Bengals
The Bengals today acquired two players on waivers, G Chris Riley from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and DT Vaughan Meatoga from the Washington Redskins. Riley (6-4, 304; Illinois State) is classified as a first-year NFL player in 2012. He signed with the Bengals as a college free agent prior to 2011 training camp and was waived Sept. 3, after playing in all four preseason games. He was signed Oct. 5 to Tampa Bay’s practice squad, where he finished the season, and he was signed to the Bucs’ offseason roster on Jan. 3 of this year. Meatoga (6-1, 294; Hawaii) is a rookie. He was signed by Washington as a college free agent on May 3 and was waived by the Redskins yesterday.
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Reds
Reds emerge as Cards' top threat
Bernie Miklasz, St Louis Post Dispatch
One of the early-season NL Central questions is clearing up:what team will emerge as the most serious threat to the Cardinals. The Cincinnati Reds have moved into the position as the prime contender. After an uneven start, the Reds have won 11 of their last 16, including 6 of the last eight. Over the 16-game stretch they're averaging 4.9 runs per game, and their pitchers have posted a 2.39 ERA. After shaving two games off the lead during STL's three-game losing streak last week, the Reds are sitting only 2.5 games behind the Cardinals.
Pitching, pitching, pitching!
Reds pitching now and then/MLB rank
Overall: 3.17 (3)................2011 4.16 (20)
Starters: 3.55 (9)................2011 4.47 (21)
Bullpen: 2.34 (4)...............2011 3.55 (11)
Filling the black hole of SS
Zack Cozart
2012
.271-.333-.467-.801, 8 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI
Projected:
.271-.333-.467-.801, 46 2B, 12 3B, 17 HR, 71 RBI
2011 shorstop production (minus Cozart)
.230-.277-.304-.581, 27 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 55 RBI
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Wow
Check out Joel Pett's cartoon today in the Lexington Herald Leader that takes a shot at John Calipari
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NCAA
Commissioner steps down amid Big East's instability
NY Times
Could the core of Catholic universities — Villanova, St. John’s and Georgetown — lure a few like-minded basketball-centric partners — Xavier, Dayton, Richmond, St. Joseph’s or Butler? — for a Garden party each March and plenty of N.C.A.A. tournament bids?
“I just don’t know,” Tranghese said. “That’s probably a question, if they haven’t already, they’re going to have to ask themselves.”
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Show preview
6:05, Sports Talk
7:05, Inside Pitch
Topics
Reds: This doesn't exactly fit the model for complaining about Dusty, so can we enjoy them winning 11 of last 16?
Schedule: The "who have they played/beaten?" topic is often applied to the Bengals, UC football and UC basketball. Are you applying it to the Reds?
Bruuuuuuuuce: A star continues developing before our eyes. Doesn't that contract look like a good one for the Reds?
Bronson: Remember when everyone wanted him traded/released this offseason?
This week:
The Reds have an 8:10 start tonight, an afternoon game Wednesday and an off day Thursday. That means I'm on 700 WLW for Sports Talk today through Thursday.
I'm back on the afternoon show Friday at 3:05 on ESPN 1530.
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Reds
The Reds have now won 6 of 8 and 11 of 16.
They are a season best two games over .500 at 15-13.
Mark Sheldon: 11 pitches=5 runs
Strength of Schedule?
Each year much seems to be made of who the local teams have played and beaten.
It was a hot topic during the Bengals season. The discussion is also applied to UC football and basketball. Last night I spent the first two segments of Sports Talk discussing how well the Reds have played since their 4-8 start. I pointed out their record since April 18 has been the best in the NL Central, best in the NL and third best in MLB. The reaction I got by phone, email and Twitter was: Who have they played? Here is the breakdown this season:
Record vs teams with losing record: 10-5
Cubs 3-2
Astros 2-1
Pirates 2-1
Giants 2-1
Brewers 1-0
Combined records: 63-81 .438
Record vs teams with winning record: 5-8
Marlins 2-1
Cardinals 2-4
Nationals 1-3
Combined records: 50-35 .588
Next up after Milwaukee: 14 straight games vs teams with winning records
3 Nationals (18-10)
2 @Braves (18-12)
2 @Mets (16-13)
3 @Yankees (15-13)
4 Braves (18-12)
Combined records: 85-60 .586
Conclusion:
The Reds have done a better job of taking care of teams that a contender should take care of. Last year they were 5-10 vs the Pirates. The Reds will have to play better vs the better teams. They will get a chance starting this weekend.
They can't control who they play and when they play them. Winning 11 of 16 vs any group of ML teams is still 11 wins that count in the standings. I'll take it. It beats the alternatives.
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuu
Jay Bruce 2012
.298, 9 HR, 21 RBI
.304 vs RHP (69 AB)
.292 vs LHP (24 AB)
.380 Home (50 AB)
.222 Road (54 AB)
.167 w/RISP (4-24)
.111 w/ 2-out RISP (1-9)
Seaason projections
.298
52 HR
122 RBI
41 2B
104 R
17 SB
At age 25 Jay has 109 HR
According to Baseball-Reference.com his career path/production at age 25 is most similar to:
1. Barry Bonds
2. Willie Horton
3. Reggie Jackson
Contract
6 years/$51M (2011-16), plus 2017 club option
Signed extension with Cincinnati 12/10/10 (avoided arbitration)
'11:$2.75M
'12:$5M
'13:$7.5M
'14:$10M
'15:$12M
'16:$12.5M
'17:$13M club option ($1M buyout)
Per Cot's Baseball
Bronson is on
Season
2-1 2.75
6 starts, 39.1 innings, 27 K, 4 BB, 5 HR, 1.17 WHIP
Notes on Rolen, Hamilton
Ken Rosenthal, FoxSports
Reds third baseman Scott Rolen is batting only .188/.258/.325, and a rival scout says those numbers are real, pointing out that Rolen no longer can hit good fastballs and is cheating on pitches away.
The scout adds that Rolen’s sheer presence is still important to the Reds, calling him the team’s “unquestioned leader.” But Rolen, 37, already has been dropped from the cleanup spot to sixth, and would be the first to admit that leadership goes only so far when a player fails to perform.
On a brighter Reds note, another scout calls the team’s top prospect, Class A shortstop Billy Hamilton, “one of the most exciting players I’ve seen in years. His speed absolutely changes the game and he’s OK at shortstop as well.”
Did you realize?
Last night was career win 1,499 for Dusty Baker.
Career: 1,499-1,380 (.521)
5 playoff appearances
1 World Series appearance
+119 games above .500
Only 19 managers in MLB history have more career wins
Only 22 managers in MLB history have more playoff appearances
Only 40 managers in MLB history are more games above .500 for career
Only 87 managers in MLB history have a better career winning percentage
Career records for all MLB managers
Cool gesture by Reds
The Reds continue to "get it" better than any organization I've ever been around. The email below is from listener Kyle:
"I emailed the Reds about an accident that happened in Lynchburg OH. A student at the church I minister at was shot accidentally, lost both eyes, but survived and now will live as a blind person. Recently he's been struggling with adjusting to life on what he can't do anymore. Reds responded by offering his family (of 4) comp tickets and a session to be there on the field during batting practice and then afterwards get to meet some of the players. I think this is great and people need to know that the Organization does great things like this for people who just need a pick me up from time to time. I personally was brought to tears when I was on the phone from someone from the community relations department. I just think this is great."
Down on the Farm
Bakersfield: Cingrani wins again, no stolen bases for Hamilton
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Bengals
Revisiting the 2009 draft
CBS Sports
CINCINNATI BENGALS (10 Draft Picks)
1 (6) OT Andre Smith, Alabama; 2 (38) LB Rey Maualuga, Southern Cal; 3 (70) DE Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech; 3 (98) TE Chase Coffman, Missouri; 4 (106) C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas; 5 (142) P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati; 6 (179) CB Morgan Trent, Michigan; 6 (209) RB Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian; 7 (215) RB Fui Vakapuna, BYU; 7 (249) DE Clinton McDonald, Memphis
THE GOOD: Although he hasn't been a consistent starter, defensive end Michael Johnson has provided quality depth off the edge, recording 10.5 sacks the last three seasons, and could become a regular starter in 2012
THE BAD: After selecting him in the third round, tight end Chase Coffman was inactive for almost all of his rookie season and moved to the practice squad in 2010 – now with Tampa Bay, he has only three career catches in the NFL
JURY STILL OUT: Despite an underwhelming pre-draft process and injury-filled first two seasons, Andre Smith appeared to commit himself and settle in at right tackle in 2011, but will be a free agent after the 2012 season
Re-Grade: C
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Stuff
NFL isn't in danger of dying soon, but you can hear whispers
Mike Freeman, CBS Sports
The NFL isn't necessarily concerned about the lawsuits bankrupting the league. That's of course a worry. The larger concern is that the suits cause such negative publicity and erosion of the brand that advertisers flee, networks bail and the most relevant sport this society has followed since baseball's heyday loses that relevance.
None of that nightmare could happen. Or all of it could. Or parts of it. But that is the scenario privately outlined to me by one owner, agents and others associated with the sport as the worst case. It is hypothetical, but it's also not totally implausible.
In this era of strife and distrust between the union and owners there is one potential area of agreement, and it's the possibility that the numerous concussion lawsuits represent the greatest threat the NFL has ever seen.
"The league has lived through wars," said one owner, "and I believe it will live through this, but this is the biggest challenge we may ever face."
Forming a nontraditional schedule for a nontraditional program
John Calipari, CoachCal.com
The 25-year-old model doesn’t work anymore. It is done and blown up. We are going by our own model now: the gold standard. Everyone has to accept that.
We are going through things that no other program in the history of college basketball has gone through. No other program is losing five or six players a year. We are facing issues and having to make decisions with the thought of what’s next and where are we going, which includes our schedule.
When we schedule, there are three factors my staff and our administration must take into consideration: (1) preparing our players for the postseason, (2) our fans and (3) the financial component.
Clay: No sale on Calipari scheduling argument
Lexington Herald Leader: Truth (and fiction) of UK's scheduling
ESPN: Indiana vs Louisville series in the works?
Jordan Palmer knows his role with Jaguars
The Florida Times Union
In Cincinnati, that role was often that of mediator between his brother, then-Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, and the team’s mercurial receivers, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens.
“I wore that hat in my years in Cincinnati because that was the hat that needed to be worn,” said Palmer, who spent 2008 to 2010 with the Bengals. “I figured out a way to contribute and be needed and add value. That’s really my role. I’m going to evaluate the situation and figure out a way to add value to it, and secondly I’m going to develop as a player because I have my own aspirations as a player. … Too many players don’t look at it that way, but I do and I think I’m going to be around a while.”
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MLB
Leyland fires on length of suspension for Hamels
Detroit News
"I think five games is way too light," Leyland said. "Personally, if I was making that vote, it would be a 15-game suspension — at least.
"I don't know Cole Hamels, so I certainly don't have any qualms with Cole Hamels. I don't know the man. I know he's a very good pitcher, a very talented guy.
"If my pitcher went out and, almost in a braggadocious way, talked about hitting a guy and that 'I did it on purpose.' (a five-game suspension) is not enough. There's no way.
"You know, we're always talking about our game being cleaned up and doing the right things for our game in all areas," said Leyland, "and I'm 100 percent for that. But this is a perfect time to show that we mean business."
"It becomes a joke. Let's tell it like it is."
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Event for a cause
Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields Fundraiser
McKinley's Pub is sponsoring its 3rd Annual McKinley's Pub Miracle Golf
Outing this June 16, 2012, and hopes to build on the success of recent
years... to continue to help construct and maintain the Joe Nuxhall
Miracle League Fields currently being constructed in Fairfield, OH. The
golf outing will be held at Glenview Golf Course, 10965 Springfield
Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45246 at 1:30 PM; beer, tea and lemonade are
provided on the course and food will be provided afterwards.
The cost of the 4-man shotgun scramble is $80 per person and includes
all of the above-mentioned items as well as entry into the Closest to
the Pin, Longest Drive and Straightest Drive contests! Split the Pot and
specific item raffles are separate entries, but all proceeds go to the
construction and maintenance of the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields!
The first 36 teams to sign up are guaranteed a spot in the event, and
it's already filling up... so save your spot!
Even if you're not a golfer, you may know someone who is, or someone who
is interested in getting some exposure that day in the form of hole
sponsor or cart sponsor signs; or someone who simply would like to
donate a gift/prize to the event. Last year, over 100 sets of eyes saw
these sponsorship signs.
Last year we were able to raise over $3000 for the charity while
providing all the participants with golf, beverages, food, fun and at
least one prize for everyone! So if you, or anyone you know, may be
interested in playing, sponsoring or even just volunteering at the event
please contact myself (513-461-1056/eric.judd@autondills.com) or Dustin
Fields (513-907-8226) to obtain physical flyers for the event and any
documentation needed for donated gifts/prizes
You can see progress on the constructionof the Joe Nuxhall Miracle
League Fields here: http://nuxhallmiracleleague.org/
