Andrew Abbott put together another dominant start and the Cincinnati Reds offense got out of a collective slump on Wednesday night against Miami. When those two things came together it was an easy night as the Reds topped the Marlins 7-2 to pick up a win in the third game of this 4-game series and put an end to their 11-game road winning streak.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Marlins (42-49) | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Reds (47-46) | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| W: Abbott (8-1) L: Alcantara (4-9) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
After being in an offensive funk over the previous few games, Cincinnati’s offense wasted little time getting out of their slump on Wednesday evening against former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara. Matt McLain picked up a 1-out walk in the bottom of the 1st and then scored on a double by Elly De La Cruz to put the Reds in the lead. Austin Hays, Gavin Lux, and Tyler Stephenson would each add singles later in the inning with two of them driving in runs to make it a 3-0 ballgame after one inning.
Miami would threaten against Andrew Abbott in the top of the 3rd inning after getting back-to-back infield singles, but the Reds All-Star was able to get a line out and then a grounder that turned into a double play to get out of the jam.
Cincinnati played add on in the bottom of the 4th when Noelvi Marte hit a no-doubt 2-run homer off of the facade of the bleachers in left-center. TJ Friedl would follow up with a single and then come around to score on the second double of the day from Elly De La Cruz that made it 6-0.
Miami’s offense kept putting up zeroes as Andrew Abbott kept the Reds on top by six runs through seven innings. With the lefty heading back to the mound for the 8th, the Marlins got something brewing with a leadoff single by Nick Fortes. He took second base on a ground out, and then with two outs in the inning he came in to score on a single by Heriberto Hernandez to break up Abbott’s shutout. That would end the day for Abbott as Cincinnati turned to their bullpen and Tony Santillan, who got a ground out to end the top of the inning.
Will Benson would get that run back for the Reds in the bottom of the 8th. He took the first pitch he saw from Valente Bellozo and put a souvenir in the seats as he homered to the top row just below the power stacks in center field to make it 7-1. Emilio Pagan took over for the Reds in the 9th and after getting the first two batters out, he gave up a solo homer to Connor Norby. He would come back and strike out Liam Hicks to end the game as Cincinnati picked up their first win of the series.
Key Moment of the Game
Cincinnati’s 4th inning that saw them tack three runs on to their lead. With Andrew Abbott on the mound, six runs was more than enough to put the game entirely out of reach.
Notes Worth Noting
Andrew Abbott has now allowed one or fewer earned runs in 14 of his 17 starts this season. He lowered his ERA to 2.07 on the year and is now 8-1 in 2025.
Every Reds starer had a hit in the game. Elly De La Cruz and Noelvi Marte both had two hits. They are both hitting .277 this season.
Reds pitchers threw 123 pitches in the game and 85 of them went for strikes as they walked just two batters in the game.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Miami Marlins vs Cincinnati Reds
Thursday July 10th, 5:10pm ET
Cal Quantrill (3-7, 5.40 ERA) vs Nick Lodolo (5-6, 3.58 ERA)
Nice win tonight! Way to bust that mini losing streak. Now it would be nice to get on a winning streak before the break.
The Marlins are a pretty tough team so this is a good win. You would point out that Benson hit a home run and I will point out he scored two runs which will make him feel very good since he doesn’t score two very often.
WTG, AA. The roller-coaster ride continues.
It’s late. I’m tired, though probably not as tired as Doug Gray. Here’s my reasoned assessment: Yeah!
The good: losing streak over. The bad: I am not sure we learned anything about this offense. We already know they can hit bad pitching. Elly had 2 xbhs today, he had none in the last 10 games. Marte had the first hit, a HR, since he came back. Abbot is very good but we already know that. Shutting down a red hot Marlins team is quite impressive nonetheless.
Yeah, Alcantara was bad. The Marlins broadcasters were kind of politely saying that he shouldn’t be pitching to MLB hitters and if it weren;t for their recent winning, the Marlins might have had to “do something” about his struggles.
The reliever they brought in is a decent pitcher. He’s kinda like their young Nick Martinez
His ERA is north of 7 lol.
Alcantara… the starter.
I think he’s shot and they owe him $25M or more.
This is why Abbott should be and is on the All Star Team in the All Star Game. He is a stopper. Pitched almost a full game, and stopped the Reds losing streak. Look at his record and ERA.
Good think he is on the All Star team. 😉
*thing
Abbott is in the Reds rotation ace role and he has been a kind of stopper…He endorsed his selection to the ASG tonight…
The offense could hit against Sandy Alcantara ensuring not to be swept yet this season and have a chance to split tomorrow…Hope the bats stay hot the rest of the week
Ok time for the real question:
When is Andrew Abbott bobble head night??????
It was good to see the Reds offense go to work. I found myself wondering if there had been another players only meeting.
Abbott was up to the task, starting with the way he elevated his performance in response to the Marlins 1 out double in the first to deny them a run.
The Reds need to take these remaining four games ahead of the break one at a time; but it would behoove them to find a way to win all 4.
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how Hinds has been doing in the two games he’s been back so far. 😉
Nope. The rehabbing Fraley and Hinds are seeing the same pitching. If nothing else, Hinds is a good comparative measure of how ready Fraley *really* is to come back.
What is the case for activating Fraley onto the 26 man MLB roster if he isn’t making as much and consistently good contact as Hinds?
For the curious, Hinds was 3/4 on Tuesday with a double and 2 singles. He also had a BB and a K. His slowest exit velocity of the three hits was 99.9MPH. The remaining two were over 106MPH.
Fraley was 1/4, a double. None of Fraley’s four exit velocities reached 85MPH. For the second consecutive night, Fraley was DH and pulled early. He has yet to play in the field.
The case is that Fraley has a history–not a terrific history–of being able to hit MLB pitching well enough to stay in the league. Hinds’ had a great, Aquinoesque first week followed by futility. He may yet figure out the difference between MLB pitching and AAA pitching, and we all fervently hope that he does, but he hasn’t yet. Maybe he just needs to be put in the lineup and left there, but no team clinging to postseason aspirations would do such a thing.
In this current rehab, Fraley has 2 hits, one a double, in 7PAs with 1 K and zero BB. His triple slash is .286/.286/.429 (.715 OPS).
@GreenmtgRed>>>> Comping Fraley’s and Hinds performance against the same pitching is not about deciding which should be on the Reds 26 man roster. It is possible either or both could not be worthy of such a spot or either or both could be worthy.
However when 2 guys are in the same batting order facing the same pitching if one of the guys consistently has exit velocities of 95MPH or greater and the other guy isn’t doing that, the guy that isn’t doing that isn’t going to hit MLB pitching better than he is hitting MiLB pitching.
Jim, these are small sample size comparisons, right? And anyway, we have seen examples of established major leaguers stinking the joint up on rehab assignments but reverting to something approaching their established norms upon returning to the big leagues–Miley and Moll come to mind here. I like Hinds and hope that he can learn what he needs to learn, but he has never approached Fraley’s production in MLB, save for that magical first week before the pitchers figured out that he would swing at unhittable pitches. Even this season, Fraley’s modest production substantially exceeds Hinds’. Also, Fraley, recently and for a while, has been dealing with injury. As far as I know, Hinds is healthy.
“Nope. The rehabbing Fraley and Hinds are seeing the same pitching. If nothing else, Hinds is a good comparative measure of how ready Fraley *really* is to come back.”
Good points Jim. I might also add that Hinds has Kd one time in 10 PA. It would seem he’s “out for blood” so to speak this time in working harder than ever on improving himself. There will come a day when he will get a chance to play every day in the majors either with the Reds or with another team. He may be trade bait. Who knows. Wouldn’t it be a bad thing if he DID go somewhere else and he DID end up being a very good player with all of his skills. I can see that happening. The Reds have been wanting a good every day outfielder with power for quite some time and let one slip right out from under them having one all along but didn’t give him a proper chance.
From Doug’s minor league write up yesterday:
“Rece Hinds had a big day at the plate in Louisville’s win”
“Rece Hinds went 3-4 with a walk, double, steal (14), 2 runs, and an RBI”
“Rece Hinds has been absolutely on fire for Louisville over the last month. While he did spend some time in the big leagues, resulting in just 12 games with the Bats, he’s hit .460/.491/.820 since June 11th. Eight of his 12 games have been multi-hit games and he’s had nine doubles with three home runs. He’s now hitting .308/.374/.575 for Louisville. “
Hinds just missed a grand slam to deep left field. lol
Rece Hinds’ MLB career BA is .193. His OBP is .245. Fraley’s career BA is, I think, .246 and his OBP is .333. They have similar OPS. I’m very far from convinced, for multiple reasons, that much if anything should be read into their comparative performances against the same MiLB pitcher. Fraley, even this year, has outperformed Hinds in the league that matters. Jake is certainly not a world beater, but Hinds is pretty close to being an automatic out, despite his power numbers in AAA. He wouldn’t be the first guy who can’t make the transition. In his favor is his small sample size and the possible disadvantage that his playing time and pattern gives him. Perhaps. But his experience isn’t so different from those of many other players who were able to produce in less than ideal circumstances. Should they give him more chances? Sure. Should they install him in right field this season and play him every game? Sure, if they are conceding that they aren’t contending.
You guys know why Hinds isn’t in the line-up. At the moment, there’s no wiggle room for someone to find himself.
Pagan has given up 7 homers already! Apparently, Clase is on the market. I don’t know how Marte escaped without and error being charged. At least 3 of his throws were off in some way. His swing still reminds me of Machado but not his defense. More great pitching by Abbott. Apparently, some are proposing Arroyo for Ward. How could Krall not pull that trigger?
Pagan has been really good. Gabp gives up hrs and doesnse’t matter in a 7-1 game. He’s saved 19 of 22. Not bad for a vet in his mid 30s that’s never really closed. He hit 98 mph last week. I’d resign him
Initially I doubted it would work out as the closer, but Pagan has been getting it done. Go with what works.
In comparison, last season Alexis Diaz saved 28 of 32 and gave up 6 HRs in 56 innings, far lesser rate than Pagan.
Pagan’s whip is at .87 and Diaz’s was at 1.30, but it seemed higher than that.
Diaz ‘lost’ 5 games, some obviously overlapping with his 4 blown saves.
What isn’t accounted for is the amount of fuel Diaz might have poured on a fire with the Reds losing in a close game.
Not to throw shade on Pagan….just that his stats this year aren’t hugely better than Diaz’s last year. Folks here soured on Diaz during a frustrating season. The Reds needed someone more reliable in that role.
But something was clearly wrong with Diaz both on the field and maybe off. That part is just speculation.
It will be interesting to see how he does now that LA has called him up. It was more of the same with their AAA team.
Sure, resign Pagan. He, by and large, throws strikes.
Last season Diaz walked 31 batters in 56 ip. That’s not sustainable.
Pagan has issued 12 bbs in 36 ip. Not elite, but far better.
Even if Pagan doesn’t close next year (though he certainly seems charged up in the role) he’s worth having in the BP.
@greenmtred 100% correct on the data on Hinds and Fraley.Not sure putting him in right field would be a sign of conceding but I get your point.So what do we do with him or Fraley right now? I would think with Fraley having 1300 major league at bats and now at 30 and Hinds with 85 major league at bats and now 25 that should factor in some place.I have no clue what they will do but my guess is if Fraley comes back up he will get some at bats the rest of the year,certainly more then the 45 Hinds got this year and is non tendered in the off season as Old-school has said.Certainly doesn’t help Hinds this year or help the Reds know if he can be counted on next year.We will see but to Hinds credit the dude just goes down and hits and runs and throws which has to be really hard knowing barring injury the ship has sailed for him .Have to believe it plays off for him one day and I hope its with the Reds..
Good post, Roger. I share your good wishes for Hinds.
I’m gonna say this was more on the Reds hitting than it was on poor pitching from Alcantara. We got 3 in the first, 3 in the 4th, and 1 in the 8th. 11 hits and 7 runs because we put our hits together. The mystery remains: we can go 4 games without this kind of production. And we can go four games with this kind of hitting. Sure there are elite pitchers, but even those can get rocked. The margin between a winning season and a losing one is still very close. We have to keep doing the little things right. If we don’t play good fundamental baseball, we won’t make it.
As a few said above, Abbott has been a stopper this season. Great response to the two pathetic showings to start this series. Hopefully the offense can go on a run.
One thing I’ll say about Abbot, especially being left handed, is that I love his delivery. His command makes all the difference.
His release starts high for a 3/4 arm slot and behind the head of lefties, and off the plate to righties. It has to be an uncomfortable at bat when it comes to pitch selection…every pitch could be any pitch in any count with his command and speed changes.
I love watching him drop a curveball on the edge of the zone to the arm side to righties, sneaking a fastball at the chin on the next pitch, and the batter having no clue what he should be sitting on the outside edge again.
They all look the same out of his hand. And being a strike thrower, seems like they can sit on location but can’t sit on speed or movement.
Thing of beauty to watch that man pitch!
Funny to me that his Dad talked about nibbling as a positive. To me he’s a smart guy that reads the hitters swing really well. When he’s 93-94 and has that slurve really biting then he’s one of the best lefties in the game. He’s has some fade though so hopefully this year will be different. Maybe change his training schedule up, etc.
For his short career to this point:
May 1.87 era
June 2.33
July 3.42
August 5.84
September 6.10
They’ve talked a lot about his improved conditioning. He’s done amazing so far and has probably earned some strong consideration for a Hunter Greene type contract, but a good second half will go a long way toward solidifying his status as one of the better pitchers in the game.
It has to start with one and we’ve got that. Time to build on it today. Need to remember the start time. I guess it’s Phish for dinner.
Interesting that national media is reporting the Cubs have made inquiries regarding Alcanterra. Wonder if this is due to shakiness around their starting pitching staff? Or whether they see some potential in him that we don’t? He definitely is not cheap and the Marlins are the smallest of payrolls. Any decent offer get him? 1-2 mid level prospects? His salary is definitely not Reds territory but interesting that the Cubs are thinking about.
Alcantara strikes me as a buy low guy. Teams are hoping his lackluster performance this year is a hump to get over and that he’ll return to CY form. Of course, hoping they’ll pay at a rate for his numbers this year.
I think the Marlins will avoid selling low on him, keep him through the deadline, and evaluate offers in the offseason. If their hitters continue to develop (and they should), then they may just keep him next season, too.
Fantastic outing by Abbott! Stopped Miami’s 11 game road win streak.
Offense got some runs which was great to see after 4 games where they looked positively anemic. Marte with a solid night at the plate. He crushed that home run. His throws from third though were rough.
Reds improve to 12-4 in Abbott’s starts. That’s amazing.
Marte seems to have some rough games at 3B, but overall his metrics defensively have improved over last year. OAA is -1, DRS is -2 and he’s committed 4 errors in 24 games vs 12 in 45 last year.
He somehow wasn’t given an error last night when he caught the ball, took 18 steps and then threw, wildly pulling Steer off the base.
I’d like to see the qualifications to be an MLB official scorer.
It was probably only 14 steps. I thought he was going to try to tag him out.
And -1 OAA in 24 games is pretty bad.
It would be hard for his defensive metrics to do anything but improve from last year. That was about as bad of a defensive performance as a player can have. Watching him now, it is hard to believe that he was a shortstop as a prospect.
Why the weird 5:10 start time today?
Some sort of post game concert, something called “Old Dominion”
https://www.mlb.com/reds/tickets/concerts/post-game/old-dominion?partnerId=redirect-cin-olddominion
Thanks. My Hoosiers play them on August 30 lol
But can they sing?
Anyone else think that the notion of batting Marte 9th will seems kinda foolish? Top 50 prospect, just 23, yet I wonder if folks are sleeping on him. His K/BB rate is better than McLain and Noelvi hits behind the runner well…..seems like he’d be as good or better in the #2 hole at the moment. Or at least I’d like to see him given more leash offensively. To me it seems he’s a better hitter than anyone besides EDLC and Hays. I suppose the issue is finding a defensive home for him to keep him in the lineup. Man, the footwork is not good at third, but there’s really no other option until Stewart gets the call as Steer can’t make the throws anymore and CES can’t hit…..,maybe Lux I guess? The footwork really makes you wonder what the heck kind of coaching isn’t happening in the minors cuz this is pretty basic stuff.
IMO, they can’t get Marte to corner OF quick enough. A number of sources have said since he came over to the Reds this was his eventual destination as his body matured and filled out. So, corner OF, DH or 1B for him.
Aside from anyone they bring in from out of the organization at the deadline or offseason, the Reds have some budding issues at finding positions for people or moving on from them. That could be a “good” problem if they make good decisions.
OF for Marte, beats trading away Petty and Lowder and X, if you ask me.
But it could be a tricky move to make mid season.
The experiment with Steer in the OF wasn’t exactly a huge success.
If he hits, it might temporarily make up for the gaffes on D.
But he’s going to have to hit a lot.
The Reds keep piling up infielders believing in the shibboleth that they can be converted into outfielders (I guess because Eric Davis was 40 years ago.)
It sounds like they may have a HS SS in mind for this next draft.
Sure, I get the “best available athlete” maxim.
The in practice the logic eludes me. Why not draft some more promising outfielders?
As many as they can.
Yep and CES and Hinds along with Fraley and Marte come to mind.Play them and get what you get or get them out of the organization.
@CTR>> Agree that to be properly converted to OF, Marte probably needs AAA time and also a winter league assignment at OF. However, they can work with him in the pregame time to get him started.
As a previous shortstop, he may already have a decent sense of reading balls off the bat and taking good routes that adjusts quickly to the outfield.
I like Marte as the RF, or CF.
I’ve been wondering if he has 4 hole potential. He’s got the power, I think he just needs to stay healthy and mash for a while to get considered for it.
You can lead a horse to water….You hear Larkin cluding in on why Marte’s defense is troubled…I’m sure the coaches up and down the org can tell him what to do, but he has to be able to do it…consistently. And, boy, speaking from experience, getting the bad throws or bad footwork worm into your brain, it’s hard to get out.
The problem with Marte’s defense is his approach to doing infield practice, etc. outside of the game.
And you want him now to change to a position that he has probably never played?
It will be the same problem…working to learn a new position. Marte’s problem (in my humble opinion) is that he does not work hard enough to prepare to play third base (or anywhere else).
He has the athletic tools, he just does not prepare and work hard enough to become a good third baseman.
Mike Schmidt once said that everybody has the “will to win” when the step on the field, but not everybody has the “will to prepare”.
David: Out of curiosity, do you have information about his lack of work ethic, or are you concluding that it’s the only explanation for his poor fielding?
Anybody can get better (a professional athlete) if they work at it hard enough.
And yes, my evidence is that he is erratic and inconsistent in fielding his position. He still seems to be making the same mistakes he made two years ago, when he was handed the job. He was drafted as an “elite” shortstop, and I think he just coasts on his ability.
Compare to Elly De La Cruz, who has made real strides at his position. He also has great natural ability, but it is also obvious that he has made a real effort to get better.
Tito says Marte is “working his a** off.” Tito is a straight shooter, so I believe him.
Hard work doesn’t automatically lead to good results. It’s frustrating when it doesn’t, but sometimes, it just doesn’t. (I’ve banged a lot of balls at the driving range and I can still hook one OB off the tee with the best – or worst – of them.)
I make light, but for real… on-the-field results are not a guarantee.
So anyway, let’s not make unfounded claims that Marte is lazy.
@ Jim Walker from above – “I found myself wondering if there had been another players only meeting.”
In the post game interview with Day, Stephenson said Tito lit into them pretty good after the previous game.
Two good takeaways from this:
1 That Francona did so.
2 That Stephenson felt comfortable / trusting enough to reveal it.
I realize comping Bell and Francona will rile up the die-hards here, but I don’t recall hearing that this occurred under the previous manager.
That could be for two reasons
1 It didn’t happen (particularly if we take India and EDLC’s word for it)
2 Players didn’t want to talk about it…which could have been for a variety of reasons.
I hope the axx kicking holds over to today’s game as well.
Thanks for the heads up on Tito’s lecture.
It was well earned/ deserved.
Hey VA REDS FAN: Glad to hear it after that debacle of a game. Everyone is going to lose games but it’s how you lose the games that matter.
Just a reminder to the folks who check in on the AAA Bats game that today they go at noon EDT, well, 12:05 to be exact (actually, I am reminding myself too). 😉
Louisville’s lineup has posted. Fraley in LF.
TBH, I don’t see what Fraley has to give the Reds ahead of the break that they aren’t getting from Lux and/or Benson; and, one of those guys likely would sit for Fraley to play. Even at DH, Fraley would likely bump one of these guys or Hays.
The Reds don’t need this distraction with 4 games to the break.
Yep.
I’m in a ex-post-Fraley state of mind, too.
No ill-will towards the guy.
But what are the Reds going to do with the guy this week?
He’s too popular to DFA at this stage of the season.
A trade isn’t going to happen without him just being a Justin Dunn type throw in.
Non tendering him would be like how the Beatles got rid of Pete Best.
Not the best way to handle things, but it had to be done.
He’s no Ringo Starr, but Benson needs to keep hitting HRs and scoring runs.
@CTR>> I read in the last week or so that at some point, McCartney eventually engineered a payout estimated at £9m to Pete Best for services rendered in the production of some very early recordings which were eventually released. Not sure exactly when this happened, but as far as I could tell in this century, not in the last century.
Sounds like Pete and Paul are on solid terms now, and Pete, who is a retired civil servant, also makes a nice additional living from being Pete Best.
Then there was the true “5th Beatle”, Stuart Sutcliffe, who passed in 1962 after he had left the Beatles to become a painter….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Sutcliffe
Lux/Espy platoon 3B, Hays/Steer DH LF, Marte 1B DH.
“I’ve never played first base”. “Its not that hard, tell him Wash”. “Its incredibly hard.” LOL.
Nothing wrong with your idea Indy but Reds are committed to Steer at first regardless.I thought the same thing about CES when he came up and started with a bang knowing he was a first base man or DH yet they stuck him at third just like they have done with Marte.Reds have to as Jim has said make some calls on players.Marte nor CES are third base men they just aren’t and if the Reds are going to play them somebody has to move to another position unless its ok to see balls go in the dugout or stands.Marte is at third just like CES was until he slumps then he grabs some pine next to him.Reds are not moving Steer not deviating from the Hayes/Lux and Ty Steve DH trio.Big part of why Hinds is where he is again,he was the right handed platoon outfielder.Don’t believe he ever was a DH or gave Friedl a day off or played left but could be wrong
I think a lot of people mention Tom Browning as a past player Abbott reminds them of which I think is a great comparison of course with Browning having been a Red. I thought of Tom Glavine and Steve Avery from the Braves too. I was curious about Glavine’s stats and he pitched 13 years in a row at least 198 innings a season, including at age 41. I kind of miss those days of starters going 200 innings a year, but a different time, and that was probably a rare feat even back then from Glavine.
I think the next thing for Abbott though will be can he pitch 175-200 innings and still keep up mostly the same pace? He’s had a great start to his career, and you’d think he’d still get physically stronger at his age. He could be one of those left handers that pitches 10 years or longer I think as a starter. Hoping he stays healthy.
Marte looks out of shape and clearly has issues with throwing . Attitude and practice can cure this. Not sure there is another position for him remembering he started as a SS. He is a much better offensive player than Espinal who is a utility backup at best. Still Stewart will in 2026 replace Marte and Collier will move Steer back to DH or LF. Rodriguez will move Friedl to RF . Urbaez may replace Espinal . In two years Dunno replaces Stephenson.
Marte looks out of shape?? I sure don’t see that.
And as I said above, Tito said he is “working his a** off.” He agreed (and we can all see) that Marte’s throwing has been a real problem.
We need him to get better at it to be a passable major league 3B (or else we may need to consider him in LF or RF), but let’s not make up narratives that he is out of shape or not working hard at it.
Mental issues (which this has to be) can really be really tough to overcome.
And also, as I said below, he’s coming back from a long injury layoff.
You’d have to think that as he gets more reps, he will get better.
According to Baseball Savant’s “sprint speed” stat, Marte is the fastest Red so far this season with 25+ competitive runs, at 29.3 ft/sec. McLain (29.2) is second, followed by Benson and EDLC at 29.1. Rece Hinds has only 14 “runs,” but he’s the fastest at 29.8 ft/sec.
McLain is the only RH hitter on the roster who gets to first base faster than Marte.
I really don’t get all the animosity toward Marte on this board.
He just came back from injury. Of course he’s a little rusty and not in top playing shape. That said, he’s still having good ABs and isn’t TERRIBLE at 3B. He’s a SS making the transition to 3B, and I’m willing to give him time as he comes back from his injury and continues learning a new position.
His defensive metrics have actually improved over last year, and I don’t think I need to tell you the long list of young players on the left side of the infield who started out as butchers at their position but eventually became great players. Heck, even a lot of people on this board want to move EDLC off of SS.
Keep Marte at 3rd and give him some time. Yes, he has a lot to work on, but I’m willing to give him the chance to work on it.
Stewart’s defense, or lack thereof, might make RLN folks think again about replacing Marte at 3b.
That is if Stewart makes it through the Winter without being traded.
Same with Collier at 1b, if that’s where he might eventually wind up…in 2027 or later.
He sure isn’t going to be playing 3B.
Absolutely play Marte consistently. He’s got a ceiling.
Just hope he continues to improve defensively. It’s not his glove but his throws. I like his bat.
I do not have any animosity toward Marte. From the time the Reds acquired him, the buzz from folks other than club officials has been that he would end up as an OF because his body was going to fill out too much for SS or 3B.
He currently looks lost at 3B. Why spend the time and effort to fix him there if he is going to be an OF in a year or 3?
I love Marte’s bat, speed, and athleticism, but he’s an outright lousy third baseman. He literally took about 8 steps to unleash his throw on a grounder by CATCHER Fortes last night, turning an easy out into a hit. He then had two other poor throws on which his teammates bailed him.
It’s too late for this season, perhaps, but they simply have to move him to the outfield. I would put him in LF, which could well meet the need for a big bat in LF. His throwing woes at 3B should not translate to LF or RF, because the footwork is not as intricate. And he has the speed and arm strength to be a very good outfielder.
Reds Thursday lineup as posted. Looks the same as Wednesday except with Trevino in for Stephenson in the #7 spot.
https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1943357104510669082
Hayes and Lux rotate the left field/DH spot for the 3rd straight game.Thought maybe we may see a CES sighting today but well he goes down soon enough when Fraley is ready.Move over Hinds your buddy is coming.Wonder if they can find a place for him at first or DH.Sarcasm at its best from an old man on Thursday afternoon.Marte please continue to hit or you will be next.Go to believe we may see all 3 in the same lineup soon in the minors.