'It's got to be executed': Jeff Brantley blasts Reds' defense after failed double-play try

Bally Sports Ohio analyst Jeff Brantley questioned shortstop Elly De La Cruz's effort on an attempt to turn a double play during the bottom of the 5th inning of the Cincinnati Reds' series opener against the Braves in Atlanta on Monday night.

"That's one of those things at the big-league level that should be a guaranteed double play," Brantley said during Bally Sports' broadcast. "It looked like Elly kind of fielded it off to the side. He gave (second baseman Jonathan) India kind of an awkward flip. It can't be 'my bad.' It cannot be 'my bad.' It's got to be executed. When we go into spring training next year before the 2025 season begins, I think the Reds should concentrate more on practicing defense than they practice offense. And the reason I mention the defensive part of it: This club is really starting to come together from a pitching standpoint. We're seeing a lot of the fruits of that labor here in 2024. It's going to get better in 2025. These young starters have been around the league through a little bit. They're good enough to let this club jump on their back and rise this club up the standings. You've got to be able to catch the ball though. It doesn't do any good to make great pitches and you can't turn a double play."

Last week, Bally Sports analyst Chris Welsh said there was "no reason to be that far off of first base" when De La Cruz was picked off against Miami.

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