The Cincinnati Reds’ West Coast road trip — as seems to happen every year — has once again derailed the team’s momentum. Heading into Wednesday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Reds have dropped four of their last five games and now trail the New York Mets by 3½ games in the NL Wild Card race.
Frustration boiled over among Reds fans — particularly those who stayed up past midnight — as they took aim at manager Terry Francona following Tuesday night’s game. Not only did Francona roll out a questionable lineup in what was essentially a must-win contest, but several of his in-game decisions were heavily scrutinized.
The loudest criticism came after a key play in the bottom of the sixth inning, when a catchable ball sailed over a backpedaling Noelvi Marte. The misplay, which could’ve limited the damage to just a two-run deficit, instead allowed the Dodgers to tack on two more runs. Los Angeles extended its lead to 5-1 and ultimately secured a 6-3 victory.
Noelvi Marte move sparks Reds fan outrage after Terry Francona’s recent remarks
Noelvi Marte was thrust into center field for the first time in his career on Tuesday night — and the inexperience was evident. The decision to keep him out there, especially after Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw exited the game, left many scratching their heads. With capable center fielders like TJ Friedl and Will Benson available on the bench, it’s baffling why Francona didn’t make a defensive switch.
It felt like one of those avoidable, “unfair” scenarios that just shouldn’t have happened. The situation echoes last week’s extra-inning game against the Diamondbacks, when Francona declined to pinch-run for Jose Trevino because he didn’t want to put rookie catcher Will Banfield in a tough spot catching Graham Ashcraft with the game on the line. So the question is: how was this any different?
If protecting a young player was the rationale then, it’s hard to understand why that logic didn’t apply to Marte — a rookie being asked to handle one of the most demanding defensive positions on the field, in a critical game, under the bright lights of Dodger Stadium.
“Part of me, I was fighting myself with do we run for Trevino,” Francona said after Saturday’s game. “I didn’t think that was fair to put the kid (Banfield) in the 10th inning with a ghost runner on second trying to catch Ashcraft. You know, I was really fighting that one.”
So it’s not fair to put a rookie catcher behind the plate (with potentially a two-run lead) in order to win a baseball game, but it’s perfectly fair to deploy Marte as your starting centerfielder — a position he’s never played — and leave him out there when other options are clearly available? Make it make sense, Reds fans.
Far be it from me or anyone else to question a future Hall of Fame manager in that moment, but Francona’s comments ring hollow after seeing how he’s handled the lineup the past few games. Cincinnati is now behind the eight ball and New York is surging.
Francona has hung his hat on his team playing clean baseball this season, and the Reds have looked like anything but during this nine-game road trip.
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