REDS: WIRE TO WIRE -   We recap June and get ready for July as well as talk minor league stuff w/Pete Muehlenkamp

The All-Star voting comes to an end today and it is apparent that no Red will be voted in by the fans and rightfully so.

With every team having to represented someone from the team will have to go. Reds' beat writer Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News posed the very question on his blog today.

There is no doubt that Joey Votto would be a hands down pick had he not missed the better part of a month. Votto is hitting .354 and has clubbed 9 HR's and 38 RBI's in just 158 at bats. If he had enough at bats to qualify, Votto would be leading the NL in batting (Hanley Ramirez current leader with .348 average).

While the argument can be made that Brandon Phillips is the team's most valuable player, his .269 batting average drags down the fact that he has hit 11 HR's and driven in 52 runs. His gold-glove caliber defense shouldn't be overlooked, but it will.

McCoy suggests there are only two candidates to consider - starter Johnny Cueto and closer Francisco Cordero.

Cordero is currently tied for fourth in the NL with 19 saves, three behind league-leader Heath Bell. He has converted 19 of his 20 save opportunites and posted a 1.91 ERA.

Cueto is 8-4 with a 2.69 ERA. There are so many starter options to consider though.

Manager Dusty Baker thinks the young hurler is deserving.

“I haven’t thought about it. But Cueto’s ERA is indicative of being an All-Star," Baker said. "But there are a lot of good pitchers in our league.”

Also posted on BleacherReport.com: 

It was just two years ago that Randy Moss helped re-write the record books, catching 24 touchdowns as the Patriots rolled through a perfect season.

Moss, who was hands down fantasy’s top wideout at this time last year, suffered a bit of setback in 2008 after Tom Brady went down in week one to a season-ending knee injury.

There’s no doubt Moss still has the potential to be fantasy’s top wideout.  At 32, there is still enough gas in the tank and he's always had the speed, size and athleticism to cause havoc for opposing defenses.

However, with the emergence of Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson, it’s hard to justify putting Moss atop the wide receiver rankings to start the season.

Expect 90 receptions for about 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns. If those numbers hold true Moss will be a steal as early as Round 2 on draft day.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

With the last champion of the 2000s crowned, WhatIfSports.com ranks the decade's ten NCAA men's basketball tournament winners by "playing" the champs against one another 1,000 times each. Where do the Florida back-to-back champions rank? Were Carmelo Anthony and Syracuse lucky or good in 2003? Is a North Carolina or a Duke team on top? Check out the rankings to find out.

Very young and underwhelming during the season, this team was a bit of a flash in the pan come tournament time. A three seed, Syracuse was able to build on a regular season of experience for its talented freshman starters -- McNamara and Anthony -- and some fortunate tournament venues on its path to title.
Starters: Gerry McNamara, Kueth Duany, Carmelo Anthony, Craig Forth, Hakim Warrick
Winning percentage from 1,000 WhatIfSports.com simulations against each champion of this decade: 29.8 percent

9. 2005-06 Florida Gators
As a three-seed, the 2005-06 Gators are only other team on this list to win the championship unexpectedly -- among the top eight on this list, only 2003-04 UConn, a two-seed, was not a one-seed in the tournament. Furthermore, similar to Syracuse, this young team almost seemed to win the title on accident without really knowing what it was doing. Lucky for Billy Donovan, all of the main pieces came back for another run at the title. (more on that later).
Starters: Taurean Green, Lee Humphrey, Corey Brewer, Al Horford, Joakim Noah
WhatIfSports.com simulation winning percentage: 32.9 percent

8. 2001-02 Maryland Terrapins
Head coach Gary Williams put together the most complete team of his Hall of Fame career with a good mix of heady players like Steve Blake and Lonny Baxter, defensive stoppers like Byron Mouton, freakish athletes like Chris Wilcox, and an all-around talent like Juan Dixon. Williams did not have to sweat too much over this team either, as it won all of its tournament games by double digits, except for an eight-point win over UConn.
Starters: Steve Blake, Juan Dixon, Byron Mouton, Chris Wilcox, Lonny Baxter
WhatIfSports.com simulation winning percentage: 33.3 percent

7. 1999-2000 Michigan State Spartans
Head coach Tom Izzo gets credit as a tough, defensive mastermind, but his true legacy may be in taking some of the region's best athletes and building them into smart, versatile basketball players -- it just took until the tournament for it to click. The best MSU squad since Magic Johnson, this team played ten guys more than ten minutes a game and seemingly every one of them could pass, defend, rebound and score at a high level.
Starters: Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, Morris Peterson, Andre Hutson, A.J. Granger
WhatIfSports.com simulation winning percentage: 35.7 percent

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It wasn't long ago that Kobe Bryant reportedly wanted out of Los Angeles. He's not going anywhere now.

Fresh off winning the championship, the Lakers guard decided not to exercise an early termination option on the last two years of his contract and will return for the 2009-10 season, a league source told ESPN.com's Chad Ford.

Bryant is scheduled to make $23 million next season by not opting out. He also has a player option to opt out of his contract in the 2010-11 season. The Lakers will work with Bryant over the summer and fall to hammer out a new, long-term extension, according to the source.

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Former Putnam City guard Xavier Henry says he is staying with his plans to play basketball at Kansas.

Henry texted a Kansas City radio station Tuesday saying he decided to stay with the Jayhawks. Earlier in the day, Henry's father, Carl Henry, told a Kansas City radio station that his son might have had a change of heart about attending Kansas, according to reports in the Kansas City Star and Louisville Courier-Journal.Kansas coach Bill Self flew to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night to talk with the Henry family.

In an interview that aired on 610-AM in Kansas City, Carl Henry said his son, one of the nation's top recruits, originally wanted to follow ex-Memphis coach John Calipari to Kentucky before committing to the Jayhawks.

Xavier Henry is a 6-6 shooting guard who was a McDonald's All-American and The Oklahoman's state Player of the Year honors after leading PC to the Class 6A state title.

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New York high school basketball star Lance Stephenson shocked everyone and announced that he'll play basketball for the University of Cincinnati. The signing (which hasn't happened yet) will be the biggest deal for Mick Cronin. Cronin has taken heat for not turning around the Bearcat basketball program quicker.

Stephenson could be that piece he needed. And Stephenson fits the mold of the old Bearcat basketball program under Coach Bob Huggins; including a questionable and checkered past of Stephenson. He is still to stand trial for a sex allegation with a 17-year-old student. There were concerns about his family taking payments from Under Armor. In short, Stephenson is high on talent, but high on baggage. We've seen this before. 

These type of gifted players are what brought much success to Clifton with Huggins. It's also what gave him and the university a reputation for recruiting thugs. But the Clifton fans were happy because the program was winning.

Cronin had inherited an abandoned, wrecked program and then was directed to follow a path of the straight and narrow athlete. Focus on academics, instead of athletics is what Nancy Zimpher molded. Mick did. The Bearcats were mediocre. They almost overachieved themselves to 20 wins last year. Mick doesn't get the credit for that. He gets the blame for not getting the elite athletes.

So Bearcat fans can't have it both ways. Athletes like Stephenson aren't real interested in matriculating through a university. They're interested in promoting themselves, their highlight reels to an NBA career. As a Bearcat fan, I am ready to watch in excitement. I could care less if he graduates. I do want him to keep his nose clean while on campus. But mostly, I want to see what Mick can do with a group of talented athletes, instead of a group of student-athletes.

It’s never too early to start thinking about the fantasy season. Some have already started e-mailing me there questions. Let’s take a dip into the fantasy mailbag:

Question: Dan, who would you keep? I know it’s early but your opinion would help me decide. We can keep a player after the third round. I have it down to Chris Johnson in the 6th Round or Phillip Rivers in the 8th Round. Also, I have Thomas Jones in the 5th Round, DeSean Jackson in the 10th or Hightower last. Any help would be great. - Joe S.

My Take: You do have some nice options to consider. Rivers and Jones both provide nice value for you, but not enough for me to resist Chris Johnson for a sixth round pick. Despite having LenDale White cut into his touchdown total, Johnson shined as a rookie. His 1,468 total yards and 10 scores were solid numbers for a rookie and I expect Tennessee to work him into the offense even more during his sophomore campaign. Getting Johnson the ball in open space will greatly help his chances at producing big numbers. Johnson’s value goes up in PPR formats (43 receptions in ‘08). He could easily finish as a top 5 fantasy running back this season, making him a steal for a sixth-rounder.

Question:  I have to make a decision on which Saints running back is going to be more productive this year, Reggie Bush or Pierre Thomas? - Tommy R

My Take: You scoring format could go a long way towards answering this question. Bush is a one-of-a-kind player. His value goes way up in leagues where you get points for receptions, but I expect Thomas to be a better option in standard formats. He’s going to get more carries, particularly in the red zone and should emerge as a legitimate RB2 with great upside. Both make solid options for your team, but consistency will remain a question.

Question:  Can Matt Cassel be counted on as a weekly starting option at quarterback this year in Kansas City? - Lance G.

My Take: Kansas City is not New England. Cassel has a ton to prove to me. While I believe there is upside in the former Patriot, particularly in Todd Haley’s system. Still, I am going to temper my expectations a bit until he proves he is ready. I look at him as a borderline fantasy starting QB heading into 2009.

SUBMIT YOUR FANTASY QUESTION

From Lance McAlister 1530Homer.com:

35 appearances before his extra inning appearance May 25, 2008 in San Diego..vs 35 appearances since that appearance.
Before/After
Record: 13-10/9-19
ERA: 3.40/4.86
BA: .239/.296
WHIP: 1.12/1.44
ING: 241/207.2
H: 217/247
BB: 54/53
K: 225/170
HR: 33/38

Last 35 appearances
Pitcher: Harang/Arroyo/Cueto
Record: 9-19/19-12/13-13
ERA: 4.86/4.36/3.73
BA: .296/.269/.247
WHIP: 1.44/1.36/1.30
ING: 208/219/210
H: 247/224/196
BB: 53/73/77
K: 170/142/169
HR: 38/34/29

Nearly every team in contention in the National League had called the Indians regarding free-agent-to-be Mark DeRosa and on Saturday the Tribe struck a deal with Cardinals, sending the versatile veteran to St. Louis.

To acquire the veteran and his 50 RBIs this season the Cardinals sent to Cleveland big-league reliever Chris Perez, who long had been viewed as the Cardinals' closer of future.

In addition, the Indians will receive a player-to-be named later from a list of top prospects from the St. Louis organization. Cleveland will have until season's end to decide which player that will be.

DeRosa, 34, has 13 home runs and a .270 average for the Indians this season. Last year, he set career highs with 21 homers and 87 RBIs for the Chicago Cubs. DeRosa has more than 200 major-league starts at both second base and third base, but he also has experience in the corner outfield positions.

He joins the Cardinals' lineup on Sunday and will bat clean-up.

The Cardinals also have cast their lines out to try to get outfielder Matt Holliday from Oakland but manager Tony La Russa told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Let’s enjoy the moment.

“As I’ve said many times, our guys (in the front office) have been trying. If you’re trying, that’s the most you can ask.

****

The Reds, who are chasing the first place Cardinals, were also in the mix, but lost out on the deal. While I would have welcomed DeRosa's bat and versatility to the team, I am not sure that giving up two top young players would have been the best move for the young Redlegs, who continue to teeter around .500 on the season yet remain in contention in a weak N.L. Central.

One of my favorite websites, HolyTaco.com, recently picked their top 10 hottest sideline reporters... 

Erin Andrews gets the most exposure (not the kind you were hoping for), but she didn't come in at the top of their list:

COMPLETE LIST

It was only a matter of time before Sweet Lou turned sour.

The Cubs, everybody's pick to runaway with the NL Central, have been one of baseball's biggest disappointments to this point of the season. They currently sit at 35-35, but still only find themselves 2.5 games behind the first-place Cardinals in a weak division.

Still, the team has underacheived and it was only a matter of time before Piniella's fuse box blew.

It came to a boiling point in Friday's 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Newcomer Milton Bradley went a little crazy in the dugout after flying out in the sixth inning and start taking out on bats, balls, Gatorade coolers, and everything else he could find in the Cubs' dugout. Pinella didn't like it and chased the troubled left fielder in to the clubhouse.

Piniella ordered Bradley to the clubhouse and followed him -- with Carlos Zambrano joining him -- through the tunnel from the dugout.

According to sources, Piniella then shouted at Bradley, ''You're not a player! You're a piece of sh--!''

Bradley then said, ''I have too much respect for you to respond to that,'' a source said.

''I just told him to take his uniform off and go home,'' Piniella said after the game. ''And followed him up into the clubhouse and we exchanged some words. I don't like those things to happen. But I'm just tired of watching all that.

''This has been a common occurrence and I've looked the other way a lot, and I'm done with it.''

What did the Cubs expect when they brought Bradley on to the team? This guy has the potential to take down any clubhouse.

At 65, Piniella doesn't have it him like he use to. The younger Piniella would have just kicked his ass like he did with Rob Dibble while coaching the 1990 Reds.

Props to 1530 Homer's Mo Egger for finding this classic recap of Michael Jackson's death and the media coverage:

See who's being picked up an who's being dropped in fantasy leagues: Most Added
Player	Current Week	Next Week	Change
Nieve, Fernando RP NYM	7	39	32
McGehee, Casey 3B MIL	12	33	21
Bailey, Homer SP CIN	8	25	17
Nunez, Leo RP FLA	10	24	14
Cook, Aaron SP COL	60	72	12
Romero, Ricky SP TOR	43	55	12
Correia, Kevin SP SD	19	31	12
Rivera, Juan L. LF ANA	64	75	11
Fox, Jake 1B CHC	11	22	11
Pineiro, Joel SP STL	28	38	10
Nolasco, Ricky SP FLA	80	89	9
Rolen, Scott 3B TOR	58	67	9
Gardner, Brett CF NYY	11	20	9
Blackburn, Nick SP MIN	70	78	8
Howell, J.P. RP TB	30	38	8

*from CBSSports.com

Most Dropped
Player	Current Week	Next Week	Change
Outman, Josh SP OAK	63	45	-18
Madson, Ryan RP PHI	46	28	-18
Crisp, Coco CF KC	47	33	-14
Bush, Dave SP MIL	44	31	-13
Scott, Luke LF BAL	85	74	-11
Bastardo, Antonio SP PHI	27	17	-10
Beltre, Adrian 3B SEA	73	65	-8
Lindstrom, Matt RP FLA	65	57	-8
Pavano, Carl SP CLE	44	36	-8
Niemann, Jeff SP TB	32	25	-7
Blalock, Hank 1B TEX	77	71	-6
Maholm, Paul SP PIT	64	58	-6
Johnson, Kelly 2B ATL	62	56	-6
Hermida, Jeremy RF FLA	48	42	-6
Uehara, Koji RP BAL	40	34	-6
Harrison, Matt SP TEX	20	14	-6

Here's a look at some of the local players taken in Thursday's NBA draft and where they landed...

Terrence Williams (6-6, 213) - SG - Louisville
Rd. 1 - 11th pick - New Jersey
Analysis: With the Nets trading Vince Carter, they are starting over. Williams is one of the best athletes in the draft, has a ton of skills and can really defend. He's an eccentric dude and he doesn't always come to play, but when he does, wow. It will be fun to watch Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Williams, Yi Jianlian and Brook Lopez grow up together. They'll lose a lot of games, but there's a lot of potential there.

Earl Clark (6-10, 226) - SF
Rd. 1 - 14th pick - Phoenix
Analysis: The Suns have clearly decided to rebuild, and with Clark, they get one of the five top talents of the draft. Clark can do everything -- he's long and athletic and he can play multiple positions, including point forward. His effort was inconsistent at Louisville, but he's got as much upside as anyone in the draft. If they trade away Amare Stoudemire to Golden State, they'll have a nice young core with Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Clark, Robin Lopez and (if they got the 7th pick) Stephen Curry. If that happens, the Suns won't be all that great from the get-go, but they'll be fun. The question is, will Steve Nash stay around to lead them?

Derrick Brown (6-9 225) - PF - Xavier
Rd. 2 - 10th pick (40th overall) - Charlotte
Analysis: I love this pick for the Bobcats. I think Brown, had he stayed in school another year, would've been a surefire first-round pick. He's an excellent athlete; he can play the 3 and the 4; and he still has lots of upside.

Jodie Meeks (6-4 211) - SG - Kentucky
Rd. 2. 11th pcik (41st overall) - Milwaukee
Analysis: Meeks can provide some big-time scoring off the bench. Nice pick here, although I worry about his lack of athleticism.

*Analysis by ESPN's Chad Ford - COMPLETE TAKES

from the Oklahoman: 

Blake Griffin knows all about their poor history. The Oklahoma City native has been asked about it every time he’s done an interview since the night of the draft lottery.

He’s been asked about it so much that he goes on audio autopilot when asked about anything having to do with the Clippers’ past.

During an interview earlier this week: "I am not worried about anything that has happened in the past. I wasn’t a part of that, and a lot of the guys that are there now weren’t a part of it.”

Sounds a little like Griffin is trying to convince himself of that. Who can blame him? Since the franchise first moved to Southern California in 1976, the Clippers have never won their division but have finished last 15 times. Their winning percentage during that span has been .353.

COMPLETE ARTICLE