Bengals
The Bengals today acquired G Matt Murphy on waivers from Indianapolis. Murphy (6-4, 307; Nevada-Las Vegas) is classified as a first-year NFL player. He was signed on Sept. 28 of last year to the Colts practice squad, where he remained until season’s end. He was signed to the Colts’ offseason roster on Jan. 4 of this year. He entered the NFL as a college free agent with Atlanta on July 27 of last year and was waived by the Falcons at the end of 2011 preseason.
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Reds
Blind fan visiting 30 parks in 30 days, GABP Thursday
MLB.com
In the span of 30 days, Deal is going to visit each of the Major Leagues' 30 ballparks. He'll traverse the country, mostly on his own, via bus and plane, taxi and train, all with an end goal of fulfilling a lifelong dream while simultaneously showing others his is a life without all the perceived limits.
Crazy? Sure, it's a little crazy.
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Nice touch
The Reds will honor Atlanta Braves 3B Chipper Jones with custom bases during this four game series. Following the series one base will be presented to Jones, one base to the Braves Hall of Fame and one base will be kept for the Reds Hall of Fame.
Jones has announced his retirement at the end of the season.
The Reds have a pre-game ceremony set for Thursday.
Jamie Ramsey has details on Better Off Red.
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From listener Luke Piper
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Yankee Stadium
My dad took a bus trip to Yankee Stadium to Reds-Yankees Friday and Saturday.
Below are photos from Monument Park at Yankee Stadium and of the new World Trade Center.
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Bengals
Bengals organization has reservations about Dalton
ProFootballTalk.com
“I think there’s a sense right now, for a lot of people, that Dalton’s on his way toward being a great quarterback,” NFL Films producer Greg Cosell told Yahoo! Sports. “I can tell you that those in the Bengals’ organization have a few doubts as to what his true upside is. Because at the end of the day, while I think Dalton is a good player, I think — not I think, I know — that he’s got some arm strength limitations.
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Blast from the past
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On this date
1963
Jim Maloney ties the modern major-league record with eight consecutive strikeouts, from the 1st to the 4th innings, against the Braves. Maloney finishes with 16 strikeouts in the 2 - 0 win, but needs relief help from Bill Henry, who retires the last two batters.
1975
The Reds, entering the game with a 20-20 record, five games behind the first-place Dodgers, come from behind to beat Tom Seaver and the Mets, 11 - 4. Cincinnati will go on to win 41 of 50 games and run away with the National League West title.
(Baseball-Reference.com)
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Stuff
Ruth jersey sells for $4.4M
NY Daily News
A New York Yankees road jersey worn by the Sultan of Swat in the 1920s sold for a whopping $4.4 million, setting a world record for any sports memorabilia item.
Kitna: NFL QB to high-school math teacher
Seattle Times
TACOMA — "We're working," Jon Kitna says. "We're working."
It's his first-period math class at Lincoln High School, and yes, Kitna is working. Has been since 7 on this Thursday morning, which is when Kitna walked onto the campus of the high school he once attended, past the statue of Abraham Lincoln and into Room 102 carrying a bag full of McDonald's breakfast sandwiches.
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Reds
Home Monday
Tonight is just the second home Monday game of season for Reds.
Monday, April 19 vs Cards (16,909) is the only other.
Tonight is the Reds 4th Monday game overall.
The Reds have had three Monday off days this season.
Rollin' Reds
Won 2 of 3 vs Yankees.
Finished 4-3 on the road trip.
Are 6-1-3 in last 10 series.
Sunday record: 7-0
Getaway game: 11-3
Since April 18 when Reds were 4-8:
Reds: 17-11
Cardinals: 13-16
Cueto outduels Sabathia as Reds take 2 of 3
MLB.com
NEW YORK -- As the Manhattan skyline faded from view on their flight back to Cincinnati, the Reds could rightly have smiles of satisfaction if they so chose. They certainly earned it on Sunday.
A 5-2 Reds victory over the Yankees meant they took two of three games in the Interleague series at Yankee Stadium. That also secured a 4-3 road trip that included the final five games in New York playing the Mets and Yankees.
Miklasz: No pity party for Cardinals
Berkman suspects injury is serious
'82 Reds: Age against the Machine
Tom Groeschen, Enquirer
Johnny Bench played on the best Reds teams of all time, but he tries to forget being on maybe the worst Reds team ever.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the awful 1982 Cincinnati club, which went 61-101 and remains the only Reds team with triple-figure losses in a season.
“I do remember,” Hall of Fame catcher Bench said, in a recent email to The Enquirer. “It’s hanging on the wall. It was embarrassing and forgettable. So I have.”
Leake/Minor look to reverse fortunes
ESPN
And while Minor is having major issues with his fastball, it’s the changeup that is giving Leake the most trouble. Opponents have nine hits in 17 at-bats ending in a Leake changeup this season, including five extra-base hits.
Only Luke Hochevar (.600) and Aaron Harang (.556) are allowing hitters a higher batting average among qualifiers than Leake (.529) on changeups this season.
Did you know?
Listener Jeff
Ryan Ludwick has the same number of RBI (15) as Brandon Phillips in 44 fewere AB's.
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Down on the Farm
The Minor League Report: Billy Hamilton and Tony Cingrani
Things noticed
Dayton Dragons 1B Sean Buckley homered and doubled in their win Sunday afternoon. He is the son of Chris Buckley, the Reds Senior Scouting Director.
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Reds
Fay: Chapman is your new closer, just not for Sunday
My reaction:
Why name a "closer"? We did a topic on this 10 days ago.
Use your best arm to get the most important outs, whether it's the 7th, 8th or 9th. How can you name a closer with issues with his arm recovering from back-back days or pitching 3 of 4 days? Dusty may as well announced Chapman will close..... except in the case of full moons, days games when temperature matches the mph of Chapman's fastball and/or days that start with a T.
PS....You can also forget Chapman starting this season. Not happening til next year.
Return to Reds in question for Rolen
CBS Sports
"Hopefully, he gets back," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He's such a big part offensively, defensively and even base-running. I can tell 'em what to do, but he can tell 'em and show 'em what to do."
Pressed as to when Rolen might return, Baker said, "I really don't know."
Others around the team suggested his return is not certain at any date.
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Stuff
Pacers: Stephenson apologizes for choke sign
Unreal
Ex-Red Dmitri Young's cards rake in $2.5M
Detroit News
With a flurry of last-minute bidding pushing the closing back several hours, it finally concluded early Saturday morning and brought in $2,461,032. A portion of the proceeds will go to fund the new Dmitri D. Young Foundation, which will focus on helping kids and student-athletes in Ventura County, Calif., excel in sports, school and life — all while making the right decisions along the way.
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On the set of Life Could Be A Dream
My family attended Saturday's Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati production of "Life Could Be A Dream". It's a 1960's Doo-Wop musical. It's the story of a local singing group that enters a radio talent search contest on Big Whopper Radio. They are looking for fame and fortune in a time before American Idol and Star Search. The show was fantastic. What a performance! Well done!
I can't thank Director Lynn Meyers and Production Coordinator & Master Electrician Matthew Holstegge enough for asking me to be involved! I was the voice of character Ronnie "Bulls-Eye" Miller. Miller is a 1960's radio disc jockey from Springfield.
If you have never been to the Ensemble Theatre is it worth checking out. It's an intimate 191-seat theatre with stadium-style seating. The furthest seat is twelve rows from the stage. There is not a bad seat in the house. The Ensemble Theatre production of Next to Normal starts in June.
Show info/times
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Tu be or not to be for Holloway in NBA
Newsday
He measured 5-11 in sneakers before Saturday's group session that also featured former Iona point guard Scott Machado, who is from Queens and also was said to have a good showing.
Two league executives said that Holloway played well but his height could be a factor in whether he's taken in the mid-to-late second round in the June 28 draft or gets brought in as a free agent with a shot to make a team. Holloway is motivated by that, having heard many times that his height could hurt his chances.
(AP photo)
Americans, unite, and root against Heat
Star Tribune
Rooting against the Heat has replaced rooting against the Yankees as the unifying principle of the sports world.
SI swimsuit: Nina Agdal
This is awesome!
Give Youkilis a chance
Boston Herald
2) If the Red Sox hope to make a trade that will open up a permanent starting job for Middlebrooks, they need to show other clubs that Youkilis can still play. Right now, Youk is worthless. But if he can provide three or four weeks of solid play without the wheels falling off, he becomes an attractive pickup for a team that thinks it’s one good bat away from contending for a playoff spot.
Gotta love this!
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Event for a Cause
Help Ryan Out
From Jared:
Help Ryan get the medical care that he needs to fight against this brain cancer. Anything and everything helps, and is appreciated. Thanks for all the support!
Ryan is a 9 year old boy who has been diagnosed with cancer. We're trying to raise some financial support for his parents to get him the proper care that he needs. They need as much help as we can give them, so anything at all counts. Don't think that because you can't give a large amount, means that you can't help. Everything helps, and is very much appreciated. Thanks for the support everyone!
