CINCINNATI — The storm clouds around Great American Ball Park on Tuesday and Wednesday painted the perfect backdrop for what feels like a teetering point for the Reds season.
Yes, we’re only 36 games into the season. But seven straight losses, another key player headed to the injured list and an offense that looks utterly lost and hopeless, and there are alarm bells going off all around Great American Ball Park.
There have been two moments during the current 0-5 homestand that felt like potential early-season defining moments, including Wednesday night.
The Reds had the tying and winning runs in scoring position, only to have Jonathan India fly out to end the game. Before that, there were runners on first and third and the Reds just needed a fly ball and Will Benson struck out.
On Saturday, the Reds loaded the bases against Baltimore only to have Christian Encarnacion-Strand strike out and Jeimer Candelario fly out to end the game.
During the current seven-game skid, which included a 43-inning stretch without benefit of a lead, the Reds have been doing just enough to lose games, like Wednesday when Luke Maile got caught between first and second on a Jonathan India apparent single to right.
Except it wasn’t a single because Maile was out on a force play at second.
The Reds actually collected four hits in an inning in the second, only to score just one run. That’s because Stuart Fairchild was thrown out trying to turn the hit down the left field line into a double.
The Reds are a walking black hole right now.
“Our guys are doing great. Of course there’s frustration but we’re really close… You always get consumed with the results and that’s never a great idea but it’s natural. You just have to trust what we’re doing.” David Bell after 4-3 loss Wednesday pic.twitter.com/AcKTmW3cmH
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) May 9, 2024
David Bell, much to the dismay of Reds fans online and on social media sites, isn’t turning over buffet tables (like Lou Piniella) or dressing down any players. He’s doing just the opposite.
“Our guys are doing great. Of course, there’s frustration. We’re really close (to breaking out),” Bell said after Cincinnati’s seventh straight loss. “It may not seem like that, but I know from being in our clubhouse and our dugout and being around our guys every day all day long (that) we’re super close. We just have to keep going.
The Reds have scored just 13 runs in seven straight losses. Still, Bell is going out of his way not to push anything resembling a panic button.
“Our players continue to do what they need to do,” Bell said. “And you know it’s difficult when you’re not getting results, you get a bit consumed with results. And that’s natural, but it’s never a great idea. So, we just have to trust what we’re doing, and we’ll break through.”
Then there’s what’s happening off the field.
As routine as it seems on the outside, it’s not always easy or straightforward to diagnose and prescribe a treatment for a player’s injury.
Take what happened with Jonathan India (plantar fasciitis) and Nick Lodolo (left leg) last season. Every time there seemed to be hope to get either player back, there was a setback.
Now, this spring there was Matt McLain fighting through a sore oblique that the team said was not related to his oblique injury that ended his season last year. He was apparently through that and then all of a sudden he dives for a ball during drills and injures his left shoulder so badly that he needed surgery on his labrum, among other things. Out till August, at least.
TJ Friedl breaks his wrist. Ian Gibaut has a mysterious forearm injury that may or may not be Carpal Tunnel. Brandon Williamson strains his left shoulder. Sam Moll has left shoulder impingement.
And now Christian Encarnacion-Strand tried to play through a broken bone in his right hand after getting hit by a Michael Lorenzen pitch on April 27. The Reds play a series down a player as they hope for it to get better. X-rays reveal only an old fracture that had healed. He returns May 3. Goes 2-for-14 with four strikeouts.
Then Wednesday, after the latest exam, turns out he did have a fracture.
“It’s been tough,” said Encarnacion-Strand, who was 3-for-28 over his last eight games. “I didn’t know there was a new fracture. We didn’t really know there was a new fracture. It wasn’t progressing the way I thought it would. It wasn’t getting better, so I mentioned it. It ended up being a new fracture.”
CES heads to the IL with a right ulnar styloid fracture. Out 4-6 weeks.
“It wasn’t comfortable,” said Encarnacion-Strand, who was wearing a cast over his right hand and forearm on Wednesday. “I wasn’t able to hold onto the bat. I feel like I wasn’t able to be who I am as a hitter. Last night, that’s when I really realized that, ‘Hey, I’ve got to take a step back. I’m not helping the team by doing that,’ so I went and got it checked again.”
David Bell tried to take some of the heat off Encarnacion-Strand by taking some responsibility for making him play through an injury.
“Unfortunate on my part the fact he was even out there with that,” Bell said. “I feel bad he was playing through that. He is very tough, and he was doing everything he could to play. I give him a lot of credit. He was clearly playing through a lot of pain and he didn’t let on, which is normal for players.”
“We’re just going through a rough stretch right now. … it’s going to come together” Graham Ashcraft on Reds 7th straight loss pic.twitter.com/CsJKXXGLfJ
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) May 9, 2024
With the need obvious, Mike Ford was finally signed by Cincinnati Wednesday for the third time in less than three months, this time to a Major League guaranteed deal worth $1.3 million, including incentives, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
In his 24 games for Triple-A Louisville, Ford batted .297 with a .919 OPS and six homers. Without a big league callup, he invoked his opt-out clause on May 1 and was released on Saturday.
“The plan for (Wednesday) was to go fishing with my dad,” Ford said. “I think we’re both in the line of thinking that this is a better place to be. It’s great to be back. Hopefully, the third time’s the charm on this one. I’m just happy to be here. This is where I wanted to be from the offseason.”
The Reds aren’t getting timely hits. They’re getting precious few hits of any kind. Their players continue to get hurt.
But if you’re looking for a silver lining, look at how the Reds are handling things. It’s probably not what fans want to hear but hitting panic buttons won’t fix what’s wrong with these Reds. Asking David Bell to be something he’s not won’t fix them either.
The Reds are willing to play the long game with Bell’s patience. If the Reds can right the ship before it sinks, then Bell’s approach will be key in the turnaround.
