Colerain Loses A Family Member

 

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Doug Marcum joins his father as Colerain fans in the sky. 

On January 9, Doug lost a battle with Parkinson's disease and Dementia. 

Doug was a 1971 graduate of Colerain. He was a super athlete who was injured in his last game at Colerain. According to his sister Debbie he decided against a surgery that could have allowed him to play football at one of the seven universities that offered him scholarships.

It was a decision, he regretted.

Doug and Debbie's father Bill died in 2013. He was at EVERY Colerain football game for nearly 50 years. He would sit with Doug, Debbie and his brother, Greg, who also passed away in December. Greg graduated from a school in Indiana where the family lived until they moved back to Colerain in the 70's.

The following is the testimonial that was written when Bill passed away. 

Colerain's Loss Is Heaven's Gain

Debbie Marcum's voice wasn't raspy after Colerain defeated Mason 63-14 on Friday night.

The 1972 member of the Colerain pep group that cheered from the stands 41 years ago usually yells "defense" and "let's go Colerain" on Friday night.  Uncharacteristically, she was quiet.  The seats to her left were unoccupied for one of the few times since, 1968.

Her voice was spared on Friday; her eyes were not.

Debbie's father Bill Marcum wasn't in the seat to her immediate left.  That seat will represent a void not only in "the Cage" at Colerain but in the hearts of many in the Colerain community -including this writer.

Bill Marcum, a constant at Colerain football games, punted after 86 years and joined a team at a higher level.  Marcum ordered the doctors to withhold dialysis.  He knew it was time to let someone else carry the ball.

Marcum was a fighter but more importantly a supporter.  He knew the game as well as anyone around.  His daughter Debbie can explain the reads in Colerain's famous option offense.  She knows the angles used by Colerain's 50-slant defense.  Bill taught her.  But Bill never second- guessed the coach.  He was always, always on the field after the game with a pat on the back of the coach, win or lose.  He never left early in a blowout game, when the weather was bitter cold, rainy or under a heavy snow.

Marcum joined the Navy just prior to graduating from now-defunct Hartwell High.  The 16-year old fought for our country starting in 1944 and returned to get his GED and raise a family.

His eldest son Greg went to high school in Indiana.

His second son Doug inherited his father's competitive spirit and his track speed.  The family moved back to Cincinnati and Doug was a talented wide receiver and defensive back from 1968 to 1970.

Bill watched his son, 6'1" about 175 pounds, hit running backs and receivers on the same field that Debbie stared at blankly at on Friday.

Doug had scholarship offers from his hard-nosed play and his exceptional athleticism, but an knee injury late in his senior year kept him from moving on.

Bill never moved on.  He came to nearly every Colerain game for the next 42 years, often with Debbie, Greg and Doug, who at 60 can still wear his letterman jacket like he did when he was 17.

He watched Kerry Combs, the legendary Colerain coach now on the staff at Ohio State, chase down running backs at Colerain.  He watched current coach Tom Bolden, alias Top Gun, set passing records at Colerain.  Bill saw lean years and was there every game.

When I returned on a regular basis when my nephews played on Colerain's emerging teams of the early '90's, Bill recognized me, one of the less significant players in Colerain's history.

We greeted each other every week during the football season.  He was in Canton for Colerain's state championship win over Canton McKinley in 2004.

Bill never second-guessed the coach after a rare tough loss.  He was still on the field to pat Combs or Bolden on the back.  He was there to shake players' hands after wins and after losses.

Finally, Monday, Bill Marcum had enough.

"So be it," Marcum told his sons and daughter.  "I'm not taking any more dialysis."

Tom Bolden and the Colerain Cardinals have dedicated the rest of the season to Bill Marcum.

I will dedicate my life to being a loyal fan just like him.

Rest well, by friend.

Reds Pick Up Left Handed Pitcher Brock Burke And Trade Gavin Lux To Tampa Bay In Three Team Trade

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall today announced  three-way trade, landing LHP Brock Burke from the Angels. The Reds sent Gavin Lux to the Rays, while Tampa Bay sent OF Josh Lowe to Los Angeles in exchange for minor league RHP Chris Clark.

Burke, 29, posted a 7-1 record with a 3.36 ERA (61.2ip, 24r/23er) across a career-high 69 appearances in 2025. His 69 outings were the second-most by an Angels left-hander in a season in team history, while his 7 wins ranked second among all Major League left-handed relievers in 2025.

The Rays chose Burke in the third round of the 2014 draft. Burke has pitched in five Major League seasons with the Rangers (2019, '22-24) and Angels (2024-25). He was a member of Texas' 2023 World Series championship team, pitching in two postseason games as the Rangers secured their first World Series title in franchise history.

Burke was named the Rangers' Rookie of the Year by the local chapter of the BBWAA in 2022 after leading all Major League relievers in innings pitched (82.1) and posting the lowest ERA (1.97) by a rookie reliever in Rangers history. He also finished that year ranked among American League relief pitchers in strikeouts (90, 2nd) and wins (7, T3rd).

Lux, 28, batted .269 in a career-high 140 games with the Reds in 2025. He also set career bests with 120 hits, 28 doubles, 53 RBI, 56 walks, a .350 on-base percentage, and 176 times on base. He was originally acquired by Cincinnati from the Dodgers in exchange for minor leaguer Mike Sirota and the Reds' Competitive Balance Round A (37th overall) selection in the 2025 first-year player draft on January 6, 2025.

 

Reds Sign International Players Including 16-Year Old Angel Nunez Yosver Zulueta Traded To Seattle

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds signed 16 international players today January 15, 2026. seven are from the Dominican Republic, six from Venezuela, one from Curacao. one from Aruba and one from Panama.

Arias, Eliezer - SS - Dominican Republic

Burgos, Daniel - RHP - Venezuela

Colina, Jose - OF - Venezuela

Cuello, Alexander - INF - Dominican Republic

Delgado, Luis - RHP - Dominican Republic

Felix, Ronny - OF - Dominican Republic

Goncalves, Carlos - C - Venezuela

Gutierrez, Eider - OF - Venezuela

Hernandez, Carlos - SS - Venezuela

Josephina, Gilventon - OF - Curacao

Meyers, Nishentel - INF - Aruba

Nolasco, Xander - C - Dominican Republic

Nunez, Angel - OF - Dominican Republic

Pacheco, Diego - C - Venezuela

Romero, Juandy - SS - Dominican Republic

Saldaña, Jose - RHP - Panama

Nuñez is ranked number 6 among international prospects. He starred for his country during the U15 World Cup in Colombia in August 2024, when he hit .350 and recorded 11 RBIs across eight games. His power is still developing but he has good eye among his age group, showing a willingness to take his walks. A left-handed hitter, he utilizes his quick hands to rip line drives from gap to gap.

He has top level speed and is projected to play centerfield.

Venezuelan catcher Diego Pacheco, a physical beast with a rocket throwing arm who checks in at No. 50 on the list.

Nuñez, 16,  is expected to receive a $3 million signing bonus and Pacheco will land $800,000, according to a source. The Reds received $7,357,100 in pool money this year.

The Reds signed many latin players at the age of 16, Juan Duran and Yorman Rodriguez signed at that tender age in 2008. Duran never made it to the big leagues. Rodriguez lasted 1 games in 2014.

Aristedes Aquino was signed at 16. He made a splash with the Reds in 2019, hitting 19 home runs in 56 games. He hit 10 in 2021 and 2022 then went to Japan for the Chunichi Dragons. He played in Mexico last season. Now 31, Aquino hit .277 with 15 home runs in 70 games for Diablos Rojos del Mexico (the Red Devils of Mexico) last season.

Hours after Yosver Zulueta was designated for assignment the Reds traded him to the Seattle Mariners for minor league RHP Dusty Revis. 

Revis was drafted by Seattle in the 11th round of the 2025 MLB June Amateur Draft from Western Carolina University. He did not pitch in the minors this past season for the Mariners.

Pierce Johnson Wants To Lead By Example

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds moved today to strengthen it bullpen by signing veteran Pierce Johnson.

Johnson is a 34-year old Denver native, who pitched at Missouri State. He was the Chicago Cubs first pick in the 2012 draft and broke in with the Cubs in 2017. 

He pitched one inning on May 19 against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing two unearned runs in his lone big league inning. The San Francisco Giants selected him off waivers from the Cubs in September of that season and pitched in 37 games.

Johnson pitched in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers in the Japanese Pacific League in 2019. He posted a 1.38 ERA in 58 games.

Johnson returned to the states in 2020 with the San Diego Padres and became good friends with Emilio Pagan.

He pitched in Colorado and Atlanta in 2023 and completed his second full season with the Braves last season, with a 3-3 record and 3.05 ERA in 65 games covering 59 innings.

Atlanta declined to tender him a contract on November 6 and the Reds signed him, today, January 15.

To compliment his curve ball heavy pitching expertise, Johnson is hoping to help the Reds young pitchers acclimate to the big leagues.

"I've done a lot of different things, and I've played this game for a long time, so I've been able to learn a lot, and I'm still constantly learning," Johnson said. " But for the young guys, I just want to be someone that they can, you know, that they can just ask questions and, you know, just be open and honest, and I can help them out with whatever. You know, adversity comes their way.  So I just hope I can be one of those guys for the younger guys."

Johnson confirmed that Pagan lobbied him to sign with Cincinnati. 

"I mean, he and I talk every day, and, you know, we've, we've been super close. But it was literally, Hey, man, like, where we're trying to go. And then Cincinnati ended up signing him, and it was, and he was like, you're coming here. We're getting it done. We're getting it done. And here we are, and we got it done," Johnson said. "This was some place that he wanted to come back to. And, you know, free agency, you never know what's going to happen. There could have been a team that came out and exploded with a massive offer and, and I know for a fact that this was a place that he wanted to come back to. He spoke very highly of everybody throughout the entire organization, and him and his family loved it. So when you have your best friend selling you on something, it's pretty easy to buy in."

"He was trying to trade for me when I was still in Atlanta," Johnson said.

Emilio Pagan's Expanded Closer Role Helps Reds Land Pierce Johnson

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Emilio Pagan added a unique facet to his reinvention as a closer.

Sales professionals know the salesman's mantra, ABC; Always Be Closing. The veteran reliever, who took over the closer's role in the Reds' bullpen with 32 saves, sold his friend and former teammate, Pierce Johnson, to sign with the Reds today.

The pair became close in 2020 and 2021 as teammates with the San Diego Padres and talk to each other frequently.

Johnson, the 34-year old right hander, was granted free agency by the Atlanta Braves on November 6. His free agency ended today with a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2027.

Pagan started the sales process on his good friend.

"Absolutely (I sold him), I talked to him every day since his option was declined," Pagan said. "I talked to him nearly every day. I told him Atlanta did him a favor. I told him that he was going to get at least a two-year deal somewhere. I pumped to have him. He's a great dude, great pitcher, great family. The Reds' fans are going to really enjoy watching him."

So what was the pitch, the sales pitch, that turned Johnson into a Reds' player?

"I told him just come play (here) with me," Pagan said. 

That wasn't enough.

"I talked about our kids being together. My daughter gets along with his kids. They just had a new born. My wife loves helping take care of babies. I told him you have another built in little helper here. My wife and his wife, Chrissy, are real close. I was trying hard to make it happen. It did. I/m excited."

Pagan was 2-4 with a 2.88 ERA last season in 70 games after he took over as the bullpen closer from Alexis Diaz with a career-high 32 saves. 

He felt he let himself and his team down in 2024 and determined to make up for it.

"No one predicted that I'd have 32 saves. We get paid a lot of money and I felt that I didn't do what was expected of me in my first year here. I wanted to put my best foot forward last year. Did I anticipate doing what I did? No. Being able to finish strong; throwing four of the last five days of the season, that was a blast. I had a great time. I expect to deliver close to that or even better this year."

Pagan worked at perfecting the delivery that coach Matt Tracy recommended last year.

"I worked a lot with Matt Tracy last year with my delivery," Pagan revealed. "I've always been a guy that strides across my body. He was telling me I was banging my head against the wall. He said that if I stride open with your delivery. I think it will work out better. He was right. The more that I began to stride even with home plate or slightly open, my velo (velocity) jumped; my command jumped. the action on all my pitches was better. I've been focused on that until it feels more and more natural."

Johnson, 34, pitched to a 3-3 record with a 3.05 ERA across 65 appearances with the Braves this past season. He retired 26 consecutive batters over a span of 9 outings from April 19 to May 10, the longest-such streak by any Major League reliever in 2025.

Selected by the Cubs in Compensation Round A (43rd overall) of the 2012 first-year player draft, Johnson has pitched in 8 Major League seasons with Chicago (2017), San Francisco (2018), San Diego (2020-22), Colorado (2023), and Atlanta (2023-25). In 2023, Johnson set career highs in several categories, including games (67), innings (62.2), strikeouts (90), and saves (13).

Johnson owns a 1.50 ERA across 12 career Postseason outings for San Diego (2020, '22) and Atlanta (2023, '24). Of his 12 Postseason appearances, all but one have been scoreless. He appeared in each of the Padres' first 5 games of the 2020 Postseason, becoming the third pitcher in club history to appear in 5 or more consecutive Postseason games.

Johnson was born in Denver. He spent the 2019 season with Nippon Professional Baseball's Hanshin Tigers, where he was recognized as NPB All-Star after ranking second among Central League relievers in ERA (1.38), strikeouts (91), and holds (40). Johnson pitched collegiately at Missouri State University (2010-12), where as a junior in 2012 he set a single-season program record with 119 strikeouts.

The Reds designated for assignment RHP Yosver Zulueta to make a roster space for Johnson. 

Cincinnati's 40-player roster is at capacity.

Reds Invite Non Roster Players To Compete For Jobs

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds invited to Major League spring training camp: RHP Tejay Antone, C Will Banfield, INF Michael Chavis, RHP Hagen Danner, INF Garrett Hampson, RHP Lyon Richardson, RHP Carson Spiers, INF Michael Toglia, and LHP Joel Valdez.

Antone is coming off his third elbow surgery. He has 45 appearances with five starts in between surgeries. He has been effective when healthy. The 32-year old sports a 2.47 over 76 2/3 innings. Antone's last appearance was on April 7, 2024.

Banfield filled in for Tyler Stephenson last season, appearing in seven games.

Chavis,30, was the top pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 2014 draft. He signed with the Reds on Christmas Eve. He is a right handed hitter, who can play first, second and third base. Chavis played in 357 games in the Major Leagues with a .238 average and 45 home runs. He played for Boston, Pittsburgh and Washington. His best year was with Pittsburgh in 2022. He played in 129 games with a .229 average, 16 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs and 49 RBI. He last appeared in the Major Leagues in 2023 with Washington. Chavis played in 48 games, hitting .242.

Danner,  27, signed with the Reds on January 7. He was the second round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 out of Huntington Beach, California High School. Danner has just 1/3 innings in his big league career, pitching against the Chicago Cubs in 2023 on August 11. Danner has 150 games of minor league experience. He pitched for Tacoma last season in the Seattle Mariners system. He pitched in 54 games in relief with a 6-4 record and a 5.59 ERA in 56 1/3 innings.

Hampson is 31-years old and is taking his second tour with the Reds, who signed him on December 29. He was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 18 last year. The Reds signed him six days later. He played in nine games with the Reds nine games with three hits in 18 at bats. The St. Louis Cardinals selected him on waivers on June 24, appearing in 35 games while hitting .103 until his release on September 11.

Lyon Richardson is 27. He pitched for the Reds in 39 games over the last three seasons. He has a 0-5 record and a 6.05 ERA. He was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster when the Reds acquired Dane Myers. He was sent outright to Louisville's roster.

Carson Spiers earned a spot in the Reds starting rotation, saving a place for Andrew Abbott. He made two starts and logged a quality start in his first start against the Texas Rangers on April 1. The 28-year old pitched six innings and allowed just one run in a 1-0 loss. He has 14 starts and 29 appearances over three seasons. Carson has a 5-10 record with a 5.69 ERA in 117 innings. Spiers had UCL surgery on his right elbow in July. Spiers was granted free agency on November 21 and resigned with the Reds three days later.

Toglia is a 27-year old switch hitting first baseman/outfielder. The Reds signed him to a minor league contract on January 7 after the Colorado Rockies granted free agency to their top pick in the 2017 draft. He played in 88 games for Colorado last season. Toglia hit .190 with 15 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs and 32 RBI. Toglia hit 25 home runs in 116 games for the Rockies in 2024.

Valdez is a 25-year old left handed pitcher from El Seibo, Dominican Republic. He pitched in 26 games at Chattanooga last season. Valdez posted a 2-1 record with a 1.97 ERA. He was promoted to Louisville amd pitched in nine games with a 6.00 ERA. The Reds picked him up in the minor league phase of the 2024 draft from the New York Yankees system. He pitched 1/3 an inning for Escondigo in the Dominican Winter League after he became a free agent at the end of the season. He resigned with the Reds in December on a minor league contract. 

Jeff Brantley Wins Award

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The National Sports Media Association announced that Reds' broadcaster, Jeff Brantley was named The Sportscaster of the Year for Ohio.

Brantley completed a 14-year career as a Major League pitcher with the Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers in 2001.

He joined ESPN as an on-air contributor from 2002-2006. Brantley joined the Reds' broadcast team in October 2006. He appears on the radio and television network broadcasts of Reds' games.

The National Sports Media Association Inc. is a nonprofit organization that seeks to develop educational opportunities for those who are interested in pursuing a career in sports media through networking, interning, mentoring, and scholarship programs.

The NSMA also honors, preserves, and celebrates the diverse legacy of sports media in the United States.

Founded in 1959 as the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in Salisbury, N.C., the NSSA added its Hall of Fame in 1962, with Grantland Rice as its first member. The organization rebranded to the National Sports Media Association in 2016 and moved to Winston-Salem, N.C. one year later.

Punt John Punt Indiana Hoosiers Making Football History

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

John Isenbarger died last March at the age of 76.

He played a huge roll with the 1967 Indiana Hoosier football team, ranked number four in the country with a 9-1 record in a three-way tie in the Big 10. Indiana, Purdue and Minnesota were all 6-1 in the conference, who's winner had an automatic ticket to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Indiana defeated Purdue. Minnesota defeated Indiana and Purdue defeated Minnesota.

The league had a no repeat rule which eliminated Purdue who played in the 1967 Rose Bowl. The league voted Indiana in over Minnesota because, in part, they were the only conference member that had yet to appear in the classic

Isenbarger was a great all around athlete out of Muncie Central High School. He had a scholarship offer to play basketball for Adolph Rupp at Kentucky. Heisman Trophy winner and broadcaster, Tom Harmon, lobbied Isenbarger to play at Michigan.

Harry Gonso of Findlay, Ohio High School and Isenbarger were sophomore phenoms at Indiana. They competed head-to-head for the quarterback job. Coach John Pont chose Gonso but moved Isenbarger to running back. Isenbarger was the punter too.

Isenbarger was named All Big 10 twice and at the time of his death was still 10th on the Hoosier's list with 1,217 yards rushing.

The dream of a conference title nearly crumbled on October 21 at Michigan. 

The Hoosiers jumped in front of the Wolverines, 20-0 but Michigan closed the gap to 20-14 and stopped the Hoosiers inside the 10 forcing a punt.

Instead, Isenbarger decided he could run for a first down. He fumbled the ball at the Indiana 16. Michigan scored a touchdown but a botched snap kept the game tied. 

Pont told Sports Illustrated it was the maddest he had been in his life. Isenbarger told his coach, “Why do I do things like that?”

The coach was so angry he pulled Isenbarger from the game, intending to leave him there until he rotted.

Michigan missed a 22-yard field goal and Indiana put a drive together. Gonso pleaded with Pont to bring Isenbarger back which he did. The near goat, scored on a one-yard run with less than two minutes left.

“It was a kind of the goat-to-hero deal,” Isenbarger said. “Had that not happened, I might never have played again.”

The rest of the season the Hoosier student section would yell, "Punt John Punt", whenever Indiana lined up in punt formation.

The Hoosiers took care of Arizona. 42-7, beat Wisconsin 14-9 and edged Michigan State on the road, 14-13, going into the key games against Minnesota and Purdue to finish the Big 10 slate.

Minnesota defended their home turf with a 33-7 drubbing on November 18. That left a game with intra state rival Purdue the defending champion. Purdue fielded what many people consider it's best team in history. The Boilermakers were led by quarterback Mike Phipps and two-way All-American, Leroy Keys. 

Indiana upset the Boilermakers 19-14 with Purdue fumbling on Indiana's the one-yard line as time expired. It was Purdue's lone loss of the season.

The Hoosiers took on the University of Southern California on New Year's day 1968. USC won 14-3.

Indiana soundly defeated Alabama 57 years later, 38-3. Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosier quarterback, became the first Indiana player to win the Heisman Trophy, picking up Gonso's legacy. Coach Curt Cignetti will lead his 15-0 team into the NCAA football finals against Miami University in Miami on January 19. The Hoosiers man handled Otegon in the Peach Bowl on January 9, 56-22. Indiana handed the Ducks both of their losses this season.

Indiana defeated Oregon in Big 10 play, 30-20 on October 11 at Oregon.

Indiana decidedly defeated Oregon a second time on January 9th. A 56-22 win puts Indiana in position to take on the University of Miami in thei own backyard.

Isenbarger was the second round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1970 draft. He played four seasons in the NFL.