MLB odds
From Bovada, @BovadaLV).
2013 World Baseball Classic - Odds to Win
USA 5/2
Dominican Republic 13/4
Japan 7/2
Venezuela 15/2
Korea 10/1
Cuba 16/1
Canada 18/1
Odds to win the 2013 World Series
Toronto Blue Jays 7/1
Detroit Tigers 8/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 17/2
Washington Nationals 17/2
Los Angeles Angels 9/1
Atlanta Braves 14/1
Cincinnati Reds 14/1
New York Yankees 14/1
San Francisco Giants 14/1
Texas Rangers 14/1
Philadelphia Phillies 18/1
St. Louis Cardinals 20/1
Odds to win the 2013 NL Pennant
Washington Nationals 15/4
Los Angeles Dodgers 4/1
Cincinnati Reds 6/1
Atlanta Braves 7/1
San Francisco Giants 7/1
Philadelphia Phillies 17/2
St. Louis Cardinals 9/1
MLB Regular Season Win Totals
Washington Nationals 92.5
Los Angeles Angels 92.5
Detroit Tigers 92.5
Los Angeles Dodgers 91.5
Cincinnati Reds 91.5
Houston Astros 59.5
St. Louis Cardinals 85.5
Milwaukee Brewers 81.5
Pittsburgh Pirates 77.5
Chicago Cubs 72.5
***
Xavier basketball
Buzz cuts, tweets bring support for former Muskteer
***
Reds
Video: ESPN's Baseball Tonight crew talks Reds
***
Time for a Mac?
I've never owned anything other than a Dell computer. I'm thinking it might be time to move on from my eight year old Dell PC (Windows XP) and get something new. What would you suggest? I spend most of my time on my computer blogging for the show, surfing the net, and answering email. I also download video from my Flip camera. My kids (10,12) write papers and do power point stuff. Beyond that, I really don't know what I'm missing, or what I need. Any help would be appreciated. We have 2 iPads and an even older PC in the basement. The Apple iMac 21.5-inch is an early suggestion I have received:
***
Reds
Barney won't let Phillips' comments become a distraction
Comcast Sports Chicago
Darwin Barney is not about Gold Gloves or himself. So when it was pointed out to him that Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips made disparaging remarks on Monday about Barney winning the 2012 Gold Glove, the second baseman couldn't hide his displeasure.
The original comments by Phillips about losing Gold Glove to Barney:
Rose pleads with Topps, MLB for card reinstatement
Doug Gray has position players to watch for in Reds spring training.
Which MLB team won the winter?
Wall Street Journal
8. REDS (+3.4) Key acquisition: OF Shin-Soo Choo (3.1) Key loss: OF Drew Stubbs (1.6) Outlook: Choo gives the Reds a bona fide leadoff hitter. Last year's 97-win team remains largely intact.
(Photo: AP/Michael Keating)
Votto on verge of joining Canada for WBC
Sportsnet.ca
The first baseman from Toronto wants to play in the tournament, but the left knee he had surgery on last summer has cast some doubt on that.
To create some comfort on the part of the Reds, who signed him to a $225 million extension before last season, one possibility is that Votto joins the Canadian squad later to give Cincinnati more time to monitor his progress.
The Enigma of Mr. 105
Craig Fehrman, City Beat
The physical switch should be easy. “The guy’s a horse,” says ESPN’s Law. “He can be a 35-start, 220-inning guy.” But no one’s quite sure about the mental part. Chapman will have to improve on his emotional volatility and streakiness. And depending on how the $24 million lawsuit plays out, he may have to do so under the most distracting circumstances of his career: Chapman will likely have to attend a deposition in spring, and the trial is currently scheduled for October 7 in Florida, right around the start of the playoffs.
***
College basketball
Atlantic 10
How about the stretch run for the A-10 regular season title?
Xavier has five conference games remaining. Eight teams are within three games of the lead in the A-10.
Overall:
Three teams in the Top 36 of RPI
Seven teams in Top 56 of RPI
Jerry Palm projects six NCAA teams.
Record/Team/RPI/NCAA seed
9-2 St Louis 41/9
9-3 Butler 21/3
9-3 VCU 36/8
8-3 La Salle 35/11
7-4 Xavier 98/--
6-5 Charlotte 58/11
6-5 Temple 52/11
6-5 UMass 56/--
(AP photo)
Oladipo's can-do attitude enhances enormous talent
Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News
Barricading the front door against Oladipo and allowing him to sneak around to the side might be the greatest favor an opponent can grant him. This is a different sort of stardom: stealth stardom. Don’t want him to shoot or drive? Fine. He’ll steal it and dunk it, or he’ll tip in a teammate’s miss, or he’ll spoil the opponent’s essential possession with an unexpected block. And of course the game-clinching final rebound will end up in his hands.
Oladipo and Zeller team up for Hoosiers
ESPN
This can't happen very often. You can't be co-stars on a team as successful as the Indiana Hoosiers have been this season -- IU is the No. 1 team in the country, the nation's most efficient offense, the only 12-2 team in the best conference in college hoops and the obvious national title favorite going forward -- and not see things the same way at least 90 percent of the time.
Oladipo and tough-minded Hoosiers look good for March
Bob Kravitz, Indy Star
They are the best team in the best league in the country, a league that Johnson believes is having its strongest year since he played in the Big Ten in the late 1970’s.The Hoosiers on Tuesday re-established themselves as the best team by going into one of the most crazed environments in the country and doing something they haven’t done since 1991: Beat Michigan State here in East Lansing, after 17 straight losses.
***
Stuff
It was a woman named Knuckles, in the lockerroom, choking the opposing player.
***
UC football
Tuberville Names Vince Suriano Director of HS & Player Relations
CINCINNATI – Vince Suriano, a long-time head coach at Anderson High School, has been named director of high school and player relations, University of Cincinnati football head coach Tommy Tuberville announced Tuesday.
Suriano joins UC after a season as the senior offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach at Thomas More College. In his role at UC, he will manage the Bearcats’ on-campus recruiting program and focus on outreach and relationships with high school programs within the tri-state area.
“We are very fortunate to hire Vince into this role,” Tuberville said. “His vast experience and dedication to the game of football along with his knowledge of high school football in the local community will be an invaluable resource as we continue to build our recruiting base within a 200-mile radius of UC’s campus.”
Suriano spent the 2011 season at the College of Mount St. Joseph, where he was full-time assistant for five seasons, including the serving as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator from 2010-11.
Prior to Mount St. Joseph, Suriano served as the head coach at Anderson High School from 1987-2007. During that time, he had a 147-61 record and had three undefeated regular seasons, won 12 conference championships and appeared in the state playoffs nine times.
***
Dick Kerin - SWOFCA UC Coaches Clinic
The Southwest Ohio Football Coaches Association (SWOFCA) is happy to announce the 2013 Dick Kerin SWOFCA/UC Coaches Clinic in partnership with University of Cincinnati football. The clinic is to take place on March 8 and 9 and will feature speakers from outstanding college and high school coaches from the area. Coach Tuberville will be the keynote speaker and is excited about continuing the partnership with the Southwest Ohio Coaches Association.
“Our Staff is excited to host the Dick Kerin SWOFCA Clinic.” says UC Head Coach Tommy Tuberville. “The Clinic is a great learning opportunity for coaches of every level, and will give attendees a chance to spend time with our football staff and hear lectures from other successful football coaches who are speaking at the clinic. We are looking for a great turn out!”
Additional speakers include: Joe Fincham from Wittenberg University, Mike Leonard from Franklin College, Chad Murphy Northwest High School, Brian White Hillard Davidson High School, and Reno Saccoccia of Steubenville. The Clinic is designed for coaching staffs in the Cincinnati area to attend as a staff. Coaching staffs with 5 or more coaches in attendance will have the opportunity to win an entire to do meet and game plan 1 on 1 with the University of Cincinnati Football coaching staff. To download the brochure, see Coach Tuberville’s video introduction and find out more information, please visit www.swofca.com/coaches-clinic.
(Enquirer photo Jeff Swinger)
Exclusive: UC touts Nippert overhaul in bid to woo ACC
Enquirer
In January, UC sent a video description of the $70 million project to all of the Atlantic Coast Conference presidents, the latest sign that it’s still campaigning for a spot in that league.
“Located in the heart of our campus, Nippert shines as one of the nation’s oldest college football venues,” UC President Santa Ono wrote. “I invite you to watch the enclosed DVD to learn more about our exciting plans.”
***
