Uniform cameo: Say it 'aint so
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Reds news
CINCINNATI - Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty today announced the hiring of former Anaheim Angels and Seattle Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi as a special assistant. Bavasi, 50, will advise and assist Jocketty in matters related to the front office, Major League field and support personnel and scouting.
"We're excited Bill has joined our organization," Jocketty said. "Over his career of more than 30 years, he has worked in almost every facet of baseball operations. We will benefit from his experience and insights."
Bavasi was the vice president/general manager for the Angels from 1994-99 and executive vice president and general manager of baseball operations for the Mariners from November 7, 2003 through June 15 of this season.
Bavasi began his professional baseball career in 1974 with the San Diego Padres. He was named Angels general manager after 14 years in their player development department and helped lay the groundwork for that club's 2002 World Series championship. He spent the 2002-03 seasons as the Los Angeles Dodgers' director of player development before he was hired by the Mariners as their GM in November 2003.
His father, Buzzie Bavasi, was general manager of the Angels and the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers and president of the Padres. His brother, Peter, was general manager of the Padres, founding president of the Toronto Blue Jays and president of the Cleveland Indians.
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Reds news
RHP Aaron Harang (3-11, 4.76) is expected to come off the disabled list and pitch against the Astros on Sunday.
RHP Edinson Volquez (13-5, 2.93) will pitch in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
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Uniform Cameo: Anthony Munoz '93 Tampa Bay card
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Bengals season tickets available?
I thought there was a waiting list?
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BK on Mauk decision
GoBearcats.com
“I’m disappointed for Ben,” BK said. “But he’s a
pretty resilient kid. He was quite disappointed himself. He’s gone back to
Kenton, Ohio and is going to reassess his situation to see where he goes from
here. The things he has going for him are numerous. We’re going to see if we can
get him into a (NFL training) camp. He wants to continue to play football. That
will be our first job at hand – to see if we can get him into an NFL camp. There
was a lot of interest in him getting into some camps. If that doesn’t work out,
he’s got a Masters degree in criminal justice.”
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Clones news
CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cincinnati Cyclones announced this afternoon that they will be the ECHL affiliate for both the Montreal Canadiens (NHL) and Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) for the 2008-09 season. These teams join Nashville (NHL) and Milwaukee (AHL) as affiliates of the Cyclones.
“We are pleased to renew our affiliation with the Cincinnati Cyclones,” Julien Brisebois, Vice-President/Hockey Operations for the Canadiens, said. “We are very happy with the development of our prospects under Chuck Weber and Dean Stork. Our players have benefited from playing in a winning environment and we hope this affiliation will benefit both organizations for years to come.”
“The Montreal Canadiens are one of the most storied franchises in all of sport,” Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber said. “They have been excellent to work with and have provided us with players that helped us win the Kelly Cup championship this summer. Being affiliated with Hamilton has driven our players to want to quickly develop to be part of their future. We are proud to be connected with both franchises.”
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My strangest Uniform Cameo
Jan. 20, 1984: Free-agent Rose signs a one-year contract with the Montreal Expos.
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Events for a cause
Please remember to check this section in our Forum for how you can help out area causes. Please post info for your event as well.
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"50-50" Alonso returns to Miami
Miami Herald
Alonso, a first-round pick whose contract negotiations with the Cincinnati Reds
has have a snag, told The Miami Herald on Thursday he has signed up for fall
classes at UM, and there is ''a 50-50 chance'' he will be playing first base
next year for the Canes.
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No Mauk
CINCINNATI - The NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, consisting of five individuals from NCAA Division I conferences and institutions, upheld the NCAA staff’s May 1 final decision to deny the extension of eligibility request for University of Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk.
The judgment to uphold the NCAA’s original decision was based upon case precedent, stating there was not sufficient medical documentation or any other objective supporting information to substantiate the claim that Mauk missed the 2003-04 season due to an incapacitating injury.
The committee followed its procedures to review the appeal based on the submitted written materials and did not move to a telephonic review based on the issues involved. The committee felt the written submission was complete and that they could make a fair decision based on the facts presented.
The appeal to the committee was the last action available for Mauk to gain the approval to play in games this upcoming season.
“Obviously we were disappointed,” said UC head football coach Brian Kelly. “It’s unfortunate, but Ben will handle this with the same resilience he has shown as a football player. I know he is looking forward to the next chapter of his life whether it is playing football or pursuing a career in criminal justice.”
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What a treat last night
Carl Erskine was the guest speaker at Green Diamond Gallery last night in Montgomery.
Erskine pitched for the Brooklyn and LA Dodgers from 1948-59....with a record of 122-78.
He won 20 games in 1953, and pitched in 5 World Series...winning a ring in 1955. He tossed two no-hitters.
He's 81 years old and so kind and gracious. He's been married 61 years and still lives in Anderson, Indiana, where he was born. Among the highights of his talk:
*His first no-hitter, against the Cubs in 1952, included playing bridge in the clubhouse through a 45-minute rain delay. Charles Goren, the world champion American bridge player called him a few days later in the clubhouse to ask about his hand of four hearts that day.
*During his career, with just 8 NL teams, each team played the other 22 times a year.
*In 1953 he won 20 games. He had made $18,000. He asked Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley for $30,000 the next year. O'Malley said he could only go as high as $28,500. To make up the difference, O'Malley agreed to cover the spring training expenses for Erskine's family to visit...and pay for Carl's dental work. Carl said his dentist in Anderson was so proud of the checks he got from the Dodgers with the team logo on them.
*At one point the Dodgers had 26 minor league teams
*He talked about the unwritten rule that a pitcher didn't make more than a position player in his day. DiMaggio, Williams and Musial were the first to make six figures....while Warren Spahn, the best pitcher at the time, made $55,000.
*He spoke of the great respect he had for teammate Jackie Robinson. Branch Rickey told Jackie Robinson, "You can whip anyone...can you be strong enough not to fight?" Carl wrote about a book about what he learned from Jackie.
*He talked about his son, Billy, born with Down's Syndrome in 1960. Doctors recommended Billy be put in an institution. The Erskine's refused....choosing to raising him at home. Billy is 48 years old and works at Applebee's in Anderson.
*At the end of his talk last night, Carl was convinced to pull out his harmonica and play Take Me Out To The Ball Game. So cool!
What a slice of baseball history served up last night.
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Show preview
Guests
Ron Borges, boxing writer, on new Ali DVD
Topics
Bengals
Reds
Uniform Cameos: He once wore WHAT uniform?
Departure Heartbreak: Athletes that left your team for one reason or another and broke your heart.
Uniform Cameos
We did this May 15, 2007....and I figure the Favre story makes it the perfect time to bring it back. Guys that just never looked right in another uniform...or guys you forgot even wore a certain team's uniform during their career.
Accoring to TMZ 3,200 Brett Favre jerseys had been sold as of Thursday afternoon.
That sets a single day sales record and single day, single player jersey sales record. Favre's Green Bay jersey is the top selling jersey of all time.
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Remember when the Reds actually beat Oswalt?
Roy Oswalt is now a staggering 21-1 lifetime vs the Reds.
Listener Steven Sharp looked up the game the Reds beat him....April 28, 2006.
Brandon Claussen got the win and drove in what proved to be the winning run. The only RBI of his Red's career.
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Stat of the night
Houston Chronicle
Oswalt was in trouble early, needing 27 pitches to escape a bases-loaded jam in the first inning. He was able to get out of the mess by striking out Edwin Encarnacion looking.
Oswalt threw only 26 pitches in the next three innings combined and had a four-inning stretch from the third through sixth where he threw an incredibly efficient 28 pitches.
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Hero welcomed by Bengals
C. Trent's blog
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A view from the outside
Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News
A man I have known a long time, a scout for years and years who has watched the Cincinnati Reds, asked me a question before Thursday's game:
**Have you ever seen a Reds team so lifeless, so dead, so disinterested?"
*On Phillips...... "Nice talent, but I can't stand the guy. Don't like his attitude. He does things to make the other team mad. And I couldn't believe the stuff he said last week about wanting to be the face of the team, the captain, the leader. Very next game he didn't run out a ground ball. Some leader
*"On Homer: I saw Homer Bailey three years ago and thought good things about him. Iee him now and there is no fire, no consistency and no sense of confidence. He used to have the hammer - a big, breaking curve. That's gone. The last time he pitched he threw it for one strike. One.
*"On Dunn: Now that Ken Griffey Jr. is gone, if they let him go those same people are going to whine about it," he said. "They better keep him. They need his power and they need him because they have so many young players."
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Slogans for the Reds
Cut Man had listeners calling in with words and phrases to describe the Reds.
I dug up the list of Bumper Sticker/T-Shirt Slogans we created last season....see them below:
Reds Bumper Sticker/T-Shirt Baseball
Ideas:
"Gather the kindling, it's fire sale time"
"It's the little things...."
"Got any more bobblehead ideas?"
Red's Baseball, it's fundaMENTAL
Red's Baseball, Managing to Lose Since ‘00
Bengals Training Camp: C You There!
"GOT COFFEY?" "I'M SORRY"
"Reds Baseball.....Delaying the inevitable & denying the reality!"
Wasn't Spring Training Great?
E - Manager
It's Chris Henry's fault.
Reds Fever - You've been vaccinated
"This team's gonna hit....Rock Bottom."
Reds Baseball: "Comedy Central...tonight at 7:05"..come and join the laughter "....
"And this one belongs to the _______(fill in the blank w/ name of opposing team)!
Remember the Big Red Machine? Weren't they great?
2007 Reds baseball: Just three more years before the anniversary of our last World Series team
Bobbleheads and $1 hot dog nights....what more could you ask for?
"Retired Jerseys to Retired Batters ratio is still in our favor. For now."
"Reds Baseball: Putting The Slap in Slapstick."
"Reds baseball is dead baseball."
"Rounding 3rd and Heading for Bengals Season"
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10 Olympic events you don't want to miss
Indy Star
It can get to be a blur, from archery to wrestling. But some moments should not be missed. Here are 10 of them.
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Question of the day
Is there any doubt this team played a better brand of baseball under Pete Mackanin?
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Big Shirley's big chance
Bengals.com
"A 10-year career. Nice house, beautiful family. That's something I want," Shirley says. "He helps me with the little things on and off the field. I look at him not only as a veteran out on the field, but as an older man."
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How about this former Bearcat?!
Now 4-2 3.09 with 72 k's and 7 walks in 53 innings at Rookie Ball for the Twins.
He attended Colerain and UC. He was drafted in the 7th round this year.
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Heartbreak for Packer fans
USA Today
"Everybody just kind of got all quiet," Aguilar said Thursday morning as he helped refurbish a house adjacent to Lambeau Field. "Nobody really knew what to say. I guess that's when it really hit us - you know, that he really is gone and he's not coming back."
Which athletes departure by trade, release or retirement impacted you the most?
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Bearcat practice: Day 6
GoBearcats.com
"We had a good day," Kelly said. "The players had a lot of energy and I was pleased with what I saw on both sides of the ball. We really grinded with the running game for the first time, both offensively and defensively."
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Fans tackle new tailgate rules
Chicago Tribune
The NFL announced Wednesday that no tailgating would be permitted in parking lots during games unless the tailgaters had a game ticket. Fans still can party in the lots before and after games, and season-ticket holders are essentially unaffected.
"It sucks," said Bob Kocur, 50, of South Holland, holding a cigar stub in his left hand shortly after being reminded by a man in a Bears Fan Services T-shirt that the game was about to start. "I think each year they make it harder to be a Bears fan. What harm does it do to have people standing here? This is part of the tradition-they're taking part of the tradition away."
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Christmas in July at Georgetown
Ludwig At Large
"Bryce waved at him and Chad waved him down (onto the field). Then Chad said, ‘I want to take him with me to work out.' "
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Maxim Hometown Hottie
Careful opening
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Browns lose pre-season opener
Cleveland Plain Dealer
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Hanigan wins it for Bats
Louisville Courier Journal
"He battled," Sweet said. "Same thing he's been doing. He's our best hitter working deep counts, making the pitcher work. The deeper you get a lot of times, the more pitches you see, the better chance you have of getting a base hit. He finally got a pitch he could handle."
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"24" returns with changes
RedOrbit.com
Admired, lionized, and copied since it bowed in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, "24" was attacked, belittled, and -- worst -- nearly dismissed by fans and critics last season. So what'll one of television's truly groundbreaking series do for an encore this fall? In a word, change.
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Yonder going back to Miami??
Miami Herald
Negotiations between the Cincinnati Reds and Alonso (who was taken 7th overall) are not going well and there is a chance the star slugger could elect to return to the Canes for his senior year.
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What happens if Yonder Alonso goes back to school?
Teams that fail to sign a first-round pick no longer receive an extra pick after the first round as compensation, but instead a virtually identical pick the following year; for example, a team that fails to sign the No. 5 pick one year will receive the No. 6 pick the next, rather than one in the 30s or 40s. The same compensation also now exists for unsigned second-round picks, while a team that fails to sign a third-round pick will receive a sandwich pick between the third and fourth rounds.-Baseball America***
