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Tag: Christopher Ball

New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball

by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio – On this week’s all new Queen City Sports Podcast Chris rides solo and discusses the approach Nick Krall took for the Reds at the trade deadline and how it was a safe play given the state of the team. But was it the right play? Also, the Ja’Marr Chase situation drags on for the Bengals in training camp, along with some concerning injuries. Finally, Chris hits on the 2024 Loveland Tigers Football schedule and some of the best matchups to look for this fall!

Have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

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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 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.

Aug 2, 2024
All new episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines – The Reds Trade Deadline, Bengals Training Camp, The 2024 Michigan Wolverines Outlook, and More!

by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

Loveland, Ohio – On this week’s all new Queen City Sports Podcast Chris and Mark discuss the Reds’ plans for the trade deadline: do they buy, sell, or stand pat? And can they finally put it all together and make a push towards one of the wild card spots? They also talk the start of Bengals’ training camp and the issues facing the team as they work to extend star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, and just how important he is to them going forward. And the guys finally get to the outlook for the 2024 Michigan Wolverines football team and the challenges they must overcome to get back to the College Football Playoff.

All this and more, including some interesting Olympics takes, on The Queen City Sports Podcast, have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

_______________________

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.

Jul 26, 2024
All new episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines – The Reds Second Half Outlook, Corey Dillon in the Ring of Honor, and the 2024 Bearcat Football Defensive Outlook

by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

Loveland, Ohio – It’s time for yet another new episode of the Queen City Sports Podcast! On this week’s episode, Chris and Mark fight through the summer doldrums and discuss what happened with the Reds’ two All-Stars, Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene. They also look forward to the Reds’ second half and which players are under pressure to perform, and which need to improve. They also reminisce about the glory days of Corey Dillon and how happy they are to see him as part of the Bengals Ring of Honor. To finish it up they hit on the outlook for the 2024 Bearcats on defense. And click here to read the tweet the guys referenced on all of Corey Dillon’s career accomplishments.

All this and more on The Queen City Sports Podcast, have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

_______________________

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.

Jul 19, 2024
All new episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines – The Reds Lack Consistency, Day Day Thomas is Healthy, and The Big 12 Media Ranks the Bearcats 14th

by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

Loveland, Ohio – Welcome to another week of the Queen City Sports Podcast! On this week’s episode, Chris and Mark discuss another up and down few weeks for the Cincinnati Reds, and the impact that Rece Hinds could have on the team as it gears up for the stretch run in the second half of the season. They also talk Bearcats basketball and the impact that Day Day Thomas and Jizzle James will have in the backcourt next season. The Big 12 media ranked the Bearcats 14 out of 16 in the conference next year and we get Mark’s reaction on whether they got it right. Finally, the guys speak about Joe Burrow’s recent comments about expanding the NFL season to 18 games.

All this and more on The Queen City Sports Podcast, have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

_______________________

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.

Jul 12, 2024
All new episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines – Reds Smash the Cardinals, Cleveland Cavaliers Have a Big Week, and Bronny James is Drafted

by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

Loveland, Ohio – In this week’s podcast episode, we talk more about the Reds and what factors are preventing them from consistently playing as well as they did on Thursday night, beating the rival St. Louis Cardinals 11-4. We also discuss the Cavaliers’ signing of head coach Kenny Atkinson and the challenges he faces in getting the team ready for the 2024-2025 season. We also break down the impact of the Cavaliers’ first round draft pick Jaylon Tyson and discuss what the Lakers’ will do now that they’ve drafted Bronny James, LeBron James’ son.

All this and more on The Queen City Sports Podcast, take a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

For further reference, the article discussed in the podcast regarding the evolution of pitching in major league baseball can be accessed by clicking here. You can see the post laying out all of the injuries that the Atlanta Braves have suffered, and overcome, by clicking here.

_______________________

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.

Jun 30, 2024
TJ Friedl Returns to Action for the Louisville Bats

by Chris Ball

The Reds Outfielder Is A Step Closer to Rejoining the Reds And Giving Them Much Needed Help in the Lineup

It’s no secret that the Reds are not playing with a full deck. Their offense has been frustratingly inconsistent this year. They are 28th in batting average at .218, 26th in on base percentage at .299, and 28th in hits per game. Luckily for them, they are in the top 13 in the league in doubles, triples, and home runs, all of which has lead them to the 7th best offense in terms of runs per game, posting 4.8 per contest. Each of their current impact players have struggled at various times this year, though the likes of Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer have done their parts to carry the team on offense. There’s also signs of life from Jeimer Candelario who looked almost unplayable at times early this season, but banged out 5 hits in the Padres series including a home run and two RBIs.

But the rest of the Reds offense has come up largely empty so far this year. Only a handful of Reds are hitting above .230 and many are below the Mendoza Line. Although it is still early in the season, this pace is clearly unsustainable long term and won’t bring this team any closer to a playoff birth or even a winning season. What’s made it all the more frustrating is that the offensive woes have only worsened as the Reds pitching has blossomed, with Nick Lodolo dominating and Hunter Greene throwing much better.

The hope is that with Friedl’s return, should all go well, the Reds will get a much needed increase in their offensive firepower that they’ve otherwise been missing. Friedl suffered a fractured wrist during spring training. Nick Martini, Stuart Fairchild, and Bubba Thompson simply are not getting it done in the outfield. And in Thompson and Martini’s cases, it looks unlikely that they ever will be able to have long term success at this level.

Friedl hit .279 last year with 18 homers and 66 runs batted in, and those are numbers that the Reds would absolutely take in a heartbeat over what most of their outfielders have given so far this season. Most importantly, he hits left handed pitching at a .354 clip, which is exactly what this team needs as they have looked baffled against southpaws so far in 2024.

In his first rehab start for the Louisville Bats on Thursday night, Friedl went 1-3 with a double and a walk, and looked good at the dish with several hard hits. Though it is just the beginning of TJ’s rehabilitation stint, Reds fans are ready to see one of their favorite players return and perhaps give some more pop to the bats at Great American ballpark.

Watch the video of Friedl’s double by clicking 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.

May 4, 2024
Elly De La Cruz Makes History For The Reds

Elly De La Cruz with a young fan at this year’s Reds Fest

by Chris Ball

Loveland, Ohio – Baseball is America’s pastime, and its records stretch back more than a century. And so when such records are broken, it means just a little bit more as compared to any of the other major American sports. This is why when fans read what Elly De La Cruz has accomplished these past few weeks, it makes it all the more impressive.

With his monster April, Elly is now the only player since at least 1901 with at least 8 home runs and 17 steals in a calendar month. Oh by the way he also uncorked a throw to first at a jaw dropping 106.9 miles per hour. When he struggled at the beginning of the season Reds fans questioned whether De La Cruz had the focus and discipline necessary to make it at the major league level. Those criticisms are much quieter now given all that he has accomplished and how it seems that he has carried this team given the struggles or absence of other very important Reds players.

The other important point to consider for De La Cruz is how his game has improved just over the course of the early part of the season. He’s cut his strikeout rate from 50 percent to 30 percent and increased his walk rate up to around 15 percent when it had been as low as 5 percent. Though Elly’s other hitting numbers may pop off the page a bit more, the evolution of his plate discipline is what makes those numbers possible.

His offense isn’t the only thing getting better. It was difficult to watch Elly muff routine ground balls or sail easy throws during the first few games of the season. But that all seems like a distant memory, far in the rear view, as we watch him play now. His defense has greatly improved and, while still raw at times, is something he’s clearly refining at one of the most physically demanding positions in defensive baseball.

Though it is only his first full season at this level, Elly has clearly shown that he has all the tools necessary to be a star in Major League Baseball not just years firm the road, but right this very moment. The future is now for Elly and the Reds and we are all privileged to watch.

On another important note for the Reds, perhaps Jeimer Candelario is beginning to slowly turn things around. Against the Padres on Tuesday night he had two more hits including a solo homer, albeit in a losing effort. After posting some of the worst metrics of his career, Candelario has two multi hit games in a row and broke an 0-19 slump. If he starts to produce at even average levels it will be a big boost to a ball club fighting and scraping for every win it can get in the ultra competitive National League Central.

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.

May 1, 2024
Jonathan India Is Back!

The Captain Has Signed a 2 Year 8.8 Million Dollar Contract With The Cincinnati Reds

Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney.

by Christopher Ball

For the past few years, fans and players alike have acknowledged that Jonathan India is the heart and soul of the Cincinnati Reds. On Friday, India and the Reds agreed on a contract that avoided arbitration and ensured that he will be back at least to start next season and potentially into 2025. It’s clear that this contract is a reflection of the contribution that India has made to the club and a hope that he can reclaim the form that saw him named National League Rookie of The Year just two short years ago.

India has made a name for himself for the Reds while playing second base, but the infield is already crowded with young players who have the potential to be legitimate stars and whose gloves are much better. There are rumblings that India could start to see more time at first, third, at DH or even in the outfield. Switching positions for good defensive players presents significant challenges, and so finding India a place on the field could be extremely challenging in 2024.

Photo from Cincinnati Reds

That’s not to mention how hard it may be to find a place in the Reds’ lineup next year. Fangraphs has projected a starting infield of Matt McLain at second base, Noelvi Marte at third and Jeimer Candelario at first. And that’s not even accounting for the talents of Christian Encarnacion Strand who could be on the verge of an impact year. The Reds’ lineup and infield is packed to the gills with young talent and so it’s fair to ask where India might fit in.

In just 119 games last season, India batted .244 with 17 home runs and 61 RBIs. However, nagging injuries and playing through pain obviously played a big part in those numbers. That’s why an 8-million-dollar contract seems more than fair, especially given India’s leadership, history, and his willingness to play different positions to help this team win any way he can.

The club found itself in a somewhat similar position last year with Nick Senzel. Granted Senzel was older, but he, too, was once very highly valued prospect that fell on hard times and simply wasn’t able to put it all together for the Reds. Senzel, too, was a veteran who switched positions and worked hard to give all he could given his limitations, and he had his fair share of big moments last year.

The Reds had plenty of injuries last year and they are a very young team. India will absolutely be called upon for significant at bats in 2024 and having him signed should make every Reds fan feel more secure that the team is much more complete with him on the roster.

There was a significant portion of the fanbase that wanted India traded after his struggles last year and it was an understandable position. And it’s likely that the Reds shopped him in some form or fashion this offseason. This contract doesn’t foreclose a potential move if there isn’t a fit for India in Cincinnati, but that’s likely the last thing on the Reds’ mind as they have locked up a solid contributor and a team-first guy that can contribute to what should hopefully be a breakout season for the Reds in 2024.

The Captain is back, and it’s time to see what he can do.

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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.

Feb 12, 2024
Eifert’s Decision to Honor David Dorn Will Test Limits of League’s New Social Justice Policy

by Christopher Ball

In early September, former Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert announced that he would choose to honor the memory of David Dorn, a retired St. Louis police captain who was killed in June of this year.

Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney

Eifert was selected by the Bengals in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft and played his first seven seasons in Cincinnati. He recently signed a 2-year $9.5 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he hopes to make a comeback after several injury-plagued seasons with the Bengals.

In addition to a new chapter in his NFL career, Eifert plans to wear a decal honoring Mr. Dorn this season, as part of the league’s recent decision to allow players to wear decals on the back of their helmets.

The NFL’s new stance is a stark reversal from its prior positions. In 2016 the league refused to allow Dallas Cowboys players to wear decals to honor five police officers killed by a sniper in downtown Dallas. Even Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, felt that allowing players to put unique messages on their helmets or wear pink to honor cancer survivors, would open “Pandora’s Box’ that would be difficult to ultimately control. In 2013 Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall was fined for wearing green shoes to highlight issues surrounding mental health.

Whatever you may think of his opinions, Colin Kaepernick’s visible on-field protests against systemic racism and police violence are unquestionably a large part of the reason that he is no longer playing football. Prior to 2020, it was clear that the National Football League was doing all that it could to keep politics, protests, and uniform variance out of its brand.

Now that has all changed.

Roger Goodell has admitted that both he and the league were wrong for not listening to protesting players sooner. The new decal initiative is the National Football League’s attempt to, at least in part, allow its players to express their non-football opinions on the field, while they are at work, doing their jobs. While the new rules were ultimately put in place to allow players to place decals on their helmets “bearing names or initials of victims of systemic racism and police violence” Eifert’s choice sends a different message, one very similar to those of the 2016 Dallas Cowboys. Eifert himself has a long history of supporting military and first responders during his career, and so his choice to honor David Dorn is not surprising.

What will be interesting to see is whether the league will allow him to wear a decal honoring Dorn even though, by most standards, the slain police captain is not a “victim of systemic racism or police violence.” Early reports suggest that the players will be allowed to pick from an approved list of names, with options such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. While the NFL has not officially released its policy on decals, nor have they provided the complete list of names from which its players can choose, Eifert’s decision to honor Dorn is one that will no doubt spark debate on the boundaries of the NFL’s new policy.

Whether it opens Pandora’s box, as Jerry Jones once feared, is yet to be seen.

Sep 4, 2020