Show preview
6:05, Sports Talk, live from Turfway Park
Guests
Chris Welsh, FS Ohio, 7:05
Joe Reedy, Enquirer, 8:05
Mark Sheldon, MLB.com, 8:35
Topics
Reds
March Madness
Off Beaten Path: Sports things your wife was cool with: See wedding photo below.
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Bookmark it: Reds spring training broadcast schedule
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Reds
It's official
Per the Reds, Aroldis Chapman will be the closer. Mike Leake the 5th starter.
Sheldon: Chapman to close.
“We’re a team built to win now. In our opinion, this gives us the best opportunity.”
Reds making a mistake
ESPN
Frankly, however, if Chapman's heart isn't in starting, it doesn't say a lot about his intestinal fortitude and moving him back to the pen is probably the right move. Starting pitching is harder and more challenging, a challenge Chapman may not be 100 percent invested in. Starters make a lot more money because it's a more valuable role and great ones are harder to come by. As much Baker thinks Chapman is an indispensable weapon in the bullpen, it's simply not true. No reliever is going to get a $100 million contract
Chapman as closer is the safe (and correct) choice for Reds
The Sporting News
So if now isn't the time to transition the lefthander into the rotation, then when is? That is a question the Reds can't answer, given how they have dragged their feet in making the call. If the higher-ups believed Chapman closing was the best decision for the team's goal of a World Series championship, it would have been made long ago.
Why the Reds are right to keep Chapman at closer
SI
From a general value standpoint, it’s easy to lean back in the armchair and reflexively declare that the Reds are making the Wrong Decision, since the rule of thumb is that a starting pitcher can be far more valuable than a reliever assuming both are able to throw full workloads. However, Chapman, who threw 71 2/3 innings last year, was always likely to be placed on an innings limit that would have left him far short of 200 frames in his first season in the rotation, and it’s fair to admit that once you scale that workload back, the value distinction is a bit grayer.
Chapman decision
Baseball Prospectus
“It’s a classic case of the general manager/manager divide,” said one NL front-office type. “The GM has to balance the present with the future in order for the organization to have long-term success, but most managers are only worried how they can win today’s game. I have a feeling this is going to get ugly if Walt decides to keep Chapman as a starter. Walt and Dusty have always struck me as kind of an odd coupling, and this could really strain their relationship.”
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Bengals
The Bengals today re-signed OT Dennis Roland as an unrestricted free agent.
Roland (6-9, 322; Georgia) is a sixth-year NFL player in 2013. He joined the Bengals in 2008, and from ’09 through last season he played in every Cincinnati game (67 including postseason), seeing some time as a starting OT and also lining up as a second tight end in formations with an extra blocker. Last season, he helped HB BenJarvus Green-Ellis lead the NFL in third-down-and-one rushing conversions (14), with Green-Ellis failing to convert only once.
“Dennis is a solid pro who has helped us make the playoffs three of the last four years,” said Paul Alexander, Bengals assistant head coach/offensive line coach. “He’s a known quantity, a guy we have relied on, and we are glad to have him back for 2013.”
Roland is the eight player from the 2012 Bengals roster who had been eligible for unrestricted free agency but has re-signed with Cincinnati. Re-signing previously were DE Robert Geathers, DE Wallace Gilberry, LS Clark Harris, DE Michael Johnson, P Kevin Huber, LB Rey Maualuga and K Mike Nugent. (Michael Johnson was designated as the club’s franchise player and has signed a one-year tender offer, with negotiation of a longer deal still an option.)
Reedy: Mike Brown discusses offseason approach
Hobson: Mike Brown says, "the heart of this team is in place"
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NCAA
Hoard: Can Cats contain McDermott
To get you ready for UC vs Creighton
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Reds
Reds fans camping out at GABP for opening day tickets that go on sale Saturday morning at 9am.
Passing the time!
(From Michael Anderson, Reds)
First in line!
(Photo @Reds)
SNEAK PEEK: Cover of the 2013 Reds Yearbook. Available at your ballpark, beginning April 1st.
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Anthony Munoz back in uniform?
Anthony Munoz Foundation
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Sports things your wife was cool with
I noticed this photo on Twitter this week @Goodyear_BP Goodyear Ballpark.
Would your wife have allowed you to get married at home plate in spring training?
What are some of the things you did that may have pushed the limits with your wife or girlfriend?
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Bengals
Josh Johnson agrees to terms with Bengals
Adam Jones signs 3-year deal
"Happy to say this morning that i agreed to a three year deal with the Bengals Stand up WHODEY!!!!!" Jones on Twitter
ProFootball Focus on Jones deal: He lets us all know that he’s signed a three-year deal to stay in Cincinnati, one that is truly earned after an excellent 2012. Despite being limited to nickel duty as the teams right cornerback he still played well enough to finish 11th overall in our cornerback rankings, with just 54.5% of the balls into his coverage being completed. Real nice move by the Bengals who are heading into the 2013 season with hardly any of their key contributors on defense playing football elsewhere.
Gresham 12th among TEs in combined 1st downs/TDs
Anyone for a veteran LB with something to prove?
Bears moving forward without Urlacher
ESPN
"Brian has been an elite player in our league for over a decade. He showed great leadership and helped develop a winning culture over his time with the Bears. We appreciate all he has given our team, on and off the field. Brian will always be welcome as a member of the Bears."
ProFootball Focus on Urlacher: Age may finally be catching up to Brian Urlacher. The 34-year-old linebacker was one of the worst run defending middle linebackers in the league last year. His -13.6 run defense grade was second worst among his peers, and his 8.0 Tackling Efficiency was 29th out of 35 middle linebackers. Urlacher hasn’t lost his elite coverage skills, however. His +6.7 coverage grade was third among inside linebackers. The Bears were still eighth-best in the NFL in run defense with Urlacher’s lackluster play, and his coverage presence in the Tampa 2 is invaluable. Urlacher is a free agent this offseason and at his age it’s hard to imagine there is much of a market for him outside of Chicago.
(USA Today)
Lewis defends free-agency spending
ESPN
“Everyone wants you to go out and sign someone else’s player. How many guys have made an impact in their first year of signing?" Lewis said at the NFL owners meetings. "We are better served to continue with our guys and are not sitting there with a particular huge void and go forward with our players and keep getting them better as much as we can. Literally, had the timeline on some of these things gone different, we would have been able to do other things."
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2 seconds on ice, 29 penalty minutes
CBS Sports
Toronto Maple Leafs tough guy Colton Orr was credited with one shift on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres that, according to the NHL's game sheet, lasted all of two seconds.
