Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

A variety of current and former professional baseball players will come together Feb. 4-5 for the International Youth Baseball Coaches Association Summit at Transylvania University.

That will be preceded by the Cincinnati Reds Cararvan, Jan. 26-29. The Reds’ annual visit to Lexington is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 29, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Lexington Center (more details below).

Leading off this blog, though, is the clinic at Transy. The program, intended for coaches, is marketed as a “30-day guide to developing a dominate baseball player.”

Feb. 4 speakers are: Willie Blair, on common delivery flaws and fixes; Keith Madison, on mental domination on the mound; Robbie Ross, on developing nasty pitches; Jeff Parrett, on pitcher: No. 1 defender; Keith Vorhoff, on catching: throwing more people out; and Aaron Sciascia, on building a bulletproof arm.

Feb. 5 speakers: Andy Green, on hitting: it’s not one size fits all; Collin Cowgill, on hitting: approach, vision, preparation; Brian Green, on infield: molding Gold Glovers; Jim Hinerman, on where do leaders come from?; Brad Bohannon, on recruiting: what college coaches look for; Josh Anderson, on base-stealing automation; and Miles Noland, on building explosive power for baseball.

Pre-registration costs are $25 a day or $40 for two days. Prices at the door are $35 and $60. For pre-registration only, two coaches can be signed up for the price of one. For more information, contact Miles Noland at (859) 221-7715 or email iybaseballca@gmail.com.

Blair is a 12-year Major League veteran, now a minor-league pitching coach for the Padres.

Madison, who reached Triple-A as a player, coached the University of Kentucky 1979 through 2003.

Ross, a 2008 second-round draft pick out of Lexington Christian Academy, is the Texas Rangers’ minor-league pitcher of the year.

Parrett, a 10-year veteran of the big leagues, is now head coach at Woodford County High School.

Vorhoff, University of Kentucky catching coach, has had three catchers drafted in five years.

Sciascia is UK’s Shoulder Center of Kentucky coordinator.

Andy Green played four years in the big leagues and is a minor-league hitting coach for the Diamondbacks.

Cowgill, recently traded to the Oakland Athletics, made his Major League debut in 2011 and was named player of the year in the Pacific Coast League.

Brian Green is UK’s offensive and infield coach.

Hinerman is the former long-time coach at Georgetown College.

Bohannon is UK’s recruiting coordinator.

Anderson, who played three years in the majors, set base-stealing records at Eastern Kentucky University and with the Lexington Legends.

Noland is an assistant coach at Transylvania.

The Reds are coming! The Reds are coming!

The Reds Caravan will again consist of three separate tours moving simultaneously through Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Lexington is the final stop on the Southern Tour.

Scheduled to appear at Southern Tour stops are: all-star second baseman Brandon Phillips; Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman; assistant general manager Bob Miller; broadcaster and former pitcher Chris Welsh; Reds Hall of Famer Lee May; minor-league catcher Tucker Barnhart, and team mascot Gapper.

Southern Tour stops:

Jan. 26 – Huntington (W.Va.) Mall, 3:30-6 p.m.; Charleston (W.Va.) Town Center, 7-9 p.m.

Jan. 28 — Great American Ball Park “select-a-seat” event, Cincinnati, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Greenwood Mall (Bowling Green), 3:30-5:30 CST.

Jan. 29 — The Shops at Lexington Center, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

The Northern Tour cast includes broadcaster Thom Brennaman, catcher Devin Mesoraco, president of baseball operations and general manager Walt Jocketty, chief operating officer Phil Castellini, Reds Hall of Famer Tom Browning, minor-league outfielder Ryan LaMarre and mascot Mr. Redlegs.

The Western Tour has broadcaster Jim Kelch, broadcaster and former pitcher Jeff Brantley, Manager Dusty Baker, infielder Todd Frazier, Reds minor league player of the year Billy Hamilton, vice president of baseball operations Dick Williams and mascot Rosie Red.

Northern Tour stops will be: Athens, Ohio; Parkersburg, W.Va., Columbus, Ohio; Lima, Ohio; and Dayton, Ohio.

Western Tour stops will be: Hamilton, Ohio; Muncie, Ind.; Indianapolis; Bloomington, Ind.; and Louisville. The latter, at Louisville Slugger Field, is set for Jan. 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Visit reds.com/caravan for more details.

Dates for the 2011 Reds Caravan will run Jan. 27-30, including a stop in Lexington on Jan. 30.

The Caravan — the Cincinnati Reds’ annual off-season goodwill tour — is scheduled to make 15 stops in four states over four days. The 2,600-mile-plus circuit will be split among three separate tours traveling simultaneously through Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia.

All stops are open to the public at no charge. Caravan participants will field questions and, time permitting, sign autographs. At each stop, the Reds will raffle off two tickets to the March 31 Opening Day game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jay Bruce

Lexington is the final stop on what is billed as the Southern Tour. The Lexington visit is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 30, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at The Shops at Lexington Center.

Southern Tour participants include outfielder Jay Bruce (Saturday and Sunday only); Yasmani Grandal, 2010 first-round draft pick; Tom Browning, Reds Hall of Fame pitcher; Jim Kelch, broadcaster; Walt Jocketty, president of baseball operations and general manager; Phil Castellini, chief operating officer; and mascot Mr. Redlegs.

Before coming to Lexington, the Southern Tour will visit: Charleston (W.Va.) Town Center, 3:30-5:15 p.m., Jan. 27; Fannin Motors, Ashland, 7-9 p.m., Jan. 27; Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Jan. 29; and Greenwood Mall, Bowling Green, 3:30-5:30 CST, Jan. 29.

Western Tour participants include all-star second baseman Brandon Phillips; Devin Mesoraco, Reds Minor League Player of the Year; Marty Brennaman, Hall of Fame broadcaster; Bob Miller, vice president and assistant general manager; and mascot Gapper. Also, pitcher Matt Maloney will be on hand in Louisville.

The full Western Tour: Louisville Slugger Field, 6-8:30 p.m., Jan. 27; College Mall, Bloomington, Ind., 5-7:30 p.m., Jan. 28; Castleton Square Mall, Indianapolis, 10 a.m.-noon, Jan. 29; Stoops Automotive, Muncie, Ind., 6:30-9 p.m., Jan. 29; and Parrish Auditorium, Miami University-Hamilton, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Jan. 30.

The Northern Tour cast includes Manager Dusty Baker; pitchers Travis Wood (Thursday and Friday) and Homer Bailey (Saturday and Sunday); Jeff Brantley, broadcaster; Todd Frazier, minor leaguer; and mascot Rosie Red.

The Northern Tour: The Market on State, Athens, Ohio, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Jan. 27; Grand Central Mall, Parkersburg, W.Va., 4:30-7 p.m., Jan. 28; National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (limited seating), 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Jan. 29; Lima (Ohio) Mall, 3-5 p.m., Jan. 29; and Polaris Fashion Place, Columbus, Ohio, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Jan. 30.

See reds.com/caravan for updates, maps and photos.