Check it out
From my guy, Ron Riedy, of Coca-Cola
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Bengals
Bengals guard-edly optimistic with two first round picks
CSNWashington.com
DeCastro is a popular pick for the Bengals throughout the mock draft world due to their current lack of quality options or depth at the position...First and second round depth is strong at the positions of need for the Bengals, so they will have the luxury of not reaching at 17 or 21 to fill a problem area...In previous mock drafts, I had the Bengals targeting a running back - specifically Miami's Lamar Miller - in round one, but I moved off that stance after BenJarvus Green-Ellis signed with Cincinnati to replace Cedric Benson and Miller's draft status began dipping.
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Reds
Fox: Reds, Phillips still talking, but......
Report: Reds claim Alfredo Simon
Votto perspective
Ken Griffey Jr got a 9 year deal worth $112.5 million when he was traded to the Reds
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Bengals
New uniforms from Nike (@Bengals)
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XU news
CINCINNATI --- Griffin McKenzie, 6-9 sophomore forward from Cincinnati’s Moeller High School, has decided to transfer from Xavier University.
“Griffin is a great kid,” said Xavier head coach Chris Mack. “For two years he’s done everything we have asked and more. He’s been a great teammate and role model for our program. It is his desire to seek another situation that offers more playing time in the future. We wish him all the best.”
McKenzie played in 28 games in two seasons as a Musketeer, including 11 this season. He averaged 0.2 points per game as a sophomore in 2.3 minutes per game.
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Tweet, tweet
Source: None of money in Votto's deal with #Reds is deferred. Contract is back-loaded.
Ken Rosenthal, Fox Baseball @Ken_Rosenthal
Votto's deal puzzling
Keith Law, ESPN Insider
The Reds already had Votto under contract for 2012 and 2013 at well-below-market salaries, so the extension won't begin in earnest until his age-30 season, by which point Votto will most likely have already peaked, meaning he'll spend virtually the entire extension declining from his peak. Granted, that peak -- about seven wins above replacement a year, per FanGraphs -- is extremely high, meaning Votto likely will still be a valuable player for the next four or five years, but he's also a slow-footed first baseman, one of the worst-aging categories of players. His value likely will drop by half before the extension is halfway through, perhaps sooner given the propensity of position players to miss more time due to injuries in their 30s.
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If I'm on vacation....stuff must be happening
Here is an unofficial list of things that happened while I was gone:
Joey Votto contract
UK wins national championship
NFL lockout ended
Bengals sign TO
Reds sell out first three game series (‘10 Atlanta) since 2006
Reds traded for Scott Rolen
Bob Huggins fired
Mick Cronin hired
UC vs UK NCAA hoops
Thad Matta hired by OSU
Skip Prosser died
Marge Schott died
Reds signed Eric Milton
Ken Griffey, Jr. traded from the Reds to the White Sox
Homer switched signal from AM 1360 to AM 1530
Barry Larkin vetoed a trade to the Mets and signed a three-year contract extension
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Holy contract, Batman!
(Getty Images)
Votto may be rare player worth risk of 12-year contract
SI
The price was steep and the length enormous: the Reds reportedly extended their franchise player for 10 years and $225 million on top of the two years and $26.5 million remaining on his pre-existing contract, meaning Votto is under contract through 2023.
The lefty-swinging, righty-throwing first baseman turned 28 in September and has turned himself into an MVP (in 2010) and Gold Glove winner (in 2011). That high level of well-rounded production, combined with consistent offensive performance, makes him a better bet than most to be worth the long-term contract, especially since he's plays first base, where production typically diminishes more slowly than in the middle of the diamond.
What the heck are the Reds doing?
Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports
The Cincinnati Reds are about to make their biggest news since trading for Ken Griffey Jr. in 2000.
Votto's massive deal changes the game
Fangraph.com
For the Reds, the equation was pretty simple – keep Votto and contend during the run-up to the expiration of their television deal, or trade him away, rebuild, and come to the table asking for more money after a couple of years of going young and probably taking their lumps. Given those options, giving Votto a couple of extra years at the back end to increase their bargaining position doesn’t look quite so crazy.
When Cincinnati became a big market
SB Nation
Last year the Brewers drew 3.1 million fans to their 81 home games, fourth-best in the National League. Meanwhile, the Reds -- despite coming off a first-place season -- drew only 2.2 million, 10th in the league. With the Packers and the Brewers, the sports fans in Wisconsin have demonstrated with the wallets and their fannies that they will support their teams, population be damned.
The fans in southwestern Ohio and north-central Kentucky have not done the same. Which doesn't mean they won't. Maybe locking up Joey Votto for The Rest of Recorded Time will kickstart the local baseball team's attendance.
But to me, this just looks like more evidence that Major League Baseball's franchises, even those in the smallest of markets, are about to reap huge windfalls in local television revenues.
Votto's deal a coup for Reds
ESPN Insider
This contract does make it harder for the Reds to sign Brandon Phillips long-term, but that might be a blessing in disguise. Cincy's gotten a ton of value for a player that they acquired for Jeff Stevens, but he's also a second baseman on the wrong side of 30 coming off of easily his best year. Second basemen generally don't age like Jeff Kent, they age more like the tuna salad sandwich you left in your car on a hot summer day.
Cincinnati's keeping their best player in a long time in town for at least the vast majority of his career. Even a sarcastic grump like me can give that one a thumbs-up.
Votto's mammoth deal is shock to system
MLB.com
....did the Reds go too far with this deal? Well, it's hard not to argue in the affirmative.
Let's state the obvious: For a National League club to make a 12-year commitment to a position player who will be 40 at the conclusion of the deal is a major, major gamble.
Reds had to make a decision on Votto
Buster Olney, ESPN Insider
AL evaluator: "He is one heck of a player. I like the way he plays. At some point this contract will be a drag on a team in a mid-market, but I'm happy for him. Nothing has ever been given to him, he has earned everything in this game."
Longtime evaluator: "It is nuts."
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UC football
Massillon QB confirms committment to UC
IndeOnline.com
Kempt, who moved to Stark County from Oregon in the summer prior to his sophomore season, chose Cincinnati from a list of schools that also included West Virginia, Tennessee, Bowling Green, Indiana and Ole Miss. He can’t officially sign with the school until National Signing Day next February.
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NCAA
DeCourcy: Recognition long time coming for Calipari
CBS: Calipari's haul won't be done with one
Yahoo: Star playing without ego set new standard
(AP)
Win at all costs
The Daily
More than any other in recent memory, this championship run will not be remembered fondly by the so-called establishment. After three empty trips to the Final Four — two of which were later vacated for NCAA rules violations — Calipari ended all doubt he could win the big one. And his team, with three freshmen and two sophomores in the starting lineup — all of whom are likely NBA-bound — proved that you can import a bunch of one-and-done mercenaries and still win a title.
But if you feel like rolling your eyes at anyone today, roll them at Kentucky, not Calipari.
1. Indiana
Surprised? Putting Indiana No. 1 isn't a reach, and it speaks volumes about how far Tom Crean has brought the Hoosiers. There was legitimate grumbling in the Hoosier Nation a year ago, wondering whether the rebuilding was taking too long. Well, IU had two of the more significant wins of the 2011-12 regular season and then reached the Sweet 16, where it pushed Kentucky as well as any team. Cody Zeller has to stay put for Indiana to remain No. 1 of course. But if Zeller is back, the Hoosiers -- with nearly everyone returning and joined by another elite recruiting class -- will be right there in the running for a national title.
2. Louisville
4. Kentucky
5. Ohio State
Fifteen more on the cusp: Cincinnati, UNLV, Pittsburgh, Alabama, UCLA, Florida State, Stanford, Saint Louis, Marquette, Maryland, New Mexico, Butler, Saint Mary's, Xavier, Nevada.
Did you stay up for it?
Tweeted by @GoBearcats
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AHS Card Show
Pride of AHS Sports Card Show 2012! June 9th from 9am to 3pm at Anderson High School. 30 dealer tables. Hall of Fame Broadcaster Marty Brennaman appearing from 10 AM to 11 AM. Additional autograph guests expected (TBA). Mark your calendars now. Contact Ben Heckert for info. 513-482-9576 or email ahscardshow@yahoo.com
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