August 22, 2025 • 22 mins
Charlie Goldsmith joins from Arizona as the Reds get ready for a weekend series against the Diamondbacks. He discusses the Reds as well as the Bengals pre-season.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in part by
Cinci Shirts. Cinci Shirts, All Cincy.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
All Day.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Welcome back our two thanks to Cincy Shirts. Thank you
for listening on ESBN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. If
you're listening to be the iHeartRadio app, go ahead and
get your talk back in. We'll get to those talkbacks
right after we talk to Charlie Goldsmith, who's joining us
right now.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
What's up, Charlie, Tony. How you doing, Charlie?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
I'm great. How are you doing today?
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I'm good. I landed in Arizona. It's a one hundred
degrees and it'll be one fifteen by the end of
the day. So it's a fun little change.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Of pace, nice little change of pay. Since you're there,
let's start there and then we'll get to the Bengals.
The West Coast road trip is always something that I
think Reds fans cautiously, cautiously await, and they're in the
thick of it right now. They take two out of
three from the Angels. What's the overall feel around this
team as they entered today, just a half game back
in the wild Card.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
It really stands out how quickly they were able to
kind of change the tone, change the vibe, change the
maybe not quite the narrative, but in some ways change
the narrative coming off that Brewer series, which felt so
emotional in a negative way, bringing back through some of
the negative storylines we've been talking about all season. But
there's also a lot to like, and you saw that
on Sunday. I think the way that game dramatically and
(01:28):
emotionally ended for them was meaningful. They played some really
good baseball for two games in Los Angeles, and you
just like where this team's at right now. They're not perfect,
they've got flogged, they've got even more questions that are
kind of unsettled for what a contender would usually be
like in late August. But this is what you do
it for for stretches like this.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
What do you make of where the bullpen is at
right now? Obviously it feels like they've been taxed a
little bit, they might be a little bit tired. You're
in the thick of a playoff hunt. One, what do
you feel about the overall direction of the bullpen?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
And two?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
How close are we to getting some guys back healthy
that may be able to move some other players to
help the bullpen.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It's truly day to day and it's a lot to
keep track of, and it's one of the most interesting
storylines on the team right now. You start with the
fact that, I mean Santy and Pagan Barlow especially have
just been asked to do so much at the start
of the season. They thought they'd be able to give
these guys more help that hasn't quite developed yet internally. Ideally,
they get Lodolo back and Martinez can go to the bullpen.
(02:29):
Ideally they get burned back pretty quickly and he can
go to the bullpen. There's also this pocket of prospects,
you know, May Richardson, Phillips, Lesursa, Maxwell. Maxwell got called
up today. I want to get on him and hit
on him in a second. But they hope that a
couple of those guys would be real factors by September.
We're not there yet with the other four. Maxwell today,
(02:51):
he's got to throw a strikes. I mean, does he
have a little Ricky Karter and him, maybe, but truly
elite stuff. I think, like my line on Dak Maxwell,
is it that meme where it's like he walks onto
the mound and dude go heck yeah, Like he's that
type of guy, He's that type of presence. I'm a
big Zach Maxwell believer and i think he's gonna be
a fan favorite. And I'm he got called up this
(03:12):
morning and I'm very much looking forward to seeing if
he can build on some momentum he had in August.
He's a real prospect. You could make a difference.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
What do you make about the nickname big Sugar? Where
does that rank in nicknames for you?
Speaker 4 (03:25):
It's perfect and it was so authentic too. It was
some uh, it was some like I mean, all announcers
are great, but some anonymous, low level like acc network
announcer who is trying to make a name for himself.
I believe it's how the story goes. And he just
let it out, Big Sugar, and it fits him personally
because he's this energetic ball of energy, like I've said
(03:45):
the line before, like a Marius mimes on the mound
like this got's fun. And again he's gotta throw strike
and that's gonna be a huge thing. But I've been
a fan of Zak Maxwell for a long time.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
South Stewart is a guy that gets a lot of
airtime here and talking about could he help this team?
Do you think it's close and do you think he's
a player that can help this team in a playoff race?
Speaker 4 (04:07):
I mean, I just look at track record. And in
twenty twenty three, they called up Nolovi Marte I believe
after thirty nine games in Triple A, and he pretty
much looked ready and they called him up even though
there wasn't a set spot for him to play, they
made it work and he made a real impact in
twenty three. You know, you don't want a guy to
just basically skip over Triple A. But South Stewart, I
believe he's like a week away from reaching that you know,
(04:29):
imaginary thirty nine games threshold and it felt like there's
any sort of real science behind that. But he's at
the point where you start to see her right. Guys
who performs that well for that long and Triple A
they're ready. Now the bigger question is what do you play? Right?
And he has been playing more second base, which is
on my radar and I plan to ask more about
And anyone who's heard me talk knows I'm a huge
(04:50):
South Stewart guy. I'd like to know more about what
he is defensively at second base. One of my red
Hot takes is I would keep playing Matt McClain and
commit to the defense and clean baseball vision you have
with a guy who thinks an elite defensive second baseman
and live with the offense that you're getting. Maybe Sally
could spell him on a day or two here and there.
(05:11):
But the guy who really took South Stewart's spot is
mcgelly and too hard at least in the short term.
And is this a Christian Acarnassi on strand will Benson
hot stretch from miguelly Andrew Harr or is he a
guy who's going to be a three twenty hitter or
whatever he is the rest of the way will see.
The aggression makes me think there might be some more
highs and lows. So if Andrew Hard drops back off
(05:32):
and needs to slide into a bench roll, well, then
there's an opportunity for Sal Sal's adding first base onto
his plate. That could be an opportunity to get him
involved more. And then especially too, I mean, this team's
going to get hurt more between now and the end
of the season. One more thing too, We keep talking
about South Stewart. I think Hector Rodriguez belongs in this
conversation as well.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, does it feel as we're now talking about the
thick of a playoff race, we're scoreboard watching every night?
Drew brought this up earlier around the Reds team. Does
it feel like they're loose? Does it feel like they
they're a team that understands that there is a lot
of pressure on the Mets for the money they've spent
and how the season unfolded. Does it feel like a
team that's loose as they as they enter into this playoff.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Hunt, well, against the Brewers just watching them, it certainly didn't.
And I think that's a big part of the storyline
of the rest of the season too. Carrie Francona stearing
this ship for a team that has to have a
very clear understanding of the way in the style of
baseball that it needs to be playing. So that's kind
of going to be the next thing I'm going to
(06:34):
look for, kind of when they face that stretch of
really good teams that believe the Blue Jays, Mets, and
Padres in September, that'll be important. This week, They've got
to take care of business. This is also why they
made such a point to prioritize adding winning players. You know, Hayes, Lush,
Trevino Martinez, Began, a couple others. I'm forgetting, but all
those guys with playoff experience, you get them for stretches
(06:56):
like this because there are more guys who have done
it before then there were for the August and September
of twenty twenty three Reds, which was basically all just
a bunch of guys who would score. Brand new to this.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, Charlie Goldsmith is with us. Let's switch gears. Let's
talk Bengals, Charlie preseason game number three tomorrow. None of
the starters are going to be playing in this. But
what are some of the storylines or who are some
of the players that you're most looking forward to keeping
up with tomorrow as it relates to this roster and
maybe who can help the team.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I've got a few, and I'm not expecting any of
the It's funny, and I've got caught with this before,
like get caught by saying, like, all right, a big
storyline is going to be Derek Carter, But then Derek
Carter doesn't play in the preseason finale or the equivalent
style of players. So I'm going to kind of aim
low with these things I'm watching for Timitch. Timsley plays
special teams because that's his path to a spot on
(07:49):
the active game day roster. I think he's pretty set
and showing what he can do as a receiver, but
is he actually going to be able to carve out
a role? Probably would come down to special teams. Can
any of these backup offs lineman show you anything, especially
you know Matt Lee who hasn't played yet. Seth McLaughlin
only got mop up duty against Washington. I'm the low
(08:09):
man on on Devin Conchran. I don't think he's the
swing tackle answer the Jalen Rivers even player. They too
nervous about their line depth that they don't even feel
like they can put him out there because he is
technically their starter this week with Ford and Patrick day
to day, I mean Cocher and I'm trying to fit
the other guy. I can't even I think it was
(08:29):
Caleb at the end where their second team tackles on
Thursday and training camp, like Kirkland's in there, like they
need someone to show that they can do anything. Just
frankly fifth offensive tackle is an interesting spot to me.
They seem to really like Howard Cross but continuing to
show he can make an impact against the runs important
as he battles with gods like Eric Gregory and Tavin Bryan.
(08:52):
I'm gonna have a fotlight on Dajon Anthony if he plays.
I think he's one of the more interesting Bengals because
I think entering camp they had some hope for him
being their safety three. He hasn't run with that. It
is he a guy that want to see more to
see if they need to go out and get safety
three on the label wire. That's an interesting storyline to me.
And Hey, and then this long snapping battle is going
(09:13):
down to the wire.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
What do you make of the comments from Al Golden
yesterday of a if you want to point any arrows
point him at me. You know, we've made the decision
not to not to show much. We run a lot
of base. We keep it pretty vanilla, which I understand
if that's the case. But in keeping it vanilla, I
thought we would see guys play faster, play more confidently.
It seems like they're still a little hesitant. Seems like
their responsibilities aren't very clear. What do you make of
(09:36):
the comments from Al Golden about the first two preseason
games in which the defense wasn't good enough.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I'm not making a lot out of the preseason games,
but I do think the conversation is just what it is, like,
this isn't going to just happy fixing this defense. I
think the best case scenario for the Bengals is that
Joe Burn the offense kind of pick up the team
for a while and carry the flag and then hopefully
you want the plan to be by October, November, ideally December.
(10:03):
But can the defense win you a game? Two games?
Can your defense keep you in a couple more games?
Can your defense not take you out of a game
against the Bills of the Ravens when you get to
that point of the schedule, like this isn't going to
just show up and be even in my opinion, an
average defense. And to me, one of the storylines of campus,
how many guys haven't had that breakout training camp. This
(10:24):
is a guy get ready to see what he can do.
That's that's just has happened. So for that reason, it's
gotta have time, in my opinion, to bake a seam
of the preseason game has been rookie moments from Stewart,
from from from Demetrius Knight, who's flying back and fall
into the ground. Like, I think you're gonna see more
of that too. They're going to try to simplify to
(10:46):
let these guys play fast, But I'm gonna stress patients.
Is the patient's gonna be end up with? Think like
a division title race? You know, let's see. But expectations
aren't high around this defense, at least in my opinion.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Do you think it's as simple as Demitrice Knight as
the starting linebacker, or as Oran Burks or anyone else
making a case to be the guy in Week one?
Speaker 4 (11:07):
I do like the one thing, all right, like get
ready for a football cliche. Like the words I've heard
the most from alt Gorulden are ball disruption. There are
only like three guys on this defense that can actually
disrupt the ball. All right, all right, I guess Trey
throw Trey Hendrickson in there, Yes, Tamar Stewart and his
batted passes. Ideally, there's hope that Logan Wilson, now that
(11:27):
he's healthier and has has to worry less about what's
going on around him, plays faster and gets some of
that turnover production again, and then you hope that Cam
Taylor Brick can find that again. I do believe Demetrius
Knight is one of the better quote unquote ball disruptors
on the team. He's had some of the most real
splash plays on the ball, you know, drop him back,
(11:47):
jumping in front of Jamar and tipping a pick to
Dax Hill. He's had plays like that. He's not Jermaine Pratt,
and I think that was one of the things I've
learned about him this camp. He's like, you want to
develop him into it down thumper, but really what he
is right now is he's a guy who's going to
try to show some range and some ball instincts. Has
worked to grow, has room to grow physicality at the
(12:09):
line of scrimmage clearly as we've seen, but Warren Burks
gives you none of that bald disruption ability. We'll see
him in base packages. He might even end up getting
some starts when teams start the game with heavy personnel.
But Night fits with this defense is trying to be
and they don't have a lot of other guys who
can do what Dave seen knight do in training camp.
(12:30):
He has had some of the best plays in practice
of the summer.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I would be remissed if we didn't have a chance
to catch up. And with everything that we found out
over the weekend and what we've heard as it relates
to Trey Hendrickson, it wouldn't be a segment if I
didn't at least ask you, do you have any reason
to believe that your thoughts on Trey Hendrickson have changed?
Do you still think he's their Week one in Cleveland?
Do you think there's a chance there's another team that
steps up. As we sit here on August twenty second,
(12:56):
what do you feel with Trey Hendrickson.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
I don't see a trade. One thing like I really
know about how this whole situation is unfolded is that
I mean, you've heard me say some not critical things,
because I still saw Trey as a pro bowler last year.
But you've heard me say some critical things about you know,
what I thought Trey Hendrickson was in wasn't last season,
and there were some real flaws in his season, and
I know the entire league saw that too, and so
the trade market in terms of valuing him at an
(13:21):
elite level just never took off in that way. Now
should the Bengals that have been asking for an elite
asking pricing return. Well, that's a long conversation for another
day about how the Bengals view and value around players
and their ability to be proactive or reactive in these
situations because they're constantly reactive. But I don't think anything's changed.
I think Trey is also in a situation where he's
(13:43):
best suited to get something done because of the risk
of what this season could be compared to last season
for him. I still feel optimistic overall, especially seeing how
engaged he's been. Like, I've really been impressed, genuinely, and
a lot of times that's just talk, but I've genuinely
been impressed with the role he's playing on the sideline.
He's acting like a guy who's going to be a Bengal.
(14:05):
I think he's going to be a Bengal. I would
still lean towards something getting done, and I'm not expecting
a trade.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Charlie, I gotta ask. Dalton Reisner came in this week.
He visited with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was one of
the top twenty past protecting guards according to Pro Football
Focus in Football last year, he left without a deal
in place. That's reported he's going to visit the Seahawks
potentially the Steelers as well. When it gets this close
to the start of the season, do you put yourself
a little bit behind if someone visits you first and
(14:32):
then goes to a different team. If you're the Pittsburgh
Steelers and you're sitting down with Riser and you say,
what did the Bengals offer? We don't want you to
be a Bengal. We want you to be a Steeler.
Do you lose out a little bit if you're the
Bengals by letting him leave town?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
You know, Dalton Riiser, Let's talk about Dalton Reisner. They
picked Lucas Patrick over Dalton Reisner. Dalton Reisner was the
guy who escapegoaded for Sam Donald seeing ghosts in the
playoffs last year. You remember how a Viking season season
ended and Kevin O'Connell was basically like it was the
guard's fault and then they used the first round pick
(15:05):
and paid eighty seven million dollars for a guard. Riser
is always available at this type of year, at this
time of year, despite the PFF grades, every and what
a've scene on tape two shows that Riisner is not
a guy who should be competing for a starting job
in the NFL now, the competition for the backup spots
in the NFL. Now, He's certainly is better than Andrews Suber.
(15:28):
That is where this becomes a conversation against the Bengals,
especially with Cordell Bolton now out for the year, he
would still upgrade the roster, which is why I would
very much be in favor of going out and getting
rising as low as I am on what he is
as a player, you know, at least he's shown he
can stick on a roster, unlike unlike Matt Leett guard
(15:49):
or whatever the next option would be for the Bengals.
So for those reasons, I think there's very important to
kind of be more aggressive and keep these conversations going.
But Riser is not going to come in here and
be you know, Riley Reef saving the line.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
At the end of the day, I would be remiss
not to ask Charlie. I know, as you get ready
for the final preseason game, most of the roster spots
are there. But we saw earlier today Brian Robinson Junior
was moved to the San Francisco forty nine ers. He's
a starting running back. Last year they gave up a
six round pick. Are there still moves out there in
your opinion that this Bengals team could make that could
(16:23):
upgrade where they are defensively?
Speaker 4 (16:26):
You know, my dream job is Tony. My dream job
is the guy to be the guy who like the
seventh guy in the Bengals front office, who comes up
with all the trade proposals that they'll ever do. But
I'd be like, hey, Duke, I got an offer for
Mitch Tinsley. I like this. I like this the Bengals.
You go back to the Khalil Herbert trade. They needed
a running back of the deadline last year. They were desperate.
They got it. But you know what we heard a
(16:48):
lot in March and April, man, we wish we had
that extra pick. I think the Bengals learned something, not
learned something, but I think they reflected from last year
for right or for wrong, and they're putting a lot
of value on keeping those picks so at a maximumcer
tee them like swapping a sixth for a seventh. Obviously,
offensive line depth is something that they should be more
aggressive in pursuing and the guys available via trade would
(17:10):
be better than the guys available to be a free
agency obviously fit defensive tackle, obviously safety. You can look,
go over this rosser, another corner, another fifth linebacker, stuff
like that. Of course they should be more aggressive with
this trade stuff. But I keep going back to the
reluctance to trade picks based on how the draft shaped
out for him last season.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
If you mentioned Mitchell Tinsley earlier, he had a great
game against Washington. If he comes out and dominates Indy
and des Ritter finds him for a touchdown or two,
is there any avenue out there where you could see
his cutdown day looms that a team needs a playmaking
wide receiver, and I know Mitchell Tinsley has been good here.
He still probably slots in at the number six wide receiver.
(17:52):
Is there anything that could happen that you think a
team would give up anything in return for a guy
like Mitchell Tinsley.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
I mean, all you're asking for is you know BJ Hills,
who at the time wasn't anything. I want to stress
this too. We're talking a lot about cutdown day and roster.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Projections and who the final guys are going to be
forty eight through fifty five, let's say, is like the
worst I've seen it during my sixty years covering the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Last year different tangent, Like fifty four through ninety was
the worst I've ever seen it, say to bring in
a whole new practice squad in September. This year is
kind of those last bubble guys. What I think the
real thing this year is going to be. It's not
so It's gonna be one of those years where like,
all right, here's the initial fifty three man roster. I
think Tinsley has a good shot to see it all
the way through, but say one of those alignment on
(18:39):
either side or safety, maybe they'll make it through. But
then the Bengals are going to be looking at the
waiver wire and there will be better options on the
waiver wire than the Bengals have in the house now.
So this year, especially a casting it looking at I
you know, great job that this guy would be in
the final guy to make the fifty three because forty
eight through fifty five is such a weak zone on
their ross. Or I feel like I think there's gonna
(19:02):
be some shuffling after Tuesday with the Bengals being pretty aggressive. Now, Tinsley,
how much value does he have? I mean, there are
some desperate receiver teams around the league right now. Just
the thing is, there are more teams desperate for trench
help like the Bengals are so sure. Maybe there's a
maybe the forty nine ers have an extra guy or
something like that. I don't know. I haven't gone through
those depth charts. But when you look at what you
(19:23):
do have to trade in the Billy Price type situation,
it'd be Kinsley, it'd be Jalen Davis. I mean, the
alignment on either side aren't doing much for you. Other
than that, I don't see a lot of trade that
would get much in return.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Charlie, by the time we're talking next week, we are
in all likelihood right talking about UC just one on
the road and they made a statement against Nebraska, and
now look at this big twelve slate coming up. But
what do you make of next Thursday's game? Because you
know what, I'm glad you as it's hard. I like
a lot of the pieces of UC, I really do.
(19:57):
But I think the conversation changes so much if they
the way to beat Nebraska, because it doesn't feel like
there's a lot of build up around the season right now.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I'm glad you asked this. I've been thinking a lot
about EC football and I know they're not favored to
beat in Nebraska, They're not favored to be a contender
in Big twelve. This might not even be the year
for that. But it's the nil era, it's the transfer
portal era. And what do we always talk about as
all these new guys, you never get to see guys
grow and develop. And the Bearcats this year have have
Royer have I mean, excuse me, they got the quarterback
(20:31):
towards By, they got Royer, they got Corleone, they got
a gold Ay coming back. Like what the Bearcats have
done actually to keep a team together and let them
grow over the course of a one year to another stage.
And then they've also kind of used some of the
added Big twelve muscles they have with Cold well with mcdud. Like,
you see real pieces at every level of this team.
The running game is obviously going to be a strength
(20:52):
with Scott Sadderfield, Like, this is a team that's kind
of grown up together and has returned and that's and
that's fun, and that's I think what we all want
to see in this nil landscape anyway, you know, the
opportunity to just say right, you know, got a returning quarterback.
How the stories be developed is roy I have another
leap he can take Man Corley don't have had a
normal offseason this year, Golde, what can he do? Just
(21:13):
step up as a leader. They got a new left tackle, Cotton. Like,
I don't think this is going to be a ten
win team, but it's a team with real players. It's
a team with continuity in a lot of spots. It's
a team with continuity from a coaching perspective, and at
the end of the day, when we all complain about
the modern coach a modern college football landscape, this is
what we want to see anyway. And then if you
can get a win against Nebraska, that that validates some beliefs.
(21:34):
That's a that's a fun place to be. Or maybe
it's not Nebraska, maybe it's one of the big twelve
teams on the schedule down the road, but it's a
fun place to be. And I'm more excited for this
season because of that continuity and returning cores.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
So you'll be in Kansas City Thursday.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
I'll be watching I couldn't couldn't make that trip Red
Red playoff run, but it's something twenty year old Charlie
would have done.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
Yeah, listen, that's Charlie Goldsmith. Charlie, I can't thank you
for joining us. Hopefully we're talking about a win on
Friday of next week. Is what's the easiest way. We're
in the thick of a playoff hunt. The Bengals season
is right around the corner. I know you got so
much stuff going on. What's the easiest way for listeners
to keep up with all of your content.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
We've got Charlie Sharkboard on Subjack, We've got it on
Fox nineteen. We have the Power Stacks podcast, myself and Ryan.
You just saw the latest episodes out. A lot else
going on too, but I'm excited. I really do love
this time of year and some fun stories, especially on
both sides of the street and doubtown a Bank.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I love it. Charlie, thank you so much. Enjoy your
time in Arizona and let's bring three back.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
We'll see.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Thank thank you, Charlie. That is Charlie Goldsmith. Awesome stuff
as always, Reds, Bengals, bear Cats. I don't know what
else you need from Charlie, but he just delivered all
of it. Now we'll go to your talkbacks, which are
next on ESBN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Yeah, your chance at a
Three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in part by
Cinci Shirts. Cinci Shirts, All Cincy.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
All Day.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Welcome back our two thanks to Cincy Shirts. Thank you
for listening on ESBN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. If
you're listening to be the iHeartRadio app, go ahead and
get your talk back in. We'll get to those talkbacks
right after we talk to Charlie Goldsmith, who's joining us
right now.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
What's up, Charlie, Tony. How you doing, Charlie?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
I'm great. How are you doing today?
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I'm good. I landed in Arizona. It's a one hundred
degrees and it'll be one fifteen by the end of
the day. So it's a fun little change.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Of pace, nice little change of pay. Since you're there,
let's start there and then we'll get to the Bengals.
The West Coast road trip is always something that I
think Reds fans cautiously, cautiously await, and they're in the
thick of it right now. They take two out of
three from the Angels. What's the overall feel around this
team as they entered today, just a half game back
in the wild Card.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
It really stands out how quickly they were able to
kind of change the tone, change the vibe, change the
maybe not quite the narrative, but in some ways change
the narrative coming off that Brewer series, which felt so
emotional in a negative way, bringing back through some of
the negative storylines we've been talking about all season. But
there's also a lot to like, and you saw that
on Sunday. I think the way that game dramatically and
(01:28):
emotionally ended for them was meaningful. They played some really
good baseball for two games in Los Angeles, and you
just like where this team's at right now. They're not perfect,
they've got flogged, they've got even more questions that are
kind of unsettled for what a contender would usually be
like in late August. But this is what you do
it for for stretches like this.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
What do you make of where the bullpen is at
right now? Obviously it feels like they've been taxed a
little bit, they might be a little bit tired. You're
in the thick of a playoff hunt. One, what do
you feel about the overall direction of the bullpen?
Speaker 4 (01:58):
And two?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
How close are we to getting some guys back healthy
that may be able to move some other players to
help the bullpen.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It's truly day to day and it's a lot to
keep track of, and it's one of the most interesting
storylines on the team right now. You start with the
fact that, I mean Santy and Pagan Barlow especially have
just been asked to do so much at the start
of the season. They thought they'd be able to give
these guys more help that hasn't quite developed yet internally. Ideally,
they get Lodolo back and Martinez can go to the bullpen.
(02:29):
Ideally they get burned back pretty quickly and he can
go to the bullpen. There's also this pocket of prospects,
you know, May Richardson, Phillips, Lesursa, Maxwell. Maxwell got called
up today. I want to get on him and hit
on him in a second. But they hope that a
couple of those guys would be real factors by September.
We're not there yet with the other four. Maxwell today,
(02:51):
he's got to throw a strikes. I mean, does he
have a little Ricky Karter and him, maybe, but truly
elite stuff. I think, like my line on Dak Maxwell,
is it that meme where it's like he walks onto
the mound and dude go heck yeah, Like he's that
type of guy, He's that type of presence. I'm a
big Zach Maxwell believer and i think he's gonna be
a fan favorite. And I'm he got called up this
(03:12):
morning and I'm very much looking forward to seeing if
he can build on some momentum he had in August.
He's a real prospect. You could make a difference.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
What do you make about the nickname big Sugar? Where
does that rank in nicknames for you?
Speaker 4 (03:25):
It's perfect and it was so authentic too. It was
some uh, it was some like I mean, all announcers
are great, but some anonymous, low level like acc network
announcer who is trying to make a name for himself.
I believe it's how the story goes. And he just
let it out, Big Sugar, and it fits him personally
because he's this energetic ball of energy, like I've said
(03:45):
the line before, like a Marius mimes on the mound
like this got's fun. And again he's gotta throw strike
and that's gonna be a huge thing. But I've been
a fan of Zak Maxwell for a long time.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
South Stewart is a guy that gets a lot of
airtime here and talking about could he help this team?
Do you think it's close and do you think he's
a player that can help this team in a playoff race?
Speaker 4 (04:07):
I mean, I just look at track record. And in
twenty twenty three, they called up Nolovi Marte I believe
after thirty nine games in Triple A, and he pretty
much looked ready and they called him up even though
there wasn't a set spot for him to play, they
made it work and he made a real impact in
twenty three. You know, you don't want a guy to
just basically skip over Triple A. But South Stewart, I
believe he's like a week away from reaching that you know,
(04:29):
imaginary thirty nine games threshold and it felt like there's
any sort of real science behind that. But he's at
the point where you start to see her right. Guys
who performs that well for that long and Triple A
they're ready. Now the bigger question is what do you play? Right?
And he has been playing more second base, which is
on my radar and I plan to ask more about
And anyone who's heard me talk knows I'm a huge
(04:50):
South Stewart guy. I'd like to know more about what
he is defensively at second base. One of my red
Hot takes is I would keep playing Matt McClain and
commit to the defense and clean baseball vision you have
with a guy who thinks an elite defensive second baseman
and live with the offense that you're getting. Maybe Sally
could spell him on a day or two here and there.
(05:11):
But the guy who really took South Stewart's spot is
mcgelly and too hard at least in the short term.
And is this a Christian Acarnassi on strand will Benson
hot stretch from miguelly Andrew Harr or is he a
guy who's going to be a three twenty hitter or
whatever he is the rest of the way will see.
The aggression makes me think there might be some more
highs and lows. So if Andrew Hard drops back off
(05:32):
and needs to slide into a bench roll, well, then
there's an opportunity for Sal Sal's adding first base onto
his plate. That could be an opportunity to get him
involved more. And then especially too, I mean, this team's
going to get hurt more between now and the end
of the season. One more thing too, We keep talking
about South Stewart. I think Hector Rodriguez belongs in this
conversation as well.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, does it feel as we're now talking about the
thick of a playoff race, we're scoreboard watching every night?
Drew brought this up earlier around the Reds team. Does
it feel like they're loose? Does it feel like they
they're a team that understands that there is a lot
of pressure on the Mets for the money they've spent
and how the season unfolded. Does it feel like a
team that's loose as they as they enter into this playoff.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
Hunt, well, against the Brewers just watching them, it certainly didn't.
And I think that's a big part of the storyline
of the rest of the season too. Carrie Francona stearing
this ship for a team that has to have a
very clear understanding of the way in the style of
baseball that it needs to be playing. So that's kind
of going to be the next thing I'm going to
(06:34):
look for, kind of when they face that stretch of
really good teams that believe the Blue Jays, Mets, and
Padres in September, that'll be important. This week, They've got
to take care of business. This is also why they
made such a point to prioritize adding winning players. You know, Hayes, Lush,
Trevino Martinez, Began, a couple others. I'm forgetting, but all
those guys with playoff experience, you get them for stretches
(06:56):
like this because there are more guys who have done
it before then there were for the August and September
of twenty twenty three Reds, which was basically all just
a bunch of guys who would score. Brand new to this.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yeah, Charlie Goldsmith is with us. Let's switch gears. Let's
talk Bengals, Charlie preseason game number three tomorrow. None of
the starters are going to be playing in this. But
what are some of the storylines or who are some
of the players that you're most looking forward to keeping
up with tomorrow as it relates to this roster and
maybe who can help the team.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I've got a few, and I'm not expecting any of
the It's funny, and I've got caught with this before,
like get caught by saying, like, all right, a big
storyline is going to be Derek Carter, But then Derek
Carter doesn't play in the preseason finale or the equivalent
style of players. So I'm going to kind of aim
low with these things I'm watching for Timitch. Timsley plays
special teams because that's his path to a spot on
(07:49):
the active game day roster. I think he's pretty set
and showing what he can do as a receiver, but
is he actually going to be able to carve out
a role? Probably would come down to special teams. Can
any of these backup offs lineman show you anything, especially
you know Matt Lee who hasn't played yet. Seth McLaughlin
only got mop up duty against Washington. I'm the low
(08:09):
man on on Devin Conchran. I don't think he's the
swing tackle answer the Jalen Rivers even player. They too
nervous about their line depth that they don't even feel
like they can put him out there because he is
technically their starter this week with Ford and Patrick day
to day, I mean Cocher and I'm trying to fit
the other guy. I can't even I think it was
(08:29):
Caleb at the end where their second team tackles on
Thursday and training camp, like Kirkland's in there, like they
need someone to show that they can do anything. Just
frankly fifth offensive tackle is an interesting spot to me.
They seem to really like Howard Cross but continuing to
show he can make an impact against the runs important
as he battles with gods like Eric Gregory and Tavin Bryan.
(08:52):
I'm gonna have a fotlight on Dajon Anthony if he plays.
I think he's one of the more interesting Bengals because
I think entering camp they had some hope for him
being their safety three. He hasn't run with that. It
is he a guy that want to see more to
see if they need to go out and get safety
three on the label wire. That's an interesting storyline to me.
And Hey, and then this long snapping battle is going
(09:13):
down to the wire.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
What do you make of the comments from Al Golden
yesterday of a if you want to point any arrows
point him at me. You know, we've made the decision
not to not to show much. We run a lot
of base. We keep it pretty vanilla, which I understand
if that's the case. But in keeping it vanilla, I
thought we would see guys play faster, play more confidently.
It seems like they're still a little hesitant. Seems like
their responsibilities aren't very clear. What do you make of
(09:36):
the comments from Al Golden about the first two preseason
games in which the defense wasn't good enough.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I'm not making a lot out of the preseason games,
but I do think the conversation is just what it is, like,
this isn't going to just happy fixing this defense. I
think the best case scenario for the Bengals is that
Joe Burn the offense kind of pick up the team
for a while and carry the flag and then hopefully
you want the plan to be by October, November, ideally December.
(10:03):
But can the defense win you a game? Two games?
Can your defense keep you in a couple more games?
Can your defense not take you out of a game
against the Bills of the Ravens when you get to
that point of the schedule, like this isn't going to
just show up and be even in my opinion, an
average defense. And to me, one of the storylines of campus,
how many guys haven't had that breakout training camp. This
(10:24):
is a guy get ready to see what he can do.
That's that's just has happened. So for that reason, it's
gotta have time, in my opinion, to bake a seam
of the preseason game has been rookie moments from Stewart,
from from from Demetrius Knight, who's flying back and fall
into the ground. Like, I think you're gonna see more
of that too. They're going to try to simplify to
(10:46):
let these guys play fast, But I'm gonna stress patients.
Is the patient's gonna be end up with? Think like
a division title race? You know, let's see. But expectations
aren't high around this defense, at least in my opinion.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Do you think it's as simple as Demitrice Knight as
the starting linebacker, or as Oran Burks or anyone else
making a case to be the guy in Week one?
Speaker 4 (11:07):
I do like the one thing, all right, like get
ready for a football cliche. Like the words I've heard
the most from alt Gorulden are ball disruption. There are
only like three guys on this defense that can actually
disrupt the ball. All right, all right, I guess Trey
throw Trey Hendrickson in there, Yes, Tamar Stewart and his
batted passes. Ideally, there's hope that Logan Wilson, now that
(11:27):
he's healthier and has has to worry less about what's
going on around him, plays faster and gets some of
that turnover production again, and then you hope that Cam
Taylor Brick can find that again. I do believe Demetrius
Knight is one of the better quote unquote ball disruptors
on the team. He's had some of the most real
splash plays on the ball, you know, drop him back,
(11:47):
jumping in front of Jamar and tipping a pick to
Dax Hill. He's had plays like that. He's not Jermaine Pratt,
and I think that was one of the things I've
learned about him this camp. He's like, you want to
develop him into it down thumper, but really what he
is right now is he's a guy who's going to
try to show some range and some ball instincts. Has
worked to grow, has room to grow physicality at the
(12:09):
line of scrimmage clearly as we've seen, but Warren Burks
gives you none of that bald disruption ability. We'll see
him in base packages. He might even end up getting
some starts when teams start the game with heavy personnel.
But Night fits with this defense is trying to be
and they don't have a lot of other guys who
can do what Dave seen knight do in training camp.
(12:30):
He has had some of the best plays in practice
of the summer.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I would be remissed if we didn't have a chance
to catch up. And with everything that we found out
over the weekend and what we've heard as it relates
to Trey Hendrickson, it wouldn't be a segment if I
didn't at least ask you, do you have any reason
to believe that your thoughts on Trey Hendrickson have changed?
Do you still think he's their Week one in Cleveland?
Do you think there's a chance there's another team that
steps up. As we sit here on August twenty second,
(12:56):
what do you feel with Trey Hendrickson.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
I don't see a trade. One thing like I really
know about how this whole situation is unfolded is that
I mean, you've heard me say some not critical things,
because I still saw Trey as a pro bowler last year.
But you've heard me say some critical things about you know,
what I thought Trey Hendrickson was in wasn't last season,
and there were some real flaws in his season, and
I know the entire league saw that too, and so
the trade market in terms of valuing him at an
(13:21):
elite level just never took off in that way. Now
should the Bengals that have been asking for an elite
asking pricing return. Well, that's a long conversation for another
day about how the Bengals view and value around players
and their ability to be proactive or reactive in these
situations because they're constantly reactive. But I don't think anything's changed.
I think Trey is also in a situation where he's
(13:43):
best suited to get something done because of the risk
of what this season could be compared to last season
for him. I still feel optimistic overall, especially seeing how
engaged he's been. Like, I've really been impressed, genuinely, and
a lot of times that's just talk, but I've genuinely
been impressed with the role he's playing on the sideline.
He's acting like a guy who's going to be a Bengal.
(14:05):
I think he's going to be a Bengal. I would
still lean towards something getting done, and I'm not expecting
a trade.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
Charlie, I gotta ask. Dalton Reisner came in this week.
He visited with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was one of
the top twenty past protecting guards according to Pro Football
Focus in Football last year, he left without a deal
in place. That's reported he's going to visit the Seahawks
potentially the Steelers as well. When it gets this close
to the start of the season, do you put yourself
a little bit behind if someone visits you first and
(14:32):
then goes to a different team. If you're the Pittsburgh
Steelers and you're sitting down with Riser and you say,
what did the Bengals offer? We don't want you to
be a Bengal. We want you to be a Steeler.
Do you lose out a little bit if you're the
Bengals by letting him leave town?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
You know, Dalton Riiser, Let's talk about Dalton Reisner. They
picked Lucas Patrick over Dalton Reisner. Dalton Reisner was the
guy who escapegoaded for Sam Donald seeing ghosts in the
playoffs last year. You remember how a Viking season season
ended and Kevin O'Connell was basically like it was the
guard's fault and then they used the first round pick
(15:05):
and paid eighty seven million dollars for a guard. Riser
is always available at this type of year, at this
time of year, despite the PFF grades, every and what
a've scene on tape two shows that Riisner is not
a guy who should be competing for a starting job
in the NFL now, the competition for the backup spots
in the NFL. Now, He's certainly is better than Andrews Suber.
(15:28):
That is where this becomes a conversation against the Bengals,
especially with Cordell Bolton now out for the year, he
would still upgrade the roster, which is why I would
very much be in favor of going out and getting
rising as low as I am on what he is
as a player, you know, at least he's shown he
can stick on a roster, unlike unlike Matt Leett guard
(15:49):
or whatever the next option would be for the Bengals.
So for those reasons, I think there's very important to
kind of be more aggressive and keep these conversations going.
But Riser is not going to come in here and
be you know, Riley Reef saving the line.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
At the end of the day, I would be remiss
not to ask Charlie. I know, as you get ready
for the final preseason game, most of the roster spots
are there. But we saw earlier today Brian Robinson Junior
was moved to the San Francisco forty nine ers. He's
a starting running back. Last year they gave up a
six round pick. Are there still moves out there in
your opinion that this Bengals team could make that could
(16:23):
upgrade where they are defensively?
Speaker 4 (16:26):
You know, my dream job is Tony. My dream job
is the guy to be the guy who like the
seventh guy in the Bengals front office, who comes up
with all the trade proposals that they'll ever do. But
I'd be like, hey, Duke, I got an offer for
Mitch Tinsley. I like this. I like this the Bengals.
You go back to the Khalil Herbert trade. They needed
a running back of the deadline last year. They were desperate.
They got it. But you know what we heard a
(16:48):
lot in March and April, man, we wish we had
that extra pick. I think the Bengals learned something, not
learned something, but I think they reflected from last year
for right or for wrong, and they're putting a lot
of value on keeping those picks so at a maximumcer
tee them like swapping a sixth for a seventh. Obviously,
offensive line depth is something that they should be more
aggressive in pursuing and the guys available via trade would
(17:10):
be better than the guys available to be a free
agency obviously fit defensive tackle, obviously safety. You can look,
go over this rosser, another corner, another fifth linebacker, stuff
like that. Of course they should be more aggressive with
this trade stuff. But I keep going back to the
reluctance to trade picks based on how the draft shaped
out for him last season.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
If you mentioned Mitchell Tinsley earlier, he had a great
game against Washington. If he comes out and dominates Indy
and des Ritter finds him for a touchdown or two,
is there any avenue out there where you could see
his cutdown day looms that a team needs a playmaking
wide receiver, and I know Mitchell Tinsley has been good here.
He still probably slots in at the number six wide receiver.
(17:52):
Is there anything that could happen that you think a
team would give up anything in return for a guy
like Mitchell Tinsley.
Speaker 4 (18:00):
I mean, all you're asking for is you know BJ Hills,
who at the time wasn't anything. I want to stress
this too. We're talking a lot about cutdown day and roster.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Projections and who the final guys are going to be
forty eight through fifty five, let's say, is like the
worst I've seen it during my sixty years covering the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Last year different tangent, Like fifty four through ninety was
the worst I've ever seen it, say to bring in
a whole new practice squad in September. This year is
kind of those last bubble guys. What I think the
real thing this year is going to be. It's not
so It's gonna be one of those years where like,
all right, here's the initial fifty three man roster. I
think Tinsley has a good shot to see it all
the way through, but say one of those alignment on
(18:39):
either side or safety, maybe they'll make it through. But
then the Bengals are going to be looking at the
waiver wire and there will be better options on the
waiver wire than the Bengals have in the house now.
So this year, especially a casting it looking at I
you know, great job that this guy would be in
the final guy to make the fifty three because forty
eight through fifty five is such a weak zone on
their ross. Or I feel like I think there's gonna
(19:02):
be some shuffling after Tuesday with the Bengals being pretty aggressive. Now, Tinsley,
how much value does he have? I mean, there are
some desperate receiver teams around the league right now. Just
the thing is, there are more teams desperate for trench
help like the Bengals are so sure. Maybe there's a
maybe the forty nine ers have an extra guy or
something like that. I don't know. I haven't gone through
those depth charts. But when you look at what you
(19:23):
do have to trade in the Billy Price type situation,
it'd be Kinsley, it'd be Jalen Davis. I mean, the
alignment on either side aren't doing much for you. Other
than that, I don't see a lot of trade that
would get much in return.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Charlie, by the time we're talking next week, we are
in all likelihood right talking about UC just one on
the road and they made a statement against Nebraska, and
now look at this big twelve slate coming up. But
what do you make of next Thursday's game? Because you
know what, I'm glad you as it's hard. I like
a lot of the pieces of UC, I really do.
(19:57):
But I think the conversation changes so much if they
the way to beat Nebraska, because it doesn't feel like
there's a lot of build up around the season right now.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I'm glad you asked this. I've been thinking a lot
about EC football and I know they're not favored to
beat in Nebraska, They're not favored to be a contender
in Big twelve. This might not even be the year
for that. But it's the nil era, it's the transfer
portal era. And what do we always talk about as
all these new guys, you never get to see guys
grow and develop. And the Bearcats this year have have
Royer have I mean, excuse me, they got the quarterback
(20:31):
towards By, they got Royer, they got Corleone, they got
a gold Ay coming back. Like what the Bearcats have
done actually to keep a team together and let them
grow over the course of a one year to another stage.
And then they've also kind of used some of the
added Big twelve muscles they have with Cold well with mcdud. Like,
you see real pieces at every level of this team.
The running game is obviously going to be a strength
(20:52):
with Scott Sadderfield, Like, this is a team that's kind
of grown up together and has returned and that's and
that's fun, and that's I think what we all want
to see in this nil landscape anyway, you know, the
opportunity to just say right, you know, got a returning quarterback.
How the stories be developed is roy I have another
leap he can take Man Corley don't have had a
normal offseason this year, Golde, what can he do? Just
(21:13):
step up as a leader. They got a new left tackle, Cotton. Like,
I don't think this is going to be a ten
win team, but it's a team with real players. It's
a team with continuity in a lot of spots. It's
a team with continuity from a coaching perspective, and at
the end of the day, when we all complain about
the modern coach a modern college football landscape, this is
what we want to see anyway. And then if you
can get a win against Nebraska, that that validates some beliefs.
(21:34):
That's a that's a fun place to be. Or maybe
it's not Nebraska, maybe it's one of the big twelve
teams on the schedule down the road, but it's a
fun place to be. And I'm more excited for this
season because of that continuity and returning cores.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
So you'll be in Kansas City Thursday.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
I'll be watching I couldn't couldn't make that trip Red
Red playoff run, but it's something twenty year old Charlie
would have done.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
Yeah, listen, that's Charlie Goldsmith. Charlie, I can't thank you
for joining us. Hopefully we're talking about a win on
Friday of next week. Is what's the easiest way. We're
in the thick of a playoff hunt. The Bengals season
is right around the corner. I know you got so
much stuff going on. What's the easiest way for listeners
to keep up with all of your content.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
We've got Charlie Sharkboard on Subjack, We've got it on
Fox nineteen. We have the Power Stacks podcast, myself and Ryan.
You just saw the latest episodes out. A lot else
going on too, but I'm excited. I really do love
this time of year and some fun stories, especially on
both sides of the street and doubtown a Bank.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I love it. Charlie, thank you so much. Enjoy your
time in Arizona and let's bring three back.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
We'll see.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Thank thank you, Charlie. That is Charlie Goldsmith. Awesome stuff
as always, Reds, Bengals, bear Cats. I don't know what
else you need from Charlie, but he just delivered all
of it. Now we'll go to your talkbacks, which are
next on ESBN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
Yeah, your chance at a
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