Following a Thursday travel day, the Reds resume baseball action tonight, visiting the Tampa Bay Rays for the first of 3 games. They’re still a touch below .500 on the season, with 49 wins and 53 losses, but continue to look strong in those victories. Now they want to string several together. The Rays are just above, at 52 & 51. Starting on the mound tonight, it’s left-handed Nick Lodolo for the Reds, against the Rays’ 25-year-old righty Shane Baz. Nick’s gone 8 & 3 so far this season, while Baz has lost his only decision so far. Join us for the Reds broadcast at 6:20 this evening, on the Sports Voice, 103.9 WRBI.
Baseball’s getting close to another of its many benchmarks each season… in this case it’s the trade deadline. Some analysts point out that first base has been a weak spot for Cincinnati since Christian Encarnacion-Strand wound up on the injured list back in May, with Spencer Steer and Jeimer Candelario trading off the position since then. Those experts say while Steer’s done pretty well there, the team could benefit by dealing for a full-time first baseman, so Spencer could get back to being their regular left-fielder. We’ll all see what happens, Tuesday.
We told you last week when the Reds’ top draft pick Chase Burns signed his first contract, worth more than $9,000,000. Following that up, Cincinnati’s now signed 15 of their 21 draftees as of Wednesday. They include another great pitcher, All-America Luke Holman of LSU, plus 3rd-round outfielder Michael Sirota from Northeastern, and 4th-round 2nd baseman Peyton Stovall from Arkansas.
One major coach leaves the local high school ranks with a big hole to fill. That’s Jay Malott, whose retirement as South Dearborn’s baseball coach was announced by the school Thursday. Malott has served Knights athletics for 38 years total, the last 29 heading up the baseball program. His clubs won 406 games over that span, including 3 EIAC championships, 5 sectional titles, and a regional 17 years ago. But he’s not completely departing… the school says he’ll continue his classroom teaching career. Congratulations on all that service to young people, to Coach Jay Malott.
A dozen East Central Trojan student-athletes who are said to have shown some leadership skills, have spent this Friday in different classes than usual, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s a Student Leadership Conference, put on by the state high school athletic association. They’ve heard some major speakers and taken part in a program from the state Criminal Justice Institute called “Rule The Road.” It teaches safe driving, and lifesaving skills.