LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Chris Ball

  • Ohio Sports Roundup: Reds Take on Guardians, Kappa Extended, and the Cavaliers Search for a Coach

    Ohio Sports Roundup: Reds Take on Guardians, Kappa Extended, and the Cavaliers Search for a Coach

    by Chris Ball

    Queen City Sports from Loveland, Ohio

    The Cincinnati Reds After taking 3 of 4 from the Chicago Cubs the Reds split their series against the Cleveland Guardians. The Guardians are 20 games over .500 and in first place in the American League Central Division and the Reds played them just about as tough as they have against the Dodgers and Phillies, two other division leading clubs. Against those three the Reds are 9-7 this year and have played some solid baseball in getting those wins.

    Perhaps the biggest story from the Guardians series was the continued hot bat of Jeimer Candelario. He hit 2 more home runs in the Reds 4-2 win over Cleveland on June 12 including what would be the game winner. His three run bomb in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Reds a 4-2 lead that their bullpen would never relinquish. It also spoiled a great outing by Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee who still finished the game with 11 strikeouts in just 5.1 innings. Since May 27, Candelario is hitting .306 with 19 hits, 6 home runs, 12 RBIs and 8 runs scored.

    Other Reds batters are staying hot in June. This includes a surprising run by Will Benson, hitting .333 with a .967 OPS in his last 15 games. Jake Fraley in his last 15 is batting .293 while TJ Friedl has 3 home runs and 11 RBIs.

    Cincinnati next faces the Milwaukee Brewers tonight at 8:10 PM. The Brewers sit atop the NL Central with a 7 game lead over both the Reds and Cubs. If they can take this series on the road and claw back at least a game or two from Milwaukee, Reds fans will have plenty of reasons to be optimistic going forward.

    The Cincinnati Bengals

    The Bengals finished their mandatory mini camp this week. All of the major players were in attendance, including a few that were absent for the voluntary OTAs such as Ja’Marr Chase and Trent Brown. Tee Higgins has yet to make an appearance as he continues his holdout, but this was something all sides were clearly prepared for.

    The main storyline this week remained former first round pick Dax Hill and his reps with the first team defense while battling for a job at cornerback against DJ Turner. By all reports Hill, a former safety, looked very good at his new position. There remains a lot of optimism that he can be a quality starter at the position, even if his time at safety may be at an end. Hill was a versatile athlete at the University of Michigan and played both safety and cornerback there, and so that flexibility should serve him well as he tries to see the field as much as possible next year for the Bengals.

    Another positive development for the Bengals this week was the extension they reached with center Ted Karras. Karras signed an extension that will keep with the team through the 2025 season. Early reports indicate that the next two years of his contract will pay him about 12 million. He’s started 36 games since joining the Bengals in 2022. Last year, according to PFF he was the 15th highest graded center and allowed 6 sacks  All numbers aside, Kerras is a team captain and has been a stalwart for the Bengals on the line for several years. Consistency and communication will be paramount for Cincinnati’s front five in 2025. Having a veteran back at the center position is absolutely essential to our success next year.

    The Cleveland Cavaliers

    The Cavaliers are a team with many substantial questions this offseason. The future of two of its key stars are up in the air in Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. But the decision that may be the most crucial of all is which coach will take the reigns in 2024 and beyond.

    The name that seems to have the most buzz over recent weeks is James Borrego the former Charlotte Hornets head coach. Borrego, a Gregg Popovich protégé and two-time champion as an assistant, has a 148-183 mark as head coach with Charlotte and Orlando. But he has many of the qualities that Cleveland is seeking to build the team around going forward, including the ability to build a dynamic offense built around dynamic players (such as Zion Williamson in New Orleans) and he is a coach that his former players have spoken very highly of.

    The Cavaliers are in no hurry to name a successor to JB Bickerstaff. But announcing a new head coach soon will likely be the catalyst that spells the decisions of both Mitchell and Garland. It’s possible that the future of Cleveland’s basketball team for the next several years to come will be defined by the decisions President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman makes in the next few weeks.

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    A new Loveland Magazine feature: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball

    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 LovelandSportsGuy@gmail.com!

    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.

  • Cincinnati Reds Remain Red Hot In June

    Cincinnati Reds Remain Red Hot In June

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – The Reds’ excellent month of June rolled on against the Cubs this past week, even if game 4 of the series didn’t go as planned. In their 3-1 series win against Chicago the Reds held a 17-13 scoring advantage and collected 25 hits. They won in handy fashion but also squeaked out close victories under pressure. While the team’s 7 game winning streak came to and end, they have won 11 of 15 and still are in a great position to fight for a wildcard spot.

    The difference for Cincinnati during this run has come from their ability to play complimentary baseball. We’ve seen both offensive explosions and well-pitched wins with just a few runs. The bullpen has been solid and it has lead to an excellent record in one run and tight games. Carson Spiers exemplified this on Sunday. He entered after Frankie Montas failed to make it out of the second inning. Spiers pitched 5.2 innings without giving up a run and struck out 7. Although the Reds couldn’t ultimately win the game and sweep the series, he held the Cubs in check and stopped the bleeding to turn what could have been a blowout into a winnable game.

    The turnaround isn’t due to just one player, but several Reds have been key in bringing this team closer to contention after their struggles early on. Jeimer Candelario is hitting .273 over his last 10 games with 3 home runs. Tyler Stevenson had a .343 average over his last 10. But perhaps the most impressive is TJ Friedl who is still working his way back from injury but showing immediate impact. In his last 10 games back he’s hitting .265 with 11 RBIs and 8 runs scored.

    During their 7 game winning streak the Reds batted .310 with 72 hits and 11 home runs. Though it may not be sustainable over the long term it did demonstrate what this offense can accomplish and how dangerous their hitters can be if healthy. Given that the Reds hit just .214 with 22 home runs in the entire month of May, it’s impossible not to be excited about what Cincinnati can do going forward after seeing their hitters dominate games.

    After the loss to the Cubs on Sunday, it’s yet another opportunity to show that this Cincinnati team can bounce back and keep up the momentum they’ve built up during the early part of June. It wasn’t too long ago that this team lost a heartbreaking series to the Cardinals after their sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. But instead of letting the season spiral out of control, they rebounded to start on the 7 game winning streak that electrified their fanbase and gave us all hope that this team could contend deep into the 2024 season. They’ll get a chance to do the same very soon.

    Up next for the Reds, they welcome the Cleveland Guardians for a quick two game series. After that it’s a pivotal three game stretch in Milwaukee against the division leading Brewers which will be a litmus test for just how ready this Reds team is set up to contend for the crown in the NL Central. They will then finish the road trip for three in Pittsburgh before the Boston Red Sox come to town.

    A new Loveland Magazine feature: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball

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    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 LovelandSportsGuy@gmail.com!

    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.

  • Brian Damewood Named Loveland High School Tigers Head Football Coach

    Brian Damewood Named Loveland High School Tigers Head Football Coach

    Photo by Loveland Athletics

    EDITOR”S NOTE: This article has been corrected to reflect that the first varsity game is 8/23 @ Harrison with and the first home game on 8/30 vs Lebanon, 7P at Tiger Stadium.

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – The search for Loveland’s next head football coach was refreshingly short, and they have absolutely found the right man for the job. On June 7 Athletic Director Jayson Bruce announced that Brian Damewood would be promoted and would be the man to lead the program to the promised land in 2024 and beyond.

    After the departure of Andy Cruse, who took a job with the Miami Redhawks to assume the role of tight ends coach.

    The Loveland Athletic Department  was keen to find his replacement and they quickly named Damewood as the interim head coach. It was only a matter of time, though, before they removed the “interim” tag and made the promotion official. Coach Damewood has many years of experience coaching defensive backs and special teams for the Tigers and is an excellent choice to helm the program in the future. Continuity is important at every level of football but especially in the high school game. The many years of experience that Coach Damewood has living and breathing Loveland’s brand of football means that the team likely won’t miss a beat with him leading them this year.

    Loveland finished with a 5-7 record last year, good for 6th in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, though they look ready to improve on that mark next year. The Tigers open the 2024 season with their first varsity game on 8/23 at Harrison and the first home game on 8/30 vs Lebanon at Tiger Stadium with Coach Damewood at the helm and the entire city will no doubt be behind him.

    __________

    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 LovelandSportsGuy@gmail.com!

    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 Bring Out the Brooms Again

    The Reds Bring Out the Brooms Again

    by Chris Ball

    Remember a time not just a month past where it seemed as though a 3 run game was an offensive explosion for the Reds? The term “Rally Reds” seemed a relic of a time gone by. Quality pitching was the only thing keeping them in games, many of which they still found creative ways to lose. The sweep of the Dodgers brought some hope, but a frustrating series loss agains the Cardinals dampened that a bit.

    Then, the Reds took 2 of 3 from the Chicago Cubs to gain some momentum back. Those two wins were by a combined total of just four runs, and included some late game heroics by Jacob Hurtubise and Elly De La Cruz cutting down the potential game tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Alexis Diaz picked up two saves along the way. But it was really the series against the Colorado Rockies that would come to vault the Reds back into striking distance of contention in the NL Central Division.

    The numbers speak for themselves. In their 3 wins against the Rockies the Reds scored a total of 29 runs while allowing only 11. They had 42 hits, with several key players catching fire at just the right time. Jeimer Candelario had 5 hits including 2 home runs and in his last 30 games he’s hitting .282. Spencer Steer had 6 hits in the series and over his last 15 games is beginning to look like the Steer of earlier in the year, batting .315 while slugging at at .556 clip. Prior to the Rockies series, De La Cruz was struggling mightily. But in the Mile High City he went 5-13 and hit a monster 448 foot home run from the right side of the plate. Put simply, the Reds’ offense looked as polished and deadly as it has all year, with multiple players producing and contributions coming from everywhere.

    But what shouldn’t be overlooked is that for as hard as it is to pitch at altitude, 2 of the 3 Reds starters turned in dominant performance when it mattered. Frankie Montas was nearly perfect in game 2 of the series, allowing just one hit in 7 strong innings while striking out 9. In game 1 Andrew Abbott looked as though he was going to struggle to make it through the early innings but buckled down once again to allow only 3 runs in 6 innings in the win. And when Graham Ashcraft struggled in game 3, the Reds offense stepped in to rally late to once again dominate Colorado and secure the sweep.

    It may be foolishly optimistic to hope that the Reds can keep crushing the cover off of the ball with this kind of consistency. But the most important aspect of this Colorado series is that the team and fans see what this truly talented team can do when it is firing on all cylinders. With Noelvi Marte priming to return in a few weeks to further bolster the lineup, all the Reds need to get back into the thick of the NL Central race is to continue to improve and have at least some of their key guys keep up this hot streak. When those players cool down, the hope is that a different combination of hitters will be right there ready to step in and drive in the runs the Reds need to keep winning. We’re past the point that the entire offense can fall apart for long stretches of time. As the season progresses if the Reds want to contend they must continue to put up solid offensive numbers, and the Rockies series has shown exactly how high our ceiling can be.

    The Reds have won 9 of their last 12. After the sweep they are in striking distance of second place in the division with a chance to get even closer as the Chicago Cubs come to Cincinnati for a 4 game series this weekend.

    Now is the time for the Reds to make a run at getting back to .500, and from there, after what we saw in Denver, who knows what is possible?

     

    _________________________

    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 LovelandSportsGuy@gmail.com!

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

    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.

  • Who Ya Got in the NBA Finals Matchup? Celtics or Mavericks?

    Who Ya Got in the NBA Finals Matchup? Celtics or Mavericks?

    It’s a Matchup Full of Star Power and Intensity – Which Team Will Come Out On Top?

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – The 2024 NBA Finals have a little bit of everything. But it all starts with the pairs of superstars suiting up for each team. For the Dallas Mavericks it’s Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Doncic lead the NBA in scoring this year at 33.9 PPG and in the playoffs he’s averaging an unreal 28-9-8. In the playoffs, Irving continued to show why he’s one of the best closers in all of basketball while also a averaging over 22 per game. They’ve been dubbed by some as the best backcourt duo ever, and they’ve certain lived up to the hype. In the first round they defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 before dispatching a

    Luka Dončić (Wikimedia Commons photo by Erik Drost)

    very good Oklahoma City Thunder team by the same margin in the second round. Even the rising star Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves couldn’t slow down the Mavericks epic march towards the finals. While Dallas beat the Wolves in five games, it was the fire and trash talk from Doncic down the stretch that became one of the major storylines of the series. It wasn’t all hot air though as he backed them up on the court, scoring 36 points in a close out win.

    Out of the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics have their own high powered guard combo in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Combined, the two averaged almost 50 PPG in the regular season and lead the Celtics to the best record in the East at 64-18. The Celtics took down the Heat, Cavaliers, and the upstart Indiana Pacers in their track towards the championship.

    It’s clear that the stars are going to show out and light up the scoreboard in this iteration of the finals. The question then becomes a matter of which team has the stronger supporting cast.

    For the Celtics:

    • Kristaps Porzingis (F/C 20-7-2)
    • Derrick White (G 15-4-5)
    • Jrue Holliday (G 12-5-4)
    • Al Horford (C 8-6-2)

    For the Mavericks:

    • Tim Hardaway Jr. (G 14-3-1)
    • PJ Washington (F 12-5-1)
    • Daniel Gafford (F 11-7-1)
    • Dereck Lively (8-6-1)
    Jayson Tatum (Wikimedia Commons photo by Erik Drost)

    *The above are figures from the regular season (PPG-RPG-APG).

    But perhaps the biggest x-factor could come from a player who has yet to take the court since the first round. Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis has missed the Celtics’ last 10 games due to a calf injury but seems primed to return for the finals. He would provide a massive boost to a team that went 9-1 without him. The Latvian big man shot a career-best 51.6% overall while hitting 37.5% beyond the arc. When you factor in the boost he can bring to Boston’s game on both ends of the court, it could be enough to make the Celtics the favorites in this series as they opened as -225 favorites Thursday night according to ESPN BET. But there’s no guarantee that Porzingis will be back to form immediately and Boston has been tight lipped about whether he is for sure good to go for game one.

    But the Mavericks are adept at overcoming even the best of opponents. In the Western Conference Finals they dispatched a Timberwolves team with their own talented big man in Karl Anthony Towns. They should be in a good position to play tough against Porzingis should he return.

    For his part, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd knows plenty about the pressure a team can face in the finals. As a player he was on two squads that fell short of wining a title, the first with the Mavericks in 2002 and the second with the New Jersey Nets the very next year in 2003. On the other bench, the Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla is the youngest head coach to make the NBA Finals since Bill Russell in 1969 at just 35 years old. But coach Mazzulla has done an excellent job harnessing Boston’s talent and energy, guiding the team to their second finals appearance since 2022 where they fell to the Golden State Warriors.

    Other interesting facts about this years’ finals matchup:

    • The Mavs are the only team in the last three postseasons with multiple wins (they’re 2-3) in games they trailed by at least 17 points.

    These key stats lead to a few conclusions. First, that the Mavericks are never out of a game no matter how far behind they may be. Second, that the Celtics relentlessly attack the basket and draw fouls while limiting their opponents’ trips to the line.

    In the end I honestly feel that this series will come down to whose non superstars play the best. If Kristaps Porzingis returns and plays to his full potential then it will be very difficult for the Mavericks. If Tim Hardaway Jr. can somehow find his shot and become an impact scorer for Dallas it could really even the field.

    The way that Doncic and Irving are playing, even with the Celtics at full strength, my pick is the Mavericks in 7 thrilling games. The Celtics’ team is probably more complete for the starting 5, but Dallas also has a deeper bench, which outscored Boston 35-29 in terms of PPG in the regular season. And this is a hard series to predict given that any one of the marquee players on these teams could explode at any moment and change the dynamic of the series. But that is part of the reason why this matchup could be one of the most entertaining finals pairings.

    But only time will tell and for now let’s buckle up and watch some excellent basketball.

    Who is you pick to win it all this year? Let us know either in the comment section of this article or on our Facebook page!

    The NBA Finals are presented by YouTube TV with ABC the exclusive provider.

    Here is the television schedule for the 2024 NBA Finals:

    • Game 1: Mavericks vs. Celtics, Thursday, June 6 (8:30 ET)
    • Game 2: Mavericks vs. Celtics, Sunday, June 9 (8 ET)
    • Game 3: Celtics vs. Mavericks, Wednesday, June 12 (8:30 ET)
    • Game 4: Celtics vs. Mavericks, Friday, June 14 (8:30 ET)
    • Game 5: Mavericks vs. Celtics, Monday, June 17 (8:30 ET)*
    • Game 6: Celtics vs. Mavericks, Thursday, June 20 (8:30 ET)*
    • Game 7: Mavericks vs. Celtics, Sunday, June 23 (8 ET)*

    * = if necessary

    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.

  • Loveland Bids Farewell To Head Football Coach Andy Cruse

    Loveland Bids Farewell To Head Football Coach Andy Cruse

    (Loveland Magazine file photo when Andy Cruse was introduced to Tiger fans at a home basketball game on February 11, 2019)

    Cruse will become Tight Ends Coach for the Miami RedHawks

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – This past Wednesday, Loveland leaned the bittersweet news that head football coach Andy Cruse would be departing to assume the role of tight ends coach for the Miami RedHawks in Oxford, Ohio. Cruse had been the head coach of the Tigers for five years after stints at Moeller and Turpin, which was his alma mater.

    2023 was Loveland’s best year under Cruse. They finished 5-6 and there was a lot of hope that perhaps the team could improve on that going into 2024. It was their best record since going 6-4 in 2015. Overall, Cruse was 12-37 at the helm of the Tigers’ program, which ran from 2019-2024. After quite a few struggles following winning the state title in 2013, he lead the team to two straight postseason births.

    Head Coach Andy Cruse leading the Tigers out of the “Tunnel” during a Pandemic game in August of 2020 (Loveland Magazine file photo)

    Cruse will be returning to his former college team. He was a wide receiver for the RedHawks and a co-captain in his senior year. Coach Cruse also had a good amount of NFL experience, playing for the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings.

    All of Loveland wishes Coach Cruse the best and that he has success at Miami. But for now it is an exciting time for Loveland football as it searches for its next head coach. At the moment, defensive coordinator AJ Williams and special teams coordinator Brian Damewood are the interim co-coaches. This writer was honored enough to play for Coach Damewood during his brief but happy career with the Tigers from 1999-2003 and so the program is in the best of hands moving forward.

    While coaching searches are never easy, the opportunity to take the reins at a solid program like Loveland will no doubt attract very qualified candidates. Loveland athletic director Jayson Bruce has a great opportunity for to secure the future of this program by making a great hire, and this city looks forward to a new chapter in Loveland football history.

    Go Tigers!

    ________________

    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 LovelandSportsGuy@gmail.com!

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

    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 JB Bickerstaff Era Comes To An End For The Cavaliers

    The JB Bickerstaff Era Comes To An End For The Cavaliers

    Photo – https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/roster

    by Chris Ball

    JB Bickerstaff inherited a Cavaliers team that was reeling after the firing of Jon Beilein midway through the 2019-20 season. After his hiring, Bickerstaff helped turn the Cavaliers around and get them on a path to winning. Overall, he had a 170-159 regular season record. He and the Cavaliers recorded at least 44 wins in each of the his last three years with the team. As the coach he improved the Cleveland’s record each year he was at the helm. The team was 19-46 in 2019-20; but improved to 22-50 in 2020-21; 44-38 in 2021-22 and 51-31 in 2022-23).

    In the postseason though, his record fell to just 6-11 despite leading the Cavaliers to the playoffs in back to back years in 2023 and 2024. 2024 marked the team’s best result during Bickerstaff’s tenure where they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2018.

    And to be clear, Bickerstaff should not be viewed as a scapegoat for the shortcomings of the Cavaliers this year. Injuries plagued this team for so much of the season. The signings of Max Strus and especially Georges Niang did not work out as planned. There was only so much a coach could do to keep this team afloat.

    But in the end, for all of Bickerstaff’s successes (and there were many), there were still significant questions about his ability to take the Cavaliers to the next level even when this team was healthy. There were issues as to whether he could control the locker room and make his star players, including Donovan Mitchell, happy. While Cavaliers executive Koby Altman properly emphasized JBB’s success in developing the Cavaliers’ young players, he also acknowledged that a fresh approach was necessary. This isn’t an unreasonable position to take, given how the Eastern Conference is improving with the likes of the Magic and Knicks and how the teams at the top like the Celtics don’t look to be falling off anytime soon. The Cavaliers have established, veteran players but need to find the best way to harness their varying skills and strengths and break through and become serious NBA Finals contenders. And that won’t be easy given the Cavaliers’ current roster construction.

    Both Mitchell and Darius Garland are undersized guards. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are big men that take up a large amount of space in the post and, as of yet, Mobley hasn’t developed an outside game that will allow him to score reliably away from the basket. So with both men in the game the paint is a very crowded place to operate. The Cavaliers also lack a dynamic wing that can create, which is a staple of the most successful NBA offenses in this era.

    Speaking of roster construction, the offseason is shaping up to be an interesting one for the Cavs’ backcourt. There have been ultimatums bandied about that if the Cavaliers do sign Donovan Mitchell long term that Darius Garland would then demand a trade. In the past, Garland has shown that he has the ability to score at a high volume, but this year injuries certainly impacted his game after having his jaw wired shut and losing significant weight. Yet, even after returning and having time to collect himself, DG’s game simply was not there. In the playoffs, with Mitchell either hurt, hobbling or exhausted (from being the team’s only real scorer) Garland could only manage 15.7 PPG on 14 shots per game. As a comparison, with Joel Embiid not playing his best for the 76ers, Tyrese Maxey averaged 29.8 PPG to carry his share of the scoring for his team.

    As sad as it may be to admit, the Cavaliers’ futures rides on the decision of Donovan Mitchell alone. The dismissal of J.B. Bickerstaff is proof enough of that. While Garland is a good player, if the choice is between him or Mitchell, that isn’t even really a choice. If the Cavaliers are going to have any real success in the future, Donovan Mitchell is realistically the only one who can be relied on to take this team on his back and get the job done.

    Turning to the early potential candidates to replace Bickerstaff going forward, the names floated so far include David Adelman, Nuggets assistant, Frank Vogel, former Pacers and Lakers head coach, and even podcaster JJ Reddick. Whichever coach is hired, the Cavaliers will look a lot different in the 2024-2025 season and if Mitchell is still on the team the ultimate challenge will be putting the right pieces in place to give him what he needs to make a deep playoff run. Continuing to develop Evan Mobley on offense should be a top priority. He is certainly capable of scoring at a high volume as game 5 in the playoffs showed us all this year. If Isaac Okoro can somehow be coaxed to bring a consistent shot to bear, he could be a crucial piece in the lineup given his ability to lock down the oppositions’ best players on defense.

    There is plenty of uncertainty for this team in the months to come, and so much depends on the long term signing of Donovan Mitchell. If he stays with the Cavaliers and they hire the right coach, they have the players to take major steps forward. But until then there are many pieces that have to fall into place, and at the moment it’s a game of “wait and see.”

    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 LovelandSportsGuy@gmail.com!

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

    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.

     

  • Homestand Highlights – May 21-29 – Reds vs. Padres, Dodgers, Cardinals

    Homestand Highlights – May 21-29 – Reds vs. Padres, Dodgers, Cardinals

    by Chris Ball

    Tuesday, May 21 – Reds vs. San Diego Padres, 6:40 p.m. (gates open at 5:10 p.m.)

    • TV: Bally Sports Ohio (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Annie Sabo)
    • Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
    • 3-2-1 Tuesdays: For all Tuesday home games this season, fans can purchase $3 beers (Bud or Bud Light 12 oz. cans), $2 hot dogs and $1 ice cream cups, presented by Budweiser and Bud Light. Limit two of each item per person per transaction. Available at select concession stands. For more information, visit reds.com/Tuesday.
    • Reds Country Cares: As part of our Reds Country Cares program, throughout May we are recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month. Pregame ceremonies will help raise awareness on this important topic. New for 2024, United Way of Greater Cincinnati is making a donation to each of our Reds Country Cares community partners. For more information, visit reds.com/Unity.

    Wednesday, May 22 – Reds vs. San Diego Padres, 6:40 p.m. (gates open at 5:10 p.m.)

    • TV: Bally Sports Ohio (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Annie Sabo)
    • Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
    • Bark in the Park: Tonight is the second Bark in the Park of the season, presented by Kroger, Good ‘n’ Fun and DreamBone. Over 500 dogs and their owners will participate in a pregame parade around the field and enjoy pet activities, samples and more in the First Star Fan Zone. Dog packages must be purchased in advance at reds.com/Bark.
    • First Pitch: Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown will throw out a ceremonial pitch.
    • Reds Community Fund Check Presentation: A check for over $56,000 will presented to the Reds Community Fund during pregame ceremonies. The proceeds are from the 12th annual Modern Office Methods Opening Day Eve party, which took place on March 27 at the Moerlein Lager House. The event is hosted annually by Randy and Sue Freking.

    Thursday, May 23 – Reds vs. San Diego Padres, 1:10 p.m. (gates open at 11:40 a.m.)

    • TV: Bally Sports Ohio (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Annie Sabo)
    • Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Chris Welsh)
    • Hall of Fame Vintage Game: Exhibition game featuring the Reds Hall of Fame’s 1869 Red Stockings is scheduled to start at noon, using baseball rules from the 1860s.

    Friday, May 24 – Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:10 p.m. (gates open at 5:40 p.m.)

    • TV: Bally Sports Ohio (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Jim Day)
    • Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
    • Fireworks Friday: Rozzi’s fireworks show presented by Toyota.
    • City Connect Friday: Reds players and coaches will wear the Nike City Connect uniform as part of City Connect Fridays.

    Saturday, May 25 – Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:15 p.m. (gates open at 5:45 p.m.)

    • TV: FOX National Broadcast (WXIX Fox19 in Cincinnati)
    • Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
    • Phone Wallet: Fans in attendance will receive a Reds phone wallet, presented by PNC, while supplies last.
    • Bald Eagle Flight: “Sam” the Bald Eagle from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden will perform his first flight of the season from the TriHealth Riverboat Deck to the pitcher’s mound during the singing of the National Anthem.
    • Murals With A Mission, powered by PNC: Pregame ceremonies will recognize students and advisors from Colerain and Sycamore high schools who recently participated in Murals with a Mission, powered by PNC. The Reds and PNC launched the Murals with a Mission campaign in 2022 to create lasting works of art at Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky high schools designed to elevate positive social messages for the student community. For more information, visit reds.com/Unity.
    • MLB Prostate Cancer Awareness: Representatives from the Prostate Cancer Foundation will be visiting GABP to bring awareness to the Home Run Challenge leading up to Father’s Day.

    Sunday, May 26– Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 1:40 p.m. (gates open at 12:10 p.m.)

    • TV: Bally Sports Ohio (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Jim Day)
    • Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
    • Baseball Card Set: Fans in attendance will receive a Reds Team Baseball Card Set, presented by Kahn’s, while supplies last.
    • Reds Rookies Day #1: Newborn Reds fans and their parents will be at the game for the first Reds Rookies Day of the season. Baby fan club members will be able to participate in a pregame on-field parade and more fun activities in the First Star Fan Zone. To learn more about Reds Rookies, visit reds.com/Rookies.

    Monday, May 27 – Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 4:10 p.m. (gates open at 2:40 p.m.)

    • TV: Bally Sports Ohio (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Jim Day)
    • Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
    • Memorial Day: The Reds and MLB will join the country in remembering and honoring those who have died in service to our country. In connection with this special national holiday, all on-field personnel will wear the traditional red poppy on the left side of their uniforms with “Lest We Forget” language adorning the visage. The Memorial Day logo will also appear on the bases.
    • Military Appreciation Day: Special ticket deals will be available for military and first responders. Pregame on-field ceremonies will honor various branches of the armed forces.
    • First Pitch: Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt will throw out a ceremonial pitch.

    Tuesday, May 28 – Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 6:40 p.m. (gates open at 5:10 p.m.)

    • TV: Bally Sports Ohio (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Jim Day)
    • Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
    • 3-2-1 Tuesdays: For all Tuesday home games this season, fans can purchase $3 Buds and Bud Lights (12 oz. cans), $2 hot dogs and $1 ice cream cups, presented by Budweiser and Bud Light. Limit two of each item per person per transaction. Available at select concession stands. For more information, visit reds.com/Tuesday.
    • RCF Signing Day: During pregame ceremonies, 10 high school student-athletes from the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy RBI program will be recognized for signing letters of intent to play collegiately.
    • First Pitch: Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Trent Brown will throw out a ceremonial pitch. Brown will be joined on the field by Reds Hall of Famer Dave Parker.

    Wednesday, May 29 – Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 1:10 p.m. (gates open at 11:40 a.m.)

    • TV: Bally Sports Ohio (John Sadak, Barry Larkin & Jim Day)
    • Radio: 700WLW and stations on the Reds Radio Network (Tommy Thrall & Jeff Brantley)
    • First Pitch: Former Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett will throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Scooter will be at the Reds Hall of Fame today signing autographs.

    Special offers for the Homestand

    • Family Discount Day – May 21 & 29: Families can save by purchasing up to three half-price tickets with the purchase of a full-price ticket in select areas of the ballpark, provided by Klosterman Bakery. Available only at reds.com/Family.
    • 3-2-1 Tuesdays – May 21 and 28: For all Tuesday home games this season, fans can purchase $3 Buds and Bud Lights (12 oz. cans), $2 hot dogs and $1 ice cream cups, presented by Budweiser and Bud Light. Limit two of each item per person per transaction. Available at select concession stands. For more information, visit reds.com/Tuesday.
    • Business Day Special – May 23 and 29: For $20, fans can purchase a View Level ticket and receive $10 in concession credits, presented by UnitedHealthcare. Drop your business card in the container at a Fan Accommodation Station and you could win tickets to the next Business Day Game. Available at reds.com/SkipWork.
    • Senior Days – May 23 and 29: Fans 50 and older may purchase select non-premium tickets at half-price in advance of game day only. Excludes Premium Seats, Fioptics District, Upper View Level, Value View and Kroger Bleachers. Some restrictions apply. Available at reds.com/Seniors.
    • Thirsty Thursdays – May 23: For all Thursday Reds home games, fans can purchase a $30 package that includes a Field Box or Terrace Line ticket and a $10 concession credit valid for food and beverages. Available only at reds.com/Thursday.

    Reds Fancam

    • At select Reds games this season Fancam will be capturing a giant interactive photo of everyone at Great American Ball Park. Fans will be able to zoom in and find their photo in the crowd. Photos will be available at reds.Fancam.com.

    Reds Community Fund

    • CollegeAdvantage Redlegs Run: The 23rd annual CollegeAdvantage Redlegs Run is on Saturday, June 1. Options are available for walkers and runners of all ages. All participants will receive a custom race medal, race shirt, professional chip-timing with live results, free downloadable race photography, a post-race party in the First Star Fan Zone, and one View Level ticket to the Reds vs. Cubs game on Thursday, June 6. All proceeds benefit the Reds Community Fund. Register today at reds.com/run.
    • Split the Pot: Fans in the ballpark and at home can play Split the Pot this season at reds5050.com. One lucky winner will be picked to win the rolling jackpots following the games on May 23, May 26 and again on May 29. Fans can purchase their tickets early for a chance to win “Early Bird” prizes that will be given away at various times throughout the season. Fans must be 18 years or older and in the state of Ohio at the time of purchase to enter. Buy tickets now and find the official rules at reds5050.com.

    Reds Hall of Fame & Museum presented by Dinsmore

    • George Foster Bobblehead: Reds Hall of Famer George Foster is featured as the first bobblehead in the Hall of Fame’s 2024 “Long Ball” Collectible Gift Series presented by Dinsmore. The Foster bobbleheads are free with full-price museum or ballpark tour admission on Saturdays and Sundays throughout May, while supplies last.
    • George Foster Experience – May 25: Reds fans have the chance to experience a 90-minute tour through Riverfront Stadium landmarks with the Big Red Machine’s own George Foster. Hear Foster’s insights on his Reds Hall of Fame career and other topics during the tour, accompanied by a brief Q&A session and photo opportunity. Tickets include a guided tour of the Reds Hall of Fame by a docent. Each tour guest will receive an autographed George Foster bobblehead. The George Foster Experience departs from the Hall of Fame lobby at 2 p.m. For tickets and more information, For tickets and more information, visit redsmuseum.org.
    • George Foster Autograph Signings – May 25 & 26: As a part of the Reds Hall of Fame’s Signature Series, Reds Hall of Fame outfielder George Foster will visit the Reds Hall of Fame for two autograph sessions on Saturday, May 25 and two on Sunday, May 26. For tickets and autograph schedules, visit redsmuseum.org.
    • “Charlie Hustle” Author Book Signing – May 25: Keith O’Brien, author of the recently-published biography of Pete Rose, “Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball,” will sign copies of the bestselling book on Saturday, May 25, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Reds Hall of Fame and from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Hall of Fame Shop in the First Star Fan Zone. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. For tickets and more information, visit redsmuseum.org.
    • Scooter Gennett Autograph Signing – May 29: As a part of the Reds Hall of Fame’s Signature Series, former Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett will visit the Hall of Fame on Wednesday, May 29, for two autograph signing sessions. For tickets and autograph schedules, visit redsmuseum.org.
    • “The Long Ball” Exhibit Now Open: The Reds Hall of Fame and Museum’s newest exhibit “The Long Ball: A Home Run History of the Reds” presented by Dinsmore features the greatest home run hitters and most unforgettable home runs throughout Reds history. From the legendary to the unexpected, “The Long Ball” touches all the bases in this celebration of one of the game’s signature moments and salutes the Reds players who have forever etched their names in the annals of home run lore. Plan your visit at redsmuseum.org.
    • Kids and Military FREE at the Reds Hall of Fame: Kids 12 and under can always explore the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum presented by Dinsmore for free, courtesy of the H.C.S. Foundation. Admission for active military and veterans is free, courtesy of the Sargent Family Foundation.

     

    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 LovelandSportsGuy@gmail.com!

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

    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 Continue To Struggle To Find Their Identity and Consistency

    The Reds Continue To Struggle To Find Their Identity and Consistency

    by Chris Ball

    In a season like this one, there is a point in time where all of the platitudes and rationalizations ring hollow because they’ve been trotted out more times than an Uncle Remus’ catfish story.

    That point is drawing perilously close; losing 15 out of 18 games tends to make any explanations fall on deaf ears.

    There is no shame in setting aside the catch phrases and being honest and fair about what this Reds team is: young, inexperienced, decimated by injuries, and facing spending constraints that make it extremely difficult to compete against the cash-rich legacy franchises in this league. In even the best of times when all of a teams’ players are healthy, when you play in a market like the Reds do, you need a lot of luck for a deep playoff run to happen. The margins are always razor thin, and this year you couldn’t see them with the Hubble telescope.

    Could the Reds have weathered Matt McLain’s injury? Could they have found a way to compensate for Noelvi Marte’s suspension? Is there any chance they could have prepared better for losing CES and TJ Friedl for large chunks of the season? Perhaps if any of those problems had occurred individually, Cincinnati could have found a way to stay afloat through their brutal May schedule. But the cascade of injuries combined with a precipitous drop in production from nearly everyone apart from Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson was simply too much for this team to bear and they are currently buckling under the weight of it all.

    No one should be more frustrated by that than the players who make up the Reds’ rotation. Hunter Greene has faced his share of negativity after signing what (by league standards) was a very modest contract. But this year he has performed very well. He, Graham Ashcraft, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott have put this team in position to win game after game, only to have the bottom erode from under the offense.

    • Hunter Greene ERA: 3.22
    • Andrew Abbott ERA: 3.06
    • Nick Lodolo ERA: 3.34

    They are 15th in team ERA and yet are currently languishing in last place in the National League Central division, mostly due to the fact that they are the second worse team in terms of batting average, at .217. This has been a consistent and well known problem that has not improved since this losing trend began weeks ago. David Bell has shuffled lineups, promoted players, and shifted them around, but nothing has worked. There have been times that we’ve seen the potential to break out of this prolonged slump, and they have been brilliant to watch.

    They went into Dodger Stadium on Shohei Ohtani bobble head night in front of 50,000 hostile fans and dominated one of the best teams in baseball, winning 7-2. They piled up 13 hits against the Diamondbacks that was almost like a tease of what this offense is capable of. But after both games the spark was extinguished and the well was once again bone dry. The missed opportunities began to pile up and runs became as rare as a prime steak at Jeff Ruby’s. A perfect example is Elly De La Cruz going 0 for 13 with eight strikeouts after his four-hit, four-stolen-base game Thursday against those Dodgers that so electrified Reds fans and primed them to believe this offense could finally snap out of its funk. The team as a whole failed to respond after a positive win and were unable to score for 16 consecutive innings at one stretch in the Dodgers series.

    At this point the Reds are like a boxer that spends one round landing haymakers, getting the crowd into it, but then languishes for the rest of the fight taking blow after blow until the good times are but a blurry and faded memory. And watching a team lose seven consecutive series is enough to make even the best fans punch drunk.

    Having realistic expectations of a team is one of the hardest things to do for a fanbase. Hope tends to spring eternal, especially when the Reds played as well as they did last year with such a promising crop of young, exciting players. What those young teams need to take the best steps forward is continuity, support, and reliability. The 2024 Reds have none of those factors, mostly through no fault of their own. Their youngest players are either hurt, suspended, or being asked to carry a major league team on their own when they are barely into their second years. Longer tenured players like Jonathan India and Alexis Diaz are regressing to the point that they are almost unplayable when they should be the ones a team count on to shepherd the team through its toughest stretches. Will Benson has taken giant steps backwards, and it has all seemed to happen at once. Spencer Steer started red hot but has seen his average crater in recent weeks. In his last 25 games he is hitting a paltry .144 and his OPS dropped from .999 to .706. As the Reds’ closer, the man sent in to shut down the best batters in must-win situations, Diaz has a 7.47 ERA, has walked 12 and hit 3 batters in just a little over 15 innings. It’s a good example of just how this team could struggle so mightily in one run games, where they are now 1-11 with 10 straight losses.

    These players have had nearly 50 games to show what they can do and how they can help this team. Batting below or near .200 over that stretch, as several of our batters are (India and Benson among them) make it legitimate to question whether we have seen the true colors of what this Reds team will be? That being a baseball club that simply cannot hit with any consistency because it has such poor depth due to injuries, and who cannot compete with the playoff teams in this league on a nightly basis. The flashes of ability and the sparks of a potential run of good hitting have shown themselves, but they’ve failed to catch on for any length of time for this team to build any sort of momentum. The Reds don’t have stars at multiple positions, they have solid players who are young, and who need to work together as a unit to produce on offense and who grind out every game as they learn and improve. But it’s impossible to grow and to learn when you’re on the disabled list or you have no help from the veteran players on your team.

    As frustrating as it might be to admit, it does not mean that the season is over. The Reds’ pitching and most of its bullpen can keep them in games. Hitting sometimes runs in streaks and players can get hot for stretches of time. That being said, praying that that players buck the statistical trends they’ve established over a quarter of the season isn’t necessarily a recipe for success, and it’s an excruciating way to root for a franchise. It’s hard to imagine what magical tactic David Bell could unveil that could make seasoned players and talented hitters stop taking pitches right down broadway or grounding into double plays, but fairytale turnarounds are what Major League Baseball seasons are designed for. There is no coach to fire that will magically fix the injuries that have plagued this team and bring back the players they need to supercharge the bats that have gone inexplicably silent. The 2023 and 2024 Reds have the exact same record through 46 games. The main difference being that there is no crop of young talent ready to step up and save this team. For better or worse this team is what it is going to be for the next several months.

    Until they show us otherwise, we have seen what this Reds team is, and if it continues along the same lines we have been watching so far it will be a very long summer of begging for runs and lamenting as solid starting pitching (en extreme rarity for teams like the Reds) is flushed down the tubes.

    The Reds can start a new chapter this week and start to chip away at the standings, though. They return home to face the Padres for three games, and those are absolutely critical because they are winnable and a chance to build at least some positivity. And they’ll need it because those same Dodgers will then come in for a series, proceeding the Reds’ first season series against division foe 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 LovelandSportsGuy@gmail.com!

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

    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 Take Fans To The Brink of Madness

    Reds Take Fans To The Brink of Madness

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – The Roller Coaster Season Is In Danger Of Coming Off The Rails

    How many different ways can one team lose a baseball game? Well, in losing 12 of their last 14 and 15 of their last 19 the Reds have certainly found many of them. And most have been in excruciating fashion.

    On Monday night against the Diamondbacks it was a walk off two run single by former Red Kevin Newman and a blown save by Alexis Diaz. The Reds were in a position to walk away with a win after scoring two runs in the top of the eighth which featured a Mike Ford triple, to lead 5-4. In a stretch where their offense has struggled so mightily, scoring 5 runs off of 10 hits seemed at the time to be as refreshing as a pool of water to a man lost in a baking desert.

    Time was, seeing Alexis Díaz walk out of the bullpen in such a situation was enough to give Reds fans goosebumps at the anticipation of some electric stuff and the sound of the door slamming shut on the opposition.

    But not this night.

    Diaz proceeded to hit the first man he faced and walked the next two to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, before eventually surrendering the game winning hit to Newman. It was a troubling sign of the inconsistency and unreliability that has plagued this roster all season. The numbers simply look bleak, there is no way around it.

    Starting with Díaz, he converted his first 22 save chances last season and 37 overall. While his blown save on Monday was only his second in nine opportunities, the more conceding issue is that he has a 6.75 ERA in 16 appearances. In 14 2/3 innings this season, Díaz has allowed 12 walks and has hit three batters. This means that since August 1, 2023 Alexis Diaz has more walks + hit batters than he has strikeouts or innings pitched. Though plenty of Reds are struggling this year the issues with their closer is magnified due to the fact that they are likely going to play in a significant number of close games this year. With an offense that scores so infrequently, they cannot afford to have their go-to closer have games like Monday’s slip through his fingers.

    Losing such games is yet another disturbing trend for the 2024 Reds. They have both the most 1-run losses (9) and also the fewest 1-run wins (1). This only got worse after Wednesday’s 2-1 loss, unfortunately. Last season it was a much different story for the “Rally Reds” where they had 34 one-run wins which was the most in all of baseball. While injuries have ravaged this team (especially with the crippling announcement that TJ Friedl will miss 4-5 weeks with a fractured thumb, after just coming off the IL from a wrist injury) the magic just seems to be missing from this version of the team, at times.

    And then, you get a result like we saw on Tuesday night, a 6-2 victory over those same (very hot) Diamondbacks, where the Reds remind you what they can do in a more complete way. Will Benson hit a 2 run home run, Tyler Stephenson had 3 hits, Candalario and Fraley chipped in with two apiece. 9 different Reds collected hits on Tuesday night and the team scored their most runs in their last 15 games. When combined with a very efficient outing from Hunter Greene (2 runs, 5 hits, 5 strikeouts and only one walk) and a lockdown bullpen effort, it’s just about enough to give us you hope, especially as the Reds are 13-1 this season when scoring at least six runs.

    Then, just as fast as the hope manifested, it evaporated Wednesday afternoon. The Reds wasted a beautiful outing from Andrew Abbott in which he gave up just 1 run on 4 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts in 7 innings. The offense again managed only one run off of three hits against a pitcher whose ERA was over 4 coming into the game.

    The loss was charged to Fernando Cruz who, like Alexis Díaz, has had some frustrating moments this year, but on balance has been one of the Reds’ most reliable bullpen arms. Cruz was able to get two outs on Wednesday but allowed a double to Pavin Smith who was immediately driven in by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for the eventual game winning run. It was yet another hair pulling close loss that makes you wonder when the pain of this brutal stretch of play will end.

    Reds fans, myself included, have previously fallen back on the phrase “it’s early” when trying to hold out hope that the struggles and poor play was simply a phase and not a sign of a deeper, creeping malignancy within the team this year. There was always a belief that at some point the Reds might reach a turnaround, whether it be a key player catching fire, someone like Friedl returning from injury, or a promotion like Mike Ford helping light a much-needed spark, and that it would happen before the season slipped away.

    The hour grows late, unfortunately.

    The team sits 7 games under .500 and 8 games back of the division-leading Brewers, 43 games into the season, with a record of 18-25. By comparison, the Reds’ last five 41-game starts (and finishes):

    • 2023: 18-23 (82-80)
    • 2022: 12-29 (62-100)
    • 2021: 19-22 (83-79)
    • 2020: 18-23 (31-29)
    • 2019: 18-23 (75-87)

    Though the Bell era has never been known for stellar starts, the 18 wins the Reds have this year seem as though they are a bit of a letdown from the talent and ability level the players possess, injuries or not. Fans are understandably angry about the lack of signs of progress and they’ve had plenty of mediocrity to deal with over the years. Since Castellini took over the “majority share” holder in 2006, 17 years:

    • 1354-1501 (Win % .474)
    • 2 NL Central Titles
    • 4 playoff appearances (2-7, collapse to Giants, swept by Phillies)
    • They have averaged 4th place in the NL Central under his tenure.

    Keeping faith isn’t easy and it’s understandable that Reds fans are angry with the product on the field. But there are signs of life.

    As of Tuesday, May 14th, the Reds batting average is second worst in the league at .217 but their barrel percentage is 18th, they are 21st in hard hit percentage, and 4th in exit velocity. Thus, for as bad as their results behind the dish have been, it’s not all due to the fact that the swings and contact that they’ve made is “bad”. The foundation for a more serviceable offense is there and all it could take is a little more luck to break it open. So I personally believe it’s “still early” to stick a fork in the year, but that clock might strike midnight soon if the Reds can’t start winning games like they lost on Monday. Like much about baseball, getting back on the right track can’t be done overnight. If it happens it will be a painful and piecemeal incremental process that will depend on the rotation staying solid and getting a significant output from Spencer Steer and Elly De La Cruz. It certainly helps that Jeimer Candelario is playing better, hitting .297 with 11 hits, a homer, 7 RBIs and 3 runs in his last 10 games (not counting Tuesday’s very good outing). If he can elevate his play, with how off he appeared to be early on, there is no doubt that other Reds can follow suit and weather the current storm of a brutal schedule and stop the bleeding.

    If not, it could be a long summer in Cincinnati without meaningful Reds baseball on the docket at Great American Ballpark.

    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.