Bengals

What do you think?
Mike Tanier, of Sports on Earth, says Andy Dalton is an average NFL QB.
What do you think? Can you win with average? What needs to happen for Dalton to be better than average? Leave a comment at the link below.

Mandatory Monday: The Average QB
Mike Tanier, Sports on Earth 
The average NFL quarterback is 16th best in the world at his profession. The 16th most beautiful woman in the world -- Olivia Wilde, according to Maxim -- could dispel logical thought from your brain with a glance. The 16th best guitarist in the world -- Derek Trucks, according to Rolling Stone -- can shred your face. The 16th best quarterback in the NFL, according to me, is Andy Dalton. You wonder if he is good enough. 

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Flashback

Bengals begin paper chase
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com 
"I love the offseason they had," says former Bengals safety Solomon Wilcots, one of the heavy hitters in NFL punditry as a CBS-TV and NFL Network staple. "We can see the Bengals as an organization doing as good a job developing their roster as any team in the league.

Rosterology: Where things stand heading into OTAs

Show preview 
Tuesday: 3-6pm, ESPN 1530, listen HERE, 6:05, Inside Pitch, 700 WLW, listen HERE
Guests
Mike Tanier, Sports on Earth, 4:05, wrote Andy Dalton story below.
Jim Herman, PGA golfer, UC/St X, on new putter ruling today, 4:20
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com, 5:05 
John Rodenberg, Moeller football, on Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown, 5:20
Topics
Reds
Bengals: Is Andy Dalton an average NFL QB?
Golf: What do you think of today's ruling on putters? 

Wednesday: 6:05, Sports Talk, 700 WLW, listen HERE
Thursday: 6:05, Sports Talk, 700 WLW, listen HERE  
Friday:  Mo live 3-6pm, ESPN 1530, from the Holy Grail, listen HERE, 6:05, Inside Pitch, 700 WLW, listen HERE  

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Wow

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Reds 

Final: Reds 4 Mets 3
Cueto:  5 IN, 8 K, 4 BB, 3 run HR.
Cueto wild and anxious early. Finally settled and cut it loose.
Votto 9 game hit streak.
Bruce: 11 game hit streak, 2 for 4, 2B, HR.  Amazing  how sweet/lost his swing can look.
Bruce up to .284 and on pace for 58 doubles, 22 HR and 108 RBI.
Phillips 8 game hit streak, 2 more RBI...set tone in 1st. On pace for 137 RBI.
Last time a team had 3 players with active hit streaks of 8+ at same time?
Phillips keeps making plays with the glove that amaze.
Choo not hitting, but a walk and run.
Chapman back on the horse, looked like an assassin
Broxton and Marshall bounced back.
Chris Welsh called the offensive "lopsided"...Votto-Phillips-Bruce rolling and others need to get things done.
5-2 on road trip...Started 1-8 on road, now 11-12.
Choo sits tonight (vs LHP Neise). 1st off day since April 17, 2nd of year.
Wonder if Brandon sits after getting hit on hand?

Brandon Phillips: RBI machine!
ESPN.com 
The Reds have received poor production from the No. 2 spot in the lineup -- their collective .265 OBP is 28th in the majors -- but Phillips has still hit with the second-most runners on base of any player in the majors.

(Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times)

Where the Mets can start rebuilding
NY Times
 “I sit down with players and say, ‘Look, these are your options,’ ” Scott Boras, Choo’s agent, said Monday. “I kept telling Choo: ‘You’re special. You’re not going to be good every year; that’s not how the game works. But the reality is you’re special. Be patient, accumulate your record, and these are your choices.’ ”

Three's a crowd in NL Central
Bernie Miklasz, St Louis Post Dispatch 
The Reds have gaps in their lineup, a large void in left field, and are dealing with sudden stress in the bullpen, with Aroldis Chapman blowing another save by getting golf-swatted for two homers in Sunday’s loss at Philadelphia.
Cincinnati has padded the record on wins over Milwaukee, Miami and Chicago but is 12-16 against all others. The Reds are understandably upbeat, though, pointing to their 21-11 record since ace Johnny Cueto went on the disabled list. And the Kung Fu fighter rejoins a sturdy (3.20 ERA) rotation today.

Down the Farm
Billy Hamilton 2 for 4  and 2 for 3 in a DH last night. He was picked off once in each game. He is hitting .326/.383 last 10 games.
What is up with Daniel Corcino? 6 BB last night in 4.2 innings. He's 2-7 with a 7.03 ERA and 24 BB in 39.2 innings. 

Honors for Votto
From MLB
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending May 19th. In six games last week, Votto led the Majors with a .583 batting average (14-for-24) and a .655 on-base percentage. The three-time N.L. All-Star ranked among league leaders with a .917 slugging percentage (2nd), 14 hits (T-2nd), 22 total bases (3rd) and seven runs scored (T-3rd) while clubbing two home runs with five RBI. Votto had five multi-hit performances last week and extended his current hitting streak to eight games as the Reds posted a 4-2 record for the week. Votto currently leads the Majors with a .473 on-base percentage, having reached base a Major League-best 98 times. His 37 walks are also the most in the Majors while his .349 average ranks second in the Senior Circuit. This is his third career weekly award, having previously won August 21-27, 2009 and, most recently, July 25-31, 2011.

Beat the Streak: Votto singles extends streak to 43

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UC football

New coach reset: Tommy Tuberville
CBS Sports 
Toughest challenge: While there is plenty of top-rated talent in Cincinnati's backyard, Tuberville must overcome two obstacles to continue the Bearcats' winning ways. While the former Coach of the Year carries plenty of name recognition, Tuberville's strongest ties on the recruiting circuit are in SEC country. Cincinnati will also face plenty of adversity on the trail as opposing coaches will point out that the Bearcats are standing in line outside of the Power 5 conference club.

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Stuff

Albert Pujols doesn't matter anymore
Joe Posnanski, Sports on Earth
The thing that’s strange – the thing that’s sad – is how little excitement there is now when he comes to the plate. Let’s go to a moment in Sunday’s Angels-White Sox game. The count is 3-0, and Albert Pujols has the green light. There should be an electrical charge buzzing the air. Only … really … there isn’t a buzz. There isn’t a charge. There isn’t anything at all. The thrill-o-meter is at zero. So strange. So sad. It used to be one of baseball’s great thrills to watch Albert Pujols hit. Whether you were a Cardinals fan or not, you would find yourself marking the pace of games by Albert Pujols' at bats. 
He is 33 years old, just beginning a $240 million contract, and he’s playing for an overpriced and kind of dreadful team that looks like it was built by a rotisserie baseball beginner who ran out at the last minute and bought three fantasy baseball magazines. He looks hurt. He looks tired. He looks out of place. He looks … well, truth is, who is even looking anymore?

Happy Tuesday: Here is SI's Chrissy Teigen

CBS: Adam Dunn's quest for unique history 

Reds: Chapman ate what? This is fantastic!

Did Cuban Pastries Affect Chapman Sunday?
CBSPhilly.com
 “Could you imagine cream cheese and guava on a baked pastry? Well Chapman asked me for a box of 100, two boxes of 50. When I saw him on Sunday morning before the game, he was in the club house, he had just eaten about 18 of them. He couldn’t breathe! I looked at my partner, I said, ‘he’s ripe for the taking today.”

Listen to the audio of Phillies spanish announcer Rickie Ricardo tell the story HERE
(starts around 2:10 mark)

Next up: Mets.......sing it

Aroldis Chapman is 47 for 57 in save chances over his career (83%). Francisco Cordero was 150 for 174 (86%) in his career with the #Reds.

— Nick Kirby (@Nicholaspkirby) May 20, 2013

Philadelphia Phillies' Freddy Galvis leaps into the group of his teammates after hitting a game-winning solo-home run. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Sunday observations
*What a kick in the groin that was.
*What a tone changer. Instead of taking 2 of 3 they drop 2 of 3. Now 4-2 on trip.
*2006 last time Reds won a series in Philly.
*I was laughing when Cliff Lee pinch-ran and got picked off by Chapman in 9th.
*I wasn't laughing when Erik Kratz homered off Chapman to tie.
*I was curled up in fetal position when a guy named Freddy Galvis followed with a walk-off HR. 
*No need for MLB At-Bat app for the trajectory on the HR pitches....straight line...no movement.
*If you can't hit a 95/98 straight line fastball, you aren't in MLB for long.
*Chapman had allowed 7 HR to 613 batters, then allowed HR's to back-to-back batters.
*Broxton: .2, H, BB, R and a hold....seriously.
*Marshall: .1, H and a hold...seriously.
*Stud-like 7 shutout innings from Homer. 96 pitches. Didn't have nearly best stuff after 125 pitches Tuesday, found a way. Big time. 
*Can't be many teams that turn 5-4-3 better than the Reds...Frazier made a nice short hop play, BP got flipped turning it at 2B and Votto scooped.
*Bruce extends hit streak to 10-row: 16 for 41, .390 , 4 HR, 12 RBI.
*Votto hit streak reaches eight games with two more hits.
*Series to series we continue to see the advantage the Reds have in defense, hitting cutoff man, doing little things....compared to opponents.
*Reds went 21-12 while Johnny Cueto was on the DL. 
*Reds went 33-16 while Joey Votto was on DL last year. 

Chapman funk
1st 14 appearances:
13.1 IN, 5 H, 3 BB, 21 K, 1 HR, 0.68 ERA, .114 BA
Last 7 appearances:
 5.2 IN, 9 H, 6 BB,  9 K, 2 HR, 9.53 ERA, .360 BA

Chapman's 2012 funk
June 7-24: 7 games, 6.1 IN, 9 H, 8 ER, 3 HR, 11.80 ERA (0-4, 2 SV, 3 BS)
All other: 61 games, 65.1 IN, 26 H, 4 ER, 1 HR, 0.55 ERA (5-1, 36 SV, 2 BS)

Chapman on days rest 2013
When pitching 0-1 days rest: 13 games, 12.2 IN, 0 R, 4 for 41 (.097), 22 K, 3 BB, 0.00 ERA
When pitching 2+ days rest:   8 games,   6.1 IN, 7 R, 10 for 28 (.357), 8 K, 6 BB, 10.32 ERA

Leading off the inning
Dusty continues to bat Zack Cozart second (31 games), despite his .206 batting average and .233 on-base percentae. The issues with that:
1. It is not loading the top of the order with the guys that get on base the most. 
2. It is not maximizing the opportunites for Joey Votto to bat with a runner(s) on base. 
3. Cozart has made 142 outs, 2nd most in NL (Martin Prado 146) and 4th most in MLB.
4. Votto led of an inning twice Saturday, for a total of 44 times this season (through Saturday). That represents 21.6 percent of his plate appearances. How does that compare to other #3 hitters? 
% times leading off inning/times leading off & total plate appearances: 
30.6, Nick Markakis, Orioles, 45 of 147
23.4, Bryce Harper, Nationals, 35 of 149
21.6, Joey Votto, Reds, 44 of 203
20.0, Jose Bautista, Blue Jays, 26 of 130
19.4, Albert Pujols, Angels, 37 of 190
18.9, Justin Upton, Braves, 33 of 174
18.6, Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies, 33 of 177
18.5, Andrew McCutchen, Pirates, 33 of 178
18.4, Anthony Rizzo, Cubs, 31 of 168
17.9, Ryan Braun, 29 of 162
17.7, Alex Rios, 31 of 175
15.9, Dustin Pedroia, 31 of 194
15.0, David Wright, 24 of 160
14.2, Pablo Sandoval, Giants, 26 of 183
13.0, Miguel Cabrera, Tigers, 25 of 192
12.5, Matt Holliday, Cardinals,21 of 167 
(At least 130 at-bats in 3rd spot)

The Reds 2nd spot production
Reds: .231 BA (24th), .265 OBP (27th)
Cozart: .203 BA, .233 OBP in 129 AB 
Heisey: .161 BA, .212 OBP in 31 AB
Izturis: .154 BA, .214 OBP in 13 AB
Paul: .545 BA, .545 OBP in 11 AB
NL avg: .259 BA, .316 OBP
ML avg: .265 BA, .326 OBP 
*Cozart does have 5 sacrifice flies (T-1st ML) and 5 sacrifice bunts (T-3rd ML).
He also has 15 RB in the 2nd spot, T-10th MLB. 

Gregorious outperforming his track record
Arizona Republic 
A scout who had never seen him play in the minors said earlier this month that he was having a hard time reconciling Gregorius’ minor league track record with the big league hitter in front of him. “What I’ve seen with my eyes,” the scout said, “he looks as though he has the tools to hit.”

Cueto contemplating mechanical change
Mark Sheldon, MLB.com 
"This is part of the game, to get hurt. Maybe the rotation I do and that mechanic I do is affecting me," Cueto said Sunday as Tomas Vera translated. "I'm going to have to see what's going on. If that continues to happen, I'm going to have to make some changes in my mechanics."

From my blog 2 weeks ago:
Is there a correlation between Johnny Cueto's injuries  and his change in windup in June of 2011?  
Injuries/issues since change in Cueto's windup:
September 9, 2011: Strained right lat in final start of vs Cubs.
October 6, 2012: Strained right oblique muscle, Game 1 NLDS vs Giants.
April 13, 2013: Strained lat vs Pittsburgh/Placed on DL
May 2, 2013: Soreness in oblique following bullpen session.
What if Cueto's body can't sustain the mechanics? What happens if he has to adjust mechanics?

Cingrani: Win-win
When Johnny Cueto walked off the mound with a strained lat on Saturday, April 13, there was a sense of growing trouble for the Reds. Cueto joined Ryan Ludwick and Sean Marshall on the DL.
But what followed was a win-win. The Reds recalled 23-year old LHP Tony Cingrani. He made six starts (the first of his career), went 2-0 3.27 and the Reds went 4-2 in his starts. 
But clearly, the more Cingrani pitched, the more he was exposed. He got by on a deceptive delivery and lack of a scouting report for three starts. But his inability to throw effective secondary pitches (curve/change) was too much to overcome. Teams realized they could sit on the fastball and Cingrani was stuck without an answer. As a result, he got hit harder, more frequently and saw his pitch count climb.
1st three starts: 18 innings, 2 HR, 1.50 ERA, .188 BAA
Final three starts: 15 innings, 5 HR, 5.40 ERA, .241 BAA
In his final three starts Cingrani lasted 6,4, and 5 innings and threw 97,85, and 100 pitches (192). 
Now, Cingrani can head to Louisville and work on secondary pitches with pitching coach Ted Power. The Reds can also monitor his innings while he's at Louisville.
If an injury occurs to a ML staring pitcher, Cingrani will hopefully be better prepared to help the next time. Or, he can return in September as a valuable stretch run and playoff piece. 
The Reds won. Cingrani learned, while tasting success. A win-win. 
Doug Gray takes a look at what Cingrani needs to work on at Louisville. 

In a pinch
From Steven Sharp
One of the more underrated aspects of the 2013 Reds season has been the success of Reds pinch-hitters.  The 2013 Reds are tied (with the Phillies) for the 2013 MLB lead in pinch-hits (20), lead all 2013 MLB teams in pinch-hitter batting average (.317), and are fourth among MLB teams in pinch-hitter on-base percentage (.362).  
2013 Reds pinch-hitting statistics:  
69 plate appearances, 63 at-bats, 9 runs scored, 20 hits (16 singles, 0 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR), 15 RBI, 5 walks, .317 batting average, .362 on-base percentage, .492 slugging percentage 

A Scott Rolen sighting

We saw Scott Rolen today. He is in great shape and healthy. 15 min. Of Baseball talk with him and you know you have learned something.

— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) May 19, 2013

He ir working out and hitting all the time. I see some Championship Chasing team calling him this Summer to help the get the ring.

— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) May 19, 2013

Scott Rolen is not only 1 of the all-time great 3rd basemen but came into a ind. Workout we had at Marq. And made 18 straight 3 pt. Shots

— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) May 19, 2013

From the Reds
The Reds optioned to Class AAA Louisville LHP Tony Cingrani and recalled from Louisville IF Neftali Soto (#50)...Soto began the season with the Bats and made 33 apps overall, including 18g at 1B and 16g at 3B (.269, 7 2b, 3hr, 16rbi, 1sb)...when he plays Soto will become the third Reds player this season to make his Major League debut(OF Derrick Robinson, OF Donald Lutz).

Votto's Saturday

(Al Behrman/Associated Press)

From Germany, playing a sport he once gave no thought
NY Times 
Several years later, Donald Lutz recalls the scene with a mix of amusement and embarrassment. He was a camper at Major League Baseball’s International European Academy in Italy, and the other teenagers lined up to get the autograph of an instructor. Lutz followed their lead, but he did not know why he should care about having Rod Carew’s name on a baseball.

Cardinal place Garcia on DL, 2nd pitcher to DL in last week

Prospects helping Cards ease the pinch and price of injuries

Rosenthal on Choo

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Bengals

Bengals/NFL

2013 NFL win totals
LVH Super Book 
Cincinnati Bengals: 8.5 

Road trip!: Bengals vs Dolphins in sunny Miami
From Mike: Come join us as travel to Miami, Florida to watch the Bengals beat the Dolphins on Thursday night football.  Cost is $800.00 per person and includes: roundtrip airfare from Dayton to Fort Lauderdale, 3 nights hotel (based on double occupancy) at the Wyndham Deerfield Beach Hotel, lower bowl tickets, and bus transportation.  We will be departing on Wednesday 10-30 and returning Saturday November 2.  For more information or questions, please call Mike at 513-739-4794 or Len at 513-522-7706.  Space is limited so don't delay.

Whitworth pays for funeral expenses of Louisiana football player

Woodson 'open' to playing for Lions if money is right
Detroit News 
"If I make it out of my visit with Oakland, like I just made it out of the visit with Denver, then I'm open," Woodson said. "Here's the thing about the Lions, the Lions have players. What the Lions haven't been able to do is put it together. That winning attitude and to be able to start those winning ways, it has to start somewhere. So, would I be open? Sure."

Groundswell of support building for Woodson to return to Raiders

Video The Sports Car: Terrence Newman
Cincinnati Bengals safety Terence Newman lets down his guard on his travels through Los Angeles with Dave Dameshek.

Bruce Arians: 'Carson Palmer still has it'

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Indy 500
A Butler Bulldog speeds to Indy 500 pole. Congrats to Ed Carpenter!

(CBS Sports)

Congrats to Ed Carpenter!

— Brad Stevens (@BUCoachStevens) May 19, 2013

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NBA

From Elias: The Indiana Pacers reached the Conference Finals without a top 5 draft pick. Last team to do that: 1994 Jazz. 
From ESPN: The Pacers' highest-drafted player is D.J. Augustin, a No. 9 overall pick by the Bobcats.

How about the Pacers and the UC/XU combo?
The Pacers advanced to Eastern Conference Finals vs Miami by beating the Knicks  106-99 in Game 6 Saturday night.
Lance Stephenson: 25 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
David West: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists 

Stephenson's best lifts Pacers over Knicks
ESPN 
"Larry Bird gave me the confidence to feel I could play in this league," Stephenson said. "We text all the time to this day. I want to thank him because he's a legend, and when he tells you that you can do something, it just gave me the confidence."
Stephenson had 25 points and 10 rebounds Saturday and played with a force that knocked the Knicks on their heels early and then knocked them out late.

Bird's faith in Stephenson pays off
Yahoo 
As Pacers president three years ago, Bird drafted a dysfunctional 19 year old and surrounded him with the perfect balance of tough love, structure and tenderness. As everyone else derided Stephenson as a lost cause, Bird privately called him the most gifted player in the franchise.
"I owe Larry Bird so much," Stephenson told Yahoo! Sports late Saturday. 

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Xavier

Xavier lands European standout
GoXavier.com 
CINCINNATI --- Xavier University head coach Chris Mack announced today that he has received a signed National Letter of Intent from 6-8 and 210-pound forward Aleksandar Vezenkov, who is considered one of the best players in his age group in Europe. Vezenkov played for the Bulgarian junior national teams and as an amateur member of the Greek pro team Aris in the Greek Basket League.

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Stuff

Ever been to a Columbus Crew game? I'm thinking about taking Peyton to see a game for the first time? Any advice?

Bubble: Well, the Miami Redhawks will get a football practice bubble

ESPN's Tom Rindaldi does it again

To help you start your week, Alyssa Miller from SI swimsuit

Tweet of the day

If I tweet an opinion that is different than the masses y is it TROLLING HATING or being BAYLESS if u want a uninformed opinion don't ask me

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) May 20, 2013

Florence Freedom

FLORENCE, KY – This Thursday, May 23, when the Florence Freedom take on the
Schaumburg Boomers at University of Cincinnati Medical Center Stadium, the first
1,000 fans through the gates can get their hands on the famed Manti Te’o Girlfriend
The collector’s edition bobblehead box will of course be empty.

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