July 31, 2025 • 20 mins
Tony and Austin talk with Jeff Carr from the LockedOn Reds Podcast on ESPN 1530!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Cincy Shirts Sincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored
in part by Cinci Shirts. Cincy Shirts, All Cincy, all Day.
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
All right, welcome back. It is our number two thanks
to Cincy Shirts. We have your talkbacks coming up in
just a few moments. We'll vote on the best talkback tomorrow.
That talkback Wednesday, Cincy Shirt gift card thanks to Cincy Shirts.
This is our training camp coverage, normally at the practice
fields right across the street from Pey Course Stadium. Today
the weather pushed us back inside, but that does not
(00:37):
change anything from our coverage standpoint at Bengals training camp
thanks to a door and windows thanks to Cincinnati Tax
Resolution powered by TOE five one three five one three
TOPH thanks to Oakley Greens. We're at the Airport Payton
Body broadcast area. Just a few moments, we'll go to
the race and Claire Roofing hotline before a bit of
breaking news.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yeah, quick piece of breaking news. Hamilton County Commissioners have
voted today on a new lease with the Cincinnati Bengals
for pay Corps Stadium. What a debt vote passed by
account of two to one. I believe it was Alisha
Reese that voted against it. She wanted it to be
put on the ballot. The other two said, no, it's
all done, It's dusted. The Bengals are here for the
(01:16):
next eleven years. What a debt pay Corp stadium that
is now official added to the list. People forget that's
a stadium in which you see product. Tony Pike once
had a tryout with the Cincinnati Bengals and then lied
through his teeth to the media about how good his
elbow felt.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Feel great, didn't even feel anything in it.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Red's made some moves, so from the locked on Red's podcast,
our guy Jeff car has helped is here to help
us sort through all of them. On the Race Saint
Clair roofing hotline. Uh Jeff one, how are you two?
By the time all is said and done, more successful
tenure in Cincinnati, Ken Griffy Junior acquired by via the
trade or uh Cabrian Hayes.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Tony, I'm just so excited, I don't even know what
to fi. I'll say, who day Race, No Praisdale and
I'm so happy to be on with the Hall of Fame.
Man I really appreciates the fact that you invite me
on the day that you get put into the Hall
of Fame. I cannot help but feel a sense of
just accomplishing.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Our first famer.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
I is this is a moment. Let me tell you what.
But no, I'm very excited about the addition of Cabrian Hayes.
And I get it. He's not a clean up hitter.
He's probably a number nine hitter, and he is a
huge project, huge gamble with the bat. But there is
now a stone wall at third base. We know for
a fact that if a ball goes that direction, it's
(02:45):
going to be now because there's no better fielder in
Major League Baseball than Cabrian Hayes. And quite frankly, when
you look at some fielding statistics, whether it the ELTs
above average or defensive run saved, the best fielder that
the Reds had Wednesday morning was Spencer Steer, ironically with
seven defensive runs. Say he has double that plus two
(03:06):
does Cabrian Hayes. He has sixteen defensive run Say. So
this is a fielding move. And I think that Terry
Francona and Nick Crawl are betting on Chris Polaka to
really right the ship a bit with Cabrian Hayes.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
What's his ceiling?
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Hit? I love this.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
What's his ceiling as a hitter? In your opinion?
Speaker 5 (03:25):
I think too? If you're talking about one hundred and
sixty two games, I think his ceiling is probably too
forty two fifty ten to fifteen home runs.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
The other move that they made they acquire Zach Lttel
from the Tampa Bay Rays, an innings eater, got roughed
up through a couple game stretch which leads to the
home run numbers that he's given up, but an ERA
under four. It's a pitch of the Reds just saw
recently in the Tampa series, and the Reds beat him
up a little bit. But on top of Cabrian Hayes
(03:58):
to go back and get Lttel as well. What was
your take on that?
Speaker 5 (04:02):
It's a very smart move. I think by Nick Crawl,
it's one of those that you say it's a good move.
Nobody's going to lose their minds about this and say
that the Reds just won the trade deadline. But I
really feel like this adds to the pitching depth in
a very flexible way because he's going to be able
to start, but he also has experience out of the bullpen,
just like Nick Martinez. And I know that the initial
(04:23):
move is that Nick Martinez is going to move to
the bullpen when Zach Lettel moves into the rotation. But
I think this also opens up the possibility that whenever
Hunter Green returns, you could see Chase Burns move to
the bullpen and do something that you know, like what
the Rays did with David Price all those years ago,
And so he can be a weapon for the Reds
(04:44):
down the stretch, maybe into the playoffs. Whereas if he
were to continue pitching every fifth day as a starter,
think we're heading toward a shut down point somewhere at
the end of August, and I think that that is
not the kind of thing that you want to do
if you're Terry Frank. So they've made this move more
so for the entire pitching staff than just for the
(05:05):
one guy. Though Zach Lyttel is elite at limiting the
base on balls. He has the best walks per nine
in the major leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
With that being said, does it feel to you like
there is still a move to be made for this
Reds team in the next couple hours, I do.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
There are rumblings and grumblings about maybe Ramon Loreano from
the Baltimore Orioles. He is an outfielder that plays all
three positions and is having a bit of a renaissance
at them at the plate this year, so it would
be a lineup upgrade to get him. There is also
some rumblings about Marcelo Zuna from the Atlanta Braves, in
which case that would just make it easy if you
acquire me. He just walks across the the you know,
(05:44):
dying racetrack to the Reds dug out, Yeah, or walked
across the racetrack exactly. But I'm not as bullish on
that because he has been kind of rough at the
plate for a couple of years now, not just this season.
So you kind of hope that the power returns on
some sort of streaky basis, but you're not getting the
guy that you saw a couple of years ago that
(06:05):
was putting up the MVP type numbers. I wonder though,
if that's the move that Nick Crawl makes, because we
know when we expect Nick Crawl to do something, he
does something almost to that level.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, it's it's insane to think of Azuna twenty twenty four.
He's an All Star, He's getting MVP votes. He had
thirty nine home runs the year before, he had forty,
just fifteen home runs this year two thirty three batting average,
So obviously there's still some upside there. But you wonder
at that point in his career, what else has left?
I think it would you rather have Luis Robert or
(06:39):
Marcelo Zuna?
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Oh, not only what they cost Marcelo Zuna, because the
White Sox are still quite illusional about how much Luis Robert.
Are you heard, I've heard a rumor they won a
major leaguer and two top pitching prospects.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
So no, are you surprised in seeing the details that
have come out around the Suarez move with the Seattle
mayn Mayor didn't have to give up any of their
top ten prospects.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
I am, And especially when you look at some of
the trades that have been happening for relief pitchers. What
the Mets had to give up to get Ryan Helsley,
what the Padres had to give up to get Mason Miller, like,
different things like that have been way more expensive than
what Suare has cost. But I also wonder if they
were just asking for different things from the Reds. And
the hard part about the prospect rankings is that scouts
(07:25):
have different notes based on different organizations, and so there
might be some scouts within the Diamondbacks organization that just
really love those guys and rate them super highly, whereas
they were probably still asking for a top ten prospect
from the Reds. And I think that ultimately what the
Reds have given up to get what they've got. Yeah,
sure they didn't really set the world on fire, and
(07:46):
there's some folks that are wondering why they still haven't
gotten a bat, but they also haven't been given up
much to get what they got either. I think that
there was probably a deal on the table for Auhanio
Suarez that would have been a lot more expensive.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I think it's we've done this with the Cincinnati Bengals
today to make it very simple. As the Reds get
ready to take on the Braves tonight, the only question
that matters are the Reds better today when they take
the field than they were yesterday?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
In your opinion? Are they they are?
Speaker 5 (08:16):
They added an elite glove in Key Brian Hayes, and
I think the value that he brings defensively is going
to be evident very quickly. And then I think that
they've made the pitching staff a lot more deeper. You're
adding it Martinez to the bullpen replacing Taylor Rodgers, who
play for my money, had the most boring sub three
er for a releaf pitcher I've ever seen. They felt
(08:39):
like he walked everybody on base and then just got
a ground ball to get out of it. But I
really feel like they got better there. If they can
somehow swing a trade for a bat, it doesn't even
have to be a really really good one, just a
better one than Connor Joe, then I think that we're
cooking with gas here. And I definitely think that the
Reds are better today than they were yesterday, and they've
(08:59):
still got it opportunity to get even better than that.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
When you look at the comments that Nick Kral made
yesterday and talking about attaching Taylor Rogers to a deal
for Cabrian Hayes in how much the financial impact hinders
him and what he's able to do, the plan that
they've come up with with athletic players that can move
(09:27):
all around in different positions, do you think that plan
is viable. Do you think Red's fans should believe in
that plan and do you think that ultimately it can
be successful with what they have the limits that they
have on what they can do financially. I think it
(09:47):
is better this year looking at Noelvi Marte being the
one who's moving around than it was last year having
Spencer Steer being the one that's moving round. I think
that Noelvi Martes athleticism is much better than spend Or Steers.
And I think I can see this work because of
Terry Francona. I don't necessarily know that the talent in
and of itself is the reason that I believe, nor
(10:10):
Nick Crawl, but I do think I believe because Terry
Francona can bring it all together. We're starting to see it.
We're starting to see some cohesiveness with this team. And
as much as they were frustrating against the Dodgers, I
looked at that series and I just wanted one. I
didn't really expect them to win that series, as much
as they came close in the first two games. Ultimately
(10:31):
the result was what I expected, and I think that
moving forward, we're going to see this team continue to
improve with the players that they have, and I do
I do think I'd buy into that a little bit.
I will say I am concerned about the comments made
that you had to attach Taylor Rodgers to afford Kibrian
Hayes in that deal, because that means that any other deal.
(10:52):
I mean, you know, talking about the differences of Marcello
Zuna and Luis Robert, both those guys are owed over
five million dollars the rest of the way, So then
you would have to find somebody that is be getting
paid close to that to attaching that deal so that
you can afford it.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
I kind of find that a little bit odd that
ownership doesn't see where this team is right now and say, yeah,
we'll put a couple more million in it.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
That's the part that I find most confusing. How can
they I mean, obviously the jamber deal and that Martinez
deal have taken up large chunks of money, but I
have a hard time believing that they had to swap
out Taylor Rogers. Not that the guy is a huge
part of the team. I get that, but like, I
just don't know. I look at that part and I
(11:34):
wonder if is it ever really possible to be competitive
if you have such strict financial, you know, restrictions, I
just don't understand how it's possible for them to really win.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
It certainly puts a lot more pressure on Nitcrawl and
on the development team for the Reds to get things right,
because I mean, the Rays do this every year. They
don't have the pay role like this, but they're able
to be a perennial contender and they're in the toughest
division in baseball. So I think that there's something to
what the Reds are doing, and it's one of those
things that we can't see it right now, but I
(12:11):
think at the end of the day, this team's going
to make it to the playoffs. And I think that
we are beginning that window that we thought was going
to open last year, and quite frankly, we thought was
early on its opening, maybe in twenty twenty three. I
think the window is finally opening this year because we're
starting to get the right pieces in place and the
right guy leading the team in Terry Francona.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Speaking to getting the right pieces in place, we saw
Hunter Green make a rehab start. He threw fifty pitches.
That's really all I care about. I think in rehab starts.
You don't want to dive into what they're doing because
they're working on so much. But does it feel like
we're closer or inching closer to getting Hunter Green back
to the ball club.
Speaker 5 (12:47):
It does. I know that initially they said that they
kind of circled August tenths as a belt the time
that we should expect him to return to the rotation,
and it looks like he's on track to do that.
And I'm with you, like rehab starts are about the
number of pitches, the quality of pitching, how's the velocity,
how is the movement, and then his recovery and all
of that has been good. I know there were some
(13:09):
people that were worried about the stat lines and stuff.
Don't be don't fall into that trap. That doesn't mean anything.
All it means is how healthy he is, and right
now all of the reports are positive.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
There the game itself last night, this team has had
a remarkable way this year, and we joke about not
being swept, but when you really think about it, it's
remarkable because there have been many times where you feel
like things are about to get out of there, out
of hand, and they pull it together and they find
a way to get back on track. Now, you can
argue that if you haven't been swept all year, maybe
(13:40):
you should be a little bit more over five hundred.
But the fact remains, when this team, more times than not,
have been pushed against a wall this year, they've responded
in a positive way. How do you speak to that?
How do they find a way? Is that a manager thing?
Is it a nucleus thing, is it a culture? What
do you put your hand on with that?
Speaker 5 (14:00):
I definitely got to think that it's a manager thing
and it's a team, a team mentality thing, where this
team did not have that ability last year. It felt
like when they hit the rock bottom, they just kind
of kept going for a little bit longer and then
they finally recovered, but everything was already burnt to the ground.
And we're not seeing that this year. They're hitting those
(14:22):
moments where, yeah, we are saying after some losses, man,
they could not afford to lose that game. Now, they
got to win tomorrow Foreshore, full stop. And then they do,
and they go out and they win tomorrow. There's a
mentality that Terry Francona is distilling in them, and I
think that at the end of both of these past series,
we saw it where the Reds had already won the
(14:44):
series with the Rays. It was a successful series no
matter what they did on Sunday, but they did not
approach Sunday that way. They approached Sunday is we got
to win today, and they did. And then in the
finale of the Dodgers series, they're like, well, we can't
lose this game, and they didn't. And I think that
you put that on Terry franktona. I've been very happy
(15:05):
with seeing the effect of him here recently, and I
get it early on in the season there were some
questions about how the team was galvanizing there, but the
manager's got to put his stamp on it. And I
think that the stamp is now there and we are
continuing to see that developed with him moving forward.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
How excited are you to see this weekend when they
go to Bristol and take on the Braves in front
of eighty five thousand plus. Just what this means. We
got to see him in the Field of Dreams game,
now we see him going to Bristol. It's going to
be remarkable. And for Chase Burns, he's played the Yankees
He's played the Red Sox, the Phillies, the Dodgers. Now
(15:41):
he gets to go to Bristol. What a feat for him.
But your thoughts on the game Saturday at the racetrack.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
Man, I'm so excited. I'm actually going to be down there,
going to get the sit in center field and watch
this thing.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
In the I'm in center field too, oh section KK.
I don't know where I'm sitting, but I know I'm
in sail. Yeah yeah, man, We're gonna have to link
up then for sure. But because this is gonna be awesome.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
Like the flyover that I've seen that they posted on
social media looks absolutely beautiful. The way that they've set
this up. When I bought the tickets earlier on this year,
I was like, you know what, I'm going for the vibes.
The vibes are gonna be immaculate. This is just gonna
be a fun atmosphere to be in and to see
now that a lot of the viewpoints, a lot of
the sitelines are gonna be really good. I am so
(16:29):
into this. I'm expecting a home run from Elie, maybe
even a stolen base, and then we'll just lose our
minds and there's gonna be eighty five thousand Reds fans there.
There's not gonna be any Braves fans whatsoever. And Okay,
I know.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
That's not Robin's racing, man, Robin's racing.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
But but you know, Dale, uh, Jeff, I have a question.
I have decided now that I'm going to the game
that I really am going to try to make it
the full NASCAR experience. And so what I've done is
I've shaved my beard and I have left just the mustache.
I'm gonna wear a trucker type of cap, I might
go cut off jeans. I'm really going to try to
(17:08):
make the most of this experience. And my question for
you is, will you join me in solidarity and shave
your beard and leave just a mustache for the game?
Speaker 5 (17:17):
That's pressure, man, But I ain't doing that. I look
ridiculous without.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Is there? Do you have a price?
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Everyone has a price.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
You'd have to get my wife.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Think if I could get you, if I could get
you on the field prior to the game Saturday.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Oh wow, look at me for like a month.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Okay, we appreciate that. In your commitment, Jeff, I'll send
you a picture from down there we uh we also
appreciate your time. What's the easiest way to follow along
with all your coverage of the Reds.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
You can follow along with the Lockdown Reds podcast everywhere
you get your podcast, including the iHeartRadio app. You can
also watch us on YouTube and I'm on all the socials.
I'm on Twitter or x, I'm on TikTok at Jeff
Carr with three s.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
I have one more question. Did you have a favorite
NASCAR driver growing up?
Speaker 5 (18:22):
I did. It's because we had the same first name,
Jeff Gordon. Oh no, he only used two f's though.
I was raised in a household that hated Jeff Gordon.
Were we were Dale Jarrett people and Ricky Rudd and
all the jacket and ever they had that the the
red and the blue and the yellow jacket. I had
(18:44):
the rainbow, uh the car that he had. I didn't
tell you anything about NASCAR now, but yeah, I like
Jeff Gordon when I was a kid.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
All right, fair enough, man, awesome stuff, Jeff, Thank you
so much, man, enjoy the weekend.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
See us at bringing down the show. Guys. Appreciate you,
congret on the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Thank you, Jeff.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
That is a Jeff Carr locked on reds. We'll we'll
parlay that to your talkbacks. Next on ESPN fifteen thirty
sixth station, Hey Alexa, who got cut? Getting ESPN fifteen
thirty from iHeartRadio.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
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Speaker 4 (20:13):
If you're fifty five
Cincy Shirts Sincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored
in part by Cinci Shirts. Cincy Shirts, All Cincy, all Day.
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
All right, welcome back. It is our number two thanks
to Cincy Shirts. We have your talkbacks coming up in
just a few moments. We'll vote on the best talkback tomorrow.
That talkback Wednesday, Cincy Shirt gift card thanks to Cincy Shirts.
This is our training camp coverage, normally at the practice
fields right across the street from Pey Course Stadium. Today
the weather pushed us back inside, but that does not
(00:37):
change anything from our coverage standpoint at Bengals training camp
thanks to a door and windows thanks to Cincinnati Tax
Resolution powered by TOE five one three five one three
TOPH thanks to Oakley Greens. We're at the Airport Payton
Body broadcast area. Just a few moments, we'll go to
the race and Claire Roofing hotline before a bit of
breaking news.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yeah, quick piece of breaking news. Hamilton County Commissioners have
voted today on a new lease with the Cincinnati Bengals
for pay Corps Stadium. What a debt vote passed by
account of two to one. I believe it was Alisha
Reese that voted against it. She wanted it to be
put on the ballot. The other two said, no, it's
all done, It's dusted. The Bengals are here for the
(01:16):
next eleven years. What a debt pay Corp stadium that
is now official added to the list. People forget that's
a stadium in which you see product. Tony Pike once
had a tryout with the Cincinnati Bengals and then lied
through his teeth to the media about how good his
elbow felt.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Feel great, didn't even feel anything in it.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Red's made some moves, so from the locked on Red's podcast,
our guy Jeff car has helped is here to help
us sort through all of them. On the Race Saint
Clair roofing hotline. Uh Jeff one, how are you two?
By the time all is said and done, more successful
tenure in Cincinnati, Ken Griffy Junior acquired by via the
trade or uh Cabrian Hayes.
Speaker 5 (02:00):
Tony, I'm just so excited, I don't even know what
to fi. I'll say, who day Race, No Praisdale and
I'm so happy to be on with the Hall of Fame.
Man I really appreciates the fact that you invite me
on the day that you get put into the Hall
of Fame. I cannot help but feel a sense of
just accomplishing.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Our first famer.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
I is this is a moment. Let me tell you what.
But no, I'm very excited about the addition of Cabrian Hayes.
And I get it. He's not a clean up hitter.
He's probably a number nine hitter, and he is a
huge project, huge gamble with the bat. But there is
now a stone wall at third base. We know for
a fact that if a ball goes that direction, it's
(02:45):
going to be now because there's no better fielder in
Major League Baseball than Cabrian Hayes. And quite frankly, when
you look at some fielding statistics, whether it the ELTs
above average or defensive run saved, the best fielder that
the Reds had Wednesday morning was Spencer Steer, ironically with
seven defensive runs. Say he has double that plus two
(03:06):
does Cabrian Hayes. He has sixteen defensive run Say. So
this is a fielding move. And I think that Terry
Francona and Nick Crawl are betting on Chris Polaka to
really right the ship a bit with Cabrian Hayes.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
What's his ceiling?
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Hit? I love this.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
What's his ceiling as a hitter? In your opinion?
Speaker 5 (03:25):
I think too? If you're talking about one hundred and
sixty two games, I think his ceiling is probably too
forty two fifty ten to fifteen home runs.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
The other move that they made they acquire Zach Lttel
from the Tampa Bay Rays, an innings eater, got roughed
up through a couple game stretch which leads to the
home run numbers that he's given up, but an ERA
under four. It's a pitch of the Reds just saw
recently in the Tampa series, and the Reds beat him
up a little bit. But on top of Cabrian Hayes
(03:58):
to go back and get Lttel as well. What was
your take on that?
Speaker 5 (04:02):
It's a very smart move. I think by Nick Crawl,
it's one of those that you say it's a good move.
Nobody's going to lose their minds about this and say
that the Reds just won the trade deadline. But I
really feel like this adds to the pitching depth in
a very flexible way because he's going to be able
to start, but he also has experience out of the bullpen,
just like Nick Martinez. And I know that the initial
(04:23):
move is that Nick Martinez is going to move to
the bullpen when Zach Lettel moves into the rotation. But
I think this also opens up the possibility that whenever
Hunter Green returns, you could see Chase Burns move to
the bullpen and do something that you know, like what
the Rays did with David Price all those years ago,
And so he can be a weapon for the Reds
(04:44):
down the stretch, maybe into the playoffs. Whereas if he
were to continue pitching every fifth day as a starter,
think we're heading toward a shut down point somewhere at
the end of August, and I think that that is
not the kind of thing that you want to do
if you're Terry Frank. So they've made this move more
so for the entire pitching staff than just for the
(05:05):
one guy. Though Zach Lyttel is elite at limiting the
base on balls. He has the best walks per nine
in the major leagues.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
With that being said, does it feel to you like
there is still a move to be made for this
Reds team in the next couple hours, I do.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
There are rumblings and grumblings about maybe Ramon Loreano from
the Baltimore Orioles. He is an outfielder that plays all
three positions and is having a bit of a renaissance
at them at the plate this year, so it would
be a lineup upgrade to get him. There is also
some rumblings about Marcelo Zuna from the Atlanta Braves, in
which case that would just make it easy if you
acquire me. He just walks across the the you know,
(05:44):
dying racetrack to the Reds dug out, Yeah, or walked
across the racetrack exactly. But I'm not as bullish on
that because he has been kind of rough at the
plate for a couple of years now, not just this season.
So you kind of hope that the power returns on
some sort of streaky basis, but you're not getting the
guy that you saw a couple of years ago that
(06:05):
was putting up the MVP type numbers. I wonder though,
if that's the move that Nick Crawl makes, because we
know when we expect Nick Crawl to do something, he
does something almost to that level.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Yeah, it's it's insane to think of Azuna twenty twenty four.
He's an All Star, He's getting MVP votes. He had
thirty nine home runs the year before, he had forty,
just fifteen home runs this year two thirty three batting average,
So obviously there's still some upside there. But you wonder
at that point in his career, what else has left?
I think it would you rather have Luis Robert or
(06:39):
Marcelo Zuna?
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Oh, not only what they cost Marcelo Zuna, because the
White Sox are still quite illusional about how much Luis Robert.
Are you heard, I've heard a rumor they won a
major leaguer and two top pitching prospects.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
So no, are you surprised in seeing the details that
have come out around the Suarez move with the Seattle
mayn Mayor didn't have to give up any of their
top ten prospects.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
I am, And especially when you look at some of
the trades that have been happening for relief pitchers. What
the Mets had to give up to get Ryan Helsley,
what the Padres had to give up to get Mason Miller, like,
different things like that have been way more expensive than
what Suare has cost. But I also wonder if they
were just asking for different things from the Reds. And
the hard part about the prospect rankings is that scouts
(07:25):
have different notes based on different organizations, and so there
might be some scouts within the Diamondbacks organization that just
really love those guys and rate them super highly, whereas
they were probably still asking for a top ten prospect
from the Reds. And I think that ultimately what the
Reds have given up to get what they've got. Yeah,
sure they didn't really set the world on fire, and
(07:46):
there's some folks that are wondering why they still haven't
gotten a bat, but they also haven't been given up
much to get what they got either. I think that
there was probably a deal on the table for Auhanio
Suarez that would have been a lot more expensive.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
I think it's we've done this with the Cincinnati Bengals
today to make it very simple. As the Reds get
ready to take on the Braves tonight, the only question
that matters are the Reds better today when they take
the field than they were yesterday?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
In your opinion? Are they they are?
Speaker 5 (08:16):
They added an elite glove in Key Brian Hayes, and
I think the value that he brings defensively is going
to be evident very quickly. And then I think that
they've made the pitching staff a lot more deeper. You're
adding it Martinez to the bullpen replacing Taylor Rodgers, who
play for my money, had the most boring sub three
er for a releaf pitcher I've ever seen. They felt
(08:39):
like he walked everybody on base and then just got
a ground ball to get out of it. But I
really feel like they got better there. If they can
somehow swing a trade for a bat, it doesn't even
have to be a really really good one, just a
better one than Connor Joe, then I think that we're
cooking with gas here. And I definitely think that the
Reds are better today than they were yesterday, and they've
(08:59):
still got it opportunity to get even better than that.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
When you look at the comments that Nick Kral made
yesterday and talking about attaching Taylor Rogers to a deal
for Cabrian Hayes in how much the financial impact hinders
him and what he's able to do, the plan that
they've come up with with athletic players that can move
(09:27):
all around in different positions, do you think that plan
is viable. Do you think Red's fans should believe in
that plan and do you think that ultimately it can
be successful with what they have the limits that they
have on what they can do financially. I think it
(09:47):
is better this year looking at Noelvi Marte being the
one who's moving around than it was last year having
Spencer Steer being the one that's moving round. I think
that Noelvi Martes athleticism is much better than spend Or Steers.
And I think I can see this work because of
Terry Francona. I don't necessarily know that the talent in
and of itself is the reason that I believe, nor
(10:10):
Nick Crawl, but I do think I believe because Terry
Francona can bring it all together. We're starting to see it.
We're starting to see some cohesiveness with this team. And
as much as they were frustrating against the Dodgers, I
looked at that series and I just wanted one. I
didn't really expect them to win that series, as much
as they came close in the first two games. Ultimately
(10:31):
the result was what I expected, and I think that
moving forward, we're going to see this team continue to
improve with the players that they have, and I do
I do think I'd buy into that a little bit.
I will say I am concerned about the comments made
that you had to attach Taylor Rodgers to afford Kibrian
Hayes in that deal, because that means that any other deal.
(10:52):
I mean, you know, talking about the differences of Marcello
Zuna and Luis Robert, both those guys are owed over
five million dollars the rest of the way, So then
you would have to find somebody that is be getting
paid close to that to attaching that deal so that
you can afford it.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
I kind of find that a little bit odd that
ownership doesn't see where this team is right now and say, yeah,
we'll put a couple more million in it.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
That's the part that I find most confusing. How can
they I mean, obviously the jamber deal and that Martinez
deal have taken up large chunks of money, but I
have a hard time believing that they had to swap
out Taylor Rogers. Not that the guy is a huge
part of the team. I get that, but like, I
just don't know. I look at that part and I
(11:34):
wonder if is it ever really possible to be competitive
if you have such strict financial, you know, restrictions, I
just don't understand how it's possible for them to really win.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
It certainly puts a lot more pressure on Nitcrawl and
on the development team for the Reds to get things right,
because I mean, the Rays do this every year. They
don't have the pay role like this, but they're able
to be a perennial contender and they're in the toughest
division in baseball. So I think that there's something to
what the Reds are doing, and it's one of those
things that we can't see it right now, but I
(12:11):
think at the end of the day, this team's going
to make it to the playoffs. And I think that
we are beginning that window that we thought was going
to open last year, and quite frankly, we thought was
early on its opening, maybe in twenty twenty three. I
think the window is finally opening this year because we're
starting to get the right pieces in place and the
right guy leading the team in Terry Francona.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Speaking to getting the right pieces in place, we saw
Hunter Green make a rehab start. He threw fifty pitches.
That's really all I care about. I think in rehab starts.
You don't want to dive into what they're doing because
they're working on so much. But does it feel like
we're closer or inching closer to getting Hunter Green back
to the ball club.
Speaker 5 (12:47):
It does. I know that initially they said that they
kind of circled August tenths as a belt the time
that we should expect him to return to the rotation,
and it looks like he's on track to do that.
And I'm with you, like rehab starts are about the
number of pitches, the quality of pitching, how's the velocity,
how is the movement, and then his recovery and all
of that has been good. I know there were some
(13:09):
people that were worried about the stat lines and stuff.
Don't be don't fall into that trap. That doesn't mean anything.
All it means is how healthy he is, and right
now all of the reports are positive.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
There the game itself last night, this team has had
a remarkable way this year, and we joke about not
being swept, but when you really think about it, it's
remarkable because there have been many times where you feel
like things are about to get out of there, out
of hand, and they pull it together and they find
a way to get back on track. Now, you can
argue that if you haven't been swept all year, maybe
(13:40):
you should be a little bit more over five hundred.
But the fact remains, when this team, more times than not,
have been pushed against a wall this year, they've responded
in a positive way. How do you speak to that?
How do they find a way? Is that a manager thing?
Is it a nucleus thing, is it a culture? What
do you put your hand on with that?
Speaker 5 (14:00):
I definitely got to think that it's a manager thing
and it's a team, a team mentality thing, where this
team did not have that ability last year. It felt
like when they hit the rock bottom, they just kind
of kept going for a little bit longer and then
they finally recovered, but everything was already burnt to the ground.
And we're not seeing that this year. They're hitting those
(14:22):
moments where, yeah, we are saying after some losses, man,
they could not afford to lose that game. Now, they
got to win tomorrow Foreshore, full stop. And then they do,
and they go out and they win tomorrow. There's a
mentality that Terry Francona is distilling in them, and I
think that at the end of both of these past series,
we saw it where the Reds had already won the
(14:44):
series with the Rays. It was a successful series no
matter what they did on Sunday, but they did not
approach Sunday that way. They approached Sunday is we got
to win today, and they did. And then in the
finale of the Dodgers series, they're like, well, we can't
lose this game, and they didn't. And I think that
you put that on Terry franktona. I've been very happy
(15:05):
with seeing the effect of him here recently, and I
get it early on in the season there were some
questions about how the team was galvanizing there, but the
manager's got to put his stamp on it. And I
think that the stamp is now there and we are
continuing to see that developed with him moving forward.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
How excited are you to see this weekend when they
go to Bristol and take on the Braves in front
of eighty five thousand plus. Just what this means. We
got to see him in the Field of Dreams game,
now we see him going to Bristol. It's going to
be remarkable. And for Chase Burns, he's played the Yankees
He's played the Red Sox, the Phillies, the Dodgers. Now
(15:41):
he gets to go to Bristol. What a feat for him.
But your thoughts on the game Saturday at the racetrack.
Speaker 5 (15:49):
Man, I'm so excited. I'm actually going to be down there,
going to get the sit in center field and watch
this thing.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
In the I'm in center field too, oh section KK.
I don't know where I'm sitting, but I know I'm
in sail. Yeah yeah, man, We're gonna have to link
up then for sure. But because this is gonna be awesome.
Speaker 5 (16:07):
Like the flyover that I've seen that they posted on
social media looks absolutely beautiful. The way that they've set
this up. When I bought the tickets earlier on this year,
I was like, you know what, I'm going for the vibes.
The vibes are gonna be immaculate. This is just gonna
be a fun atmosphere to be in and to see
now that a lot of the viewpoints, a lot of
the sitelines are gonna be really good. I am so
(16:29):
into this. I'm expecting a home run from Elie, maybe
even a stolen base, and then we'll just lose our
minds and there's gonna be eighty five thousand Reds fans there.
There's not gonna be any Braves fans whatsoever. And Okay,
I know.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
That's not Robin's racing, man, Robin's racing.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
But but you know, Dale, uh, Jeff, I have a question.
I have decided now that I'm going to the game
that I really am going to try to make it
the full NASCAR experience. And so what I've done is
I've shaved my beard and I have left just the mustache.
I'm gonna wear a trucker type of cap, I might
go cut off jeans. I'm really going to try to
(17:08):
make the most of this experience. And my question for
you is, will you join me in solidarity and shave
your beard and leave just a mustache for the game?
Speaker 5 (17:17):
That's pressure, man, But I ain't doing that. I look
ridiculous without.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Is there? Do you have a price?
Speaker 5 (17:29):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Everyone has a price.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
You'd have to get my wife.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Think if I could get you, if I could get
you on the field prior to the game Saturday.
Speaker 5 (17:45):
Oh wow, look at me for like a month.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Okay, we appreciate that. In your commitment, Jeff, I'll send
you a picture from down there we uh we also
appreciate your time. What's the easiest way to follow along
with all your coverage of the Reds.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
You can follow along with the Lockdown Reds podcast everywhere
you get your podcast, including the iHeartRadio app. You can
also watch us on YouTube and I'm on all the socials.
I'm on Twitter or x, I'm on TikTok at Jeff
Carr with three s.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
I have one more question. Did you have a favorite
NASCAR driver growing up?
Speaker 5 (18:22):
I did. It's because we had the same first name,
Jeff Gordon. Oh no, he only used two f's though.
I was raised in a household that hated Jeff Gordon.
Were we were Dale Jarrett people and Ricky Rudd and
all the jacket and ever they had that the the
red and the blue and the yellow jacket. I had
(18:44):
the rainbow, uh the car that he had. I didn't
tell you anything about NASCAR now, but yeah, I like
Jeff Gordon when I was a kid.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
All right, fair enough, man, awesome stuff, Jeff, Thank you
so much, man, enjoy the weekend.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
See us at bringing down the show. Guys. Appreciate you,
congret on the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Thank you, Jeff.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
That is a Jeff Carr locked on reds. We'll we'll
parlay that to your talkbacks. Next on ESPN fifteen thirty
sixth station, Hey Alexa, who got cut? Getting ESPN fifteen
thirty from iHeartRadio.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
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Speaker 4 (19:40):
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Speaker 2 (19:43):
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