Reds news
Promote INF Drew Sutton from AAA Louisville...demote pitcher Jared Burton.

****

Show preview
Guest
Rich Franklin, UFC, in-studio, 3:30
Topics
Reds
Anyone for locking up the young guys?
UC/Stephenson: Wow...are the XU, UK and Hugg-a-files worked up.

*****

Reds to call up Sutton
FoxSports

*****

Want to keep up on the prospects for the Reds?
Here is a must check out site: RedsMinorLeagues.com
Doug Gray will join me today at 4pm.

******

Pay vs production
For a small market team, with budget issues, consider the amount of money being spent vs the performance turned in.
Harang: 09:$11M, 10:$12.5M, 11:$12.75M ($2M buyout)
Arroyo: 09:$9.5M, 10:$11M, 11:$11M club option ($2M buyout)
Encarnacion: 09:$2M, 10:$4.75M
Gonzalez: 09:$5.375M, 10:$6M mutual option ($0.5M buyout)
Taveras: 09:$2.25M, 10:$4M
Hernandez: 09:$8M, 10:$8.5M club option ($1M buyout)

Compare that to the pay vs production of guys like Votto, Cueto, Dickerson, Hanigan, Gomes and Nix

*****

Locking up the young guys
With the number of young players on the roster, should the Reds be looking at the trend in baseball of locking up good young players? Keep in mind, the Reds control their young players for three seasons before they are eligible for arbitration and six seasons before they reach free agency.
Would it make sense for the Reds to approach any of their young players at this point?
Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez?
The idea is that by giving players more money up front and offering the security of a longer deal, the team will save money and avoid arbitration. Extend a deal long enough and the Reds could buy a year or two of free agency.
It has worked for some teams. It has blown up in the face of others. (See below)

Here are some stories about the idea with other teams.

Jays not eager to lock up young players to long term deals,
Toronto Globe and Mail, April 2009

The Indians locked up pitcher Fausto Carmona after a 19 win seasons in 2007.
He was 8-7 last year and 2-6 7.42 this year and was demoted to the minor leagues.
April 10, 2008 Associated Press
Fausto Carmona, a surprising 19-game winner last season, agreed to terms of a $15 million, four-year contract withthe Indians on Thursday, a deal that would be worthat least $43 million if Cleveland exercised three club options.
"This contract secures one of the Cleveland Indians best talents and toughest competitors for the long term," general manager Mark Shapiro said. "It is a great reward for Fausto's hard work and performance, and continues to demonstrate ownership's commitment to sustaining a championship team by retaining our most talented players."

*****

What were they thinking?
The Brainless Blunders That Changed Sports
"In these pages, sportswriter and fellow fan Kyle Garlett recounts the top sports blunders that made you tear out your hair, beat your chest in agony, and yell at the TV until your neighbors called the cops. Whether it's boneheaded coaches, idiotic general managers, or temporarily insane players, every fan has seen his team go from the brink of victory to total defeat for no logical reason. Whether it's baseball, football, golf, hockey, or any other sport, you'll discover what really happened during these painful moments and why they ended up the unbelievable way they did."

*****

Freekbass performs in town Friday
Freekbass
Midpoint's Indie Summer on Fountain Square
Fountain Square/ Downtown Cincinnati
520 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
*w special guests Abiyah and Eagle to Squirrel
*Free and All Ages
*First act starts at 7pm

*****

June swoon or survival?
The Reds were 11-15 in June....and lost 1.5 games in the standings.
They began the month 2.5 games out of first, and ended the month 4 games back.
They lost Votto, Volquez, Gonzalez andLincoln to the DL during the month.
Reds hit.229 in the month...outscored 118-97 and out homered 33 to 17
Dickerson led the team in hitting: .333/.394
Five players hit below .200: Gonzalez .193, Bruce .187, Hernandez .174, Taveras .167, Rosales .079, Janish .148
Cuetoled the team in wins with 4....followed by Massett and Owings with 2 each.
Harang and Arroyo combined: 1-7

A year ago
Entering July of 2008 the Reds stood 39-46....and 11.5 games back of the Cubs (50-34)

*****

Xavier news
BELGRADE, Serbia--The 2009 USA Women's World University Games Team (1-0) forced 44 turnovers and shot 56.1 percent from the field (37-66 FGs) to cruise to an easy 85-point, 115-30 win over France (0-1) in its first contest of the 2009 World University Games on Wednesday morning in Belgrade, Serbia.

**Xavier's Ta'Shia Phillips scored 8 points and added 8 rebounds and a steal in 13-minutes

*****

Mo on the scene
Mo Egger will Twitter from the Mick Cronin news conference at 2pm today.
Follow him here http://twitter.com/MoEgger1530

*****

On this date
1973 - The Reds, 11 games behind the Dodgers at the beginning of the day, stage two dramatic comebacks to snatch a doubleheader win from LA. Hal King's clutch 3-run pinch hit home run with two outs wins the first game 4 - 3 against Don Sutton, while Tony Perez's 10th-inning hit wins the 2nd 3 - 2. This day will be looked upon as the turning point of the National League's Western Division race. Baseball-Reference.com

*****

Tigers actions speak volumes
Michael Wilbon, Washington Post
Brown has to realize that the expression of social consciousness isn't a matter of people singing the same song. Jim Brown took on the Crips and Bloods, and a lot of other demons. Tiger Woods attacks the problem as he sees fit, through education, which has always been at the root of Brown's preaching anyway. And because men such as Brown and Earl Woods fought the toughest, bloodiest battles for decades, Tiger's approach to activism ought to be different.

*****

(IndyStar photo)
Xavier lands Indy forward
Dustin Dow, Enquirer
“The coaches at Purdue told me I wasn’t admitted because of my senior year grades,” Robinson said. “They weren’t the highest grades a high school kid could have, but it wasn’t like I was failing anything.”Robinson admitted to recent lackadaisical academic attention, or senioritis, and said the stress of trying to make sure he qualified academically was tough to handle during the recruiting process and his senior basketball season at Lawrence North.*

****

UC lands McDonald's All-American
CINCINNATI---University of Cincinnati head men's basketball coach Mick Cronin announced today that Lance Stephenson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln), a 6-6 forward anda 2009 McDonald’s High School All-American, has signed a financial aid agreement with the Bearcats and will join the team for the 2009-10 season.
"We are very excited about Lance's decision to become a Bearcat," said Cronin. "Lance has terrific talent as a basketball player, and is also a fierce competitor on the court. His desire to win will help us compete for a BIG EAST Championship.
"As a big guard, Lance brings playmaking ability andversatility to our team, along with his talent for scoring. We look forward to getting Lance here for summer school and building our team for the upcoming season."
Stephenson joins the Bearcats after a highly-decorated prep career at Lincoln, where he averaged 28.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and3.9 assists to earn Class AA New York State Sports Writers Association (NYSSWA) Player of the Year honors his senior year. He graduated high school as the all-time leading scorer in the history of the state of New York with 2,946 points, passing fellow Lincoln High grad Sebastian Telfair, who was the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and now plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

*****

Cronin is right coach to keep Stephenson's attitude in check
Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News
When Cronin accepted the Cincinnati job in March 2006, the Bearcats hadn't recruited a McDonald's-level player in a half-dozen years, only one veteran scholarship player remained on the roster and the program faced an APR crisis. His regime has straightened out the academic circumstance, compiled 16 Big East victories over two seasons and put a roster in place that figured to challenge for a tournament bid next season.
Stephenson can change all that. He could make Cincinnati a top 25 team. He also should make the Bearcats a more appealing choice for recruits over the next several years. Look at the talent that followed Daequan Cook into Ohio State, or Arron Afflalo to UCLA. You've got to get that first guy.
Stephenson could wreck it all, too. Because he has been the subject of a reality series on the web, Born Ready, the NCAA will investigate his amateur standing.

*****

Events for a cause

One Degree at a Time Golf Outing
Come join us at the Glenview Golf Course on Saturday, September 5,
2009. The cost per player is $80.00 and includes a round of golf, drinks,
food, door prizes, game prizes, and an after party at Vince's Other Place.
All donations will directly benefit The Scoliosis Foundation.

Denny Buehler Memorial Softball Tournament
Help is on the way for twenty-three year old Christina Hartmann of Springfield Township July 10th thru 12th at Spoils Field, 1300 West Sharon Road. The Denny BuehlerMemorial Tournament, a charity softball tournament in its thirtieth year, will be raising money to help Christina pay off mounting medical bills. This year's tournament will have a dunking booth for the first time, as well as past attractions like split-the-pot, a grill & concessions, and the dubious honor of Dump King & Queen (Spoils Field rests near an old dump site).
The Denny BuehlerMemorial Tournament, in its thirtieth year, is a co-ed softball tournament designed to raise money for people in need within the Winton Woods community. Proceeds from tournament entry fees andconcessions, along with individual donations, are used to support people and families within the Winton Woods community, including the Cincinnati suburbs of Forest Park, Green Hills, and Springfield Township. Sometimes funding is also given to worthy organizations that support research for cancer and other diseases.

****

1st Annual Cornhole Tournament
Brookwood Swim and Tennis Club
1 Fair Oaks Ln
Edgewood, KY
859-341-2933
Saturday July 25
3pm
Beer and food and more
Brookwood is building a new swimming pool due to overwhelming maintenance costs of the existing, original pool. Help raise money for reconstruction of the prized jewel of Edgewood
Contact Justin Slusher: justinslusher@hotmail.com

****

An Evening with "The Hit King" Pete Rose
From Kevin Manley, Green Diamond Gallery
Have you ever dreamed of being in the same room with the greatest hitter of
all time? What questions would you ask? What stories would you want to hear?
DATE: Monday July 27, 2009
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Green Diamond Gallery
Guest of Honor: All Time Hit Leader, Pete Rose
COST: $200 each
MORE: This is an amazing opportunity to meet the the greatest hitter of all
time. Your night will start at 6:30 p.m with a full compliment of heavy
appetizers, bar service with beer, wine and specialty Makers Mark drinks.
Starting at 7:00 p.m. Pete will share "stories from the clubhouse". Pete
will also be available to answer any and all of your questions. Each guest
in attendance will leave with a signed baseball from Pete!
Only 100 tickets are available. Simply call the Gallery at 513- 984-4192 to purchase
your tickets on a first come, first served basis.
All tickets are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
Don't miss this amazing opportunity to be part of this exclusive event!

UC football news
From GoAirForceFalcoms.com
2015: UC vs Air Force, Sept 12 at Cincinnati

****

Things I'm told
Here is what I have gathered on UC recruit Lance Stephenson, from current and former college coaches I talked to this afternoon:
Strengths
"a physically imposing guard...he can dominate off the dribble...he can crush people on the way to the rim....he can carry defenders with him....but he will quickly learn you just can't be physical in the Big East...he needs to raise is basketball IQ"
"He's a streak shooter....I'd say average overall....simply because of shot selection...the problem is he shoots when he feels like it.....He's a classic NY City driver to the basket....I watched him score 16 points in a quarter this year. Nobody could stop him."
"If he's taught and he's committed, he could be a good defender, just because he's so strong....."He can have a killer instinct and a will to win....when things are going right....he's a warrior.
Issues:
"He's a risk because you will wind up spending more time coaching him than anyone else on the roster....he's a chemistry killer.....his emotions are all over the board....he's grown up with a sense of entitlement.never told no......his dad is a lunatic. a whack job, that made Lance a "me" and "I" guy."
"I watched him at the McDonald's All-American game. During the game he kept yelling at someone in the stands. Finally I turned around and looked. It was his dad. They were jawing at stuff he was doing...during the game!"
"He's immature on the court..very temperamental. His big adjustment will be playing without the ball in his hands. He doesn't move well without it. He's always had it. He can kill the flow of your offense."
On UC and Mick:
"I've been asked about Lance by a number of coaches...could they coach him? is he worth the trouble?. I wouldn't wish this kid on a new/inexperienced coach....the kid would eat the coach up. I think Mick is a very good choice. Mick is seasoned. It's not his first rodeo. I think he can make this work. He's got the moxy to discipline Lance, to put him in his place and get the most out of him...without losing him. Let's face it, Mick's dealt with crazy guys at UC and UL. He won't be afraid to discipline this kid."

****

McDonald's All-American Stephenson picks UC
Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News
Cincinnati looks at Stephenson as a pro-level talent who can add scoring punch to an NCAA Tournament contende--and an elite recruit who can elevate the program's profile in pursuing other top prospects.

****

Stephenson picks UC
SNY.TV

(AP photo)
"They've decided. He's off to Cincinnati," said a source close to the family with direct knowledge of the decision. "It's a done deal. I am certain of this."

****

Show preview
I've got 3-6pm on HOMER....and the Inside Pitch at 6pm on 700 WLW
Guests
Mike DeCourcy, 3:04
Walt Jocketty, 3:30
David Kaplan, WGN Chicago, what's up with Piniella and the Cubs? 3:45
Topics
Reds
UC basketball: Lance Stephenson, worth the trouble?

****

Edwin E=?
Baseball-Reference.com does a similar career comparison for each player in MLB history.
Edwin Encarnacion's career most closely compares to what 3B?
Answer
1. Ryan Zimmerman
2. Jorge Cantu
Here is the breakdown

****

The Votto Impact
I've heard recent discussions about the impact of Joey Votto's absence from the lineup on Jay Bruce...from a friendship and hitting standpoint.
Bruce hit .169 with a .298 OBP and .338 SLG while Votto was on the DL.
I asked Mark Wagner to run some numbers on the matter for the season.
Jay Bruce:
With Votto in lineup: .238 (36 for 151), 11 HR, 27 RBI, .517 SLG, 39 games
Without Votto in lineup: .183 (21for 115) 7 HR, 13 RBI, .400 SLG, 33 games

****

Who Am I?
From emailer Anton
Career stats
Player A: .261 BA, .343 OBP, .445 SLG, .787 OPS ( 26-year old RH bat making 2.45 mill this year)
Player B: .278 BA, .347 OBP, .425 SLG, .772 OPS (34-year old RH bat making 5.55 mill this year)

****

Reds Fans Plan "Welcome Back Votto' Night"
From email
"Joey Votto is back.
He re-joined the Reds last week in Toronto but the June 30 game against the Diamondbacks at Great American Ball Park marks the first time Votto will have played in Cincinnati since his much-chronicled bout with stress and anxiety. Local fans who have enjoyed watching Votto's play these past few years are encouraged to attend, as a community-wide show of support for the team's first baseman.
Interested Reds fans are asked to do four simple things:
1) Get their tickets for the game.
2) Spread the word to ensure a good crowd. Tweet, share, comment and in all other social media ways get the word out.
3) Arrive early enough to cheer on #19 during player introductions.
And (4) pick up plenty of All Star ballots and vote for Votto, Brandon Phillips and the other deserving Reds players.
For more information on the game and about the ballpark, visit the official Cincinnati Reds web site at www.reds.com. Note that this initiative is in no way affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds organization. It is strictly a grassroots effort by a few Reds fans to spread the word to other Reds fans."

****

Gomes and Nix
Combined: .285, 23 doubles, 31 runs, 11 hr, 36 rbi in 228 ab's
vs RHP
Nix: 138 AB, .268 BA, .322 OBP, .536 SLG. .859 OPS
Gomes:34 AB,.265 BA,.409 OBP,.529 SLG, 938 OPS
vs LHP
Nix: 20 AB,.200 BA,.238 OBP, .350 SLG, .598 OPS
Gomes:36 AB,.417 BA,.462 OBP,.667 SLG, 1.129 OPS

Gomes and Nix vs Holliday
Gome/Nix: .285, 23 doubles, 31 runs, 11 hr, 36 rbi in 228 ab's (1.2 million)
Matt Holliday: ..274, 16 doubles, 36 runs, 8 hr, 39 rbi in 270 ab's (13.5 million)

****

Last stand for lost Lou Piniella
Chicago Sun Times
We've watched them stumble all season long, showing more spark while bashing a Gatorade dispenser than they ever have on the field. They are a bunch of hotheads prone to mental mistakes. They are desperate for leadership. Unfortunately, Lou Piniella, the man charged with providing that leadership, seems as lost as his players. He just isn't getting the job done. If the Cubs can't turn it around before the All-Star break, it will be time for a change at the top.

***

On this date in Reds history
1970 A sellout crowd of 51,050 is on hand for the dedication of Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, rushed to completion so the Reds can host the All-Star game. There is no electricity in the refreshments areas, and the scoreboard occasionally misfires. but Hank Aaron doesn't misfire as he hits the park's first home run. The Braves win, 8 - 2. In the first inning, visiting outfielder Hank Aaron hits the park's first home run off Cincinnati's starter Jim McGlothlin.
1983 The Reds score eight runs in the first inning and go on to beat the visiting Giants, 15 - 5. Paul Householder drives in four runs, two on a freak inside-the-park homer. With Ron Oester on 1B, Householder hits a shallow fly that LF Chris Smith loses in the sun and it bounces over his head. Smith then slips going after the ball and the two baserunners race around the bases. Oester slides across the plate just ahead of Householder's slide, which is so close he spikes Oester's knee
1999 Cincinnati defeats Arizona, 2-0, as Ron Villone and Scott Williamson combine on a 1-hitter. The Diamondbacks' only hit is a single by OF Tony Womack. Randy Johnson strikes out 17 in a magnificent but losing effort; in his last start he struck out 14 in losing to a no-hitter by Jimenez.
Baseball-Reference.com

****

Valaika and Lehr star for Bats
Louisville Courier Journal

****

Calipari's 90-day impact
Louisvsille Courier Journal

*****

Barwin tackles NFL after conquering deafness
Houston Chronicle

Connor Barwin had no idea what his mother was doing when she had him face the wall before she walked away.
The talkative, 18-month-old simply stood there waiting.
Just a few feet behind him, his mother started calling his name. Connor didn’t flinch. No matter how loud she spoke, Connor just stared at the wall. His parents, Margaret Bailey and Tom Barwin, were shocked. Their youngest of four sons was deaf.

****

Purdue recruit could be Xavier bound
Indy Star
Robinson, a 6-9 forward from Lawrence North High School, said he should know "in the next two or three days" if he meets Xavier's academic requirements.

****

UC's interest in Stephenson is telling
NY Daily News
We find it interesting that Cincinnati, which dumped highly successful Bob Huggins partly because it didn't approve of the recruits he was bringing in, is now seemingly so desperate to get back into the national spotlight, and is one of the last teams standing with this talented, but suddenly, sadly tainted star.

****

More on Stephenson

****

Can Reds be bold?
Paul Daugherty, Enquirer
The Reds have been the guy who stashes his savings in a hole in the back yard, anticipating the next Depression. They've planned for a future that has not arrived.
Now, we hear how good the current group of kids is. The Double-A club is stacked. Just wait 'til that cavalry arrives.
Except for the Reds, it's been more like Custer and the Alamo. The cavalry is always over the next hill.

****

Stephenson case adjourned again
Zagsblog
Lance and his family were coming off a weekend visit to the University of Cincinnati and one Big East assistant coach said he expected Lance to make a verbal commitment to the school on Tuesday.

****

What to do with Kearns
Washington Times
Kearns, who is making $8 million this season, has essentially become a fifth outfielder. He has started just 20 of the Nationals' last 45 games before Sunday, hitting .151 during that span with a .174 slugging percentage and grounding into seven double plays. And on Saturday night, at the end of that 45-game stretch, Kearns drove in his first run since May 7.

***

Losing out on DeRosa has Reds looking elsewhere
FoxSports
One name that can't be dismissed: switch hitter Gary Matthews Jr. of the Los Angeles Angels, who has been a trade candidate for some time. He's struggled to produce consistently since signing a five-year, $50 million contract prior to the 2007 season, and the Angels would almost certainly need to include a large amount of cash in the deal.

****

Trade proves Cards are serious about winning
St Louis Post Dispatch
Moments after a loss Sunday, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols paused at the door to the players' lounge and reflected on the previous night's acquisition of former Cleveland Indians infielder-outfielder Mark DeRosa.
"I guess we're trying to win," Pujols said.

****

Soccer in US still waiting for its moment
NY Times
Nice try, good effort. For the rest of us, it’s back to baseball until next summer’s run to the World Cup.

*****

Phillips can't let go of dark days in Cleveland
Columbus Dispatch
"Remember that I was in the big leagues at 20 or 21. It's about adjusting to the league," he said of his 135-game tenure over four seasons in Cleveland. "But they gave up on me. Instead of giving me another chance, they only gave me one shot."

*****

Edwin 2 hits, Heisey 3 hits at AAA
Louisville Courier Journal

****

Rose: "It's in my blood, I guess"
York Daily Record

York manager Chris Hoiles had one objective in bringing Rose to York. He wanted to make the team better, and he believes Rose is a perfect fit. He liked Rose's offensive skills, and he wanted Rose's influence and leadership in the clubhouse.

****

On this da: June 29, 1905
From Steven Sharp
You've seen Field of Dreams, so the name alone should catch your attention.
Archibald Wright "Moonlight"Graham appeared in his only MLB regular-season game, as a defensive replacement in right field for the New York Giants. He did not get a plate appearance.

****

Bengals hoping healthy Palmer will make a difference
The Sporting News Today

****

So...you think you can be a GM?
Our Hardball Dynasty league in WhatIfSports.com is going to have a couple of franchises in need of new owners. If you are interested in playing I can get a free season for first time players.
Please understand, this is more hands on and intense than any baseball simulation/fantasy game you will ever play. You control everything....running an entire organization...with teams on five levels...rookie ball, A, AA, AAA, ML. You set budget, hire coaches, draft, set lineups, make trades, sign free agents, sign international players. You deal with a 40-man roster, Rule-5, arbitration, options, promotions, demotions and the DL. The game is made up of fictional players. The computer simulates three games a day...afternoon, evening, overnight. Once you get a feel for the game the time needed to follow is up to you. It can be as simple as checking your box scores once a day. It can be as time consuming as adjusting lineups, calling players up and demotions each day. I spend about 15 minutes a day on my organization during the season. Free agency and hiring coaches is much more time consuming. Please keep in mind, you are most likely taking over a bad organization...one the other owner didn't have the patience/understanding of how to build. This will not be an overnight fix. I have played for 12 seasons. I'm addicted to it. Your first season will be free. If you opt to continue after the first season a regular 3-month season will cost $24.95. If you would like to be considered for an opening email me with reasons why we should add you to the league. If you get an email back, you will have a chance to apply for a team. It will be first come first served for filling the teams at that point. Email me: Lance1530homer@fuse.net.

****

Came down to Reds and Cards
Marty B. indicated he's told the DeRosa trade came down to Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro choosing the Cardinals deal over the Reds.

***

Cards land DeRosa
St Louis Post Dispatch
To acquire the veteran and his 50 RBIs this season the Cardinals sent to Cleveland big-league reliever Chris Perez, who long had been viewed as the Cardinals' closer of future. DeRosa is expected to be in St. Louis in time for Sunday's series finale against the Minnesota Twins, and the club plans a noon press conference at Busch Stadium to formally introduce the newest Redbird.
"The way I look at it is we accomplished several of the things that we set out to do---we added some consistent offense, a righthanded hitter, a professional hitter and someone who has experience playing at a high level," said Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak. "This is someone we felt could be a key part of what we can accomplish this season."

****

Greene out again with anxiety disorder
St Louis Post Dispatch
Infielder Khalil Greene was absent from the lineup for a second straight game Saturday after experiencing what the club hopes is only a temporary setback in his battle against an anxiety-related disorder.

*****

Homer last night
5 innings, 3 runs , 3 hits, 7 walks, 2 ks, 106 pitches
I had mixed emotions watching him....happy he actually got the win...but a little disappointed in how he got there.
He walked the first batter and was already cussing himself out. He simply doesn't throw enough strikes. (However, the strike zone Saturday night was ridiculous) I think he got ahead with a first pitch strike to just 7 of 23 hitters. He threw just 54 of 106 pitches for strikes. The depressing thing is that he was throwing a higher percentage of strikes at Louisville recently than he ever has.I just wish he'd go after hitters...be more aggressive. He nibbles too much. Let 'em hit it. He was bringin' it, throwing 95+ pitch after pitch....getting up to 98. No idea if that radar gun was accurate. If it was, that's the hardest he's consistently throw in a ML game. Heck, when is that last time he went up and in on a batter? He couldn't have thrown the split finger more than 10 times all night. It didn't seem to knock the socks off the Indians.
At least he didn't let things implode last night.....allowing just the three runs with 10 base runnners.
Maybe winning at the ML level for the first time since 2007 will give him a confidence boost. Forget about AAA. He's got to stay in the ML rotation. Heck, the Volquez injury dictates that. Stop the yo-yo and lets see what he's got..Let's see if he's a 4A pitcher or a ML pitcher. If you are ready to give up on a 23-year arm, with less than 100 ML innings, throwing 95-98 mph, then I worry about your baseball IQ.

****

Star recruit visits UC
Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News Today
Star recruit Lance Stephenson of Brooklyn's Lincoln
High is taking an official visit to Cincinnati this weekend,
sources told Sporting News Today on Saturday. Stephenson
is one of the last remaining unsigned prospects for the
2009 class.
The source said Stephenson has been playing pickup
games with current Bearcats and attended the Deveroes
Summer League.
The New York Daily News recently reported that Maryland
no longer was recruiting Stephenson. The newspaper
reported that Memphis, Arizona and playing in Europe
were options. Florida International also has been reported
as a possibility. Kansas stopped recruiting Stephenson
after Xavier Henry dropped Memphis for the Jayhawks.
The 6-5 guard led Lincoln High to a record four straight
Public School Athletic League Class AA titles in New
York. But he’s also been in the middle of controversy, too.
Stephenson and a high school teammate are scheduled
to appear in court Monday to face a sexual assault hearing
after being charged with groping a 17-year-old girl last
fall.

*****
Why colleges are staying away from Stephenson
NY Daily News

Stephenson, now 18, has graced the covers of national basketball magazines, one of which declared: "This 17-year-old would be an NBA star right now." He's been the subject of a reality series. He's been featured in a nationally released documentary about a high school all-star game at Rucker Park. The 6-5 swingman even made headlines on his first day of high school when he transferred from Bishop Loughlin to Lincoln, the high school that produced Coney Island legends Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair.

******

Heisey to AAA
1 for 5 in his AAA debut
Edwin 2 hits, rbi, error
Valaika 3 hits

****

Reds news
Today the Reds recalled from Class AAA Louisville RHP Homer Bailey (#34) and optioned to Louisville IF Adam Rosales.

****

Lions try to woo ex-season ticket holders
Detroit Free Press
The Lions failed to sell out five games last season, after selling out every game since Ford Field opened in 2002. They invited about 6,000 former season-ticket holders to Wednesday afternoon's practice, saying in an e-mail that the Lions "WANT YOU BACK."

*****

Perspective
4.46: ERA for the Reds starting pitchers......10th in the NL

*****

Aaron Harang...before and after
35 appearances before his extra inning appearance May 25, 2008 in San Diego..vs 35 appearances since that appearance.
Before/After
Record: 13-10/9-19
ERA: 3.40/4.86
BA: .239/.296
WHIP: 1.12/1.44
ING: 241/207.2
H: 217/247
BB: 54/53
K: 225/170
HR: 33/38

Last 35 appearances
Pitcher: Harang/Arroyo/Cueto
Record: 9-19/19-12/13-13
ERA: 4.86/4.36/3.73
BA: .296/.269/.247
WHIP: 1.44/1.36/1.30
ING: 208/219/210
H: 247/224/196
BB: 53/73/77
K: 170/142/169
HR: 38/34/29

****

Why does this continue to happen with Phillips?
Brandon Phillips made a la-de-dah throw from second base, a lob that bounced in front of first baseman Joey Votto and skipped past for a throwing error that led to two unearned run. Then Phillips hit one that he thought was a home run and went into his strut, but the ball hit the top of the wall and bounced back in.
Phillips is being short and snippy with the media since we all reported that he refused to look for a sign from the third base coach in Kansas City and swung at a 3-and-0 pitch when he had the take sign.
Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Embarrassing. Phillips has too much talent to piddle it away.
-Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News

.****

Former Muskie unloads
CBS Sports
I sacrificed (just like the rest of my teammates) for Sean and our team...He made me believe that we were really like family to eachother. when really that was just a scheme to get us all to buy in to the "team system". He proved me right when i realized we only spoke once for about 15 secs when i attended the temple vs xu home game. i understand coach is really busy but i truly believed in the guy & what he taught me.

****

Reds aquire bat...balance of power shifts in Central
Today the Reds acquired from the White Sox minor league C Corky Miller in exchange for minor league OF Norris Hopper.
Miller this season appeared in 14g for the White Sox and 4g for Class AAA Charlotte.
He will report to Class AAA Louisville.
Hopper has spent the entire season with Louisville.

*****

Taveras, Renteria head list of free agent busts
CNNSI
We can grant that there must be something about him that doesn't show up in the boxscore--he has, after all, played for two pennant winners-- and still marvel at the idea of paying a man with a career slugging average of .337 $6.25 million for two years. Always inept at the plate, Taveras is hitting like a pitcher this year, with a remarkable .220/.269/.273 line, and may be the single biggest reason why the Reds aren't quite in the race right now.

*****

Bad day for Gen-X
MSNBC

"These people were on our lunchboxes," said Gary Giovannetti, 38, a manager at HBO who grew up on Long Island awash in Farrah and MJ iconography. "This," he said, "is the moment when Generation X realizes they're grown up."

*****

Reds...alive and kickin'
It's staggering they are only 3.5 games out of first.
Welcome back Joey. I've always loved Willy Taveras.

****

Questions of the day
So....who was giving Derrick Brown the advice and why did he listen?
Would you rather
A: Leave early, get drafted in the 2nd round, with no guaranteed contract?
B. Return for your senior year, played for a preseason Top 10 team, improve your draft stock?
Ouch
Great kid. Smart kid. Wish him the best. Bad decision.

*****

Ranking the non-conference schedules: Big East
The Sporting News
5 Best Games
2. Illinois at Cincinnati: Bearcats get talented Illinois in late November, between two critical Big East games (West Virginia, at Pitt)--a game the Illini will need for better bowl positioning.

****

More on Moeller QB to ND
Irish Illustrated
"Really, it was tough turning down the Buckeyes, being an in-state boy," Hendrix said. "I almost wish I could split it. Jim Tressel runs a great program. That's why they'll keep winning, but in the end it was Notre Dame."

****

LeCure brilliant for Bats
Louisville Courier Journal

****

Brown to Charlotte
CINCINNATI--Xavier University graduate Derrick Brown, a 6-8 forward, was
selected in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Charlotte
Bobcats with the 40th overall pick.
XU has now had four former players drafted all-time in the NBA Draft first round
and seven former players drafted all-time in the NBA Draft second round.
Overall, Brown is the 36th former Xavier player drafted all-time in the NBA
Draft.
Xavier has now had nine alumni selected in the first or second round of the NBA
Draft since 1990. The previous four second round selections during that time
include Lionel Chalmers (33rd by the L.A. Clippers), David Young (41st by
Seattle) and Romain Sato (52nd by San Antonio) in 2004 and Derek Strong in 1990
(47th by Philadelphia). Strong played 10 NBA seasons. The trio drafted in 2004
have the distinction of being the last XU players drafted prior to this year.

****

Meeks to Bucks
LEXINGTON, Ky.--Former UK men's basketball All-American Jodie Meeks was
selected in the second round (41st overall) of Thursday night's NBA Draft by the
Milwaukee Bucks.
He became the first Wildcat to be drafted by the Bucks since Keith Bogans was
picked in the second round (43rd overall) in the 2003 draft.
Meeks is also the 92nd Wildcat to be drafted into the NBA and the sixth former
UK player to be drafted since 2000. His is also the first Wildcat underclassmen
to be selected in the draft since Rajon Rondo in 2006.

****

Photog remembers photo shoot for iconic poster
Entertainment Weekly

How did the shoot for the poster come about?
One day I got a call from some guy in the Midwest from a poster company. He said, "I'm doing this poster of Farrah Fawcett and Farrah said to hire you to shoot her. I’ve hired two photographers and they photographed her and she hates the pictures." He said, "Here’s the thing, it’s gotta be her great hair, she’s gotta be smiling, she’s gotta be in a bikini and they’ve gotta be drop-dead, sexy pictures."

*****

Astros let kids 14 and under in free this summer
The Astros and Minute Maid have joined forces to make summertime family time at Minute Maid Park. Starting at the June 23rd game, tickets for kids 14 & under ARE FREE!

*****

Events for a cause

One Degree at a Time Golf Outing
Come join us at the Glenview Golf Course on Saturday, September 5,
2009. The cost per player is $80.00 and includes a round of golf, drinks,
food, door prizes, game prizes, and an after party at Vince's Other Place.
All donations will directly benefit The Scoliosis Foundation.

Denny Buehler Memorial Softball Tournament
Help is on the way for twenty-three year old Christina Hartmann of Springfield Township July 10th thru 12th at Spoils Field, 1300 West Sharon Road. The Denny Buehler Memorial Tournament, a charity softball tournament in its thirtieth year, will be raising money to help Christina pay off mounting medical bills. This year's tournament will have a dunking booth for the first time, as well as past attractions like split-the-pot, a grill & concessions, and the dubious honor of Dump King & Queen (Spoils Field rests near an old dump site).
The Denny Buehler Memorial Tournament, in its thirtieth year, is a co-ed softball tournament designed to raise money for people in need within the Winton Woods community. Proceeds from tournament entry fees and concessions, along with individual donations, are used to support people and families within the Winton Woods community, including the Cincinnati suburbs of Forest Park, Green Hills, and Springfield Township. Sometimes funding is also given to worthy organizations that support research for cancer and other diseases.

Bengals news
Ticket Packs for 2009 Bengals games at Paul Brown Stadium will be on sale this Monday (June 29).
Ticket Packs include four regular season games paired together and allow buyers to hold the same seats for all four games within the package. Prices range from $256 to $328 per Pack. Ticket Pack buyers will receive priority ahead of the general public to purchase tickets for any Bengals home playoff games following the '09 season.
THE TICKET PACKS FOR THE 2009 HOME SEASON WILL BE:
· ORANGE PACK: Sept. 13 vs. Denver (regular season home opener), Oct. 25 vs. Chicago, Nov. 29 vs. Cleveland and Dec. 6 vs. Detroit.
· BLACK PACK: Sept. 27 vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 18 vs. Houston, Nov. 8 vs. Baltimore and Dec. 27 vs. Kansas City.
Full season tickets for 2009 are currently on sale and will continue to be offered through the summer. Information on two-game Ticket Packs and/or single-game tickets, if they become available, will be announced at a later date.
For fastest service regarding ticket purchases and/or questions, fans are encouraged to call the Bengals Ticket Hotline at 513-621-TDTD (8383). Tickets may also be purchased in person at Paul Brown Stadium during regular office hours, and through printable order forms available online at www.bengals.com.

****

Clip and save
Jayson Stark, ESPN
A scout who has covered the NL Central says that of the teams in contention in that division, the Reds have by far the most prospects to deal.

****

Not good
Will Carroll, Baseball Prospectus
The news is bad for Volquez. Just before it was expected that he would be back up on the mound, he's instead back down. An MRI showed swelling in the soft tissue of the forearm, and he's been shut down for at least two weeks. That makes a return before the All-Star break impossible, and it could push it back as far as August, even before we factor in the possibility of further setbacks. About the only good news here is that this type of injury seldom requires surgery, but the issue even then is that this type of injury comes from fatigue and workload. That's something he's unlikely to avoid in the future, so his long-term health, even if this heals up cleanly, is going to be in question. If I had spidey-sense, I think it would be tingling. Something doesn't feel right here, and for an already risky pitcher like Volquez, it could end up being a tipping point. Has anyone noticed that Volquez was a Verducci Effect guy?

***

Show preview
I'm on HOMER 3-6pm, followed by the Inside Pitch at 6pm on 700 WLW
Topics
Reds: Have they reached the end of the line?
Carson Palmer: How would you define his career so far? I'll let you hear how he answered.
NBA/College/HS: Would you change the NBA's one and done rule? How?
Jim Brown: Blow hard or on target with his criticism of Tiger Woods?

*****

Farrah Fawcett dead at 62

*****

Dreaming big at Cincinnati
Athlon Sports
The media love him for his candor and his accessibility. Television reporters who routinely cover Bengals coach Marvin Lewis often comment about how refreshing it is to move from the buttoned-down, sometimes confrontational approach of Lewis to the open, friendly atmosphere surrounding Kelly and the Cincinnati program.

*****

My show open......how it all began
Classic scene. Careful playing....strong language at end

George tries it

*****

Word to the wise
Summer is here...families are looking for things to do.
There is the Cincinnati Zoo, Kings Island, Coney Island, the pool, church festivals, minor league games and Bengals training camp. If I'm the Reds I'm petrified that the team has tied a low point for the season at two games under .500 (34-36/0-2). If they aren't careful they are going to lose the summer....

*****

The 2009 season for the Reds?

*****

Well, I feel better
Dusty has faith in Taveras
MLB.COM

*****

It is about performance or contracts?
From listener Daniel
How much is playing time being dictated by salary vs performance?
C
Hernandez: 8 million .239avg .321obp .342slg.
Hanigan: 400 thousand .325avg. .411obp. .397slg
CF
Taveras: 2.25 million .220avg. .269obp. .273slg.
Dickerson: 400 thousand .279avg. .387obp. .397slg.
SS
Hairston Jr.: 2 million .245avg .306obp .400slg
Janish: 400 thousand .260avg. .327obp .320slg.

*****

Wow...look out!
Michael Llodra at Wimbledon yesterday

Can anyone find video of Kramer as a ballboy in Seinfeld?

*****

"Book" lands a gem for Arizona
NY Daily News
Tell me again why some Big East program didn't snap up Emanuel "Book" Richardson when it had the chance. Richardson, who has city roots, worked with the Gauchos and followed Sean Miller from Xavier to Arizona, has just helped the Wildcats secure Lamont Jones, who started high school at Rice, then eventually resurfaced at national prep powerhouse Oak Hill for his senior year.

******

NBA should impose two and done rule
ESPN
The stat was recited repeatedly throughout the NBA Finals, as if it were evidence to conclusively slam the one-and-done rule in college basketball.
Remember?
How many times did you hear that the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic each had two American-born starters who successfully made the jump from high school straight to the real world?
Only one problem with that stat.
No one ever bothered to mention how many members of that quartet were actually NBA-ready when they made the jump. Answer: one out of four at best.

****

One and done gets failing grade from coaches
KC Star
At least two, coaches say, and raise the minimum age from 19 to 20.
"The very minimum," Capel said. "There should be an opportunity for high school kids to go to the NBA, but if you go to college, you get at least 1 1/2 years of education. You’re using it the right way, and it would eliminate the guy who doesn’t want to be in college."

****

25 years ago today
The debut of "Purple Rain" by Prince and the Revolution

****
What is Jim Brown's fascination with ripping Tiger Woods?
"You know what's so interesting about Tiger to me?" Brown said. "He is a killer, he will run over you, he will kick your ******. But as an individual for social change? Terrible. Terrible. Because he can get away with teaching kids to play golf, and that's his contribution. In the real world, I can't teach kids to play golf and that's my contribution, if I've got that kind of power."

I guess Jim is too lazy to look into what Tiger is actually doing.....like the Tiger Woods Learning Center.
But hey, don't let the facts get in the way of being bitter and jealous.

**********

Jay Bruce's song
After a single off-topic call Wednesday, there became much debate about Jay Bruce's song for his at-bats. The song is ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down". I was under the impression the line in the song is "Bruuuuuuuuuuce".
I was informed it is actually "Grooooooosssss", This from listener Joel and the website JeffLynneSongs.com (Jeff was the lead guitarist and vocalist of ELO)
The chorus uses the nonsense word "grroosss" (as it is written in the liner notes) which has caused much confusion and amusement over the years. This word has no meaning and was simply a word that Jeff had made up on the spot as he was recording the lyrics. While recording at Musicland Studios in Germany, the German engineer, Mack, expressed his surprise at Jeff's use of a German word in his lyrics. The German word "Grüß" (written as "grooss" in the standard Latin alphabet) means "greeting" in German. It was totally by accident that Jeff's made up word "grroosss" sounded like the German word, but the decision was made to leave it in the song. Later, upon the song's release, many people misinterpreted this word as "Bruce" as if Jeff were singing the song to an imaginary person named Bruce (which would be odd considering that in the song, he is singing to a female). In any case, Jeff noted that during live shows, many fans sang the lyric as "Bruce" rather than "grroosss". Shortly afterwards, he began singing it as "Bruce" as well. This new lyric is most noticeable on the Zoom Tour Live DVD concert.

(Listen for yourself at the 1:12 mark of the song)

****

Edwin 2-for-5 with homer, 2 rbi, 2 runs
Boxscore

****

Votto deserves our support
Tom Archdeacon, Dayton Daily News
The people who tried to make Votto a pinata questioned everything from his
sexuality to his commitment to the team. Their common thread often was their
lack of civility, and that’s what I hate about the whole open-forum free-for-all
now so popular.
Athletes are human, too. Some of these comments hurt them and their families,
and none of us are any richer for the vilest rants.

*****

American kids flunk basketball 101
Wall Street Journal
"It's a bad system for developing players," says Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "They aren’t learning to handle the ball, they aren’t learning to make plays against pressure. The emphasis with our high-school players is to get exposure and play as many games as you can and show everybody how great you are. If I can win the 11-and-12 year old league and tell all my friends about it, that is a whole lot more important than if my kids actually get any better or learn anything about the game."

*****

Volquez to be out longer than expected
MLB.COM
It wasn't considered a setback, but a clarification of a condition. Either way, the Reds will be without starting pitcher Edinson Volquez for longer than they anticipated.

*****
Former Bengal provides rudder for Cards' ship
Arizone Republic
"I don't want to name the guys. You can look them up if you want, but they really didn't want to share their experience with the younger players because they felt threatened," Robinson said. "I remember being told to do the wrong thing on certain plays. It made me realize I had to learn this stuff on my own. And it made me vow that if I ever got in that position as an experienced player, I would help someone grow. I would help them become better."

*****

You don't say
"The Reds can't turn the double play and the run will score...that's what happens when you continue to play guys out of position like Hairston and Richar".-----Jeff Brantley, 700 WLW

******

Maybe the Reds should avoid Bronson on June 24th each year
From Steven Sharp
Bronson Arroyo with the Reds
Games pitched on calendar date June 24:
4 games started, 0-4 Wins-Losses, 17.2 innings pitched, 34 hits, 23 runs, 22 earned runs, 7 walks, 11 strikeouts, 7 home runs allowed, 11.21 ERA
Games played on other calendar dates with the Reds:
114 games started, 46-39 Wins-Losses, 4.06 ERA
Prior to the trade that brought Arroyo to the Reds in March 2006, Arroyo never appeared in any MLB games on calendar date June 24.

******
Congrats to a Cincinnati St product
Omar Cummings won the MLS Player of the Week award

Of note
Danny Richar will start at 3B for the Reds tonight.
The AAA Bats have played 8 different guys at 3B this season....Richar is not one of them.
In 731 minor league games, from 2003 to this year, he has played 6 games at 3B.
He has not played 3B in any of his 72 ML games, prior to this season.

In case you are wondering...Paul Janish
477 minor league games.......6 games at 3B
62 ML games........2 games at 3B

****

Things that make you go hmmm
At-bats this year
Edwin Encarnacion: 63
Paul Janish: 50

*****

Show preview
I'm in 3-6pm all week on HOMER
I have the Inside Pitch on WLW at 6pm
Topics
Reds: Is it all slipping away?
Votto: Any apologies today for the criticism directed at him over the last month?
Ethics in Sports: See story below. Would you want to win a game that way?
Tiger: Does he really deserve the heat he continues to get for not be more involved in social change?
Part-timer: Could it work for Phil Jackson to coach the Lakers part-time next year...maybe only home games?

*****

ESPNU to televise UK-Miami's Rumble on the River
LEXINGTON, Ky.---The Kentucky vs. Miami football game on Sept. 5 will kick off at noon and will be televised by ESPNU, it was announced Wednesday. The game will be played in Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium, home of the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals.
Billed as the "Rumble at the River," the game is the season opener for both teams. Under Coach Rich Brooks, Kentucky begins its quest to earn a fourth-consecutive bowl bid for the first time in school history. Miami enters a new era with the debut of head coach Mike Haywood, former Notre Dame offensive coordinator.

*****

Hey Dusty, can we get a little help here?
This team is hanging by a thread. They are below .500 (34-35) for the first time since April 12. They have lost 8 of 11. I guess it's nice to have a "player's manager". Dusty protects his guys, keeps everyone involved and feeling important. But his team needs a manager that is smart enough to get the best eight on the field. Dickerson should be playing and batting leadoff. Taveras continuing to play is not silly, it's insulting. Is this team about winning or about contracts and feelings? Hanigan has got to catch more over Hernandez. He is hitting and Ramon is not (.139 in June). Hanigan is riding a 5-game hit streak, hitting .325 overall. He had Monday off. PLAY HIM. Play Janish at SS for his glove. You can't keep taking the defensive hit with Rosales at 3B and Hairston at SS. It's one thing to be short guys like Votto, Edwin and Edinson, it's another thing to mismanage your lineup on a regular basis. This team doesn't have a margin of error big enough to cover for Dusty.

*****

Ramon Hernandez
9 for his last 75 .120
19 for his last 106 .179

*****

Head in the sand

Maybe Walt and Dusty simply haven't looked at the stats lately.
Maybe they are oblivious to the embarrassment Willy Taveras has become.
So...I'll help paint a picture
Season stats: .220 BA, .269 OBP, .543 OPS
June: .Batting .074 with ZERO walks and a .074 OBP in 54 at-bats. OPS of .148.
Has not walked since May 23....a span of 18 games and 73 plate appearances.
Since May 15: 26 games/23 starts.....11 for 106 (.104) with 3 walks in 111 plate appearances. (.128 OBP/.242 OPS)
The only thing worse than Willy Taveras right now is the judgement show by Walt and Dusty.
Guys, you've gotta be better than this. Your credibility is at stake.

'09 Willy Taveras
58 games: 227 at-bats .220 BA, .269 OBP, .543 OPS, 14 walks

'08 Corey Patterson
135 games: 366 at-bats .205 BA, .238 OBP, .582 OPS, 16 walks

Total: 193 games...125 for 593 .211 BA, 30 walks

*****

Ethics in sports: The grinch who stole a homer
ESPN The Magazine
Central's freshman first baseman, Ashly Erickson, rips one over the fence. Game over. Madness erupts. As Erickson and her cantaloupe smile round third, some teammates high-five her. It's the greatest moment in her short softball life. But when she touches the plate, the Rochester players begin shouting, "That's an out! She's out!" Then Musgjerd helpfully tells the ump that Erickson should be out since, according to the rules, teammates aren't allowed to "touch a batter or baserunner legally running the bases."
Graham lost her no-no in the ninth and Rochester won, 4-0. Musgjerd's integrity was in the Dumpster, but hey, her record improved. She didn't return my calls but did tell the Minneapolis Star Tribune: "You don't want to win in that way, but you have to play by the rules."
No. You do not want to win that way. Period. It's lower than mole excrement.

*****

Could Phil Jackson work as a part-time coach?
LA Times
Jackson says in a radio interview that the organization has "toyed" with the idea of him coaching fewer road games, Rambis acknowledges it's "one of the many ideas we kicked around a little."Rambis said the idea is to keep Jackson healthy for the long run and physically fit so the Lakers have a better chance at defending the championship they just won.
"Everybody benefits," Rambis said. "Phil remains fresh without having the season and the travel wear him down. It gives me valuable coaching experience. What the future holds beyond Phil, I don't know. But this keeps continuity of what we're doing, what we do defensively and offensively."

*****

On this date: June 24, 1956
The Reds swept a doubleheader from the Dodgers.
Ed Bailey hit three homers in the 10-6 game one win.
Afterwards, 11 members of the Reds appeared on the TV show "What's My Line?"

*****

Happy Birthday
Minka Kelly, Friday Night Lights, turns 29

*****

More on Xavier PG recruit
Bloomington Herald Times
"They think I could run the team," Davis said. "That I'd be an extension of the coach down on the floor."

*****

Edwin 0-for-4 as a DH last night
Drew Stubbs 2-for-4 to snap an 0-for-18 skid

*****

Things I'm told
The Bengals and franchise kicker Shayne Graham have exchanged contract proposals.
The recent contract signed by Houston Texans kicker Kris Brown will play a factor in negotiations.
He signed a 4-year 10-million dollar deal, with a 2.5 million dollar bonus last week.

*****

Jocketty: Club in market for a bat
Enquirer
"I'd say right now we're buyers," he said. "We're looking for a hitter. If we did something, it would probably be to bring in a hitter. Getting Joey (Votto) back is going to help."

*****

Votto: "I thought I was going to die"
The National Post

The one night I was alone--- the very first night I was alone---is when I went to [a Cincinnati] hospital because I just was so---I couldn't take it," Votto said. "It got to the point where I thought I was going to die.

*****

Traded in Freel deal, Waring is an All-Star
GoUpState.com
The seventh-round 2007 draft pick went deep in the first two games of the series, going a combined 6-for-11 with five RBIs and five runs scored in a pair of victories. Waring got another hit Sunday and drove in a run to finish the first half of the season with a .275 batting average, 13 homers, 15 doubles, 46 RBIs and a .512 slugging percentage in 67 games.
"Francisco is a 21-year-old kid in front of me who had 25 bombs last year in double A," Waring said. "Then you have Alonso at first base. So there is definitely more opportunity for me here. It's good to be traded. That means somebody wants you."

*****

Johnny Gomes' song
I was wrong...his song is not by Lady Gaga. Actually I blame Kelly...that's what she said when I asked her at the game Sunday. The song is in fact "We Made You" by Eminem. Charmagne Tripp provides supporting vocals on the song, and it's her lyrics that are heard when Johnny comes to bat. The song is faded out just as Eminem starts his opening rap in the song.

******

A crazy days for the Bengals top pick
Pantagraph.com
Scheduled to help with the Midwest Lineman’s Camp at Illinois Wesleyan, the No. 6 overall pick out of Alabama took the long route to Bloomington. Ultimately, his search led him to a gas station.
"I said, 'How far is Bloomington?’" said Smith, a 6-foot-4, 340-pound offensive tackle. "They said, 'Which Bloomington?' I went, 'Ahhh, don't tell me that.'"

*****

Bats 1B hopes power is ticket to majors
Louisville Courier Journal

Bankston, a 2002 fourth-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Rays who was signed as a free agent by the Cincinnati Reds in December, has spent most of the past three seasons in Triple-A and made his major league debut last year. He played in 17 games for the Oakland Athletics but hit just .203.

*****

Congrats
The Cincinnati Cyclones of the
ECHL announced this afternoon that the club has
received the "Ticket Department of the Year" award
from the ECHL.
The Cyclones ticket department was one of six in the
ECHL to increase attendance numbers over the 2008-09
season. Cincinnati's 44 percent increase in
attendance was the second-highest by any team in
professional hockey last season. The club had the
biggest increase in professional hockey at 36.8
percent a year ago. Since bringing back the team at
the start of the 2006-07 season, attendance has
soared 68 percent since that first campaign.
The group, led by Director of Game and Ticket
Operations Joe Stills, helped coordinate the largest
regular season crowd at U.S. Bank Arena for the
regular season finale against Johnstown on April 4.
A total of 11,417 (the second-largest crowd to ever
the see the Cyclones at home in any game) were on
hand for the 6-0 beating and the capturing of the
team's second straight North Division regular season
title.
The staff, comprised of Josh Burdine, Michael Cox,
Drew Curtis, Matt Piening and Andrew Rowland worked
to also deliver the third-biggest crowd to see a
regular season game when Dayton came in on January
24. A total of 8,508 came through the doors that
evening. By season's end, four of the ten largest
regular season home crowds in team history had passed
through the U.S. Bank Arena turnstiles.

*****

BENGALS 2009 TRAINING CAMP
at Georgetown (Ky.) College
PUBLIC SCHEDULE
(Practice times are approximate. Admission is free. On-campus parking is $15 per car, $25 for school buses and passenger vans, and $50 for large buses.)
FRIDAY, JULY 31
--Complex opens at 1:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 3-5 p.m.
SATURDAY, AUG. 1
--Complex opens at 8 a.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 9-11 a.m.
--Complex re-opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 7-9 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUG. 2
--Complex opens at 1:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 3-5 p.m.
MONDAY, AUG. 3
--Complex opens at 8 a.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 9-11 a.m.
--Complex re-opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 7-9 p.m.
TUESDAY, AUG. 4
--Complex opens at 1:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 3-5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5
--Complex opens at 8 a.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 9-11 a.m.
--Complex re-opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 7-9 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 6
--Complex opens at 1:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 3-5 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUG. 7
--Complex opens at 8 a.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 9-11 a.m.
--Complex re-opens at 4:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after Intrasquad Scrimmage ends.
--Intrasquad Scrimmage from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, AUG. 8
--Complex opens at 11 a.m. and closes 30 minutes after Black-Orange Mock Game ends.
--Black-Orange Mock Game, 1-2:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, AUG. 9
--Complex closed.
MONDAY, AUG. 10
--Complex opens at 8 a.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 9-11 a.m.
--Complex re-opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 7-9 p.m.
TUESDAY, AUG. 11
--Complex opens at 1:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 3-5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12
--Complex opens at 1:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 3-5 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 13
--Complex closed.
FRIDAY, AUG. 14
--Complex closed, preseason game at New Orleans.
SATURDAY, AUG. 15
--Complex closed.
SUNDAY, AUG. 16
--Complex closed.
MONDAY, AUG. 17
--Complex opens at 1:30 p.m. and closes 30 minutes after practice ends.
--Practice from 3-5 p.m.
TUESDAY, AUG. 18
--Complex closed, team breaks camp.

The Votto impact
Reds record
Before going on DL: 26-21
While on DL: 8-13
Reds batting average
Before going on DL: .257
While on DL: .217
Reds runs per game
Before going on DL: 4.57
While on DL: 3.38

****

Reds news
Today the Reds reinstated from the 15-day disabled list 1B Joey Votto.
Votto takes the roster spot vacated by C/IF/OF Wilkin Castillo, who went on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Sunday, with a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
Castillo suffered the season-ending injury on a head-first slide in the seventh inning of Sat's game vs WSox.

****

1530 HOMER all week
You've got me 3-6pm the rest of the week....as Peyton would say, I'm on the day shift.

Show preview
Topics
Reds: Votto returns
Money, money: What Reds contract would you like to get rid of most? See story below
Sidekicks: Ed McMahon has died. Who are the greatest sidekicks in TV and sports history? The best at playing 2nd fiddle?
Manny: Are you ok with him getting to start a minor league rehab stint, before his 50-game suspension is done?
Bengals

****

Long road back for Votto
Toronto Sun
As always, Joey Votto was polite.
"Sorry to call back so late," Votto said. "And I'm in a car, so it might be noisy."
A few minutes of conversation later the Cincinnati Reds first baseman excused himself as he bought a drink and popcorn at the Showcase Cinemas Dayton South to see a late showing of The Hangover Sunday night.

********

Greatest sidekick all-time dead at 86
Ed McMahon

****

10 most likely to be traded: OF
MSNBC

Holliday, who has been an above average regular since the end of April, even if he's still not playing at his usual level, would have no problem bringing back more than the A's could get if they held on to him and let him go for draft picks at season end. San Francisco makes more sense as a possible destination with every victory and every Fred Lewis strikeout

****

Should Manny get a minor league rehab stint?
FoxSports
While Ramirez is not eligible to rejoin the Dodgers until July 3, baseball found a loophole. On Tuesday he will join the Dodgers' Triple-A Albuquerque affiliate. He is allowed 10 games in the minor leagues to make sure he is ready to play the day the suspension ends.

****

MLB should allow each team out from under one contract
Joel Sherman, NY Post
That would throw 30 free agents into the market place immediately, including players such as Colorado's Todd Helton, Toronto's Vernon Wells and San Francisco's Barry Zito.
It also would create financial flexibility for all 30 teams. And what would be fascinating is how many teams would be faced with difficult decisions. Do the Red Sox take the opportunity to get out of longer, more expensive dollars with J.D. Drew or just lop of their most useless deal with Julio Lugo?

****

Reds contracts
Player, money per year, buyout
Cordero: 09:$12M, 10:$12M, 11:$12M, 12:$12M club option ($1M buyout)
Harang: 09:$11M, 10:$12.5M, 11:$12.75M ($2M buyout)
Arroyo: 09:$9.5M, 10:$11M, 11:$11M club option ($2M buyout)
Phillips: 09:$4.75M, 10:$6.75M, 11:$11M, 12:$12M club option ($1M buyout)
Encarnacion: 09:$2M, 10:$4.75M
Gonzalez: 09:$5.375M, 10:$6M mutual option ($0.5M buyout)
Taveras: 09:$2.25M, 10:$4M
Hernandez: 09:$8M, 10:$8.5M club option ($1M buyout)
Lincoln: 09:$1.5M, 10:$2.5M
Rhodes: 09:$2M, 10:$2M
Weathers: 09:$3.5M, 10:$3.7M club option ($0.4M buyout)

********

On this date: June 23, 1971
Baseball-Reference.com
Rick Wise hits two home runs and drives in three runs as he faces only 28 batters and no-hits the Reds, 4-0 on 95 pitches. He goes deep against Ross Grimsley and Clay Carroll. Pete Rose is retired as the final out.

****

Remember Jamie Eason?
Photo gallery careful viewing

****

No way!
Check out this shot by Ohio 8th grader Aaron Shutway. Real or fake?

****

Homer does it again, Edwin homers
Louisville Courier Journal

****

With Carson healthy and Chad focused, Bengals could surprise
ESPN
Cincinnati: I might not buy Chad Ochocinco's playoff guarantee, but I guarantee the Bengals will be good on offense as long as Carson Palmer is healthy. Andre Caldwellis showing some promise as a slot receiver. Ochocinco is back to being a top-level receiver after training hard this offseason. On defense, Mike Zimmer has a decent group with good speed and improved ability to pressure the quarterback. My concern might be the offensive line, but that's hard to evaluate until the team is in pads.

******

Event for a cause
Starshine Hospice Golf Classic
Monday, July 20, 2009
StarShine, the hospice of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, reaches out to support children and families facing terminal illness. Our hospice is the area's only exclusively pediatric hospice.
Comfort
When children suffer from terminal illness, they are not alone. StarShine is there to meet the medical, spiritual and emotional needs of children and everyone who cares for them.
Commitment
The StarShine Hospice staff is committed to providing comfort and care in the most positive and supportive environment possible.

Votto with Reds
Ch 5 reports Joey Votto was on the team charter to Toronto when it left Monday afternoon.

****

Show preview
I've got Sports Talk on 700 WLW....6-9pm
Mo on HOMER 3-6pm
Guest
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com, 7pm
Topics
Reds: Now down three infield starters...can they hang on? Will Votto rejoin the team in Toronto?
Fathers and Sports: The moments you have shared with your father and/or your children over the years that are connected to sports.
Bengals
US Open

****

Congrats to a Muskie
USA Basketball
Xavier's Ta'Shia Phillips named to the 2009 USA Women's World University Games Team.
"This is a great experience. Not very many people get the chance to do this. It's very exciting and a great honor."

****

Gonzalez update
Reds SS Alex Gonzalez today had surgery to remove 4 loose bodies in his right elbow.
The 1-hour surgery was performed in Cincinnati by Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek.
Gonzalez is expected to miss 4-5 weeks.

****

Bronson rumors
BostonHerald.com
2. Bronson Arroyo, RHP, Reds: One of the hot rumors among the scouting community is that the Reds are dangling one of their veteran pitchers in an effort to get younger and reduce payroll. Arroyo, whose name has come up in the past, is earning $9.5 million this season as part of a two-year, $25 million deal. He will earn $11 million next season and has a $2 million buyout on an $11 million option in 2011. With starting pitching hard to find, the Reds could get a decent return.

****

Transactions of note
NY Post
The Mets have released veterans Wily Mo Pena and Javier Valentin from Triple-A Buffalo.

****

The "Superstars" are back
NY Daily News
ABC is bringing back the classic "Superstars" franchise tomorrow night at 8. The "Wide World of Sports" series will now feature both athletes and celebrities, paired in teams, participating in different sporting events.

1973 Superstars
Check out the 2nd swimming heat...it includes Johnny Bench and Johnny Unitas. Bench is DQ'd.

****

Bengals news
The Bengals today signed DT Clinton McDonald of Memphis, one of the team's seventh-round selections in the 2009 draft.
McDonald (6-2, 283) ranked third in Conference USA last season in sacks (seven) and was a starter for the East in the East-West Shrine Game. He played four seasons at Memphis, appearing in 48 games with 33 starts.
McDonald is the fourth of Cincinnati's 11 draft picks to sign, joining CB Morgan Trent of Michigan (sixth round), HB Bernard Scott of Abilene Christian (sixth round) and WR Freddie Brown of Utah (seventh round).

****

UC football news
CINCINNATI---Head football coach Brian Kelly and the University of Cincinnati have agreed to terms on a new five-year deal that will keep Kelly on the sidelines through the 2013 season, Director of Athletics Mike Thomas announced today, pending the approval of the contract by the University Board of Trustees.
Kelly previously signed a new five-year contract on Dec. 17, 2007.
"In a short period of time, Brian Kelly has made a name for himself and the University of Cincinnati football team across the country," said Thomas. "His impact has been immediate not only as a coach, but also as a member of our community and a great ambassador for the University. This past season Brian led the program to historic heights on and off the field, winning the BIG EAST Conference and leading the Bearcats to their first BCS appearance in the FedEx Orange Bowl. His program also earned accolades in the classroom for one of the nation's highest graduation rates and posting the highest GPA in the BIG EAST. We look forward to watching the future of the football program unfold under the leadership of Coach Kelly for many years to come as we strive to stay atop the BIG EAST and bring a National Championship home to Cincinnati."
"I want to thank Monica Rimai and the Board of Trustees for their confidence and support," Kelly said "This agreement between the University of Cincinnati and its Athletic Department, under the charge of Mike Thomas, allows me to continue to grow, develop and ensure success for Bearcats Football. I also want to thank the Bearcats Community, fans and all those associated with our program for their support over the past 30 months. This is what truly makes Bearcats Football special---the passion of our fan base. You can be assured that we will continue to recruit quality student-athletes, so we can achieve national excellence in the classroom and on the football field. This agreement allows me and my family to call Cincinnati our home, not just a place where we live."
Kelly receives a guaranteed salary of $1.475 million over the next five years as well as performance-based incentives. Kelly's assistant coaches will also receive pay increases to keep them in line with their BIG EAST counterparts.

****

Thanks!
We had 465 listeners attend the HOMER Outing! Thanks for spending Father's Day at the game. Thanks to Ryan and everyone at the Reds for helping to pulling it off. It was hot....really hot....but fun. We went to the misting area about every inning or so to try and cool off. We were in section 143. I love the view from those seats.
We brought our cooler with drinks and Subway subs and packed our gloves.
It was great seeing so many families. Sorry if we didn't get to say hello to your family.
Details on the next outing are coming soon.
Major props to Charley Frank and the Reds Community Fund. The 4th Father's Day Catch afterwards was another big success. We have attended each year. I was on the field with Casey, Peyton and my dad. It is such a great experience.

(Casey and Peyton with my dad Sunday)

****

Ouch....production at the corners
Here is the breakdown for starters, minus Votto and Encarnacion
3B combined: 39 for 191 (.204), 4 hr, 16 rbi, 9 errors
Rosales: 17 for 93 (.182) 2 hr, 9 rbi, 2 errors, 23 starts
Hairston: 21 for 96 (.219) 2 hr, 6 rbi, 7 errors, 24 starts
Janish: 1 for 2, rbi, 1 start
1B combined: 27 for 125 (.216) 3 hr, 16 rbi, 4 errors
Rosales: 7 for 26 (.269), 0 hr, 2 rbi, 7 starts
Hernandez: 20 for 99 (.202), 3 hr, 16 rbi, 4 errors, 25 starts

3B/1B total: 66 for 316 (.209), 7 hr, 32 rbi, 13 errors

****

LF production
Starts in LF: Nix 32, Dickerson 17, Hairston 7, Gomes 7, McDonald 5
Combined stats: 62 for 308 (.201) 9 hr, 29 rbi

****

Monday morning QB
Peter King, CNNSI
5. I think the Bengals, as woebegone as they've been, can be models for something: doing what they said they'd do. Over and over in the past two years, owner Mike Brown and coach Marvin Lewis have said Chad Ochocinco wouldn't be traded. And though I think they erred in not taking the reported offer of two first-rounders from Washington for Johnson in 2008, they kept their word. No trade. At one point last summer, Lewis said to me, "Why won't these reports stop? I'm telling you -- we're not trading Chad.''
6. I think Laveranues Coles might be the perfect receiver to replace T.J. Houshmandzadeh in Cincinnati, because Coles, who hates to talk to the press, is glad to cede all the interviews to Chad Ochocinco while he just plays. Coles is healthy now. If Carson Palmer can stay upright, Coles is going to catch 70 balls, easy.
"Damn! I almost got caught texting!''
--OGOchocinco, Cincinnati WR Chad Ochocinco, apparently from inside a team meeting on Friday.
Marvin Lewis is going to be happy to read that one.

****

Griffey Sr. on personal crusade
Chicago Tribune

(Getty Images)
Ken Griffey Sr. said he would have enjoyed being here for the third Civil Rights Game weekend.
Instead, the former Reds outfielder is battling prostate cancer at his home in Winter Garden, Fla.

****

Edwin at AAA Sunday night
Boxscore

****

Votto: Put me in, Dusty, I'm ready
Enquirer
"They know what I've been going through. They would be able to say, 'Are you ready to go?' My answer would be yes."

****

Draft notes
Baseball Prospectus
Cincinnati Reds
1: (8) Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State; (43) Brad Boxberger, RHP, Southern California
2: (57) Bill Hamilton, SS, Taylorsville HS (MS)
3: (88) Donnie Joseph, LHP, Houston
Quick Take: There is some debate in the industry as to whether Leake was a signability pick or not, since the Reds were kicking the tires on some of the high-priced high school arms before settling on him. Those that like him think he's the next Tim Hudson, while those that don't think he's no more than a back-of-the-rotation type. Another Pac-10 star, Boxberger was the Trojans' Friday starter, and he showed plus stuff during most of the spring while struggling at times to throw strikes. Hamilton was one of the draft's best athletes, but he's probably going to move to the outfield, and his power will always be a on the light side. Joseph excelled as a closer this year, with an above-average fastball/slider combination, but also some control issues.Notable Later Picks: Righty Daniel Tuttle (5th) showed some surprising velocity this spring, but at this point he's far more of a thrower than a pitcher. Catcher Tucker Burnhart (10th) will be a difficult sign, but he's got solid skills both at the plate and behind it. Mark Fleury (4th) is another catcher who is far more likely to sign, and he drew one A.J. Pierzynski comparison.
Final Summary: Leake could move quickly through the minors, while Hamilton and some others provide upside. It's neither an especially impressive nor disappointing group.

****

A lesson in sports, and life, from dad
Mark Purdy, San Jose Mercury News
Dads and sports, as a package, are part of American culture. They go together by law. Sort of like peanut butter and jelly. Or late-night television and ShamWow commercials.
If you were lucky enough as a kid to have had a dad in your life, sports was probably part of that relationship. Sure, it can go off the rails if dads are pushy or obsessed. Thankfully, most are not. Over the years, people have told me heartwarming stories about how their dad showed them how to shoot a basketball, or took them to their first major league game, or taught them lessons about sportsmanship.

Baseball cements bond between father and son
Bill Livingston, Cleveland Plain Dealer
It is the most intensely personal game because, for all its big numbers and highlights, the old, schmaltzy movie "Field of Dreams" got it right. The thing so many of us, from the great Bob Feller on down, would like best is another game of catch with our dads.

This Father's Day, sports matters
Mo Egger
Sports connected us when I was a child. I was a "custody kid," meaning my dad had me every other weekend. Like many kids and parents in that situation, there was some awkwardness when it came to opening up, unless we were talking about Boomer's latest long bomb to Eddie Brown, or debating whether Eric Davis or Darryl Strawberry would be the first to 500 home runs.

****

Well done
Fantastic job by the Reds with the weekend celebration for the Civil Rights Game.
MLB has to be impressed.

MLB "Beacon Award" recipients: Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali and Bill Cosby
(AP photo by David Kohl)

*****

Things noticed
Loved the 1964 replica jersey the Reds wore for the Civil Rights Games. I'd like to see the Reds wear them more.

****

UC-Purdue in football: 2013-2015
PurdueSports.com

****

Classic: Rose and Seaver on The Mike Douglas Show
1977

*****

A day to celebrate
Today (Saturday June 20) marks the six year anniversary of my son Casey's bone marrow transplant that
saved his life. He was diagnosed with AML leukemia in July of 2002.
After chemo and radiation the leukemia was in remission. He got to go home. However, the leukemia would return weeks later. I'll never forget the feeling of having to tell Casey he had to go back into the hospital. He looked at us and said, "then we have to get the yucky stuff out again". We were left with a bone marrow transplant as our only remaining option. Nobody in our family was a match. We were at the mercy of the National Bone Marrow Registry. A donor was found. She was a mother, living in the Boston area, who had been in the registry for 10-years. Because she was not a perfect match, we were told Casey faced longs odds of the transplant working. Rejection was the big fear.
I'll never forget the day of the transplant at Children's Hospital. We got word that the marrow was on a flight to Cincinnati. The cooler, with the marrow, had its own seat on the flight. The transplant took place early evening. Casey was awake and watched Trading Spaces during the procedure. It was as "simple" as an IV drip that took about 90-minutes. I'll never forget Casey saying he was hungry when it was done. He asked for spaghetti and meatballs. Tonight, ironically, we are celebrating at Maggiano's.
That night seems a lifetime ago. He is our hero. He is now 9-years old. He enters 4th grade next year. He earned straight A's on his last report card. He is playing basketball and baseball. He will always face issues,
from eye sight to dental work, stemming from the treatment and radiation. But we can deal with glasses and braces. His memories of his time in the hospital are fading, which is probably a good. I will always remember the fear and the joys. I've always believed his defining moment through all of this came one night before bed. He'd had a rough day, throwing up from the chemo. I kissed him goodnight and told him he'd have a better day tomorrow. He looked at me and said, "Did I have a bad day today?"
I try not to ever take this miracle for granted. We have said the same prayer every night that we said in the hospital each night. There was such a feeling of helplessness when he was diagnosed that I struggle to let him "be a kid" and not be overprotective of him now. We are so thankful for God's work and the help of all the doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital. We are so thankful for the thoughts and prayers from family, friends, listeners and perfect strangers over the years.
Here are two columns that Paul Daugherty wrote six years ago.

Life twist that's beyond words: August 25, 2002

Every day is a victory for Casey McAlister: July 4, 2003

Casey in August of 2002....at age 2 (Enquirer photo)

Casey in July of 2003....at age 3

Casey in June of 2009....at age 9

*****

FREE
Join the National Bone Marrow Registry
Marrow.org
When you join the Be The Match Registry, you become part of every patient's search for a bone marrow donor. You could be the one to save a life.
And now, during the Be The Match Marrowthon, you can join online for free June 8 - 22, while funding remains. Our Marrowthon goal is to add 46,000 new members to the registry. Be one of them!

*****

Warrick would like to play for Bears
Chicago Tribune
Warrick was staying in shape last winter in Atlanta, where the father of three has a home, when he got a phone call from ex-Bengals teammate Keith Brooks. Brooks asked Warrick how interested he would be in joining him on the Extreme and contacted coach Kenton Carr on Warrick's behalf.He leads the Extreme with 53 catches for 574 yards and 12 touchdowns entering Saturday and enthusiastically approaches each game as if it were Florida State-Florida even if it is 8-man football. When Warrick was introduced to the home crowd, for example, he ran out of the tunnel and raised his right index finger to signal No. 1 the way he used to when he was a Seminole winning a national title.

****

More on Cole Schlesner
From the family Care Page
From his dad: "Today I received a call from Cole wishing me a happy Father's Day. It was the best gift I've ever received in my 16 years as a Dad! Our family had dinner together this evening. We sat outside on the cafeteria patio, and it was a terrific time. I must confess that I can't remember many details about the other 15 before this one. However, I can assure you this one will standout as the most special one for the remainder of my life. I feel blessed to have been given four wonderful sons, and am especially grateful for the progress Cole has achieved since his accident. Praise God from who all blessings flow!"
From Cole: "Hi-This is Cole, and I've been reading the very kind messages from my hospital room. I'm leaving this message to everyone. Wow!!!! Thanks to everyone who has either messaged on this great site or has me in their prayers. It is just overwhelming to me, but also a great thing!!!"
Love,
Cole

*****

Cole Schlesner update
Cole is a 14-year old that was struck in the head by a baseball while pitching last month.
This from his Care Page
"Earlier this week, Cole had a very special visitor: Aaron Harang, the star pitcher with the Cincinnati Reds. Aaron's wife Jennifer joined him too, and they are both extremely genunine and kind people. Aaron chatted with Cole about the game he pitched the night before vs. the Braves, showed him a few of the different pitches he throws and talked about baseball. As you can see from the pictures, Cole had a huge smile on his face and it lasted the rest of the day. He told the story to everyone who would listen. We are very grateful for their compassion and support of Cole!
It should also be noted that Cole's older brother Reed "coincidentally" scheduled his visit to Cole at the same time Aaron was there...further validating his reputation as the opportunistic family weasel :) He wasn't going to pass this up after the he missed out on the Yankee Scout!
Even more amazing though, was that Aaron and Jennifer also visited every other pediatric patient on the Rehab floor while they were here...delivering support and well wishes to everyone. They are great people! Please share this story with others to dispel the stereotype most folks have of professional athletes. Thanks again, Aaron and Jennifer!"

*****

Event for a cause
FriendsOfJoe.com
"Meet our friend Joe. He was born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio, or as he would proudly boast, old Lindenwald, a cozy neighborhood in Hamilton. Joe Toerner is husband to Lori, father to teenagers, Zach and Matt… son, brother, employee of Coca-Cola for 30 yrs… member of Sacred Heart parish, passionate Badin Ram fan, coach and motivator to young people. He’s a lover of music, host of JBG, referee, golfer, fisherman, spinner of tales, lover of people, and friend to many.
Joe is a man with a compelling personality. He is the proverbial life of the party; yet has the quiet gift of drawing both friends and strangers close to his heart. He is a man with a big heart. And now he is a man diagnosed with ALS."

*****

Rabbit ears for Dusty
"Everybody jumps from one guy to the next guy on who is playing and who isn't. First they wanted Laynce Nix to play over Chris Dickerson and now they want Dickerson to play over Taveras. It's a long season and you have to go on a guy's track record as well as how he is doing right now."
"Quite honestly, I'm getting a little tired of justifying who I play and why and how long and when," he said. "We're doing as well as we can do right now."-Enquirer

See you Sunday!
462 are signed up for the HOMER Outing Sunday! Excellent.

****

Votto news
Below are the results of Votto's simulated game plate appearances today.
Joey played 6 inn at first and had 6 plate apps-- F-8, 6-3, BB, BB, 2B, 1B, 3 stolen bases.

****

Alonso to the DL
From Jamie Ramsey of the Reds
1b Yonder Alonso (Carolina) broke his right hamate bone (a hand bone) yesterday in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Tennessee when he swung at a pitch....he has been placed on Carolina's DL.

****

On this date: June 19, 1986
Washington Post
University of Maryland all-America basketball player Len Bias collapsed in his dormitory suite and two hours later was pronounced dead of cardiac arrest at Leland Memorial Hospital in Riverdale.

****

Bearcats and Sycamores in 2010
Terre Haute News
The Sycamores will play at Cincinnati in 2010 and at Penn State on Sept. 3, 2011. The prestige of playing the Bearcats and Nittany Lions---Cincinnati was a BCS participant in 2008, Penn State is a household name and traditional power is nice. The combined $775,000 ISU athletics will get from the games is even better from ISU's perspective.
"It means exposure. Cincinnati was a BCS team last year, and Penn State is Penn State," ISU football coach Trent Miles said. "But obviously, from a financial standpoint, it means a great deal. We're making some money."
According to ISU senior assistant athletic director John Sherman, who assists in football scheduling, the Cincinnati guarantee is $325,000.
Jesse Minter was hired as running backs coach. Jesse Minter was the linebackers coach at Cincinnati for two years. Minter is the son of Rick Minter, one-time head coach at Cincinnati, though Jesse Minter (a graduate of Mount St. Joseph's) was not on Rick Minter's staff.

**Also
Marcus Lewis, son of Marvin, is a LB at Indiana State. He's from Indian Hills HS. He appeared in 11 games for ISU last year and recorded 2 tackles.

****

Willy update
Taveras during his 14 game hit streak: 24-59 .407 avg
Taveras during all other games: 23-156 .147 avg

Since May 13, the final game of his streak (0 for his last 2 that night)
8 for 96 .083 with 3 walks

****

Laynce and Jayson Nix eager to hook up
Chicago Tribune
White Sox infielder Jayson Nix wasn't sure whether he or his older brother Laynce would pay for meals when the Sox visit Cincinnati this weekend. The younger Nix said this will be the first time he will play against his brother in a major-league regular-season game. They played against each other in the past in spring training and during the Triple-A regular season. "It was fun, a good experience," said Jayson, 26, who is two years younger than his brother, a left-handed hitting outfielder. "We never get to see each other this time of year, so it's always good to be able to see each other and hang out a bit and see each other play." Nix said having an older brother who was talented helped him develop. "We were always outside playing something, and he was always bigger and stronger and pushing me, and vice versa a little bit," Jayson said.

****

I can't get enough of Megan Fox
Entertainment Weekly

*****

Votto update
0-for-2, walk, k

Alonso update
Game 1: 3 for 6, rbi, sb...up to .254
Game 2: 0 for 2, k....now at .246

****

Former Bengals find work
UFL
Chris Perry, Quincy Wilson, Ronnie Ghent, Mike Doss, Anthony Schlegel.......
Also.....a number of familiar names and guys with area connections.

****

4th Annual Coaches Tournament
Morgan Ross Athletic Association-- Coaches Tournament
July 10th & 11th (Friday nite and Saturday) Ross, Ohio
2 and Out format
Wood Bat (women may use aluminum)
Same ball as last year (44 cor / 375 compression)
Players - Coaches past and present , parents that help with the team
Cost $10 per coach (players will receive a tshirt)
Entertainment ....Plenty for the kids...Plenty for the adults...DJ Saturday evening
Dinner ...This year we will be having it catered by Pier27...The cost is $25 for a family of four + $5 for each additional child or $7 per person (this is a great deal)! We need alot of help in this area, please RSVP!
Games 1st round is Friday nite 6:30 start time / 2nd round is Saturday 9:00am start time!
Teams- Blind Draw (yep! everyones name goes into a big bucket) Blind Draw is set for Sunday evening June 28th @ WP 7:30pm Everyone is welcome! We will be collecting the entrance fee!
RSVP
Dinner! Please RSVP for dinner - we would like to get a good # for ordering - we would also like to prepay - Please help in this area!
Note Invite your parents/players to come watch! They are invited to dinner also - just RSVP!
Any questions please email or call! I cannot take RSVP over the phone or in person!
Greg Meyer
Mobile # 513-200-0266
email: ajandrewsgroup@yahoo.com