The best sports month of the year has just begun, as we have finally reached March.  March Madness, Reds baseball beginning, and Winter coming to a close always makes for an entertaining month.  The Reds open the regular season on March 27^th against the Giants at 4:10 and I can’t wait to be in right field watching Tito lead this team.  For now though, the Reds still have some kinks to work out, along with deciding the roles of each player and filling out this roster. 

Noelvi Marte

With roughly three weeks until the season begins, it’s safe to say that the Reds have a decision to make on Noelvi Marte.  He was 0-3 on the 2^nd, has 7 strikeouts in 15 plate appearances, and is batting .067.  In 2023, he looked like a star in the making in 35 games, but has been on a downward spiral ever since.  I’m rooting for Marte, but he simply cannot be on the roster as it stands right now.  I’m not giving up on Noelvi by any means, but I truly hope we aren’t running into a “Jose Barrero 2.0” situation. 

So Much to be Excited for

This Spring Training has been exciting to watch and I truly think this Reds team could have a breakout season under new leadership.  My main takeaways thus far include:

• Christian Encarnacion-Strand is hitting the ball HARD.  His power is needed and if healthy, he looks good enough to have a 30 home run year. 
• Elly De La Cruz is batting .500 with a team leading 3 home runs.  Protect him for the next three weeks, he is ready to go.  His swing looks like it has come changes and he has only struck out 3 times.  MVP season incoming?
• Matt McLain is 7/14 and is back to looking like his normal self.  Stay healthy Matt, this team needs you!
• Jacob Hurtubise is batting very well in his 10 at-bats, including 6 hits, 2 doubles, and a triple.  He is fighting for one of the last roster spots. 
• In 4 innings pitched, Chase Petty has yet to give up a run, along with only giving up 1 hit.  He really looks comfortable on the mound to begin the season.  The 21 year old might just find himself in a big league role this season. 
• Jake Fraley crushed a home run on Sunday.  If he could get back to hitting for power, I’d feel a lot better about our outfield. 
• Blake Dunn might be the most impressive player thus far.  He is batting .385, including1 home run, 1 double, and only a single strikeout.  He might be the fastest player on the roster outside of Elly and is making his case to be on the roster come March 27^th. 
• Spencer Steer is dealing with a right shoulder issue and he might begin the season on the injured list.  While this is a major bummer, injuries are expected, and this is why depth is so important. 

The post Cincinnati Reds’ March Madness is here: Regular season starts March 27 appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

The Cincinnati Reds have unfortunately fallen back far enough to become sellers at the deadline.  Their lackluster performance in Washington has officially become what I believe to be the nail in the coffin for this Reds season.  I guess Joe Biden wasn’t the only person to drop out of the race in Washington this weekend.  Of course, I hope I am wrong, but barring another 10-game win streak, I just don’t see Cincinnati making a run at the playoffs this year.  Inconsistencies, injuries, and just poor performances have put this team 6 games below .500, dead last in the National League Central, 10.5 games behind Milwaukee, and 4 games back from a Wild Card spot.  There are only two teams with worse records than the Cincinnati Reds in the National League, after a winning season from Cincinnati just a year ago.

Prepare for Movement

Prepare for some movement from players on 1-year deals or teams looking for pitching.  I expect players such as Frankie Montas and Nick Martinez to find a new home soon.  Aside from those two, I wouldn’t be shocked for the right deal, if Cincinnati found a way to part with Jake Fraley, Jeimer Candelario, Fernando Cruz, or even Jonathan India (I sure hope not).  Get ready for some movement, as there will certainly be something happening before the deadline.  At this point, the focus of Cincinnati is unfortunately for the future yet again and not trying to currently win.  Going 2-7 against the Tigers, Marlins, and Nationals with everything counting on winning these series was truly the nail in the coffin for me.  It has now become the “Bengals Countdown” part of the Reds season and I hate to see that in late July.  Prove me wrong, Redlegs.

Quick Facts and Comments

• Jonathan India is the leader of this team.  Trading him would be detrimental to a team that already lacks leadership.  Don’t take the bait. 
• In July, Jeimer Candelario is 12-63 with just 4 XBH.  Batting .190 simply isn’t going to do it from a veteran.
• Noelvi Marte has been abysmal to watch at third and batting.  He is hitting .175 in July with 3 XBH, and 6 errors to add on top of it.  Rough!
• I love Reds baseball and it is my favorite thing to watch.  I will watch every game to finish out this season.  Seeing a season like this and having to write a negative article is probably my least favorite thing to have to do. 

Bengals Football Preview

Alright, let’s talk about something more positive-Bengals football!  The Bengals begin preseason on Saturday, August 10^th.  They have 3 games in the preseason before the season officially begins for Cincinnati at 1:00 on September 8^th at Paycor against the Patriots.  Cincinnati, in the way too early line predictions, sits at -9.5 and are heavily favored to win this game.  Let’s go over some quick facts and comments about the Bengals season that hopefully brings a lot more enjoyment than they did in 2023:

• Tee Higgins will 100% be in a different uniform in 2025.  The window to win a ring is right now, with a trio of Chase, Higgins, and now Burton. 
• With the addition of Zack Moss, along with what I believe will be a good year from Chase Brown, the Bengals have to find ways to successfully run the ball this season.  Moss is very comparable to Joe Mixon, as he averaged 4.3 yards per carry in 23’, along with being a versatile back and reeling in 27 receptions.
• Mike Gesicki will be a crucial piece for this offense and heavily involved in the success of our offensive schemes.  If you want a late tight end in your draft, I suggest taking a chance on the 6 foot 6, 252 pound 28 year old out of Penn State. 
• Amarius Mims has officially signed his contract, including a four-year fully-guaranteed deal worth 15.7 million and an 8 million dollar signing bonus.  Cincinnati does have a fifth-year option. 
• Amarius Mims is 6 foot 7, 340 pounds.  Orlando Brown Jr. is 6 foot 8, 345 pounds.  Trent Brown is 6 foot 8, 355 pounds.  Devin Cochran is 6 foot 7, 310 pounds.  D’Ante Smith is 6 foot 5, 309 pounds.  Jackson Carman is 6 foot 5, 322 pounds.  Cincinnati certainly does not lack size in the offensive tackle category. 
• Jermaine Burton ran a 4.45 40 yard dash at the combine.  He is in the 69^th percentile in speed and has the ability to be vertical, which Cincinnati desperately needs along Higgins and Chase.  At Alabama, he averaged 22+ yards per catch.  He is a deep ball threat every time his cleats meet the turf. 

While I am not ready for Summer to end, I am beginning to become excited with the thought of Fall, chili, my recliner all Sunday, and yelling Who Dey at Paycor Stadium.  Bengals football is right around the corner. 

The post Cincinnati Reds Fall Short Yet Again; Bengals Preview appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

July 15 has arrived quick and for baseball fans, it’s sad to see that the season is more than halfway over. The good news though? The Cincinnati Reds are very much still alive with a record of 47-50. While it wasn’t an ideal start to the year and as we know, injuries have plagued this roster, but all things considered, Cincinnati is in an “ok” spot at the break. Let’s take a look at some quick facts and comments on the first half the season:

• The Cincinnati Reds are 8 games back from the first place Brewers in the NL Central, but just 3 games back from a Wild Card spot. The two series after the break could quickly change this in a hurry. 
• TJ Friedl will be returning after the break, Matt McLain is looking at a possible return next month, and the shocking performance of Rece Hinds has given this team even more hope than it had just a week ago.
• Outside of Brandon Williamson and now Graham Ashcraft, our main pitching core of Lodolo, Greene, Abbott, and Montas is still intact.
• Jonathan India has been the best batter in baseball for a month and a half. Let’s hope the bat stays hot when he returns.
• If Will Benson and Jake Fraley could turn it on and get back to playing to the caliber that we know they are capable of, Cincinnati could have a chance to really make up some ground.
• Elly De La Cruz leads the team in hits with 92. For his first full year in the majors, I think that we all should be pretty ecstatic. 
• For all the teams fighting for a Wild Card spot, Cincinnati has the second highest run differential of +38. Those 1 run games can’t go the opposite way forever.
• Since his return, Noelvi Marte has been very bad with a .175 average, 1 home run, and an OPS of .463. If this team is going to make a run for it, Marte has to kick it into gear fast. 

MLB Draft

The Cincinnati Reds held the 2^nd pick in the draft this past Sunday, along with the 51^st pick and 71^st pick. With the second pick in the draft, Cincinnati drafted the best pitcher in the country in Chase Burns. Let me start by saying this, for the life of me, I can’t understand the “always grumpy” Reds fan. We literally drafted someone with better numbers than Skenes did out of college. Furthermore, I would bet 98% of people complaining haven’t sat and watched a full college game outside of the World Series this year and can’t even name 10 players in college baseball. I know I can’t and I am the first to admit it. Of course, Condon has the numbers of Babe Ruth, and maybe it will be a regret in the future. Who Knows? But, I definitely am not going to take time to be mad that we just drafted what many believe to be a top 10 pitcher in the last decade of college baseball. Let’s go over some facts and comments here:

• Chase Burns had a 51% whiff rate and 30% chase rate in 2024, both exceeding what Paul Skenes did in 2023. 
• Right-handed batters, per Bryce Spalding, hit .127 with a 54% strikeout rate against Burns in 2024. Holy!
• Burns struck out 16 batters against Clemson this year who held a record of 17-7 at the time. 
• Burns led all D1 pitchers with 191 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched, 17.2K/9. 
• In the month of May, he held a .34 ERA with 57 strikeouts.
• Pitchers don’t want to sign to play half their games in GABP. Keeping a steady young core ready is an absolute necessity for this organization.
• Stop being mad for no reason. The grouchy Reds fan and mad about everything fan is bizarre to me. Breathe some fresh air.
• Danny Graves stated that Burns can pitch in the big leagues immediately. He stated his stuff is absolutely electric. I’ll trust Danny Graves.
• Google the inflated offensive numbers in college baseball and the difficulty in assessing college batters.

To add to the draft class, Cincinnati drafted Tyson Lewis (SS) out of High School and RHP Luke Holman out of LSU. Tyson Lewis became the highest drafted High School player in state history, as he was the Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year with a .496 average. No, I didn’t know who he was until yesterday and neither did 99.9% of Reds fans I would assume. Luckily, there are people in place for this sort of thing. Luke Holman was a projected top 40 pick that slid all the way back to 71^st. He had childhood cancer, has battled through adversity, and was top three in ERA, Strikeouts, and Opponent BA in the SEC last season. 

Last year, the Reds took Rhett Lowder with the seventh pick in the draft, 2022 they drafted Cam Collier, 2021 they drafted Matt McLain, 2020 they drafted Austin Hendrick (Bust at this point), 2019 Nick Lodolo, 2018 they drafted Jonathan India, 2017 they drafted Hunter Greene, 2016 they drafted Nick Senzel, and 2015 they drafted Tyler Stephenson. Maybe, just maybe, respect what we have been able to do with our first picks and just how good the front office has been at their selections. 

Rece Hinds

I couldn’t go an entire article without talking about Rece Hinds. Holy smokes, what an entrance into the big leagues. Multi-HR game, Grand Slam, 5 total HRs, 9 total XBH, and a game with all three types of XBH’s. Nobody in MLB history has done that in any point of their career. Not Babe Ruth, not Albert Pujols, not Shohei Ohtani, nobody. Of course, this isn’t going to last and his numbers will fall eventually. Heck, he might not even stay up on the big league roster come 30 games from now. I do know one thing though, I don’t want to miss a single at-bat of his right now. His power is remarkable, his energy is contagious, and he is the spark the Reds needed over the last week. I think Hinds is going to do everything in his power to stay up on this roster and for now, he is doing a pretty swell job at it. 

Enjoy the All-Star Break everyone and thank you for reading. Go Reds!

The post Cincinnati Reds: Analyzing the first half of the 2024 season appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

After sweeping the Yankees in the Bronx, I was more than optimistic with the 10 game homestand approaching. Win 7 of those and you’re above .500 before the All-Star Break. However, the Reds once again let us down and failed to take a single game from the Tigers at home. Pitiful is the only word I can use to describe their performance and honestly, 5 or 6 players are being asked to do things or play in scenarios that they have no business playing in due to injuries. It’s a shame, but Martini (now hurt), Jordan, Dunn, Espinal, Rios, and Soto are not big league players right now. Add in the bad start from Marte, the bad season from Benson, and the multitude of injuries, and here we are. It’s a cycle that we simply cannot get out of and after half the year, maybe it is time for me to come to the realization that Cincinnati is not in a spot to make a run this year. I was certainly wrong on the depth of this organization, and it appears I am wrong on thinking that Cincinnati still had a chance to make a run after taking down the Yankees. Cincinnati needs to win six of the next seven for me to truly believe that they have a chance before the break.  

Trade News

While it isn’t a blockbuster trade by any means, Cincinnati added an outfield piece that they desperately need, as they traded away left-handed pitcher Alex Young for Austin Slater. Slater is a rental, as he will be a free agent after this year, but he provides a much-needed bat for this Reds offense. Slater is a career .254 batter and in 2020 he batted a remarkable .282. He has a little bit of power, some speed, and is an improvement in comparison to Hurtubise, Dunn, Soto, and helps fill the gap with the new injury to Nick Martini. Slater will immediately be asked to join the lineup and become an everyday outfielder. Let’s hope he can turn back the clock a year or two and become someone who can put the ball in play.  

Elly De La All-Star

With the league leading 43 stolen bases, a .247 average, 15 home runs, 39 RBIs, and an OPS of .804, Elly De La Cruz becomes the only Red to make the All-Star game in 2024. Elly is playing in his first full season in the bigs, is 22 years old, and has made remarkable improvements on both sides of the plate. His ability to make big time plays with his cannon of an arm, along with his speed, makes him one of the most exciting players in the world. Enjoy Elly De La Cruz while you can Cincinnati, there is nobody else quite like him.  

Random Comments and Facts

• Jazz Chisholm is making under 3 million per year and has 2 additional years of control left. His speed fits this team perfectly and he has a respectable .255 average with 10 home runs. If I am the Reds front office and am looking for a cheap addition to try and make a run at it, Jazz is someone who is locked in for a couple years.  
• Whatever you do, do not trade Jonathan India. He is the leader of this team and he has proven to be a reliable player on this roster. Let him breathe without worrying about being traded for awhile.  
• Noelvi Marte has 40 at-bats since his return with 6 hits to show for it. He is batting .150 and appears to be lost on both sides of the ball. His stance appears to be different and he has a very low probability of hitting anything on the outside edge of the plate. If Cincinnati is going to do anything, Marte will have to get it going quick.  
• Cincinnati has been through the trenches this year and is the most injured team in the league. I hope the front office doesn’t get too impatient and start trading off some of the young talent.  
• I feel bad every time Hunter Greene takes he mound. He gets zero run support and has been pitching like a true Ace for the majority of his starts. His 6 year contract extension for roughly 8 million per year was an absolute steal for the Cincinnati Reds.  
• 59 Days until NFL Football … If things go south for the Reds, we are less than 2 months away from meaningful Bengals football.  

The post Matt’s Take — Cincinnati Reds Sweep, Swept, Slump appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Jonathan India Should’ve Been an All-Star Finalist

Jonathan India is the best batter in all of baseball over the last few weeks and is having the best stretch of baseball in his entire career, including his rookie of the year campaign.  He is 17-30 with 7 singles and 10 doubles in his last 7 games.  He’s hit a double in 7 straight games, which is a new Cincinnati record.  Among National League second basemen, he ranks 4^th in batting average (.279), 1^st in OBP (.383), and 1^st in BB% (12.9%).  In the last 7 days, India is batting .577, last 15 days is batting .440, and last 30 days is batting .385.  There should be an appeal process and the MLB needs a panel for deciding All-Stars.  Fans vote for their favorite players and the most popular players.  The most popular players are not always the best and it relies too heavily on teams with the biggest fanbases. 

Injuries Have Robbed Cincinnati Fans

Injuries and the Marte suspension have robbed Cincinnati fans of watching one the best teams put together in the last 20 years.  Yes, injuries happen, I get it.  But in my lifetime as a Reds fan, nothing has been even remotely close to what has happened in 2024.  In 2024, Cincinnati has been without their starting second baseman, starting 1^st baseman, starting centerfielder, starting 3^rd baseman, and more for the majority of the season.  Let’s take a look at the injuries happening to this roster:

• Matt McLain – Missed 80+ games and might be back in late August
• Noelvi Marte – PEDS suspension, missed 81 games.  Now back on the roster
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand – Missed 50+ games and is likely out the rest of the season
• TJ Friedl- Missed 50+ games and is needed mightily on this roster
• Jeimer Candelario – 10+ games missed and now has a lingering tendinitis issue
• Jake Fraley – 20+ games missed, lost weight, and lost a lot of power
• Edwin Arroyo – One of the best Reds prospects in the last few years and would certainly be on the roster, but had a season ending injury
• Emilio Pagan – Missed a majority of the season and was a major addition during the offseason
• Nick Lodolo – Now dealing with a finger blister and out for 2 weeks
• Tejay Antone – Out for the year, Déjà vu
• Brandon Williamson – Another setback and has yet to debut
• Ian Gibaut – 60 Day Injury List – Forearm

After looking at this, it is remarkable that Cincinnati is hovering around .500 baseball.  Injuries aside though, this team still has enough in them to make a playoff run.  Keep battling. 

Yankees, Tigers, Rockies, Marlins

Excluding this final game against the Cardinals as I am writing this, the Reds have the Yankees, Tigers, Rockies, and Marlins left before the All-Star Break.  The goal is to be at .500 before the break, but this will be a tough task with the injuries and schedule ahead.  While Spiers has been serviceable in the rotation, Ashcraft has rejoined this team and his return was far from what we are used to seeing from Graham in seasons prior.  With Lodolo injured, Cincinnati needs Graham to come back to form and as competitive as he is, I am confident in him figuring it out.  Find a way to win the next few series, add an outfield bat, add an arm, and make a run for it. 

Q&A with Reds Outfielder, Levi Jordan

Levi Jordan kindly joined Matt’s Take this week to discuss his debut, his approach to the game, and Cincinnati essentials.  At age 28, Levi is having his dreams fulfilled and is taking advantage of his opportunities when they arise.  He was a walk-on for the Washington Huskies and helped lead them to the College World Series.  With the numerous injuries on this roster, Levi will continue to get at-bats and have more opportunities for the Cincinnati Reds.  Keep up the good work, Levi.

Q: What did it feel like stepping up to the plate for the first time as a big league player?

A: “The first at bat was one I’ll never forget! As I walked up to the plate one thing I noticed was how loud the fans were. It was such a welcoming moment, the Cincinnati people were pouring out love and support.”

Q: Have you tried the Cincinnati essentials yet, Skyline, LaRosa’s, or Graeter’s?

A: “I have yet to try the essentials. Hope I get around to them soon.”

Q: What is your goal for the rest of the season?

A: “Just play hard and put together good at bats to help contribute towards wins. Whenever my name gets called I will be ready.”

Q: How would you describe your style of play?

A: “I am able to play multiple positions on defense and at the plate I try to be a tough out and use the whole field to collect hits, drive in runs, or hit situationally.”

Q: What is going through your mind as you are on-deck and awaiting a plate appearance?

A: “On deck is a time for me to dial in my timing and see the pitchers release point. I will usually stand there as if I’m in the batters box and practice loading on time.”

Q: What is your favorite college sports memory?

A: “2018 college World Series run with the University of Washington by a landslide. I still keep in touch with all those guys and it was an incredible season we had.”

The post Jonathan India shines: Best stretch ever appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

After a very disappointing series loss to a bad Mets squad, the Cincinnati Reds go right into playing the Brewers, an NL-Central Opponent who has dominated our club in years past.  I love scoreboard watching towards the end of the season, but one thing we all need to understand is the importance of all 162 games.  Too often do we overlook these early series against opponents that we will be fighting against for a playoff spot in just a few months.  Cincinnati is currently 2.5 games back from first place, but they have a chance to really make up some ground against Milwaukee and the rest of the teams in our division if they find a way to win this series.  No more excuses, warm up the bats, and let’s go dominate Milwaukee before heading to Chicago!

Batting Issues Against LHP

Left-handed pitching, as expected, is causing issues for Cincinnati to begin the season and it truly shows how much this team misses McLain, Marte, and Friedl.  Those 3 guys are key pieces and while I can understand that injuries occur, there simply isn’t an excuse for Noelvi.  CES, Benson, Espinal, Candelario, and Stephenson are all batting .200 or less against lefties.  This simply cannot happen for this team to be successful, and they have to find a way to start making contact against left handed pitchers.  As much as I hate to say it, maybe it is time to tell Regis Philbin that we would like to phone a friend and call Tommy Pham who is still a free agent?  Maybe we can dial 1-800-Kevin Newman?  I am not sure what the answer is, but we can’t expect to be successful this season if these issues against lefties continue.  

Spencer Steer – MVP Caliber?

Are we watching Spencer Steer become an MLB caliber player right before our eyes?  He leads the team in batting average with .406, Home Runs with 3, RBI’s with 12, OBP at .500, and leads with 13 hits as well.  He ranks 3^rd in all of MLB in OPS at 1.313, 5^th in all of MLB in batting average, and would likely be first in the MLB in RBIs if it wasn’t for the Dodgers playing more games.  At 26 years old, Steer is becoming a star and I am thrilled to have him in Cincinnati.  That Tyler Mahle trade was one of the best trades in Reds history…Thank you Twins!

Lean on Pitching

For the first time in years, this team is going to lean on their pitching to help them win games.  With Lodolo soon to return along with Brandon Williamson soon to make his 2024 debut, this rotation is phenomenal when healthy.  Their returns will also boost the bullpen, as Nick Martinez will surely be joining the bullpen at some point and they may even experiment with Williamson.  Montas, Greene, Ashcraft, Lodolo, Abbott, Williamson, Martinez….That is some quality depth!  With the loss of Antone in the pen, this team will need an additional arm to join Suter, Farmer, Pagan, Cruz, Diaz, Wilson, and Sims in the pen.  Let’s cross our fingers for Lodolo to return to his healthy self and let’s win some ball games, Go Reds!

The post Reds aim to rebound against Brewers appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Remember when we were all freaking out about playing time and how much depth this team was filled with?  I’d like to go back to that time about now, as there are some real concerns with this roster going into the week before the regular season.  Cincinnati is now without TJ Friedl (Right wrist fracture), Noelvi Marte (PEDS Suspension), Nick Lodolo (Week behind roughly), and we can’t forget that Brandon Williamson, Nick Martinez, Alex Young, Ian Gibaut, Matt McLain, and Jonathan India have some injuries that they are working their way back from or dealing with as well.  A healthy rotation and a healthy roster is key to winning the National League Central and with the losses of recent, Cincinnati may need to be looking to add to this roster unless they are comfortable with Stuart Fairchild, Will Benson, or Blake Dunn taking over in centerfield.  The addition of Candelario certainly makes me feel a little better with the news from Marte, but his time in Spring Training has been less than stellar.  My fingers are crossed that this doesn’t turn into a “Moose contract” as that still haunts the people of Cincinnati. 

Enough with the pessimistic attitude though, as this team is still playing .500 baseball in Spring Training.  We have a healthy Montas, Greene, and Ashcraft along with the hopes of seeing improvements in our star-studded young talent.  Luke Maile is knocking the cover off the ball with 11 hits (team lead), along with Stuart Fairchild impressing everyone in the organization.  Christian Encarnacion-Strand continues to show his power (3 homeruns), which is tied with Tyler Stephenson who is looking for a bounce-back 2024 season.  Our bullpen looks solid and I really think that could be the biggest strength of our 2024 Reds team.  Martinez, Pagan, Diaz, Antone, Cruz, Sims, Suter, and Wilson could be the best bullpen Cincinnati has put together in a decade if they stay healthy. 

No Slow Starts

For this team to be successful in 2024, they simply cannot have another slow start.  It feels like every year we put ourselves in a hole that we have to dig out of.  To begin last season, they went 12-16 throughout games in March and April.  Have you looked at the May gauntlet of a schedule Cincinnati has as well?  Having a winning record going into May is a “must” if this team wants to be playing in the postseason, as May includes games against the Orioles, Diamondbacks, Giants, Padres, and Dodgers.  While there are some concerns, I think this team will have a winning record at the end of May and will start gaining some traction through the mid-part of the schedule.  The pressure is on in Cincinnati and many players are consistently stating that this is a playoff team and anything short of that would certainly be a failure.  Just as the Bengals did a few seasons ago, it’s time for the Reds to bring hope back into the baseball world of Cincinnati sports. 

There was Room

Back in November, Nick Krall made it known that there was “no room for Joey Votto on this Reds roster.”  I will start by saying that I love what Nick Krall has done in Cincinnati.  He is a big reason why this team has turned into a flood of young talent.  However, I disagree with him that this roster didn’t have room for Joey Votto.  As he hit a homerun in his first at bat on the first pitch in his first Spring Training game, I couldn’t help but think, “What have we done?”  A Cincinnati icon is playing somewhere else, yet Nick Martini will likely make this roster?  A ridiculous OBP leader in the history of the game of baseball is going to be let go instead of rewarding him for all the years of uncompetitive rosters that this team put together?  I love the Reds, but with recent issues with Marte, Friedl, and others, I can’t help but think this was a mistake.  He wanted to be here and wanted to play here.  For me, I just can’t see why number 19 isn’t suiting up in Red, but I do wish him all the best.  Show Father time that it is no match, JDV!

The post Cincinnati reds face roster challenges ahead appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Matthew McAdow

Herald Contributor

After losing a tight battle at Arrowhead on New Year’s Eve, our beloved Bengals have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. In terms of the whole season, this year was quite a disappointment, and it is a testament to how quick things change in today’s NFL. Cincinnati is currently 8-8 with one game left against the Browns. While I figured I would feel disappointed after the loss, it was quite odd as the clock went to 0:00, it almost felt like a relief. In a year that was so frustrating, it honestly just felt good for it to basically come to an end, as each week has truly been a struggle. I love Cincinnati and love the core of this team, but it certainly is time for an overhaul. The focus needs to shift to putting a team together that can win games in the AFC North and I think they’ll address the issues as much as they can this offseason. In the near future, we’ll be talking about the season as a whole, free agency, what this team needs for the following year, but for now, let’s discuss what we just watched in Kansas City.

Positives

• Trey Hendrickson had another sack, tying him for the lead in the NFL with 17 this season. What a year for 91!
• While Cincinnati gave up 25 points, they lead for the majority of the game. Harrison Butker went 6-6 on field goals and was the difference maker in this one.
• Cincinnati had the ball for 34 minutes, nearly 10 more minutes than Kansas City.
• Cincinnati held Travis Kelce to 3 catches for 16 yards. 

Negatives

• I don’t care what the analytics say, if you have a chance to go up a full score against Kansas City with your backup quarterback, kick the field goal. This was such a momentum change.
• Not scoring in the second half after scoring 14 in the second quarter alone was the difference maker in this one.
• As much as I love Tee Higgins and as much as I want him to get paid, he simply cannot stay healthy. He injured his hamstring in this one and left this team stranded yet again, despite playing through his injury. It feels like we never have healthy Burrow, Higgins, and Chase firing on all cylinders and it has been a massive issue in 2023. 
• 8 rushes for 16 yards in the second half. That certainly didn’t help get points on the board. There is a massive makeover that needs to happen. Someone should probably Ty Pennington for this one, “Move that bus!”
• Rashee Rice had 5 receptions for 127 yards. Explosive plays and chunk plays have killed us throughout the entire year. 

Reds on the Brain

Cincinnati Reds baseball has been on my mind for the majority of this football season and with recent additions to the roster, this team is more than capable of winning the NL Central. With the addition of former Yankee, Frankie Montas, Cincinnati now has the most depth of a roster that a Reds team has put together in my lifetime. This offseason, Cincinnati has made the following moves:

• Frankie Montas – 16 Million
• Jeimer Candelario – 15 Million
• Nick Martinez – 14 Million
• Emilio Pagan – 8 Million
• Buck Farmer – 2.25 Million
• Luke Maile – 3 Million

I have repeatedly stated “All-In” on my social media accounts and it is definitely true of this Reds front office. I don’t believe they are finished improving this roster yet and they are showing all of Cincinnati that they are doing everything they can to win this year. While it was never true, it is time for the narrative of “Cincinnati never spends money” to go. The weak comment of “They trade all their good players away” has always been false and needs to go as well. It feels so good knowing a plan is in place and there is a clear vision of where this team wants to be in 2024. The ownership and front office deserves a ton of credit and if you are a fan that is still upset about Winker and Suarez, it’s time to look back and evaluate that trade now. 

Noelvi Marte & Rafa Nieves join Matt’s Take

Noelvi Marte, 22 year old phenom, kindly joined Matt’s Take this week, along with one of the most respected agents in baseball, Rafa Nieves. With Votto not on the roster, Marte has quickly become my favorite player on this roster and he showed flashes of being one of the most special young players we have seen in quite some time in the Queen City. Last season, he batted .316 with 3 homeruns in his limited time called up on this roster. He certainly has the ability to be a frontrunner for a possible rookie of the year award and we all can’t wait for him to continue to grow as a player. Rafa Nieves is an MLBPA certified sports agent who represents Noelvi Marte, as well as Luis Castillo, Jose Ramirez, Geraldo Perdomo, and many others. He has been instrumental in putting together many contracts for well-known players and is well respected throughout the baseball community. 

Noelvi Marte Q&A

Q: What is your goal for the 2024 season?

A: “Win the National League ROY and help the team win a World Series.”

Q: What position do you prefer playing?

A: “Shortstop.”

Q: What is something this team needs to improve on to be a true contender in 2024?

A: “I think we need to get more experienced. We are a young core and that will come with time.”

Q: If you could watch a game with any past player, who would you choose?

A: “Pedro Martinez.”

Q: What is something you’re working on this off-season?

A: “I am trying to improve and work on my launch angle.”

Rafa Nieves Q&A

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: “Seeing the clients we have worked with since the ground floor come up to the big leagues and reach their dreams.”

Q: What is the toughest part of your job?

A: “Dealing with unqualified agents who try to poach young players with bribes.

Q: What do you hope to see from Noelvi in 2024?

A: “NL ROY, ASG and his first taste of October baseball.”

Q: How did your and Noelvi’s relationship begin?

A: “We had a client who shared the same strength and conditioning trainer in DR as Noelvi. The trainer told us about Noelvi when he was 14 years old and started building the relationship back then.”

Q: How did you begin your career in being a sports agent?

A: “I played 3 years in the minors and then started working as a recruiter for Beverly Hills Sports Council.”

The post Matt’s Take – Bengals Playoff Hopes Diminish, Reds on the Brain appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Matthew McAdow

Herald Contributor

The Future is Now

In a shocking move (or at least shocking to me), the Cincinnati Reds committed to the playoff push by calling up the final addition to the roster, Noelvi Marte.  I hate that Marte hasn’t been given the same hype that the rest of the young rookies were given, as Marte is on the same level of each of them.  Marte has the ability to get on base, has quite an arm, and quickly can fill a needed spot in the Reds lineup.  The questioning narrative from a small group on Twitter had many of us who keep up with this team quite confused, as there is more than enough room for Marte with injuries to India and Fraley.  Have you watched this offense as of late? They need a spark.  Aside from the injuries, T.J. Hopkins and Stuart Fairchild are still getting regular at-bats that Marte should be taking over.  Now that Fairchild is injured, there is even more reason for the call-up of the number 49 prospect in all of baseball. As I watched the game on Sunday, I was thrilled to see an infield consisting of all rookies in Marte, De La Cruz, McLain, and Encarnacion-Strand.  The future is now!

• 1B – Votto/Ces
• 2B – McLain/India when healthy
• 3B – Marte/De La Cruz
• SS – De La Cruz/McLain
• LF – Steer
• CF – Friedl
• RF – Benson
• Spot Starts Depending on Pitchers – Fraley, Fairchild, Newman
• DH – Votto/CES/India

Playoff Push

There are 162 games in a major league season, which leaves 37 games left for our beloved Redlegs. Cincinnati currently has a record of 64-61, which leaves them 4 games back in the National League Central.  In terms of the Wildcard, they are only 1 game back and in all honesty, this might be the more realistic route for them to get in the playoffs.  I still think they have the ability to win the Central, but they no longer have any games left against the Brewers to gain ground quick. 

Now that we are in the final stretch of baseball, this team has to start treating every game like a playoff game.  Every single game matters at this point.  Bullpen load aside, this is the time where we have to come together.  We have an upcoming series against a tough Angels team, followed by the Diamondbacks and Giants.  Good teams find ways to grind out victories in August and September.  It’s time for this young team to solidify that they are a good team and I think they are going to do just that. 

Trade Deadline Still Being Discussed

The trade deadline being called a disappointment has become quite the lazy narrative for me regarding the Cincinnati Reds.  I think people think we could have just acquired arms without giving anyone up.  If you really think this is the year that Cincinnati should go all in, would you have been willing to give up top players such as Steer, CES, or McLain?  I didn’t think so.  After Hunter Greene had a very disappointing return, people were blaming the front office for not making a move at the deadline.  Trust me when I say Greene would have made a start no matter who we acquired.  Remember when we traded Tyler Mahle at the deadline and ended up with Steer, CES, and Benson (through another trade).  Getting pitchers at the deadline result in giving up the farm.  I don’t know about you, but I want to see sustained success for a long time and a rotation of Greene, Abbott, Ashcraft, Lodolo, and Williamson is more than capable of getting the job done when they are healthy and firing at their ability. 

Q&A with Reds Pitching Coach Derek Johnson

Q: When you go out for a mound visit, what is your approach in communication with a struggling pitcher?

A: “I think the first thing you are looking for is an out.  Depending on the guy, there are plenty of places to go, but first and foremost, you are looking for an out.  Anyway you can get it is a good way, but it depends on your relationship with the pitcher.  There isn’t a magic formula or one size fits all.  A lot of times it is very simple to give the guy a break.  We might talk about a first pitch or sometimes it even is more simple than that.  It’s never anything mechanical, generally speaking.  It becomes almost mundane, if you will.  I spend a lot of time looking at their face or expressions to see what we need to do and really read body language.”

Q: What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

A: “I love being on the field with the players or even in the bullpen to figure out what the next steps are, whether that is about delivery or pitches.  It really is just about seeing young people and see them increase their skill.  They usually are full of ability, which is why they are in the big leagues.  They were blessed one way or the other, so for me it is kind of taking where that person is in their baseball life and get them 1 percent better.  I talk about 1 percent a lot and usually that is building better skill, whether it is a pitch or movement or even an understanding of themself.  It really is about building trust with the players to help them get a little better at a time.”

Q: What is the toughest part of your job?

A: “Honestly, the toughest part is failing with them.  When things aren’t going well for them on the field, it is affecting them personally too.  You are there the best you can, to help them through those stages and almost feeling that pain right along with them.  Because of that, you are wearing it on your sleeve and trying to figure out ways to help.  It’s the empathy that you feel for the guy.”

Q: When dealing with a new pitcher for the first time, what is the first few things that you are looking at?

A: “Well, the first thing is that we have a good bit of information on each of these guys.  That’s the good thing with baseball now, as there are plenty of things in which we know about their history and where the pitcher has been.  You sort of understand how the person is going about getting people out.  You take that information, try to get to know the pitcher, and really try to get them comfortable.  You are trying to find out who he really is.”

Q: What is the most memorable story from your career?

A: “Oh geez, that’s a good one.  There are so many, but I think when we were one step away from going to the World Series with the Brewers in 2018.  That whole year was a rollercoaster.  We were a good team, but we weren’t great until the end.  We celebrated and had really cool celebrations in a matter of days.  Watching the team grow in that short amount of time and I even felt that in 2020 with the Reds, even though it was a shortened season.  Being able to celebrate going to the playoffs in major league baseball is one of the most exhilarating moments that you can be a part of.  It’s the happiest that you have ever seen everyone.  To see that from Spring Training to the end of the season, it’s exhilarating.”

Q: If you had the ability to add any past pitcher who is no longer on any roster, who would you choose?

A: “It’s easy to say Bob Gibson or a great, but I would stick to the guys I know.  David Price comes to my mind right away, as he was the ultimate competitor.  Watching him grow up before my own eyes and see him with the career he had, he is the guy for me that personally knowing, he would be the guy I would want to stick my name to.”

Q: For a young player, even a young teen, what is your advice for them to develop as a pitcher?

A: “Young people are chasing velocity and I don’t blame them.  It is hard to pass by a guy with velocity and a good arm, but really the fundamental flaw is the idea of how to pitch.  It’s one thing to have a great arm, but it’s completely different to know how to use it.  The number one thing in the big leagues is throwing strikes.  The staffs at the top are the teams who throw strikes.  Knowing how to utilize your pitches in the strike zone ends up being the most important.”

The post Matt’s Take – The Future is Now, Playoff Push; Q&A with Reds Pitching Coach, Derek Johnson appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Matthew McAdow

Herald Contributor

Greene Extension

While the Reds have had a very disappointing week of baseball, there was certainly some good news to celebrate to cheer up fans in Reds Country. On Tuesday of last week, Cincinnati managed to strike a deal with Hunter Greene and signed him to a six-year contract extension for 53 million dollars. This is a guaranteed contract for the next 6 years and includes a club option and buyout down the road. This is thrilling news, as Hunter is 23 years old and is already proving to be one of the best young pitchers in baseball. I predict the Reds organization will soon be working on getting an extension offer for Graham Ashcraft and Nick Lodolo as well. I hope they stay committed to the young core of this pitching rotation and bring up young prospects soon, as the young talent is the future of the Reds ball club. 

Ice Cold Reds

If there is a term colder than “ice cold,” then I should’ve used it instead, as this team went from thrilling to start the season to absolutely as cold as it gets. I am hoping this is just a major slump, but I am beginning to wonder what to expect from this team. They are now 7-15 and have lost 6 games straight as I am writing this article. I still thoroughly believe in the future of this Reds team, but many people including myself, are focused on what is happening right now. Pitching of recent has been stellar, but the bats have simply not been able to score runs. The Reds haven’t managed to hit a homerun in over 10 days and are struggling to get runners in scoring position. To put things into perspective, Cincinnati has managed to hit 15 homeruns for the entire season. Pete Alonso of the Mets has already hit 10 homeruns himself. Many of us knew that this team was going to lack power, but the beginning of the season provided us hope that this team would manage playing small ball, as they were thrilling to begin the year. I am hopeful that the upcoming homestand will go in the favor of Cincinnati as I truly don’t believe this baseball town can handle another 100-loss season. 

Young Prospects

By now, nearly everyone has heard of the loaded system the Reds have. They currently have the 5^th best ranked farm system and have talent galore in the minors. We’ve all read about and heard the names of the high potential athletes, but let’s check in on how they are performing:

• Elly De La Cruz – No. 8 prospect in all of baseball.  The 21 year old shortstop at 6 ft. 5 in. just recently returned from the IL. He has only played 3 games for the Louisville Bats as I am writing this.
• Noelvi Marte – Currently in AA batting .186 and 1 HR. 
• Edwin Arroyo – Currently with the Dayton Dragons batting .258 and 1 HR.
• Cam Collier – Currently batting .192 with the Daytona Tortugas.
• Matt McLain – Batting .284 in Louisville with 5 homeruns. I hope to see the SS/2B join the Reds in the near future, as he is definitely MLB ready. He has 8 hits in his last 4 games, has speed, and has power.
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand – The 23 year old 3^rd baseman just returned to the team and is continuing the hot start that he had in Spring Training. I believe he is more than ready to join this team this year and I expect him to be on the roster by the end of the season.
• Andrew Abbott – LHP pitching in Chattanooga and just called up to AAA. He holds a 1.15 ERA and has been highly impressive.

NFL Draft Week

NFL Draft week is finally here and I am more than excited for the Draft to begin. This year, the draft is going to take place in Kansas City and will begin on Thursday, April 27^th and continue all the way until Saturday evening. Last week, I provided my Mock Draft, but I truly haven’t seen anyone agree on who we are targeting for our first-round pick. The Bengals have many needs this off-season and I really believe Cincinnati sits in a place where they will take the best player available, despite their position for the most part. No matter who we take, I trust that Cincinnati will have a good draft, as we have recently had success each year. Below are the current odds for the Bengals 1^st round pick at pick number 28:

• Michael Mayer (TE) – +300
• Darnell Washington (TE) – +400
• Dalton Kincaid (TE) – +525
• Brian Branch (S) – +650
• Jaxon Smith-Njogba (WR) – +700

The Field (NA) – +350

The post Matt’s Take: Greene extension, ice cold Reds, prospect check-in, and NFL Draft Week appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .