Matt’s Take: Roster issues, no slow starts; there was room for Votto

By Matthew McAdow
HCP columnist

Remember when we were all freaking out about playing time and how much depth the Reds 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 (one 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 are keys 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.  They have a healthy Montas, Greene and Ashcraft, along with the hopes of seeing improvements in the star-studded young talent.  

Luke Maile is knocking the cover off the ball with 11 hits (team lead), along with Fairchild impressing everyone in the organization. Christian Encarnacion-Strand continues to show his power (three home runs), which is tied with Tyler Stephenson, who is looking for a bounce-back 2024 season.  

The bullpen looks solid, and I really think that could be the biggest strength of the 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 they put themselves in a hole that they 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 Votto. As he hit a home run 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. Votto wanted to be here and wanted to play here. For me, I just can’t see why No. 19 isn’t suiting up in Red, but I do wish him all the best. Show Father Time that it is no match, JDV.

Below is Reds outfielder TJ Friedl.

* * *

••• Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.