LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Andrew Abbott

  • De La Cruz Goes Deep But The Reds Fall Short Again

    De La Cruz Goes Deep But The Reds Fall Short Again

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – When a big time athlete like Elly De La Cruz throws up on the field, you know just how hot it is. On a blazing June day in St. Louis, the Reds looked to bounce back after a series opening loss last night. And for a shining moment, it looked like they just might pull it off. But once again, Cincinnati found themselves on the wrong side of an infuriating close loss against a division rival.

    After Wade Miley’s recent injury, Terry Francona opted for a bullpen day on Saturday, and Brent Suter took the mound to open things up. He went two innings and gave up a two run shot to Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson. After that it was time for Nick Martinez.

    And to his credit, the Reds’ Swiss Army Knife did everything that Francona asked of him by entering the game in a relief role after getting rocked in his last start two days ago against Minnesota. He’s shown time and again that he will do whatever is necessary to help this team win, and he did that again. Martinez tossed two perfect innings and threw just 18 pitches to get it done.

    Ian Gibaut then entered in the fifth inning with the game still within a run. He issued three walks, demonstrating another frustrating lack of command. But the Reds made it out of the inning unscathed thanks to a wonderful back-pick by Tyler Stephenson and a double play on a sharply hit line drive that was caught by De La Cruz.

    After mustering just one run in the first game, Cincinnati had chances aplenty in this one to break out. In the third, after the Reds got a run after Gavin Lux grounded into a double play, De La Cruz hit a monster 110 MPH shot into center field and got to third. But the speedy shortstop was cut down trying to score after the Cardinals had some trouble with the relay throw.

    But Cincinnati buckled down and played some power ball to plate big runs. Matt McLain once again showed how much he’s improving with time. His ground rule double in the seventh was a part of a three hit day for the Reds second baseman. He’s now hitting .281 in his last ten games and has raised his season average to .209, after it had been down around .180 for a sizable portion of the year.

    But more importantly, that double paved the way for Elly De La Cruz’s 17th long ball of the year, a 435 foot shot that went off the bat at 107 MPH. The two run stroke put the Reds up 4-2.

    Lyon Richardson followed Nick Martinez’s example with two clean innings of his own. His 21 pitches were extremely efficient and well placed. He now has a 1.99 ERA on the season and is looking better and better with each outing.

    Things did not go so well for Tony Santillan unfortunately. In the eighth he secured the first two outs before surrendering a bevy of singles that brought St. Louis to within one. The four singles were the most that the Reds reliever allowed in one inning. That forced closer Emilio Pagan out of the pen an inning early, but he punched out  Wilson Contreras with a bully style 97 MPH heater to close the inning and keep the Reds ahead.

    But in ninth inning Pagan made a tough mistake to Nolan Arenado who launched a 383 foot home run to tie it and send the game to extra innings. Neither the Reds nor Cardinals excel. While Cincinnati managed to magnificently escape a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the tenth, only to fall in the bottom of the eleventh to a Yohel Pozo single to drop the second straight game.

    The most frustrating thing is how the Reds have failed to perform in extras this year. They have now failed to score the “ghost runner” in 7 of 8 total extra innings played this year (this is their sixth extra-inning game). The same issues came into play again today. Spencer Steer advanced to third on a wild pitch with no one out in the eleventh but he was stranded there to waste yet another opportunity.

    The Reds now fall to 10-15 against the National League Central. They desperately need to win games like this one to get back to relevance in the division, and today’s implosion certainly doesn’t help. For all the momentum Cincinnati has generated they must now avoid the sweep tomorrow, and with Andrew Abbott on the mound they are in a great position to get it done.

    ———

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

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    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • The Reds Bats Go Quiet In Series Opening Loss to the Cardinals

    The Reds Bats Go Quiet In Series Opening Loss to the Cardinals

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – The Reds offensive struggles in St Louis on Friday night brought back a lot of unpleasant memories. But it happens to even the best and most expensive lineups, as the New York Yankees found out this month. Still, with the way the Reds had been efficiently hitting the ball in their past four series, the hope was that they’d keep that momentum going in their crucial three games against the Cardinals.

    But St. Louis starter Andre Pallante put a quick stop to any positivity Reds fans may have had. Over six innings he dominated Cincinnati hitters, giving up just a pair of hits and striking out four. He’s had the Reds’ number for some time now, and his latest outing was no exception.

    Gavin Lux had a game he’d likely prefer to forget. His error allowed two runs to cross the plate and he was 0/4 at the plate, stranding two men on base. It’s important to remember that Lux has barely played a handful of  games at third base though, but his throw in the bottom of the seventh was a big part of a bad inning for Cincinnati.

    The only run came on a Jose Trevino double in the top of the eighth. But that was all they could muster in a night where the bats were frustratingly impotent. They managed just four hits on the night and stranded five men on base.

    When all is said and done, the Reds simply can’t allow this offensive hiccup to become a long term trend. And based on how they bounced back from adversity in the entire month of June, there’s no reason to believe it will. Tonight they just ran into a good pitcher who had their number.

    Additionally, the bullpen picked an inopportune time to self destruct. It was a relatively close game until the bottom of the seventh when Scott Barlow, Taylor Rodgers and Tony Santillan let the Cardinals break the floodgates wide open and put the game out of reach, allowing five crippling runs.

    Brady Singer deserves a lot of credit for his tenacity tonight, as he matched a lot of the fire that Pallante brought. Singer struck out seven over six strong innings as well. This is his second great outing in a row with 12 innings pitched and 11 strikeouts, while allowing just two earned runs.

    This series opener is one that we should learn from, but quickly move on from. Against the Guardians and Tigers, Cincinnati had some ugly games, but stayed focused to, on balance, have a great stretch run.

    That’s exactly what we need to see in the next two games of this road trip in St. Louis. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ———

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • The Reds Fall But Win Their Fourth Straight Series

    The Reds Fall But Win Their Fourth Straight Series

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – The Reds may have fallen to the Twins on Thursday afternoon, but they have absolutely turned their season around these past four series. They are 9-3 over that span, batting .276 and they’ve averaged almost 6 runs per game. Cincinnati has swept the Diamondbacks and taken the series against two of the American League’s best (on the road) against the Tigers and Guardians.

    They’ve gotten plenty of help from the usual suspects. Elly De La Cruz is hitting .295 in his last 12 and he is slugging .636. TJ Friedl is getting on base at a .389 clip.

    But it’s some struggling Reds who are beginning to raise some eyebrows and show some signs of a turnaround. None more so than Matt McLain who is hitting .308 during this 12 game window, with two home runs and seven RBIs. He’s hit safely in 10 of those last 12 and he’s seeing the ball better, walking five times. And McLain’s defensive skills have been on prime display as well, in addition to his offensive renaissance.

    Spencer Steer has had his issues this year but this little run has seen him hit .268 with 11 hits in those 12 games. He’s collected seven RBIs of his own.

    And no Reds recap would be complete without a dive into the dominant year Andrew Abbott is having. He’s 6-1 on the year with a miniscule ERA of 1.84. His command has been exceptional this season and he is a stabilizing force for this rotation.

    All of this has been accomplished with key players out due to injury. Imagine what this team can accomplish when we see the return of Hunter Greene, Austin Hays, Noelvi Marte, and Graham Ashcraft? Their talents combined with the improving play of McLain, Steer, and others could be the boost this team needs to make a playoff push in 2025.

    After the offensive difficulties this club had earlier in the year, such hope seemed like a fool’s errand. But to their credit the Reds never folded and kept their composure through it all. They are 39-36, three games over .500 and with a crucial series against bitter rival St. Louis on the horizon.

    They don’t have to win every game going forward, they simply need to do what they’ve been doing: win the series, play consistent complimentary baseball, and stay the course.

    If they can keep doing that, the dog days of summer are going to be much easier to bear. 

    ———

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • How Are the Reds’ Most Important Players Performing So Far?

    How Are the Reds’ Most Important Players Performing So Far?

    Spencer Steer photo by Major League Photo Day

    by Chris Ball

    There Are Plenty of Interesting Players To Watch As the Reds’ Season Gets Going

    Loveland, Ohio – There was no question that this year, the Reds’ success would hinge upon the progress made by some of its youngest members. Although the average age of the Reds players is 28 years, good for 17th in Major League Baseball, perhaps no other team has asked so much of its newest major-leaguers. With so much pressure and the highest of expectations on their shoulders, it’s going to be important to be patient with the likes of Elly De La Cruz, Andrew Abbott, Hunter Greene, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. The hope was that additions of veteran players like Jeimer Candelario and Frankie Montas, and the retention of Jonathan India would provide a stable core that might lead this team while its young players fought to adjust.

    While the results have been wildly varying across the board, the sample sizes are exceedingly small in terms of the entire big-league season. It’s therefore impossible to draw any lasting conclusion about how various players will perform based on the statistics as they stand now, but it is very interesting to see just who is starting off the season strong and who might be falling behind.

    Elly De La Cruz, for example, is one of the most polarizing players on the Reds’ roster and will likely remain so for quite some time. Early on, many fans noted his inability to hit any sort of breaking ball, and his reluctance to swing the bat at all. His inexplicable errors in the field at shortstop didn’t make his critics any quieter. However, it almost seemed to go unnoticed that during the course of this perceived struggles he consistently got on base (albeit not with flashy homeruns) and continued to create chaos on the basepaths. As of the writing of this article he’s been on base in 18 straight games and has a .318 average with 3 home runs and 7 runs batted in. In recent games he’s started hitting for power once again with several home runs and even one inside-the-park that showcased his exceptional speed. Many of De La Cruz’s loudest critics on Twitter and Facebook have suddenly gone very quiet as he’s improved with each week of the season. Elly’s talent and the hype surrounding hm will unquestionably lead to overreaction (both positive and negative) to every play he makes (or doesn’t make), but the most important factor to remember is that he is a young player with immense potential, and who deserves fans’ patience as he works to unlock his full potential.

    Hunter Green photo by Major League Photo Day

    In much the vein, Hunter Greene is a pitcher who faces tremendous expectations after being drafted second overall in 2017. He was awarded a 6 year 53-million-dollar contract in 2023 and while that deal is but a drop in the bucket compared to other marquee pitchers in the league, for a team like the Reds it is still a significant investment that shows how the Reds value Greene as a key part of their rotation going forward. Over his last 33 starts, Greene has pitched 175 innings with a 4.01 ERA and 240 strikeouts. While that is not necessarily “ace” material it is the mark of a solid starter at the major-league level and shows tremendous improvement over the prior seasons Greene has had. Even though he has been pitching for a few years, he is only 24 years old and has much to learn and plenty of time to develop. The pitcher Hunter Greene is now is not necessarily the player he will be in years to come. If he continues to improve as he’s shown so far, he could be a key piece to the Reds’ rotation in the future, despite the occasional rough outing.

    On the flip side, Jeimer Candelario has struggled mightily to start the year. He’s batting only .152 through 12 games and has not looked comfortable at any point since signing a 3 year 45 million dollar contract this offseason. While Christian Encarnacion-Strand has also had his difficulties at the plate, he has at least shown some signs of life. Candelario has shown no such flash thus far, and Reds fans are understandably worried. The team will need much more from Jeimer if they are going to contend this year.

    Spencer Steer photo by Major League Photo Day

    No early season discussion about the Reds would be complete without lauding the play of Spencer Steer. Of all the Reds’ young players, Steer seems to get less consideration than others, but this year he has outperformed them all. He was named the National League Player of the Week recently and is currently batting .372 with 3 home runs and 15 runs batted in. He’s been a consistent MLB leader in WAR and has also proven that he can play left field very well given that it is not necessarily the position where he’s most used to handling. He’s a threat to get a big hit any time he steps up to the plate, and he’s carried the Reds in games where others were underperforming at the dish. There is simply no question that without Steer, the team would be nowhere close to where they are in the standings.

    The first few weeks of the Reds’ season has provided plenty of highs, highlights, and frustrating moments. This team is going to have to fight and scrap for every win while the likes of McLain, Friedl, and Marte are unable to play, and that is exactly what the Reds are doing. If players like Candelario can get hot, this team can become even more of a threat to make a big push before they get some of their best players back on the diamond.

     

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • Reds Fight Through Injuries and Setbacks to Take the First Two Series of the Year 

    Reds Fight Through Injuries and Setbacks to Take the First Two Series of the Year 

    Frankie Montas (Major League Photo Day)

    by Chris Ball

    The Reds Are on a Roll To Start The Season

    The Reds had deck stacked against them to begin this year. Injuries to several key players and the suspension of Noelvi Marte threatened to derail the 2024 campaign before it even got going. But so far, the Reds have put those distractions and excuses aside and shown the league that it will take more than a few setbacks to keep this team down.

    After series wins over the Nationals and Phillies the Reds sit at 4-2 on the year. And while it’s far too early to draw any sweeping conclusions about what that means, there are still several very promising elements to their start that could be key predictors to how successful they could be as the season continues.

    The Reds Starting Rotation Has Shown Out

    Injuries ravaged the Reds rotation last year, and the high number of innings Andrew Abbott was asked to throw at all levels of competition took their toll as well as he struggled mightily in the latter parts of the season. Even now the team is without Nick Lodolo as he works to get healthy again, but the rotation has its is currently constructed has more than answered the call.

    Through 5 games the Reds’ starters had a combined ERA of just 3.0:

    And that number doesn’t even account for Frankie Montas’ start in the finale against the Phillies where he only allowed just one earned run in just under six innings. Montas is on fire to start the season. In his two starts, he has allowed just one run in 11 2/3 innings and has a 0.77 ERA.

    There are still concerns about just how far guys line Abbott and Greene can pitch into games given their youth and workload. But the first time through the Reds rotation has been a very pleasant experience that has to give fans hope that these kinds of performances will become the norm going forward.

    Lodolo also looked very strong in his recent minor league start striking out eight batters in just five innings. He’s apparently targeting a return on April 10th, and when he returns David Bell is going to have quite the difficult decision of just who to ask to step aside to room.

    Elly Keeps Hitting

    The hype surrounding Elly De La Cruz is some of the most intense that Reds fans have seen since Ken Griffey Jr. came to Cincinnati all those years ago. It’s a tough burden to bear and the weight of it is ever present as the entire city analyzes and criticizes every swing, hit, throw, error and strikeout that the 22 year old Dominican shortstop offers up. And it can’t be denied that some of his errors in the field make you scratch your head and his approach at the plate has lead to plenty of strikeouts this year.

    But the fact of the matter is that he is riding an 11-game hitting streak and isn’t going to give up any time soon. He is a polarizing figure without a doubt but it can’t be denied that this team is at its best when he is in the lineup, as unpolished as he still may be. Patience is key when evaluating Elly this year regardless of the ecxpectations and he’s shown exactly why he deserves to be on this roster in 2024.

    Spencer Steer Is Knocking The Cover Off The Ball

    Spencer Steer (Major League Photo Day)

    Spencer Steer seems to so often be overlooked in the discussions about the Reds’ young stud players. While CES, Elly, McLain, and Marte may get more press, Steer just flat out produces. From his grand slam against the Phillies to his ridiculous statistics (.435 average, 10 hits, 8 RBIs in just 6 games) the man has shown that he deserves just as much praise as any of the Reds best players.

    Signing Jonathan India Was Key

    Just a few months ago Jonathan India seemed like a beloved Red without a path to playing time. He was an unquestioned leader and a true Red, but many wondered if he truly had the ability or to play significant games and contribute given the plethora of young talent in the Cincinnati infield. Nothing has demonstrated just how clutch of a player India has been than his performance stepping up to play every day in a depleted Reds infield. With McLain out, India has played solid with several extra base hits and solid defense. His leadership and presence will be sorely needed in the coming months.

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • 5 Things To Watch In 2024: Cincinnati Reds Edition

    5 Things To Watch In 2024: Cincinnati Reds Edition

    Elly De La Cruz, Brandon Williamson, and Matt McClain on the Rookies Roundtable at Redsfest in December.

    Photo by David Miller/Loveland Magazine © 2024

    The training wheels are off!

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – Before the 2023 season there were many who believed the Reds might lose 90-100 games after going 62-100 in 2022. Most gave them virtually no chance to even have a relevant season and were simply counting down the days until the Bengals’ season rolled back around. 

    And the beginning of the ’23 season did very little to change those perspectives. There were rumors that the gates were opening and that the Reds were turning their young players loose on the major leagues. And why shouldn’t they? It was a lost season anyways. 

    Matt McClain

    Matt McClain was the first, to be eventually followed by the likes of Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Andrew Abbott and Noelvi Marte. The league likely expected these rookies to take their time adjusting the the big leagues, but they shattered expectations by, in many cases, playing well above their age and experience levels. And no one epitomized this more than Elly De La Cruz. 

    In the eyes of Reds fans Elly was a superstar from the moment he stepped onto the diamond wearing that red helmet. And he soon proved to the world exactly why he was held in such high regard. From the iconic cycle, to stealing home, to the walk off home runs, the man was a human highlight reel for half a season. 

    Elly De La Cruz with a young fan at Redsfest in December.

    And suddenly, the city of Cincinnati went from spending the summer dreaming about the upcoming football season to packing Great American Ballpark and hanging on the edge of their seats all the way through the fall, praying for one of the most improbable postseason berths in recent memory. 

    It may not have come to pass, but there can be no doubt that 2023 gave Reds fans something they haven’t had in quite a while: legitimate hope that the team can contend. But there’s something different in the air this time around. The young core of this team has shown that the Reds’ ability to push for the playoffs, and maybe even more, won’t just be limited to one or two desperate seasons, but rather, could span years of sustained success that could likely make Reds baseball the main event during those hot Cincinnati summers. 

    What are the keys to making that a reality? In 2024 the training wheels are off, the expectations are high, and the fans aren’t just praying for relevance, they are expecting growth, maturation, and most of all, wins. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.