.

"Christmas came early this year", Ruark said.

Sports Headlines for Friday December 16th

• Missouri Tigers basketball team is red hot under first year head coach Frank Haith
  Off to a perfect start and top ten ranking something special could be brewing in Columbia.

• North Carolina Tar Heels (7-5) at Missouri Tigers (7-5)
  The MU football team is less than two weeks from playing North Carolina in the Independence Bowl.

• St. Louis Rams (2-9)  vs Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)
  The Rams host a desperate Bengals team needing victories to keep playoff hope alive
  A Bengals perspective

Highlights the NFL doesn't want you to see

Interesting article written by Reed Albergotti of the Wall Street Journal about NFL video we rarely see from the "All 22" angle

The Footage The NFL Won't Show You

I would love to have the option of running highlights during my sportscast from the "All 22" angle.  It would give fans a greater understanding of what is actually happening on a play.

In the article Charlie Casserly, former NFL General Manager and member of the NFL Competition Committee, suggests releasing the video from the "All 22" angle would be detrimental.

"It would open players and teams up to a level of criticism far beyond the current hum of talk radio," said Casserly.

I won't argue and say Casserly is completely wrong, but let me go a step further, I believe it would create a more knowledgeable  fanbase. It might even quell the "hum" on sports talk radio, at least the noise coming from those in the without anything intelligent to add to the conversation.