Reds moves
Optioned to Louisville LHP Tony Cingrani and RHP Daniel Corcino; optioned to Pensacola RHP Kyle Lotzkar and RHP Josh Ravin; optioned to Bakersfield RHP Carlos Contreras and OF Yorman Rodriguez; optioned to Dayton LHP Ismael Guillon; reassigned to minor league camp RHP Nick Christiani, RHP Chad Rogers, C Nevin Ashley, IF Kristopher Negron and OF Ryan LaMarre.
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Bengals
The Bengals today re-signed DE Robert Geathers. The signing takes Geathers off the unrestricted free agent market, which opened at 4 p.m. today.
Geathers (6-3, 280; Georgia) is a 10th-year NFL player in 2013. He has spent his entire career with Cincinnati, since being selected in the fourth round of the 2004 draft. He is the longest-tenured Bengal on the current roster. He has the most Bengals games played (134) and Bengals starts (104) on the roster, including starts in all 16 games plus the Wild Card playoff last season.
“Robert brings us not just fine and consistent play, but leadership and experience,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “He’s a big part of our success with his own play, and I know our younger guys have talked about how he’s made them more effective players. We are glad he has chosen to remain a Bengal.”
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Reds
Dusty wants Chapman in pen, Price leans that way
Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News
My campaign continues: ‘Keep Aroldis Chapman in the Bullpen.’
There are so many reasons why, other than the fact it is clear manager Dusty Baker prefers to keep him as a closer and pitching coach Bryan Price leans that way, too.
Rival scout: Chapman should close
ESPN: Dusty is wrong, Chapman should start
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Atlantic 10 awards
Player of the Year: Khalif Wyatt, TU
Rookie of the Year: Semaj Christon, XU
Coach of the Year: Jim Crews, SLU
Chris Daniels Most Improved: Travis Taylor, XU
First Team All-Conference
Khalif Wyatt, TU
Ramon Galloway, LAS
Rotnei Clarke, BU
Dwayne Evans, SLU
Chaz Williams, UM
Second Team All-Conference
Semaj Christon, XU
Kevin Dillard, UD
Third Team All-Conference
Travis Taylor, XU
All-Rookie Team
Semaj Christon, XU
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Kentucky
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel was named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Year to lead a multitude of honors for the Wildcats as voted on by the league’s coaches, it was announced on Tuesday. In addition to Freshman of the Year accolades, Noel was also named the league’s top performing defensive player. Sophomore Kyle Wiltjer was tabbed as the Sixth Man of the Year to add to the honors for the Wildcats.
Noel also earned All-SEC first team, All-Defensive team and All- Freshman team honors. He was joined on the All-Freshman team by Willie Cauley-Stein, Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress.
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Bengals
The Bengals today re-signed DE Wallace Gilberry. His contract was to expire at 4 p.m. today, and without a new deal he would have become an unrestricted free agent.
Gilberry (6-2, 275; Alabama) is a sixth-year NFL player in 2013. He joined the Bengals as a free agent on Sept. 18 of last season and played in 14 games plus the Wild Card playoff. He ranked third on the team in the regular season in sacks (6.5), and his three fumble recoveries tied for the team lead. He returned one fumble for a touchdown, and he also had one forced fumble.
“Gil came in and helped us right away last season,” said defensive line coach Jay Hayes. “He’s an active guy with a nose for making plays. We’re glad to have him back, and to get him this year in time for a full run in our offseason program.”
Gilberry played from 2008-11 with Kansas City. He has 20.5 career sacks, with five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
If Joe Reedy was Bengals' GM
Bengals' position roundup
5 free agents to watch
USA Today: Which teams will spend in free agency? + Top 50 free agents and best fits
Top 50 free agents from National Football Post
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Reds
Fay: Reds' roster construction involves many factors
Votto to appear on "The Cleveland Show"
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MLB
Will anyone be face of MLB like Griffey Jr?
Fox Sports
To a baseball-obsessed teenager in those years, Griffey was unrivaled in his nationwide appeal. From more than 2,000 miles away, we talked about Griffey’s home runs — the towering shots at the Kingdome and those he denied with trademark leaps at the wall. He was so mesmerizing that he transformed the notion of fan allegiance for an entire generation: You had a favorite team. And you rooted for Griffey.
Today’s environment should make it even easier for fans to connect with non-home-team stars. We have the Internet, social media, national television packages, telecasts on tablets and smartphones.
But we don’t have a New Griffey.
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College basketball
Postgame handshake in college basketball is unnecessary
Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News
This cliched postgame ceremony serves no purpose. Sportsmanship? A made-for-TV handshake between two competitors who may or may not have cause for mutual distaste says nothing about sportsmanship. Sportsmanship is about playing by the rules of the game in all phases—recruiting, scouting, the actual contest—and doing nothing that would cause an opponent undue harm.
UC basketball
Analysis: Bearcats and Big East Tournament
Paul Dehner Jr., GoBearcats.com
The last few years, UC has done as well in NYC as any Big East team. They are three teams to have won at least one game each of the last three years, USF and Notre Dame are the others. Notre Dame has advanced to the semifinals whereas all USF's wins came in the early rounds.
That also leaves them as the only team to have won at least one game in NYC each of the last three years and play in the championship game. No easy feat. Looking even deeper at where their success ranks, only UConn has more wins in the BET over the last three years. Here's the records of this year's Big East tournament teams the last three years:
What if March Madness was replaced by bowl games?
Email of the day
The Bob Huggins UC teams went to exactly one sweet 16 in his last NINE YEARS. And that was with a win over a 10 seed Kent State who pulled an upset in game one.
Consider the following:
1. Last year Mick Cronin went to the Sweet Sixteen after his sixth seed Bearcats defeated third seed Florida State. Coach Huggins never defeated a higher seed.
2. Mick started with absolutely nothing. He had to build a roster from scratch, and he started in the Big East, not CUSA. Cashmere Wright was part of his first real recruiting class and has not graduated yet.
3. Mick had nothing to do with the firing of Bob Huggins. Coach Huggins fired himself.
4. Our APR is stronger than ever before, we don't have to worry about how many guys will be arrested in the off-season. And we have another top 25 recruiting class lined up.
5. Attendance began to decline in the final three years of the Coach Huggins era, as fans got fed up with the types of people he brought in. **
Mick has us winning again and he cleaned up the mess he inherited. The man deserves a 10 year extension.
Joe Barker, UC 78
**I looked up the attendance that Joe pointed out. Attendance declined 1,501 per game from 12,805 in 2004, to 11,304 in 2005, Huggins' final season. Attendance dropped an average of nearly 2,000 per game over the final five season with Huggins:
2000: 13,176
2001: 12,906
2002: 12,508
2003: 12,182
2004: 12,805
2005: 11,304
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Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky college basketball coach of year candidates
Dave Bezold, NKU
11-19 overall, 9-9 in Atlantic Sun, in first year of Division I. Started season 0-6. Played first 10 games on the road. Led Atlantic Sun in attendance.
Billy Donlon, Wright State
21-11 overall, 10-6 (3rd) in Horizon League. Picked to finish last in preseason Horizon League polls. No seniors. Lost six players to transfer from a year ago, including Julius Mays to UK. Lost best player, Cole Darling, for final month of season. Playing for Horizon League championship and trip to NCAA tournament tonight at Valparaiso.
Chris Mack, Xavier
17-13 overall, 9-7 (6th) in Atlantic 10. Lost Mark Lyons to transfer Dez Wells to expulsion and two incoming players to eligibility issues. Returned no starters. Leading returning scorer, Travis Taylor, averaged 4.5 points a game last year. Wins over ranked St Louis and Memphis, and Butler.
Mick Cronin, Cincinnati
21-10 overall, 9-9 (9th) in Big East. Four Top 50 RPI wins. 20+ wins for third consecutive year, first time since 2004.
John Cooper, Miami9-21 overall, 3-13 in MAC (6th in East), in first season after taking over for Charlie Coles.
Archie Miller, Dayton
17-13 overall, 7-9 (11th) in A-10
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Did you miss him?
Joe Morgan checked in on Sports Talk and discussed the his new exhibit at Reds HOF.
Listen here:
Morgan HOF exhibit opens today
CINCINNATI (March 9, 2013) — The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum is honoring Joe Morgan with a special exhibit that examines the many highlights of his illustrious career.
Featuring game-used equipment, rare photographs, memorabilia and never-before-seen items from Joe’s personal collection, the exhibit shines a light on the player who many historians consider to be the best second baseman in the history of the game.
The exhibit opens to the public on Tuesday, March 12 at 10 am.. Morgan will be available at 6:30 p.m. for the ribbon cutting ceremony and VIP preview of the exhibit.
The Joe Morgan exhibit is part of a season-long celebration of Joe’s great career that culminates with the dedication of the Joe Morgan Statue on Saturday, Sept. 7, prior to the 1:05 pm Reds vs. L.A. Dodgers game.
Joe’s statue will be located in front of Great American Ball Park on Crosley Terrace and is being sculpted by local artist Tom Tsuchiya, who designed the five sculptures that currently reside at the ballpark: Johnny Bench, Ted Kluszewski, Ernie Lombardi, Joe Nuxhall and Frank Robinson.
Fans interested in being part of recognizing Morgan’s incomparable career and immeasurable contribution to Cincinnati and Reds baseball by becoming a donor can learn more by contacting the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum at (513) 765-7921 or redsmuseum.org. Contributions can earn donors a place on the Joe Morgan Recognition Wall inside the museum.
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Very cool!
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Adult baseball league forming
The Cincinnati Adult Baseball League is looking for some additional players for the 2013 season. The league has expanded to 14 teams, we have two new teams who need players as well as several existing teams. Most teams have just started getting together for weekly practices. I can have you in contact with a team that needs players immediately.
All games are played with wood bats, on Wednesday nights (7 innings) and Sunday mornings (9 innings) starting in late April and going through September (approximately 30 games)
The age requirements are as follows: players must be 25 before Dec 31st 2013, and in order to pitch you must be 27 by December 31st 2013. I’d say the average age is early to mid 30’s? although there are still some very good players in their mid 40’s and 50’s still playing at a high level. We separate the 14 teams into two divisions of 7 based on competitiveness. We offer something for all skill levels.
Our league website complete with rosters, stats, and standings is at www.cincyabl.com.
Game locations include Sycamore High School, Deer Park, Kings, Middletown, West High, Norwood, Milford, Crosley Field in Blue Ash, The Schuler Complex, Testerman Park, Foundation Field, and several others.
We will be holding an open tryout on Sunday April 7th. Contact me for location and time.
Please feel free to forward this to anyone you know who might have an interest.
For any other questions Contact: Jason Ehrhardt je8674@yahoo.com call or text (513) 289-5209
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