* OK, first off I hate April Fool's Day jokes. I think they're boring and cliche. You won't see me do any of that. It just annoys me. Oh well. If you send me anything today, I'll think it's a joke.

* I'm going to look on the bright side of the Chris Henry incident. He was cited for not having his tags renewed on his car. You know whatever cop pulled him over had to look in the car and didn't find anything else. I see this as progress

* It's nice to have Mo back in the building

* We're getting there with Lot D. We always hear mostly criticisms, and of those there are really three main ones -- and we agree with you on all three and are getting there: 1. font size is too small. 2. no RSS feed. 3. It's blocked at work. We hear you and thanks for the feedback

* You do remember the Reds won on Opening Day last year -- it the grand scheme of things, it's still one loss.

* That said, I am sitting at my  desk with a Dan haren coffee mug that was a give-away in Oakland last year when the Reds played the A's. Haren's pretty good

* The Diamondbacks pitching is pretty impressive. Lost in the Webb love was that bullpen. Dominant yesterday. That's one reason I'm picking the DBacks to do well this year. And you get them in a series? Wow. I'll be posting my entire season picks here later today. Also, I talked with Bronson Arroyo for a little bit yesterday in anticipation of his start tomorrow against Haren

* Lost in the regular Opening Day fervor and Xavier run was Miami's loss in the NCAA Hockey Tournament. So, if you're the No. 2 national seed, you probably shouldn't have to play a team on its home ice before the Frozen Four. Of course, if you're the No. 2 national seed, you should be good enough to win on your ice, their ice or the North Pole.

* Two more Opening Days for Reds fans -- Monday in Dayton and Friday, April 11 in Louisville.\

* Just curious from a tip I got. Was anyone at Bang! on Fourth Street this past Saturday? Anyone work there? Let me know at ctr@1530homer.com

* So, Thursday is a business man's special at Great American Ball Park, a 12:35 p.m. start. Aren't most business men working at 12:35?

* I understand the off day after Opening Day and understand why it's there and maybe why it's necessary -- but that doesn't mean I have to like it. It feels like school on the day after Christmas.

* I wonder if my boy Lance is going to be touting Josh Hamilton's 1-for-4 yesterday. Actually, I hope the best for Josh, but I understand why the Reds did what they did and I like the trade. It may not work out, but it was a ballsy move by Wayne Krivsky, and probably one that needed to be made.

* Anyone see those bullpens rolled out by Milwaukee and Chicago? That's why this division is up for grabs. Those two may be the favorites, but they certainly have holes -- big gaping holes. Remember when Gagne and Wood were larger than life? Me too. What's different between then and now? Yeah, me too.

* My favorite part about early in the season is seeing the standings all weird. It's cool to see the Rays, Royals, Nats and Pirates all leading or tied for the lead in their divisions. Of those four, I predict the Rays will have the best record. All four, I think, will be better than they were last year.

So, I ran a poll, pretty short, on my keepers for my fantasy league team. And, despite your advice (28 of 37 votes), I kept Billy Butler instead of Edwin Encarnacion. Now I will explain why.

I know I've been talking all spring how I think Edwin will have a big year, and I still do. In fact, I will still try to draft him tonight in our draft if I don't have another third baseman by that point. It's just that for our league, I think Billy Butler was a better value.

First off, I'll address our league. It's a 12-team roto style and has the same core of guys that we've had in the league for six or seven years. Our keepers work this way -- if you draft a guy in the 14th round or beyond and keep him on your roster all season, you own his rights for three seasons and only have to surrender that same draft pick the next year.

We can keep up to five of our keeper eligible players a season. These were mine:

Edwin Encarnacion (14th round, 3rd -- and final -- year)

Josh Hamilton (16th round, 2nd year)

Brad Penny (17th round, 3rd year)

Mark DeRosa (19th round, 2nd year)

Matt Capps (22nd round, 2nd year)

Bronson Arroyo (23th round, 3rd year)

Orlando Hudson (24th round, 3rd year)

Billy Butler (25th round, 2nd year)

So, my first four were pretty obvious -- Hamilton, Penny, Arroyo and Hudson.

Then it came down to Encarnacion and Butler. I like Butler a lot, that's why I drafted him last year, because I wanted to keep him -- the same reason I picked Hamilton pretty high last year.

But, Encarnacion, I'm convinced, will have a breakout season. And he actually had a decent season last year -- and it never hurts to have a batter whose home park is GABP. That said, in the 14th round, I'm not so sure I can't get him there anyway.

Now, Butler can be a beast, and I think the Royals are improving and he has a chance to drive in 100 this season. He hit .292 with a .477 slug last season. I think he could be a better value, plus I'd retain his rights next season as well.

And, with that, I promise not to draft any more Royals. I swear... unless....