Sports Today: MLB replay fails Reds again, Cavaliers roll in Eastern Conference finals opener

Cincinnati showed some resiliency, though, hanging around to go into the ninth inning down just 7-5 in Chicago. That turned out to be the final, although the game could still be going on if not for a ridiculous overturn of a play at first base that resulted in the 27th out.

Joey Votto was ruled safe initially because it appeared the Chicago shortstop’s throw pulled Anthony Rizzo off the bag, but the replay official disagreed despite there being no camera angle that definitively showed if he maintained contact or not.

That didn’t sit well with Reds manager Bryan Price.

Price is correct. Whatever the initial call was should have stuck.

The replays that showed when the ball hit the back of the glove didn’t show Rizzo’s foot, and the shots showing Rizzo’s foot didn’t show when the ball hit the back of the glove.

This is yet another example of an idiot-proof system being screwed up somehow.

Not sure I’ll ever understand how the concept of irrefutable evidence can be so pliable to so many officials…

Is it time to pull the plug on the Scott Feldman, Reds Starting Pitcher Experience? 

The guy brought in to provide a veteran presence and eat innings failed to get out of the third inning, giving up five runs on seven hits. He walked three because that is what Reds pitchers do. They walk people.

Feldman is on pace to get close to 200 innings, but he’s been pretty inconsistent. He’s had a seven-inning start and a complete game but more than half his starts have been 5.0 innings or less.

READ MORE at Marcus Hartman's "Cus Words Blog" 

If any of the rookies had Feldman’s numbers this season, there would be reason to rejoice. With him, it seems like kind of a waste of time.

But then no one who is healthy has proven they deserve his spot, either.

Is it time to simply plug Robert Stephenson in there and hope for the best?

He’s been inconsistent in long relief, but it can be tough to excel without regular work.

At any rate, Amir Garrett is back today as the series wraps up at Wrigley…

The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. 

The game was not as close as 117-104 final.

LeBron James said his team didn’t play as well as it could have, and he was right.

The Celtics looked like garbage most of the game despite playing at home. They were of course in action Monday night while the Cavs had more than a week off.

It’s always bad to jump to conclusions after one game of a series (like assuming this will be a sweep), but the first impression is yes, the Wizards would have given Cleveland a better test than Boston…

The Celtics have the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, and they desperately need another No. 1-type player to go with Isaiah Thomas. 

Meanwhile, a survey of mock drafts yesterday found Franklin High School star and former Ohio Mr. Basketball Luke Kennard going anywhere from late in the lottery to somewhere in the low 20s…

Finally, congratulations are in order for Tyler Johnson of Miamisburg.

He is among the more than 30 area football players in the class of 2018 who are receiving significant attention from FBS schools, and Navy has become the first to offer him a scholarship.

Johnson led the Vikings in receiving last year with 25 catches for 598 yards and seven touchdowns.

Scout lists him as a linebacker prospect while he is a receiver in the 247sports database.

Johnson visited Michigan State last fall and told Scout the Spartans were among the top five schools he would like to attend.

Today's jam:

My favorite Soundgarden song serves as a melancholy tribute today following the death of Chris Cornell.

Seems like only yesterday I was riding the school bus listening to “Down On The Up Side” on my Discman.