In this post-Selection Sunday review, Major League Baseball’s lockout comes to a close. Marking the resumption of the Cincinnati Reds’ penny-pinching. Plus, FC Cincinnati gets their first win of this season.

The big story: Cincinnati Reds Opening Day rescheduled as lockout ends

The biggest sports story in Cincinnati on Selection Sunday had nothing to do with March Madness. Instead, it was the Reds trading starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Minnesota Twins. Gray and fellow right-handed pitcher Francis Peguero were traded for prospect pitcher Chase Petty. Through trading Gray and waiving Wade Miley late last year. The Reds will go into the 2022 season without two of their best starting pitchers from last year.

Those departures along with the Reds trading Gold Glove-winning catcher Tucker Barnhart to the Detroit Tigers. Reds general manager Nick Krall yammering on the payroll. Plus, the team not making a hefty effort to retain free agent outfielder Nick Castellanos. Leaves many with the sense that the Reds are shifting back into clearance sale/re-building mode. After three seasons of making an aggressive effort to contend.

Despite this perception, the Reds still have the potential to field a formidable roster this coming season. Gray and Miley’s departures could clear the way for Hunter Greene’s debut in Cincinnati. Greene continues to be one of the Reds best minor league pitchers. In the outfield, while it’s becoming put up or shut up time for Nick Senzel. Shogo Akiyama can make up for Castellanos’ absence defensively if necessary. While catchers Tyler Stephenson and minor leaguers Mark Kolozsvary could do well. Stepping into the big shoes left to fill amid Tucker Barnhart’s departure.

Meanwhile, the Reds will have a full 162 game regular season this year. After Major League Baseball’s lockout came to an end last Thursday. The league agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement ending the 99-day lockout. Within hours of the lockout’s conclusion Reds players and the team’s equipment arrived in Goodyear, AZ. For an abbreviated Spring Training, delayed roughly a month by the lockout. The Reds will officially start Spring Training this Thursday. Cincinnati’s first Spring Training exhibition game is Friday against the Cleveland Guardians.

Delayed one week later than originally planned. Opening Day for the Reds will be April 7th at the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves. Marking Cincinnati’s first season opener on the road since their 1990 world championship season. The Reds’ home opener is set for April 12th against the Guardians. Cincinnati will be on the road for 13 of their 21 April regular season games.

Nine of Cincinnati’s 13 road games will be played out west in Los Angeles, San Diego and Colorado. After two starting pitchers’ departures, the Reds might benefit from the universal designated hitter. One of the changes coming through the new CBA. Another change will be the MLB Postseason field expanding from ten to 12 teams. Something else the Reds could benefit from; they would’ve qualified under a 12-team format last year.

The rest of the week that was…

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s 2021-22 Men’s and Women’s College Basketball seasons have concluded. Northern Kentucky’s men’s team went the furthest among Greater Cincinnati’s three NCAA Division I universities. Through making it to the Horizon League Tournament’s championship game. Losing 72-71 to NCAA Tournament First Four bound Wright State. While Xavier’s women’s team’s season is also complete. Xavier’s men’s team will play postseason basketball this week.

After losing in overtime to Butler in the first round of the Big East Tournament. In a must-win game for Xavier in the eyes of many professional and amateur bracketologists. Xavier is missing out on an NCAA Tournament appearance for the fourth-consecutive time. Including the 2020 tournament cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The No.2 seed Xavier Musketeers will face No.7 Cleveland State in the National Invitational Tournament. Xavier will host the Horizon League regular season champions Tuesday night.

Xavier is in the same bracket as top NIT overall seed Dayton. The Dayton Flyers were the first of the first four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament field. Dayton lost in the Atlantic Ten Tournament’s semifinals to regular season champions Davidson last Saturday. The Flyers will host Mid American Conference regular season champions No.8 Toledo Tuesday. Dayton’s women’s team earned an NCAA Tournament berth. They will face DePaul in the first ever Women’s First Four Wednesday in Ames, IA. The winner will face No.6 seed Georgia Friday in Ames.

Beyond the NCAA, Thomas More University’s men’s and women’s teams are deep into their postseasons. Both starting their NAIA Tournament campaigns at home. The Saints’ women’s team began their run in the NAIA Tournament last weekend. Advancing to the Round of 16 after beating Haskell 89-42 last Friday. Then beating Grand View 86-62 a day later.

TMU’s women’s team will face Bryan Thursday in Sioux City, IA. The winner will face either Rocky Mountain or Wayland Baptist Saturday in Sioux City. TMU’s men’s team is also advancing to the Round of 16 of the NAIA Tournament. Beating Grand View 81-74 last Friday and Stillman 80-67 a day later. Thomas More will play SAGU Thursday in Kansas City, MO. The winner will face either Oklahoma Wesleyan or LSU Shreveport in Kansas City Saturday.

Beyond College Basketball, FC Cincinnati won for the first time this season. After being shutout in wrenching losses in their first two regular season matches. FCC beat Orlando City on the road 2-1 with Brandon Vazquez scoring Cincinnati’s two goals. Vazquez got FC Cincinnati on the board first with his goal in the 13th minute. After Orlando’s equalizer in the 42nd minute; Vazquez scored the match-winner in the 53rd.

The Cincinnati Bengals applied the franchise tag for safety Jessie Bates III last Monday. Giving the team more time to work out a long-term deal with Bates. Along with Bates playing for the team for at least another season. Meanwhile, this week marks the start of the NFL’s free agency period starting Wednesday at 4 PM Eastern. In hockey, the Cincinnati Cyclones won two out three over the weekend. Beating the Wheeling Nailers at home 8-5 last Friday. Winning 5-4 at the Indianapolis Fuel Saturday and losing Sunday at the Fort Wayne Komets 5-2.

The 2022 Winter Paralympics concluded Sunday in Beijing, China. Louisville, KY’s Oksana Masters is bringing home a Winter Paralympic U.S. record seven medals from the games. Winning two of her three gold and one silver medal in para biathlon events. The other gold and three silver medals earned were in para cross-country skiing. With 14 career Winter Paralympic medals, Masters is now the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian in history. Team USA overall ranked fourth in the medal count; with China, Ukraine and Canada comprising the top three. The U.S. won 20 medals (six gold, 11 silver and three bronze) in these games.

What’s up this week (all times unless otherwise noted are Eastern)

College Basketball

The NCAA DI Men’s Basketball Tournament schedule is available here.

Men’s NIT

Xavier vs. Cleveland State, Tuesday at 9 PM on ESPNU.

Dayton vs. Toledo, Wednesday at 7 PM on ESPN+.

The NCAA DI Women’s Basketball Tournament schedule is available here.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds Spring Training schedule is available here.

Soccer

FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami, Saturday at 1 PM on WSTR-TV (64).

Cincinnati Cyclones (game broadcasts available through cycloneshockey.com)

Cyclones vs. Kalamazoo Wings, Wednesday at 10:30 AM.

Cyclones vs. Fort Wayne Komets, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM.

Cyclones at Indianapolis Fuel, Sunday at 3 PM.