Bengals
Lewis: Bengals looking defense
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Reds
Latos: Velocity, repertoire, and command
Fan Graph
After three starts, Latos finds himself winless with his new team and currently possesses an unseemly 8.22 ERA and 1.89 WHIP. Yes, the ERA predictors suggest Latos hasn’t been quite this bad and no, he hasn’t had much in the way of good luck on batted balls. But his command has been off, his repertoire has seemingly changed, and and after his last effort versus the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up eight earned runs over 5.2 innings pitched, there were some serious concerns in Cincinnati about their prize off season acquisition.
But we’ve seen this act before from Latos. In fact, a fairly slow start to the season has rather become his modus operandi, for better or worse:
Friday giveaway:
8x10 print commemorating the 10,000th franchise victory will be distributed to the first 10,000 fans.
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Hoover
Stuff I posted at time of trade
(Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
JJ Hoover
6'3 215 lbs
10th round pick 2008
#13 prospect in Atlanta organization
Career minor league: 25-19, 3.14 ERA in 99 games, 61 starts...1.20 WHIP
401 IN, 360 H, 121 BB, 425 K
2011 AA/AAA
3-6 2.64
43 games, 14 starts
105.2 IN, 77 H, 40 BB, 117 K, 1.107 WHIP
Prospect of the day: JJ Hoover, RHP, Braves
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Bengals
Glazer: Jerome Simpson signs one year deal with Vikings
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Reds
Today the Reds placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to 4/19, LHP Bill Bray (strained left groin) and recalled from Class AAA Louisville RHP J.J. Hoover (#60)...on 4/1 Hoover was acquired from the Braves in exchange for IF Juan Francisco and went 0-0, 0.00 with 4 saves in 8 apps for the Bats (9ip, 3h, 6b, 17k, 0hr, .103oba)...when he pitches he will be making his Major League debut.
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Did you miss it?
Joe Reedy and Geoff Hobson joined me in-studio last night.
Click HERE to listen to our conversation about the Bengals and NFL Draft.
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Reds
Hoover up?
JJ Hoover, acquired in the Juan Francisco deal, is off to a fast start at Louisville.
Twitterverse is full of reports he has been called-up by the Reds.
He has 4 saves in 8 appearances with a 2.00 ERA.
9 innings, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 17 K, .103 BA
He's a 6'3 230 RHP. If he's up who is down?
Alfredo Simon has allowed no runs over his last 5 innings and allowed one run over his last 5 appearances:
7.1 IN, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 1.23 ERA
Bill Bray to DL?
(The Enquirer/Michael E. Keating)
Feet on ground, sky's limit for Chapman
John Fay, Enquirer
“He’s learned it doesn’t matter what the radar gun says, it’s putting a zero on the board,” Reds right-hander Bronson Arroyo said. “He’s coming from another country. It’s hard having that pressure on you. Everyone is expecting you to light the radar gun up. It’s the way anyone would be.”
Outrage follow-up
Reds 2012 Caravan stops in Kentucky: 9
Ashland, Lexington, Bowling Green, Grayson, Pikeville, Cynthiana, London, Louisville and Maysville.
Reds radio affiliates:
Ohio: 22
Kentucky: 29
Yea...what a crazy idea to honor the National Champion UK Wildcats tonight.
Clay: Honoring UK tonight has turned into a Reds controversy
Ouch
Scott Rolen hitting zone from Fox Sports
(Getty Images)
Mega TV deals are changing baseball's economic landscape
SI
The Reds, whose market is roughly the size of Kansas City's, could extend Joey Votto because their new TV deal is double that of the Royals'. Houston, San Diego, Arizona and Detroit are about to become the game's nouveau riche with big, fat deals on the horizon, and the Mariners and Nationals are in play for new local TV contracts, too. "A lot of what's going on is feeling confidence that there are TV dollars in the offing," says Gennaro. "TV deals have a lot to do with the prices we're seeing in the free agent market."
May Day for Latos?
Mat Latos in three starts this season: 0-2 8.22
His hits per 9 innings is 12.3 compared to career average of 7.7
His walks per 9 innings is 4.7 compared to a career average of 2.9
His strikeouts per 9 innings of 6.5 compared to career average 8.6
He's not been able to put guys away. Last week St Louis pitcher Jamie Garcia fouled off six pitchers before tripling. So, he's more hitable, walking more and striking out fewer. Bad combo. It appears more location than velocity. His fastball was hitting 95-96. Keep in mind that April has never been kind to him.
Career in April: 1-8 in 11 starts with 6.28 ERA in 57.1 innings
Rest of season: 26-23 in 64 starts with 3.13 ERA in 388.1 innings.
Career vs Giants: 2-3 2.64 in 9 starts.
Lyons
(Getty Images)
How big an issue was Mark Lyons for Chris Mack and Xavier basketball?
“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 was enough of an issue that Mack thought it best to move on from him.
This despite the fact Lyons was going to be the leading returning scorer on a Sweet 16 team already losing three other starters. Lyons improved in the following categories last while player fewer minutes per game (31.9 from 35.1) from the year before.
Points: 15.1 from 13.1
FG%: .425 from .408
FT%: .761 from .728
Steals: 45 from 29
Lyons increased his points per game from 7.8 to 13.6 to 15.1 while at XU.
In losing Holloway, Frease, Walker and Lyons, Xavier loses 68% of the scoring, 52% of the rebounding and 77% of the assists from this past season.
Lyons has 98 games and 2,913 minutes of experience with Xavier.
But a senior-to-be won't be around younger players like Dez Wells and Dee Davis.
Lyons is to be commended for being on track to graduate.
But moving on from Lyons is addition by subtraction for Xavier.
That team just became easier to coach and to root for.
Daily Wildcat: Lyons would be home run for Arizona
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Hoard: Atkins dubbed "Sophomore Superstar"
Bengals free-agent WR Jerome Simpson is being suspended three games under the substance abuse policy, per NFL source.
-From Adam Schefter on Twitter, @adamschefter
The folly of drafting a running back high
Wall Street Journal
In recent years, drafting a running back in the first round hasn't been a worthwhile investment at all. Since 2002, 28 backs have been selected in the first round. Less than a third have ever made a Pro Bowl; on average, they gain a so-so 730 yards per season.
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Raise the curtain!
I'm very excited and honored to be involved with the Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati production of "Life Could Be A Dream". It's a 1960's Doo-Wop musical. I was asked by Director Lynn Meyers to voice the character of Ronnie "Bulls-Eye" Miller. Miller is a 1960's radio disc jockey from Springfield. Local singing group enter a radio talent search contest on Big Whopper Radio. Contestants are looking for fame and fortune in a time before American Idol and Star Search. The performance runs May 2-20.
I was able to work with Lynn and Matt Holstegge Monday and had a blast!
Life Could Be A Dream
SH-BOOM! From the creator of The Marvelous Wonderettes, comes the Crooning Crabcakes, the boy group banned from the Springfield High School prom that made it possible for The Marvelous Wonderettes to perform. The guys get one more chance at fame and fortune as Denny, Eugene, Skip and Wally form a singing group to enter and win the local radio contest and realize their dreams of making it to the big time! Featuring such classic songs as "Stay" (Just a Little Bit Longer)," "Runaround Sue," "Tears On My Pillow," "Unchained Melody," "Earth Angel," and of course the title song, Life Could Be A Dream is another musical trip down memory lane that will leave you laughing, singing and cheering!
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Bengals Draft Party
We’ll be tossing out tickets to 5 lucky listeners and guests to watch the 2012 NFL Draft at PBS on April 26th! Just go below and register for your chance to win a pair today, thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals, the West Chester Dental Group and ESPN 1530!!!
Passes courtesy of West Chester Dental Group....Bengals season tickets available at 513-621-8383 or Bengals.com
- Join Bengals Players and Who Dey for the first round of the NFL Draft
- Hear from Coach Lewis after the 2 first round picks
- Enjoy complimentary prize raffles, random drawings, and games
- Be the first to see the new Nike jerseys (will also be available for sale)
- Discounted food and beverages sold by Aramark
- Doors open @7:30 with draft beginning @8:00
This event is not open to the public...
