CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory is taking a lot of kidding about his ceremonial first pitch to start the major league baseball season.

Video: Watch Mayor Mallory's Pitch

The pitch in front of a sold-out crowd Monday at Great American Ball Park was short and several feet to the first-base side of home plate.

In jest, he blamed his catcher, former Reds star Eric Davis, for the errant throw, saying he missed the sign.

"Eric said, 'Good try, but you're not a baseball player,'" Mallory said.

Mallory came up with a list of joking excuses in an appearance Tuesday on WLWT-TV in Cincinnati before admitting, "There's no excuse; it's just a terrible throw."

The video of the pitch has been played over and over on television and the Internet. But Mallory is taking the ribbing in stride.

"I'm going to try out for the Bengals next week," Mallory joked on WLWT. "And if that doesn't work, I'm going to do 'Dancing With the Stars.'"

Mallory will get a chance to make amends Wednesday night on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live." He said he'll try the pitch again but also try to talk about good things that are going on in Cincinnati.