NFL

AP releases first ever NFL Pro32 Power Rankings
Similar to Top 25 College football and basketball. Will be released weekly during season. Among the voters: Cris Collinsworth and Chris Berman.

1. Green Bay
5. Baltimore
7. Pittsburgh
14. Cincinnati
30. Cleveland
32. Indianapolis

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Reds

Padres 11 Reds 5
Devin Mesoraco will get suspended...I'd guess 2-5 games.
I loved his fire....but then I was yelling...."noooooooo", like it was slow motion, when he touched the ump. Can't happen.
The Reds don't have a 3rd catcher on the 40-man roster.
They have Dioner Navarro and Corky Miller at AAA.
From Reds: The 11 walks by Reds pitchers is highest total since they walked 12 batters on 5/16/09 at SD (16 innings) and their highest total in a 9-inning game since an 11-walk game on 9/27/04 at Wrigley Field.

Video: Mesoraco vs umpire Chad Fairchild

Reds attendance:
29,010
Up 1,193 per game from a year ago after 50 dates.
Up 59,629 for season.
Reds 17th in attendance increase from 2011.
ML average: increase of 1,573 per game.

Reds talking to Cubs about Matt Garza
Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports
The Cincinnati Reds, one of the hottest teams in baseball, are not satisfied with their current position atop the NL Central.
The Reds, seeking to fortify the top of their rotation for a potential playoff run, are talking to the Chicago Cubs about a trade for right-hander Matt Garza, according to major league sources.

The Matt Garza file


Age: 28
RHP
Career stats  57-61 3.85
2012: 5-7 3.91 in 18 starts, 103.2 IN, 90 H, 32 BB, 96 K, 1.17 WHIP
Career GABP: 0-1 3.60 in 2 starts
Contract: $9.5M. Aribitration eligible for final time after this season.
Missed last start after suffering upper-arm strain on July 21.
He was able to throw a bullpen on Monday without issue.
Post season: Started one game in 2008 World Series, 0-0 6.00 for Rays.
Tossed no-hitter 2010

Reds pursuing Overbay?
Sources: #Reds, #Dbacks discussing trade that would send Lyle Overbay to Cincinnati.
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi (Fox Sports)

The Overbay file

Age: 35
LH
1B
Contract: $1m.....this year, then free agent
Designated for assignment Monday by Arizona
Just 2 for 25 since June 23.
2012: .292-.367-.448-.815, 2 HR, 10 RBI in 96 AB
Career splits:
vs RHP .276-.370-.455-.824
GABP: .370-.426-.576-.1.007 IN 92 AB, 4 HR, 17 RBI


Joe Rijo charged in Dominican
AP
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) – A prosecutor in the Dominican Republic says 1990 World Series MVP Jose Rijo has been charged with laundering money for a suspected drug trafficker.


Fruits of December trade all on Padres' roster
MLB.com
CINCINNATI -- For the first time this season, all four of the players the Padres received in the December deal that saw them send Mat Latos to the Reds were on the Padres' 25-man roster.
The addition of reliever Brad Boxberger to the roster before Monday's game against the Reds allowed for the Padres to have pitcher Edinson Volquez, first baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal and Boxberger on the roster all at once.
Oddly enough, it occurred on the same day the Padres visited the Reds for the first of four games.
"It's definitely going to be fun," Boxberger said.

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Bearcats Picked to Finish Fourth in BIG EAST Media Poll
NEWPORT, R.I. - The University of Cincinnati football team was picked to finish fourth in the 2012 BIG EAST Conference Preseason Poll, announced as the league's annual media day kicks off Tuesday at the Hotel Viking in Newport, R.I.
UC received 139 votes in the poll, voted on by members of the media. Louisville topped the voting with 219 points and 24 first-place votes. USF was tabbed second with 176 and four first-place votes. Rutgers (155) was third followed by the Bearcats. Pittsburgh (131) was fifth, Connecticut (77) was sixth, Syracuse was picked seventh (70) and Temple was chosen eighth (41).
The Bearcats enter their 125th season of football in 2012. UC returns 13 starters and 43 letterwinners from the 2011 squad that went 10-3 and won its third BIG EAST Conference title in four years and will have to replace seven offensive starters and four defensive starters in the lead up to the 2012 season. Head Coach Butch Jones, the 2011 BIG EAST Coach of the Year, is in his third year at the helm of the Cincinnati program.
The Bearcats will report back to campus on Aug. 7 and depart almost immediately for the Higher Ground Conference & Retreat Center in West Harrison, Ind. UC will open practice at Higher Ground on Aug. 8 and return to campus on Aug. 25 following a 19-day stay in the woods. Cincinnati opens the season with a bye week and will play its first game against Pittsburgh on Thursday, Sept. 6 inside historic Nippert Stadium.
Tickets are on sale now for all UC football games. Call 1-877-CATS-TIX or visit GoBEARCATS.com to purchase season tickets that start as low as $125.
2012 BIG EAST FOOTBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
1. Louisville (24) 219
2. USF (4) 176
3. Rutgers 155
4. Cincinnati 139
5. Pittsburgh 131
6. Connecticut 77
7. Syracuse 70
8. Temple 41

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Touch Em All video premiere
Sunday was the official music video premiere for "Touch 'Em All". A song written by Mike Sharp, produced by Erwin Musper, performed by One Horse. Video Produced/Directed by Cam Miller. The video debuted before a packed house at the Reds Hall of Fame.

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Bengals/NFL

Reedy: Day 4 at Bengals training camp

Hobson: Short game

Coyle crafts defense in his image
Sun-Sentinel
"I've seen a lot of people change with position changes, players and coaches," said veteran cornerback Jonathan Wade, who started three games for Coyle's Bengals unit back in 2010. "He hasn't changed one bit. He's the same person, very interactive."

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Mariners deal former Florence Freedom pitcher
Steve Delabar, (Fort Knox, KY) who pitched with the Florence Freedom in 2010, was traded by the Mariners to the Blue Jays last night. Delabar fractured his elbow in 2008. He had his elblow wired back together with nine screws. He gave up baseball. He was a substitute teacher in Elizabethtown, KY and was playing softball. Then he started on a pitching velocity program that changed his career. He started throwing harder. A scout watched him throw. The Mariners signed him in 2011. He made his ML debut last year and appeared in 34 games this season for the Mariners.

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On this date: 1990
From Steven Sharp
Tuesday night, July 31, 1990
Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodger Stadium/Los Angeles, CA
"Oester's Head Shaved, Piniella Shakes Up Batting Order, Reds Stop Eight-Game Skid"
Entering the day on an eight-game losing streak, the 1990 wire-to-wire Reds had watched their lead in the NL West Division drop from 11.0 games over the second-place San Francisco Giants down to 5.5 games.  A few Reds players looked for a way to change recent luck for the team, and as a result, reserve infielder Ron Oester had his head shaved in the shower room a day earlier after the most recent loss.
Manager Lou Piniella opted to shake up the Reds batting order.  First baseman Hal Morris batted leadoff for the first time in his MLB career; second baseman Ron Oester batted second for the first time all season; shortstop Barry Larkin hit in the clean-up spot for what he would tell reporters was the first time since little league; and leftfielder Billy Hatcher was dropped to eighth in the batting order.
The line-up shake-up worked right away, as Hal Morris led off the game with a triple and scored the first run of the game.  Morris later walked, added a double, and scored another run.  Oester hit his only sacrifice fly of the season and later added his only stolen base of the season.  Starter José Rijo pitched 6.1 innings and excelled offensively, adding two hits, a stolen base, and a run scored. The Reds won, 5-2.

Cincinnati Reds, team of destiny
St Louis Post Dispatch
With each passing day the Cincinnati Reds look more destined to make a big postseason run.
They have won 10 games in a row. They have moved three games up on second-place Pittsburgh and 7½ games ahead of the Cardinals in the National League Central.
While Mike Matheny’s should-be contender was losing two of three games at Wrigley Field, Dusty Baker’s Reds completed a sweep at Colorado.
Playing without MVP candidate Joey Votto, Cincinnati keeps piling up the Ws. They have won 17 of their last 19 games.

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Congrats to Mariemont grad Nick Thoman!

(Richard Mackson-USA TODAY)

Cincinnati's Nick Thoman captured silver in the Men's 100 meter backstroke

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Down on the Farm

Pre-season: Top 20 Reds prospects


(Louisville Bats)

Gregorius thriving at new level
Milb.com
"He's a well-rounded player," Bats manager David Bell said. "One thing that jumps out at you is his arm strength, but before it's all said and done, he's going to show people he has a lot more skills than that.
"He's going to hit. He's young and he's still developing. He's going to be a good all-around Major League player."

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Listener photos

My wife took this picture of my son and Sean Casey participating in the inaugural game at the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Field. What a night, what a memory!
Regards,
Rob

From listener Tom: I wanted to show u a pic I snapped of my son Luke this weekend during the GABP tour.

Lance here are some pictures from Paul Brown stadium where my son and I attended
the open house a few weeks ago! Being on the field gave a whole new prospective
for what the players see! The turf was much different than i expected, Those sliding
catches have to leave a turf burn! Locker rooms, it was so cool to see and be inside
The Brown family is really coming around. But the best part was tossing the football
on the field with my son!
John