Above photograph Joe Puetz
March is totally one of the best time of the yr. Having fun with the NCAA match, having fun with one of the best day of your complete yr (Reds Opening Day), and shortly having the ability to benefit from the Masters is a sports activities followers Heaven. March signifies the motion from Winter to Spring and it’s the starting of the beloved mowing season (Wow, I get outdated).
Sufficient with the opposite subjects although, let’s concentrate on the best annual custom in all of sports activities – Reds Opening Day. Reds Opening Day is Thursday, March twenty eighth with the primary pitch scheduled for 4:10. Cincinnati will tackle the Nationals, which might be fairly attention-grabbing, as Ex-Reds – Nick Senzel and Jesse Winker are on the opposing workforce’s roster. Winker has returned beforehand, however I’d count on a Senzel “Welcome Residence and Thank You” video for his time spent within the group. At midday, you possibly can tune in or attend the 104th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade the place grand marshals, Dmitri Younger and Pokey Reese will make an look. Different notable Cincinnati figures corresponding to Kevin Huber, Marty Brennaman, and Anthony Munoz plan to be in attendance as nicely. My spouse and I attend yearly, sometimes arriving as early as attainable. We normally eat some breakfast at Style of Belgium earlier than heading over for some chilly drinks at Holy Grail earlier than the parade. As soon as coming into the ballpark, make your manner all the way down to strive some new meals, because the Reds together with the taste-testers shared some new scrumptious meals choices which might be new in 2024. Mozzarella sticks, boneless wings, and a beer bat? Signal me up twice! I might be in left subject this yr and stay up for having fun with a sunny day with the remainder of Reds nation!
Let’s Speak Baseball
Let’s dive into the sport. Josiah Grey and Frankie Montas look to battle it off because the Opening Day starters. Montas appears to be like to win on Opening Day and break the streak of three straight losses on Reds Residence Opening Day. With a completely packed crowd, Cincinnati must set the tone early and get off to a scorching begin, as we can’t afford preventing again all season lengthy. With Williamson battling an damage, I’d count on the rotation to appear to be Montas, Greene, Martinez, Abbott, and Ashcraft to start the marketing campaign.
Opening Day Lineup
Cincinnati nonetheless has an empty roster spot as I’m penning this, so I’m not positive what Krall precisely has up his sleeve. I’ll nonetheless make an try at what I believe would be the lineup order for Thursday with out data of any new additions or call-ups.
· 2B – Jonathan India
· SS- Elly De La Cruz
· LF – Spencer Steer
· RF – Jake Fraley
· 3B – Jeimer Candelario
· 1B – Christian Encarnacion-Strand
· CF – Will Benson
· DH – Stuart Fairchild
· C – Tyler Stephenson
Santiago Espinal and Nick Martini may discover themselves coming into the sport as later additions. With the accidents to McLain and Friedl, Cincinnati will want some manufacturing from call-ups or whoever they determine so as to add to this membership, as Cincinnati actually went from loaded depth to Martini being the primary man to come back off the bench. Nevertheless, I nonetheless really feel like this lineup is stable and has sufficient expertise to essentially make a run on the Nationwide League Central Title ought to they keep wholesome. I’d be mendacity although if I mentioned Marte, Friedl, and McLain’s absences didn’t damper my optimism although. Bell not too long ago said Friedl might solely be out 6 weeks, which might be fairly the turnaround as we watch for the second opinion outcomes with McLain. Second opinion to me although means we’d not even see McLain in 2024-but hey, what do I do know? I’m only a Labor Relations man who likes the Reds!
2024 Will probably be a Change
The 2024 Reds season will definitely be totally different for the McAdow family, though it is a great point! Our little man, Creed, might be arriving in Early Could to assist cheer on the Redlegs along with his Mother and Dad from house. I consider I attended over 25 video games final season, however this season, it could look extra like 10 – and that’s Okay, as our second favourite place to look at Reds baseball is true at house in one of the best city in Ohio – Peebles, after all. Certain, we may be an hour and quarter-hour from the ballpark, nevertheless it is filled with Reds followers who’ve an extended historical past of supporting the native workforce. Whether or not you’re watching from house or attending a recreation, there’s actually a distinct feeling this season with our younger ballclub. Expectations are larger than in years previous and the stress is on after a nasty Bengals season. Let’s Go Reds, let one of the best rollercoaster ever created start!