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CHICAGO -- Robert Stephenson is back with the Cincinnati Reds this month, getting the chance to finish as strongly as he started the 2016 season.Stephenson (2-1, 4.97 ERA) will make his sixth career appearance, fourth start, when he face the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. He was recalled by the Reds earlier this month.In April, the 23-year-old right-hander became the first Reds pitcher to win his first two big league games since Larry Luebbers in 1993. He earned those victories after Cincinnati right-hander Homer Bailey was deemed unable to pitch at the start of the season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.Stephenson was sent to Triple-A Louisville in late April, and he spent the bulk of the season in the minors. He went 8-9 with a 4.41 ERA in 24 starts for Louisville, including wins in his final two starts while allowing a total of three earned runs.We want to see Robert, and were giving him a chance to pitch in his regular comfortable role, which is as a starter, Price said when Stephenson was called up Sept. 2. This is an opportunity for him to continue to find his way.In three starts this month, Stephenson is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA. On Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he allowed four runs on four hits in five innings during a no-decision.Bailey, meanwhile, threw an uneventful bullpen session at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, maintaining hopes that he may yet see major league action in the seasons final games.He was feeling good so he (wanted) to do it today, Price said. (But) if there is a risk or concern about his surgically repaired injury, then he will certainly not take the field.Bailey had his elbow reconstructed in the middle of the 2015 season. He returned to the Reds this season to make six appearances between July 31 and Aug. 28, going 2/3 with a 6.65 ERA. He subsequently was shut down due to biceps tenderness.Stephensons mound opponent Wednesday will be John Lackey (9-8, 3.42 ERA). The right-hander is the last Chicago starter without a double-digit win total. That is partly due to a stay on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder stiffness last month. He hopes to join the 10-win group in his 28th start of the season.Lackey got a no-decision in his last start -- a 5-4, come-from-behind Cubs win over the Brewers in 10 innings Friday. He is 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his past seven starts, but he is 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA in three starts against Cincinnati this season.In his career against the Reds, Lackey is 4-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 12 starts.Behind the Lackey, the Cubs bullpen could have a familiar face back.Right-handed reliever Pedro Strop, out since Aug. 11 after undergoing surgery to repair meniscus tear of his left knee, is expected to be activated from the disabled list later this week. He could make up to five appearances in the final two weeks of the season.Strop threw about 20 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday and reported no problems. He is 2-2 with a 2.89 ERA in 50 appearances this season. Magic Johnson Lakers Jersey . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. 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Nick Van Exel Lakers Jersey . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. When University of Washington womens basketball coach Mike Neighbors finds himself watching a lopsided high school or AAU game, he tries to think outside the box.He seeks out athletic directors or ticket takers to measure intangibles, off-the-court qualities that dont show up in player rankings or box scores.Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff takes his recruiting reconnaissance one step further.You talk to the people who sweep the floors and the people who clean the bathrooms and all that, McGuff said. You see how they treat them.In todays girls basketball world, where there is increasing competition to earn a scholarship, college coaches are paying attention to the small details, even if the score is 68-10. Recruits on top-flight teams signing this week navigated their recruitments through a handful of blowout games. That means their suitors found other ways to evaluate talent.Players say they often tell coaches which games on their schedule will be the most competitive. That way, recruits get the chance to show their stuff, and coaches can maximize their 112 evaluation days.Every time I talk to a college coach, they even tell me [to] pick [games] out for them because they know that we will usually beat teams by a large margin, said Aquira DeCosta, the No. 6 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Super 60 for the 2018 class. She plays for St. Marys (Stockton, California), which went 28-1 last year. Just four of their games were decided by 10 points or fewer.Even with a heads up, coaches can still find themselves at lopsided games. With the team on cruise control and the recruit on the bench, coaches shift their focus away from layups or defense.Theyll take notes on how a recruit acts around her teammates or how she responds in huddles.Neighbors looks at a handful of things.How do they respond to officials? Neighbors said. How do they respond to being in a blowout? Do they react the way we hope they would act?Before arriving on campus, coaches typically have seen a player in another venue, such as an AAU game or showcase. Neighbors acknowledged that it is certainly hard to evaluate on-court talent in a blowout. Coaches want to see how future players respond in tight games.Its hard when you see recruits and theyre not playing against any competition, McGuff said. You just want to see how they react in those environments.Coaches try to get a sense of a recruits character on the front end, before visiting a game. Blowout games, however, offer a rare look at personality that iisnt visible over the phone or by text message.ddddddddddddLouisville coach Jeff Walz enjoys seeing recruits on the bench. Walz can remember games that have lasted just 45 minutes with a running clock.If youre not playing because your team is up big, are you there cheering for your teammates? Walz said. Are you getting them water when a timeout comes?We like to look for all those intangibles. Its not just about how many points can you score. Its what type of person you are.DeCosta frequently hears from coaches who tell her to play up to potential even in an uneven game.They look for how your courage is, she said.Ayanna Clark, the No. 17 in the class of 2017 and a USC commit, said many of her games at Long Beach Poly are blowouts.Last year, the Jackrabbits went 27-5, winning their league games by a 55-point average margin. Clark generally advises college coaches to see her play during the playoffs instead.But no matter what, Clark finds other ways to get involved.Im always the person whos there to cheer on my team and pick them up, Clark said. I do it either way. It doesnt just have to be a one-way thing when its non-competitive.Clark said its common for college coaches to show up early, perhaps during the junior varsity game, to catch warmups.Walz and his staff try to pick the most competitive games, but he has also found value in evaluating a recruit at practice.I get just as much, if not more, from watching a potential student-athlete practice than I do playing a game, Walz said. I want to find the ones that love to practice.Coaches agree that the EYBL circuit and AAU ranks have created a must-win environment for many teams. Programs are motivated to reach nationals, which makes games more competitive. Blowout games can happen anywhere, though.Ive seen 68-10 AAU games, Walz said. You just have to go and watch and see when theyre up 50, are they still trying to compete and play the hardest? Or do they slack off.Recruits on top-flight programs generally know which games on their schedule will feature the best competition. If a player is not a junior, high school coaches relay vital information about the matchup so that college coaches arent surprised.I can tell them ahead what kind of game it is depending on which team it is, DeCosta said. When you do have those competitive, elite games, just play your best and let it all out there. ' ' '