Reds
Put a lid on it: New spring training/batting practice hats
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College basketball
Latest bracket projection from Jerry Palm
1 Indiana
3 Butler, Louisville
6 Cincinnati, Ohio State
10 Kentucky
Xavier
CINCINNATI --- Xavier University freshman guard Semaj Christon has
been named Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week for the fifth
time this season. Christon had a team-high tying 16 points to go with
a game-high eight assists, a career-high seven rebounds and two steals
in Xavier’s 73-65 win over Duquesne in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Christon leads Xavier in scoring at 14.9 ppg. (10th overall and first
among freshmen in the Atlantic 10), assists at 4.6 apg. (fifth overall
and second among freshmen in the A-10) and steals at 1.5 spg. (10th
overall and second among freshmen in the A-10). He has scored in
double figures in 18 games, including each of the last 10 games.
Christon is bidding to become the first Xavier freshman to average
double figures in scoring or the first XU freshman to lead the team in
scoring since Stanley Burrell scored a team-high 12.7 ppg. in the
2004-05 season. Christon is also bidding to become the first Xavier
freshman to lead the team in assists since Dedrick Finn at 4.3 apg. in
the 2002-03 season.
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Show preview
6:05, Sports Talk
Guest
Bryan Price, Reds pitching coach
Topics
Reds: What is Devin Mesoraco's role?
Bengals: Is Percy Harvin the answer?
College basketball: Worried about UC?
Need some help
I'm trying Google Chrome, after using Firefox. I'm getting a warning about security issues on sites I normally use, like Cincinnati.com, Twitter, Tweedteck, ESPNInsider. The http for each has a red line through it.
Also, I use Tweetdeck and go through Tweetdeck.com. When I try to download
Tweetdeck on my desktop I can't log in.
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Chapman's heat could help Reds move past collapse
Yahoo
What sticks with a team, sticks like a stubborn doughnut near the barrel of its Louisville Slugger, is a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five series, three home games ahead, and an early bounce from the postseason. What sticks is watching the ballclub that limped in and danced out go on and win a World Series. What sticks with a team is winning an organization's first two postseason games in 17 years and following that up with its first three-game losing streak at home all year. The Reds have plenty to play for, because of what should have stuck to them for four months.
Power Rankings
SI
4. Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati's leadoff hitters last year had the worst OPS (.581) and, by far, the worst on-base percentage (.254) of any club in the majors. In an effort to solve that problem, the Reds traded for Choo and will install him in centerfield, despite the fact that the natural rightfielder has barely played that position. Whatever defensive lapses he may suffer will probably pale compared to the excess run production of batting Choo in front of Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce and Joey Votto, the game's best active practitioner of the art of hitting.
Sheldon: Some contract info
Cubs DFA former Bearcat Tony Campana
What to do with Devin?
Devin Mesoraco began last season as the top rated prospect in the Reds
organization, and 14th rated prospect in MLB.
During the season he basically caught two out of every five games. The
24-year old struggled at the plate: .210, 5 HR, 14 RBI in 52 games and
162 plate appearances. His season really turned at the end of July:
*July 30, suffered concussion in collision with San Diego OF Cameron
Maybin, ejected after making contact with umpire Chad Fairchild.
*Aug 1, suspended three games, placed on 7 day DL for concussion
*Aug 9, reinstated from DL
*Aug 9-20, appeared in 6 ML games (3 for 22 .136)
*Aug 21, suspension reduced to two games
*Aug 21-22 served suspension
*Aug 23, demoted to Louisville
*Aug 25-31, appeared in 5 games at Louisville (3 for 18 .167)
*Sept 3 recalled from Louisville
After his recall Mesoraco had a total of three at-bats in September,
appearing in games September 9-10.
At the time of his recall, Dusty Baker was asked about Mesoraco making
the playoff roster, “We’re hoping so. We’re hoping that’s what the
final outcome is. It depends on him. It depends on the progress he
makes. We really want to stress it had nothing to do with his
suspension." Due to the concussion and suspension Mesoraco had just 22 AB's in
August. If the Reds thought Mesoraco had work to do, why not send him
down earlier in the season to get regular playing time? His lack of
playing time didn't sneak up on them. Dioner Navarro's play certainly
made it easier to put Mesoraco on the back burner in September.
Navarro hit well (.290-2-12 in 24 games) and the pitchers were
comfortable with him (12-4 2.48). He was a veteran, a switch-hitter
and had postseason experience. Navarro signed with the Cubs in the
offseason. The Reds signed veteran catcher Miguel Olivo two weeks ago.
Mesoraco is still only 24. I find it hard to believe the organization
has given up on him. The question is, what is best for him and the
Reds in 2013? Is it Mesoraco playing everyday at AAA and Olivo being
the backup to Ryan Hanigan. Or, should Mesoraco continue to learn and
develop, playing a couple of times a week for the Reds?
***
Bengals
Report: Vikings will actively pursue Percy Harvin trade
NFL.com
Sources tell Mike Max of WCCO in Minneapolis that Spielman will indeed actively pursue a Harvin trade on the heels of a November meltdown directed at head coach Leslie Frazier. The incident happened in front of teammates, who didn't take well to Harvin's tirade just a couple of years after a similar blowup directed at former coach Brad Childress. It was also believed to be the real reason that Harvin was unexpectedly placed on injured reserve with an ankle ailment that didn't require surgery
Few definitive answers in Percy Harvin saga
CBS Sports
There has been uncertainty surrounding Harvin's return to the Vikings since a report from ESPN 1500 Twin Cities' Tom Pelissero surfaced in late-December. Citing four league sources, Pelissero reported that Harvin and Vikings coach Leslie Frazier engaged in a heated exchange before the receiver was placed on IR. It is unclear if the injury or the altercation had a bigger factor in the Vikings' decision to shut down Harvin for the season.
Career stats
Could the NFL widen the field?
NFL Sunday Blitz
The Canadian field is 195 feet wide, compared to the 160 foot wide NFL field. The CFL field also is 30 yards longer, but the widening of the field is what really could impact safety regarding head injuries.
“I’m not so sure we shouldn’t think about widening the field,” former competition committee member Bill Polian said. “It’s a radical idea, but I think it’s worth thinking about. You would have more space and perhaps a safer game. I say that based on my CFL experience. There are less collisions of that type in the Canadian game.”
Rookie recap: AFC North
ProFootballFocus
Notes: Zeitler had a fantastic rookie season, as he ranked 12th among all guards, at +12.9, and he made for an easy choice for our All-Rookie Team. He was third in PBE among guards, at 98.0, as he allowed only 15 total pressures on his 603 pass blocking snaps. Zeitler also showed well as a run blocker, though a rough-4.4 performance in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers brought that grade down to +1.0 for the season.
***
SI cover
Station galleries
Women We Heart: Kate Upton
Most successful Sports Illustrated swimsuit models
2013 Calendar Girls
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I watched what?
I was flipping the channel Sunday and stumbled across Rugby, USA Sevens Vegas, on NBC.
I could not stop watching. I know nothing about the sport, but it was pretty cool.
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Shot of the weekend
Check out this game winning shot at buzzer. Harbon Lovin, a Blanchester 8th grader hits the shot while laying on his back and beats Goshen.
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Soccer Saturday night
Has your child ever had a 10:20 soccer game? 10:20 pm that is. That was Peyton's game time Saturday at Town and Country in Wilder. They lost 9-8 in a pretty good game. The TV ratings must have been good for what had to be the Saturday Night Youth Soccer West Coast Game of the Week. The double bummer was the fact Dairy Queen was closed, no post game Blizzard!
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The weekend of hoops
Indiana 81 Ohio State 68
How impressive was IU on Sunday? Wow. No team in the country has as many players that can score, from as many different spots on the court. OSU went into the game allowing a Big 10 best 58 points per game. IU shot 53% for the game and had three players score at least 20 points: Zeller, Oladipo and Watford. Stat of day: The loss ended Ohio State’s streak of 121 games without consecutive losses, the longest in the nation.
DeCourcy: Indiana still worthy of being No. 1
FS Ohio: Hoosiers make huge statement
Pitt 62 Cincinnati 52
This team has issues, and I'm not sure how many can be fixed. Wright's knee isn't right, and I wonder if it will be right this year? If he's struggling to penetrate, shoot, and pass, then an already offensively challenged team is in trouble. Back-up point guard Ge'Lawn Guyn played six minutes. Saturday, an eight point lead became a 10 point loss when they shot 22% in 2nd half and didn't have a basket in the final 9-minutes. UC is 18-6/6-5, but now T-9th in Big East and just 6-6 in last 12 games going back to the New Mexico game, the night of the the Belk Bowl. They still have to play at ND and at UL. Kilpatrick had 16, but just one point in 2nd half. He wasn't right after hurting his hand. Is there a front line in the country that produces less than UC's? SK, Cash and Parker took 31 shots, 22 of them were three point attempts (3 of 22). UC was 12 of 27 (44%) on two point attempts and 4 of 25 (16%) on three point attempts. Oh, what I'd give to see a UC player be able to come off a screen, square and shoot from the outside. As I said Friday night, you can only ask so much, for so long, of your defense. They allowed Pitt to shoot 45%, including 50% in second half. Rubles did get rebounds (8), yet I still don't get how he goes 2-9 from the field.
From listener Scott:
Since the start of the 2010-11 season:
UC 63-6 (91%) when they score at least 60 points.
UC 7-20 (26%) when they fail to reach 60 points.
From listener Chris:
Cashmere Wright stats before and after knee sprain on January 15
Before: 19 games, 15.1 PPG, 47% FG, 44% 3PFG, 10.8 shots per game.
After: 5 games, 7.8 PPG, 20.7% FG, 17% 3PFG, 10.6 shots per game.
Xavier 73 Duquesne 65
That's a big, comeback road win for XU. They were seven down with about 12 minutes remaining, after a 21-4 run by the Dukes. But they recovered and found a way. How often do you see each team go on 21-4 runs in the same game? XU got a huge game from Philmore, 16 points, Taylor added a double-double, 13-12, and Martin had a huge 15 points, in his best game since the concussion. It's scary to think how good Christon is going to be over four years at XU. He had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 8 ssists. XU won on the boards and in the paint. They still struggled at the line, but hit down the stretch. What's up with Redford? 0-4 with no points. He scored 21-17-13 in a three game stretch, shooting 16 of 33, to a five game stretch scoring a total of 11 points on 4 of 18 shooting. XU now 13-9/6-3.
Kentucky 72 Auburn 62
UK put 5 players in double figures, Wiltjer had 14. UK's won five straight and is now 17-6/8-2. They are turning into that team nobody wants to see on their bracket line. Was Auburn chippy, or what? That's 15 straight wins by UK over AUB. Cool seeing UK's 1978 national title team. Noel had another double-double, but I think got his only block with about a minute left in the game. Auburn was all over him. Nice lift/boost/energy from Polson with his 20 minutes. Rough game for Goodwin. Can't wait for the Florida game Tuesday night.
Notre Dame 104 Louisville 101 5 OT
We got home from Peyton's soccer game as ND-UL was going to a 2nd OT.
I looked at Casey and asked why he was still up at 11:30? He said, "Dad, I can't turn this game off". By the third OT my entire family was in bed watching the game. Casey kept rooting for another OT. How'd you like to be UL after losing that lead, having to go 5 OT and losing? Love the shot of Pitino tossing water bottle straight up in the air. How about Chane Behanan with 30/14?. Jeria Grant did nothing until the final :46 of regulation and then scored 12 points for force OT. Louisville had a four point lead with :56 left in the fourth overtime, but ND's Garrick Sherman had back to back tip-ins to force the fifth OT. He's a backup that didn't get in until the second overtime, yet he finished with 17 points and six rebounds. Their were 26 lead changes. I loved how Mike Brey was reacting to it all. ESPN's Dan Shulman was correct, ND was playing with house money after the comeback. Louisville was playing like they couldn't believe they still had to be out on the floor. What a game. Unreal.
How about Barry Larkin's son? Shane had 18 points and 9 assists in Miami's win over North Carolina.
NKU Norse get national pub from Associated Press
Feinstein on Brad Stevens: On the day he was supposed to start work as a waiter at Applebee’s, Matta offered him a paying job as an assistant for $17,000 a year..Stevens moved up the ladder when Matta left for Xavier and Todd Lickliter became the coach, and then got the head coaching job in 2007 — at the age of 30 — when Lickliter took the Iowa job. His record is a stupefying: 159-44.
Big East gets offer from NBC Network
