Josh Kirkendall

Since July 23 Reds starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 2.51 with opponents batting .178 against them. The Reds are 8-6 during that window.

NOTE: I excluded Chase's IP at Bristol and the game Lodolo was pulled in the second due to injury.

Lol.

So much for The Office and Parks and Rec reruns.

Random...

The Reds have 11 players in team history w/ 100 HRs and 100 SBs.

Elly De La Cruz has 57 career homers and 132 stolen bases.

Expansion era SB leaders in team history:
Joe Morgan (406)
Larkin (379)
Concepcion (321)
Billy Hamilton (277)
Eric the Red (270).

I've never been a fan of taking snapshot of a unit (offense, defense, team) in the preseason. It's more about seeing the match-ups, schemes, coverages, etc., and while it's the first preseason game (lots of room and time for improvement), there really wasn't a standout performance on D.

What is it w/ the Reds in Pittsburgh?

Reds are 1-4 at PNC Park in 2025 and have scored 10 runs total--seven being during their only win on 5/19.

Reds are 5-14 at Pittsburgh since 2023 where they're batting .232 and averaging 2.8 runs/game while allowing 3.3 runs/game.

#Bengals TE Tanner Hudson posted six receptions and two receiving touchdowns, both team hight v the Eagles.

Of his 24 snaps, 12 came from the slot, two out wide, and 10 inline.

#Bengals rookie LB Demetrius Knight had two tackles. His PFF scores:

Overall: 49.5
v the Run: 61.8
In coverage: 46.1

Other drafted rookie LB Barrett Carter (two tackles, QB sack):
Overall: 63.2
v the Run: 78.3
In coverage: 49.1

#Bengals performance at right guard v the Eagles (PFF grades):

*Lucas Patrick, 52.2 overall, 37.1 pass block (one hurry, one pass rush allowed)

*Cody Ford, 51.9 overall, 45.0 pass block (one hurry, two pass rushes, one sack)

*Andrew Stueber, 53.8 overall.

Bengals preseason opener: 3 who impressed, 3 who struggled, 1 who made me ask a question Familiar trends surfaced in Thursday's 34-27 loss to the Eagles that have killed fast starts in the past.

The Athletic on Dylan Fairchild: "He didn’t just look the part, but also he posted a few impressive blocks while not allowing any pressures on Burrow."
www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

PFF gave him a team-high run blocking grade of 84.9. Karras was the only other IOL higher than 60.

Against the Eagles, Shemar Stewart had 18 total snaps with 13 pass rushes. He recorded a stop and a QB hurry.

The top graded defender by PFF was FA pick-up Oren Burks.

1) Burks, 85.7
2) Maema Njongmeta, 82.3
3) PJ Jules, 79.2
4) McKinnley Jackson, 78.3
5) Joseph Ossai, 76.8

Reds rookie Chase Burns sets a new MLB record for strikeouts - Redleg Nation Chase Burns struck out 10 batters on Friday night for the Cincinnati Reds and set a new strikeout record in the process.

Chase Burns has struck out 10 or more batters in four of his last five games--the one game was the one IP in Bristol.

Burns is the first pitcher in MLB history to strike out 10 or more batters in his first eight starts.

www.redlegnation.com/2025/08/08/c...

Reddit took all of two quarters.

Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon This is the first major agency effort by the interim NASA administrator, who is also the Transportation secretary and a former Fox News host.

I have no commentary. Just... this sentence:

"Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will announce expedited plans this week to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, the first major action by the former Fox News host as the interim NASA administrator."

www.yahoo.com/news/article...

QUICK HITS | Vets Weigh In On Rookie DL Shemar Stewart: 'He's Got The Physical Tools' As rookie defensive lineman Shemar Stewart prepped for his fifth NFL practice Saturday night on the Paycor Stadum turf, two veteran defensive tackles weighed in on what they’ve seen so far.

Shemar Stewart on being mentored by Trey Hendrickson:

"He's very calculating with everything he does. Everything he does, he plans it out. It's not easy to copy and paste. You really have to get in there and work at it."

www.bengals.com/news/vetswei...

B.J. Hill:

"He's been making some plays out there for us. He's a strong, physical, big-time athlete who can do a lot of things for us. Inside or outside. Glad to have him on our side. When he learns this defense, things are going to very explosive for our defense."

QUICK HITS | Vets Weigh In On Rookie DL Shemar Stewart: 'He's Got The Physical Tools' As rookie defensive lineman Shemar Stewart prepped for his fifth NFL practice Saturday night on the Paycor Stadum turf, two veteran defensive tackles weighed in on what they’ve seen so far.

Vets are impressed with Shemar Stewart already. Per the Mothership.

T.J. Slaton:

"Very quick, twitchy guy. Fast. Naturally strong guy. He's got the physical tools. All he needs is the details that help him out. I think he'll be a great player."

www.bengals.com/news/vetswei...

Training Camp Report Day 7: DJ Turner II Has A Day While Knight Moves Get A Boost From Joe Burrow CB D.J. Turner II put on a cornerback clinic at the IEL Indoor Practice Facility during training camp Thursday.

More on Knight from the Mothership:

"Knight has been as advertised as their second-round pick out of South Carolina. Smart, seasoned, fast, explosive. On Wednesday, he showed out with down-hill hits on running backs Chase Brown and Samaje Perine."

www.bengals.com/news/joe-bur...

D.J. Turner II shined for the Bengals defense on Day Seven of training camp Day Seven of Cincinnati Bengals training camp got off to an ominous start when dark clouds rolled in and thunder rumbled.

Enquirer on rookie Demetrius Knight:

"Knight Jr. has been an increasing frequent topic of conversation this training camp. He's making plays, carrying himself like a veteran player and fielding interviews post-practice like a leader."

www.cincinnati.com/story/sports...

D.J. Turner II shined for the Bengals defense on Day Seven of training camp Day Seven of Cincinnati Bengals training camp got off to an ominous start when dark clouds rolled in and thunder rumbled.

The Enquirer on D.J. Turner:

"Turner was all over Higgins. He was all over Chase. He was all over Iosivas. All of those receivers have had their moments during camp and made some plays July 31... He locked up basically everything the offense threw at him."

www.cincinnati.com/story/sports...

All this to defend former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of an attempted coup after losing the 2022 elections. Also accused of money laundering and criminal conspiracy. How does raising the cost of coffee help everyday Americans?

Bengals messaging on Hendrickson:

Katie Blackburn (in April): "I think some of it is on him to be happy at some point, and if he's not, that's what holds it up sometimes."

Mike Brown (during media day): "He deserves a raise. He did well. He played effectively. He's important."

All clergy in the United States are required to report child abuse, but 33 states have exceptions for what is learned in confession or "spiritual counseling." Washington State removed that loophole.

On Friday, a Judge issued a preliminary injunction, blocking enforcement on the new law.

Trump and the Catholic Church Fight a Law Requiring Clergy to Report Child Abuse Washington state’s new law forcing clergy to report child abuse becomes a constitutional test, facing challenges from churches and the Trump admin.

Washington Senate Bill 5375 mandates that the state's clergy report child abuse; if clergy learn about child abuse, they have to notify authorities within 48 hours.

Trump's DOJ launched a probe calling the law "anti-Catholic" and the Church filed a lawsuit.
www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

#Reds are getting healthier:

*Hunter Greene could begin rehab assignment this week in Louisville.
*Carson Spiers is on rehab assignment now.
*Austin Hays (June 27) and Noelvi Marte (July 4) have both returned.

(And TJ Friedl finally got a "day off" before pinch hitting Saturday).

Smith on Andy Dalton:

YouTube video by Raw Room Frmr Bengals OL Andre Smith On HOLDING OUT AS A ROOKIE; Andy Dalton, Chad Ochocinco & Terrell Owens

Former Bengals OT Andre Smith on HOLDING OUT.

Smith said Bengals fined him $500 every pound he was over weight, per weigh-in.

"The joke was that the Bengals remodeled the weight room... SMITTY YOU PAYING FOR THIS!"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBxX...

US military says 200 Marines being sent to support ICE in Florida The U.S. military said on Thursday it will send 200 Marines to Florida to provide administrative and logistical support to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

US military says 200 Marines being sent to support ICE in Florida reut.rs/44eLpIw

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs budget giving $600 million to Cleveland Browns Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed the state's massive operating budget, which includes funding for a new Cleveland Browns domed stadium.

Ohio's $60 billion spending bill approved by DeWine.

*$600 million for Browns stadium.
*People making over $100,000 will have income tax rate reduced from 3.5% to 2.75%, losing $1.1 billion in the general revenue fund. Made up by cutting social services.

www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...

Shemar Stewart and the Bengals have been at odds over 'double standard' according to NFL insider More details emerge regarding Stewart not practicing with the Bengals.

More on Shemar Stewart, not just signing his contract but also not signing his participation agreement, per @johnsheeran.bsky.social

..."he didn't sign the participation agreement because it was different from what other teams offered."

sports.yahoo.com/article/shem...

Here's the relievers numbers -- I think Stathead/Baseball reference is a day or two off.