Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart reassures fans amid a tough stretch, urging them to 'chill' as the team navigates injuries and struggles. He emphasizes that it's only May and the team remains confident in their abilities.
Key points
Cincinnati Reds are struggling in the National League Central
Rookie Sal Stewart encourages fans to remain calm
Injuries to key players are affecting team performance
It's only May, and the team believes they can turn things around
Emilio PaganCincinnati RedsSal Stewart
CHICAGO -- They're swirling the drain in the National League Central. They're having trouble getting a lead and more trouble holding one if they get it. And with injuries mounting to key players, it's no wonder the locals are restless.
âSo many people are in a panic right now,â Reds star rookie Sal Stewart said, his voice rising just a little in an otherwise quiet clubhouse Wednesday night, May 6. âJust gotta chill. Weâre good. Things like this happen all the time, and especially to good teams. Weâre in a good spot and weâre gonna keep going.
âEveryone in this clubhouse knows that weâve got it taken care of, and weâre going to come out here and keep playing hard.â
Rookie Sal Stewart remained upbeat despite the Reds' sixth-straight loss. "Things like this happen all the time, and especially to good teams. Weâre in a good spot and weâre gonna keep going," he said.
Rookie Sal Stewart remained upbeat despite the Reds' sixth-straight loss. "Things like this happen all the time, and especially to good teams. Weâre in a good spot and weâre gonna keep going," he said.
Whether that makes anybody back home feel better, the Reds are six games into a seven-game, two-city trip without a win. They opened with two straight blowout losses and have lost four straight one-run games to the Pirates and Chicago Cubs â including three consecutive walk-offs to open the four-game series at Wrigley Field.
Q&A
What did Sal Stewart say to Cincinnati Reds fans?
Sal Stewart urged Reds fans to 'chill' and reassured them that the team is in a good spot despite recent struggles.
Why are Cincinnati Reds fans panicking?
Fans are concerned due to the team's poor performance in the National League Central and injuries to key players.
How is the Cincinnati Reds' performance affecting their season?
The Reds are having trouble gaining and holding leads, contributing to a challenging start to the season.
What is the current status of injuries on the Cincinnati Reds?
The Reds are dealing with mounting injuries to key players, including the loss of closer Emilio Pagan.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
They led all three late, including twice in the ninth inning. And on the night they put closer Emilio PagĂĄn on the injured list then scored four in the ninth to take the lead, Graham Ashcraft blew the save in the bottom of the inning.
Oof.
After all those days in first place, fattening up on American League teams, the Reds are 1-8 in National League Central play, including eight straight losses to the Pirates and Cubs.
They were in first place by a game over the Cubs when this road trip began and have sunk all the way to five games behind Chicago and its $767 million lineup.
Oof, oof.
What's next?
"We just get up and we keep playing," Stewart said.
Stewart was involved in one of the stranger, costly plays for the Reds in the series, when he was the lead runner in a first-and-third, nobody-out situation in the sixth and misread a grounder behind the bag at third. Stewart hesitated about 10 feet off the bag just long enough for Alex Bregman to glove it and hang Stewart out for the quick tag.
âIf I go back, I felt he would have tagged me,â Stewart said. âIt was just a weird play right down the line.â
The two-time MVP and World Series champion later went on to become the first Black manager in big-league history.
Take a look at the Hall of Famer through the years.
Frank Robinson was 20 when he played his first game for the Cincinnati Reds.
Frank Robinson played in Cincinnati from 1956 to 1965.
He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1978.
1956: Frank Robinson, seated, center foreground, is shown taking classes at Xavier University while playing his rookie season with the Cincinnati Reds.
March 21, 1956: Frank Robinson.
April 1956: Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds.
1956: Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds.
Dec. 9, 1956: Frank Robinson on the basketball court.
1957: Frank Robinson.
March 10, 1957: Frank Robinson, left, unanimously selected the National League's Rookie of 1956, chats with his manager, Birdie Tebbetts, before taking his turn in the hitter's cage at the Cincinnati Reds' spring base in Tampa, Florida.
March 12, 1957: Frank Robinson, the 1956 rookie of the year, swings a sledge hammer daily during training drills in Tampa, Florida, to strengthen his right arm
June 23, 1957: Frank Robinson crosses home plate.
May 1, 1958: Frank Robinson crosses home plate.
Feb. 22, 1959: Frankie Robinson ponders whether he'll be using a first baseman's mitt or outfielder's glove as he prepared for the start of spring raining in Tampa, Florida.
March 1, 1959: Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds.
April 1960: Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds.
1961: Frank Robinson.
March 9, 1963: Cincinnati Reds players relax after a workout. From left to right: Pete Rose, Sammy Ellis, Teddy Davidson, Frank Robinson and Tommy Harper.
Jan. 30, 1964: Assistant general manager Phil Seghi, left, and, Reds' president Bill DeWitt sign slugger Frank Robinson to his 1964 contract.
1964: Frank Robinson.
March 17, 1965: Frank Robinson picks out favorite war club for pre-game batting practice.
April 12, 1965: Frank Robinson.
August 1965: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Frank Robinson in action.
June 1965: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Frank Robinson (20) in action at Crosley Field.
July 1966: Baltimore Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson.
May 5, 1967: Frank Robinson, right, former Cincinnati Reds' star who led the Baltimore Orioles to the World's baseball championship last season, was in Cincinnati to autograph copies of the book "Birds On the Wing."
July 1969: Baltimore Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson at bat.
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson poses for a portrait at Tiger Stadium.
Cleveland Indians manager and designated hitter Frank Robinson reacts in the dugout at Cleveland Stadium.
1982: Frank Robinson.
Aug. 17, 1984: Frank Robinson.
Dec. 9, 1986: Frank Robinson.
Dec. 11, 1994: Frank Robinson admires a Gold Glove trophy he was supposed to receive in 1966 when he was a Baltimore Oriole and led the American League in home runs, runs batted in and batting average - the triple crown. Somehow, the trophy never got to Robinson. Until now.
2002: Montreal Expos manager Frank Robinson in the dugout.
Feb. 17, 2003: Montreal Expos' manager Frank Robinson signs autographs for Kyle and Curtis McCarty, three-year-old twins from Melbourne, Florida, during his team's spring training workout in Florida.
Sept. 29, 2004: Montreal Expos manager Frank Robinson stands for the national anthems prior to the team's final game in Montreal against the Florida Marlins at Olympic Stadium.
April 14, 2005: U.S. President George W. Bush laughs with Manager Frank Robinson (R) in the dugout before throwing out the first pitch for the home opener for the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium in Washington.
Nov. 9, 2005: Frank Robinson is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nationâs highest civilian award, by President George W. Bush.
April 6, 2009: Reds great and Hall of Fame member Frank Robinson served as honorary captain of the Reds.
April 7, 2009: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and his wife Barbara look over a scale model of Crosley Field at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Museum.
April 7, 2009: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and his wife Barbara, look over Reds' memorabilia at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Museum.
2009: Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famers Chuck Harmon, left, and Frank Robinson joke with one another at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Museum. Both men died in 2019.
June 20, 2009: Baseball great Frank Robinson throws out the ceremonial first pitch to kick off the Cincinnati Reds-Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball Gillette Civil Rights Game at Great American Ball Park.
Aug. 24, 2013: MLB hall of fame member Frank Robinson prior to the first inning of a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers at US Cellular Field.
July 26, 2014: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson arrives at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jul 12, 2015: Catcher Kyle Schwarber (left) is presented the MVP trophy from baseball great Frank Robinson.
March 28, 2019: A Frank Robinson jersey is added down the left field line.
1 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
The two-time MVP and World Series champion later went on to become the first Black manager in big-league history.
Take a look at the Hall of Famer through the years.
2 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Frank Robinson was 20 when he played his first game for the Cincinnati Reds.
3 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Frank Robinson played in Cincinnati from 1956 to 1965.
He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1978.
4 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
1956: Frank Robinson, seated, center foreground, is shown taking classes at Xavier University while playing his rookie season with the Cincinnati Reds.
5 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
March 21, 1956: Frank Robinson.
6 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
April 1956: Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds.
7 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
1956: Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds.
8 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Dec. 9, 1956: Frank Robinson on the basketball court.
9 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
1957: Frank Robinson.
10 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
March 10, 1957: Frank Robinson, left, unanimously selected the National League's Rookie of 1956, chats with his manager, Birdie Tebbetts, before taking his turn in the hitter's cage at the Cincinnati Reds' spring base in Tampa, Florida.
11 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
March 12, 1957: Frank Robinson, the 1956 rookie of the year, swings a sledge hammer daily during training drills in Tampa, Florida, to strengthen his right arm
12 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
June 23, 1957: Frank Robinson crosses home plate.
13 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
May 1, 1958: Frank Robinson crosses home plate.
14 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Feb. 22, 1959: Frankie Robinson ponders whether he'll be using a first baseman's mitt or outfielder's glove as he prepared for the start of spring raining in Tampa, Florida.
15 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
March 1, 1959: Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds.
16 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
April 1960: Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds.
17 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
1961: Frank Robinson.
18 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
March 9, 1963: Cincinnati Reds players relax after a workout. From left to right: Pete Rose, Sammy Ellis, Teddy Davidson, Frank Robinson and Tommy Harper.
19 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Jan. 30, 1964: Assistant general manager Phil Seghi, left, and, Reds' president Bill DeWitt sign slugger Frank Robinson to his 1964 contract.
20 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
1964: Frank Robinson.
21 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
March 17, 1965: Frank Robinson picks out favorite war club for pre-game batting practice.
22 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
April 12, 1965: Frank Robinson.
23 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
August 1965: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Frank Robinson in action.
24 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
June 1965: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Frank Robinson (20) in action at Crosley Field.
25 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
July 1966: Baltimore Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson.
26 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
May 5, 1967: Frank Robinson, right, former Cincinnati Reds' star who led the Baltimore Orioles to the World's baseball championship last season, was in Cincinnati to autograph copies of the book "Birds On the Wing."
27 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
July 1969: Baltimore Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson at bat.
28 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson poses for a portrait at Tiger Stadium.
29 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Cleveland Indians manager and designated hitter Frank Robinson reacts in the dugout at Cleveland Stadium.
30 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
1982: Frank Robinson.
31 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Aug. 17, 1984: Frank Robinson.
32 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Dec. 9, 1986: Frank Robinson.
33 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Dec. 11, 1994: Frank Robinson admires a Gold Glove trophy he was supposed to receive in 1966 when he was a Baltimore Oriole and led the American League in home runs, runs batted in and batting average - the triple crown. Somehow, the trophy never got to Robinson. Until now.
34 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
2002: Montreal Expos manager Frank Robinson in the dugout.
35 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Feb. 17, 2003: Montreal Expos' manager Frank Robinson signs autographs for Kyle and Curtis McCarty, three-year-old twins from Melbourne, Florida, during his team's spring training workout in Florida.
36 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Sept. 29, 2004: Montreal Expos manager Frank Robinson stands for the national anthems prior to the team's final game in Montreal against the Florida Marlins at Olympic Stadium.
37 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
April 14, 2005: U.S. President George W. Bush laughs with Manager Frank Robinson (R) in the dugout before throwing out the first pitch for the home opener for the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium in Washington.
38 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Nov. 9, 2005: Frank Robinson is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nationâs highest civilian award, by President George W. Bush.
39 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
April 6, 2009: Reds great and Hall of Fame member Frank Robinson served as honorary captain of the Reds.
40 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
April 7, 2009: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and his wife Barbara look over a scale model of Crosley Field at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Museum.
41 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
April 7, 2009: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and his wife Barbara, look over Reds' memorabilia at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Museum.
42 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
2009: Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famers Chuck Harmon, left, and Frank Robinson joke with one another at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Museum. Both men died in 2019.
43 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
June 20, 2009: Baseball great Frank Robinson throws out the ceremonial first pitch to kick off the Cincinnati Reds-Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball Gillette Civil Rights Game at Great American Ball Park.
44 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Aug. 24, 2013: MLB hall of fame member Frank Robinson prior to the first inning of a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers at US Cellular Field.
45 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
July 26, 2014: Hall of Famer Frank Robinson arrives at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
46 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
Jul 12, 2015: Catcher Kyle Schwarber (left) is presented the MVP trophy from baseball great Frank Robinson.
47 / 47
Frank Robinson, Reds legend, MLB Hall of Famer and first Black manager
March 28, 2019: A Frank Robinson jersey is added down the left field line.
Manager Terry Francona called it a learning experience for Stewart.
As much as anything, it was just the way things have been going for the Reds during a weeklong road trip that has included two rain delays, two extra-inning games, two blowouts, three walk-offs and no wins.
They take their longest losing streak since an eight-gamer two years ago this month into the Chicago series finale.
âThe best way I know how is to learn from everything that just happened and move on,â Francona said. âThis is what we do, man. This is all I do. And itâs not funâŠ
âI know you can sit back and look at the big picture,â Francona said, âand I know a month from now weâll look back and go, âGod, that was a shây week and weâre OK.â But when youâre going through it, itâs hard.â
