Latest news with #EllyDeLaCruz
New York Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Answering your Reds questions: Elly's struggles, rotation unknowns, trade deadline and more
C. Trent Rosecrans discussed Elly De La Cruz, the trade deadline and various Reds topics during a wide-ranging live Q&A with The Athletic subscribers on Thursday. Here are some highlights from that live discussion. To see answers to more Reds questions, read the full Q&A. (Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and length.) Do you get the sense that the Reds' front office/coaching staff is getting frustrated with Elly De La Cruz's miscues at shortstop? I would give him as much time as possible to get it together, but there are many in the fanbase who are ready to move him to third base or center field ASAP. He's a shortstop. He's going to be a shortstop. Freddie Benavides is working with him on his throws and establishing his feet. Watch and most of the errors come when he's going to his left and drifting. He leads baseball in errors. That's not good. But, for nearly every error, he makes up for it in some way and is a net positive. Advertisement He's a shortstop and part of his identity is as a shortstop. I think we're so wowed by what he can do that when something doesn't go right or a mistake is made, it's magnified. We're so used to seeing him do the unbelievable that not being able to do the believable is unbelievable. And some people just like to complain about stuff. Playing right field would help keep his body healthy. It's funny, Eric Davis was the first person to remind me what stealing bases does to your body. Like ED said, 'Do you think Rickey Henderson couldn't play center field?' No. Rickey was in a corner, so he didn't have to take all the pounding that stealing bases AND playing center field does. On the other hand, he's really, really good. And you want him there. I think he's only going to get better and better. And it's not like shortstops grow on trees Over the last couple of years, the Reds have always seemed to be in on one of the top pitchers available. Do you see (president of baseball operations Nick) Krall going after a Sandy Alcantara or focusing on players that can hit lefties and relievers? Yeah, I think starting pitching is low on the list behind someone who can hit lefties and everyone always needs/wants bullpen help. Chase Burns is staying in the rotation and Hunter Greene is expected back around the All-Star break. There are still fingers crossed for Rhett Lowder, and Wade Miley's injury may not be as severe as feared. Carson Spiers is on his way back as well. You can never have too much starting pitching, but you also need to prioritize your needs, and to me, that's the strength of this team. Honestly, I know it's just one game with Burns, but … a Greene, Andrew Abbott, Burns rotation in the playoffs could have some folks shaking in their boots. Assuming Lowder and Greene come back healthy (I know a fully healthy rotation is a lot to assume), could you see Nick Martinez transitioning back into a swingman role? The rotation could get a bit crowded soon. Definite possibility. Advertisement Here's one of the best things about Martinez. Every pitcher will say, 'I just want to help the team win, and whatever role that puts me in, I'm just happy to do what I can.' The difference is that Martinez means it. He prefers to be a starter, but he knows what's up. He knows what kind of weapon he could be if the rotation is full. Tito (Francona) said he called Brady Singer and Martinez in on Sunday and told them that one of them would be starting Wednesday against the Yankees. Both would be on full rest thanks to Burns' insertion into the rotation. Singer said he wanted to stay on his regular schedule; Martinez said, sure, he'd pitch any time. Monday, he told Tito he was available for an inning or two that night if he needed him. And Tito said — because Nick has earned this — that a lot of guys will say that and he wouldn't do it, but Martinez is someone who means it and can do it. That's a pretty special player. How would you grade the key offseason acquisitions now at the mid-way point of the season? I mean, it's tough to argue against any of them. Free agents: • Nick Martinez: Good • Scott Barlow: Good • Austin Hays: Great when healthy (so far) Options • Emilio Pagán (well, that was his choice, but thank goodness) • Jakob Junis and Luke Maile: Not picked up. Looks like the right moves in retrospect. Trades • José Trevino: Good, better than expected • Brady Singer for Jonathan India: Good • Gavin Lux: Good. I know Mike Sirota has been killing it. But Lux is producing at the big-league level. If you want to drool over minor-league stats (and last I looked, Sirota's were drool-worthy), look at what Lux did in the minors. The big leagues are different. So, it was a risk, but I like it overall. You took a distressed asset low and flipped it. You can't look back at it with regret; you can only evaluate with the info you had at the time. • Taylor Rogers: Good Advertisement I mean, that seems to be a hell of a job by Krall, (GM Brad) Meador and associates this offseason. Would love to get your Cliffs Notes take on whether the Reds will be active at the deadline … and if so, likely positions they'll target? I think they'll search and talk to teams. Activity doesn't mean completing deals, and deals are dependent on the market. I don't know that I see them making the biggest splash. There will be some moves made, I'd assume, and because it's the safe bet, I'd expect a reliever. But some kind of right-handed bat would be the biggest bang for their buck, I think.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reds play the Padres in first of 3-game series
San Diego Padres (44-36, second in the NL West) vs. Cincinnati Reds (42-39, fourth in the NL Central) Cincinnati; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Dylan Cease (3-6, 4.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 109 strikeouts); Reds: Nick Martinez (4-8, 4.40 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 63 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Padres -139, Reds +117; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds host the San Diego Padres on Friday to begin a three-game series. Cincinnati has gone 22-18 in home games and 42-39 overall. The Reds have a 28-9 record in games when they scored five or more runs. San Diego has a 19-22 record in road games and a 44-36 record overall. The Padres have the third-ranked team ERA in the NL at 3.63. The teams meet Friday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds with 18 home runs while slugging .511. Spencer Steer is 13 for 37 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and five RBIs over the past 10 games. Advertisement Manny Machado has 20 doubles and 13 home runs for the Padres. Luis Arraez is 16 for 43 with a triple over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Reds: 6-4, .242 batting average, 3.93 ERA, outscored by three runs Padres: 5-5, .246 batting average, 4.34 ERA, outscored by two runs INJURIES: Reds: Connor Joe: 10-Day IL (illness), Wade Miley: 15-Day IL (flexor), Graham Ashcraft: 15-Day IL (groin), Rhett Lowder: 60-Day IL (forearm), Hunter Greene: 15-Day IL (groin), Austin Hays: 10-Day IL (foot), Carson Spiers: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Callihan: 60-Day IL (forearm), Noelvi Marte: 10-Day IL (side), Brandon Williamson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Julian Aguiar: 60-Day IL (elbow) Advertisement Padres: Xander Bogaerts: day-to-day (shoulder), Ryan Bergert: 15-Day IL (forearm), Yu Darvish: 60-Day IL (elbow), Michael King: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Logan Gillaspie: 15-Day IL (oblique ), Jhony Brito: 60-Day IL (forearm), Joe Musgrove: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Reds play the Padres in first of 3-game series
San Diego Padres (44-36, second in the NL West) vs. Cincinnati Reds (42-39, fourth in the NL Central) Cincinnati; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Dylan Cease (3-6, 4.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 109 strikeouts); Reds: Nick Martinez (4-8, 4.40 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 63 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Padres -139, Reds +117; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds host the San Diego Padres on Friday to begin a three-game series. Cincinnati has gone 22-18 in home games and 42-39 overall. The Reds have a 28-9 record in games when they scored five or more runs. San Diego has a 19-22 record in road games and a 44-36 record overall. The Padres have the third-ranked team ERA in the NL at 3.63. The teams meet Friday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds with 18 home runs while slugging .511. Spencer Steer is 13 for 37 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and five RBIs over the past 10 games. Manny Machado has 20 doubles and 13 home runs for the Padres. Luis Arraez is 16 for 43 with a triple over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Reds: 6-4, .242 batting average, 3.93 ERA, outscored by three runs Padres: 5-5, .246 batting average, 4.34 ERA, outscored by two runs INJURIES: Reds: Connor Joe: 10-Day IL (illness), Wade Miley: 15-Day IL (flexor), Graham Ashcraft: 15-Day IL (groin), Rhett Lowder: 60-Day IL (forearm), Hunter Greene: 15-Day IL (groin), Austin Hays: 10-Day IL (foot), Carson Spiers: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Callihan: 60-Day IL (forearm), Noelvi Marte: 10-Day IL (side), Brandon Williamson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Julian Aguiar: 60-Day IL (elbow) Padres: Xander Bogaerts: day-to-day (shoulder), Ryan Bergert: 15-Day IL (forearm), Yu Darvish: 60-Day IL (elbow), Michael King: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Logan Gillaspie: 15-Day IL (oblique ), Jhony Brito: 60-Day IL (forearm), Joe Musgrove: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Reds live Q&A with C. Trent Rosecrans at noon ET on Thursday, June 26
Chase Burns is up for the Cincinnati Reds, Elly De La Cruz is hot, Matt McLain is on track, Jeimer Candelario is a Red no more and the cavalry of Austin Hays, Noelvi Marte and Hunter Greene seems to be on their way back. After a 2-1 series against the New York Yankees, the Reds have another stiff test as the San Diego Padres come into town to close out the month of June. Advertisement July means All-Stars, the draft and the trade deadline. With all that on tap, there's no shortage of topics for this month's live Reds Q&A with The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans. So grab your lunch at at noon ET on Thursday, June 26 and sit at the picnic table (under the shade) and talk some baseball.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Reds' Terry Francona Sends 3-Word Elly De La Cruz Message After Yankees Game
Reds' Terry Francona Sends 3-Word Elly De La Cruz Message After Yankees Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is currently playing in his third major league season with the team after he debuted during the 2022 season, and made an impact immediately becoming the first player in MLB history to record 100 stolen bases and 30 home runs in his first two MLB seasons.. Advertisement De La Cruz enjoyed a breakout campaign last year, making his first All-Star team and finishing eighth in NL MVP voting on the strength of his blend of power and speed energizing the team. The Reds as a whole missed the playoffs, finishing 77–85, and new manager Terry Francona—hired in the 2024 offseason—has made one thing clear: winning and a return to October baseball are the organization's top priorities. Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44)© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images On Tuesday against the New York Yankees in the bottom half of the eleventh inning, De La Cruz misread the scoreboard assuming the Reds had already scored the game's winning run and failed to advance to third base on a single to left-center field. Advertisement After the game, Francona told the 23-year-old shortstop he was better than that, and De La Cruz apologized and reassured him the mistake wouldn't happen again. 'I believe him,' Francona said, praising the shortstop's accountability and his willingness to learn. Despite the mistake, De La Cruz has put together another strong season. In 80 games he's hit .274 with an .860 OPS, clubbing 18 home runs, driving in 55 runs and stealing 21 bases. His dynamic performance has him sitting third among NL shortstops in All-Star voting, and Francona is counting on him to remain a key part of Cincinnati's success moving forward. Advertisement Related: Reds' Terry Francona Sends Strong Message After Chase Burns News Related: Astros Make Yordan Alvarez Announcement After 47 Missed Games This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
