Reds
Prior to Tuesday’s Reds vs Giants 7:10 p.m. game, University of Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari, members of his coaching staff and the NCAA national championship trophy will honored on the field at Great American Ball Park.
Calipari will be on the field at 7:00 p.m. and the trophy will be on display on the Terrace Level above the Reds’ bullpen. Fans can get photos of the trophy starting at about 7:15.
Really?
Let me get this straight. The Reds are honoring the National Champion Kentucky Wildcats basketball team Tuesday night before Reds vs Giants and people are actually upset? UK coach John Calipari and his staff will be on the field prior to the game and the Reds are feeling fan backlash?
File this one under.........."Only in Cincinnati". Some advice: Get over yourself.
This may just be the single dumbest debate in the history of the city.
I feel badly for the Reds. They try to reach out and connect to the city and the region. They try to market their product. They offer ticket deals (This Saturday 4 tickets + Free Pizza for $48) and what they get in return is grief?
Kentucky is a drive over the bridge from Cincinnati.
The Reds have 29 radio affiliates in Kentucky. They have 22 radio affiliates in Ohio.
The Reds Caravan stops in Lexington and many other cities in the state.
There are 10,8000 UK alums in Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.
Exactly which MLB team do you think Kentucky residents should root for?
What is the harm? How could this possibly be a bad thing?
The UC football team was part of Opening Night this year (see video). Chris Mack has thrown out the first pitch at GABP. The Reds offered Xavier fans a "Value Price" ticket discount tied in with Xavier Fan Day on Fountain Square last August.
Friday, May 11 is UC Bearcats at the Ballpark for Reds vs Nationals.
Other teams recognized on field at GABP:
- UC football (Big East regular season titles in 2009 & 2011)
- NKU men’s soccer (2010 national championship)
- Cincinnati Cyclones (Kelly Cup titles in 2008 & 2010)
- Taft High School boys basketball team (2011 Division III State Championship)
- Cincinnati Commandos (2011 UIFL champions)
- On the high school level they always honor state championships in softball and
baseball no matter if they are in Ohio, Indiana or Kentucky.
Those that I recall include: Moeller HS baseball, Holy Cross (KY) – twice
for softball and Lakota East HS baseball.
From listener Bill
Some quotes from the Reds Facebook page regarding Tuesday's UK Basketball NCAA Championship celebration at the GABP :
"Keep that fecal matter on that side of the river."
"HOw in the world are Buckeyes fans going to allow this??NOT IN OHIO!!"
"Boooooooooo! Hello most people hate UK and their crooked program."
"Sure wish there was a dislike button. Can't stand UK."
"I wish I could be there so I could boo in person."
"Stay in kentucky where you belong"
"It will be funny to see 98% of reds fans boooo them."
"You just lost a lot of reds fan when you team up with those cheaters from Kentucky... Smh.... How about the reds show the local schools some love like the bearcats or Xavier? C'mon Man"
"Makes me like the Reds a little less."
"Thanks for the heads up, I was considering going to that game, now I know to stay home."
"Great so the Reds are hosting the SUcKCats, kind of acknowledgement of the start of their own season."
"Well... I was going to the game. forget it now"
"Whooopty- doo. I can't wait until they have their championship vacated by the NCAA."
"I hate this! I live in ky and I believe the should stay in that city down south!"
"Makes no sense! If Ohio State or UC had won, would any other sporting event in Ky had celebrated... NO! Let Ky celebrate this! Keep it in Ky! Cincinnati is in Ohio not Ky."
"The only reason to go to the game is the Reds not some two bit team from Kentucky they may have the NCAA but well see how long it lasts. Calipari was in UMASS and Memphis and left before the heat got to him coincidence I think not"
"Wish I could be there to join in the boo's"
"Well never going to great American ball park ever agin"
"I just puked in my mouth."
"I'll be sure and stay home and keep my television off. GO HOOSIERS!"
"Kentucky the best team money can buy"
"How much did the wildcats players get paid while in school"
"Well I liked the reds but if they are stooping that low...well Go Yankees!"
"Note to self; listen to game on radio that day."
"UK one and doners shouldn't be honored. They will never be in KY again after the draft. Honor true college athletes like OSU and U of L!!"
"That's one game I refuse to go to!"
"frankly, I have to say this is not a good marketing move....don't hate the Wildcats, they had a talented team this year...I'm a Muskie and proud of it. just don't understand the marketing strategy here...."
"Now I know I for sure I wont go to the game"
"UK's players probably have a higher payroll than the Reds..."
"Love my Reds but will be glad not to be a Great American Ballpark. I'm from Kentucky and refuse to support anything involving Calipari"
"F@#k U.K. !!!!!!!!"
"How about you recognize UC instead. Or OSU. Or anyone except UK."
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NCAA
CINCINNATI --- Xavier University head basketball coach Chris Mack announced today that redshirt junior guard Mark Lyons will not be returning for the 2012-13 season.
“After our end of the season meeting with Mark it became apparent that a change for both parties was the right thing moving forward,” said Mack. “During our meeting expectations were outlined for his fifth and final season, areas in which I believe needed improvement. Mark did not recognize these expectations as being important and ultimately it was decided that a change of scenery would be in his best interest. I wish Mark well.”
Lyons says he would "defintely" consider Arizona
Kentucky, Arizona and Kansas interested in Mark Lyons
***
Bengals/NFL draft
Tweet, tweet
*Worst positions in the draft. TE, OT, S - Deepest positions - WR, OG, DT, OLB, CB
*Expect to see a high # of WR's come off the board on rd 2. Randle, Jeffery, Jenkins, Quick, Sanu, & possibly Kendall Wright (borderline 1st)
From @MelKiperESPN
(AP photo)
Commitment to get better propels Pead
Columbus Dispatch
If Cincinnati was to rebound from a 4-8 season, Jones needed Pead to be, as the coach described it, a running back, not just a runner.
That meant embracing all the responsibilities of the position: durability, catching passes, blocking and being willing to grind for tough yards. What Jones was really challenging Pead to be was a leader. That hadn’t always been the case for Pead, for whom punctuality at meetings wasn’t a given.
But Jones’ message to Pead sank in right away. Immediately after the meeting, he hit the weight room.
“I had another conversation with our weight coach,” Pead said. “I said, ‘I’m all bought in this offseason.’  ”
Hobson: Mocking and reeling
Reedy: Draft profile Kirkpatrick and Gilmore
***
My soccer weekend
(Getty Images)
Saturday I was up early to watch Arsenal vs Chelsea.
But my new found interest in soccer suffered a setback when they played to a scoreless tie. A tie? No penalty kicks? Nothing?
Later Saturday afternoon I recorded and watched Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1...a showdown between Ronaldo and Messi.
Sunday I froze my rear off watching Peyton's team play in Cold Spring.
Sunday Manchester United and Everton played to a 4-4 tie.
I'm stunned at the reaction to my soccer comments last week.
The response has been more passionate than anything I've ever received about Mike Brown or Dusty Baker. As you see in the blog poll question, most are not happy with me.
***
Reds
The pen
Ondrusek+Chapman+Marshall
23 innings
15 hits
2 earned runs
8 walks
33 strikeouts
2-1, 3 saves, 1 BS, 2 holds
0.65 ERA
1.00 WHIP
Off to a 9-12 start the Reds fire General Manager Wayne Krivsky and replace him with Walt Jocketty. Jocketty becomes the fourth Cincinnati Reds GM in six years.
Walt Jocketty as Reds GM
2008: 65-76
2009: 78-84
2010: 91-71
2011: 79-83
2012: 7-9
Total: 320-323 (.498)
NL Central Divsion title 2010
Wayne Krivsky as Reds GM
2006: 80-82
2007: 72-90
2008: 9-12
Total: 161-184 (.467)
Dan O'Brien as Reds GM
2004: 76-86
2005: 73-89
Total: 149-175 (.460)
Jim Bowden as Reds GM
10+ seasons: 829-830 (.499)
Four winning seasons
NL Central Division title 1995
NL Division Series win over Atlanta
Executive of Year 1999
Drafted: Joey Votto, Aaron Boone, Adam Dunn
Among his transactions:
Traded for: Ken Griffey Jr., Greg Vaughn, Denny Neagle, John Smiley, Kevin Mitchell, Deion Sanders, Sean Casey, David Wells, Mike Cameron
Traded: Paul O'Neill, Jeff Shaw, Paul Konerko
How the Reds were built
The General Manager that acquired each of the players on the Reds 40-man roster.
Jim Bowden (2)
Joey Votto, draft, 2nd round, 2002
Ryan Hanigan, non-drafted free agent, 2002
Dan O'Brien (7)
Denis Phipps, non-drafted free agent, 2004
Homer Bailey, draft, 1st round, 2004
Paul Janish, draft, 5th round, 2004
Jay Bruce, draft, 1st round, 2005
Sam LeCure, draft, 4th round, 2005
Logan Ondrusek, draft, 13th round, 2005
Johnny Cueto, non-drafted free agent, 2004
Wayne Krivsky (15)
Drew Stubbs, draft, 1st round, 2006
Chris Valaika, draft, 3rd round, 2006
Jordan Smith, draft, 6th round, 2006
Chris Heisey, draft, 17th round, 2006
Devin Mesoraco, draft, 1st round, 2007
Todd Frazier, draft, 1st round, 2007 (supplemental)
Kyle Lotzkar, draft, 1st round, 2007 (supplemental)
Zach Cozart, draft, 2nd round, 2007
Brandon Phillips trade, 2006
Bronson Arroyo, trade, 2006
Bill Bray, trade, 2006
DiDi Gregorius, undrafted free agent, 2007
Donald Lutz, undrafted free agent, 2007
Henry Rodriguez, undrafted free agent, 2007
Neftali Soto, supplemental 3rd round pick, 2007
Walt Jocketty (16)
Pedro Villarreal, draft, 7th round, 2008
Mike Leake, draft, 1st round, 2009
Scott Rolen, trade, 2009
Kris Negron, trade, 2009
Miguel Cairo, free agent, 2010
Nick Masset, trade, 2008
Jose Arredondo, free agent, 2010
Aroldis Chapman, free agent, 2010
Matt Latos, trade, 2011
Sean Marshall, trade, 2011
Andrew Brackman, free agent, 2012
Ryan Ludwick, free agent, 2012
J.J. Hoover, trade, 2012
Willie Harris, free agent, 2012
Wilson Valdez, trade, 2012
Alfredo Simon, waiver claim, 2012
The weekend
Good
They won a road series
They've won 3 of last 4
Ondrusek-Chapman-Marshall lights out
Stubbs a walk/hit
Votto on base four times
Hanigan on base three times
Reds drew 8 walks
Cueto good
Not so good
4-6 road trip
3 errors Sunday, 7 errors in series
1 for 12 RISP Sunday
13 LOB Sunday
Brandon Phillips lingering hamstring
Rolen 3 K
Masset still not close
Brandon Phillips
Brandon injured his hamstring two weeks ago today vs St Louis.
He has started five games and appeared in six of 12 games since then.
He is 5 for 23 (.217 BA/.217 OBP).
Had he been placed on the DL the night he injured the hamstring he would have been eligible to return Wednesday vs the Giants.
That would have meant 15 days of healing the hamstring.
Instead the Reds played shorthanded, Brandon played at "60%", in his words, and he was told by Dusty to dial it down out of the batters box so he wouldn't make it worse. Now Brandon still isn't 100%. He had to sit 2 of 3 this past weekend in the cold conditions of Chicago.
Figures: Juan Francisco
Francisco homered Sunday vs Arizona
Season: .286, 3 HR, 7 RBI in 28 AB
Projections: 30 HR
Francisco likely to get plenty of at-bats
MLB.com
"He likes to work. That's one thing I notice," Gonzalez said. "He's young and he's got some pop. Like I told him when we brought him in, 'We are going to give you an opportunity'."
Cards believe they are stronger than ever
St Louis Post Dispatch
The Cardinals' immediate goal is to contend, reach the postseason and ultimately emerge from the ensuing crapshoot as World Series champions.
Their long-term aim is to achieve organizational self-sufficiency by constructing a talent pipeline that can offset the game's escalating pay scale for elite, established talent.
Regarding self-sufficiency, general manager John Mozeliak suggests without little hesitation, "I think we're there."
***
Stuff
SI Swimsuit: Chrissy Teigen
Stuff
The departure of Mark Lyons from XU is addition by subtraction.
XU just became a whole lot easier and enjoyable to follow.....and coach.
I've taken a beating from XU people for saying it over the last couple of years
but the school, staff and administration finally reached the same conclusion.
Mark Lyons won't return for senior season at Xavier
Lyons interested in hooking up with Sean Miller and Arizona
Wood watch
The Cubs bypassed Travis Wood at Triple-A to call-up Randy Wells to replace the injured Ryan Dempster. Wells has a 9.42 ERA in three starts this season at Iowa.
Things figured
9 HR/57 AB: Matt Kemp
9 HR/455 AB: Pujols, Braun, Votto, Fielder, Tulo, Stanton, Berkman, Uggla, McCutchen combined (Going into Sunday)
Votto/Pujols combined: .265, 1 HR, 12 RBI in 113 AB
Votto/Pujols/Braun combined: .265, 3 HR, 19 RBI in 166 AB
Votto/Pujols/Braun/Fielder combined: .280, 5 HR, 27 RBI in 221 AB
(Going into Sunday)
'72 A's gather to remember World Series run vs Reds
TMZ: Rose paid $973,693.28 tax lien....now owes $120,643.41 in back taxes
NFL teams: Record, Win %, Pro Bowlers drafted last 10 years
Ex-Cub Marshall happy with Reds
Ranking managers' knowledge of Coachella: Dusty #4
Hoard: Bajakian brings interesting background to Bearcat football
Billy Hamilton walks, steals 2nd, steals 3rd and scores on SF to 2B to win game
David West changing the culture of the Pacers
The Little 500: The World's Greatest College Weekend
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