The Cincinnati Reds have gone out and signed themselves an enforcer.  From Don Finley’s blog:

As was reported by John Fay of the Enquirer this morning, Jonny Gomes has signed a Major League one-year deal with the Reds with an option for 2011. This was a deal that, while it was a long time coming, it appeared that the player, the team, and the fans all believed that he would end up back with the Reds.

Jonny Gomes is good for three things: 1) teasing teams with his home run power, 2) spelling his first name like a jackass, and 3) providing his team with extra muscle and craziness in the event of a bench-clearing brawl.  Honestly, the dude is akin to an enforcer in hockey.  Have you seen how he reacts during bench-clearing brawls?  He’s like a mercenary, which is pretty scary considering there aren’t too many guys in the league who can match him physically.

Maybe other teams with take suit and start signing enforcers, just in the off chance that that team’s best player is targeted in the event of a brawl.  You gotta protect your investments, plus it’s something the fans can all get behind.  Who knows, maybe during the All-Star Game, there’ll be a competition just for the enforcers – who wouldn’t want to see Jonny Gomes and Kyle Farnsworth go at it?

If that’s too violent for baseball’s image, then they can always go with the pie-eating contest during the All-Star Game.  It’s fun, it’s safe, and there’s no doubt people would tune in to watch CC Sabathia with his arms behind his back, burying his face in a blueberry pie while Sidney Ponson and Matt Stairs do the same.  It sure as fuck would beat the NBA’s dunk contest.