John Clay's Sidelines

(AP photo)

Some Reds notes heading into three-game series with Atlanta, which starts tonight at GABP, and opens a 10-game homestand:

- On this date last season, Scott Rolen was hitting .287 with 17 homers and 56 RBI. This year, Rolen is hitting .242 with five homers and 36 RBI.

- Chris Heisey has 33 RBI to go with his 12 home runs. The only NL player with as many homers and fewer RBI is Corey Hart of the Brewers. Hart, who played at Greenwood High School in Bowling Green, has 13 homers and 31 RBI.

- Tonight’s starting pitcher, Bronson Arroyo, has allowed 17 earned runs over 17 2/3 innings in his last three starts.

- Joey Votto managed just one hit in 11 at-bats at Pittsburgh.

- Jay Bruce drew four walks in three games at Pittsburgh.

Continue reading ‘Some Reds notes heading into 10-game homestand’

At SEC Media Days on Thursday in Hoover, Alabama, Kentucky offensive lineman Stuart Hines answered questions from those who wonder if the Cats will have trouble scoring points minus Randall Cobb, Derrick Locke and Chris Matthews.

An excerpt of what Hines told ESPN’s Edward Aschoff:

Kentucky returns four veteran starters on the offensive line that has the makings of being one of the best in this league, accumulating more than 60 combined starts in their careers.

Senior guard Stuart Hines leads the group with 24 career starts and has enjoyed the praise he and his other fellow linemen have received this year and expects it to be the guiding force for the Wildcats’ offense this fall.

Continue reading ‘Stuart Hines says line should be strength of the offense’

The Kentucky quarterback Morgan Newton is interviewed at SEC Media Days on Wednesday in Hoover, Alabama.

Those attending the SEC Media Days for football have visited the ballot box and made their predictions for the 2011 campaign.

Kentucky was picked to finish fifth yet again in the SEC East. South Carolina was picked to win the East again. Alabama was picked to win the West and be overall conference champ. Defending champ Auburn was picked to finish fifth. Ah, life without Cameron Newton.

So how has the media done in the past with such deep views into the crystal ball?

Continue reading ‘How does the SEC media do with its football picks?’

Three videos from UK coach Joker Phillips’ appearance at SEC Media Football Days. There are two more videos after the jump.

Continue reading ‘Videos: Joker Phillips at SEC Media Days’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Trevathan wants to elevate Kentucky’s defense
• Kentucky plans to give “extra effort” this fall
• Wildcats go on the defensive at SEC Media Days
• Joker Phillips says UK should be competitive in SEC East this fall
• Trevathan says he would like to return kicks
• Morgan Newton is determined to be an effective leader for Cats
• Kentucky wants to “rise” to the occasion this season
• Phillips believes his team is “very close” to taking next step

Continue reading ‘BBL: Kentucky at SEC Media Days links roundup’

SEC links for Friday:

• SEC predictions not getting Auburn down
• Auburn football keeps winning while others keep wondering
• Rumors keep swirling around Auburn
• Chizik is going to have to keep hearing the stories
• There are some harsh realities with NCAA’s no-man’s land
• Chizik cool under fire at SEC Media Days
• One columnist thought Chizik was chairman of the bored

Continue reading ‘SEC: Rumors continue to follow Auburn football’

Joker Phillips was asked about new defensive coordinator Rick Minter at SEC Media Days.

To be a good defense in the SEC, you have to stop the run. For today’s chart, let’s look at how UK has fared when it holds the opponent under 150 yards rushing. Over the last 10 years, the Cats are 27-14 when they have managed that feat. They are 27-54 when the opponent rushes for at least 150 yards. Narrow it to the SEC. The Cats have held just 19 SEC opponents under 150 yards rushing over the past 10 years. But they have won seven of those 19 games. When SEC foes have rushed for at least 150 yards, they own a 46-16 record against the Cats.

Continue reading ‘To win in the SEC, you have to stop the run’

Mike Slive (AP photo/Dave Martin)

SEC links for Thursday:

• SEC commissioner Mike Slive has too much to do to retire, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Joe Medley of the Anniston Star writes that the SEC commissioner started off the proceedings with some big talk about academic reform and NCAA rules.
• Slive shows he wants to be out in front of the debate, says my H-L column.
• Slive wants to alter the landscape, writes Mark Schlabach of espn.com.
• The commish has ideas and they’re not stupid, says Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports.
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel argues that Ron Zook left Urban Meyer a better program at Florida than Meyer left Will Muschamp.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC doesn’t think Muschamp is the next Zook.
• South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has his old swagger back after winning division title, writes Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Spurrier knows that repeating won’t be easy, reports Jennifer Smith of the H-L.
• With former UK associate AD Scott Stricklin at the helm, Mississippi State pulls in a record $37.6 million in private donations, reports the AP.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Slive’s big ideas, Spurrier’s swagger and Gators’ chip’

ESPNU has picked up the Kentucky-Louisville football game, to be played Sept. 17 at Commonwealth Stadium.

Kickoff has been set for 7 p.m.

This is according to Mike Rutherford of Card Chronicle.

UPDATE: The SEC also announced that Kentucky’s game with Central Michigan on Sept. 10 has been picked up by ESPNU and will be shown at noon.

UK’s opener, Sept. 1 against Western Kentucky in Nashville, will be shown on ESPNU starting at 9:15 p.m.

As for UK-U of L, this is the second time in the past three years the game will be shown on the U. The 2010 game at Louisville was televised by ABC. The 2009 game was shown by ESPNU. The 2008 game was shown by ESPN. The 2007 game was shown by ESPN Classic.

Continue reading ‘Report: ESPNU will show UK-U of L football game’