Question of the day
Who wins more games this year: Reds or Cyclones?
Clones have won 62 games (55 regular season/7 playoffs), with a game 7 tonight...and possibly two more best of seven series remaining.
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Game notes of note
During the 5-game losing streak Reds hitters are battting .190....Reds pitchers have a 7.88 ERA.
For the season:
Reds pitchers: 4.77 ERA 14th NL/26th in ML
Reds starting pitchers: 5.10 ERA, 13th in NL
Reds relievers: 4.19 ERA, 12th in NL
Reds offense 13th in NL/23rd in ML in runs scored
Reds record when not homering: 1-10
Reds record by position start:
1B Votto (8-15) Hatteberg (4-3) Keppinger (0-2)
C Bako (11-12) Valentin (1-4) Ross (0-4)
CF Patterson (9-10) Freel (1-7) Hopper (1-2) Hairston (1-1)
Number of players used in batting order/starting line-up
1. 4
2. 8
3. 3
4. 4
5. 3
6. 4
7. 7
8. 3
Reds record when trailing after 7 innings: 1-19
Reds record when leading after 7 innings: 9-0
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I'm double dipping tonight
I think I'll start at the Reds game tonight to watch Johnny Cueto. Then I'll head over and catch Game 7 Cyclones vs Reading at US Bank arena.
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Three innings and lunch
Reds.com
For $15, you receive admission to the game (View Level ticket), and a voucher* for up to $10, redeemable for food and beverage at any Great American Ball Park concession stand.
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Monday show preview
Guest
Mark Curnutte, recaps minicamp..Countdown to Georgetown
Topics
From the fringe: What did you watch this weekend? I'm interested to see how much conversation we can get going on "other stuff".
Reds: What a mess
Kentucky Derby
Clones: Game 7 tonight...you going?
NBA playoffs
NHL playoffs: Both games go OT yesterday...one went 4 OT's!
Flying Pig: I want to hear from someone that ran in it
UC baseball: We went....loved it
Kentucky Barnstorming: Were you at Scott HS Friday night?
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UC Bearcat baseball
Casey and I caught game one of UC's doubleheader with Rutgers Saturday. What a blast.
I never thought the weather would hold up, but it turned into a great day for baseball.
Marge Schott Stadium is spectacular. I'd been in it for activities prior to UC football, but never for an actual game. Great view....close to the action. Tickets were $5 for me, $3 for Casey. Concessions were affordable.
UC rallied from a 10-3 deficit to win in walk-off fashion, 11-10 in 10 innings. The Rutgers CF made one of the best catches you will ever see. UC lost game two 13-9. The two teams combined for 43 runs and 69 hits on the day. UC's record is now 28-18 and they stand 3rd in the Big East. Brian Cleary has some guys that can play...Harrison, the 2B from Princeton, Campana, Satterwhite and Spina, as well. They have three guys with 20+ sb's.
Fun time. They don't have many games left...it would be worth it to check 'em out.
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Making sense of it all
12-20....on pace to lose 101 games.
Raise your hand if you saw this coming? This is one big mess.
Let's be realistic.... the manager is going nowhwere and the GM has already been fired. There are 130 games left and the remaining issues from now til October are down to these:
*When Jr hits 600?
*If/when Jr and Dunn are traded?
*If/when Bruce, Bailey, Thompson and/or Janish are called up?
*Whose contract gets eaten next?
*If they will lose 100 games?
Any other moves would be shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.
You know it's bad when nobody wants who the Reds would want to trade.
Or you'd be lucky to get a fungo bag and rosing bag if you did trade them.
What would you get for this group?
Dunn 13 mill, Griffey Jr 16.5 mill option for next year, Arroyo 28.5 mill left on deal, Gonzalez 10.5 mill left on deal, Patterson 3-mill, Freel 7-mill left on deal,
What would you get for this group?
Ross, Valentin, Hopper, Hatteberg, Belisle, Coffey, Lincoln, Hairston, Fogg, Weathers, Merker.
Parts and pieces that don't fit, don't work, aren't needed, cost too much.
Reds baseball 2008
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Does it get any better than a game 7?
Clones vs Reading, 7:30 tonight, US Bank Arena...$10 for tickets
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Minicamp wrap
Mark Curnutte's blog
10 minicamp nuggets
Chick Ludwig, Dayton Daily News
2. RIVERS FLOWS: First-round pick Keith Rivers showed off his outstanding speed and strength, and flawless ability to read and react.
Perry back, Alexander up
Geoff Hobson, Bengals.com
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis wrapped up his rookie camp Sunday saying all 10 draft picks showed at some point why the Bengals picked them last weekend. He also said he expected two players who missed all last year with knee injuries, running back Chris Perry and safety Ethan Kilmer, to be on the field when the voluntary camps start May 13. If their schools have graduated, rookies can be on the field again May 20.
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Bengals 24th in King's first power poll
CNNSI
Talked to Marvin Lewis the other day (more on that conversation in the Tuesday column), and he sounded very much like this is going to be No-More-Mr.-Nice-Guy season. It was right about that time that Kentucky authorities said starting linebacker Ahmad Brooks had a June court date for allegedly punching a woman in the face. Hey. Look on the bright side. At least Chad Johnson hasn't opened his mouth this month. Yet.
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Understatement of the day
John Fay, Enquirer
The roster is a bit dysfunctional - three catchers, all the power on the bench is from the left side, three left-handers in the bullpen.
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Former UK TE happy to follow Clark's lead in Indy
Indy Star
"He's an outstanding pass receiver in the mode of Dallas Clark," Polian said. "Not quite as stout. It's a little bit different body than Dallas; he's taller and a little thinner, but an outstanding, acrobatic, big-play receiver."
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Maxim Hometown Hottie
Careful opening at work
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Happy Birthday
Topanga of Boy Meets World turns 27
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Coffey can't pitch at AAA either
Louisville Courier Journal
Louisville right-hander Todd Coffey (0-1) entered in the 11th inning and gave up a leadoff double to Diory Hernandez. Then with two out and Anderson at the plate, Coffey threw a wild pitch, allowing Hernandez to take third.
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Teen running out of innings, but game not over
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Safe at first with a hit and an RBI, the kid is hugged by a crying first-base coach. The opposing pitcher takes off his glove, starts applauding and his teammates follow suit. The kid's teammates run onto the field to celebrate.
It sounds like the climax to a heart-tugger movie. But there was no producer or film crew at the game between Freedom and Aliquippa high schools two weeks ago. The scene was as real as the tumors in John Challis' liver and lungs.
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The company you keep
I used to look at teams like the Pirates and Royals, and think how bad it would be to be a baseball fan in those cities. This article kind of put things in perspective.
The Failure Dynasties
ESPN.COM
The Cincinnati Reds own the fifth-longest streak of losing seasons, with seven. Counting Ray Knight's one-game tenure, five managers handled the reins in those seven seasons, either in permanent or interim positions.
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Riddle me this Batman
Which would you rather have for 2009?
A. Dunn and Griffey
Or
B. 91.5 million dollars.
The money saved by not paying Jr 16.5 mill next year and not giving Dunn about 5 year 75 million dollar deal to keep him.
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Making a run at 100?
The Reds have had one season of 100 or more losses. In 1982 they finished 61-101.
After 32 games
'08 Reds 12-20
'82 Reds 14-18
Seems like we ought to be able to get a mid-level talent for Dunn, if a team trades with him with the thought of re-signing him. Surely someone will take a 40 HR, 100 RBI guy. Other than that, I'd say salary dumps all around. I'm hopeful someone might bite on Bronson, but I'm not about to hold my breath. It's hard to believe 70 wins will be difficult with this team. Ugh... Glad I didn't run out and buy the MLB Extra Innings package.
Keith09:29 PM EST