Bottom part of Reds' order heating up

When the Reds are able to get hitting out of the bottom of their order, they tend to dominate games. This phenomenon has been on display over the past few games with the 6-8 spots in the order being able to make solid contact and find the gaps off of the opposing pitchers.

In game one of yesterday's doubleheader, with the Reds' regulars on the field against former Moeller pitcher Eric Surkamp, Todd Frazier, Zack Cozart, and Devin Mesoraco were each able to get at least two hits. Frazier looks like he is swinging the bat very well recently. He is now nine for his last twenty-one with six RBI's and four doubles. Frazier has had a hit in eight of the last nine games, and has multi-hit games in the last three outings, including three hits in game two of the doubleheader with Cozart and Mesoraco starting the game on the bench.

Devin Mesoraco is the hottest hitter on the team since the All Star Break. He is hitting .474 in his last nineteen at bats with two homers and six RBI's. Mesoraco is getting more of an opportunity to play with Ryan Hanigan on the shelf with a wrist injury. Mesoraco certainly is on track to become an everyday catcher at the Major League level, and he may have earned some of Dusty Baker's trust by raising his batting average to .258 and still handling solid pitching performances by Bronson Arroyo and Tony Cingrani. There aren't many catchers in the game who can hit like Mesoraco. Joe Mauer and Buster Posey are the exceptions to the rule that catchers aren't usually able to excel at hitting. Mesoraco can join that elite club of top hitting catchers if he becomes the normal starter.

Zack Cozart may finally be getting out of his slump and feeling more comfortable batting lower in the order. Cozart always is consistent in the field, but now he is stringing together some impressive hitting performances and is a big reason the Reds have scored so many runs against the Giants. Cozart is hitting .350 in his last twenty at bats, and was 4/4 with a homer yesterday in the early matchup. Cozart will get less and less grief from the fans if he can raise his batting average up to where it was in the .250-.260 range last season. The Reds don't need as much production from the seventh spot in the order with a good glove like Cozart, but if a player like Cozart continues to get hits, it is a bonus that can lift an entire team up to playing at an advanced level.

The Reds have averaged 5.83 runs per game in the six they have played since the All Star Break. These runs have come off of some notable pitchers on successful teams in
Pittsburgh and San Francisco. Yes, Joey Votto and Shin-Soo Choo are finding their strokes and returning to their elite form, but young players with bright futures such as Frazier, Cozart, and Mesoraco are really giving a boost to Dusty Baker's lineup.

Review of UC's top football freshmen

The Bearcats are starting to gear up for their first season under former Auburn and Texas Tech Head Coach, Tommy Tuberville. The opening of the football season is just over a month away, and training camp will start in the next two weeks to prepare for the first matchup against Purdue. The Bearcats have talent on the roster, but Tuberville's first recruiting class will be expected to compete for roles on the team as well. Here are some of the key prospects to look out for in UC football this season.

Travis Johnson-The top rated prospect that UC was able to corral in the class of 2013 is tight end Travis Johnson from Jesuit High School in Tampa. Johnson was originally considered a wide receiver when he first was on the map as a college recruit, but he added about thirty pounds and now is 6'4 and weighs 231 pounds. Johnson has terrific hands and will be treated like a Delanie Walker of the Titans or Ed Dickson of the Ravens. Johnson will be expected to line up all over the field for the Bearcats as a true freshman in the slot, on the outside, and on the line of scrimmage. The big question with Johnson is if he will be able to contribute in blocking for the running game. If he is able to do so, Johnson and Notre Dame transfer Jake Golic could be a nice one-two punch at the tight end spot.

Rodriguez Moore-The Bearcats desperately need a running back to replace George Winn in 2013, and the top back in Junior College football might do the trick. Rodriguez Moore has the right composition and track record to bring speed and catching ability out of the backfield. Moore will compete with Ralph David Abernathy IV for playing time. Abernathy IV should have the upper hand based on his production last season in kick returning, running, and receiving, but UC has shown a tendency to use more than just one feature back. Abernathy IV could be primed for a breakout season for Cincinnati after over 700 total yards and seven touchdowns in limited playing time last season, but it wouldn't hurt the Bearcats to have a complementary back like Moore.

Rasheen Jones-The hometown kid from Northwest High School could make his mark at outside linebacker next season. He displays the instincts and size to compete at the collegiate level. Jones can rush the quarterback with his 4.69 forty yard dash speed, and also offers run support to a defense that could use a leader at the linebacker spot. Jones had offers from Kentucky, Louisville, and West Virginia, and also had interest from Ohio State and Michigan, but chose to play for the Bearcats, and the team might reward him with playing time sooner rather than later.

Tyler Cogswell and Javon Harrison-No first year Head Coach wants to step into a situation without a quarterback that fits his offense. Tuberville made sure the Bearcats would be stocked with young signal callers for the future by bringing in Cogswell and Harrison. Cogswell is more your prototypical drop back passer with his 6'5, 230 pound frame. He has a strong arm and was originally committed to Arkansas before Bobby Petrino was let go by the school. Harrison was the successor to Braxton Miller at Huber Heights Wayne and fits the up-tempo style of offense that a lot of programs like to run. Harrison is built like Miller and displays some athleticism, but is not as explosive as Miller. Once Tuberville decides the direction his offense is headed, he will be able to decide which quarterback fits within the scheme out of the two players with distinct skill sets. Both quarterbacks should compete for playing time in the next three seasons, but it will be a long hill to climb to unseat Brendon Kay this season and Gunner Kiel, the former Notre Dame backup and top recruit, in 2014.

Dalton or Palmer in 2013?

Cincinnati has certainly moved on from the good and the bad of Carson Palmer now that he has been gone for three seasons. Palmer brought the Bengals back to relevancy after a decade of terrible teams under Dick LeBeau and Dave Shula. He looked like a top three quarterback in the league in 2005 and 2006 while leading the Bengals through the Palmer, Ochocinco, Houshmandzadeh, and Rudi Johnson era. Palmer is now on his third team in four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and the Bengals have a stable situation at the quarterback spot in Andy Dalton. This post will examine both quarterbacks in their respective situations and decide who is on track to have the more productive 2013 season.

Experience: This one has to go to Palmer. Although Palmer is in a new situation with new coaches, he has been a starter since 2004 and knows what it takes to play well in the NFL. Palmer has been all over the West Coast since leaving Cincinnati, and is now hoping to see a resurgence in his career just like Kurt Warner with Arizona. Dalton is in a pivotal year three with the Bengals, and will look to take command of the entire team with his charismatic leadership ability and tendency to win games. All Dalton has done in the NFL is win, and his leadership traits are certainly more evident than Palmer's were while he was with the Bengals.

Supporting cast: Dalton has the better offense around him. Arizona features Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, but the other relevant receivers are Andre Roberts and Ryan Swope. Fitzgerald and Floyd can be forces in any system, but without proven players who can get open besides them, it will be tough for Palmer to find Fitzgerald and Floyd open consistently. Rashard Mendenhall, Stepfan Taylor, and Andre Ellington are all decent running backs, but none of them are special players. Ryan Williams has a chance to be the best running back Arizona has, but he usually ends up getting hurt early on. None of Arizona's tight ends stick out on paper. Palmer will have to find a way to develop a chemistry with Fitzgerald, or it will be a difficult season for the Cardinals.

Dalton now is surrounded with talent on an offense many experts say is stacked this year. AJ Green is a better receiver than Larry Fitzgerald right now, and Mohamed Sanu and Andrew Hawkins can contribute to an offense. Cobi Hamilton and Marvin Jones are also playmakers and may become impact wideouts. Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert make the offense special. Gio Bernard and Benjarvus Green-Ellis will be an excellent one-two punch at the running back spot. The Bengals also have a better offensive line than the Cardinals.

Coaching: Bruce Arians was arguably the best coach in the NFL last season filling in for Chuck Pagano with the Colts, but it is difficult to see the Cardinals performing at the same level the Colts did in 2012. Marvin Lewis has been in the league for a decade and has more playoff experience as a Head Coach than Arians. I'll take Lewis over Arians this season, although Arians will develop into a top level Head Coach down the line. Dalton has been mentored by Offensive Coordinator for three years now, and Gruden has turned Dalton into one of the most successful quarterbacks in the history of the league in his rookie and sophomore seasons. Palmer will be coached by Harold Goodwin, a Bears, Steelers, and Colts assistant. The Bengals coaching staff is one of the best in football, so I expect Cincinnati to have the upper hand in this category.

Skill Set: Palmer has a rocket arm and is a standard drop back quarterback in the NFL. He has thrown for almost 30,000 yards in his career, but has also thrown 130 interceptions. Palmer is not as accurate as Dalton in short and intermediate passing, but Palmer is the better deep ball thrower by quite a wide margin. Dalton is probably more adept at squeezing the ball into tight coverages and finding the open receiver quickly, although Palmer goes through more progressions. Dalton also has the ability to run the ball much better than Palmer, who prefers to always stay in the pocket and will take sacks if the pocket collapses. Dalton is only twenty-five while Palmer is thirty-three. Palmer looks more the part of a prototypical quarterback with his 6'5 stature as Dalton stands at 6'2. However, with the way Drew Brees and Russell Wilson have succeeded as shorter quarterbacks, it's looking more and more like height really doesn't matter all that much at the position. Palmer threw for over 4,000 yards and twenty-two touchdowns last season with the Raiders as he had the more explosive statistical season than Dalton. Dalton did have the better quarterback rating and more touchdown passes, not to mention the much better team, but he also had more picks than Palmer in 2012. The Bengals had one of their most lopsided victories in quite some time against Palmer in 2012. They won 34-10 as Dalton threw for 210 yards, three touchdowns, and earned a quarterback rating of 109 as opposed to Palmer's 64.1. I think Palmer's raw ability to throw the football is slightly better than Dalton's heading into this season, but I do think Dalton has room to grow and become a top ten quarterback statistically starting in 2013.

The Edge: Emphatically the edge goes to Andy Dalton. Palmer may have a couple more 4,000 yard seasons left in him, but he is on the tail end of his career and is reckless with the ball. Dalton is just getting started in the NFL and the Bengals have complete trust in him. Palmer may be on a short leash if he struggles with Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley on the bench. Dalton will never be pulled from a game because the Bengals have put the trust of their entire franchise into him as the starter. Palmer is not indispensable and is really a stop-gap player for the Cardinals for when they select a future starter in the draft. The Cardinals may have a decent season statistically, but they are in the toughest division in football with the 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams, and they have too many new players to gel so quickly. The Bengals are a dark horse team to make a Super Bowl run.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Road trip observations and doubleheader preview

The Reds began a treacherous road trip against West Coast teams on Monday starting with the defending World Series Champs on Monday and following with four games against the red hot Dodgers and three against the Padres. The road trip began on a high note with a dominant 11-0 complete performance by the Reds against Tim Lincecum. The Reds have to now move on to a doubleheader today as one of the games will feature the Reds as the home team because it is a makeup game of a previous rainout.

-The post no hit struggles continue for pitchers in the MLB. Tim Lincecum was the latest pitcher to falter after throwing a no-no in over 140 pitches before the All Star Break just like Homer Bailey before him and Johan Santana last season. Bailey gave up ten hits and four runs in less than six innings after his no hitter, and Johan Santana ended up with a fatigued arm that shut him down for possibly the remainder of his career. Everybody in the Reds lineup was making contact against Lincecum, who gave up nine hits and eight earned runs in not even four innings of work. Lincecum has been up and down this season, but mostly down. He is not the same pitcher that won the Cy Young a few years ago. Lincecum's ERA bloated to 4.73 and the Reds gave him his tenth loss of the year.

-Every position player the Reds put into the game yesterday with the exception of Neftali Soto earned at least a base hit yesterday. The Reds got on the Giants pitchers early, scoring eleven runs in seven innings, and were even able to rest Joey Votto, Shin-Soo Choo, and Brandon Phillips late in the game. Derrick Robinson showed some promise as a center fielder with a slick grab to end the game by robbing Jeff Francoeur of a homer in the ninth. Playing Robinson in center field might be the best primary option when giving Shin-Soo Choo a day off from time to time.

-Robinson, Devin Mesoraco, and Todd Frazier were the stars of the game. This shows the potential the Reds have when their secondary players get on base and help drive in runs. The stars can't do it all game in and game out. Robinson not only flashed some standout defense, but he also had three hits and scored three times to raise his average back to .266. Robinson is a solid contact hitter so it was surprising to see his average dip so much during his recent slump. Mesoraco also had three hits, including a long homer and two RBI's. The more Mesoraco is in the lineup, the better he is becoming both behind home plate and with the bat. Mesoraco is the type of hitter who needs to see as many pitches as possible and get used to the way MLB pitchers locate pitches. He is at the plate to swing the bat, and his strikeouts come from an unfamiliarity with the players he is facing. Mesoraco's stock is definitely on the upswing. Frazier really broke the game open with three RBI's in the first inning to make the score 3-0. The Reds never looked back and the early runs helped Bronson Arroyo display cool confidence and settle into a groove.

-Arroyo pitched his best game of the year on Monday. The rest from the All Star Break seemed to help Arroyo return refreshed on the mound with a masterful complete game shutout in which he didn't walk anyone and struck out six hitters. Sure, the Giants hitters looked disinterested at times with the large deficit, but for Arroyo to key in and pitch nine spotless innings of baseball is extremely impressive. Arroyo could have a monster second half with his contract situation looming in the offseason. If Arroyo wants an extension, he needs to help carry the Reds into the playoffs and win when he gets there. It wouldn't be surprising if Arroyo tied his career high in wins of seventeen in 2010.

-A split of the doubleheader today would be fine for the Reds, but a sweep is highly possible and I would even say the Reds are favored in both games today. Tony Cingrani has a 2.70 ERA in his last three starts and has become one of the top young pitchers in the league with his nasty lefty fastball. Cingrani today faces a pitcher who hasn't pitched in the MLB this season in Eric Surkamp, who is coming off of Tommy John Surgery last season. Greg Reynolds will get the call in game two of the doubleheader against a staple of the Giants' rotation, Barry Zito. Zito is 3-5 with an ERA of six against the Reds, and he has struggled in his last three starts with an ERA up over seven. Reynolds is a Triple A All Star and the best pitcher on the Bats this season. Reynolds is a terrific success story, and his resiliency after struggling with Colorado is commendable. Reynolds has the ability to have staying power in the big leagues after being selected in the first round in the second spot overall, and he will finally get his shot to start again in Cincinnati. Reynolds is not on the 40-man roster, so a move will have to be made to bring Reynolds up. Justin Freeman, Pedro Villareal, and Josh Ravin are candidates to be taken off of the 40-man roster. Reynolds is 10-2 with a 2.54 ERA in his Louisville starts, and now pitches in the majors for the first time since 2011. He may be able to stay on the club as a long reliever like converted starter Sam LeCure a few years ago. The Reds have had success with converted starters like LeCure and Alfredo Simon in the past, so I wouldn't be surprised if Reynolds takes the spot of Curtis Partch on the roster permanently.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Ludwick's rehab assignment creates anticipation for complete lineup

Ryan Ludwick is entering a rehab stint with the Dayton Dragons on Wednesday and will move up the ranks of the minors during that rehab period in order to be integrated back with the Reds in the next twenty days. Ludwick will probably be back before those twenty days are through. I would guess the Reds will take it pretty slowly, but I could see him coming back as soon as the Cardinals series from August 2-4.

Ludwick's presence alone presents the Reds with a more appealing lineup for the final two months of the season. The Reds can shift Ludwick in the fourth spot in the order when he comes back and let him gradually work the rust off of his swing. Shin-Soo Choo and Brandon Phillips would then become the first two hitters with Joey Votto remaining in the third spot. Phillips is a natural fit in the second spot in the order just as Ludwick fits in the cleanup spot. Ludwick will take some time to get back to hitting like he did late last season. In fact, he said he might not be one hundred percent for the rest of this season. I do believe Ludwick can hit about ten to fifteen home runs before the season ends because of his resiliency and experience with injuries in the past. Ludwick has been around the league for quite some time now. He fractured his hip coming up to the majors with Texas in 2002, so he knows his body well and can adjust to the ups and downs of coming back from major surgery.

Ludwick's freak injury from sliding into third base during the first game of this season threw the Reds off of their plan for the season. Chris Heisey then struggled at the plate and consequently stepped up when he came back off the DL from an injury himself. Derrick Robinson and Xavier Paul have hit well at times this season, but both can be streaky at the plate. Adding Ludwick to the plethora of left fielders available to the Reds right now will stabilize the position and add competition. Paul will probably remain on the team as a lefty bat although Robinson offers his switch hitting and dynamic speed. The Reds never steal bases under Dusty Baker as manager, however, so Robinson's speed only goes so far in Cincinnati. Ludwick and Heisey could even platoon at the left field position, giving Ludwick time to catch up and Heisey more opportunities to raise his batting average back to a respectable number. Here is what the lineup will look like in a few weeks and how it helps the Reds.

1. Shin-Soo Choo-No changes here. Choo has been an expert all season long at getting on base and earning timely hits, so he will deservedly remain leading off.
2. Brandon Phillips-Phillips hits best batting second, according to GM Walt Jocketty in an AP story. "He has been all over the lineup and has been great about it, but we think his best spot in the order is second," Jocketty said earlier this year. Phillips should be applauded for his work in the cleanup spot with over seventy RBI's already, but he can focus at getting on base and moving runners over in the two hole.
3. Joey Votto-Much like Choo, Votto deserves to hit third, although batting him second right now without Ludwick in the lineup is an appealing option. Dusty Baker will never move Votto out of the third spot in the order.
4. Ryan Ludwick-The catalyst of the Reds' lineup. When he is in the lineup, he brings the Reds stability and a consistently productive group from top to bottom. When he is injured, the Reds tend to be inconsistent. Even though Cincinnati is twelve games over .500, the team can and will improve with a healthy fourth hitter.
5. Jay Bruce-Dusty Baker won't move Bruce in the order because he is one of the team's best power hitters and Baker doesn't want him in the fourth spot with back-to-back left handers. Bruce will have more opportunities for RBI's with Ludwick hitting in front of him.
6. Todd Frazier-Frazier was best last season with Ludwick excelling a couple spots ahead of him in the order. Both Frazier and Ludwick had career seasons and spectacular second halves last year, and they were two of the key reasons the Reds won the division crown.
7. Zack Cozart-Cozart is a quality player in the seventh spot in the order. The problem comes about when the Reds try to bat a shortstop who struggles to make contact second in the lineup. Cozart continues to exceed expectations with his impact fielding ability and has shown an ability to go through hitting surges. His main problem is consistency and putting together a string of productive hitting performances. That will come with more and more at bats. For now, let Cozart get through his troubles hitting seventh.
8. Devin Mesoraco-Right now, it seems that Mesoraco has surpassed Cozart as the best young player getting playing time in the Reds' batting order. Mesoraco is hitting .241 this season, a respectable mark for a catcher, and has shown some power with four homers and twenty-one RBI's in his 179 at bats. Mesoraco could see an increase in playing time with Ryan Hanigan struggling to stay healthy and get hits this season.
9. Pitcher-Mike Leake and Mat Latos are the two best hitting pitchers on the team. However, there is no Micah Owings on this Reds team hitting wise.

Bengals cut Wharton, create more cap room

The Bengals made another trimming of the roster move on Monday after cutting Jamaal Anderson on July 10 by releasing offensive guard Travelle Wharton. Wharton was signed in 2012 as the first free agent of that year to agree to play for the Bengals with a three year contract, and he was expected to become the starter at the right guard spot with the departure of Bobbie Williams. Wharton then missed the entire season with a torn ACL, but was rehabbing properly since his surgery and would have been a quality backup at both guard spots this season.

The Bengals might have a corresponding move in mind after releasing Wharton, who at the very least would have fit well as a veteran in the Bengals' locker room after showing he could contribute in games for Carolina before joining Cincinnati. The move creates an extra two million dollars of cap space, leaving the Bengals in a situation of being almost eighteen million dollars below the salary cap. The releases of Jamaal Anderson and Travelle Wharton are due to one of two things.

First, the Bengals could be giving themselves as much financial flexibility as possible in order to re-sign Geno Atkins before the season and Michael Johnson after the season. Atkins will be due to make more than Haloti Ngata in 2014 based on his production with the team. Ngata signed a five year deal worth nearly fifty million with the Ravens, so the Bengals would probably have to start the negotiations at five years for at least sixty million to get Atkins to think about signing.

The second option the Bengals might be thinking of with the release of Wharton is bringing in either Kerry Rhodes or Chris Crocker to compete for the strong safety spot. Rhodes and Crocker would demand at least two million on a one year contract, so that could be why the Bengals released Wharton now instead of letting him play out training camp.

Crocker was a solid presence for the Bengals last season. Mike Zimmer really likes the security Crocker brings to the secondary, and since not everyone on a defense can be an All Pro, there is always room for a well traveled and savvy veteran like Crocker. Rhodes would be a big splash in free agency for the Bengals considering he was rated as a top ten safety last season. However, it may be difficult for him to learn the Bengals' defense in such short notice before camp and fit in with a new team atmosphere after playing in New York and Arizona throughout his career. Rhodes would also demand a little bit more money than Crocker for signing a contract, but would also probably provide Cincinnati with better statistical production in 2013-14.

Baker botches Reds' chance for sweep

The Cincinnati Reds had a tremendous opportunity over the weekend to earn a three game sweep over the Pittsburgh Pirates, one of two teams ahead of the Reds in the division standings. Cincinnati took care of business over the first two games of the series after standout performances by Chris Heisey and Brandon Phillips in five run outbursts by the offense in each game. Game three was totally in reach to pull out a victory for the Reds, but the pitchers duel between Pirates ace Jeff Locke and Homer Bailey went south in the seventh inning with the game tied at one.

Dusty Baker elected to leave Homer Bailey in the game after six solid innings where he consistently reached 95-99 MPH on the radar gun. The only problem with leaving Bailey in to face the Pirates in the seventh was that Bailey had already thrown about one hundred pitches for the game. Bailey went up against the bottom part of the Pirates' order and clearly was laboring after getting Garrett Jones to strike out swinging. He gave up a double and a couple singles to make the score 3-1, putting the onus on the Reds' offense to make up a large deficit in just a few innings.

Baker really should have just taken Bailey out after Michael McKenry's double. McKenry is one of the worst hitters in the Pirates' lineup, and for him to hit the ball sharply in that situation showed that Bailey needed to be relieved. Plus, the way the bullpen has been pitching lately from top to bottom has taken a lot of pressure off of a previous issue on the team. The Reds aren't even worried about getting Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall back anymore. After McKenry's double, Bailey was at the 110 pitch mark and did not need to throw any more in his start. Baker claimed that he was trying to get Bailey the win in the game, but one win for a pitcher doesn't warrant a possibility of a tired arm or blowing a tie game due to a starter's fatigue, which is exactly what happened. I don't blame Bailey for the loss; I blame the manager who had JJ Hoover ready to go in the bullpen and could see the trouble brewing. Bailey is now set back for a start because he threw over 120 pitches in the game. Bailey will have to throw less pitches in his next start just a week and a half after the All Star Break because of Baker's blunder.

Dusty Baker has the reputation of leaving pitchers in game about an inning too long. Baker's reputation held true in Sunday's game. A manager should be the reason a team wins, not the reason a team loses. The manager's job is to monitor his players and know when enough is enough. Bailey had thrown a great game up to that point in the seventh, but sometimes, a standout performance doesn't always net a victory. Baker should have been content with six dazzling innings in which Bailey displayed his best stuff on the mound.

There is nothing wrong with going to the bullpen in the latter part of a game. That's why those pitchers are on the team. The Reds ended up putting one more run on the board in the eighth inning, but fell back in the standings once again with a 3-2 loss. The team is five games back of St. Louis again and three back of the Pirates. Who knows what could have happened if Baker took Bailey out of the game before the seventh or after that double with one out. The Reds could have limited the damage to no runs or just one run, and it could have resulted in a pivotal sweep. A sweep would have meant the Reds would be within a game of the Pirates and a manageable four back from the Cards. Baker should be respected as a top notch manager and one of the winningest of all time, but he made a key mistake yesterday that cost the Reds a big game.

Top 10 veterans to make an impact: Part 2

The top five veteran players on the Bengals will be expected to bear a heavy load to help carry the team to the playoffs for three consecutive seasons in the NFL, a feat that only the elite teams in the league such as Baltimore and New England can claim. These vets have experienced the successes in Cincinnati since 2011, and they are a large reason the Bengals have experienced a rebirth and culture change in the second half of Marvin Lewis' tenure. Here are the five players the Bengals will lean heavily on for production and leadership in the locker room.

5. Michael Johnson-Johnson is the most productive defensive end on the roster, and probably the most feared by opponents as well. Johnson earned $11 million this season after a career year in 2012-13 when he added muscle weight and collected fifty-two tackles and 11.5 sacks. Basically, the Bengals are expecting Johnson to duplicate what he did last season and will pay about a million dollars per sack if he reaches last season's career climax in his fifth year. Johnson is the type of menacing defensive end every team in the NFL covets. He is 6'7 and weighs 270 pounds and is built like Bears star rusher Julius Peppers. This might be Johnson's final season in a Cincinnati uniform, and that might motivate him to play even harder. Johnson knows the significance of a standout season in terms of financial reward, and there's no doubt if he can mimic what he did last year, someone will invest the future of a franchise in Johnson. 

4. Leon Hall-Hall could easily be the most underrated cornerback in the NFL. He is a versatile and athletic corner who can cover the opposing team's best receiver if given the assignment. Hall is also the leader of the defensive backs and has proven to be a playmaker since 2007 with twenty-two interceptions during that time. The secondary should be largely in tact this season, and with Hall gaining stability on his previously injured Achilles, he should easily surpass his total of two interceptions last season. Hall is the best lockdown corner in the AFC North.

3. AJ Green-Nobody disputes the ability of third year wideout AJ Green. In fact, many people are wondering what two players could possibly be ahead of Green on this list. Green has shown freakish talent since coming out of Georgia. He built on a fabulous rookie season with ninety-seven receptions for 1,350 yards and eleven touchdowns last year. Green should be expected to catch one hundred balls this year with more attention concentrated on talented targets Mohamed Sanu, Tyler Eifert, and even Giovani Bernard. Green does everything really well, but the thing that holds him back slightly from being the best in the league is his tendency to disappear at times in the game. If Green can consistently get open over and over again throughout the sixty minutes of an NFL contest, there's no reason he can't overtake Calvin Johnson for the best receiver spot.

2. Andy Dalton-I really like Dalton in year three. His quiet confidence displayed throughout the offseason tells me he is gearing up for a special year. Dalton now considers himself in charge of the offense and he will certainly demand more out of himself and the players around him this year, which include new additions Cobi Hamilton, Tyler Eifert, and Giovani Bernard. Not many quarterbacks have done what Dalton has his first two seasons in the league in terms of winning. Dalton transformed TCU into a Rose Bowl Champion, and now he is shifting Cincinnati from a laughing stock to a top five team. Look for Dalton to throw for over thirty touchdowns this season and cut down on the major thing that plagued him last year, interceptions. Dalton has gotten off to hot starts in each of his first two years but has faded down the stretch. With two full years under his belt, the "red rifle" should be more prepared for the long haul.

1. Geno Atkins-Atkins is one of the best players in the NFL, and certainly is the best defensive tackle the league has to offer. Since becoming a steal of a draft pick in 2010, Atkins has used his ideal pass rushing body type to confuse offensive lines. Atkins is one of the strongest players on the team at 6'1, 303 pounds, and creates leverage issues for opposing offenses, exposing mismatches and getting to the quarterback. Atkins had three games with two sacks last year and finished with 12.5 total sacks and four forced fumbles. Atkins is also in a contract year and is in line for a large extension possibly before the season. 

Top 10 Bengals veterans to make an impact: Part 1

The Bengals start training camp in just under two weeks. Expectations are extremely high this season in a championship or bust year for a team that is looking to bounce back from consecutive playoff losses. There are plenty of standouts on the 2013 Bengals roster, and many of the Bengals are at the top of the league at their respective positions. These are the top ten non-rookies who are the best of the best on one of the AFC's most talented teams.

10. Kevin Zeitler-Zeitler was the definition of a plug-and-play acquisition that the Bengals envisioned him to be when they selected him with their second pick in the first round in 2012. Zeitler handled all of his responsibilities at the right guard spot masterfully in his rookie season by starting every game and earning a grade of +13.3 by Pro Football Focus. Zeitler will only continue to improve and will ultimately take over the leadership role on the offensive line from Andrew Whitworth in a few years. This season, Zeitler can become the best interior offensive lineman the Bengals have had since Eric Steinbach.

9. James Harrison-Harrison was the biggest acquisition the Bengals made in the offseason when he signed a two year deal to become the starting "SAM" linebacker for Cincinnati. Harrison will certainly be counted on to have an impact year for the Bengals with a lot of pass rushing attention focused on Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, and Michael Johnson. Harrison had six sacks and two forced fumbles on a less talented pass rushing Steelers defense last season. No doubt Harrison can still play at a high level at 35 years old and the Bengals might catch lightning in a bottle and see Harrison take his game back to the 2008-10 stretch when he had 36.5 sacks.

8. Vontaze Burfict-If it wasn't for Cincinnati native and St. Xavier High School product Luke Kuechly taking up all the attention, Burfict would have easily been considered the top young linebacker prospect in the NFL after joining the Bengals from the ranks of the undrafted. Burfict was a great hitter at Arizona State, but his decision making was suspect in college and when he got his life on track as a professional, Burfict became a consistent force in passing and run defense. Burfict was a tackling machine last season with 127 and also had two fumble recoveries. Burfict will once again be counted on as a solid presence on the Bengals' defense, and there's no reason to believe he won't improve.

7. Mohamed Sanu-People may think Sanu is being overvalued in the seventh spot out of all of the Bengals' veteran players, but Sanu's ability to catch almost every ball thrown his way is right there with AJ Green's. Sanu played in nine games last season and only started a few, but he caught four touchdowns in those starts and helped guide the offense into a high octane, scoring machine. Sanu finished with sixteen catches for 154 yards before he went down with a season ending injury, but he has responded well this offseason and looked like a mismatch for defenses once again in workouts. A healthy Sanu on the field means a better Andy Dalton and a better AJ Green.

6. Jermaine Gresham-Gresham's final game of the season against the Texans may put a damper in the minds of some fans in regards to his receiving ability, but Gresham really had a fantastic year for the Bengals at the tight end spot. People tend to forget some of the tight ends before Gresham who had no  impact in the receiving game. Gresham blocks well and is too big for a cornerback to cover and too quick for a linebacker to cover. He needs to be much more consistent when the ball is thrown his way, but Gresham is just twenty-five years old and should continue to work on his craft and get better. Gresham finished last season as a Pro Bowler with 737 yards and five touchdowns. The 6'5 target will also benefit from two tight end sets that will leave him in favorable coverage match ups because of the addition of rookie Tyler Eifert.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Top Reds at the break

The Reds have had a 2013 season to remember. Cincinnati is now used to the Reds' winning culture that the Dusty Baker and Joey Votto era has cultivated for the first time in decades. The team is positioned in a decent spot eleven games over .500 and five games back from the first place Pirates. There are still many doubters as to whether the Pirates can maintain consistent winning and capture a division title. The Reds and Cardinals are the more proven teams, and with the Cardinals and Reds about to get healthier before the pennant race, it could come down to the last few weeks of the season for the MLB's most competitive division. The Reds have many contributors all across the infield, outfield, on the bench and in the bullpen, and on the mound, but there are five players that have stood out above the rest this season.

5. Aroldis Chapman-The closer has been lights out almost all season long. With the exception of a couple negative games, Chapman has been dominant in the closer role once again in 2013. He can still fire fastballs 103 MPH, and he has built upon his success with the slider this season. There have been reports recently that the Reds should trade Chapman. I don't care who the Reds could get in return, including Miami left fielder Giancarlo Stanton; Chapman should be untouchable this season in Walt Jocketty's mind. He is too valuable when the game is on the line and when something isn't broken on a team, don't try to fix it. I think the Reds organization is much more comfortable with Chapman in the ninth inning than with Francisco Cordero in 2010 when the Reds made the playoffs.
Stat Line: 3-3 2.79 ERA, 21 saves in 24 opportunities, 64 strikeouts, 1.12 WHIP, .175 opponent batting average

4. Brandon Phillips-This spot is really a toss up between Phillips and Jay Bruce, but I went with Phillips because of his quick adjustment to batting cleanup and his off the charts fielding ability. Phillips  is the ultimate adaptor to any lineup Dusty Baker puts out, and he has adjusted to the fourth spot perfectly by leading the Reds in RBI's and being near the top of the NL in that category. Phillips is on pace to easily set a career high in RBI's. Phillips has also embraced the city of Cincinnati and played the game with pure joy and enthusiasm. Phillips is a clutch hitter and playmaker in the field who has molded his game to rival what Joe Morgan did for the franchise in the 70's.
Stat Line: .266 AVG, .320 OBP, 12 home runs, 74 RBI's, 44 double plays turned

3. Mike Leake-It's surprising to see Leake as the top performer in the Reds' rotation, especially after a mediocre 2012 when his ERA was in the mid fours. Leake is tied for the team lead in wins, and is second on the team in ERA by pitcher who has pitched in more than eleven games right behind Sam LeCure. Leake has resurrected his reputation as a rising young arm in the game. Many have compared his savvy baseball mind and ability to hit the correct spots while pitching to Greg Maddux. Leake is well on his way to making All Star appearances and becoming at least a third pitcher in the rotation.
Stat Line: 8-4, 2.69 ERA, 117 innings pitched, 26 walks

2. Shin-Soo Choo-Choo is the best leadoff hitter Dusty Baker has ever had, and he has helped the top half of the batting order tremendously. Choo is one of the best all around players the Reds have in terms of fielding, running, hitting for average and power, and getting on base. Choo is a five tool player and his addition to the club along with the trade for Mat Latos last season has led to the Reds' resurgence to a playoff caliber team. Choo gets on base almost as much as Joey Votto, and his transition to center field has been virtually seamless with his cannon for an arm and above average tracking range for fly balls. Choo may be playing his final half of baseball for the Reds, but even if that's true, fans should just enjoy the remainder of his time in a Cincinnati uniform.
Stat Line: .287 AVG, .425 OBP, 13 home runs, 31 RBI's, 64 walks, 11 stolen bases

1. Joey Votto-Votto has returned to All Star and MVP form after being thrown off his rhythm with a knee injury in 2012. Votto has been the best in the big leagues at getting on base, and when he is locked in and seeing the ball well, no pitcher can get him out. Votto hit .388 in the month of May and it wouldn't be surprising if he was able to pick his average back up in August when the games really begin to decide who remains in the playoff race. Votto leads the Reds in average, on base percentage, and walks. He is seventh in the NL in batting average this season.
Stat Line: .318 AVG, .434 OBP, 15 home runs, 42 RBI's, 71 walks

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Cincy Sports Spot Awards: Part 2

Best Breakthrough Player: Todd Frazier-Frazier finally got his shot at third base in the MLB in 2012 when Scott Rolen went on the disabled list, and became one of the top rookies in the National League by flashing power and a consistent glove. Frazier hit .273 with nineteen homers and almost seventy RBI's. Frazier was the second best option the Reds had late in the season with Joey Votto out besides Ryan Ludwick. Not many fans expected Frazier to be more than a bench player in 2012 with the leader of the team at third base in Scott Rolen, but the native of New Jersey proved to be extremely valuable and the franchise third baseman for the next several years.

Best Fighter: Adrien Broner-The twenty-three year old who stands at 5'7, 147 pounds from Cincinnati is quickly becoming one of the best lightweight boxers in the world. Broner is currently unbeaten at 26-0 with 22 knockouts, and he is coming off of a big victory over Paul Malignaggi in late June. Broner has the skills to continue to move up the ranks of boxing as a three time world champion, and he is bringing the sport of boxing back to relevance in the city of Cincinnati with his ties to the area.

Best Play: Brandon Phillips double play-Phillips made one of the greatest defensive plays of all time on May 9 against the Brewers when he turned two by himself. Phillips grabbed the ball bare handed, fell to his knees tagging the base in fluid motion, and firing the ball to Joey Votto. Pure wizardry and something you will never see again in the game of baseball. Phillips continues to build his resume as a top three defensive second baseman of all time.

Best MLB Player: Johnny Cueto-Cueto was the workhorse of the Reds' rotation in 2012, pitching over 200 innings and earning nineteen victories, a career high. Cueto made a bold case to be the best pitcher in the majors and finished just short of his first Cy Young. Cueto also pitched in each of his scheduled starts throughout the year and finished with an ERA under three for the second time in his career at 2.78. Cueto was the reason pitching wise that the Reds were able to win the NL Central.

Best Record Breaking Performance: Marvin Lewis-Lewis returned for his tenth season as the Bengals' Head Coach, a franchise record, and led the team to a 10-6 record with wins over Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Lewis was masterful handling a team that started the 2012-13 season 3-5. He isn't the best in-game manager with his overly conservative game plans and questionable challenge calls, but Lewis knows how to run meetings and get the most out of his players. Lewis did a great job making Andy Dalton and Rey Mauluga team captains, and the team responded extremely well by winning seven of the last eight regular season games. Lewis is looking to make his third straight playoff appearance this upcoming season.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Cincy Sports Spot Awards: Part 1

The ESPY Awards show takes place tonight on ESPN heralding the best players, teams, and moments of the past year. Although there are no players from any of the Cincinnati sports teams nominated to receive awards on tonight's show, there are plenty of deserving players on professional and collegiate teams in the local area. Many players have risen to stardom and teams in the city like the Bengals and Reds have accomplished more than in the past twenty years with back to back playoff appearances and almost one hundred victories respectively. Now, Part 1 of Cincy Sports Spot's first annual awards for Cincinnati teams and players.

Best Athlete: Geno Atkins-Atkins collected 12.5 sacks to lead defensive tackles this past season, and could have easily been the Defensive Player of the Year if it wasn't for the amazing year JJ Watt had for the Texans. Atkins is already probably the best nose tackle the Bengals have ever had. Yes, that includes Tim Krumrie. He brings a rare skill set with his speed rushing and unbelievable leg strength. Atkins is almost impossible to block for an entire game.

Best Upset: Cincinnati over Marquette 71-69 (OT)-The Bearcats needed a signature win in mid January to make March Madness, and a victory over twenty-fifth ranked Marquette fit that bill. Sean Kilpatrick hit the game winning shot in that game with less than five seconds left during a dynamic scoring performance of thirty-six points. Kilpatrick hit five three pointers in the game for Cincinnati, who went on to make the tournament and lose to Creighton in the first round.

Best Male College Athlete: Semaj Christon-Christon was largely left to lead the rebuilding Xavier Musketeers in 2012-2013. The Musketeers had to play two walk-ons throughout the season, and Top 100 recruit Semaj Christon was the standout as a freshman. Christon almost single handedly willed his team to victory against ranked teams Memphis and St. Louis with thirteen and twenty points respectively. Christon became the nation's second best point guard heading into the offseason right behind Marcus Smart after he averaged 15.2 points, almost three rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Christon can easily play his way into the top ten in next year's NBA draft.

Best Coach/Manager-Dusty Baker-As much as fans like to give Baker grief for some of his decisions in regards to lineups and pitching changes, not many people can argue with the results of a manager who has become one of the winningest managers in the history of baseball. The Reds finished with 97 wins in 2012, making the playoffs and winning the first two games before losing the next three to the World Series Champions. Baker currently has the Reds in a Wild Card spot with the Reds sitting pretty comfortably in third in the NL Central eleven games over the .500 mark.

Best Moment: Bengals defeat Steelers 13-10 in Week 16-Just before Christmas, the Bengals got an early present by clinching a playoff spot with a win over the Steelers. The game decided a Wild Card spot and clinched the Bengals' second straight playoff appearance for the first time since 1981-82. The game was extremely ugly and low scoring as the Bengals rushed for just fourteen yards, but Andy Dalton hit AJ Green near the sidelines at the right time with under a minute left in the game to set up a game winning field goal by kicker Josh Brown. What an exciting victory for a historically playoff starved Cincinnati Bengals franchise.

Best Comeback-Leon Hall-Hall suffered a season ending Achilles injury after playing in nine games in 2011, and made it back after a commendable rehab period to play in fourteen games in 2012. Hall collected two interceptions, including one for a touchdown against the Steelers, and also earned a pick against the Texans in the playoffs. Hall has become a marquee cornerback in the league, and he does it the right way by being a consummate professional. Look for Hall to only improve after a full year back from the injury.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Reds All Star Game predictions

Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto will be representing the Reds in the top third of the batting order when the All Star Game begins tonight at Citi Field in New York at 7:30 with Phillips in the leadoff spot making his first start and Votto hitting his usual third. Aroldis Chapman will be waiting for the latter part of the game before he gets a call from the bullpen. All three Reds should play major roles for the National League team whether the team wins or loses. This is a big game for the three Reds players because if the Reds make the playoffs and their ultimate goal of the World Series, they will certainly need the home field advantage heading into the later games in a playoff series. Here is what fans should expect from the three Reds players in the midsummer classic tonight.

Joey Votto: Votto is hitless in his three prior All Star Games. He went 0/3 last year including a strikeout, so look for Votto to try and get his first hit early in the game. I think Votto will have a hit this year in one of his first two at bats after being considered the best hitter in the order due to his positioning in the lineup by Bruce Bochy.

Brandon Phillips: Phillips went 0/1 in the 2011 All Star Game after Rickie Weeks started above him for the NL that year. Phillips is now expected to be the table setter for the roster in an unnatural spot in the order for him right now. Phillips is probably most comfortable batting in the two hole, but his competitive juices and the adrenaline will certainly be flowing in his first start in the game. I'm not sure Phillips will be able to focus enough against top pitchers to get a hit tonight, but he will make some flashy plays in the field at second base. Mark that down.

Aroldis Chapman: Chapman was in the All Star Game last season when he pitched a third of an inning with a strikeout and a walk. Chapman might get more than just one out this year as one of the top five closers in the MLB. The NL will want to
display its power arms in this game, and Chapman, who reached 103 MPH against the Braves last weekend, can wow the New York crowd. Chapman will probably be given a full inning tonight, and if his fastball and slider are working right, he will rack up a couple strikeouts.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Extension of Dunlap leaves Johnson in limbo

The Bengals agreed to a contract extension with one of their defensive ends yesterday. The extension was not the one that had to get done with Michael Johnson before the deadline of the franchise tenders officially going through for the 2013 season. Instead, Carlos Dunlap got the big five year extension worth $40 million. It's an interesting signing for the Bengals more based on potential than production at this point.

No doubt Dunlap is the most talented defensive end on the roster. He has freakish pass rushing ability with a combination of a quick first step and brute power. However, Dunlap has had trouble staying healthy and consistent since his rookie season. Dunlap was unstoppable in 2010 when he recorded 9.5 sacks in just twelve games after becoming the team's second round pick out of Florida. Dunlap followed that year with 4.5 sacks in 2011 and six in 2012, and he also picked off a pass for a touchdown last year.

The problem with giving Dunlap a pay raise at this point is he has failed to start more than a single game in each of the past two seasons. Dunlap is still just twenty-four years old and will undoubtedly grow in Mike Zimmer's defense, but although he looks like one of the best defensive ends in the NFL at times with his 6'6, 280 pound frame, he also plays too fragile during games and has never made it through an entire regular season. Dunlap has taken plays off during his career, although that may be due to not being one hundred percent healthy during a few games. In order for this extension to be worth the money for the Bengals franchise, Dunlap will certainly be counted on to start at one defensive end spot for the next several years starting in 2013.

Michael Johnson is probably the more deserving player of an extension right now. The Bengals could have waited until the end of the year to re-sign one of their two players in order to find out who had the better 2013 season. The Bengals wanted to get one player extended or the other before training camp, and the fact that Johnson is playing on a one year deal worth over $11 million could end up haunting the Bengals after the season. The Bengals were negotiating with Johnson along with Dunlap, but the final offer for Johnson that was close to the dollar amount that Dunlap received was not sufficient for a veteran still coming into his own after 11.5 sacks. Johnson, the 6'7, 270 pound fifth year player out of Georgia Tech can play his way to the ultimate pay day in free agency next year if he follows up last season with a similar 2013. Johnson is the more consistent option for the Bengals at defensive end right now. He started fifteen games last season and along with the sack total of 11.5, he also had fifty-two tackles, a pick, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.

Michael Johnson will be playing with a massive chip on his shoulder this year after the Bengals decided to stick with the franchise tag contract and pay the player behind him on the depth chart. I predict Johnson will have a historically great season for a Bengals defensive end and like Jonathan Joseph a few years ago, leave the Bengals to become a premier defensive player on a team with more salary cap room.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Neftali Soto next Chris Davis?

Chris Davis has surged to an astounding first half of the MLB season with thirty-seven homers and almost one hundred RBI's. Most hitters would be pleased with those numbers by the end of a season, but it is only July 15, the official end of the first half of the 2013 season. Davis' rise to the top of the hitting world has been remarkable and very surprising. Davis has been in the majors since 2008, when he came up with Texas and hit seventeen home runs that year and twenty-one in the following season. Davis bottomed out to single digits in the home runs category until 2012 when he hit over thirty with Baltimore.

Reds Triple A first baseman Neftali Soto has the potential to provide the team with a Davis-like impact in the next several seasons. Soto has been with Louisville for the past two seasons, and one of his greatest attributes is his power hitting ability. Davis consistently was able to collect over twenty homers three times in the minor leagues, and Soto is well on his way to accomplishing that same mark this season.

The twenty-four year old is the best hitter at Louisville right now, and his 6'1, 215 pound frame still has room to add on more muscle weight. Soto hit thirty-one home runs in 2011 between Carolina and Louisville, and his average has never dropped below .245. He currently hits .278 with eleven homers and forty-five RBI's after knocking fourteen homers out into the bleachers last season. Soto even played in two games with the Reds this year, and is 0/1 in his only at bat.

The top twenty prospect on the Reds has many of the same tools as the star first baseman on the Orioles. Who knows if Soto can ever put those tools together fully and showcase his immense power potential at the major league level. Soto is close to earning a job with the Reds, but he may have to eventually move to the outfield to truly make an impact. Much like Yonder Alonso, Soto is just too strong a hitter to keep off the field once he reaches Cincinnati. Every team has a player that it thinks could turn into a Chris Davis or Jose Bautista after some coaching, but Soto, unlike many prospects, is a talent that has succeeded at every level thus far.

Reds fans have known about Soto for a while now, and it is getting close to the time when Soto will be ready to leave the minors and receive the opportunity to earn a spot with the regulars with the Reds. If he succeeds in impressing the Reds front office and bench coaches either in September call-ups or in Spring Training next year, he could be a fourth hitter in left field or at third base next season. Maybe fans will even see Soto in the All Star Game and Home Run Derby next year or in 2015.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Kerry Rhodes on his way to Cincinnati?

The Bengals have made a couple moves recently that point to a player being added in the next two weeks before the opening of training camp. The team released defensive end Jamaal Anderson last week and his salary for over $2 million is now of the books. The Bengals also released Robert Sands during the offseason workouts, pointing to a possible opening at the safety spot. Sands was a fifth rounder back in 2011 and the team had high hopes for the rangy, athletic safety out of West Virginia, but he couldn't put it together to earn snaps due to injury and inconsistency.

There was a report last week that veteran Kerry Rhodes is considering four teams to play for in 2013. A decision could be reached in the next week, and another article by Fox Sports Ohio said Rhodes could be considering the Browns and Bengals. Rhodes was with the Cardinals last season, and he became the best defensive player in that secondary with the exception of Patrick Peterson. Rhodes started fifteen games and had four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and sixty-seven tackles.

A ballhawking safety like Rhodes is what the Bengals have been missing on the back end of their defense for quite some time. Madieu Williams and Reggie Nelson have been able to take the ball away from opposing offenses in the recent past, but a duo like Rhodes and Nelson could make for a feared secondary. Rhodes visited Cincinnati in April and it makes sense that the Bengals didn't sign him then in order to let the draft and free agent market play out.

The team ended up drafting Shawn Williams in the third round, but a year to pick up pass coverage tips from Rhodes could do the rookie a lot of good. Chris Crocker did an admirable job coming in after the start of the season and winning the starting job, but it is time for the Bengals to move on to a younger option. Rhodes was rated as the fourth best safety in the NFL by Pro Football Focus, and although the website can't completely be relied upon to rank players, it shows that Rhodes was one of the bright spots on an average defense.

Rhodes was also a leader on the Jets' dominant defense in 2009. He has ties to the area after attending school and playing collegiately at the University of Louisville. Mike Zimmer likes smart veterans to pair with young players learning the rigors of the NFL game. The Bengals are likely to start a second year corner in Dre Kirkpatrick, so surrounding the rest of the secondary with vets like Leon Hall, Reggie Nelson, and Rhodes is always safe. Look for an announcement soon from Rhodes and don't be surprised if he chooses to play for the Bengals in 2013 on a one year contract.

Wide Receiver breakdown

The Bengals head into the 2013 season with a lot to prove at the wide receiver position. The Bengals wide receivers started 2012 with a strong showing, but dropped off towards the middle and latter part of the season due to inconsistency and injury. The wide receiver depth chart was filled with inexperience from top to bottom. AJ Green had the most catches on the roster last season based on his rookie year. Brandon Tate, Andrew Hawkins, and Armon Binns were the veterans of the group, but they had never started at the position. Binns ended up getting cut by the team after not being able to get open on a consistent basis. Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu were both talented rookies with illustrious college careers. The wide receivers were solid at times for the Bengals, but with all the turnover at the starting spots from Tate to Binns to Sanu to Jones, the group could never get into a rhythm with quarterback Andy Dalton. Here is what the position looks like in 2013:

AJ Green-Green is the quintessential franchise wide receiver. He is what every team strives to acquire through the draft. After becoming the fourth overall pick in 2011, Green has been electrifying and explosive with over 2,400 yards and eighteen touchdowns in his first two years as a pro. Green is still improving at the NFL level heading into his third season, and it wouldn't be a stretch to see him catch over 100 passes this year. Green is a deep threat and a solid player on the outside to run intermediate routes. Quite frankly, Green can do it all.

Mohamed Sanu-Sanu is one player that the Bengals have extremely high expectations for to excel in the West Coast system. Sanu caught four touchdowns in his three starts with the team, and looked like the most capable player to line up across AJ Green. Sanu can play in the slot and on the outside, and his 6'2, 210 pound frame is hard for defensive backs to take down. He has been taking a lot of snaps as the Bengals' second wide receiver during the offseason program, and could be a player to watch for a breakout season.

Andrew Hawkins-Hawkins was looking like a top target for Dalton during the first ten weeks of the year, but tailed off after defenses figured out how to somewhat neutralize the speedy slot man. Hawkins ended up with 533 yards and four touchdowns, and has the potential to become one of the best slot receivers in the game. He will line up at the slot during a majority of the passing downs this season.

Marvin Jones-Jones looked like a pretty average receiver during his small sample size last season, but the second season in an NFL player's career is for taking that next step. Jones made some nice catches at times, including a touchdown against Baltimore and over sixty receiving yards against the Steelers, but failed to show off his deep speed for a catch over twenty-five yards. Jones will certainly be a nice piece for depth this season, but to see him in the starting lineup would be a surprise.

Brandon Tate-I fully expect Tate to make the team because of his punt and kick returning abilities. Tate is good for a catch or two per game, but has never been the talent that the Patriots thought he would be catching the football when he was drafted out of North Carolina. Tate is the best return man the Bengals have other than a healthy Adam Jones.

Ryan Whalen and Dane Sanzenbacher-Whalen and Sanzenbacher are solid possession receivers who do everything the coaches ask of them, but the Bengals do have more talented receivers on the roster both on the outside and in the slot. Whalen has been the sixth receiver on the last couple of Bengals teams and has shown the versatility to make a roster. Sanzenbacher was one of the better slot receivers Ohio State has had, and had a nice rookie season with the Bears in 2011. He had twenty-seven catches for 276 yards and three touchdowns. It would be a shocker if one or both of Whalen and Sanzenbacher make the active roster.

Cobi Hamilton-Hamilton is at least as good a prospect that Marvin Jones was coming out of Cal last season. Hamilton showed the Bengals that he could be one of the top receivers in the SEC by earning the most receptions in Arkansas history. Hamilton will either start the season on the 53-man roster or the practice squad. For him to grab 20-30 receptions this year would not be a huge surprise.

Interview with legendary Reds writer Hal McCoy

If there has been one staple in Cincinnati Reds baseball over the past few decades, it is Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News and Fox Sports Ohio. McCoy rivals Marty Brennaman as the most recognizable figure covering Reds baseball in the media, and his knowledge of the team and the game makes him widely respected around the league.

McCoy began covering the Reds at the right time in the midst of the great Cincinnati teams of the 1970's. McCoy invented the nickname of one of the most recognizable teams in the history of baseball, "The Big Red Machine," featuring Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, and Joe Morgan. Almost every casual baseball fan has heard of that saying to describe the unstoppable force that was the Reds in the 70's, and McCoy is the man responsible for the fitting phrase.

McCoy was also elected to Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in the Class of 2003 when he was honored with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award by baseball writers across the country. He has seen and covered a large majority of the great triumphs such as World Series victories, and the downfalls of the organization like the Pete Rose gambling scandal throughout his illustrious career.

Today, Hal McCoy still covers the Reds for the forty-first time after going into the baseball writing business out of college at Kent State where he also played the sport of baseball. McCoy updates his blog with the Dayton Daily News, The Real McCoy, quite frequently by documenting his analysis on Reds games and other developments across baseball such as the All Star Game. One of McCoy's latest pieces is about the final All Star vote and how baseball fans got it right by not electing Yasiel Puig to the NL roster. 

McCoy also devotes his time during Reds home games to answering fans' questions on Fox Sports Ohio's website in the Game Day Center. He will answer all questions about the Reds thoughtfully and honestly. McCoy hasn't allowed an optical stroke that has partially blinded him since the early 2000's to impede his ability to produce top notch journalism. I recently had the chance to ask Hal McCoy some questions about the Reds at the halfway point in the 2013 season as well as a few other topics on the minds of Reds fans.

Rich Hidy: How would you compare the 2013 Reds at the midway point to last year's team and other Reds teams you've covered in the past?

Hal McCoy: That's a tough one due to the fact I've covered 41 Reds teams. And every team is different, so you can't slot them into a comparison with another team. As for last year's team, well, other than Joey Votto being out so much of the second half, last year's team was healthier. Votto was the only one missing and the rest of the team stepped up and filled the gap. With so many guys hurt this year it will be more difficult to cover all the holes.

RH: Zack Cozart has been struggling in the two hole going 2 for his last 25. Is there a quick fix on the roster? What do you think about Votto batting in the two spot?

HM: If there was a quick fix, manager Dusty Baker would implement it. There isn't. No true No. 2 hitter on the roster. Despite what the guy in Sports Illustrated said (and too many people have grasped this idea), Joey Votto is a No. 3 hitter. You try to have your best hitter in the three-hole to drive in runs and Votto clearly is the team's best hitter. He would be wasted in the two-hole.

RH: When this team gets healthy, how much of an impact do you expect Ludwick and the two relievers to have on the Reds in trying to climb up the division standings?

HM: I fear with all the time he has missed that Ludwick might not have much of an impact. But even if he doesn't produce, it will enable Baker to put him back in clean-up and put Brandon Phillips back in the two-hole. That, alone, should help. As for Sean Marshall and Jonathan Broxton, well, as of this writing the bullpen has gone 11 straight games without giving up a run. And I'm not a big Broxton fan. I believe the bullpen is fine without him, but the Reds have a big investment in him and will slip him right back into the set-up role.

RH: How do you judge Mesoraco this year in the big leagues? Do you think his ceiling as a young player is still high?

HM: Mesoraco is still young and still learning. Catching is probably the hardest position to learn because there is so much involved. I've been disappointed a bit in his defense, he has taken a step back. But he will improve on offense and has enough pop to be a productive player.

RH: What's one thing fans might not necessarily know about this year's team and how they get along in the clubhouse?

HM: While there is no true clubhouse leader like Scott Rolen, the clubhouse is outstanding. All the players get along and support each other - even the extra guys like Xavier Paul, Derrick Robinson, Cesar Izturis and Jack Hannahan. They all know their roles and accept them. Todd Frazier could eventually be a leader, but this is only his second season and needs to become a better player to take a leadership role.

RH: How have you enjoyed covering the Reds this season especially? What's the best part about your job?

HM: I just love covering baseball in general - the Reds and every other team. I love getting to see all the great players come through. And I enjoy interacting with players on the Reds like Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, Homer Bailey, Bronson Arroyo and Mat Latos. They all have different personalties and they are fun to interview.

RH: How did Homer Bailey's no hitter stack up to some of the others you've seen like Browning's perfect game?

HM: Homer was probably even more dominating than Browning's because Bailey is a power pitcher and Browning was a finesse pitcher. I got the feeling that both teams just wanted to get the game over when Browning pitched. Because of rain the game didn't start until 10 p.m. and it drizzled most of the game and there were few fans in the stands. The opposing pitcher, Jerry Reuss, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Bailey only walked one, so was one batter away from a perfect game, too, and he totally dominated the Giants.

RH: As one of baseball's most distinguished writers, how do you feel about the direction the game is headed?

HM: I have loved baseball all my life - it has been my life. So I won't bite the hand that fed me and fed me well. The game is great, even with the DH, which I abhor, and the two wild cards. I don't like wild card teams winning the World Series when they didn't even win their divisions, but it does make it more exciting for the fans and keeps interest longer. That's a good thing. To me, though, the game is so great that it is tough for anybody to mess it up too much. 

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Reds Home Run Derby Candidates

The Home Run Derby is the best part of All Star Week in the MLB. Not only do you have Chris Berman on the mic with his classic call, "back, back, back," but the event also gives the league a chance to showcase its best power hitters. This year's Home Run Derby team includes Chris Davis of Baltimore, who already has over thirty homers, Bryce Harper, and Prince Fielder, among others. The Reds have a multitude of power hitters on their roster, and in 2015 when Cincinnati hosts the All Star Game, one of those players might get the call to participate in the Home Run Derby. 

Jay Bruce is the likeliest candidate to succeed in the Home Run Derby. Bruce is still just 26 years old, not yet in his prime as a hitter, and has seen his home run totals climb each season in the big leagues. Bruce has hit over thirty homers in each of the last two seasons, and has eighteen heading into the last series against the Braves before the All Star Break. Bruce would excel in the contest, especially in Cincinnati where he can hit baseball's past the right field fence with relative ease.

When Ryan Ludwick is healthy, he has an unbelievably powerful swing. Ludwick's resurgence with Cincinnati last season proved he can still be a long ball hitter after he crushed twenty-six home runs in 2012. Ludwick's career high in homers came in 2008 in St. Louis, when he hit thirty-seven while hitting a career high .299. 

Joey Votto and Todd Frazier are the two next best power hitters on the roster. Frazier has the potential to be the best home run hitter on the Reds with the exception of Bruce, but he is inconsistent with his power swings. When Frazier gets ahold of a pitch, the ball travels huge distances. He can even hit home runs with a one-handed swing. Frazier hit nineteen home runs in his rookie year, but can definitely be responsible for thirty in each of the next few seasons. 

Votto has developed himself into a hitter who thinks about just getting on base above all else, but he is a very clutch power hitter who knows when to swing with force. Votto hit thirty-seven homers his MVP year in 2010, and followed up that season with twenty-nine. Based on Votto's competitiveness and drive to succeed, it wouldn't surprise me if the star first baseman won a Home Run Derby.

Best training camp position battles

The Bengals have just announced the starting date of the 2013 training camp inside Paul Brown Stadium. Training camp starts in just over two weeks on July 26 and lasts until August 15. This season's practices will be all the more interesting because of the Hard Knocks crew filming the players in action and entertaining audiences on HBO. There are still many questions that loom over the roster, and the only way personnel moves will be hashed out is through reps in the practices. Here are some of the top position battles to look out for this season at the Bengals' facility.

1. Backup Quarterback-Bruce Gradkowski adopted the role of Andy Dalton's backup over the last two seasons, but now he is gone after signing with Pittsburgh to become Ben Roethlisberger's backup. The Bengals brought in a couple veterans as potential replacements for Gradkowski. Josh Johnson has experience in the West Coast system, but hasn't taken an NFL snap since 2011. The 6'3 former fifth round pick is athletic enough to have some packages with the first stringers to throw off defenses with his duel threat ability. John Skelton is probably the most logical choice for the job. Skelton has one some big games as the starter with the Cardinals in part time capacity since his rookie 2010 season. Skelton can manage the game for a team and threw for almost 2,000 yards and eleven touchdowns in 2011.

2. Strong safety-The most up in the air battle of camp is for a starting spot at an extremely important position. The Bengals will send out three young players to compete for the position. George Iloka, Taylor Mays, and Shawn Williams will each have an equal chance to earn the gig, as Iloka and Mays have lined up as the starter at different points in offseason workouts. Williams was the highest draft pick spent on a safety since Madieu Williams, and certainly brings talent and leadership skills to the table. Expect this position to be sorted out late in the preseason.

3. Center-This starting spot is also up for grabs at the start of training camp, but I fully expect Kyle Cook to earn back the job after being outplayed by Trevor Robinson last year. Cook was never healthy last season after suffering an ankle injury, yet the Bengals threw him in the games for the last few weeks of the season and in the playoffs. Robinson is certainly a valuable young player who can back up both the guard and center positions, but the Bengals need a savvy vet like Cook to anchor an offensive line that is pretty unproven at the two guard spots.

4. Second Cornerback-Leon Hall is a lock to match up against the best opposing receiver, but the corner on the other side still has to be figured out this summer. Dre Kirkpatrick bounced on and off the inactive list last season, playing in five games, including on defense against the Chiefs. Kirkpatrick has the size and coverage skills to be a prototypical corner, but can his knee hold up? The first round pick out of Alabama in 2012 needs to show the toughness he played with in the National Championship season. The Bengals struck lightning in a bottle with the signing of Terence Newman. He was very consistent over the last half of last season with two interceptions while holding quarterbacks to a rating under eighty. Newman is 34 years old, and the Bengals would prefer to pass the torch and use Newman for depth purposes.

5. Fullback-There's a debate going on in Bengals circles as to whether the team will even keep a fullback this season. The last time the Bengals went without one was in 2010, and it was a disaster as the run game stalled and Cedric Benson returned to his mediocre yards per carry average after a superb 2009. The Bengals need to hold on to at least one fullback in 2013, whether that be John Conner, Chris Pressley, or a converted Orson Charles. Pressley is still rehabbing from a knee injury that forced the team to sign Conner last season. Pressley may not be ready when training camp opens, and is a candidate for the PUP list. Conner was supposed to be the best young fullback in the league coming out of Kentucky in 2010 when he was selected by the Jets, but it hasn't quite worked out for him since that rookie season. Conner still may have a bright future in the NFL if he can regain his physicality in run blocking. Don't count out the West Chester native from stealing the starting gig from Pressley. Charles is more of a Jay Gruden experiment that could result in some passing formations with the 2012 fourth round pick in the backfield, but nothing from last year says that he could take on the blocking responsibilities of a fullback. Charles is a useful weapon to have with his playmaking ability, but look for Conner or Pressley to earn the job as a traditional fullback.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Potential deadline trade targets for the Reds

It's that time of year again. With only one series between the official first half of the year and the All Star break, teams are starting to distinguish themselves as buyers or sellers for potential deals at the July 31 trade deadline. The Reds have been both active and inactive in the recent past under GM Walt Jocketty, depending on the season. Last year, the Reds acquired Jonathan Broxton, who pitched well in the setup role with a 2.82 ERA. The Reds did nothing the year prior when they were two games under the .500 mark at that time in 2011.

The Reds have a few weaknesses even though the team enters play tonight eleven games over .500. They could use a boost in left field before Ryan Ludwick returns, and relief pitching is always a need for any team in contention. Below are some potential targets for the Reds as members of MLB teams' front offices begin to convene in order to get deals done.

Alex Gordon-Gordon is probably the best player on this list, and although it has taken him years of development, Gordon has become an extremely dangerous hitter in the AL. Gordon has been in the big leagues since 2007, and has hit close to or above .300 since 2011. Gordon is currently hitting .293 with nine homers and forty-eight RBI's. He also has a .360 OBP. The only knock on Gordon is his tendency to rack up the strikeouts over the course of the season. He has 140 and 139 strikeouts over the last to seasons respectively. Gordon also plays a solid left field, and would command some top level prospects on the Reds' part. Gordon is signed through 2016 and is making over $10 million until he is a free agent. A package of Ryan Ludwick along with Kyle Lotzkar and Nick Travieso could get a deal done.

Colby Rasmus-The former Cardinal now mans center field for the struggling Blue Jays. Rasmus is certainly one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, and a deal for the twenty-six year old could move Shin-Soo Choo to left, a more natural position for him. Rasmus is one of the more affordable options that could be up for trade, and certainly would command some solid prospects because of his age and ability to hit consistently. The lefty hits .250 with sixteen home runs and an OBP of .324. His power makes him an upgrade over Xavier Paul and Derrick Robinson. Rasmus also has forty-eight RBI's.

Alexei Ramirez-Ramirez has the ability to stabilize the shortstop position hitting wise in the number two spot in the order. He is signed for three more years, so the White Sox would have to take on one of the Reds' large contracts or give money to the Reds in a deal. Ramirez has always been a steady AL shortstop, never allowing his average to dip below .265 for the White Sox. His power numbers have receded dramatically over the past two years. Ramirez hit twenty-one homers his rookie year and never hit below fifteen until 2012. A deal for Ramirez could be very difficult to work out, but it might be worth it to provide a respected veteran approach to playing the shortstop position everyday.

Marlon Byrd-Byrd is one of the more underrated players in baseball. He has bounced around six teams in his eleven year career. Byrd made the All Star team in 2010 and finished that year hitting .293 with the Cubs. Byrd is off to his best start power wise in his career with the New York Mets. He is batting .266 and has clubbed thirteen homers as one of the few bright spots on the team. Byrd is making under $1 million this season on a one year contract, and wouldn't be too hard to acquire through trade. I think it would be worth making a deal because Byrd has proven to be slightly better than Xavier Paul throughout his career, not to mention in a much longer time period. Ryan LaMarre could headline a package to get a deal done.

Steve Delabar-Delabar is one of the most interesting stories out of the candidates to make this year's All Star team through final vote. Delabar has ties to the area as he is from Kentucky and briefly was on the Florence Freedom's roster. Delabar came out of nowhere to make the Blue Jays' roster this season and pitch lights out, posting a 1.58 ERA in forty innings, and leading league relievers in strikeouts with fifty-seven. Delabar is arbitration eligible until 2018 and is making under $500,000 this season. Dan Langfield and Neftali Soto might be enough for Toronto to let go of Delabar through a trade.

Jesse Crain-Crain has been around since 2004 when he broke into the league with Minnesota, but is having a career year with a .74 ERA and nineteen holds. Crain has only allowed three runs all season long, and would immediately become the Reds' second best right handed reliever behind Jonathan Broxton. 

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot

Top 5 Bengals rookies to make an impact

The Bengals welcomed ten new prospects onto their NFL roster by way of April's draft at least for the duration of training camp, when they will have to earn the opportunity to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster. The Bengals also added a number of undrafted free agents hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year's star UDFA, Vontaze Burfict. Some of these college standouts are more well known than others based on their college programs and production, but each will be given the same shot at the NFL. Here are the top 5 players that the Bengals will have great expectations for right off the bat.

5. Cobi Hamilton-Don't be surprised if Hamilton makes the roster and climbs up the ladder to surpass Marvin Jones for playing time. Hamilton was a standout his senior season at Arkansas where he enjoyed a breakout year by catching ninety passes for 1335 yards and five touchdowns. Hamilton has a large stature for a wide receiver with a 6'2, 205 pound frame, perfect for running routes against taller cornerbacks in the AFC North like Ike Taylor and Jimmy Smith. The twenty-two year old performed well in rookie minicamp and mandatory minicamp with some nice intermediate routes. If he can develop a chemistry with Andy Dalton, Hamilton will surely be a factor in the 2013 Bengals offense in the slot and on the outside.

4. Tanner Hawkinson-The Bengals set their sights on insurance and depth for the roster in the later rounds of the draft, and fifth round pick Tanner Hawkinson fits the bill perfectly. Bengals fans were slightly confused when the team selected Hawkinson because of his obscurity at the college level, but Hawkinson is extremely underrated and a smart pick by Cincinnati. Hawkinson holds the record for games started and consecutive games started for Kansas after he played both left and right tackle from 2010-12 on the Jayhawks. He also was an All-Big 12 second-teamer last year. Paul Alexander has raved about Hawkinson's versatility on the offensive line. The Bengals have moved him around the line at center, guard, and his natural tackle position, and if someone goes down in the starting lineup on the offensive line, Hawkinson could be the first substitute. Hawkinson is a valuable prospect who should already be a serviceable player at the NFL level. I definitely see him making the 53-man roster this season as a backup at every position on the line. If someone goes down, Hawkinson will likely get the call as the top fill-in.

3. Tyler Eifert-Eifert was the Bengals' top selection at pick number twenty-one, and there are big plans for the tight end out of Notre Dame starting this season. The Bengals already have an established Pro Bowl tight end in Jermaine Gresham, so there is no need to rush the progression of Eifert. However, the possibility of double tight end sets with two deadly pass catchers is very appealing to play caller Jay Gruden. Eifert will struggle in his first year with blocking defensive ends at the professional level, but his playmaking ability is currently better than any player on the roster besides AJ Green. The 6'6 Eifert won the Mackey Award for the top tight end in the country last season with Notre Dame where he caught fifty passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns. Eifert will be expected to play right away based on his status in the draft and ability to create mismatches on the field. The Bengals are certainly hoping he can do more than just be a pass catcher like Chase Coffman coming out of Missouri in 2009.

2. Shawn Williams-Williams will be pressed to play right away as a part of the top ten defense that remains largely in tact this season for the Bengals. Williams is expected to take over for Chris Crocker after he commanded the huddle for SEC runner-up Georgia. Williams is a hard hitter who is not afraid of being a vocal leader, which is just what the Bengals need to replace Crocker. It won't be an easy battle to earn the starting strong safety spot for Williams. He will have to beat out George Iloka for a spot on the elite eleven in the lineup. Williams is rock solid in the run defense category and wrapping up ball carriers as he was second on the team in tackles at Georgia with 98. The only question about his play is his pass coverage, which Williams will look to improve on in training camp with tutoring from secondary coach Mark Carrier. At the very least, Williams will be a key contributor on special teams in 2013.

1. Giovani Bernard-Based on reports from the Bengals coaches, including Bernard's position coach Hue Jackson, the rookie running back is a polished player ready for the challenges of the NFL. Bernard could easily be the NFL's next breakout running back after Alfred Morris and Doug Martin filled that role last year. Bernard will line up at receiver and in the backfield catching passes and running the ball through the tackles. His resume is top notch from his time at North Carolina where he became one of the most explosive backs in the country. Bernard is earning comparisons to Ray Rice because of his all around game and 5'9, 210 pound body. I could see Bernard taking Benjarvus Green-Ellis' starting position by the time the season starts because of the impression he has left on the coaches. If Bernard can come anywhere close to his production at UNC last season of over 1,700 total yards and seventeen touchdowns, he will immediately become a factor in the MVP race.