Show preview
3:05, ESPN 1530, 6:05 Inside Pitch, 700 WLW
Guests
John Erardi, Enquirer
Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com
Topics
Reds
Protecting MLB pitchers
Baseball cap wars: Bent or flat billed?
Bengals: Is Michael Johnson a goner?
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Reds
The perfect Sports Talk Radio team
On a daily basis I try to come up with interesting and thought provoking topics surrounding the Reds. Some Reds' seasons and teams are tougher than others. This team is easy. This team is perfect. They have all the elements for Sports Talk radio. They created excitement and celebration, they create concern and panic.
They are good enough to be 43-29, with the 3rd best record in MLB (behind STL/BOS).
They are flawed enough to sit in 2nd place in the Central, behind a hated rival.
They are good enough to beat bad teams, but flawed enough to struggle with good teams.
Offensively they rank 8th (MLB), 3rd (NL) in runs and feature the likes of Votto, Bruce, Phillips and Choo.
Yet, offensively they can struggle at the catcher and shortstop position, with 2-spot production, consistency, making contact and hitting with runners in scoring position.
The hitting coach and approach/philosophy are always up for debate.
The starting pitching is really, really good, (3.20, 2nd MLB).
The 'ace' of the staff has been injured three times since last October.
The most consistent starting pitcher is a free agent at end of season.
The bullpen has issues (3.78 16th), six blown leads going to 8th inning and 14 losses.
The closer is one of the most electric arms in MLB.
The closer's use and role is an on-going debate.
The manager is known to 'bristle' over second guessing and tends to be stubborn in his ways. He provides constant hot-button issue for fans, from in-game strategy to lineups, batting order and handling of pitchers.
They have batters that get hit and pitchers that do the hitting, creating beanballs and retaliation debate.
They have DL and team medical concerns (see Ludwick, Hanigan, Marshall, Cueto, Broxton).
The injury issues put the state of the franchise depth in the spotlight for debate.
Shin-Soo Choo provides debate for the CF/leadoff spot for the future.
Billy Hamilton struggles at Triple-A create concern for the future.
Tony Cingrani provides a 'what's best for now/best for future' debate.
The trading of prospects in recent years means a constant wonder of 'what might have been'...ie Di Di Gregorious.
We love to talk attendance. Attendance is up, but still ranks middle of the pack.
The Reds present a case study in the meaning of the regular season, winning 97 games last year, but blowing a 2-0 playoff series lead vs SF last year.
They present the hope of the present with 2 playoff appearances in 3 years, but also carry the burden of not having not won a playoff series since 1995.
Tweet of note
@LanceMcAlister / 2nd time in last 4 games. Weird how this team doesn't feel like the 2nd best team in MLB, isn't it? Frustrating to watch.
— Rob Crawford (@robcrawford_rob) June 19, 2013
Hit batters bother Latos more than snapping streak
Mark Sheldon, MLB.com
Choo was hit in the leg on Pirates starter Charlie Morton's first pitch of the night, and Latos could be seen on the top step of the Reds' dugout, yelling his displeasure.
"I think it's time that somebody steps up and starts disciplining the team that's drilled the most guys in the league," Latos said after the game. "They've hit a lot of guys, whether it's intentional or it's by accident. Something has got to be done about it."
Reds staring pitchers going 7 innings or more this year
Listener Jeff
Bailey: 7 of 14 GS (50%).
Leake: 7 of 14 GS (50%).
Arroyo: 6 of 14 GS (43%).
Cueto: 3 of 7 GS (43%).
Cingrani: 2 of 7 GS (29%).
Latos: 4 of 15 GS (27%).
No HR for you
From Reds
Tuesday’s game was only the 68th homerless contest in the 11-year, 849-game history of Great American Ball Park, the fourth this season (4/16 vs Phi, 5/25 vs Chi, 6/7 vs StL)...only 3 times in this ballpark’s 11-year existence has there been a streak of 2 straight games without a home run by either team (8/6-8/7, 2005 vs Fla; 4/5-4/6, 2011 vs Hou; 9/12 vs Pit & 9/21 vs LAD, 2012)...there never has been a 3-game homerless stretch at GABP.
Seminar to address gambling and baseball
John Erardi, Enquirer
The "national pastime and gambling" is still a front-burner topic in Cincinnati.
You wouldn't expect anything less in the home of professional baseball, would you?
From 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Crosley Room at Great American Ball Park - just before the Reds lock horns with the Pirates again – Cincinnati attorneys James Crowley and Jack Greiner will present a seminar that discusses the impact on baseball of Pete Rose and the Black Sox Scandal of 1919.
Should Cards deal for Lee?
Bernie Miklasz, St Louis Post Dispatch
Should the Cardinals pursue Lee?
There’s no question that Lee would make the Cardinals more formidable as a contender for baseball’s top prize in 2013. It’s exciting to think of the Cardinals lining up with Wainwright, Lee, Lynn and Miller to take on all postseason challengers.
Our baseball fantasies aside, this is a complex issue that defies ludicrously simplistic answers.
Let’s take a look:
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Down on the Farm
Louisville Bats
Billy Hamilton 0 for 5
Zach Duke: Save, 2.1 IN, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 R, 29 pitches/19 strikes
Listener Jeff points out Hamilton is batting .220 with a .225 OBP from the right side.
In 102 right handed PA's, Hamilton has just 1 walk and 27 K's.

Winker pumps homers, bumps Foster
Dayton Dragons
DAYTON, Ohio -- Jesse Winker of the Dayton Dragons bumped fists with former Cincinnati Reds great George Foster, then went out and won Tuesday night's Home Run Derby contest prior to the Midwest League All-Star Game at Fifth Third Field.
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Stuff
Nick Van Exel added to Milwaukee Buck's coaching staff
Are sports fans getting bored with social media?
Why do so many hate Phil Mickelson?




































