The best sports month of the year has just begun, as we have finally reached March.  March Madness, Reds baseball beginning, and Winter coming to a close always makes for an entertaining month.  The Reds open the regular season on March 27^th against the Giants at 4:10 and I can’t wait to be in right field watching Tito lead this team.  For now though, the Reds still have some kinks to work out, along with deciding the roles of each player and filling out this roster. 

Noelvi Marte

With roughly three weeks until the season begins, it’s safe to say that the Reds have a decision to make on Noelvi Marte.  He was 0-3 on the 2^nd, has 7 strikeouts in 15 plate appearances, and is batting .067.  In 2023, he looked like a star in the making in 35 games, but has been on a downward spiral ever since.  I’m rooting for Marte, but he simply cannot be on the roster as it stands right now.  I’m not giving up on Noelvi by any means, but I truly hope we aren’t running into a “Jose Barrero 2.0” situation. 

So Much to be Excited for

This Spring Training has been exciting to watch and I truly think this Reds team could have a breakout season under new leadership.  My main takeaways thus far include:

• Christian Encarnacion-Strand is hitting the ball HARD.  His power is needed and if healthy, he looks good enough to have a 30 home run year. 
• Elly De La Cruz is batting .500 with a team leading 3 home runs.  Protect him for the next three weeks, he is ready to go.  His swing looks like it has come changes and he has only struck out 3 times.  MVP season incoming?
• Matt McLain is 7/14 and is back to looking like his normal self.  Stay healthy Matt, this team needs you!
• Jacob Hurtubise is batting very well in his 10 at-bats, including 6 hits, 2 doubles, and a triple.  He is fighting for one of the last roster spots. 
• In 4 innings pitched, Chase Petty has yet to give up a run, along with only giving up 1 hit.  He really looks comfortable on the mound to begin the season.  The 21 year old might just find himself in a big league role this season. 
• Jake Fraley crushed a home run on Sunday.  If he could get back to hitting for power, I’d feel a lot better about our outfield. 
• Blake Dunn might be the most impressive player thus far.  He is batting .385, including1 home run, 1 double, and only a single strikeout.  He might be the fastest player on the roster outside of Elly and is making his case to be on the roster come March 27^th. 
• Spencer Steer is dealing with a right shoulder issue and he might begin the season on the injured list.  While this is a major bummer, injuries are expected, and this is why depth is so important. 

The post Cincinnati Reds’ March Madness is here: Regular season starts March 27 appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

At last, I can finally write about actual results and not just speculations or predictions, as Spring Training games have officially started.  As I do each season, it’s always a good reminder to ignore win-loss records during this time, focus on the “wins” for each player, and to keep in mind that this is a time for players to dial-in before the season begins in a month.  Younger players are competing for spots, pitchers are perfecting their craft, and batters are attempting to get their feel back at the plate.  Add in the new manager and the new additions, and you really have to take a step back and look at the positives individually. 

Impressive Beginning

• Elly De La Cruz hasn’t missed a step and is looking for a breakout season.  In his first two at-bats in the Cactus League, he smoked two home runs including one from each side.  If he stays healthy, we might just have an MVP on our favorite team in 2025.
• Santiago Espinal was highly impressive in his 5 at-bats, including a triple and a home run.  His depth should be talked about more. 
• Rece Hinds smoked a triple off the wall and I think we all know his ceiling.  If he could just be more consistent, he could certainly play a lot of major league ball this year.
• The new Red, Gavin Lux, had a great game, including 3 RBIs and a double. 
• 25-year-old catcher, Will Banfield smoked an impressive home run.  Banfield, Wynns, Trevino, and Stephenson will be fun to watch this season. 
• Chase Petty, Connor Phillips, Nick Martinez, and Graham Ashcraft all had impressive outings, including 2 scoreless innings from each of them.
• Cam Collier had a big double in his first at bat.  Collier and Stewart are some Reds on the Rise that are trying to get to the big league level. 

Quotes from the Weekend

• Terry Francona on Nick Martinez: “I know there’s some versatility there and he’s willing to do it, but bouncing guys around unless you have to is not what we’re shooting for.” Welcome to the rotation, Nick. 
• Bent Suter: “I want to see us having a parade in Fountain Square at the end of the year.”
• Terry Francona on the Pete Rose Patch: “I will wear that as proudly as you can.”
• Terry Francona on Elly: “Don’t quote me, but he’s got a pretty good chance of sticking on our club.” (LOL)
• Terry Francona on Elly: “I want you to be the best player in baseball on the best team in baseball.”
• Terry Francona on playing the Guardians: “It’s just not the right time to have a hug fest.  I want these guys to know how important they are.  I’m a (explicative) Red.”

Upcoming Schedule

• Dodgers 2/24
• Angels 2/26
• Diamondbacks 2/27
• Athletics 2/28
• Padres 3/1
• Cubs 3/2

The post Reds Spring Training: De La Cruz impresses with home runs appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Conrad Clowers

Herald Sports Writer

Let’s just face it. David Bell was not a good fit for the Cincinnati Reds. The now former Reds manager set a record for most ejections from a game. He was saddled with making questionable calls. It got to the point where Reds brass had grown so tired of Bell he didn’t even get to complete the 2024 season. With five games left in the MLB season the Reds fired Bell. Nobody’s crying for Bell, as he will be paid by the Reds not to work. The team still has to pay Bell his contract that lasts through 2026.

Bell finished his Reds managing career with 409 wins and 456 losses. He managed six season, and had one playoff appearance. When you trade in a car, you usually want to look for an upgrade over what you just had. No doubt the Reds followed that philosophy. David Bell’s ending became Terry Francona’s beginning. Going into the 2025 season, the Reds now have a seasoned veteran coach. A coach that has had success every place he has managed. While at Boston, Francona won not one but two World Series titles. Francona has managed a total of 23 years with the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians/Guardians. In all that time the new Reds manager has 921 wins against 757 losses.

Francona’s health had gotten to the point where it was bad enough after the 2023 season for him to leave the game. He spent the 2024 season healing and nursing himself back to full strength. They say that timing is everything. When the Reds came calling Francona says he was back to being healthy and ready for a new challenge. The Reds’ new skipper will have a host of talented plays such as Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain to work with. It never truly felt that Bell was able to get the most out of the talent that he had.   

Francona has managed such superstars as Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez and Corey Kluber. All ended up either winning or playing in a World Series under Francona.

The expectations of the Cincinnati Reds were instantly taken up a level the second Francona was named new skipper. It’s not the first time the Reds have hired legends at the manager position. The team had Dusty Baker, Davey Johnson and Lou Piniella as skippers in the past as well. All were able to get the most our of their talent. If any one can get this group to play the best ball they can possibly play and take results to the next level, Terry Francona is as good of a bet to do that as anybody.   

The post Francona breath of fresh air appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

As always, I hate to write a negative column, but at this point in the season, I am unsure how I am going to make it through watching the remaining games. The Cincinnati Reds are 100% out of the race, the white flag is waving, and it is only going to get worse with our injuries in the rotation. Sure, I will watch the remaining games, but there are so many issues that need addressed before 2025. Let’s dive into some facts and comments:

• The Cincinnati Reds are 3-50 when trailing after 6 innings. What on Earth happened to the Rally Reds? 
• Hunter Greene shouldn’t throw again in 2024. I don’t care what it would “show to his teammates.” Heal up and get ready for next season, as this season is completely over. What a year for our Ace!
• Cincinnati had 2 squeeze plays that worked out this past series and I couldn’t be happier to see some small ball finally. As fast as we are, this should’ve been happening more often.  
• Santiago Espinal has proven himself enough to be part of this Reds team in 2025.  
• At this point, why try to rush Matt McLain back into this lineup? Let him get ready for 25’, as we clearly need him healthy and on the field.  
• Over Nick Lodolo’s last 5 starts, he has given up 26 runs-Holy. I don’t know if it is the previous blister, but for the last 2 months, he has been nearly unwatchable.  
• With injuries to Greene, Ashcraft, Williamson, as well as inconsistent pitching from Lodolo and Abbott, I am even more happy now that Cincinnati took the best pitcher in the draft. Burns and Lowder will be a part of the future and will be in this rotation sooner rather than later.
• Over Cam Collier’s last 123 plate appearances in Dayton, he is hitting .326 with an OBP just below .500. He even recently had a 3-home run game. You might just be seeing Cam in a Reds uniform next year or 2026.
• At 61 stolen bases currently, Elly De La Cruz has a chance to post a 20+Home Run year with 80+ stolen bases. The most stolen bases in a season for a batter with 20+ home runs is 87 (Ricky Henderson). I think Elly has a good chance of joining the 80-20 club and maybe even 80-30 if his bat finds some power to end the season.  
• I am tired of the losing culture in Cincinnati. It’s time for a change from David Bell. I don’t even want to dive into the reasons why this week. It’s just time.  

Bengals Season Countdown

Enough with the negativity now, as it is officially football season! I can picture it all now, as I am in my recliner for 10 hours straight, a couple adult beverages, chili on the stove, and my dog wondering why on Earth I am yelling in excitement at the TV again. Nothing beats football season and the TV market knows it ($400+ for Sunday ticket, yikes). Forget all that though, the Bengals play football in less than 2 weeks! With Ja’Marr returning to practice, I believe we can expect him to play week one as they continue to work on a new contract for our WR1. I like that Cincinnati is playing the Patriots week one and while it won’t be a walk in the park, they are heavily favored to win this game. A slow start cannot happen this year and Cincinnati has to find a way to get things going quick, as they have the Chiefs in week two. As the season approaches, here are a few of my quick comments:

• Myles Murphy, D’Ante Smith, and Amarius Mims’ injuries are concerning. Luckily, Murphy and Mims avoided anything major and should be back on the field within weeks.  
• The highest graded offensive rookie this preseason by PFF was Jermaine Burton. 8 receptions, 157 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 drops. If he can learn this offense, he will be WR3 by week 4. He is the future of this offense, as this will be the last year we see Higgins in a Bengals uniform.
• Jackson Carman is officially no longer a Bengal. The former second-round pick was given more opportunities than he deserved. Remember when Creed Humphrey was taken at 63^rd overall and Carman (offensive tackle) was taken at 46^th? Humphrey is now the highest paid center in the league.  
• I am excited to watch Andrei Iosivas and see how much he has improved over the offseason. He is likely the Boyd replacement out of the slot.  
• Geno Stone representing the orange and black will be different this year and I am excited to see him in the jungle, no longer wearing purple. The former Raven tweeted this week that he is “ready to prove people wrong again!” I am ready for him to prove this Bengals front office right.  
• On just 80 snaps, Maema Njogmeta has 26 total tackles (2^nd in the NFL). He should 100% be on this roster, as he has proven himself as a versatile linebacker. He is worth putting on the 53-man roster and will soon make Badgers fans very happy to see him play at the professional level.  
• With Drake Maye likely starting against Cincinnati at quarterback for the Patriots, it’ll be interesting to see how he plays in his first game in the NFL. Hendrickson, Hubbard, Ossai, and others should have themselves a fun day getting after the rookie. 

The post What Happened to the Rally Reds?; Bengals Season Countdown appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

The Reds, along with the rest of MLB, is ‘unofficially’ at halftime. Cincinnati has played 97 of 162 games thus far this season. The Reds are 47-50 and have a winning percentage of .485. Average is .500. The team is in fourth place and eight games out of first place. In the much more obtainable Wild Card race Cincy stands only 3 ½ games out of first place.

The first half of the season can be summed up several ways. Periods of excitement. Periods of extreme disappointment. Inconsistency,..very little hitting,..outstanding pitching.

Hunter Green was a top pick of the Reds just a few years ago. He has done what the Reds knew he always had the potential of doing. Green is now an All-Star pitcher. He, along with Elle De La Cruz will represent the Reds in the MLB All Star Game. Starting pitching has been a strong suit of the Reds. Green has led the way. The Reds’ phenom ended the first half of the season with a 6-4 record with a 3.34 ERA.

Not far behind Green is Andrew Abbott. Abbott has shown his stuff to be every bit as tough as he has posted a 9-6 record with a 3.39 ERA.

While the starting pitcher has been the Reds’ shiny toy,…it’s the hitting that has led much to be desired.  The team has shown spurts where they can put runs up in bunches. Most of the time, losses sustained were due to lack of hitting, strikeouts, and poor base running.      

It has been ‘small ball’ the Reds have had issues with.  The team has shown they can hit home runs with the best of the league. The ability to get runners on base in has plagued the team.  The teams most consistent and dangerous hitters have been Del la Cruz (.256 average with 17 home runs and 43 rbi’s)..Spencer Steer (.242 with 15 home runs and 60 rbi’s) and Jeimer Candelario (.241 with 16 home runs and 45 rbi’s) If the team is going to make a run at the playoffs, other players will need to step up and hit.

The biggest questions for Cincinnati is whether the team remains aggressive and obtains new talent to make a run at the playoffs? Or will they try and unload players they have to build around their core for the future?..The answer is likely neither. Historically, the team has not sold or bought players before the trade deadline. They usually take their chances with the team they’ve fielded on Day 1 and let the chips fall where they may.

At the end of the day, winning costs. The team is where they are for a reason. Slightly below average results have been a result of slightly below average play. Adding a few players to the lineup could likely end in post season success. Hesitancy will likely get the home team packing along with most other teams when the post season starts.

The post Cincinnati Reds: Strong pitching, inconsistent hitting appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

After sweeping the Yankees in the Bronx, I was more than optimistic with the 10 game homestand approaching. Win 7 of those and you’re above .500 before the All-Star Break. However, the Reds once again let us down and failed to take a single game from the Tigers at home. Pitiful is the only word I can use to describe their performance and honestly, 5 or 6 players are being asked to do things or play in scenarios that they have no business playing in due to injuries. It’s a shame, but Martini (now hurt), Jordan, Dunn, Espinal, Rios, and Soto are not big league players right now. Add in the bad start from Marte, the bad season from Benson, and the multitude of injuries, and here we are. It’s a cycle that we simply cannot get out of and after half the year, maybe it is time for me to come to the realization that Cincinnati is not in a spot to make a run this year. I was certainly wrong on the depth of this organization, and it appears I am wrong on thinking that Cincinnati still had a chance to make a run after taking down the Yankees. Cincinnati needs to win six of the next seven for me to truly believe that they have a chance before the break.  

Trade News

While it isn’t a blockbuster trade by any means, Cincinnati added an outfield piece that they desperately need, as they traded away left-handed pitcher Alex Young for Austin Slater. Slater is a rental, as he will be a free agent after this year, but he provides a much-needed bat for this Reds offense. Slater is a career .254 batter and in 2020 he batted a remarkable .282. He has a little bit of power, some speed, and is an improvement in comparison to Hurtubise, Dunn, Soto, and helps fill the gap with the new injury to Nick Martini. Slater will immediately be asked to join the lineup and become an everyday outfielder. Let’s hope he can turn back the clock a year or two and become someone who can put the ball in play.  

Elly De La All-Star

With the league leading 43 stolen bases, a .247 average, 15 home runs, 39 RBIs, and an OPS of .804, Elly De La Cruz becomes the only Red to make the All-Star game in 2024. Elly is playing in his first full season in the bigs, is 22 years old, and has made remarkable improvements on both sides of the plate. His ability to make big time plays with his cannon of an arm, along with his speed, makes him one of the most exciting players in the world. Enjoy Elly De La Cruz while you can Cincinnati, there is nobody else quite like him.  

Random Comments and Facts

• Jazz Chisholm is making under 3 million per year and has 2 additional years of control left. His speed fits this team perfectly and he has a respectable .255 average with 10 home runs. If I am the Reds front office and am looking for a cheap addition to try and make a run at it, Jazz is someone who is locked in for a couple years.  
• Whatever you do, do not trade Jonathan India. He is the leader of this team and he has proven to be a reliable player on this roster. Let him breathe without worrying about being traded for awhile.  
• Noelvi Marte has 40 at-bats since his return with 6 hits to show for it. He is batting .150 and appears to be lost on both sides of the ball. His stance appears to be different and he has a very low probability of hitting anything on the outside edge of the plate. If Cincinnati is going to do anything, Marte will have to get it going quick.  
• Cincinnati has been through the trenches this year and is the most injured team in the league. I hope the front office doesn’t get too impatient and start trading off some of the young talent.  
• I feel bad every time Hunter Greene takes he mound. He gets zero run support and has been pitching like a true Ace for the majority of his starts. His 6 year contract extension for roughly 8 million per year was an absolute steal for the Cincinnati Reds.  
• 59 Days until NFL Football … If things go south for the Reds, we are less than 2 months away from meaningful Bengals football.  

The post Matt’s Take — Cincinnati Reds Sweep, Swept, Slump appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Want to become a buyer by the deadline and try to make a run, Reds fans? Well this Reds team needs to win these next two series against the Pirates and Cardinals or we might just find our beloved team as sellers before the deadline. This will now be a massively tall task with Friedl back on the injured list, but Marte will be returning to this lineup very soon from his PEDS suspension. I won’t list out all of the players that have missed time and bore you with that, as I am tired of the excuses just as much as anyone else. It’s been an injury nightmare, but it is time to put the negatives aside, win some ballgames, and find a way to get Friedl back to 100 percent. Our pitching has been phenomenal, Candelario is the hottest batter in baseball, and our lineup should be able to produce enough to beat the Pirates and Cardinals regularly. Win now and get back to .500 as quick as possible, as this team needs to buy an outfield bat and an arm quick.  

I Want Candy

Everyone who grew up in the early 2000s remembers the “I Want Candy” hit right? Well the Reds’ Candy, has been the best Reds signing that I can recall in recent years. He is playing at an All-Star level even with a lingering injury. He has 8 home runs in June, 18 RBIs, and has been the power bat that this team desperately needs. Along with Candelario, Jonathan India is having a resurgent June. Over the last 5 days, Jonathan is batting .421, 2 doubles, HR, and 3 runs. If these two can carry this team through the next two series’, the Reds could be in a very good place, with all things considered to begin 2024.  

Who is Levi Jordan?

With Friedl’s injury along with Will Benson’s, the Reds recently called up Levi Jordan. At 28 years old, he will be making his MLB debut, as he was crushing the baseball at .302 in AAA. He deserves this opportunity and I am excited to see yet another player get a chance to make an impact on this injury-plagued roster. The former Minor League Cub player has versatility, speed, and a record of hitting the ball. Levi joins Blake Dunn, Conner Capel, Mike Ford, Jacon Hurtubise, and others who I never expected to truly be batting for this Reds roster at the beginning of the year. Good luck Levi!

Random Comments and Facts

• I broke my elbow and ankle over the weekend … The Reds injury plague has been contagious and now reached a Reds fan all the way in Peebles … Yikes 
• David Bell is now tied with Sparky Anderson (30) as the most ejections in Reds history.  
• I love Will Benson and believe he will figure things out. However, even before this injury, he can no longer bat for this Reds team. He has to go back down, as staying up on the major league roster is hurting himself and the team. At .192 and 97 strikeouts (3^rd most in MLB), he needs a break from the game.  
• I am still thinking about that Fairchild catch in foul territory and horrible throw. What was that?
• Elly De La Cruz is finding his way again and the most impressive take-away for me is how comfortable he looks from the right side of the plate.  
• It’s time for old school baseball. If you want to block the plate, so be it, but expect to get drilled. This whole rule of the ball allowing the defensive player to get in the path, but not allowing the offensive player to run them over is unfair to the offense. Why should they have to avoid contact and miss the bag or plate because they didn’t have a clear path? The new rule has failed miserably and has almost become a questionable penalty-like flag in a football game where nobody knows what the call is truly going to be.

The post Next Two Series’ will Decide if Reds Ownership Buys appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

As we all know, May was a horrific month of baseball for this Reds team, as Cincinnati finished the month with a record of 11-18.  Their overall record now sits at 26-33 and things have finally started to look a bit brighter.  The sweep over the Dodgers, the recent series victory over the Cubs, and our pitching continuing to keep us in games and gives the Reds hope that they can right this ship before the end of June.  Should they fall apart in June and repeat another bad month of baseball, they will certainly be out of the race and possibly be sellers at the deadline.  That’s not going to happen though, as I truly believe the Reds win this Rockies series and the Cubs series this weekend, which should get us to 31-35 roughly.  While the Reds are far out from the top spot in the NL Central, they are just 3 games back from a Wild Card spot, as the NL Wild Card is wide open.  By the end of June, I expect Cincinnati to currently be in a Wild Card spot, as they have a much easier schedule this month.

Catcher Issue

As we all know, Tyler Stephenson has been fantastic this season and is truly looking at a possible All-Star appearance.  They certainly don’t have a problem with a .248 batter with 5 home runs and an OBP of .319.  I do, however, believe there an issue when Stephenson is not starting.  When Stephenson starts, the Reds have a winning record of 23-16.  When Luke Maile starts, Cincinnati has a record of 5-17.  Maile clearly is a massive drop off from Stephenson, is batting .174, has just 1 home run, and continues to be poor defensively.  It may be time to let Wynns take a chance behind the plate, as it cannot be any worse than what Maile has displayed throughout 2024. 

Spencer Steer is Back

After a very rough stretch of games from our leader, Spencer Steer is back on track and competing at a high level over the 15 days.  He leads the team during that span with 11 hits, a .275 average, 3 doubles, .383 OBP, and has started to look like his normal self again.  This team needs Spencer to be this type of batter and that is exactly what they are getting from him as of late.  With McLain and Marte out, Steer is the most consistent batter that this team has.  He puts together good plate appearances, limits walks, and is a true utility player who can be placed anywhere on the field.  Don’t take Steer for granted, as there are not many in the majors who can do what he does consistently, while being moved everywhere defensively. 

Strikeouts have to Slow

With tall players, of course you have to prepare for many strikeouts, as they have a large strike zone.  However, the strikeouts Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson are putting together have to slow down in a hurry.  Cruz leads the league with 83 and Benson follows with 78.  This is unacceptable and while I am not worried about either of these batters regarding their future, they have to find ways to shorten their swing.  Cruz is missing fastballs early and whiffing on low breaking balls routinely, while Benson struggles hitting outside fastballs.  I do expect these players to strikeout a lot, as they both stand at 6 feet 5 inches.  However, they both need to work on better plate appearances and shortening their swings.  When looking at the Cubs series and how many runners were left in scoring position, a lot of it was due to strikeouts in key moments. 

Random Stats & Comments

• Jake Fraley is batting .295 in the oddest way imaginable.  All of his stats off his bat are way down and he is hitting groundballs at the highest rate of his career, yet he is nearly batting .300.  It is remarkable and confusing at the same time.
• This year, Cincinnati had at-bats from Ford, Thompson, and Capel.  Include that with our slumping offense, it is wild that we are still in the playoff race.  I have a feeling we are going to break out soon!
• Jeimer Candelario is a career .242 batter for a reason and is proving doubters wrong from his early season struggles.  He has been the at-bat I look forward to the most for a couple weeks now. 
• Over the last 67 plate appearances, Elly De La Cruz is batting .117 and is striking out in over 40% of his at-bats.  His power has diminished and his average exit velocity is down 10 mph per Bryce Spalding. 
• As good as Lucas Sims numbers are, he cannot be trusted in another tied game or small lead from the 8^th inning on until he proves he can do so earlier in games without giving up the homerun ball.  What should have been a sweep over the Cubs turned into just a series victory because of his beachballs on 0-2 counts. 
• Our defense doesn’t get enough credit.  As much as people like to discuss India’s defense negatively, he has been impressive as of late.  De La Cruz has been one of the best infielders in baseball, and Steer and Candelario continue to hold down the corners night in and night out.  Fairchild and Friedl in the outfield are a deadly combination as well, as they can cover a ton of ground. 

The new celebration in private for home runs is boring.  The fans want to celebrate with you all and see you happy.  Bring back the viking helmet or a new helmet and celebrate in the dugout again, as fans want to join in on the fun.

The post Reds’ june performance to determine season appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Right when it felt like the Dodgers series was going to crush any hopes of Cincinnati doing anything in the month of May, the Redlegs found a way to not only win the series against Los Angeles, but sweep them straight out of town.  The series was a highlight reel night in and night out, including an India grand slam, Steer homerun, Fairchild homerun, Fairchild miraculous catches, crucial at-bats from the entire team, a nice bullpen day from Martinez, Hunter Greene becoming elite, and so much more.  The ballpark was sold out and while there was a lot of blue in the stands, it didn’t stop Cincinnati from showing up and cheering on a team that mightily struggled in May.  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t lose hope over the last four weeks, but this series might just be the momentum to reel everyone back in for the month of June.  Stay the course!

Chasing .500

Now that we have enjoyed celebrating an awesome sweep, the reality is that we’re still last place in the National League Central.  The good news, however, is that Cincinnati has 23 of their next 31 games against divisional opponents.  They’ve had a tough schedule and this is where they finally have a chance to make up ground and try to get back to .500 baseball before the end of June.  Finding a way to take this Cardinals and Cubs series is going to be crucial, as this team can’t fall back after a sweep, as they have truly put themselves in a hole.  With the rotation alive and healthy, along with everyone performing well outside of Ashcraft, it’s going to take a lot to count this Reds team out.  This team will also be getting back key players in the near future, as Friedl isn’t far off from returning, CES is roughly a month out, Noelvi Marte joins the team on June 27^th from his steroid suspension, McLain is still hopeful for playing in August, and Brandon Williamson could soon be joining this rotation.  It’s been a rough month of baseball, but it might just be time for the momentum to change to Cincinnati’s favor.  As I am writing this, Cincinnati is only 3.5 games back from a playoff spot.  How crazy is that?  Turn the channel back to Bally Sports, show up at GABP, and support this young team, as they are far from out of it.

Last 15 Days

Over the last 15 days, it has been great to see many players shine that weren’t getting the recognition they deserved.  Benson and Fairchild have been asked to play outside of heir platoon roles due to injuries, causing some fluctuation in their stats.  I try to stick to looking at splits, as well as how players have performed in the last 15 days.  Here are the leaders over the last two weeks of Reds baseball:

• Home Runs -Will Benson (3)
• Batting Average – Jonathan India (.250), Jeimer Candelario (.239)
• RBI – Spencer Steer (8), Jeimer Candelario (7)
• Hits – Tyler Stephenson (13), Jeimer Candelario (11)
• Walks – Spencer Steer (8)
• Stolen Bases – Elly De La Cruz (6)
• OBP – Jonathan India (.348)
• Strikeouts – Greene (18)
• ERA – Andrew Abbott (.167), Nick Martinez (.200), Hunter Greene (.206)
• Innings Pitched – Greene (19.1)

Are you Built for 162?

I am certainly one that watches every single inning like the season is on the line.  My wife laughs as I stand by the fireplace and watch the Reds in the 8^th inning in early May, yet here I am still doing it.  The MLB season is long, but just how long is it?  Let’s find out.  On May 27^th, over the last 5 years, this is the record of the Cincinnati Reds:

• 2024 – 21-30
• 2023 – 22-29
• 2022 – 17-31
• 2021 – 22-27
• 2020 – 20-26
• 2019 – 25-29

Cincinnati ended with a winning record in 2023, 2021, and 2020.  To jump to another bad start from a different club, remember when the Athletics made the playoffs after starting the season 8-17 in 2001?  They ended their season with 102 wins.  In 2005, The Astros made it to the World Series, but had a record of 18-32 at the end of May.  The 2019 Nationals began with a 19-31 record before winning the World Series.  The 2022 Phillies were 21-29 and made it to the World Series.  The 2022 Mariners were 21-29 and ended up making the playoffs.  Stay the course and remain optimistic, it’s early…Including you, Mark Carpenter!

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The Reds signed Jeimer Candelario in December of 2023. The thought was he would add some pop to the lineup and stability at third base. He still may ultimately do that. Thus far it’s been a rough go for the Reds third baseman. He has been baptized by fire, learning how it’s done in 513 baseball.

Candelario is not new to the game. He is a veteran. Candelario came into the majors way back in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs. The veteran third baseman had played with the Cubs, Tigers, Nationals, and now the Reds. Nobody on the Reds team, outside of Elle De La Cruz, is exactly tearing the cover off the ball. The team has one of the lowest batting averages in the entire major leagues. The Red third baseman currently has 4 home runs with 15 RBI’s and is hitting .211. The .211 is .31 percentage points under his career batting average of .241. The numbers are not exactly eye popping.     

However, the Dominican has lately raised his game a level and is starting to be the productive product the Reds thought when they signed him to a 3-year, $45 million dollar deal.

Candelario’s most formidable years were spent in Detroit. For six seasons, the New York-born Candelario was one of the most productive Tigers. His best season came in 2018, when he hit 19 home runs, driving in 54 runs in 539 at bats.

Cincinnati has unfortunately sunk to fourth place in the five-team National League Central Division. A recent eight-game losing streak and series loss to the San Francisco Giants have the team shuffling for answers. Candelario is at present fourth on the team in RBI’s and third in hits.

Whether Candelario lasts the entire three seasons remains to be seen. Should the Reds fall out of contention around the All-Star break, Candelario could be used as trade bait. Only three times in his previous 10 MLB seasons has the Reds third baseman had 400 or more at bats in a season.

The veteran is more than capable of stepping up his game.

“Jeimer has proven over the course of his career he can catch fire,” said Reds manager David Bell. If that’s true then, there’s no time like the present for that heat to come.

Cincinnati is currently one game out of taking last place from the St. Louis Cardinals. Not an enviable place for a team with such high hopes just a month and a half earlier.

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