All-Star Week

Lets talk...All-Stars:

First off, it's been about FIVE MONTHS since my last post. Its been awhile, but I had to come back to talk a little bit about Cincinnati in the MLB All-Star Game. Zack Cozart and Joey Votto represented our city this year, Zack as a starter and Joey as an alternate. Unfortunately our Redlegs' presence couldn't help the National League team as they fell to the AL 2-1. What is more boring than a pitchers duel in a game full of the best players in the league? Just my opinion. However, the NL loss is not such a big deal this year, as the MLB has changed how they will do home field advantage in the World Series. The days of the Midsummer Classic's winner taking home field are over, now it's left up to which team has the best record at the end of the year. I'm not 100% sure if that includes the playoffs or not, but I'm not a huge fan of this decision. The previous deciding factor wasn't my favorite either, (mostly because the NL would usually lose), but at least the ASG meant something. MLB hit it out of the park with the new format for the Home Run Derby, (yes the pun was intended), but this I'm not loving.

Lets talk...game winner:

As boring as the first nine innings were, Seattle's Robinson Cano hit a homer in extras to give the AL the W...not that it means anything now LOL. Cozart made us proud when he broke a Reds unimpressive streak of 25 at-bats without a hit in the ASG. Joey Votto, who didn't make it into the game until the 8th inning did what he does best...be Zack's biggest fan. The security guard had picked up the ball that Cozart hit after the next batter lined it foul and handed it to a fan in the crowd. Votto, wanting the ball for Cozart to keep and remember the moment, gave the 13-year-old a signed bat and two signed All-Star baseballs in exchange for the Cozart ball. Good day for that kid.

That's not the only thing Votto will be giving Cozart either! If you've followed the story line at all, Votto promised to buy Cozart a donkey if he ended up getting voted to the ASG. The donkey is not en route yet, but I have faith that this is definitely going to happen. I'm really hoping they let the fans decide the name too! I'm thinking something like George or Dave. Check out the video of Joey and Zack enjoying their time in Miami: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/7417714/v1597932783/cozart-votto-joke-around-with-intentional-talk

WOW. September was my last post. That's slightly depressing, but I'm back! The problem is that I only felt compelled to write after Cincinnati's embarrassing loss to UCF on Sunday. I'll be honest, I didn't even watch the game. But only scoring 49 points? Sounds like a story from years' past. If you have followed this UC program over the past, oh I don't know, decade...you know offense has always been hard to come by, except for this year. Kyle Washington no doubt has ignited this offense from the start of the season. The depth of this year's team doesn't hurt either. Troy Caupain has had many an off night, but they'll pick up with a 20-point night from Jacob Evans. Or, maybe Jarrod Cumberland comes off the bench for a double digit performance. All this has helped lead the Cats to a 25-4 record thus far, and a residency in the Top 25 for the better part of the season. But again, 49 points?!?! Where is this coming from??? To take the words right out of Mick Cronin's mouth, they were awful offensively.

I guess the only silver lining is they held UCF to only 53 points, so at least the defense showed up. Yes, this loss is troubling, but the timing is even more troubling. We're heading into tournament time, and nobody wants to hit a cold streak come March. Despite recent losses to SMU and UCF, the Bearcats continue to win at home. Their 25-game winning streak at Fifth Third will be put to the test Thursday in their final home game against a tough Houston team. This also happens to be senior night, so I hope they can send Caupain, Johnson, and everyone's favorite, Tobler, out with a victory.

Before the loss to UCF, I believed the Bearcats could have made a push for a four seed in the big dance. Now, I'm not so sure that we won't be a six. Cronin needs to get this team back on track and get hot again before the AAC Conference gets underway. After Houston, the Cats travel to UConn for a noon game this Sunday which will also be another tough one away from home. If the Cats can win out, and SMU stumbles we could be looking at a No. 1 seed for the conference tournament, but at the very least we've secured the two seed. Because of our conference and non-conference schedule being weak compared to other Top 25 teams, a conference tournament victory would be a bold statement before Selection Sunday. We all know what happens to five and six seeds in the tourney...it's upset city. I don't want to see another first round knockout for these guys. Finally I feel like Cronin has a team that can score and make some noise in March, but they've got to step it up...quick.

Top 10 Team Visits Nippert

Lets talk...tonight's game:

Let me just start by saying tonight's game is HUGE for the Bearcats. #6 Houston will be coming into Nippert Stadium at 2-0 after knocking off highly touted Oklahoma in week one. Not only is it monumental because I will be in attendance, but this is the first top 10 team to play at Nippert since #5 West Virginia all the way back in 2007! Houston has had some serious hype coming into this season. They shocked the college football world last year, and Tom Herman and crew are looking to do it again. Not if we can help it!

Houston's QB Greg Ward Jr. was out last week due to injury, but he is projected to play in tonight's game. This kid is explosive. He can throw the ball, but he can also beat you on his feet so the Bearcats' D will need to be on top of their game. On the bright side, UC's defense is coming off one heck of a game last week on the road against Purdue. They intercepted a whopping five passes, three of them coming from senior linebacker/safety, Mike Tyson.

Lets talk...the Nippert Advantage:

We are lucky enough to get Houston this year at home. In Thursday night games, the Bearcats tend to fair quite well at home having won nine out of the last ten games they've played at Nippert on Friday eve. This will also be my first time in the new Nippert stadium and I am PUMPED. If the Cats could find a way to pull off a win, not only would it have huge national implications, but it would also
mark a W in the conference win column. Who's ready to get blacked out before the black out?!?! Meet me at Mac's Pizza and join in when I start screaming: Ohhhhhh, Ohhhhhh, Ohhhhh UC!!!!

Bye Bye Bruuuuuuce

Lets talk...this trade:

Say it isn't so! We all knew Jay Bruce was on the trade block for quite some time now, frankly because he's the only one left that's worth anything to other teams, but it still made me extremely sad to see him go. Bruce became one of my favorite Reds over the years. I wear the man's jersey, I'm slightly more attached. However heartbreaking this trade is to fans, it's almost more frustrating. The Reds' organization has made it clear that the past two years were meant for rebuilding. A lot of teams go through these transition periods, but the problem with the Reds is that they are trading away valuable veterans for almost nothing in return. If you don't believe me lets take a look back at all these trades...

Who did we get for Cueto, Leake, Chapman, Frazier, and now Bruce? If you're racking your brain for a player who has made a difference in our lineup your going to be thinking for awhile, because there isn't one! We lost one of the best starters that we've had in years in Cueto. 7 out of 10 starts I'd say Leake would give you a good outing. Chapman is a no brainer. Frazier was a quality third baseman with a decent bat, and brought a HR derby championship trophy to our city in a year that was, outside of the All-Star Game, completely uneventful. And now Jay Bruce. What we lost is a player who has spent his entire nine-year career in our city. Oh, and the National League leader in RBIs this season. In return, we received a 22-year-old 2nd baseman and a 19-year-old left hander, neither of whom have seen a major league field this season. I mean it's a little ridiculous when you actually break it down. Who the hell are we rebuilding around?!?!? Votto and Phillips? Love them both, but they've seen their prime and nobody else is willing to take them because they don't want to pay the chunk of change that we are paying right now.

WHAT IS THIS?!?






I got to hand it to Homer Bailey who really spoke his mind about this trade. He basically said the Reds are trying to lose 100 games this year with the deals they're making. If we're hearing this kind of thing from our own players, wouldn't you assume that something you're doing needs to change? Homer went on to say that the team was just getting back into a rhythm and then all of a sudden it's like someone popped their balloon by trading Bruce. Even though I think Homer Bailey was a $10 million mistake, props to him for saying what everyone else is thinking! I'm upset, but I have to add...thanks for the memories Bruuuuuuuuuce!

Lets talk...a series win against the Cards:

We don't ever get a series win over St. Louis. Good season, bad season, it's just a rarity. By god we took two out of three from them last night! It was an impressive victory too, crushing them 7-0. As bad as it has been this year, and coming off the Bruce trade shockingly the Reds are on a bit of a streak. According to ESPN, for the first time since 1999 Cincinnati has won 6 straight series since the All-Star break.
 It's the little things at this point that you have to cling on to...at least until football season starts ;)

As the First Half Comes to an End...

Lets talk...firing staff:

As we head into the All-Star break, we've had a lot to ponder over the past week. On Monday, the Reds decided to fire pitching coach Mark Riggins. No doubt our pitching is atrocious, but this was his first season with that title. We have the league's worst ERA at 5.51. We all get that an overall ERA that high isn't going to win you many games, but can we not look at the bigger issue? Bryan Price is making these decisions to have unsteady pitchers come in at the most inopportune times. And guess what? They usually end up giving up the game. I think Mark Riggins was used as a scape goat, and the real problem lies in Price. I've said it once, and I'll say it again; Price has a pitching background! Not too long ago he held the same title. I feel bad for Riggins because he's been in the Reds organization for many years as a minor league pitching coordinator, and he didn't even get one damn season.

Lets talk...first half:

32-54. That's our record, and it ain't pretty. We are last in the Central division, which is usually a spot reserved for the Brewers. I've tried to stay positive because it is a rebuilding year and sucking was expected, but it is difficult to watch a losing team. It's not like there haven't been shining moments though. I mean the last two games we beat the Cubs who have been on fire this year...just not as of late. I'm trying to stay POSITIVE I said. Cozart hit three homers in each of the three games against the Cubbies, that's exciting! And hey, lets not forget the big news this week: Adam Duvall is going to

the All-Star Game! Sure he may not play, but by god he made the NL roster. That's right, the Reds have their left fielder on the All-Star roster. For all these analysts that are saying he doesn't belong, screw you! The man has 22 homers on the season. That may be the highlight of his season, but we have been dogged on for the entire year. Can you give us a break on this one, please? Do I think Duvall is one of the most elite outfielders in baseball? Meh, probably not, but I'm glad he made the cut. It's his first All-Star appearance and I say enjoy it! Hell who knows, he may wind up in the Home Run Derby, which he did say he would love to do. Wouldn't that be a story? "Reds bats take home the trophy in two straight Home Run Derbies". I'm a little ahead of myself, but what else do I have to look forward to? Besides college football! Which just so happens to be exactly 50 days away :)

Reds Show Dusty They aren't an Easy W

Lets talk...losing streak first:

The month of May was rough for the Reds, and Reds' fans. An 11 game losing streak isn't going to bring anyone to the ballpark. It started by getting swept in a four-game series against Cleveland. Ouch. Losing hurts, but losing to Cleveland is just painful. My boyfriend is an Indians fan, and for him to finally be on the winning side...well lets just say I'm not too fond of it. I know they are first in their division right now and seem to have a solid team, but my hatred of all Cleveland sports prevails over any winning record they may have. Clearly I'm strictly talking baseball here because lets be honest, a winning record for the Browns is more laughable than Johnny Manziel's rap sheet. And before anyone tries to take a stand for the Cavs, please stay seated. In the NBA it's all about titles. When the entire Eastern conference is terrible and you make it to the Finals I'll give you your two clap, but that's about it. Because it's going to be the same result as last year. The Cavs will lose to Golden State, except this time there is no whining because Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are both on the floor with Lebron. At least they were in the first two games with concussion protocol still pending for Love after game two.

Whew! I sure know how to get off topic, and I don't even like the NBA, but any who. 11 freaking games we lost in a row. Usually you have to see an entire west coast road trip for those numbers, but the first seven losses either came in Cleveland or at home. The good news is, they turned things around in Colorado. They took three of four from the Rockies, and the team's offense finally started rolling. It's not hard to do when the ball flies out of Coors Field like it does, but we'll take it!

Lets talk...series with the Nats:

Dusty Baker rolled back into town this weekend with his first place Nationals and I'm glad the Reds welcomed him back with open arms. Dusty was put in a tough position when he was fired, and I'm glad to see him doing as well as he is in D.C. That being said, when he comes back to Great American I want us to win! And win we did, taking two of three from the Nats. Hell, we almost had the sweep. We were up 5-0 yesterday when I decided to take a nap. I woke up and we're down 9-5 #BullpenProbs. They still made it interesting with a heck of an offensive comeback. Bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Reds down 10-9...I thought it was going to be a walk-off win, but I'll take two of three any day. Although they have had mostly down days, the Reds can not only compete with division leading teams, but they can beat them. And for a rebuilding year, I call that hope. They've got an off day today, then a three-game series with the Cardinals at home. And if there's any team I hate more than Cleveland, it's St. Louis ;)

Cueto gets Rocked, Reds Still Lose; Plus Thoughts on the Draft

Lets talk...Cueto's Return:

 
 Johnny Cueto made his return to Great American Ballpark last night as the starter for the San Fransisco Giants. Usually not someone you want to see as an opposing pitcher, but Cueto had a rough start to say the least. Although he was welcomed back graciously by fans and former teammates alike, the Reds didn't take it easy on their former All Star. Joey Votto hit a 425 foot bomb that plated 3 of the 6 runs the Redlegs scored in the third inning alone. Six runs; should be enough offense to win a game right? WRONG. Not with this bullpen anyway. True to fashion, the pen let another lead slip away, resulting in a 9-6 loss. If you can recall we had just snapped a six game losing streak on Sunday in extras over the Pirates. Now that we're on this home stand, I'd hope we could avoid another losing streak, but this team's relief is so god awful it's embarrassing.

Once again, I know this is a rebuilding year and that we aren't too expect the Reds to define the odds. But really, this team could have a winning record if not for the relief pitching. Half of last year's starters are still banged up on the DL. The ones that are starting are young, but for the most part have shown great promise. If you take out the dreadful series with the Cubs where we lost 13-0 and 9-0, our offense has been producing runs more than they have the past couple years. So we're left with the bullpen. Bryan Price being a former pitching coach, to me, should be able to MANAGE PITCHERS a little better. So glad Dusty Baker is out of here because he had no chance of getting us deep into the playoffs. Where's Dusty now you say? Oh just tearing it up with the Nationals this season. Yeah, but that's something that can't be changed. However; If I see Bryan Price looking dazed and confused as to why JJ Hoover is giving up run after run yet again I'm going to scream. The man has an ERA of 13.97!!!!! That's absurd. Send him down for the love of God. He can regain confidence in Triple A, but giving up runs every outing in the majors isn't going to do it.

Lets talk...Bengals draft picks:

With the 24th pick of the 2016 NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select...William Jackson III, cornerback, Houston. Ok, I like the help in the defensive secondary which we will need with the loss of Reggie Nelson at safety. We'll also have to address the more than likely loss of free agent, Leon Hall, at the cornerback position. He will come into a young team of cornerbacks with the exception of veteran Adam Jones, who clearly still has some maturing to do  after last season. Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard will be mentoring the rookie and Kirkpatrick has strong thoughts on Jackson starting day one. He believes Jackson needs major development and it will take time to adjust into his role on the roster. We'll see, but I'd definitely like to see our first round draft pick making an impact sooner rather than later.

I think the Bengals came away with decent WRs too. They didn't reach in the first round when most of the top receivers had already gone off the board. They picked up Tyler Boyd out of Pittsburgh and Cody Core out of SEC powerhouse Ole Miss. These two will cushion the blow of losing Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu to free agency this off-season. Lets not forget, our offense is still quite strong. We have an elite WR in A.J. Green still, a standout TE in Tyler Eifert, and a great duo in the backfield with Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard. Also, a lot of the experts are saying we got a steal in Andrew Billings, defensive tackle out of Baylor. Billings already has a chip on his shoulder from falling so far in the draft, so hopefully he can use that to the team's advantage.

A Red Hot Start; How Sweep it is

Lets talk...the first series:

What a way to kick off the season! A sweep of the Phillies, including two comeback wins on opening day and night. I'm not saying we'll go 162-0, or 182-0 according to the drunk gal at the bar & grill I was at on Monday night, but the Reds have gotten off to one heck of a start. It always seems like we lose on opening day to me, so I figured that was how it was going to end. The Reds proved me wrong and went on a five-run rally in the eighth that lead to our first victory. This run production was backed up by a pretty good outing from starter Raisel Iglesias. In all reality he only made one big mistake by giving up a two-run homer. Other than that, he looked like he has potential to be a big asset. Definitely exciting.

On a frigid, rainy Wednesday IN APRIL, the Redlegs rallied again behind a double in the ninth by Scott Schebler. He hadn't seen the ball well all game, tallying a total of three strikeouts in his previous at bats. Low and behold he would have the game winner. With the bases loaded, he brought em' in to push the Reds past the Phillies for the second straight night, 3-2. Brandon Finnegan, who we acquired from the Royals in the Cueto trade, had a nice night himself including a career-high nine strikeouts. He's no Cueto yet, but it's refreshing to see we did get someone useful out of that heartbreaking trade.


No comeback needed in game number three. Cincy rolled Philadelphia in a 10-6 win today. Now, if you read my previous post, I was a bit harsh on ol' Brucey boy, but I also said he needs to become the power hitter that we know he is capable of being. Would you look at that, the kid jacks out two homers, AND grabs five RBIs. I like what I see, and I want to see more of it. Eugenio Suarez had a big day with a grand salami. The battle of the big league debut went to the Reds. Both starting pitchers took the mound in the majors for the first time today, and our top prospect Robert Stephenson recorded the first win of his MLB career.

Lets talk...perspective:

I know it's the first series of the year people, I'm not delusional. However; when you're franchise is throwing words around like, "rebuilding year", you get a little down before the season even begins. It's refreshing to come out guns-a-blazin. Do I expect us to win the division? Probably not. Do I expect us to be in the hunt for a wildcard spot? Ehh. But guess what...we're 3-0 and I'm going to relish in that. And to make it that much sweeter, the Cardinals are at the bottom of the division at 0-3!

Opening Day FOMO

Lets talk...the festivities:

As I'm sitting here watching the parade, I'm thinking back to last year's Opening Day. It was about the same temperature, maybe a little warmer, and I had a delicious adult beverage in my hand. I was most likely intoxicated, if not well on my there :) Oh how I wish I was doing the same thing right about now. It's awesome that most work places allow you to dress in your Reds gear, and have the parade on TV, but I want to be there!!! I'm suffering from some serious FOMO right now, (fear of missing out for those of you who don't know). Nothing gets you in the spirit of baseball season more than Opening Day in Cincinnati. The Banks is a huge part of the celebration. It's like being surrounded by thousands of your drunk best friends because everyone is a Reds fan. And it's the first game of the season, therefore nobody is disappointed...yet.

Lets talk...the team:

I will admit that I'm not as pumped for the team that will take the field today against the Phillies. Mostly because I've never seen half of them play. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but Frazier is gone from third. The Cuban Missile is with the Yanks. Yes, we still have our staple players: Bruce, Votto, and Phillips. However; if Bruce continues to hit like he has the past couple seasons, so what if he's been here his whole career. He's got to step it up, become the power hitter he has the ability to be. If he's not going to jack out homers, than at least consistently be a threat of getting on base. Again, I'm going to try to maintain a positive attitude as the season gets underway, but with half of our starting pitching on the DL, I reserve the right to be skeptical.

Tri-State Teams are Ready to Dance

Lets talk...Bearcats:

They're in! Whew, what a sigh of relief it was when I saw them pop up on that screen, and as a nine seed at that. I kept saying that even with the crazy 4OT loss against UConn they should be in, but when I saw Temple, I got a little nervous I will admit. I was thinking more like an 11 seed, so I'm pleasantly surprised. The Cats will face number eight seed, St. Joseph's. They finished fourth in the Atlantic 10 this year with an overall record of 27-7. I won't lie, I haven't watched much of this team all year, but from their stats, it looks like they can score. They average just over 77 points per game. If the Bearcats hope to advance, they'll need to play their style of hard-nose defense and keep the Hawks in the 60s. The only thing I'm not happy about is that they are in the West Coast Region. They don't play until 10PM this Friday night!

Lets talk...regions:

I'm not a Kentucky fan, nor am I a Kentucky hater, but come on. They are a four seed, and they barely have to travel far from home with any advancement they make in the tourney. Don't get me wrong, their region is no cakewalk, but we all know UK fans travel well. Hell, look at the SEC Conference Championship game on Sunday against Texas A&M. It was practically a home game for them in Nashville. They do have Xavier in their region. I think it would be interesting to see these two teams go head to head against each other this year. Although, I don't have that matchup happening in my bracket. There is a good chance that the Wildcats will meet up with Indiana which I'd love to see too. After the bracket was finalized, I think we can all agree on one thing...t
here is no reason for the Selection Sunday show to EVER, I mean EVER, be two hours long again :)

The MADNESS has Begun; Not Just Talking College Hoops

Lets talk...free agency:

Tis' the time of year where we must say farewell to some of our favorite players due to free agency. If you are a fan of Cincinnati sports, you should already be warmed up to this idea seeing as the Reds gave away half the roster in the off season for prospects...I'M JUST SAYING. Anyways, the Bengals have said goodbye to a couple offensive elements in the mere beginning of free agency, including wideout Marvin Jones. Jones has signed with the Detroit Lions, and reports say that the Bengals gave him a competitive offer. However, I can see why Jones wants to be in Detroit. With Calvin Johnson retiring, there is a need for a number one receiver. Jones was a great asset for the Bengals, but he also was in the mix with a lot of great receivers, all falling in line of course behind A.J. Green. I don't know if Jones has the ability or height to become an elite receiver such as Green or Johnson, but he will definitely get more looks being in the Lions' lineup.

Next up to ship out was Mohamed Sanu. Another great compliment to our number one Green, and I'm sad to see him go to the Falcons. Sanu was a good receiver and made some clutch catches for us this season, but off to Atlanta he goes. The silver lining here is that our former offensive weapons are going to teams OUTSIDE of our division. We won't be matching up with either Sanu or Jones in a divisional grudge match against the Steelers or the Ravens, and that does bring me some relief.

The one trade I don't want to see would be AJ McCarron going to the Broncos. After Brock Osweiler decided to go to the Texans for the mullah, the defending Super Bowl Champs are on the hunt for a starting QB. Now, they could draft a rookie and hope that pans out, or the more viable option...pick up someone in free agency. The list of free agent, veteran QBs is a little sad. You've got your pick between RGIII, Colin Kaepernick, and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Against those three, I'd take AJ McCarron any day. I am a little biased, but the kid showed a lot of poise and control after taking over for Dalton. He should've had a post season win, but I won't rehash those memories. I just hope he stays in Cincinnati because we learned last season that injuries can happen at the worst time, and I want a reliable back-up when they do.

We are doing a solid job on the defensive side. The Bengals have resigned George Iloka, Adam Jones, and linebacker Vincent Rey. As much as everyone wants to boohoo about Jones' behavior, (including myself), you can't deny his talent. He's a great corner, and a good punt returner. An attitude adjustment would definitely help his cause, but lets face it, he can get rid of the nickname but he's had these issues his whole NFL career. All we can do is hope for the best.

Lets talk...the real madness, March:

One of my favorite times of the year. The journey to the tourney is underway in the form of Conference tournaments this week. Cincinnati will face off against Connecticut tomorrow for the third time this year in the American. They've had the Huskies' number, sweeping their previous two meetings which could be good or bad. Both games went right down to the wire, and I'm sure UConn is looking for some revenge. The Bearcats made a good push for an at-large bid by beating #24 SMU on Sunday, but a good showing in their conference tourney should seal the deal.

And as much as I have neglected Xavier this year because of my pure hatred for them, I will give credit where credit is due. Musketeer Head Coach, Chris Mack, was the winner of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Henry Iba Award for National Coach of the Year. It's an impressive honor that warrants a two-clap from me. Mack and his #5 Muskies go up against Marquette tonight on their quest to become Big East Tournament Champs. Regardless of their conference tournament outcome, Xavier is looking at either a #2 or possibly a #1 seed in the Big Dance.

I'm all about that Tourney, bout' that Tourney, No Bubble

Lets talk...this past week:

Wednesday was rough to watch. I was at Fifth Third Arena when the Bearcats PUMMELED Tulsa in their first meeting, and then an overtime loss to them on the road? Tough to stomach, that's for sure. Especially since the Cats are battling for an at-large bid to the tourney. Yes, 95% of their losses this season have come down to the wire. The only problem with that is, they have eight of them. The sad truth being that after watching this team all season, I almost expect them to lose in a close game. I need a cushy 10-point lead to feel comfortable that they'll snag a victory. It's definitely not what I would have predicted in the pre-season. I mean, on paper this team is the best Cronin has had in his head coaching stint at UC.


The Cats redeemed their loss to Tulsa with a big win over Connecticut on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd. UConn had just beaten top 25 opponent SMU prior to this game which helps the Cats' cause. Also, the fact that they swept Kevin Ollie's team this season doesn't hurt.

Lets talk...the bubble:

UC is smack dab in the middle of the bubble conversation. With the regular season winding down, I think they can solidify an at-large bid if they win out. They have East Carolina next, which should be an easy W. Then, they face a tough Houston squad on the road and round out their season with big, bad SMU. When they faced #15 ranked SMU in the beginning of January, they narrowly lost on the road, 59-57. This time they'll need a win on their home court.  It helps us bubble teams that there are teams like SMU that have been ranked all season, but because of NCAA sanctions are unable to participate in the tournament. Hey, every little thing counts. The Bearcats also need to make a convincing run in the American Conference tournament to make a trip to March Madness.

If they can make it to the NCAA Tournament, I think they can do some real damage. If Gary Clark can keep being a dominant presence underneath and keep playing great defense, he's going to do big things. They've got Troy Caupain as their floor general who somehow hits the biggest shots at just the right times. The freshmen have been a delight to watch this year. Justin Jennifer can handle the point when Caupain needs a breather, and Jacob Evans III looks more and more confident with each game I watch. Throw in our other big men, Ellis and DeBerry, and it's a recipe for success! As long as Ellis can keep that attitude of his in check.  I know I'm a little biased, but I'm not the only one that thinks this team has a real shot. ESPN's Myron Medcalf believes that out of all the teams in the American, Cincinnati has the best chance to make a run at the Final Four. They could easily have 4 more wins on the season if not more, they just have to learn to finish in close games.

Lets talk...baseball...only because we have to:

Pitchers and Catchers have reported! Usually that would be an exciting statement, but I'm keeping my hopes low for this season. After last season's ugly ending, and all the liquidation of assets they had this offseason, the Reds cease to excite me. Of course I'll watch the games and cheer on my hometown team as always, but being a pessimist by nature, I don't expect much. I assume I won't even know half the 25-man roster because of all the "prospects" we've received. And Bryan Price, much like other professional coaches in this town...has another chance to show what he can do when in reality, he doesn't deserve it. He's a pitching coach. That's what he's good at, and that's what he should return to. He's not a team manager and I don't have faith that he'll turn it around.

Speaking of turning it around. Jay Bruce, after trade rumors swirled around all offseason, still remains on the team. I've loved Bruce since he came up, but my love is running short. He needs to step up or get out for how much money we threw at him. I'm almost embarrassed to own the man's jersey. He's only 29, and I feel like he's already washed up. He did show good faith to the team by showing up to spring training two days early this year. However, the only thing that will really get my attention, is if he shows up batting in the high .200's for longer than a week.

A Tale of Two Defenses Plus, Why We All Love Tyler Eifert

Lets talk...Bearcats at Huskies:

Forgive me readers, for it has been 20 days since my last post. Honestly, I have just now gotten over the Bengals loss, and can begin to discuss Cincy sports again without such distain, but we'll talk football in a minute. First, lets talk about the Bearcats match up tonight against the UConn Huskies. Two teams that used to hold their own against the monster Big East opponents of a couple years ago, are now floating in the middle of the American Conference. Not holding anything against the American, they do have some quality teams, including both the Cats and the Huskies. But lets face it, Tulsa is no Georgetown. In order for the Bearcats to even THINK about getting into the tourney, they need to take care of business within their conference. That means a quality road win tonight, and it won't come easy.

Defense is the Cats' bread and butter, but the past two games against both Memphis and Tulane they have been an offensive machine. They almost put up 100 in the Tulane game where Coach Cronin got his 200th win! Nothing made me happier than to see Kenyon Martin out there celebrating with him. Although, I wish they could've saved some of those points because UConn is almost a spitting image of UC. Their defense can shut down their opponent, only allowing an average of 62.6 points per game, compared to the Bearcats' 62.4. The Huskies are allowing opponents to shoot only 37.3% from the field, (courtesy of gobearcats.com). This means two things to me; One, the Cats will have to score a good amount of their points on the run in transition, before the Huskies' defense can get set. And two, they can't rely on making an absurd amount of three pointers. This has been the Achilles heel in almost all of their losses. You live by the three, you die by the three. I've always believed in that saying, especially when it comes to this squad. They'll need to focus on feeding it down low to their big men, Clark, Ellis and DeBerry. Points will be hard to come by in this game, so they'll need to take more high-percentage shots if they want the win.

Lets talk...my ever growing love for Tyler Eifert:

Tyler Eifert. The list of adjectives to describe this man goes as follows: talented, athletic, gorgeous, and you can add humble on there too. After the playoff debacle that lead to most NFL fans thinking the Bengals were nothing but dirty thugs, Eifert got some positive publicity for our team on Wednesday night. Eifert is in Hawaii for the NFL Pro-Bowl and he is used to giving out his signature to fans. Instead, he decided to highlight the people that fight for our freedom by having members of our military autograph a football helmet that he had. The link to the vine is below for a small glimpse of Tyler's good will.  Eifert is one of seven Bengals selected to this year's Pro Bowl which includes: Geno Atkins, Andrew Whitworth, Cedric Peerman, AJ Green, Carlos Dunlap, and the late addition of Adam Jones.

https://vine.co/v/iiL7LbxLFpp

Bearcats Fall, Who Dey Nation Ready for the Steelers

Lets talk...logic:

Forgive me that it's been so long since I have posted anything! But I have a lot to talk about this afternoon, starting with last night's game. The Bearcats were the last team to go on the road at SMU and bring home a victory. They have faltered against Top 25 teams so far this year, but I actually had a good feeling about this game going in. After stumbling in a loss to Temple, the Bearcats bounced back with a beat down over Tulsa on their home court. I got to take in the game from my seat in the Bearcat lair :) Mind you, Tulsa is nowhere near the #15 team in the country, but the defense was staggering in that game. I think Tulsa may have only had two points at the 10 minute mark of the first half. That's beside the point. The cats needed a signature win over a worthy opponent and they should've had it.


I blame Mick on this one. I hate to do so, but it all comes down to his use of timeouts. We were up seven with three and some change to go. All of a sudden, the lead dissipates. Ok, they've blown the lead, but they still had a good chance to win, (although, the Bearcats find themselves on the losing end of most games like this). If we hadn't been shooting threes like it was going out of style all game, and feeding it to Gary Clark, we may have had an even bigger lead on the road. Farrad Cobb may be the leading scorer on this team, but I'd have the most points too if I chucked up 15 threes a game. Yes, many of them do go in, but his shot selection is POOR. He's either off balance, got a hand right in his face, or there is 25 seconds left on the shot clock! It's frustrating to say the least.

When it came down to the winning shot, Farrad Cobb is shooting an ill-advised jumper from beyond the arc with four whole seconds left on the game clock, and the cats only down one. But can you really blame the 20 something for the shot? Or do you blame Mick, with one timeout left and 20 seconds remaining for not calling a timeout and drawing up a play to feed your next leading scorer, Gary Clark? Clark looked excellent in this game. He even drove the ball to score at times, which is more than I can say for the rest of the team. When he backs his defender down, and throws that hook over his right shoulder, it's almost guaranteed that it's going in. So why not call the timeout and draw something up? If not to Clark, than at least something that ends in a higher percentage shot! Coulda, woulda, shoulda I guess. That loss puts the Bearcats at 11-5 and near the bottom of the American Conference. They will need to secure a signature win by the end of the season if they hope to get in the tourney, and rack up some conference wins because as of now they sit at 1-2.

Lets talk...playoffs:

The playoff picture unfolded last Sunday, and of course our worst fears were recognized. It will be a matchup against the division rival, Pittsburgh Steelers, at Paul Brown Stadium Saturday night. After the last game between these two, the NFL decided to take action before they even take the field. Both teams have been warned that if any extra-curricular activities go on after the play, players will be ejected from the game.

Of course the big hype around this game is not just the intense hate for the Steelers, but the burning question, "Can the Bengals win a playoff game?". That question will be answered without the play of Andy Dalton. The cast is off his thumb, but AJ McCarron will be our QB in primetime. The good thing is that while he's only played in a couple games this season, the first one just so happened to be the massacre against Pittsburgh. He's seen their defense, knows what to expect, and he's got a little more experience under his belt this time around. Regardless of our QB situation, our defense is going to have to have a huge game. Whoever wins the turnover battle, will have the playoff W. Big Ben is tough to take down so the pass rush will need to be relentless. I think one benefit to the last game we played against the Steelers is that we did lose. The Bengals will be out for revenge on their home turf. It's primetime in the Jungle baby, LETS ROAR!

 

Cincinnati Sports World Rocked this Week

Lets talk...the latest:

Todd Frazier traded his Red Stockings in for White Sox. The update I read on my phone yesterday had me downright depressed. I love Todd Frazier, and everything he's done for this city. He was a great ambassador for the All-Star Game this summer, and took home the Home Run Derby crown for god's sake. Overall he is a great player, and a guy that really no one could hate. Sadly, he has been traded and even more sad, I'm not quite sure if the crew we got for him will ever pan out.

"Who'd we even get?", you ask...that's a great question. In a three-way trade, the Reds acquired infielders Jose Peraza and Brandon Dixon, and outfielder Scott Scheblerand from the Dodgers. Peraza looks to be the most promising of the three. At age 21, he hit .293 this year with 33 stolen bases in triple A. Schlebler, 25, spent the majority of last season in triple A, but did make it into the big leagues in 19 games for the Dodgers. In those 19 games he had 3 home runs and 4 RBI. Finally, Dixon, age 23, spent most of last season bouncing between single and double A clubs. He put up decent numbers in each, but nothing that will knock your white sox off. Not sure if the Reds are in rebuild mode, but I'm not seeing the big picture here. Hopefully, I'll eat my words and it'll all become clear in April.

Lets talk...QB situation:

Losing to the Steelers was bad, but losing our starting quarterback didn't do anything to help soften the blow. Andy Dalton, after a "what the f$%@" interception, throws himself into a lineman and ends up with a fractured thumb. The good news, if you can call it that, is that Dalton won't need surgery on that thumb. Facing the mighty 49ers this Sunday, (notice the sarcasm), this just may be the perfect full start for AJ McCarron.

Lets face it, with Andy Dalton's return not probable until the post-season, if this season at all, McCarron is going to be our guy. Even if Andy is healthy enough for post-season play, the game will most likely be played in cold weather, and a thumb injury proves quite problematic on the throwing hand of a QB. We need McCarron to get as many reps as possible with this offense. Yes, the playbook will be a much shortened version with him at the helm, no matter what Hue Jackson says. The Bengals offense is so skilled and has so many threats, but they're used to the QB they've been working with all season, so the switch will be a heck of an adjustment. Although, we've seen it is possible to make the big plays with that touchdown from AJ to AJ Green. He will need to connect with the offensive weapons he will have to work with on Sunday because Tyler Eifert did not participate in practice today. Out with a concussion, the Bengals' tight end has been a huge asset this year, and will be missed if he sits out on Sunday against the niners.

Am I nervous, heck yes. But there are a few things on our side. First, two out of our last three games are against sub par opponents. Second, Denver is also playing with their back-up quarterback awaiting the return of a beat up Peyton Manning. The two seed is not out of our reach whatsoever, and that means a bye week. One more week for either Andy to heal and prepare to come back, or one more week of practice with the offense for McCarron. Lastly, McCarron knows what it's like to be a winner, a champion. The kid came out of one of the most highly acclaimed collegiate programs in the last decade...ALABAMA. He also played behind an offensive line that would probably measure up to most in the NFL, but a winner he is nonetheless. And we need that man to show up for us these next three weeks.

Lets talk...my beloved Bearcats:

Well, as if losing the Crosstown Shootout wasn't enough to put me in sports depression, the football team has joined in on the Cincinnati sports downfall this past week. Star running back from Lasalle, Jeremy Larkin, de-commits from UC and is now bound for Northwestern. Having a hometown kid that had the high school stats that he has had would have been huge for the cats.

On top of ALL OF THAT, there are reports that Gunner Kiel will not be playing in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve due to a personal matter. The Cats will face off against San Diego State likely with freshmen QB Hayden Moore. I am upset that Gunner won't get to finish out this season. His years at UC have been plagued with injury, and it would be nice to see the guy finish on a strong note; However, Hayden threw for over 500 yards in the Memphis game when he replaced an injured Kiel. And, he's going to be our QB for the next three years so ending his freshmen year in a bowl game is just more experience to bank for the future.

Beware of the Bandwagoners

Lets talk...last night's game:

8-2. For any team in the NFL, that is an impressive record. Oh but wait, bring on the "fans" who are ready to trash the Bengals and jump right off the bandwagon. Good riddance. To see what I saw out of our fan base posted to social media is despicable. On a night where pass protection was non-existent, the Andy Dalton haters came out to play. Don't get me wrong, I had my fair share of criticism for Andy last year, but I have been pleasantly surprised with his level of play and leadership thus far this season. The Texans loss, yeah that was pretty bad. Losing on Monday night to a subpar team wasn't a good look, but we are talking about the Cardinals. Most people have Arizona as a Super Bowl contender this year. We were on the road, against a very good team, and it came down to a last second field goal to win the game. Granted, we weren't on the winning side of that kick, but we hung tight.

Lets talk...perspective:

The Bengals clearly didn't play up to their potential last night. The offense didn't move the ball for most of the third quarter. Andy got no help from his offensive line. Our entire secondary was depleted in a matter of about 10 plays. Speaking of which Dennard will need shoulder surgery, and is now out for the season. It's a tough break, but c'mon people we still have a great shot at not only making the playoffs but WINNING A GAME! If the Bengals hadn't started 8-0 and maybe lost these two games more in the beginning or middle of the season, I don't believe these fans and "experts" would be so harsh. I mean look at the Packers for god's sake. They were undefeated then lost three in a row! But guess what, they just beat a Vikings team whose offense has been tearing people up lately. Just because you drop a couple games doesn't mean you'll never win again; a little nugget of wisdom for all you so quick to turn on your own team.

Lets talk...Top 25:

Some good news came on Monday for Cincinnati sports fans...the Cincinnati Bearcats check in at No. 24 in the AP Poll. This comes after they put a hurting on Arkansas-Pine Bluff yesterday, 99-50. The Cats have been lighting up the scoreboard in their first four games posting at least 83 points or more. No, they have not played the juggernauts of college basketball, but to see the offense gel is a wonderful thing. Since the exit of star Sean Kilpatrick, running an offense that can score consistently has been a real problem for Mick Cronin and his team. I believe they will always be a defense-first cast, seeing the oh so familiar full-court press that Mick loves so much proves that. However; if they can keep up the intensity on the defensive side, and score points, that is a deadly combination for opponents to combat. Farad Cobb posted his second 20-point game in a row yesterday, hitting four of six from beyond the 3-point line. Four other bearcats also scored in double figures.

Basketball and Bearcats and Bengals...Oh My!

Lets Talk...bearcats basketball:

The time has come! The Bearcats take the court tonight for their home opener, and I couldn't be more excited! With Gunner Kiel and the football team having a tough time with their even tougher schedule this year, Mick Cronin and the boys will be a refreshing sight. That's right, I said Mick Cronin. The head coach we all expect to see on the sideline was watching his team from afar last season after doctors found he had an unruptured aneurysm. Cronin has been cleared to coach this year and will be working with some outstanding returning talent. Floor sergeant Troy Caupain will be returning for his junior season, as well as sophomore forward Gary Clark. The biggest asset being Senior forward Octavius Ellis, who was voted preseason first team All-AAC by the league's coaches.

These returning vets know that this is a defense-first team. Last year they were ranked number six nationally in scoring defense with opponents only averaging 55.8 points per game. However, the Cats did struggle to put points of their own on the board. Cronin says the team is still adjusting to a new style of play offensively, which will run at a faster pace than last season. Despite being unranked in the preseason polls, the Cincinnati hometown fans, including myself, think this team could make a dangerous push in March. The workload starts tonight at 7 as the Cats tip off in Fifth Third Arena against Western Carolina.

Lets Talk...Monday Night Football:

Undefeated. The Bengals sitting at 8-0 look to remain that way against the Houston Texans on Monday Night. The primetime curse was broken against a down and out Cleveland team last Thursday, and for the second week in a row the Bengals will be in the national spotlight. Another Sunday without a Bengals game?! Whatever shall we do?!

Although Houston has had a less than stellar year, they still possess one of the biggest defensive threats in the league; J.J. Watt. Better known as J.J. Swatt to some. He  doesn't just make intriguing commercials, he gets to the quarterback. He matched a career high last season recording 20.5 sacks. The man is a machine. Although, in the meeting with the Texans last year, Watt was not able to penetrate the Bengals O-line. Lets hope recent history can repeat itself as the Bengals look to go 9-0 on Monday.

Ohio Rumble in the Jungle

Lets talk...Sunday's game:

What should've been an offensive shootout, turned into a defensive grudge match between the Bengals and the Steelers this past Sunday. An offense that has been seemingly unstoppable through the first six games, couldn't produce a touchdown until it was nearly over. On the other side, Pittsburgh just got Big Ben back off of the knee injury. Oh yeah, not to mention Le'veon Bell (pre-injury), Martavis Bryant, and Antonio Brown in the mix. But, much to my surprise, it ended with a whopping final score of 16-10. Big Ben looked anything but comfortable in that knee brace, and the Bengals looked SLOPPY for coming off a bye week. I had a bad feeling about that game from the start. Bye week, playing a division rival who just got their star QB back, and it's in Pittsburgh! I could have seen a close one coming from a mile away. I feel like I'm still on my couch with my fingers crossed, watching the final play. But here we are, 7-0. Gosh, does that feel good to say! For the first time in franchise history no less! We're also part of an elite, undefeated crowd that includes: the Broncos, Patriots, and Panthers.

Lets talk... the Brownies:

Don't sleep on Cleveland. Most of the Browns' losses this year have been against quality opponents, and even more of them have come in heartbreaking fashion. Their defense is a force to be reckoned with. One of the top cornerbacks in the league, Joe Haden, will prove to be a fun matchup for A.J Green. Mr. Jonathon Football was just announced as the starter too. I know what you're going to say next, "We smoked Manziel last year, made him look like a fool". Well folks, that was Johnny Rehab. In the games that he has played in this year, he's accurate, makes good decisions with the football, and he's still the mobile QB that he was in college. And lets not forget, Cleveland has taken three of the last five meetings with the Bengals.

One more thing we all have in the back of our minds is...PRIMETIME, dun dun dun. Yes, we are aware that the Bengals have come up short in almost all of their primetime games within the last three years; However, this is a new team. They're undefeated! After that win in Pittsburgh, and the crazy comeback against Seattle, I feel like something is meant to happen for this team this year. Not to mention I'll be in attendance so they better bring home the W!

Heartrates Return to Normal in Cincy

Lets talk...Russell Wilson:

It's always best to get the win, especially when it comes down to the wire, but it's even better when I hear something great about the opposing quarterback. My boyfriend sends me a text message about a woman in her 60s that he works with who came in today with quite the story. He explains to me that this woman lives in the outskirts of Cincinnati and got a knock on her door Saturday afternoon. She opens the door to see Russell Wilson and his girlfriend and pop star, Ciara. Mind you this elderly lady does not know who the two are, or that they are insanely famous. Wilson was born in Cincinnati and proceeds to tell her that he used to live in her house when he was just four years old. He was wanting to take some pictures of the house to remind him of his time there as a child. She said he was super polite so she let him take his pictures as he walked around her home.
 
When he was leaving, Wilson gave the woman and her husband a gift card to a restaurant in town, signed it with his autograph, and thanked them again. As she was explaining the story to her co-workers she said her husband googled his name and they found out he played for the Seahawks. She then exclaimed, "I'm not sure what that is, but that's great!". Too cool.

 

Lets talk...the comeback:

"Did we really just win that game?", the question that was probably heard all around Cincinnati on Sunday. I think I experienced all of my emotions in a one hour period. The Bengals down 17 at the end of the third quarter had me feeling pretty defeated. With so much talk about this team being legitimate this year, I was desperately hoping for a comeback so we could live up to the hype. When Eifert caught his second TD pass of the day, a glimmer of hope shined. Then, Andy Dalton marched down the field and capitalized by taking it into the end zone himself! Alright, we can do this. As time ticked down, and no timeouts remaining, the offense rushed off the field, making room for Nuge. "Hurry up and kick the d@$% ball!". Yes, I scream at my TV. Of course the kick is good, but first it has to bounce off the left upright making every Bengals fan gasp for air. Only fitting that he makes a 42 yarder to seal the deal in overtime. And lets not forget about the defense. Without all of those stops at the end of the game, we'd be singing a different tune.

Lets talk...the significance of 5-0:

Undefeated. Feels good just saying it. There have been many years of agony associated with the Cincinnati Bengals, or the "Bungals" as some used to call them. Recently, this team has made up for those dark times, but there's still something missing...a playoff win. Well let me tell you something you might find interesting. The last time the Bengals went 5-0
was 1988. 1988 was also the year they went to the Super Bowl. I don't want to jinx it, but it's an enlightening stat!

The Quest for 5-0: Seahawks Game Preview

Lets talk...match ups:

The Bengals explosive offense will see one of the best defenses they will face all year today in the Seattle Seahawks. The "legion of boom" is back at full force with Kam Chancellor returning to the lineup. Andy Dalton, who has been near perfection in every game this year, will have to utilize every offensive weapon he has in his arsenal today. The dynamic duo of Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard will need to be working like a well-oiled machine. Hill, who was limited in practice earlier this week, went full throttle in Thursday's practice and will be probable for today's game. Personally, Mr. Hill having a huge game like the one he had last week against the Chiefs would be lovely seeing as my Fantasy team is becoming the laughing stock of my league. My Bengals are undefeated while my fantasy team is the exact opposite. Defeated; staring at 0-5 if they don't get their act together this week.

Alright, alright enough with my Fantasy moans and groans, back to the real thing. After watching the less-than stellar Seahawks' performance last Monday against the Lions, it's clear that this is not the Super Bowl Seahawks' offense. Russell Wilson is just as mobile as ever, but putting points on the board is a struggle. Marshawn Lynch will not play for the second week in a row due to a hamstring injury. This leaves the bulk of the carries to undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls who only boasted 48 yards on 17 rushes last week. Although the Bengals are favored in this game, it will not be an easy task. This is the first time that Russell Wilson has visited Paul Brown Stadium, and he is still considered to be in the upper echelon of QBs in the league.

Lets talk...little known facts:

Marshawn Lynch is a huge part of this Seahawks' offense. Missing Beast Mode is a big blow. Since he joined the team back in 2010, this is the first time he has had to miss consecutive games.

The Bengals have proven to be an offensive powerhouse and the numbers don't lie. In the first two quarters of the games so far this season, they have outscored their opponents 66-18.

The Bengals have only trailed their opponent in all of one minute and 58 seconds this season.

Andy Dalton has owned the NFC. In his career, he has a record of 12-3-1 against NFC teams.

And last but not least, Russell Wilson was born in Cincinnati! He was only here a short time before his family moved to Virginia, but Russell admits it will be nostalgic returning to the Queen City. He also said that he's going to have to eat White Castle's and Skyline Chili on the trip. Well Russell, you load up on a hefty three-way or a couple of coneys before the game. If you move anything like I do after a Skyline meal, the Bengals will be in good shape.

Kick off is at one, WHO DEY!!!!!!!