Show preview
3:05, ESPN 1530, 6:05 Inside Pitch, 700 WLW 

***

MLB
How well do you know the rules? Take the quiz.

***

Reds

Final: Reds 4 Pirates 1
28,892 at GABP
Record: 43-28
Reds season high 15 games over .500...reached in 6th try.
16th time in 71 games Reds have allowed 1 run or less in game, 29th time allowing 2 runs or less. Amazing.
Leake: 7 IN, 6 H, 1 R,  1 BB, 3 K,  101 pitches/70 strikes.
Cingrani gets 1st ML hold. I’d argue he would deserve 1st ML save. He saved it. Chapman got last 3 outs, bottom order.
Stay tuned? Leake hit McCutchen in back, Chapman buzzed Walker
Wouldn’t you think baseball would look at that game and say, “we really need to think about changing our save rule”?
Holy solo blasts, Batman: Cozart, Frazier, Votto, Bruce
Well done, Tony. That was a Sean Marshall situation and Cingrani was nails. The kid's got a pair.
Cool seatbelt wraps or not, shouldn't the FS Ohio girl and friend get a ticket from that cop for leaving the car parked on Crosley Terrace?
MLB At-Bat shows 17 pitches for Cingrani, 15 fastballs, 1 curve, 1 slider.

Mike Leake
Season: 7-3 2.64
Last seven starts: 5-1 1.15
Last 12 starts: 7-3 2.00
Allowed 2 or less in 9 of 14 starts
Allowed 3 or less in 11 of 14 starts 

Pitcher's best friend
Most double plays induced this year
16 Felix Hernandez, Mariners
16 Lucas Harrell, Astros
14 Mike Leake, Reds
Reds' staff:
14 Mike Leake
7 Mat Latos
6 Homer Bailey
6 Bronson Arroyo 

Mat Latos
*6-0 2.87 in 13 starts, only 2nd pitcher in franchise history to produce undefeated record and ERA under 3.00 in 1st 13 starts of season. (Mike LaCoss, 1979, 8-0 2.26).
*23 no decisions in 47 starts....8 in 14 this season.
*5 blown saves by bullpen in start by Latos this year.
*Latos has not lost decision in 21 consecutive starts, longest in franchise history (10-0 2.80). (Elias Sports Bureau).
*Latos has just one loss in last 28 starts (August 24 of last year vs St Louis). 
*10 game winning streak Reds' longest since Scott Sullivan won 10 row 2001-2002.
*No Reds pitcher has won 11 row since Denny Neagle over 1999-2000 season. (Elias Sports Bureau).
*Since being acquired in the trade with San Diego, Latos has made 47 starts and is 20-4 3.31 with 23 no decisions. 
*The Reds are 10-4 when Latos starts this year, and 33-14 since the trade. 
*27 career starts at GABP: 13-3 3.02, best ERA for pitcher who has made at least 10 starts at GABP.

Contract status:
Latos
2013: $4.25M
2014: $7.25M
2015: Eligible for arbitration (3rd, last time) 
Bailey:
2013: $5.35M
2014: Arbitration
2015: Free agent
Cueto:  
2013: $7.4M
2014: $10M
2015: $10M club option ($0.8M buyout)
Arroyo:
2013: $6.5M this year, then free agent
Leake:
2013: $3.06M
2014: Arbitration
2015: Arbitration

Trade candidate: Jesse Crain
MLBTradeRumors
Crain, 31, should be a valuable piece nonetheless. His strikeout rate has improved in every season since 2005, and this year he's taken a step forward with his control as well. He's posted an 0.60 ERA this season, with 11.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9, and he hasn't allowed a run in 26 straight appearances. The 0.60 ERA isn't sustainable, clearly, but Crain's strikeout rate and walk rate are both very strong. He's capable of getting outs with either his mid-90s fastball or his plus slider. He's also effective against both righties and lefties, which makes him an excellent fit in his current role as a setup man. A creative team in need of a closer could also do worse than to trade for Crain and use him in that position.

Forget Paplebon, target Crain
FanGraphs 
Papelbon’s track record and name recognition are vastly superior to Crain’s, but given their performances over the last few years, its hard to make a case that Crain isn’t at least in the same ballpark in terms of late inning reliever dominance. And yet, unlike Papelbon, Crain isn’t due $13 million in salary each of the next two years, and an acquiring team won’t have to pay the “proven closer” premium that will certainly be attached to Papelbon in trade talks.

***

Down on the Farm:
Chris Heisey on rehab: 2 for 4, R, K
Pedro Villarreal: 1.2 IN, 8 R, 8 H, 1 BB, 1 K and a HR.
Jose Arredondo: 2 IN, 3 more BB, , K, H, 0 R, 38 pitches/16 strikes.
Season: 25 BB in 27.1 IN
Corky Miller pitched for 3rd pitch: 2 IN, 3 H, 4 R, HR

****

Cardinals
Will Cards' rotation hold up?
Bernie Miklasz, St Louis Post Dispatch 
The organization’s venerated pitching depth, tested repeatedly, has come through in a way that’s exceeded reasonable expectations. But that bank account has been hit with many withdrawals. And with 93 regular-season games to go, will the rotation hold up?
Over the past 14 games Cardinals’ starters have an ERA of 5.03, with five quality starts — two by resident ace Adam Wainwright.

St Louis minor league system rolling:  "We're the new Yankees," said Memphis second baseman Kolten Wong the Cardinals' No. 3 prospect. "We're just stacked with players."

****

Stuff

We had a great day celebrating Peyton's 11th birthday. We had breakfast at First Watch, played games at Gameworks and dinner at Miyako Sushi and Steakhouse.

Golf
Photo Gallery US Open 

A father's voice, a former NBA stars' hope
Oregon Live 
"Everybody gets dealt a bunch of crap at times," Grant said. "You deal with the good. You deal with the bad. It's a growing process. I'm still not all the way there. I respect each and every day that I'm given. Depression is always going to knock at my door. I realized, though, that even though I may be down and gloomy some days, I have my kids to turn to. Even though I'm sick, just being around them and having them present, especially my little girls, they always seem to know if I'm having a bad day.
"The little one, she just gets up under me and says, 'Come on Dad, everything is going to be good.'"

Bengals

Brian Billick talks about the impact Hard Knocks can have on a team.

NFL teams who participated in HBO's "Hard Knocks" have a combined 59-59 record (including the playoffs)

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) June 18, 2013

Most over/under rated Bengals of all-time

80-day NFL Warning: The Geno Atkins Diet

Chad Johnson talks about lessons learned

***

It's official: HBO picks Bengals

From HBO
   HBO Sports, NFL Films and the Cincinnati Bengals team up for an all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League when HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS debuts in August.  The first sports-based reality series – and one of the fastest-turnaround programs on television – kicks off its five-episode eighth season, presented in HD, TUESDAY, AUG. 6 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.  Other hour-long episodes debut subsequent Tuesdays at the same time, with an encore play every Wednesday at 11:00 p.m., culminating in the Sept. 3 season finale.
            “We are delighted that Hard Knocks will be returning this summer and excited for our return to the AFC Central and the Cincinnati Bengals franchise,” says Ken Hershman, President, HBO Sports. “With playoff appearances three of the past four seasons, the Bengals have built a terrific young team and we are extremely grateful to both Coach Marvin Lewis and the entire organization for agreeing to participate. The series has become captivating television with appeal far beyond the hardcore football fan.  Hard Knocks is a cornerstone franchise at HBO Sports.” 
“We’re thrilled to again work with both the Cincinnati Bengals and HBO Sports,” said Howard Katz, COO of NFL Films and NFL Senior Vice President of Broadcasting.  “In particular, we want to thank Mike Brown for the trust he’s shown in NFL FILMS by allowing us access into Bengals training camp. This year’s Bengals squad provides us with a compelling combination of unique storylines:  a veteran coaching staff, young superstars, high-profile free agents and an intriguing draft class. We can’t wait to see what will take place this year and look forward to collaborating with HBO which has been the perfect partner for us since Hard Knocks debuted 12 seasons ago.”
            The cinema verité series will focus on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches as the Cincinnati Bengals, who compete in the ultra-competitive AFC Central, prepare for the 2013 NFL season.  HARD KNOCKS:  TRAINING CAMP WITH THE CINCINNATI BENGALS will chronicle eleventh-year head coach Marvin Lewis and an intriguing mix of high-profile veterans, emerging stars, free agents and rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the four-game preseason schedule.  Each week, players will experience drills, instruction, meetings and fun, while striving to prove they have what it takes to make the team and leave their mark in the NFL.
          "The feedback we got from our experience with Hard Knocks in 2009 was outstanding,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “Our fans enjoyed it tremendously and we're happy to try and provide that same experience again. Our fans love the NFL and they enjoy seeing things they don't normally get to see. We have some outstanding men, both as players and as people. They've got great charisma to go along with their football skills, and the Hard Knocks treatment allows for both to shine through.”
Lewis added: “Some people say, 'Well, you won the division the last time you did this; is that a reason for doing it again?' I really don't think that matters or figures much into the decision. Every day, every time is a new experience. As coaches and players, we just go into it knowing we have to do our jobs to the utmost. We have a grueling schedule, and expectations are very high, particularly among ourselves. We've got to take a workmanlike attitude from the very start.  Hard Knocks is another element you have to be prepared to deal with. The NFL Films people are totally professional, so that's not a worry, but it's not like a normal day. One thing I did see as a positive last time was exposing our players to another group of people who are working hard every day the way we need to work. The diligence and the effort of the people on-site is very impressive.”
            A 24-person NFL Films crew will live in the city of Cincinnati as the Bengals will hold camp at Paul Brown Stadium, shooting more than 1,250 hours of footage shot over the course of the series.  Camera and sound crews will be given unencumbered access to the players’ and coaches’ meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields.
            Last summer’s edition of HARD KNOCKS marked the first time the series premiered on Tuesday nights and it proved to be a resounding success; the five-part prime-time series on the resurgent Miami Dolphins averaged 4.1 million viewers per episode making it the second most watched HARD KNOCKS in a decade.
            HARD KNOCKS launched with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002.  The series resumed in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Sports Emmy.  In 2008, the series returned to the Dallas Cowboys, receiving a second Sports Emmy for production excellence.  In 2009 HARD KNOCKS spotlighted the Cincinnati Bengals franchise and the show captured two more Sports Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Edited Series/Anthology” and “Outstanding Post-Produced Audio/Sound.”  In 2010 the New York Jets were featured and the series captured three Sports Emmys, including the trophy for “Outstanding Edited Series/Anthology.”  Last summer’s presentation with the Miami Dolphins earned the franchise an eighth Sports Emmy in the category of “Outstanding Post-Produced Audio/Sound.”

Hard Knocks for Bengals
What do you think? Good idea? Comment below.

Remember these episodes?

Marvin's speech: LANGUAGE WARNING

See you at GABP Friday for a test drive and free Reds tickets!
I will be hanging out from 9:30 to 11:30. Stop by and say hello!

Test drive a new Chevy at GABP on Friday and get two free Reds tickets
CINCINNATI (June 17, 2013) — Reds fans are invited to Great American Ball Park on Friday, June 21 for the annual Chevy Ride & Drive event from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All fans that test drive a Chevrolet at the ballpark will receive two tickets to an upcoming Reds game on Sept. 4 or Sept. 23.
The Chevy vehicles available for test drive include: all-new 2014 Impala, Traverse, Equinox, Camaro, Cruze, Malibu and Volt.
Chevy representatives will meet fans near the entrance to the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum at 100 Joe Nuxhall Way. 
Must be 21 years of age and have a valid driver’s license. 
Limit one pair of tickets per fan, while supplies last.

Reds

Top 40 regular season Reds home wins since 1956
John Erardi, Enquirer 
I enlisted the help of Reds historian Greg Rhodes and the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum's Chris Eckes, and together we came up with what we regard as arguably the 40 best regular season home victories in modern Reds history (1956-present). We didn't include milestone games such as Pete Rose's hit No. 4,192 because we basically knew they were coming. The acid test was this: The game had to stand by itself. For me, Reds modern history began when Frank Robinson donned the wishbone "C" as a rookie in 1956, and played with such luminaries as Ted Kluszewski, Wally Post, Gus Bell and Joe Nuxhall. I’m going to stick with that.

What is your pick for greatest regular season home wins for Reds since 1956?
Comment below. 
Here is the view I had with Casey for our #1

I'm off today
Peyton turns 11 today! We are celebrating: First Watch for breakfast, Gameworks in the afternoon and dinner tonight. I'm back on Tuesday.

***

Record vs winning/losing teams
Reds:    12-20 vs teams at/above .500, 30-8 vs teams below .500 
Pirates: 18-13 vs teams at/above .500, 23-15 vs teams below .500
Cards:   22-14 vs teams at/above .500, 22-11 vs teams below .500

(Getty Images)

Cueto returns, Reds win - VIDEO >>

I've always loved three inning saves
From Steven Sharp
In yesterday's Reds game, Alfredo Simon entered in relief to start the seventh inning and finished the game (pitching 3.0 innings), to record his first save of the 2013 season.  
Since joining the Reds before the start of the 2012 regular season, it was Simon's second save.  He had 17 saves while with the Baltimore Orioles, though.  
Perspective on Reds pitchers recording 3.0+-inning saves:  
The 3.0-inning save for Alfredo Simon yesterday was the first such 3.0+-inning save for a Reds pitcher since Micah Owings pitched 3.0 innings to pick up a save for the Reds versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 1, 2009, in support of a win for Justin Lehr. 
Coincidentally, that save by Micah Owings on September 1, 2009 that came in an appearance of 3.0 innings pitched was also the last save by a Reds pitcher who pitched 2.0+ innings in an appearance that resulted in a save.  
Since the start of the 2004 season, those are the only two saves by Reds pitchers in which the Reds pitcher pitched 3.0+ innings in the respective appearances.  
Things have certainly changed with respect to how often it used to happen.  For example, the 1999 Reds (96-67) had 10 saves produced by relief pitchers who pitched 3.0+ innings.   

***

College football

La Salle 2014 WR Derek Kief verbally committed to Alabama on Sunday:

MLB

Protecting pitchers must be a priority
Jerry Crasnick, ESPN 
I would love to sit here and pontificate about how Major League Baseball needs to do something drastic -- and soon -- to ensure that pitchers are finally safe from ill-fated line drives through the box. It would be wonderful to never again endure the anxious, gut-churning moments that accompany a fallen pitcher being carried from the field, and waiting for him to flash a "thumbs up'' sign to let the crowd know that he's conscious and in good spirits.
Now for the reality check:

No simple solution for protecting pitchers
MLB.com
 "It's a situation we all kind of fear," Hamels said after the game. "At some point when you make enough pitches, it's probably going to happen. I'm just glad I was able to get my glove in the way and catch it."

From October of 2012
MLB puts protecting pitchers on "fast track"
National Post 
DETROIT — Major League Baseball is looking at ways to protect pitchers from being injured by batted balls such as the one that struck Doug Fister in the head, and says hat liners are a possibility in the minors next year.
The safety issue is on a “fast track,” MLB senior vice-president Dan Halem said Friday night.
“Hopefully, we can come up with something,” he said. “We’re making progress.”

OJ and the white Bronco
Where were you for this? Comment below. 
I was at Kelly's apartment in Glen Ellyn, IL. We watched the chase, while the NBA Finals: Rockets vs Knicks, was shown in the lower left corner of the TV screen. 

More on the chase