Reds

Did you know?
The last three Reds teams with at least 30 wins through the first 50 games of a season are:
2010: 30-20, Division champs
1995: 31-19, Division champs
1990: 34-16, World Series champs

Season high runs allowed
Saturday, the Reds ended Travis Wood's quality start streak to beging the season at 9.
The Reds have reached the following pitchers for their season high in runs allowed:
Pitcher, pitching line, date, ERA entering game
Stephen Strasburg: 6 runs, 5.1 innings, April 7..(0.00)
Matt Harvey: 4 runs, 6.1 innings, May 22........ (1.55)
Scott Feldman: 5 runs, 5.1 innings, May 24..... (2.19)
Travis Wood: 5 runs, 5.2 innings, May 25........ (2.24)

Sad news
Bardstown, KY police officer, and former Reds minor leaguer, Jason Ellis was shot and killed Saturday. Ellis was born in Cincinnati and graduated from Glen Este High School. He played baseball at the University of the Cumberlands and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Reds in 2002. He played in the Reds minor league system in 2003-04. Ellis was a teammate of Paul Janish and former 1st round pick Chris Gruler at Billings in 2004.

Baker wishes Rose could be available to the Reds

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Down on the Farm: Arredondo suspended

Reds Triple-A pitcher Jose Arredondo has been suspended. Louisville Bats manager Jim Riggleman discussed the suspension with Matt Andrews, voice of the Bats, on Saturday's pregame show (Sports Radio 790 WKRD): "We have basic rules, he violated one of those rules, we decided a suspension was warranted. I talked to my bosses in Cincinnati and this is what they came up with. He'll be away from us maybe 10 days to two weeks. He'll be working out in uniform somewhere, but it will be a while."
Arredondo at Louisville:
1-1 4.15 in 15 games
21.1 IN, 12 H, 20 BB, 35 K

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How about this first pitch?

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Wow

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The week ahead
Monday: Off
Tuesday:  3:05, ESPN 1530, listen HERE, Inside Pitch, 700 WLW, listen HERE  
Wednesday: 3:05, ESPN 1530, listen HERE, Inside Pitch, 700 WLW, listen HERE  
Thursday: 6:05, Sports Talk 700 WLW, listen HERE  
Friday: 3:05, ESPN 1530, listen HERE, Inside Pitch, 700 WLW, listen HERE  

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Win Kentucky Speedway tickets HERE

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Twitter

Get Reds, Bengals, UC, XU, UK, OSU and other sports news as it happens. 
Get a heads up on upcoming guests and topics on the show. Get involved in the show. You decide who you follow and what news you get. You don't even have to tweet. You can follow me @lancemcalister. Big thanks if you are one of the 20,000+ following me!

Got iHeart Radio?

Can't get to a radio? Are you out of town on business or vacation and want to keep up on the Reds and Bengals? Need a quick fix of Cincinnati sports? 
The iHeart radio app allows you to listen to 700 WLW anytime, anyplace.
Listen to ESPN 1530 HERE. 

Can't call in? 
Join the show discussion, like my Facebook page.

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Big night for Daddy's slugger

Are you looking to get involved/help an organization? I would recommend The Dragonfly Foundation. The vision of Christine Neitzke and Ria Davidson is powerful and inspiring. 
The help they provide is life changing.

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2013 Cincinnati Bengals Taste of the NFL

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Kicks for Kids First Annual Pete Minor Father/Child Basketball Camp
The first annual Pete Minor Father/Child Basketball Camp benefiting Kicks For Kids is taking place at the NKU Health Center in Highland Heights. Camp will be held on Saturday, June15th, 2013 from 4pm-8pm, immediately followed by dinner and a movie.  Admission is $75.00 for one father figure and one child; additional children cost $50.00 each. For more information about the basketball camp, please contact Christine Sebastian at 859-331-8484 or chris.sebastian@kicksforkids.org To RSVP online, please visit HERE.

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Pray~Hope~Believe Foundation 5K Walk/Run
July 4th 
"The Pray~Hope~Believe Foundation (PHBF) is a nonprofit organization established to honor the memory of Tony Merk – a 6-year-old boy who died on July 4, 2011 after an almost three-year battle with brain cancer. The PHBF provides funding for pediatric brain tumor research, supports children/teens who have a life-threatening condition and their families, and honors the memory of Tony Merk through scholarships or other community events. Pray~Hope~Believe became the theme for Tony's journey on earth and is now his family's theme for healing and living."

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Events for a cause

Register now for the 12^th annual Redlegs Run

Saturday, June 1 - Great American Ball Park

 CINCINNATI (April 8, 2013) – Sign up now for the 12^th annual Redlegs Run on Saturday, June 1, 2013. Runners, walkers and families have many options to participate:

• Coldwell Banker West Shell 5K: Chip-timed 3.1-mile course starts on Mehring Way behind Great American Ball Park, winds along the riverfront and finishes inside the ballpark near home plate.
• 10K: Chip-timed 6.2-mile course starts on Mehring Way, winds along the riverfront, crosses over the Ohio River on the Taylor Southgate Bridge into Newport and back across the Purple People Bridge and finishes inside the ballpark near home plate.
• One Mile Family Run/Walk presented by UnitedHealthcare: 1-mile course starts starts on Mehring Way and finishes inside the ballpark near home plate. (not chip timed)
• Gapper’s Kids Fun Run presented by UnitedHealthcare: Kids run around the warning track of the ballpark.
All events are for walkers and runners of all ages, with the exception of the Gapper’s Kids Fun Run, which is limited to kids ages 10 and under.
All participants receive a race T-Shirt (technical shirt for 10K participants), post-race party in the Kroger Fan Zone and one View Level ticket voucher for the Reds vs. Rockies game on Tuesday, June 4 at 7:10 pm.
Register online by May 22 to receive discounted entry fees:
• Coldwell Banker West Shell 5K: $30 ($40 after May 22)
• 10K: $40 ($50 after May 22)
• One Mile Family Run/Walk presented by UnitedHealthcare: $20
• Gapper’s Kids Fun Run presented by UnitedHealthcare: $15 (for kids 10 and under)
To register online visit www.reds.com/run. (Online registration closes May 22 at 11:59 pm)

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8th Annual NKOA Golf Scramble
When: Saturday June 1, 2013, Shot Gun Start at 12:00PM
Where: Flagg Springs Golf Course, California, KY
Why: Come out and help us raise money to support and fund the 2013 Northern
Kentucky Officials Association Scholarship Fund; which is awarded each year to a male
& female senior student football participant* from a Northern Kentucky High School in
which the NKOA services to help fulfill their college dream.

How: Register by May 15, 2013
Cost: $65 per Golfer (includes the following:)
      18 Holes of Golf with Cart
      Adult Beverages
      Dinner
      Friendship, Fun, Frustration, Hazards, Laughs and so much more…

Who:
Mail check payable to “NKOA Golf” and this form to:
Daniel Brummett
c/o NKOA Golf Outing
6406 Waterview Way
Independence, KY 41051
If you need assistance, please contact the NKOA at 859-474-5003 or email: golf@nkoafootball.org .

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9th annual Scott Christian Scholarship Cup

• Saturday, June 1st, 2013
• Shot-Gun Start at 8:00am
• Golfers receive gift bag full of great items
• Breakfast provided
• Barbecue Buffet following the golf outing
• Water, soft drinks & beer during the event
• Award Presentation
• Silent Auction
• Raffle Prices
• Multiple Golf Contests
• Twin Oaks Golf Course
• Cost: $100 per golfer - or - $90 if registered by May 17th.

The purpose of the Scott Christian Memorial Soccer Foundation is to perpetuate the memory of this fine outstanding young man by promoting soccer among youth soccer players and establishing an educational scholarship. Each year a female and male senior student athlete who best demonstrates his/her commitment to excellence In academics and the game of soccer will be awarded The Scott Christian Memorial Soccer Scholarship. This scholarship seeks to reward students striving to develop their individual talents to further the common good of the team and community.

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The Kid Glove Way
You can attend a Reds game and help out boys and girls tri-state baseball and softball programs. The Kid Glove Game program is 65 years. The program has furnished $300,000 in equipment each year for the past five years and over $9.1 million since 1949. 
Game 3: Reds vs Rockies, Monday, June 3, 7:10
Game 4: Reds vs Diamondbacks, Monday, August 19, 7:10
Game 5: Reds vs Diamondbacks, Tuesday, August 20, 7:10
Ticket vouchers: $10 each. Each voucher entitles you to a $17 View Level seat at GABP. If you don't want the tickets, you can designate them to be sent to your favorite charity or a charity selected by The Kid Glove committee.
I am proud to be involved with The Kid Glove game again this year.
Click HERE for a Kid Glove order form. Fill out the form and send in your order. 

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Spend the day at the Masters!

Masters Sunday Getaway
Drawing will be at the annual Down Syndrome Association Golf Tournament hosted by Dave Lapham on June 17, 2013. 
You and a guest will depart Sunday 4/13/14 at 8 am AND   
Return Sunday 4/13/14 at approx. 8 pm.

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Bengals Bowling Bash
MostValuableKids.org 
Saturday, June 8th--Princeton Bowl
Cincinnati Bengals Defensive End, Michael Johnson and teammates will be partnering with MVK to host The Bengals Bowling Bash.  Sponsorship will include 2 games of bowling, lunch, autographs, face painting, silent auction, photos and more!  Money raised will benefit both Most Valuable Kids and the Michael Johnson Foundation.

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From Evan
My nephew, Harrison Mummert passed away from Trisomy 18 on 5/29/12.  Fortunately, his parents, James & Emily Mummert (my sister and brother-in-law), are in the Air Force, and were able to handle the extreme medical costs and high-risk pregnancy thanks to the health insurance provided by the Air Force.  As I’m sure you are aware, many families aren’t so lucky…and if they have a situation like this happen to them, it could bankrupt them.  So our family has decided to put on the Harrison’s Heroes 5k/10k to raise money for the NICU at Dayton Children’s Hospital.  All the money that’s raised – every dollar – will go towards helping families that find themselves in the tragic situation that the Mummerts experienced. 
The race will be held at Beavercreek High School in Dayton on 6/1/13 at 9 AM.  
Jame Mummert's blog. 

Reds 
Today the Reds placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday, LHP Sean Marshall (sprained left shoulder) and returned from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the 15-day disabled list LHP Manny Parra (strained left pectoral muscle)...is Marshall's second stint on the DL this season (4/10-4/25, left shoulder tendinitis)...Parra, disabled since 4/26, is coming off 3 rehab starts for Class AA Pensacola (0-0, 0.00, 5ip, 3h, 0r, 1bb, 5k)...he last pitched in Sunday's 6-3 Blue Wahoos win vs Mobile (2ip, 0h, 0r, 1bb, 1k, 25 pitches, 13 strikes).

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UC football

Tuberville recruiting trail dips into Alabama
AL.com 
"He's a good coach," Porter said of Tuberville. "I like the way he carries himself. He prides himself on defense, and you can't win without defense."
The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder holds offers from the Bearcats and Green Wave as well as Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kansas State, Marshall, Iowa State, Tulane and UAB, among others.

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Topics for discussion:
Reds: Does chemistry matter?
Bengals: Would you like to see the Bengals retire uniform numbers?
Soccer at GABP/PBS?: Would you attend a Premier League soccer game in Cincinnati?
Starting an NBA franchise: Check out who Phil Jackson says he'd pick. How about you?  

Reds

Best records in MLB: 3 of top 4 in NL Central
1. Cardinals 30-16 (.652)
2. Rangers 30-17 (.638)
3. Reds 29-18 (.617)
3. Pirates 29-18 (.617) 
Run differential: +/- runs scored vs runs allowed
+59 Cardinals
+57 Reds
+56 Tigers
+48 Rangers
+44 Braves 

(USA Today Sports Images)
We Are Family
Howard Medgal, Sports on Earth 
"It's been pretty cool," Mesoraco said as we chatted in front of his locker. "It's kind of come in waves, Jay and Joey and Homer and those guys first, then me, Frazier and Cozart all came up together, pretty much. We were all drafted in '07, played a couple of years together. And I think if you play together, you're familiar with the way you play. Everybody knows each other's games."

Dusty spotlight

X marks the spot

(The Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II)

Xavier Paul seizes opportunity
John Fay, Enquirer 
There’s nothing particularly flashy about Paul’s game. He has average speed, average power and an average arm.
But Paul does something that few on this Reds team do: He grinds out consistently good at-bats. Paul’s on-base percentage is .383. That’s third on the team behind Joey Votto and Shin-Soo Choo.

Enquirer: With great relish, Reds welcome new mustard

Who are they beating? What's it to you?
Maybe you've heard, the Reds are 6-13 vs teams with a winning record and 23-5 vs teams with a losing record. The 6-13 seems to be a big talking point for some. 
Record by +.500 opponents:
1-2 Braves
0-3 Pirates
2-4 Cards
3-4 Nationals
But what about these talking points?
Reds beat Nationals 15-0, allowing just 5 H, pounding out 6 HR (most lopsided loss since return to DC in 2005
Beat Nationals/Stephen Straburg, pounding for 9 H, 6 R (season high/T-career high) in 5 IN
Beat Nationals 5-2, allowing just 5 hits, behind 11 K by Tony Cingrani
Rallied with 2 runs in bottom 8th and 2 runs in bottom 9th, before losing 7-6 (11) to Nats
Beat Cards 13-4, scoring 9 runs in the 9th
Beat Cards and Adam Wainright (2.38) 2-1
Beat Braves and Craig Kimbrel with back to back bottom 9th HR's 
Lost 3-1 to Pirates on night Johnny Cueto was injured in 5th inning.
You can talk bad teams, but consider:
Beat Mets with Matt Harvey (1.51 entering game) allowing season high 9 H, 4 R in 6 innings 
Beat Phillies in start by Cliff Lee (2.48) and two starts by Kyle Kenrick (2.82)
Beat Marlins twice in games started by hot-shot rookie pitcher Jose Fernandez
And, last, but not least, the Reds have climbed to 29-18 while losing Johnny Cueto (6 starts), Ryan Ludwick (Opening Day), Sean Marshall and Ryan Hanigan for stretches.

Flashback: In honor of Bronson starting tonight

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Down on the Farm
Tony Cingrani dominated in his return to Triple-A Louisville last night:
 “He came down here with the instructions to mix in a lot of off-speed stuff. He did that tonight,” manager Jim Riggleman said. “He mixed in his changeup and his slider with his fastball. He was a little frustrated. There were some ... balls that were just off the plate that he wasn’t getting. He got his pitch count up, but it was a good night.”

Hard to believe Reds have 5 better starters than Cingrani
Rick Bozich, WDRB
If the Cincinnati Reds have five better starting pitchers than Tony Cingrani, then I'm Derek Jeter. He is lean left-handed pitcher who wears his socks high and keeps his fastball low. Cingrani's delivery has the smooth, rhythmic flow of Barry Zito in his prime. His breaking ball is not as sharp as Zito's. But his fastball carries more sizzle. Cingrani is the type of pitching prospect that agents will be scrambling to represent.        
Evidently somebody with the Cincinnati Reds does not agree – yet.

Cingrani at Triple-A: 19.1 IN, 5 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 31 K

Billy Hamilton: 2 for 6, 2 R, SB #24, hitting .318 last 10 games, .286 in May and up to .246 overall.

Q/A with Ted Power
 

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Remember this guy?

(Michael Snyder, Enquirer)

Brandon Larson is 37 today. He was the Reds 1st round pick in 1997 (14th). Larson was the College World Series at LSU in 1997. He played parts of four MLB seasons (2001-04) for the Reds, hitting .179, 8 HR, 37 in 109 games. He was the Reds Opening Day 3B in 2003. The Houston Astros selected Lance Berkman with the 16th pick in 1997. He last played with the Somerset Patriots in the Atlantic League in 2008 where he hit .303 with 30 HR and 95 RBI.
Here is a story about Larson from two years ago.

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Bengals/NFL

Bengals sign another draft pick
The Bengals today signed S Shawn Williams of Georgia, their third-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Williams (6-0, 213) saw action in 54 games at Georgia and earned a reputation as one of the college game’s elite run-stoppers in the secondary. He ranked second with 98 tackles on a 12-2 team last season, and he led a 10-4 club in tackles (72) in 2011. The team captain also contributed significantly on special teams, with 23 career stops. Also as a senior, he was graded by Georgia coaches as having allowed only 16 completions in 62 passes into his area.
The Bengals have now signed nine of their 10 selections from the 2013 draft.

The Chicago Bears announced they will retire the #89 of Mike Ditka during a Monday Night Football halftime ceremony this season. Ditka becomes the 14th Chicago Bear to have his number retired. The 14 players is most by a franchise in NFL history. The Boston Celtics lead the NBA with 21 and New York Yankees lead MLB with 15. I really wish the Bengals would recognize history like this. 

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On this date: 2008 
From Don Helbig, Kings Island
Today marks the fifth anniversary of daredevil Robbie Knievel's stunning motorcycle jump over 24 Coke Zero trucks in the parking lot at Kings Island. Flames fired up in the air and the crowd cheered as Knievel soared over 200 feet off a ramp nearly three stories high. Knievel dedicated the jump to his late father, Evel Knievel, who made a jump in the same parking lot at the park in 1975, traveling over 115 feet over 14 buses.

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This is cool

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A Jack Bauer like escape?

How about last night at Busch Stadium?
Would you attend a soccer match at GABP or PBS? Comment below.

48,236 jammed Busch Stadium for an English Premier League soccer match between rivals Manchester City and Chelsea last night. It was the largest crowd ever for a sporting event at Busch Stadium.

Phil Jackson
The former Bulls/Lakers coach has a new book out. He was asked which player in NBA history he would pick to start a franchise with. Listen to his answer at the 2:30 mark of the interview.
Who would you pick? Comment below. 

Topics for discussion today:

Worried?: Reds are 23-5 vs teams with losing records/6-13 vs teams with winning records
Which way?: Reds Way vs Cards Way...which is better?
Here are the 20 types of depressed sports fans. Which one are you?
Would you rather watch sports in person or on the couch? See what the survey says.
Are you really going to tell me NBA action is not fantastic after watching this? 
Is Andy Dalton just your average NFL QB? 

Reds/Cards

Reds Way vs Cards Way
Much is being written about the St Louis Cardinals, their "way" and the direction of the franchise. What I find interesting is the St Louis change in direction began with the Cardinals firing of Walt Jocketty and the Reds change in direction escalated with the hiring of Walt Jocketty. The belief inside the Cardinals organization was that Walt's model was not sustainable. There was a philosophical divide. Not enough emphasis was being placed on drafting and developing and too much emphasis was on trading for players and using free agency. Walt engineered trades to bring the likes of Mark McGwire, Jim Edmonds, Darryl Kile, Larry Walker, Mark Mulder, Woody Williams, Will Clark, Scott Rolen, Chuck Finley and Edgar Renteria to St Louis. There was also a split within the St Louis organization about Walt's old school scouting/stats approach vs new school sabermetrics.
The Cardinals have made major decisions, such as choosing not to go toe to toe with the Angels for Albert Pujols. They instead, allowed a franchise legend to leave and redistribute his money. Today, the Cardinals have the best record in the NL and the best rated farm system in baseball. Their model has allowed them to create organizational depth and cover their losses to injury this year with ML ready prospects. 19 of 30 players that have appeared on the roster this year are homegrown. Despite two starting pitchers, their SS, and closer being on the DL, the Cards are 30-16. They have 11 wins this year from rookie staring pitchers.
Meanwhile, Jocketty came to Cincinnati and added to a foundation laid by Dan O'Brien and Wayne Krivsky and engineered a turnaround of the franchise. The Reds broke a string of nine consecutive winning season and have now made the playoffs two of the last three seasons. Like in St Louis, Walt opted to parlay minor league prospects into major league pieces with deals for Shin-Soo Choo, Mat Latos, Sean Marshall and Jonathon Broxton. He's dipped his toe into the free agency waters with Ryan Ludwick and veteran pieces (Cairo, Hannahan). He's scrounged up pieces like Xavier Paul and Derrick Robinson. The moves bolstered the ML roster, but depleted the depth from the minor league system. Injury replacements parts have ranged from Willie Harris, Mike Constanzo and Corky Miller on the low end to Donald Lutz and Tony Cingrani on the higher end.  The system cupboard is not bare, it's just more of the talent sits lower in the system at the moment. Walt also expanded the organization scouting reach around the globe. Walt's biggest decisions include opting to spend $250-million to keep Joey Votto and nearly $70-million on Brandon Phillips. Tough questions and potential big dollars remain with players like Homer Bailey and Mat Latos and the futures of Shin-Soo Choo and Billy Hamilton.
Both organizations are having success.
Cards: 385-309 .555. (2009-2013) 
3 playoff appearances
Won 2011 World Series
Lost in 2009 NLDS, lost in 2012 NLCS.
Reds: 374-321 .538 (2009-2013)
2 playoff appearances
Lost 2010 NLCS, lost 2012 NLCS
Is one way better than the other going forward?

Cards success starts at the top
Bernie Miklasz, St Louis Post-Dispatch 
“From a strategic standpoint, the organization shifted gears,” Mozeliak said. “Bill was the one that was very aware that we did not have a sustainable model. He believed that for us to have success, we had to look at this more organically than just simply ‘free-agent market, trade market.’ So he changed it.”

Cards know how to fill in the gaps
Derrick Goold, St Louis Post Dispatch 
“We have more flexibility today than we did five or six years ago in terms of how we operate,” Mozeliak said. “The reason is we’re having such success being able to bring players up. This organization’s way now of staying healthy is not being tied to those outside markets to fill needs. I feel like the way we’ve managed this to date has allowed us to be flexible in any way of thinking. … Having some young players step up like they are now gives us additional flexibility when we’re going to need it.”

Votto forges bond with Rose
ESPN
 "Early in my career, Pete kept an eye on me," Votto said, "and the one piece of advice he gave me was, 'When you get the second hit, get the third hit. And when you get the third hit, get the fourth hit. And when you get the fourth hit, get the fifth hit.' That really stuck with me, because it's a genuine challenge when you're tired, or you're sick, or the score is mismatched, or you're facing a tough pitcher, or you're not in a good mood that day. Whatever it is."

Mets may Choo fat next year
NY Post 
Choo said he hasn’t given much thought to where he could be next season. But when asked if he could see himself in Flushing next season, he didn’t rule it out.
“With New York, you never know. If I have a good opportunity, I’ll take it,” he said.

Arroyo's last stand
Matt Steinmann, MLBReports.com 
Bronson Arroyo is in the final year of a contract with the Reds and Wily Mo Pena is in the Japanese League. With all the talk from fans for the team to sign Shin-Soo Choo to a long term deal, the name not being mentioned is Bronson Arroyo.

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Flashback

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Stuff

Wow: Heartbreaking and Heroic....46 photos of the tornado

UC baseball

We are in!
I'm taking Peyton to see the Columbus Crew vs Houston Dynamo next Saturday night.