LOVELAND MAGAZINE

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Since 2004

Tag: Jonathan India

  • 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.

  • Reds’ Matt McLain To Miss 5-7 Days Due to Oblique Injury

    Reds’ Matt McLain To Miss 5-7 Days Due to Oblique Injury

    Matt McLain taking a selfie with two fans before going into the Duke Energy Center for Redsfest in December. (Loveland Magazine File Photo © 2024)

    An Early Injury Is Another Reminder of Why The Reds’ Depth Is Critical

    by Chris Ball,

    On Tuesday we learned that their second baseman Matt McLain would miss 5-7 days with an oblique injury, the same ailment that saw him miss time last season. The good news is that McLain’s MRI did not show any significant damage and he isn’t expected to miss opening day.

    Still, another preseason injury is a reminder that this Reds team has done plenty to address its depth moving forward. That includes in the infield where Jonathan India’s return means that if someone like McLain goes down, there will be a quality player ready to shift into that spot and ensure the team doesn’t miss a beat in the interim. 

    There are legitimate questions in 2024 about which Reds players get the majority of the playing time and which ones are asked to accept a smaller or a platoon role, or even spend time back in the minor leagues, at least to start the season. Having so many talented guys is not a bad problem to have at the end of the day. However, that is for the most part best expressed if the team is fully healthy. 

    If there are any number of injuries, whether serious or just of the nagging variety, that depth may end up saving the season. That is the ultimate luxury of having players who may be playing out of position at times, but who can slip back into their more comfortable roles, should injuries call for it. 

    That sort of security should make Reds fans feel much better about the upcoming season, even when key guys like McLain get a little banged up.

    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.

  • Jonathan India Is Back!

    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.

    ______________

    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.