LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: sportsopolis

  • 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.

     

  • The Tee Higgins Saga Continues

    The Tee Higgins Saga Continues

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – The Bengals and one of their key players fail to reach an agreement on a long-term contract. The franchise tag looms. Sabres rattle, there are questions of a potential holdout. And all the while Bengals fans wait and see.

    Sound familiar?

    It should for anyone who remembers the Jessie Bates contract episode from several years ago. The former Cincinnati safety signed a four-year, $64.02 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 after spending 5 years wearing the orange and black. Bates and the Bengals attempted to reach an agreement on an extension after the expiration of his rookie contract but nothing materialized. The Bengals applied the franchise tag and Bates responded by skipping the team’s offseason workouts or the majority of training camp before rejoining the team in August. But in the end he took the field that season and performed well, setting a career high mark (to that point) with 4 interceptions. What’s more, he played his way into that sizable deal with the Falcons. The following year he instantly proved he was worth it, leading the team in tackles, passes defenses, and interceptions, and being named to the pro bowl on top of it.

    And this week, Bengals fans got a stark reminder of that process when Tee Higgins failed to sign his franchise tender after he, too, could not get what he needed in terms of a multi year deal from the team. Unfortunately, it appears that the negotiations did not go remotely well according to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway:

    “Tee Higgins camp was looking for an offer that was similar to the Michael Pittman deal with the Colts…

    His camp felt that the Bengals initial one time offer was so low that it couldn’t even move into a conversation about guaranteed money”

    As a reference, Pittman signed a three-year, $70 million contract extension with $46 million guaranteed with the Colts in March. Now, to be fair, an entire series of articles probably wouldn’t be enough to recount the issues with the Bengals’ front office and their treatment of potential free agents, what it means for now is that Tee will not be with the team for the foreseeable future. While this isn’t certainly isn’t a welcome sign, it doesn’t spell the end of Higgins’ time with the team. This includes Higgins himself who admitted that he’ll probably be wearing a Bengals uniform next year even after requesting a trade. In addition, missing offseason team activities in May (which many players skip anyways) doesn’t signal any sign of a longer holdout. There’s simply no need to panic so early, as the two camps have until July 15th to work out a long-term contract extension. After that, he would be locked into playing on the one-year franchise tag through the 2024 season, making $21.8 million doing it.

    Interestingly enough, Jessie Bates was asked about Higgins’ situation, given his experience and the fact that both men are represented by the same agent, David Mulugheta. His advice was certainly sage:

    “My thing for Tee is just, I mean, work on your craft, it don’t matter. If this is the contract year, I say it every time: Every year is a contract year. You should go out there and ball out and train like this is one of your last years to play.”

    This is yet another reason why concerns about a holdout are overblown: players derive no benefit from removing themselves from the NFL spotlight for an entire season. If it’s a monster contract that they seek, then Jessie Bates’ path is undoubtedly the correct one to pursue: take the field in your contract year, play your absolute hardest, and show the rest of the league that you are worthy of the money you’re asking for. You can’t do that from your couch holding out, and so the overwhelming consensus is that by the time this Bengals team takes the field in the fall, Tee Higgins will be there.

    While that may be comforting it is true that offseason workouts have tangible benefits, even for players line Tee who have played multiple years in the league. Missing them has at least some negative impact on timing with Burrow, with continuity and with chemistry. So while these absences aren’t harbingers of gloom and doom they are important from a team’s perspective, and to get the best out of every player.

    And we all know Tee wants to play his absolute best in 2024, as his recent training video shows.

    In 58 games over the course of his career, Higgins has 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns. But he has never been the number one receiving option for an entire season. Those numbers are solid and he is a good wide receiver. If he proves that he can put up the numbers of a superstar WR1 for the Bengals next year, it will only benefit all parties. And so the play here isn’t to be sour about Tee’s offseason decisions, but to root like hell that if this is his last season for the Cincinnati Bengals, that he makes it his best one ever.

    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.

  • TJ Friedl Returns to Action for the Louisville Bats

    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.

  • The Bengals Address Key Needs In the 2024 Draft

    The Bengals Address Key Needs In the 2024 Draft

    Amarius Mims photo via Cincinnati Bengals on FaceBook

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – The 2024 Bengals have a clear set of goals entering the upcoming season: keep Joe Burrow upright and keep him healthy. That starts at one key position group: the offensive line. That group has come under intense scrutiny ever since the team took Burrow at the number one pick overall in the 2020 draft. The rate at which he has been sacked has been well documented. In 2021 it was a league high 51 times, and by 2023 he had been sacked the second-most times among all NFL quarterbacks since he entered the league. Burrow’s hits and his injuries are well-known factors league wide, as are the Bengals’ efforts to mitigate that damage and keep their franchise pillar on the field.

    While they have done well bringing in linemen in free agency, signing the likes of Alex Cappa and Ted Karras, it has been a very different story drafting and developing in the trenches. Whether it be Jonah Williams, Cedric Ogbuehi, or (dare we say it), Billy Price, the Bengals have yet to turn their top draft picks along the line into genuine stars that can show they can protect the most important position and player on the field on a consistent basis.

    Amarius Mims photo via Georgia Dogs Roster

    Bengals fans all hope that trend is coming to a close with the pick of Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims. He is an absolute titan of a man, at 6 foot 8 inches and 340 pounds such that it is hard to imagine a freight train being able to get past him. Never mind that he has less than 11% body fat and ran 5.07 in the 40-yard dash, there is simply no question that the physical traits and raw skill are unquestionable when it comes to Mims.

    Those traits and his potential were never in question, but there are some concerns that may prevent him from becoming the Bengals’ right tackle of the future. This issues namely come from his lack of consistent starting experience. He was able to start just eight games over three years at Georgia, and was out for six games last year with an ankle injury. While the injury itself isn’t necessarily one that is thought to impact his career long-term, any malady is magnified a hundredfold when the subject is a first round pick of the impact of a player like Mims. The lack of consistent starting and playing at Georgia means that it will be up to the Bengals staff, namely Frank Pollack, their offensive line coach, to transition Mims into the physically and mentally demanding world that is the National Football League.

    The signing of Trent Brown will undoubtedly help this transition, both from mentorship and timing angles. However, Brown has his own injury issues, as do the Bengals as a team, and there is therefore a significant possibility that Amarius Mims will see significant snaps in 2024. He has all the talent in the world to step in and contribute, it is now on the Bengals and their staff to make sure he is ready to be the tackle all Bengals fans hope he could be.

    As Bengals fans are learning, there simply isn’t enough money to go around when it comes to retaining players we all know and love. This was the case with D.J. Reader who signed a two-year deal with the Lions this past offseason. Reader was a leader and his run-stopping ability could not be denied. Run defense was an area where the team struggled overall last year (they were 26th in the league, allowing 126 yards per game) and losing Reader signaled that problem might only get worse in 2024 and beyond.

    Enter Kris Jenkins. The Bengals selected the Michigan defensive tackle and 2023 National Champion with the 49th pick in the second round of the NFL draft. According to PFF his run-stop percentage ranks in the 99th percentile and it’s hard to imagine a better fit for the Bengals’ needs in round 2 of the draft. When he’s paired with newly-signed Sheldon Rankins, who has a 71.5 pass rush grade and a 10.2 percent pass rush win rate (all very respectable numbers), that tandem could be very dangerous in the years to come, as they complement each other extremely well.

    The Bengals had significant holes to fill coming into 2024, but their first two picks appear well-positioned to address those needs and exceed expectations in the coming seasons. A smart and focused draft now could mean exceptional success during Joe Burrow’s prime years.

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

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

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

    Spencer Steer photo by Major League Photo Day

    by Chris Ball

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

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

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

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

    Hunter Green photo by Major League Photo Day

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

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

    Spencer Steer photo by Major League Photo Day

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

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

     

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

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

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

    Frankie Montas (Major League Photo Day)

    by Chris Ball

    The Reds Are on a Roll To Start The Season

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

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

    The Reds Starting Rotation Has Shown Out

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

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

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

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

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

    Elly Keeps Hitting

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

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

    Spencer Steer Is Knocking The Cover Off The Ball

    Spencer Steer (Major League Photo Day)

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

    Signing Jonathan India Was Key

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

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