THE BROO VIEW with Ken Broo

As Cincinnati is gripped by 'playoff fever'.....OK, slight over-statement, but at least there's a baseball pulse again....how much can we divert our attention away from Chad Johnson? The mini camp showdown is now just two weeks away. Will Chad show? Will he skip the camp and take the fine? My thoughts on "No Show Cinco" in today's installment of "Ludwig At Large", courtesy of my good friend Chick Ludwig from the Dayton Daily News.

Meantime, back to the Reds. It may turn out, Wayne Krivsky will get the last laugh with Jim Bowden. Two years ago, Bowden fleeced the Reds and Krivsky by sending a sore-armed Gary Majewski to the Reds, along with Bill Bray, infielder Brendan Harris and short stop Royce Clayton, in exchange for outfielder Austin Kearns and infielder Felipe Lopez. Majewski and Bray have been hurt ever since, Harris was released as was Clayton. The fact that Lopez and Kearns have fizzled in DC has nothing to do with Majewski coming here under the pretense of being completely healthy. He wasn't, having had a cortisone shot to his pitching shoulder not a week before the trade went down. The Reds have filed a greivenace with the MLB Commissioner's office. But there was a 'throw-in' player the Reds got in this trade. Pitcher Daryl Thompson has now worked his way up to the Reds "AAA" club in Louisville. He was 'lights out' at "AA" Chattanooga. And here's the story of his "AAA" debut, courtesy of the Louisville Courier-Journal.

If Thompson stays this sharp, he could be in Cincinnati soon.

You think Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory's opening day first pitch in 2007 was bad? Take a look at diva Mariah Carey doing the honors in Japan.

Which calls to mind one of the worst throws anywhere, anytime. And no, Mallory doesn't have that honor. This guy does.



Sounds as though the recently departed Scott Hatterberg won't be out of work long. mlb.com reports there's interest in Hatteberg. Anything the Reds could get for him (he was DFA'd which means the Reds have 10 days to trade him or release him) would be a bonus. But it sounds as though the Mets may just wait out the 10 days.

Who's out there, if teams are looking for immediate help. Our old buddy, Jerry Cranick of espn.com (and looooong ago from the now defunct Cincinnati Post) say not much.

And finally, if your fantasy baseball team has taken a turn for the training room, here's some good advice from The Sporting News' expert, Brad Pinkerton.

And just posted on my web site: www.kenbroo.com is the latest "Broo View Podcast" It's on the front page. In the "Podcasts and More" section, you can download past episodes.

See you tonight at 6 & 11p on WLWT Cincinnati's Channel 5!