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.

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.

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!

A.J. Green Will Stay in Stripes

Lets talk...contract extension:

By far A.J. Green is the Bengals biggest offensive weapon, and now he's going to be paid like it. Sources are saying that Green and the Bengals have reached a deal that will span four years for $60 million. Despite the injuries that plagued him last season, Green has shown that he is the go-to guy for Dalton. The Pro Bowl receiver and the organization were anxious to get this deal done before the season opener at Oakland.

Finally this guy gets the money he deserves. Just to give you some perspective; according to ESPN, only Randy Moss, Torry Holt, and Jerry Rice have had more receiving yards in their first four seasons. The elite receivers in this league, (Julio Jones, Dez Bryant, etc.), have all signed monster deals close to $70 million in the recent past. I believe A.J. is right there in the conversation with these guys.  Another thing I admire about Green is that he keeps his head down and does his job. He's not the type of player that is making negative headlines in the media and killing you with ignorant substance abuse suspensions. I respect a player that can fly below the radar in this day and age. And with the Bengals making history being the only team with four straight playoff appearances with zero wins, maybe Green will have the peace of mind to get the rest of the team ready for a playoff victory.

Lets talk...season opener:

Speaking of Jerry Rice, a rookie receiver in Oakland is being named by some "the next Rice". His name...Amari Cooper. The Bengals secondary is really going to have to step up their game against this kid. He is quick and he is smart. I know college doesn't always translate to the NFL, but I watched Cooper extensively during his days at Alabama and he's got something special. I also have him starting on my Fantasy team so I hope I'm not wrong about him. Don't get it twisted! I will be rooting on my beloved Bengals full force on Sunday, as I also have Mr. Jeremy Hill on my Fantasy roster. But, if Cooper could go off and Cincy still gets the victory, I'm all for that too. Kickoff starts
at 4:25 on Sunday, WHO-DEY!!!

The Wild, Wild West

Lets talk...west coast probs:

I'd venture to guess that the Reds are happy to be heading home after an abysmal road trip out west. They only took one game from each series against the Diamondbacks, Padres and Dodgers; yikes. For as long as I can remember, the Reds have struggled on the West coast. It's nothing new to fans that when they hit that long road trip out to the other side of the country, it's probably going to end in disappointment. This whole season has been quite the disappointment really. After the past couple years of being in contention, sitting at the bottom of the Central is not something we've grown accustomed to. It feels like the world has turned upside down, with the exception of the Cardinals who always seem to find their way to the top. But the Pirates and Cubs battling for playoff spots?! If you told me that at the beginning of the season I would've laughed in your face.

Lets talk...the Central division:

Never in my life would I have thought I would envy the Chicago Cubs, but I found myself watching the SportsCenter Featured on Joe Maddon this morning oozing with it. The Cubs, so young and so dominant and Maddon having just the right mix of passion and quirkiness to make an awesome manager. They showed his press conference from when he was officially hired as Cubs' manager and he said that next year they would be in the playoff race. Again, I laughed. I swallow my laughter painfully now as the Cubs stand atop the Reds in the Central.

Watching Maddon's life story on SC made me like him even more, and it got me thinking, what qualities do I enjoy about Bryan Price? The answer is, not many. We don't have a leader at the helm of our ship. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Price is the reason for our less-than-stellar season, but I don't think he is going to lead us back to the winner's circle. We need a guy like Maddon with experience and pizazz, but most of all we need a guy with a winning attitude!

Lets talk...football: 

Football is back! The Bengals with the W this past Friday against the Giants. Yes, I know it's only pre-season, but that doesn't make me any less excited. I saw exactly what I wanted to see from this football team. The starters, including Dalton, came out on that first drive and took care of business. They put points on the board which is what you expect from your first team.
The starters weren't the only stars of the show, a lot of defensive guys looking to earn a spot showed they have what it takes.

In other news, the next time you find yourself at Paul Brown Stadium, there will be a few upgrades you'll notice. They have finally upgraded those outdated video scoreboards. The food in the concession stands has been revamped along with the décor. For you upper-class ticket holders, there will be all new furniture in the club seat lounges. And if you were accustomed to visiting the Pigskin Pub during a game, it will now be the Queen City Tap Room. Who Dey!

Votto Joins Great Company with Three Home Run Game

Lets talk...the record books:

Joey Votto did something yesterday that the average player won't ever do; hit three home runs in a single game. This is the third game in which Votto has gone yard three times, matching Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench. To be in a category with one of the most prolific players in Reds' history and one of the best catchers to play the game must be something special. Two of the historic homers came off of former Red, Aaron Harang. The final blast came off of relief pitcher, Dustin McGowan. Votto wasn't the only one digging the long ball last night. As a team, the Reds put up five home runs, a season high. Shockingly, Harang had only given up four total home runs all season before last night's game. Ironically, the last time he allowed four home runs in a single game was back in 2007 when he was pitching for Cincinnati.

Lets talk...Bearcats' baseball:

Congrats to Ian Happ! He became the highest draft pick in Bearcat history when he was selected ninth overall in the first round on Monday by the Chicago Cubs. Happ was named the 2015 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He finished his junior season with a .369 batting average. All the best to this young outfielder, even though he will be coming up in the Cubs' system ;)

Lets Talk...familiar faces:

TJ Houshmandzadeh joins the Bengals once again, but this time as a part of their coaching staff. Thanks to the Bill Walsh minority coaching program, Houshmandzadeh will serve as a coaching intern on the staff. You may remember him from his time as a wide receiver with the Bengals, although he was a quiet contributor compared to his counter wide-out, Chad Johnson. He was a great player for the Bengals, and I think he will be an asset to the coaching staff as well as the wide receivers.

Two Grand Salamis and...Football? Never too Early

Lets talk...grand slams:

The grand slam is not something you see everyday at the ballpark, much less three in one game. It's probably something we won't see again in a long time. Both of the Reds' grand slams came with two outs in the inning, one from Jay Bruce and the other from Todd Frazier. We really need Bruce to come alive at the plate like that more often to round out the offensive production. The Brewers had just called up Elian Herrera early yesterday which I'd say was a good call, seeing as he hit the grand slam for the Brewers in the sixth. Zack Cozart is really having me question all the trash I talked about him last year with the way he's been swinging the bat lately. He hit two homers last night! He already has four for the year which matches his total home runs for all of 2014. All the long balls were a bit of a shock to me because Miller Park is not known for giving up a whole lot of homers.

Lets talk...about that score:

Were they playing baseball or football last night? The final score was 16-10. At least the Reds were on the winning side because Jason Marquis didn't have a stellar game. He gave up nine hits and five runs in just five innings. Despite the numbers, Marquis did get the win. That puts the Reds at an even .500 now at 7-7, winning two straight against the Brew Crew. The Brewers have the worst record in the majors at 2-12, and the Reds have two more games at Milwaukee before they make the trip back home. Cueto's on the mound tonight, so all we need is the offense to keep rolling. I hate to say it, but maybe Bryan Price's profanity-filled rant was just what this team needed. By the way, Price did publicly apologize for his language, but not the message he was trying to convey.

Lets talk...football:

I didn't fall and hit my head, I know that it's still the month of April; however the 2015-2016 Bengals schedule has been announced! Now, this schedule definitely has some beef to it. There are two NFC West teams, the 49ers and the Seahawks this year, the Broncos are back on the docket in December, and FOUR primetime games. I'm not sure if primetime equals good time given our recent bad luck under the big lights. Andy Dalton does anything but thrive in primetime, but a new year brings new expectations. Personally, I can't wait to see how the season unfolds for the Bengals.

Here's a link to the full schedule:
http://www.bengals.com/schedule/season-schedule.html