LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: TJ Friedl

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

    De La Cruz Goes Deep But The Reds Fall Short Again

    by Chris Ball

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    ———

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

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

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

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

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

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

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

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

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

    by Chris Ball

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ———

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

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

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

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

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

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

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

  • The Reds Fall But Win Their Fourth Straight Series

    The Reds Fall But Win Their Fourth Straight Series

    by Chris Ball

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    ———

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

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

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

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

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

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

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

  • 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.

  • Injuries Ravage the Reds in Advance of Opening Day

    Injuries Ravage the Reds in Advance of Opening Day

    Matt Mclain photo by Cincinnati Reds

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – Under David Bell the Reds have had plenty of slow starts. Last year they were 12-16 at the end of April and many fans were settling in for what many expected to be one of the worst seasons in decades. Thankfully we were treated to a surprise campaign that saw numerous young Reds be promoted and play like seasoned veterans. Though the second half of the season was a letdown, and the Reds ultimately missed the playoffs after a valiant effort, this offseason was filled with an optimism that fans of this team haven’t felt in quite a few years. With so much young talent, that optimism was completely warranted.

    Reds Manager David Bell (photo by Cincinnati Reds)

    That is exactly why the recent injury news for the Reds has been so devastating. Before the first pitch has even been thrown the team has lost infielder Matt McLain for opening day due to a shoulder injury, outfielder TJ Friedl for 3-4 weeks because of a fractured wrist, and reliever Ian Gibaut for what could be a significant period of time. Pitchers Brandon Williamson and Nick Lodolo are also still battling their own nagging ailments and may miss time.

    After Joe Burrow’s calf, Cincinnati fans are understandably concerned with preseason injuries that untimely derail the regular season. But the bright side is that the major league season is 162 very long games. There is plenty of time for McLain and company to get healthy and have a positive impact for this season and the Reds are well provisioned to hold their own in spite of the injury bug.

    The majority of their starters are healthy, Alexis Diaz will be ready to close out games, and the re-signing of Jonathan India gives the team additional flexibility. Christian Encarnacion-Strand is 12-for-41 (.293) with eight extra-base hits and 12 RBI through 13 games. Luke Maile is hitting the cover off of the ball. There are positive aspects of the Reds’ spring training that have to give fans hope that the roster, as it is currently constructed can hold the line until its young stars make their way back into the lineup.

    Although the injury report may look bleak now, it’s a long season and if there is anything last year taught Reds fans it is to never underestimate what this team can accomplish.

    Opening Day for the Reds is this Thursday vs the Washington Nationals at 4:10 PM at the Great American Ballpark. HERE is the Reds home schedule.

    The 2024 Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will start at noon on Thursday, March 28th. Last year it is estimated that 130,000 were in attandance for the parade, so plan accordingly.

    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.