Reds
Shane Victorino: Buyer beware
CBS Sports
CBSSports.com Insider Jon Heyman reports the market for free-agent outfielder Shane Victorino is heating up. Heyman even suggests that Victorino might be in line for a three- or four-year deal. Among his leading suitors? The Indians, of all teams.
Chapman best in rotation, by comparison
Steve Watkins, Cincinnati Business Courier
Here’s a little fuel to add to the fire. If you look at the major leaguers of the past whose stats at this point in their careers are most comparable to Chapman’s, you’ll find a veritable who’s who … of no-names. It turns out that players who have a ton of strikeouts and a lot of saves early in their careers don’t often bloom into long-time superstars.

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Bengals
           The Bengals today made the following roster and practice squad moves:          * Placed WR Mohamed Sanu on the Reserve/Injured list. Sanu, a rookie from Rutgers, suffered a foot injury in practice on Nov. 28 and was inactive for last week’s game at San Diego. He closes his season with 16 receptions for 154 yards and four TDs. He also threw a 73-yard TD pass, had five rushes for 15 yards and logged two special teams tackles.
          * Signed HB Daniel Herron to the roster from the Bengals practice squad. Herron (5-10, 215; Ohio State) was a sixth-round Bengals draft choice for 2012. He played in all four preseason games, with 25 rushes for 42 yards and five receptions for 26 yards. He was waived on Aug. 31 and signed to the practice squad on Sept. 1.
            * Signed WR Vidal Hazelton to the practice squad. Hazelton (6-2, 209; University of Cincinnati) is a first-year NFL player. He closed 2011 on the Bengals practice squad and opened the ’12 preseason with Cincinnati. He played in all four preseason games, with three receptions for 23 yards. He was waived Aug. 31. He was signed Sept. 3 to the Tennessee Titans practice squad and was released on Oct. 23.
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Reds
'12 Organization of the Year: Cincinnati Reds
Baseball America
Because of their ability to build a winner through scouting and player development and the fact that they've built for sustainable success, the Reds are the Baseball America Organization of the Year for 2012.
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Love this
From listener Michael
I thought I would share a video of my son, Sean, getting ready for the Bengals game. He is 3 and we are on the biggest Bengals fans in Northeast Ohio. I will be going to the game this weekend and have to think I will win the award for the longest trip to the game(220 miles).
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Did you miss them?

Andy Dalton and Rey Maualuga joined us for Bengals Line at Holy Grail Monday night. The podcast will be up soon. I appreciate both players spending an hour with us. They have arrived from San Diego at 2am. Andy brought his wife. Rey was fantastic. I always find him very thoughtful and reflective in what he has to say.
Click HERE for podcast of Andy (Hour 1), Rey (Hour 2) and then Lap and me discussing the Chargers game and previewing game vs Cowboys.
Highlights:
*Andy said he played Super Mario and Donkey Kong on flight back from San Diego.
*Rey on being named captain:  “I’m happy and thankful, and at a loss for words. I think everyone on this defense respects me”
“What I say goes that huddle. And it is special to know everyone has my back.”
*Rey said defense turned after Denver game. The coaches showed quote from Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil saying Bengals could be great if believed in selves.“That Wednesday when the coaches showed us the quote it really hit home”
*Rey on Mike Zimmer yelling:”I have the headset in my helmet. I hear things a lot that I can’t repeat on the radio. He might say to me, “you are the worst signal caller every'. You’ve just got to accept it, realize it is coaching and not make the same mistake again.
*On dropping weight, after originally adding it to help at MLB:  “It feels a lot better to be at 246 lbs than 275-280. I feel good about myself. I’m learning how to keep it off now”
*On daughter that will turn one year old this month: “She's a blessing I can’t describe. I want to leave memories she won’t forget. I thank God she’s healthy & beautiful”.



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UC football


Butch Jones decision expected today
Denver Post
BOULDER — University of Cincinnati football coach Butch Jones and Colorado officials talked into the evening Monday, with CU attempting to convince Jones to be its new coach. Jones is expected to make a decision Tuesday. "It went terrific," said a source close to the negotiations.
The future of Nippert Stadium (From June 24, 2009)
GoBearcats.com
"There's always going to be the want and the desire to play on your home field," BK said. "However, I signed this contract because of what it looks like in five years. If Nippert looks like this in five years, I'll be very disappointed."

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Bengals
Vote: Benjarvus Gren-Ellis up for Fed-Ex Ground Player of Week
Hoard: How good is the Bengals defense?
Refo: Bengals vs Chargers
ProFootballFocus.com
In this era where all that matters are quarterback wins, it’s easy to ignore the red flags when a guy makes more than his share of errors. Sure the Bengals won, but would you be happy with Dalton (-0.9)? Now it wasn’t as bad as the guy facing him, but it wasn’t pretty. His pick-six was a horrible decision, and while he was unlucky to have a dropped pass turn into a pick, that was karmic for the once again horrible choice to test how the hands of Melvin Ingram and coverage skills of Andrew Hawkins.
Bengals, Steelers chasing last playoff spot
NFL.com
The race between these two teams will be fascinating to watch. The Steelers might seem to have the advantage on paper, as they play three of their four remaining games at home, while the Bengals play just two more contests on friendly turf.

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Stuff
What is future of Big East basketball schools?
ZagsBlog.com
“If the bleeding stopped here the seven schools would be happy,”  a source from a Big East basketball-only school told SNY.tv Monday.
As reported by the Providence Journal, the conference, according to its by-laws, “can be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of all members.”
Right now, the seven basketball schools — DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Villanova — have that two-thirds vote over the three remaining all-sports schools — Cincinnati, UConn and South Florida.
Exclusive: As troubles at home simmered, Chiefs tried to help Belcher
Kansas City Star
Chiefs Head Coach Romeo Crennel and linebackers coach Gary Gibbs arrived in the parking lot and Belcher reportedly announced, “Guys, I have to do this.”
Crennel tried to dissuade him.
“I was trying to get him to understand that life is not over,” Crennel told The Star. “He still has a chance and let’s get this worked out.’’
As Pioli and Crennel tried to reason with Belcher, the men heard police sirens closing in. Belcher then walked a few steps away with the gun still pointed at his head.
“I got to go,” Belcher reportedly said. “I can’t be here.”

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/04/3946159/belcher-shot-himself-as-kc-police.html#storylink=cpyKentucky should off on Final Four plansWall Street Journal

Kentucky should hold off on Final Four plans
Wall Street Journal
Since 1984-85, Kentucky is just the eighth team ranked in the top three of the preseason AP poll to fall out of the rankings. None of the other seven advanced past the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. That's a bad omen for the Wildcats, whose 55-game home winning streak came to an end in their loss to Baylor Saturday.

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Reds
Check out this story on how the Cardinals and Reds approaching the closer position:
Cards face rising cost of closing
St Louis Post Dispatch
Beginning with the contract for Francisco Cordero that Jocketty inherited, the Reds will have guaranteed $75.5 million on closers from 2008-2015, and that includes four seasons of spending more than Broxton’s annual-average salary of $7 million. (That figure does not include Chapman because he took over the ninth and fueled the Reds’ rise to a division title only after Ryan Madson, the $8.5-million closer, was lost to an elbow injury.) This has become the cost of doing business in the ninth.
Consider how the two teams have spent on their designated closer coming into each season:
2008 – Isringhausen $8 million, Cordero $8.5 million
2009 – Franklin $2.5 million, Cordero $12 million
2010 – Franklin $3 million, Cordero $12 million
2011 – Franklin $3.25 million*, Cordero $12 million
2012 – Motte $1.95 million, Madson $8.5 million
2013 – Cardinals TBD, Broxton $4 million**
2014 – Cardinals TBD, Broxton $7 million**
2015 – Cardinals TBD, Broxton $9 million**

Baker credits Cubs' doctor for saving his life
Reds: The CF list shrinks by two
Angel Pagan is staying with the SF Giants.
Grady Sizemore won't be ready for start of '13 season.
Who remains?
Free agents..........
Michael Bourn


Age: 29, LH, '12 salary: $6.8M
'12: .274/.348, 96 R, 26 2B, 10 3B, 9 HR, 42 SB, 70 BB, 155 K
19th in OBP in '12 among leadoff batters with at least 100 AB
Career: .272/.339
Career  vs RHP: .281/.350, vs LHP: .249/.306,
Led NL SB 3-years row 2009-2011. SB seasons: 61, 52, 61, 41
Gold Glove 2009, 2010. Scott Boras client
CBS Sports: A yearly salary between $11 and $12 million would make sense.
Career stats
Trade prospects......
Coco Crisp


Age: 32, switch-hitter, '12 contract: $6M
Contract status: '13 $7M, '14 $7.5M (team option/$1M buyout)
2012: .259/.325, 25 2B, 7 3B, 11 HR, 45 BB, 64 K, 39 SB in 43 attempts
2012 vs RHP .265/.337, vs LHP .244/.296
Career vs RHP .276/.333, vs LHP .270/.322
Career stats
Dexter Fowler


Age: 27, switch-hitter, '12 salary $2.35M
2012:   .300/.389/.474/.863
'12: 18 2B, 11 3B, 13 HR, 72 R, 12 SB
Career: .271/.364/.427/.791
Career: Home: .295/.395/.487/.882.....Road: .248/.331/.367/.698
vs RHP .263/.356, vs LHP .289/.380
K totals: 128, 130, 104, 116
Contract: Rockies control through 2015, 3 arbitration remaining--should get around $4.5M for '13. Rockies need starting pitching. Average/below average as defensive CF. Career stats. Crasnick: Rockies unlikely to deal Fowler.
Jacoby Ellsbury


Age 30, LH, '12 contract: $8.05M
Contract: Headed to arbitration again, FA after '13
2012:   74 games, .271/.313/.370/.682
Career: .297/.349/.442/.791
'11: .321, 32 HR, 105 RBI, 2nd MVP voting
Career: vs RHP .298/.350, vs LHP .296/.349
Gold Glove 2011. Led AL SB '08-'09 with 50, 70
Injuries: 18 games played '10, 74 games '12
Scott Boras client. Red Sox need starting pitching.
Career stats
Brett Gardner


Age: 29, LH, '12 contract $2.8M
2 years of arbitration still ahead
2012: .323/.417 (injured right elbow-surgery/played just 16 regular season games)
Career: .266/.355
vs RHP .269/.352, vs LHP .256/.363
More of a LF: Played 18 games in CF '11, 44 games '10, 99 games '09.
OBP .383 in 2010
SB totals: 26, 47, 49 in career
His salary, age and speed are more ingredients Yanks need than would likely look to deal.
Career stats

(From October)
The Reds offseason list of priorities will include finding a leadoff hitter.
The Reds leadoff spot was the least production of any team in MLB.
Leadoff spot/batting average 2012:
Reds .206, MLB average .261
Leadoff spot/on-base percentage
Reds .254, MLB average .323
Reds leadoff hitters walked 37 times, struck out 148 times and stole 10 bases in 162 games. The Reds played leadoff roulette in 2012, with no success:
Zack Cozart: .223/.262 in 443 AB
Brandon Phillips: .202/.254 in 114 AB
Drew Stubbs: .159/.237 in 69 AB
Chris Heisey: .208/.269 in 48 AB
It would be tough to sell most on an in-house candidate again in 2013. If the Reds choose to go that route an option is to platoon Stubbs and Heisey. Dusty has not done that, despite offensive evidence to support it. Stubbs has no business facing right-handed pitching. He is a .228 hitter vs RHP, in over 1,300 at-bats. Heisey is a career .277 hitter vs RHP. Overall, the two players have almost identical numbers in the leadoff spot.
Overview
By process of elimination, the leadoff batter is going to be playing CF, unless Ryan Ludwick walks in free agency and LF opens up. Or, the Reds trade another position player and their position opens. So, what do the Reds have to work with/pursue?
In-house candidates
Drew Stubbs


2012: .186/.259 vs RHP, .283/.324 vs LHP
Career: .228/.301 vs RHP, .276/.344 vs LHP
Career batting leadoff: .243/.320
Batting average has declined in three consecutive seasons.
OBP, SLG, OPS has dropped in back to back seasons.
Chris Heisey


Career: vs RHP .277/.332,  vs LHP .214/.272
Career as starter: .251/.308
Career leading off: .240/.320

Reds haven't pursued Fowler, Crisp
Mark Sheldon, MLB.com
With leadoff options dwindling both in free agency and trade markets, the Reds are still looking. Two often speculated trade candidates have been Rockies CF Dexter Fowler and A’s CF Coco Crisp. It doesn’t appear that it’s close happening.
“We really haven’t talked to either club if that’s any indication,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. “I’m not sure Colorado is moving Fowler.”
Reds announce 2013 Cactus League schedule
CINCINNATI (Dec. 3, 2012) — The Cincinnati Reds have announced their 2013 Cactus League exhibition schedule.
The defending National League Central Division Champions open the spring training season with three games against Ohio rival Cleveland Indians on Feb. 22-24 at Goodyear Ballpark.
Fans can catch the Reds in action at the beautiful Goodyear Ballpark, which will be celebrating its five year anniversary this spring.
The Ballpark opened in time for the 2009 spring training season and has served as the Reds spring training home since 2010.
The Reds will play 38 exhibition games during the spring season, including 20 at Goodyear Ballpark, and host such Cactus League opponents as World Series champion San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and more.
As part of the 2013 World Baseball Classic the Reds will host the Canadian National Baseball Team at Goodyear Ballpark on March 6.
Additionally, the Reds will play two exhibition games vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on March 29 and 30.
The full schedule can be found at reds.com/spring.

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