I know it's been a long time coming, but I really haven't had the time to keep this blog running. Between 18 credit hours this fall semester, covering Xavier's basketball team, and working a job, there's been little extra time on my plate. Nonetheless, it felt necessary to do a holiday-type blog post, I guess. But, for the first time ever, I'm going to comment on some sports related items, other than Reds baseball. Here goes nothing.
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| Freshman Dez Wells has been sens- ational for the Muskies this year. / Bob Stevens |
First, on what's become my other specialty: Xavier basketball. Check out this website for some good stuff (I've heard their lead guy is pretty good). Don't check out of here yet, UC fans, I'll get to the Cats. Not at all surprised by the Muskies' fall. They came into the Crosstown Shootout with something to prove after being embarrassed by the Bearcats last year. Instead of relishing in the huge win, Xavier was embarrassed again, this time by the aftermath. I won't go into it, that'd be beating a dead horse. You want my opinion on that, go here. But I think Xavier was trying to prove their toughness, and it blew up in their face. Now, they pick up the pieces, and are trying to figure out how to be tough while playing basketball, not trash talking. I mean, that's what everyone wants to see, right? Don't think they are done, though. Not by a long shot.
As for UC, I've been impressed (somewhat) with their transformation. And sue me if I watch UC basketball from time to time, even though I am a Xavier student and fan. I enjoy the sport of college basketball and love this town, not just my team. It's not like I support them - my loyalty will always be with Xavier. But my hatred in sports is reserved for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Nonetheless, I digress. I thought UC would fall apart without Yancy Gates. Instead, their four guard offense has exploded. Granted, they haven't played anyone, and Oklahoma tonight will be a good test. And I'm interested to see how they look when Gates and Mbodj come back. If Cronin is smart, he'll use Gates like Mack uses Frease (not that he's getting great results out of him, but whatever), using him for 20-25 minutes a game, while not interrupting the flow of the rest of the offense.
Can't wait for UC's bowl game against Vanderbilt. Really want to see Zach Collaros play one more time, and see Aaron Rodgers' little brother for Vandy. I was at the UC game a couple of years ago when Collaros stepped in for Tony Pike (one of my favorite college QBs) and shredded UConn in that shootout. Unbelievable. Good luck to him.
Meanwhile, the team my loyalty supposedly lies with, Notre Dame, plays tonight. Is it bad that I have to keep looking up who they play, or even to find out what the Irish's record is? I lost interest when they collapsed against Michigan. It's getting old, really old. And that's coming from a Bengals and Reds fan. Think about that. I want Jon Gruden in South Bend. The real game to watch tonight is Baylor-Washington. Really want to see Heisman winner RGIII play.
| Jerome Simpson's unreal acrobatics from Saturday. / The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger |
How big is that loss to Houston for the Bengals now? That would have meant that Sunday's game could have been about playing for the 5 seed, instead of just getting in. Nonetheless, I'm proud of the Red Rifle, Adriel Jeremiah Green, Jumpin' Jerome Simpson, and the no name defense. They've been fun to watch all year long. And I'm glad the fans put aside their difference with Mike Brown for a day to support a team that deserves it. I think Green and Simpson both make big plays against that aging Baltimore secondary, while Gresham comes up big underneath. Dalton doesn't turn the ball over, while Zimmer's defense harasses Flacco, like it has done the last 2 years or so. Bengals 24, Ravens 13.
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| This franchise has been tortured enough. |
If they win Sunday, surely they can win in Houston in the wild card round, right? That would be enormous for this franchise and a team that was picked to be the worst in the NFL. A wild card win sets up a date in Foxboro with Mr. Brady. The way to beat the Pats is the way the G-Men beat them in the Super Bowl in 2008 - with their defensive line putting pressure on Brady. This line can do that, right? I know I'm dreaming, but Flacco and Sanchez took their teams to the AFC Championship their rookie years. Why can't Dalton? He's better now than they were then. Hell, he may be better now than they are now. And things have gone so wrong for this franchise: Greg Cook's shoulder, Joe Montana beating them twice in the Super Bowl, Ki-Jana Carter's knee, Kenny Irons' knee, Carson Palmer's knee and elbow, the fumbled extra point in Denver, the missed 39 yard FG by Graham in the final game of '06, Brandon Stokley's miracle, Chris Henry, and on and on. After years of misery, something went right last Saturday when Early Doucet fell down in the end zone. Is it a change of karma for Cincinnati?
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| Mat Latos / J. Meric/Getty Images |
Now, for what this blog is really about, the Reds. When it first happened, I was not a fan of the Mat Latos trade. I'm a big Yonder Alonso fan, and liked the potential of Brad Boxberger and Yasmani Grandal. Also, much to my chagrin, I've always been enamored with the potential of Edinson Volquez. After spending a while thinking about it, the trade makes sense. Here's why. The Reds are dead set on the idea that Alonso cannot play left field, or third base (not that this matters, since Rolen and Francisco block him there). That means first base is his only position, and he is obviously not supplanting Votto. That makes him expendable and valuable because of his talent. Grandal was blocked by Hanigan and Mesoraco - let's face it, this kid was never going to play here, because those two aren't going anywhere the next 3+ years. And Boxberger, as talented as he is, is a reliever. And a Triple-A reliever for now. We know Edinson wasn't making this team as a starter, so he was useless. All four guys could not make a drastic impact on this 2012 team. Mat Latos can. That's what I know, look up his stats, the kid can pitch. And it's not just because of Petco Park, either.
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| Sean Marshall / R. H. Levey/Getty Images |
As for the Sean Marshall trade, I'm a little less excited. I really like Travis Wood, because when he's on, he's on. Think July 2010 in Philadelphia. Perfect game into the 9th inning. That kind of on. When he's bad, he's bad, though. And young kids are not going to be consistent. I still don't like the deal though, because I don't like giving up Dave Sappelt. That guy can hit. I don't know if he will ever develop into a good outfielder or a good base stealer, but he can flat out hit. A .500+ batting average in spring training isn't a fluke. The other player, Ronald Torreyes, is a single-A player. Not as concerned about him. But if the Reds can't sign the lefty Marshall to an extension, this is a bad deal. If they get it done, the guy is as good a reliever as there is in the game. He either closes, or sets up for the closer. Speaking of that, who closes? Does Cordero come back? Who's in left? Heisey? I hope so. I don't know if he will hit for average, but he will hit for power. He's as good as Cody Ross, or anyone else on the market. Let him play.
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| Say it ain't so, Ryan. |
And how about Albert Pujols departing for Anaheim? Good and bad for Cincinnati. It means the division is still wide open - probably even more so, especially since Fielder will most likely leave Milwaukee. Bad for the Reds in the sense that it sets a general market for Votto. Cincinnati can't afford him. Period. Though I think Castellini is gearing up for an offer - Phillips, Rolen, and Arroyo (minus his deferred money) all come off the books by the end of 2013, when Votto hits the market. Signing Carlos Beltran helps the Cardinals, but it makes them more fragile. They will depend a lot on Beltran and Berkman, a pair of aging stars, as well as two injury prone bats in Allen Craig and David Freese. Who knows what they will get from Adam Wainwright returning from Tommy John, or which Carpenter will show up for his starts. It will be interesting this season in the Central, especially with Ryan Braun coming up positive for PEDs, meaning a 50 game suspension. That's awful. I hope it is false, and Brauny is innocent. He's a great young player, and I hope, for the game's sake, that he didn't do it.
I'll leave you with one SI writer's prediction for the World Series (#10).
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