May 8, 2026 • 37 mins
Preview of Tonight's Reds/Astros Matchup and Jeff Carr provides optimism
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Fun, he said, what's up, it's a little loud. This
is ESPN fifteen to thirty. Huh, Moleger, thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Hook.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Your weekend is off to on awesome starts, and if
it's not your weekend yet, hopefully it becomes your weekend
at some point between now and six o'clock. The entire
show preview is available on Twitter at Molegar, which is
it's my Twitter handle at moeger, which, by the way,
if you're not on that app yet, you're really missing
(00:31):
a lot. Thanks to share Facts credit Union, Share Facts
credit Union. You know I say this every day. Share
Fact credit Union literally the greatest financial institution in the
United States of America. But don't just take my word
for it. Go to share facts dot org to learn
more and become a member and we'll both be members
of the same credit union. And isn't that pretty much
(00:53):
everything you could ever ask for? In fifteen minutes. Our buddy,
the most optimistic person I know as it relates to
the Reds, because I think this is what we need.
Jeff Carr. Jeff might not be very optimistic. If he is,
God knows what he's going to be optimistic about, but
he is going to join us coming up in just
about fifteen minutes. My thanks to a Chad Brendel for
(01:14):
pinch hitting yesterday. I took the day off to watch
my friend Tony Pike get anointed as the King of
Soul at a fundraiser for the Cincinnati Cancer Advisors and
less high profile than that, they asked me to be
their MC and so my thanks to that awesome organization
for letting me be a part of their fundraiser and
(01:36):
I got a chance to watch my guy Tony get
a robe. I guess it's a cape. It's more of
a cape than a robe. It's a cape and a crown.
He is the king and I'm pretty much the jester.
So thanks to Chad for pinch hitting yesterday. He was
on while the Reds were melting down again. You simply
cannot have a worse seven days. They lost three games
(01:59):
via walkoff, lost two starting pitchers. I guess Brandon Williamson.
We found out he was going on the injury list
before the series. In Pittsburgh, they had a game with
a tied a record for the most number of walks
consecutive walks in baseball history. Yesterday, their catcher apparently didn't
know the rules. I don't know. I don't know that
(02:20):
a road trip could get any worse. You lose your closer,
Amelio Pagan. Yeah, you have Ellie de la Cruz who's
having this terrific season. You know, he's thrust into the
heart of the conversation because he can't properly play a
ball in the field. On Wednesday night, we had to
have arguments on social media about whether to bunt or
(02:41):
not to bunt, Like, oh man, what a think about
a week ago? At this time feels like forever ago.
That series in Chicago felt like the Reds played like
forty three games. A week ago, I was sitting at
Belterra Park getting ready for Derby weekend, and we were
lucky enough to be able to do our show from
out there, and we were openly wondering whether or not
(03:03):
the Reds could get to ninety wins. And I can't
speak for anybody else. For me, it was more wondering
than being assertive. But you know, I'll admit drinking the
kool ad a little bit, Like, all right, this team
plays pretty decent brand of baseball. The last seven games
they have done anything but and so I guess here
(03:24):
is the question. Here's the question that I keep thinking
about today, and it's one that I'll post to you.
They're six games out of first place. They have very
quickly in this division, gone from first to worst. Their
starting staff, which is supposed to be the strength of
this team, the deepest part of this team significantly tested.
(03:48):
It's kind of in maybe not tatters, but it's not
exactly the foundational rock we thought it was gonna be.
They got a billion guys on the team who are
not hitting the bullpen, which was a strength for the
first four weeks of the season, the last few has
been a complete and total weakness. They are in right
now the best and most competitive top top to bottom
(04:10):
division in baseball. Yes, it may get better. You are
very very reasonable if you believe it will get better.
Quite frankly, it can't get any worse. And it's good
that tonight's Nick Litolo is gonna pitch and hopefully doesn't
develop any blisters. But I guess what I keep wondering
is how much worse is it going to get before
(04:32):
it gets better, And by the time it does get better,
how much of a hole will the Reds be trying
to dig out of. Like I know right now, six
games out of first place is not an insurmountable amount.
And let's make this abundantly clear. The idea in twenty
twenty six is to be best positioned to make a
(04:56):
run in the postseason, which that sounds laughable right now
because all we them to do is win one stupid
regular season game. But that's the objective here. If it's not,
what are we doing and what have we been doing
for years? And so I'll talk about the National League
Central until it's completely and totally out of reach, because
that should be the goal. Because the best way to
(05:16):
position yourself for postseason success is to win your division.
It's to win your division and have one of the
top two records in your respective league, so you can
have a first round by right now six at a
first place. And in order to win this division, you
would have to leapfrog four different teams, including one that
(05:38):
seemingly never loses at home, a Cardinals team that, like Ant,
hasn't gone away, a Pirates team that has rebounded nicely
from the issues they had a week ago. A Milwaukee
team that just seems to be almost indestructible. Like all right,
the Reds may start playing better, the Reds may start
getting better pitching performances, and maybe Terry Francona is right.
(06:02):
You know, in a few months we're all gonna look
back at this week and laugh. Right now, nobody's laughing.
And right now, more than anything, I think we're worrying
how much worse could this get? And by the time
it does start to get better, how much damage is
already gonna be done. Obviously there're still over five hundred,
(06:23):
But like, think of how many times in recent years
where the Reds have gotten off to a miserable start, which,
to their credit, did not happen this year. They won
twenty of their first thirty one games. You know, in
twenty eighteen they started three and fifteen and then they
fired Brian Price and it only got worse from there.
And in twenty nineteen they started what was it one
(06:44):
in eight and in twenty twenty two, the season from
hell they started After winning two of their first four games,
they won one of the next twenty two and they
were three with three and twenty two or three and
twenty four. Whatever was like season over. And so you
spend that time going, hey, they're gonna be better. Don't
(07:06):
worry about it. They're gonna be better. But by the
time they are better, how huge of a hole they're
going to be trying to dig out of? Now? Maybe
what happened in those seasons didn't apply, doesn't apply to
this year. Maybe this year's team is better than those teams,
and I would agree that they are. But here's what
you can't help but wonder, by the time some of
these dudes start hitting, if you are clinging to the
(07:28):
belief that they will, or by the time the starting
staff becomes solid and stable, by the time the bullpen
is figured out without their closer. Right now, by the
time these things happen, if you're patting people on the
head telling them, hey, they're going to play better, some
of these dudes, despite their terrible statistics, are gonna start hitting.
It's gonna be fine. This team's gonna be fine.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Cool.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
By the time things are fine, how much of a
hole will the Reds be trying to dig out of? Then?
How much damage is being done by how they're not
just how they're playing right now, but the things that
are happening to them right now. Like but coming into
(08:11):
the season, you find out they're not gonna have Hunter
Green and it's like cool, They've got great pitching depth.
And then no, Nick Lodolo and Nick is coming back tonight,
which is great. But you know, okay, they're fine. They
got a lot of pitching depth. You know, we do
this with Hunter and Nick, but basically Hunter all the time.
We talk about, you know, injury issues continually cropping up.
(08:35):
What do we do with this right Louder thing? Long term?
What do we do with this Brandon Williamson thing long term?
Well now he's been put on the sixty day injured list.
Oh no, man, I don't know a week ago at
this time, you know, not that you expected this team
to play at the clip they were playing at thirty
one games into the season. But I'm not sure any
(08:57):
of us expected things, expected things to creator the way
they have, and they've cretered everywhere, and their flaws have
been exposed and their deficiencies have really started to help
torpedo this team. Know, the season isn't over. No, it's
not an insurmountable deficit they face in the division. You
(09:21):
would be foolish, I think, to discount their chances of
making the postseason. But boy, the more you lose and
the more of a hole you dig, the later it
starts to get. And nobody a week ago was signing
up for it to be starting to get later. In
the middle of May, quarter after three. We'll have room
(09:43):
for phone calls coming up a little bit later on
at Molager on Twitter, though, is always open thanks to
Delta Dental. Delta Dental is building healthy, smart, vibrant communities
for all. Go to Delta dentaloh dot com. The NCAA
tournament is going to expand we knew that was coming,
was made official yesterday. It's stupid. Nobody wants it. Will
spend a little bit of time on that. Joe Burrow
(10:05):
came to work yesterday, which is awesome. The NFL schedule
release is going to be on Thursday, which is awesome.
We have those things to cover. I made a video
on Instagram trying to sort of outline why it would
make sense and the Reds have a thousand more immediate
pressing concerns right now, I get it. But I made
(10:27):
a video for Instagram m Oegar kind of pointing out,
like why it would make sense to sign Style Stewart
long term, and we're gonna elaborate on that coming up
in just a bit. Plus we have with us somebody who,
by the time they're done here, I hope to get
to teach me how to play golf like she does.
(10:47):
The Kroger Queen City Classic next week LPGA event is
happening at McAtee, while we have a Cincinnati native who
is going to be among the field that's coming up
at four to twenty. There's lots that's the dow between
now and six. My name is Maegar. Jeff Carr. Locked
On Reds is next on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Station Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty. Traffic from the is ESPN
fifteen thirty.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Molager, thanks so much for listening today. We've got a
good week for the most part. We have, though I
was off yesterday. Chad Brendell phillid In if you missed that,
you can listen to his show on the iHeartRadio app.
Jeff Carr from the Locked On Reds podcast is generally speaking,
(11:35):
one of the most optimistically sane people I know when
it comes to this team, and I needed some sanity
and I needed some optimism. But before we get any
of that from Jeff, we have to say congratulations, because
he put on his Instagram that he and his family
are going to be welcoming, as he puts it, a
new top prospect in September. And my question is, by
(11:57):
the time that top prospect arrives a congratulations b are
the Reds going to be in it?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Well, thank you so much for doing We're excited.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I think they will.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
I honestly think that this is rock bottom and they
are going to bounce back from this. Doing this in
May is much better than doing this in September while
they have lost names and humiliating ways and Tyler Stevens
not remembering rules that you learn in t ball and
all of that great stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I think all of that gonna convolu They all, right, Jeff,
I'm gonna do this. Your your connection isn't great. We're
going to drop you and call you back. Okay, okay,
very good. Jeff Carr locked on Red's podcast, what if
you want some like it's not blind optimism. As a
(12:50):
consumer of Jeff's work, it's not blind optimism. There's none
of that. But you know, oftentimes when I'm feeling a
little less than optimistic about the Reds, you know, see
what Jeff has and at times I feel better and
if we could establish a better connection, then you know,
maybe he'll he'll do that for us. We'll grab that
(13:11):
here in just a few minutes. We do have and
I'll read them for you in in a few minutes.
We do have a few injury updates from Terry Francona
from GABP that we'll get to coming up in just
a bit. Reds are starting a six game homestand tonight
three games against the Houston Astros this weekend. We have
re established a connection with Jeff. Let's see if it
(13:32):
sounds better. Hi, Jeff, Hey, sorry about that.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
I kept my foot on first on home plate and
I forget to tag the runner.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
All right, So let's go back to my original question.
By the time your new arrival gets here in September,
are the Reds going to be in it?
Speaker 4 (13:49):
I believe that this is rock bottom, that they will
bounce back from this, and the fact that they're doing
this here in May, not in September, is the key.
But I really feel like we have seen them lose
games in ways that just don't.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Make sense whatsoever.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
And when you put all of that together, these are
things that the Reds can easily come back from. And
we're seeing a lot of guys go through some slumps
right now that they will bounce back from.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I guess here's my question. By the time they do
start to play better, how much of a hole they
have done.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
I don't think it's going to get much bigger. I
think that they will win tonight. I see two out
of three against the Astros. Yes, the Ashers are playing
worse ball than the Reds right now, and I don't
necessarily know that they are going to bounce back from
their respective slumps. I mean, they've got the kind of
team that has a few veterans on it, but a
(14:40):
lot of not even top prospects, just guys that are
filling holes, especially when their pitching staff, and the Reds
are going to face one of those guys tonight, I
would expect that they win two out of three and
we're going to feel much better about them on Monday.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
So for the first month of the season or so,
it was Sal Stewart being awesome, Ellie teler Cruz being good,
and then get these occasional bursts of production from guys
like Nathaniel Lowe recently JJ Bleday, but Across the roster,
you have a whole lot of guys who are not
putting up very good numbers, some worse than others, some
maybe less surprising than others. They need more guys who
(15:14):
are going to provide offense. Where's the added offense going
to come from?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (15:19):
I think that the biggest disappointment so far the season
for me has been the fact that these two guys
that we listed as X factors coming into the year
have not done very much of anything. Between noelvi Marte,
who's performing better for the Louisville Bats than the Cincinnati Reds,
and Matt McClain, this team was going to make up
its deficit with anything between those two guys, and nobody
(15:42):
has stepped in to their roles. I think for me,
the biggest guy I look at it at the moment
is Spencer Steer. Spencer Steeer has really come on after
a really tough first couple of weeks and recently has
been the most reliable bat in the lineup from a
day in and day out.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Basis whether they're facing the lefty or alrighty.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
I think as we move along, he's going to be
the guy that you turn to if you don't see
what you need from Ellie and Sal, who make no
mistake about it, those guys need to be going if
the Reds are going to dominate a game. But they
can certainly win without those guys performing up to the
standard that we expect from each of them. And I
(16:21):
believe that Sal's kind of been going through a bit
of a slump here. His batting average on balls and
play really has dipped over the last couple of weeks,
and so I think that that's just a bit of
an apparition. He's still swinging the bat really well. I
think that he's going to look a lot better as
we move forward, and Spencer Steeer is going to be
the kind of guy there in the lower part, lower
(16:42):
middle part of the order that's going to keep everything going.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
I gotta get guys on base in the top two
spots in the batting order. And you know, TJ. Friedel's
not done that. Matt McClain was batting second. He's been
moved down in the batting order. There's a great amount
of frustration with Matt h they've moved him down. They've
had games where he and started How long should his
leash be given the fact that twenty twenty three is
becoming an increasingly long time ago. I think if we're.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Hitting Memorial Day and he's still hitting at the Mendoza line,
they've really got to consider other options. And we've seen
what the Reds are doing in TRIPLEA with Edwin Arroyo
moving him between second base and third base. They're basically
telling him that they are ready to call him out.
They just got to make sure he's got positional flexibility
that they can move him into two areas of need.
(17:30):
And Matt McClain has shown these games where it's like
things are clicking, but I still feel like I am
more comfortable at the BMV than Matt McClain is in.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
The batter's box on a day in a day out basis.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Like he mentioned in spring training to Jim Day that
last year, he really got stuck in a rut in
the process, in the mechanics and the day to day
motions that he needs to worry about for each and
every pitch, and he kind of forgot about just compete
and going out and winning ballgames.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And so he was so stuck in the process.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
And I feel like that's where he is again, and
so I don't know if it's a mental thing. I
don't know if it's a confidence thing, but we need
to see this turnaround very quickly or else the Reds
are going to need to pivot, because I mean, they
have told us, as much as it nauseates people to
hear after a seven game win a losing streak that
(18:24):
they are going for the division, and if they're truly
going to do that, then they cannot continue to stand
on loyalty to individuals in lieu of performance on the field.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
You know, you mentioned the division, and there's a few
other sort of Reds nuts and bolts things I want
to ask you about, but you mentioned the division, and
I think there's a sense, okay, like there's going to
be drop off somewhere, and it still feels like the
most likely place is Saint Louis, but it hasn't happened yet.
Pittsburgh has rebounded nicely. It kind of felt like last
year things were starting to teeter on the brink a
(18:57):
little bit. I'm just a believer that the Milwaukee Brewers
are never going to be non competitive, but I am
starting to fear and I feel like a lot of
Reds fans are doing the same, and maybe it's an
overreaction to watching them play for consecutive games, like maybe
the Cubs are just gonna be too good. Do you
have that fear at all that even if the Reds
play better, even if some of these teams in the
division end up regressing a little bit, that you know what,
(19:19):
the team that was the odds on favorite to begin
the season, the team that is clearly the odds on
favorite now, the Chicago Cubs are just gonna be too
tough to catch and ultimately pass.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
I don't because I feel like the Reds lost four
games more than the Cubs won four games. I didn't
feel like the Cubs played a good brand of baseball.
I just felt like the Reds played a really poor
brand of baseball. Between the walks and the errors and
the base running mistakes and things like that, they gave
so many extra opportunities to the Cubs that had the
(19:52):
Reds been better in the margins, I feel like they
would have easily split this series.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
You could argue they would have won three out of four.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
And so for me, I think that there was a
couple of plays in between the losses that the Reds
could have switched those games to wins, and we'd be
talking about a completely different thing with this team in
with the Cubs right now, as opposed to a fifteen
game winning streak such that they haven't done since the
IVY was on the wall at regular field the bullpen.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
So Tito says in the aftermath of Amelia Pegun's injury,
He's not going to name a closer. Do you believe
that's the right approach?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I think that there are two guys that he needs
to be focused on, and that's between Graham Ashcraft and
Tony Fantion. Those two dudes have pitched so well to
begin the season, and I feel as though I can
rely on both of them all. Beit Graham Ashcraft just
blew a save two days ago, and I understand that,
but I think that ultimately his body of work looks very,
(20:49):
very good and he continues to progress toward what I
expect him to be the closer of this team in
the future. And Tony Fanteon has been so good at
tunneling his fastball and slider. The guys that are just
on their heels every time he's on the mound, so
I can understand what he's talking about. He don't want
to name one of those two, but certainly if he's
looking outside of those two, then sure his strategy is
(21:11):
completely off base.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
But those are the two guys for me.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Trades aren't made in May for the most part, not
that they're never made, but you know, when we talk
about outside acquisitions, players who can help from you know,
other teams, those conversations are usually aimed at mid to
late July, between that and between the farm system on
May eighth. Is there somebody from outside that realistically could
(21:37):
be added? And I know I'm sort of putting you
on the spot here that would that would be capable
of helping this team realistically?
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Know, because I think that the number one guy that
I look at is Byron Buxton. And I think that
the Twins know that they can just sit on their hands.
I mean, they traded eleven major league players last season,
most of them are leievers, and most of them on
the deadline day.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
They waited till the last minute until they.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Had all of the offers that they could pick from,
and then they made the choices that they made, and
I don't see them moving quickly. I also don't think
that either the Red Sox or the nets believe that
they are as bad as their current standing.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
So neither one of those teams is gonna sell.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Because I see people all the time saying, go get
Willy or Bray, you go get Mark Bienttos, or go
get something, And I just don't think that teams in
this day and age, where seven teams from each league
make the playoffs, fancy themselves sellers. In May, the only
thing that I could see the Reds doing is going
and signing like a free agent. But then that means
(22:42):
that he's got a ramp up time, whether he's an
Olt Florida or outfielder or a pitcher, And so I
just don't see a trade happening.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Is it unfair to wonder if Tito's gonna run Ellie
Dela Cruz and Sal Stewart into the ground, or do
you fear that maybe such a thing would sell in
particular has already happened.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Sally, Don't I think that he's going to get some
more off time. I wonder about Ellie because his main
backup is the main guy that keeps struggling to Matt McClain,
and maybe that's another reason to call up Edward Arroyo
and add him to the bench. But as it stands
right now, the only viable guy that they're putting at
(23:21):
shortstop is Matt McClain if Elie de la Cruz isn't there,
And so I hope that at some point we see
Ellie get a breather. But I do worry about that
because it seems as though Terry Francona told us in
spring training he would give him more off days. He
has yet to make good on that after and there
(23:41):
was also the other bit of him saying at the
end of that. But you know, I admire the fact
that he wants to play every day. And Tito might
even be loyal to a fault in this because we
keep seeing these guys get right out there and key
Brian Hayes at the top of the list that we
wonder why they keep getting so many check answers and
loyalty is the only thing that I can come up
(24:02):
with as an explanation.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Are you Are you inundated with bad advice from people
who already have kids now that you're gonna have one?
Speaker 4 (24:12):
I did it's some some good advice the other day
to work more on my upper body strength, which I've
been focusing more on core.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Okaying beers. It seems to help.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
But ultimately, yeah, the upper body strength seems like a
good idea.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
I've always thought that was.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
You know, just you know, the show muscles and Shaid
work out some other muscles.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
So now they're telling me to do more curls. I'm
gonna do more curls.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Man, Yeah, maybe I should do some.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Well.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Congratulations, I appreciate you doing this, man, and I hope
you're right. I don't fig you're in the majority right now,
but I hope you're right. We'll learn more in the
Locked On Reds podcast. Thanks so much. We chat again soon.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Well appreciate you've been doing this for seven seasons now
and I haven't been in the majority of one.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Of them, so I appreciate that. Go right, guts our guy,
Jeff Carr. The Locked On Reds Podcast, The Expect and
Father twenty five from four o'clock on Moegger. Well, maybe
squeeze in a phone call or two.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Why not.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
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Speaker 1 (25:25):
First of three tonight at GABP. Cincinnati is trying to
break a seven game losing streak. Nick Lodola will make
his twenty twenty six debut against righty Mike Burrows six'
ten early first pitch tonight on seven HUNDRED. Wlw because
they have a postgame, PERFORMANCE i guess that's what you call,
it postgame performance By oh's the. Mentalist so there you.
(25:48):
Go so if you go to the, game it starts early.
Tonight your starting line at this evening For, cincinnati here
we go stand By friedol Blood, Day Dela Cruz bleday
is playing. Left Sal stewart's playing first low As Dhing
steers And Wright, stevenson who hopefully has been given a
refresher course on the, rules is catching and batting. Seventh
matt McLain and Key Brian hayes plays third and bats.
(26:10):
Ninth Florence yawl's are on the road Against evansville. Tonight
college baseball this, Evening cincinnati's At Kansas. State xavier is
playing right now Against, butler leading three to, two headed
to the ninth inning there AND mku. Baseball see we're
we're doing the college baseball in the sports updates by.
(26:32):
REQUEST nku is just underway Against Wright STATE Fc cincinnati
on the road tonight, Tomorrow tomorrow, tomorrow not tonight tomorrow
Against charlotte's seven thirty ON espn fifteen Thirty arena football
in the. Area The slingers Hosts, utah and The Kentucky
barrels play on the road Against albany or AS i
(26:52):
wrote down on the piece of, Paper. Alabama it's Not,
alabama It's. Albany THE nba playoffs continue. Tonight you got
two series that have gone to a game. Three you've
got The knicks And sixers In, Philadelphia New york is
up two to Oh San antonio And minnesota T wolve's
Hosting game, three Or game three in The english. Language
(27:15):
that series is tied at a game. Apiece on THE
Nhl canadians And sabers and their Series game two tonight
In buffalo with The sabers up one, zip And game
three tonight In anaheim between The ducks and The Golden,
knights that series is tied at a game. Apiece third
game is In. Anaheim you are as they, say caught
up five, one, three, seven, four, nine fifteen thirty is our. Number,
(27:38):
also THE nfl schedule release is going to be On may,
fourteenth AND i think to the mild surprise of some
that they didn't end up having to push it back
a week. Now last year was also On may, fourteenth
so it's going to be On may fourteenth this. Year
we do our schedule release night At dickman's six, Hours
Lance rocky Me Tony Austin chick on seven HUNDRED. Wlw
(28:03):
that is going to be a lot of. Fun very
quickly here before we squeeze in a phone. Call in
The inquirer this, morning there was a piece written by
a gentleman by the name Of Jack, brennan who is
a great, guy a Longtime cincinnati sports writer for years
media relations director for The, bengals has written an opinion
(28:24):
piece about UC's silence in the aftermath of The Brendan soresby,
story which Now ohio gambling regulators are Investigating Brendan, soresby
and there has been no official word from The university Of,
cincinnati no official statement from The university Of, cincinnati nobody
FROM uc has come out to, say, hey we didn't
(28:45):
know anything About Brendan, soorsby or we, knew but we
didn't do. Anything there's been, nothing and the cruxt Of
jack's pieces like kind of doesn't MAKE uc look very
good when nobody FROM uc is saying. Anything and there
have been reports that perhaps some folks that you see.
Knew i've talked to people close to the situation who
will say we had no idea he was doing any illegal.
(29:07):
Gambling if you're A bearcat, fan or even if you're,
Not i'm like you in THAT i can't wait to
get answers to. This but if you're wondering, why you
see silence AND i put this on social media AND
i didn't do this TO i frankly didn't even pay
attention to actually who wrote the. Piece you see And
Brendan soorsby are involved in active litigation with each. Other
(29:32):
you may take one side versus the, other but they
are involved in active litigation with each other regarding you,
see alleging That brendan broke his contract and they he
owes him a million dollars when he left you see
to go To Texas. Tech brendan so sore asby is
apparently counter. Sewing when there's ongoing, litigation there are going
to be no public comments by either party about the.
(29:53):
Other this is not that. Hard so if you're wondering,
this and you may hate you see and think it's
like the worst school or athletic program in the, world
whatever however you feel about, it very very common sense would,
DICTATE i Have i'm lucky in my. Life i've never
been engaged in ongoing. Litigation but if i, Am i'm
(30:14):
probably not going to talk publicly about the Person i'm
in ongoing litigation, with and they're probably not going to
talk publicly about. Me this is not hard to figure.
Out the two sides are engaged in, litigation there are
going to be no public, comments and if you take
issue with, that honest to, GOD i cannot help. You thank, You,
(30:39):
mike go, ahead you're ON espn fifteen.
Speaker 6 (30:41):
Thirty thank, you your. Gentleman thank you appreciate. It, YES,
Dgif i'm sure for you and the family very. Much so, okay,
sir would you if this is kind of been a surreal,
world would you flip out one day if you woke
(31:02):
up and said THE nba has given a franchise to
the city Of. CINCINNATI i bet you would be the
first guy to buy a season.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Ticket, YES i would love.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
IT i would love.
Speaker 6 (31:14):
It how great would that?
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Be?
Speaker 6 (31:16):
Though that would be so? Cool we love?
Speaker 1 (31:18):
It, yes it would. Be it would be a. Me
But i'd sign up for AN nhl. Team i'd sign
up for anything that gives us more, options creates more entertainment,
options enhances competition among the pro sports, teams gives us
more stuff to, do gives more people. Jobs Like i'm
in favor of all those. Things BUT i love, basketball
and so, Yeah i'd love.
Speaker 6 (31:37):
It, okay K mixer in the. FINALS i have no
faith in The. CAVES i have no faith in anybody
at this point except The. Knicks that's the only TEAM
i see coming. Out, wow the Only, well, tell what
do you what do you see about The cams that
makes you feel?
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Good The caves don't make me feel good at. ALL
i Think calves are going to lose in, Five So
i'm going to Assume New york gets Past. Philly that
might be a little bit, forward BUT i believe they
were going to win the series in. Six NOW i
think they're gonna win it in five and six wouldn't be,
stunning BUT i have serious reservations about their chances Against.
(32:16):
Detroit if Og anerobi is not, healthy And i've read
that he's going to try to give it a go,
tonight he is a huge factor for. THEM i believe
if he is healthy that they will beat The Detroit
pistons BECAUSE i just don't think they're going to have
a secondary. Scorer AND i, love for the most part
how The knicks are playing, defense but the asterisk Is OG's. Injury,
(32:39):
NOW i think they are better equipped than they were
two years ago when he got hurt and some other
guys got. HURT i think they're a little bit better.
Equipped but he has been so good in the postseason
that if he is, compromised or if he's not available Against,
DETROIT i don't want to get too far ahead of myself.
HERE i don't think they're gonna beat him four times
if he's, healthy if the team is, HEALTHY i think
despite the way they played Against detroit in the regular,
(33:01):
Season New york is.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
Better.
Speaker 6 (33:04):
No the way you're feeling about About detroit is that
based on a regular season or, record.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Well The pistons kick the crap out of. Him in
the regular. Season those games Were those games were not. Competitive,
now look last Year New york was awful Against boston
in the regular season and then beat them in. Six
i'm a little bit more willing to throw out regular season.
RECORDS i do feel LIKE i feel like it's it's
(33:31):
somewhat similar to this series WHERE i Think philly is
gonna win a game or two Because max he goes,
off or Maybe edgecumbe goes, off AND i Think Kay
cunningham is going to be good enough to do. That
but they have, played they have the way they have
played in the, postseason and credit to them for coming
back from down three one Against orlando and winning these
first two games Against. CLEVELAND i don't know that they
have enough scoring options to be a team that is
(33:54):
clicking on all cylinders like The knicks have been with
their defensive. IMPROVEMENT i don't think they have enough scores
to beat that team four. Times but If og doesn't
play in that, series or if he's, compromised THEN i
don't feel as good about that.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
Statement Plus Bernard king's coming out of retirement to help
him Next.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Okay, hey But, BERNARD i bet you could still shoot. It,
YEAH i bet she still has that like little subtle
ball fake that he was famous.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
For oh that, GUY i just loved. It him And
Andrew tony my two favorite jump shooters in THE nba. History,
okay real, quick, NOW i know you gotta. Go Uh,
rick do you believe? THIS i didn't realize. This Wilt
chamberlain never fouled out in a basketball game in THE,
nba never fouled.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Out UH i did not know.
Speaker 6 (34:42):
THAT i didn't, either and it shocked the crap on. Me,
Now Moses malone found fouled out a few times early
in his, career but he. Went he Broke wilt's record
of like fourteen hundred and some odd games without fouling.
Out but check it. Out wilt with his underhand grandma
shot Like Rick barry. Had Rick berry was probably the
(35:02):
greatest free throw shooter over other than step, Maybe but
But wilton missed over five thousand free throw.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Show?
Speaker 6 (35:10):
Yes is that?
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Crazy it's?
Speaker 6 (35:13):
Insane, Yes, Okay houston's coming to. Town they can really.
Hit fifty's not that, great but that team can. Hit
So i'm a little. Word The marquee matchup over the.
Weekend we know what it. Is Brave dodgers.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Without a, question.
Speaker 6 (35:31):
And Uh, AN i wanted to ask another. Question, Oh
i've been Following tampa pretty, closely more than The. Dodgers
really seems explighting, Though Handler. Simpson, NOW i know sul
is probably gonna win it in The National League golf,
things you, know Good Lord. Willing but This Chandler simpson
(35:52):
over At. Tampa he is. Special he's a disciple Of
Tony gwyn hitting, style contact. Hitter he's hitting over three,
hundred he's so in twelve thirteen bases. Already he is.
FAST i believe he Beat ellie in the. FORTY i
believe he beat him in the. Forty this guy is blazing.
Speed but nobody knows about, him But Chandler. Simpson nobody
(36:15):
knows about any of The rays Except Nick, martinez who's
ecstatic to be there at this.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Point, Yeah Chandler simpson's a lot Like Luisa riaz, right
old school sort of singles, hitter not a lot of,
punch doesn't have a whole lot of extra base, hits
but could just crank out singles and very fas very,
fast extremely.
Speaker 6 (36:32):
Pad, okay, well you have a blessed, weekend my.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
BROTHER i WILL i will try and you do the, Same,
mike things so much ate away from four o'clock five point,
three seven four, nine fifteen thirty and eight sixty, six
seven oh two three seven seven. SIX i don't quite
Have Jeff carr's. OPTIMISM i do not believe that things
are circling the drain so much that we are we
(36:58):
are careening toward ninety. LOSSES i Maybe i'm in the.
MINORITY i don't believe that that's the. CASE i do
worry that they're going to dig themselves a huge. Hole
AND i do worry, that you, KNOW i, mean if
you think of just since Early, March Hunter green, Injury
Nick lidolo, Injury Brandon williamson, injury But Rent louder. Injury
(37:21):
now like, this this is a, lot and at some,
point at some, points it becomes a little bit too.
Much we will see seven away from four. O'clock my
name Is. Melweger thanks for listening to us. Today this
IS espn fifteen, Thirty Cincinnati Sports, Station
Speaker 3 (37:38):
CINCINNATI'S espn fifteen Thirty traffic
Fun, he said, what's up, it's a little loud. This
is ESPN fifteen to thirty. Huh, Moleger, thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Hook.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Your weekend is off to on awesome starts, and if
it's not your weekend yet, hopefully it becomes your weekend
at some point between now and six o'clock. The entire
show preview is available on Twitter at Molegar, which is
it's my Twitter handle at moeger, which, by the way,
if you're not on that app yet, you're really missing
(00:31):
a lot. Thanks to share Facts credit Union, Share Facts
credit Union. You know I say this every day. Share
Fact credit Union literally the greatest financial institution in the
United States of America. But don't just take my word
for it. Go to share facts dot org to learn
more and become a member and we'll both be members
of the same credit union. And isn't that pretty much
(00:53):
everything you could ever ask for? In fifteen minutes. Our buddy,
the most optimistic person I know as it relates to
the Reds, because I think this is what we need.
Jeff Carr. Jeff might not be very optimistic. If he is,
God knows what he's going to be optimistic about, but
he is going to join us coming up in just
about fifteen minutes. My thanks to a Chad Brendel for
(01:14):
pinch hitting yesterday. I took the day off to watch
my friend Tony Pike get anointed as the King of
Soul at a fundraiser for the Cincinnati Cancer Advisors and
less high profile than that, they asked me to be
their MC and so my thanks to that awesome organization
for letting me be a part of their fundraiser and
(01:36):
I got a chance to watch my guy Tony get
a robe. I guess it's a cape. It's more of
a cape than a robe. It's a cape and a crown.
He is the king and I'm pretty much the jester.
So thanks to Chad for pinch hitting yesterday. He was
on while the Reds were melting down again. You simply
cannot have a worse seven days. They lost three games
(01:59):
via walkoff, lost two starting pitchers. I guess Brandon Williamson.
We found out he was going on the injury list
before the series. In Pittsburgh, they had a game with
a tied a record for the most number of walks
consecutive walks in baseball history. Yesterday, their catcher apparently didn't
know the rules. I don't know. I don't know that
(02:20):
a road trip could get any worse. You lose your closer,
Amelio Pagan. Yeah, you have Ellie de la Cruz who's
having this terrific season. You know, he's thrust into the
heart of the conversation because he can't properly play a
ball in the field. On Wednesday night, we had to
have arguments on social media about whether to bunt or
(02:41):
not to bunt, Like, oh man, what a think about
a week ago? At this time feels like forever ago.
That series in Chicago felt like the Reds played like
forty three games. A week ago, I was sitting at
Belterra Park getting ready for Derby weekend, and we were
lucky enough to be able to do our show from
out there, and we were openly wondering whether or not
(03:03):
the Reds could get to ninety wins. And I can't
speak for anybody else. For me, it was more wondering
than being assertive. But you know, I'll admit drinking the
kool ad a little bit, Like, all right, this team
plays pretty decent brand of baseball. The last seven games
they have done anything but and so I guess here
(03:24):
is the question. Here's the question that I keep thinking
about today, and it's one that I'll post to you.
They're six games out of first place. They have very
quickly in this division, gone from first to worst. Their
starting staff, which is supposed to be the strength of
this team, the deepest part of this team significantly tested.
(03:48):
It's kind of in maybe not tatters, but it's not
exactly the foundational rock we thought it was gonna be.
They got a billion guys on the team who are
not hitting the bullpen, which was a strength for the
first four weeks of the season, the last few has
been a complete and total weakness. They are in right
now the best and most competitive top top to bottom
(04:10):
division in baseball. Yes, it may get better. You are
very very reasonable if you believe it will get better.
Quite frankly, it can't get any worse. And it's good
that tonight's Nick Litolo is gonna pitch and hopefully doesn't
develop any blisters. But I guess what I keep wondering
is how much worse is it going to get before
(04:32):
it gets better, And by the time it does get better,
how much of a hole will the Reds be trying
to dig out of. Like I know right now, six
games out of first place is not an insurmountable amount.
And let's make this abundantly clear. The idea in twenty
twenty six is to be best positioned to make a
(04:56):
run in the postseason, which that sounds laughable right now
because all we them to do is win one stupid
regular season game. But that's the objective here. If it's not,
what are we doing and what have we been doing
for years? And so I'll talk about the National League
Central until it's completely and totally out of reach, because
that should be the goal. Because the best way to
(05:16):
position yourself for postseason success is to win your division.
It's to win your division and have one of the
top two records in your respective league, so you can
have a first round by right now six at a
first place. And in order to win this division, you
would have to leapfrog four different teams, including one that
(05:38):
seemingly never loses at home, a Cardinals team that, like Ant,
hasn't gone away, a Pirates team that has rebounded nicely
from the issues they had a week ago. A Milwaukee
team that just seems to be almost indestructible. Like all right,
the Reds may start playing better, the Reds may start
getting better pitching performances, and maybe Terry Francona is right.
(06:02):
You know, in a few months we're all gonna look
back at this week and laugh. Right now, nobody's laughing.
And right now, more than anything, I think we're worrying
how much worse could this get? And by the time
it does start to get better, how much damage is
already gonna be done. Obviously there're still over five hundred,
(06:23):
But like, think of how many times in recent years
where the Reds have gotten off to a miserable start, which,
to their credit, did not happen this year. They won
twenty of their first thirty one games. You know, in
twenty eighteen they started three and fifteen and then they
fired Brian Price and it only got worse from there.
And in twenty nineteen they started what was it one
(06:44):
in eight and in twenty twenty two, the season from
hell they started After winning two of their first four games,
they won one of the next twenty two and they
were three with three and twenty two or three and
twenty four. Whatever was like season over. And so you
spend that time going, hey, they're gonna be better. Don't
(07:06):
worry about it. They're gonna be better. But by the
time they are better, how huge of a hole they're
going to be trying to dig out of? Now? Maybe
what happened in those seasons didn't apply, doesn't apply to
this year. Maybe this year's team is better than those teams,
and I would agree that they are. But here's what
you can't help but wonder, by the time some of
these dudes start hitting, if you are clinging to the
(07:28):
belief that they will, or by the time the starting
staff becomes solid and stable, by the time the bullpen
is figured out without their closer. Right now, by the
time these things happen, if you're patting people on the
head telling them, hey, they're going to play better, some
of these dudes, despite their terrible statistics, are gonna start hitting.
It's gonna be fine. This team's gonna be fine.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Cool.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
By the time things are fine, how much of a
hole will the Reds be trying to dig out of? Then?
How much damage is being done by how they're not
just how they're playing right now, but the things that
are happening to them right now. Like but coming into
(08:11):
the season, you find out they're not gonna have Hunter
Green and it's like cool, They've got great pitching depth.
And then no, Nick Lodolo and Nick is coming back tonight,
which is great. But you know, okay, they're fine. They
got a lot of pitching depth. You know, we do
this with Hunter and Nick, but basically Hunter all the time.
We talk about, you know, injury issues continually cropping up.
(08:35):
What do we do with this right Louder thing? Long term?
What do we do with this Brandon Williamson thing long term?
Well now he's been put on the sixty day injured list.
Oh no, man, I don't know a week ago at
this time, you know, not that you expected this team
to play at the clip they were playing at thirty
one games into the season. But I'm not sure any
(08:57):
of us expected things, expected things to creator the way
they have, and they've cretered everywhere, and their flaws have
been exposed and their deficiencies have really started to help
torpedo this team. Know, the season isn't over. No, it's
not an insurmountable deficit they face in the division. You
(09:21):
would be foolish, I think, to discount their chances of
making the postseason. But boy, the more you lose and
the more of a hole you dig, the later it
starts to get. And nobody a week ago was signing
up for it to be starting to get later. In
the middle of May, quarter after three. We'll have room
(09:43):
for phone calls coming up a little bit later on
at Molager on Twitter, though, is always open thanks to
Delta Dental. Delta Dental is building healthy, smart, vibrant communities
for all. Go to Delta dentaloh dot com. The NCAA
tournament is going to expand we knew that was coming,
was made official yesterday. It's stupid. Nobody wants it. Will
spend a little bit of time on that. Joe Burrow
(10:05):
came to work yesterday, which is awesome. The NFL schedule
release is going to be on Thursday, which is awesome.
We have those things to cover. I made a video
on Instagram trying to sort of outline why it would
make sense and the Reds have a thousand more immediate
pressing concerns right now, I get it. But I made
(10:27):
a video for Instagram m Oegar kind of pointing out,
like why it would make sense to sign Style Stewart
long term, and we're gonna elaborate on that coming up
in just a bit. Plus we have with us somebody who,
by the time they're done here, I hope to get
to teach me how to play golf like she does.
(10:47):
The Kroger Queen City Classic next week LPGA event is
happening at McAtee, while we have a Cincinnati native who
is going to be among the field that's coming up
at four to twenty. There's lots that's the dow between
now and six. My name is Maegar. Jeff Carr. Locked
On Reds is next on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Station Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty. Traffic from the is ESPN
fifteen thirty.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Molager, thanks so much for listening today. We've got a
good week for the most part. We have, though I
was off yesterday. Chad Brendell phillid In if you missed that,
you can listen to his show on the iHeartRadio app.
Jeff Carr from the Locked On Reds podcast is generally speaking,
(11:35):
one of the most optimistically sane people I know when
it comes to this team, and I needed some sanity
and I needed some optimism. But before we get any
of that from Jeff, we have to say congratulations, because
he put on his Instagram that he and his family
are going to be welcoming, as he puts it, a
new top prospect in September. And my question is, by
(11:57):
the time that top prospect arrives a congratulations b are
the Reds going to be in it?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Well, thank you so much for doing We're excited.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
I think they will.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
I honestly think that this is rock bottom and they
are going to bounce back from this. Doing this in
May is much better than doing this in September while
they have lost names and humiliating ways and Tyler Stevens
not remembering rules that you learn in t ball and
all of that great stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I think all of that gonna convolu They all, right, Jeff,
I'm gonna do this. Your your connection isn't great. We're
going to drop you and call you back. Okay, okay,
very good. Jeff Carr locked on Red's podcast, what if
you want some like it's not blind optimism. As a
(12:50):
consumer of Jeff's work, it's not blind optimism. There's none
of that. But you know, oftentimes when I'm feeling a
little less than optimistic about the Reds, you know, see
what Jeff has and at times I feel better and
if we could establish a better connection, then you know,
maybe he'll he'll do that for us. We'll grab that
(13:11):
here in just a few minutes. We do have and
I'll read them for you in in a few minutes.
We do have a few injury updates from Terry Francona
from GABP that we'll get to coming up in just
a bit. Reds are starting a six game homestand tonight
three games against the Houston Astros this weekend. We have
re established a connection with Jeff. Let's see if it
(13:32):
sounds better. Hi, Jeff, Hey, sorry about that.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
I kept my foot on first on home plate and
I forget to tag the runner.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
All right, So let's go back to my original question.
By the time your new arrival gets here in September,
are the Reds going to be in it?
Speaker 4 (13:49):
I believe that this is rock bottom, that they will
bounce back from this, and the fact that they're doing
this here in May, not in September, is the key.
But I really feel like we have seen them lose
games in ways that just don't.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Make sense whatsoever.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
And when you put all of that together, these are
things that the Reds can easily come back from. And
we're seeing a lot of guys go through some slumps
right now that they will bounce back from.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I guess here's my question. By the time they do
start to play better, how much of a hole they
have done.
Speaker 4 (14:20):
I don't think it's going to get much bigger. I
think that they will win tonight. I see two out
of three against the Astros. Yes, the Ashers are playing
worse ball than the Reds right now, and I don't
necessarily know that they are going to bounce back from
their respective slumps. I mean, they've got the kind of
team that has a few veterans on it, but a
(14:40):
lot of not even top prospects, just guys that are
filling holes, especially when their pitching staff, and the Reds
are going to face one of those guys tonight, I
would expect that they win two out of three and
we're going to feel much better about them on Monday.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
So for the first month of the season or so,
it was Sal Stewart being awesome, Ellie teler Cruz being good,
and then get these occasional bursts of production from guys
like Nathaniel Lowe recently JJ Bleday, but Across the roster,
you have a whole lot of guys who are not
putting up very good numbers, some worse than others, some
maybe less surprising than others. They need more guys who
(15:14):
are going to provide offense. Where's the added offense going
to come from?
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (15:19):
I think that the biggest disappointment so far the season
for me has been the fact that these two guys
that we listed as X factors coming into the year
have not done very much of anything. Between noelvi Marte,
who's performing better for the Louisville Bats than the Cincinnati Reds,
and Matt McClain, this team was going to make up
its deficit with anything between those two guys, and nobody
(15:42):
has stepped in to their roles. I think for me,
the biggest guy I look at it at the moment
is Spencer Steer. Spencer Steeer has really come on after
a really tough first couple of weeks and recently has
been the most reliable bat in the lineup from a
day in and day out.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Basis whether they're facing the lefty or alrighty.
Speaker 4 (16:01):
I think as we move along, he's going to be
the guy that you turn to if you don't see
what you need from Ellie and Sal, who make no
mistake about it, those guys need to be going if
the Reds are going to dominate a game. But they
can certainly win without those guys performing up to the
standard that we expect from each of them. And I
(16:21):
believe that Sal's kind of been going through a bit
of a slump here. His batting average on balls and
play really has dipped over the last couple of weeks,
and so I think that that's just a bit of
an apparition. He's still swinging the bat really well. I
think that he's going to look a lot better as
we move forward, and Spencer Steeer is going to be
the kind of guy there in the lower part, lower
(16:42):
middle part of the order that's going to keep everything going.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
I gotta get guys on base in the top two
spots in the batting order. And you know, TJ. Friedel's
not done that. Matt McClain was batting second. He's been
moved down in the batting order. There's a great amount
of frustration with Matt h they've moved him down. They've
had games where he and started How long should his
leash be given the fact that twenty twenty three is
becoming an increasingly long time ago. I think if we're.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Hitting Memorial Day and he's still hitting at the Mendoza line,
they've really got to consider other options. And we've seen
what the Reds are doing in TRIPLEA with Edwin Arroyo
moving him between second base and third base. They're basically
telling him that they are ready to call him out.
They just got to make sure he's got positional flexibility
that they can move him into two areas of need.
(17:30):
And Matt McClain has shown these games where it's like
things are clicking, but I still feel like I am
more comfortable at the BMV than Matt McClain is in.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
The batter's box on a day in a day out basis.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Like he mentioned in spring training to Jim Day that
last year, he really got stuck in a rut in
the process, in the mechanics and the day to day
motions that he needs to worry about for each and
every pitch, and he kind of forgot about just compete
and going out and winning ballgames.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And so he was so stuck in the process.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
And I feel like that's where he is again, and
so I don't know if it's a mental thing. I
don't know if it's a confidence thing, but we need
to see this turnaround very quickly or else the Reds
are going to need to pivot, because I mean, they
have told us, as much as it nauseates people to
hear after a seven game win a losing streak that
(18:24):
they are going for the division, and if they're truly
going to do that, then they cannot continue to stand
on loyalty to individuals in lieu of performance on the field.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
You know, you mentioned the division, and there's a few
other sort of Reds nuts and bolts things I want
to ask you about, but you mentioned the division, and
I think there's a sense, okay, like there's going to
be drop off somewhere, and it still feels like the
most likely place is Saint Louis, but it hasn't happened yet.
Pittsburgh has rebounded nicely. It kind of felt like last
year things were starting to teeter on the brink a
(18:57):
little bit. I'm just a believer that the Milwaukee Brewers
are never going to be non competitive, but I am
starting to fear and I feel like a lot of
Reds fans are doing the same, and maybe it's an
overreaction to watching them play for consecutive games, like maybe
the Cubs are just gonna be too good. Do you
have that fear at all that even if the Reds
play better, even if some of these teams in the
division end up regressing a little bit, that you know what,
(19:19):
the team that was the odds on favorite to begin
the season, the team that is clearly the odds on
favorite now, the Chicago Cubs are just gonna be too
tough to catch and ultimately pass.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
I don't because I feel like the Reds lost four
games more than the Cubs won four games. I didn't
feel like the Cubs played a good brand of baseball.
I just felt like the Reds played a really poor
brand of baseball. Between the walks and the errors and
the base running mistakes and things like that, they gave
so many extra opportunities to the Cubs that had the
(19:52):
Reds been better in the margins, I feel like they
would have easily split this series.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
You could argue they would have won three out of four.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
And so for me, I think that there was a
couple of plays in between the losses that the Reds
could have switched those games to wins, and we'd be
talking about a completely different thing with this team in
with the Cubs right now, as opposed to a fifteen
game winning streak such that they haven't done since the
IVY was on the wall at regular field the bullpen.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
So Tito says in the aftermath of Amelia Pegun's injury,
He's not going to name a closer. Do you believe
that's the right approach?
Speaker 4 (20:28):
I think that there are two guys that he needs
to be focused on, and that's between Graham Ashcraft and
Tony Fantion. Those two dudes have pitched so well to
begin the season, and I feel as though I can
rely on both of them all. Beit Graham Ashcraft just
blew a save two days ago, and I understand that,
but I think that ultimately his body of work looks very,
(20:49):
very good and he continues to progress toward what I
expect him to be the closer of this team in
the future. And Tony Fanteon has been so good at
tunneling his fastball and slider. The guys that are just
on their heels every time he's on the mound, so
I can understand what he's talking about. He don't want
to name one of those two, but certainly if he's
looking outside of those two, then sure his strategy is
(21:11):
completely off base.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
But those are the two guys for me.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
Trades aren't made in May for the most part, not
that they're never made, but you know, when we talk
about outside acquisitions, players who can help from you know,
other teams, those conversations are usually aimed at mid to
late July, between that and between the farm system on
May eighth. Is there somebody from outside that realistically could
(21:37):
be added? And I know I'm sort of putting you
on the spot here that would that would be capable
of helping this team realistically?
Speaker 4 (21:47):
Know, because I think that the number one guy that
I look at is Byron Buxton. And I think that
the Twins know that they can just sit on their hands.
I mean, they traded eleven major league players last season,
most of them are leievers, and most of them on
the deadline day.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
They waited till the last minute until they.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Had all of the offers that they could pick from,
and then they made the choices that they made, and
I don't see them moving quickly. I also don't think
that either the Red Sox or the nets believe that
they are as bad as their current standing.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
So neither one of those teams is gonna sell.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
Because I see people all the time saying, go get
Willy or Bray, you go get Mark Bienttos, or go
get something, And I just don't think that teams in
this day and age, where seven teams from each league
make the playoffs, fancy themselves sellers. In May, the only
thing that I could see the Reds doing is going
and signing like a free agent. But then that means
(22:42):
that he's got a ramp up time, whether he's an
Olt Florida or outfielder or a pitcher, And so I
just don't see a trade happening.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Is it unfair to wonder if Tito's gonna run Ellie
Dela Cruz and Sal Stewart into the ground, or do
you fear that maybe such a thing would sell in
particular has already happened.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Sally, Don't I think that he's going to get some
more off time. I wonder about Ellie because his main
backup is the main guy that keeps struggling to Matt McClain,
and maybe that's another reason to call up Edward Arroyo
and add him to the bench. But as it stands
right now, the only viable guy that they're putting at
(23:21):
shortstop is Matt McClain if Elie de la Cruz isn't there,
And so I hope that at some point we see
Ellie get a breather. But I do worry about that
because it seems as though Terry Francona told us in
spring training he would give him more off days. He
has yet to make good on that after and there
(23:41):
was also the other bit of him saying at the
end of that. But you know, I admire the fact
that he wants to play every day. And Tito might
even be loyal to a fault in this because we
keep seeing these guys get right out there and key
Brian Hayes at the top of the list that we
wonder why they keep getting so many check answers and
loyalty is the only thing that I can come up
(24:02):
with as an explanation.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Are you Are you inundated with bad advice from people
who already have kids now that you're gonna have one?
Speaker 4 (24:12):
I did it's some some good advice the other day
to work more on my upper body strength, which I've
been focusing more on core.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Okaying beers. It seems to help.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
But ultimately, yeah, the upper body strength seems like a
good idea.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
I've always thought that was.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
You know, just you know, the show muscles and Shaid
work out some other muscles.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
So now they're telling me to do more curls. I'm
gonna do more curls.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Man, Yeah, maybe I should do some.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Well.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Congratulations, I appreciate you doing this, man, and I hope
you're right. I don't fig you're in the majority right now,
but I hope you're right. We'll learn more in the
Locked On Reds podcast. Thanks so much. We chat again soon.
Speaker 4 (24:48):
Well appreciate you've been doing this for seven seasons now
and I haven't been in the majority of one.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Of them, so I appreciate that. Go right, guts our guy,
Jeff Carr. The Locked On Reds Podcast, The Expect and
Father twenty five from four o'clock on Moegger. Well, maybe
squeeze in a phone call or two.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Why not.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty Traffic.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
From the UC Health Traffic Center, Kelsey Chevallet, home of
lifetime Powertrain protection and a guaranteed credit approval from their
family to yours for life Kelsey chev dot Com, Reds
and Astros.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
First of three tonight at GABP. Cincinnati is trying to
break a seven game losing streak. Nick Lodola will make
his twenty twenty six debut against righty Mike Burrows six'
ten early first pitch tonight on seven HUNDRED. Wlw because
they have a postgame, PERFORMANCE i guess that's what you call,
it postgame performance By oh's the. Mentalist so there you.
(25:48):
Go so if you go to the, game it starts early.
Tonight your starting line at this evening For, cincinnati here
we go stand By friedol Blood, Day Dela Cruz bleday
is playing. Left Sal stewart's playing first low As Dhing
steers And Wright, stevenson who hopefully has been given a
refresher course on the, rules is catching and batting. Seventh
matt McLain and Key Brian hayes plays third and bats.
(26:10):
Ninth Florence yawl's are on the road Against evansville. Tonight
college baseball this, Evening cincinnati's At Kansas. State xavier is
playing right now Against, butler leading three to, two headed
to the ninth inning there AND mku. Baseball see we're
we're doing the college baseball in the sports updates by.
(26:32):
REQUEST nku is just underway Against Wright STATE Fc cincinnati
on the road tonight, Tomorrow tomorrow, tomorrow not tonight tomorrow
Against charlotte's seven thirty ON espn fifteen Thirty arena football
in the. Area The slingers Hosts, utah and The Kentucky
barrels play on the road Against albany or AS i
(26:52):
wrote down on the piece of, Paper. Alabama it's Not,
alabama It's. Albany THE nba playoffs continue. Tonight you got
two series that have gone to a game. Three you've
got The knicks And sixers In, Philadelphia New york is
up two to Oh San antonio And minnesota T wolve's
Hosting game, three Or game three in The english. Language
(27:15):
that series is tied at a game. Apiece on THE
Nhl canadians And sabers and their Series game two tonight
In buffalo with The sabers up one, zip And game
three tonight In anaheim between The ducks and The Golden,
knights that series is tied at a game. Apiece third
game is In. Anaheim you are as they, say caught
up five, one, three, seven, four, nine fifteen thirty is our. Number,
(27:38):
also THE nfl schedule release is going to be On may,
fourteenth AND i think to the mild surprise of some
that they didn't end up having to push it back
a week. Now last year was also On may, fourteenth
so it's going to be On may fourteenth this. Year
we do our schedule release night At dickman's six, Hours
Lance rocky Me Tony Austin chick on seven HUNDRED. Wlw
(28:03):
that is going to be a lot of. Fun very
quickly here before we squeeze in a phone. Call in
The inquirer this, morning there was a piece written by
a gentleman by the name Of Jack, brennan who is
a great, guy a Longtime cincinnati sports writer for years
media relations director for The, bengals has written an opinion
(28:24):
piece about UC's silence in the aftermath of The Brendan soresby,
story which Now ohio gambling regulators are Investigating Brendan, soresby
and there has been no official word from The university Of,
cincinnati no official statement from The university Of, cincinnati nobody
FROM uc has come out to, say, hey we didn't
(28:45):
know anything About Brendan, soorsby or we, knew but we
didn't do. Anything there's been, nothing and the cruxt Of
jack's pieces like kind of doesn't MAKE uc look very
good when nobody FROM uc is saying. Anything and there
have been reports that perhaps some folks that you see.
Knew i've talked to people close to the situation who
will say we had no idea he was doing any illegal.
(29:07):
Gambling if you're A bearcat, fan or even if you're,
Not i'm like you in THAT i can't wait to
get answers to. This but if you're wondering, why you
see silence AND i put this on social media AND
i didn't do this TO i frankly didn't even pay
attention to actually who wrote the. Piece you see And
Brendan soorsby are involved in active litigation with each. Other
(29:32):
you may take one side versus the, other but they
are involved in active litigation with each other regarding you,
see alleging That brendan broke his contract and they he
owes him a million dollars when he left you see
to go To Texas. Tech brendan so sore asby is
apparently counter. Sewing when there's ongoing, litigation there are going
to be no public comments by either party about the.
(29:53):
Other this is not that. Hard so if you're wondering,
this and you may hate you see and think it's
like the worst school or athletic program in the, world
whatever however you feel about, it very very common sense would,
DICTATE i Have i'm lucky in my. Life i've never
been engaged in ongoing. Litigation but if i, Am i'm
(30:14):
probably not going to talk publicly about the Person i'm
in ongoing litigation, with and they're probably not going to
talk publicly about. Me this is not hard to figure.
Out the two sides are engaged in, litigation there are
going to be no public, comments and if you take
issue with, that honest to, GOD i cannot help. You thank, You,
(30:39):
mike go, ahead you're ON espn fifteen.
Speaker 6 (30:41):
Thirty thank, you your. Gentleman thank you appreciate. It, YES,
Dgif i'm sure for you and the family very. Much so, okay,
sir would you if this is kind of been a surreal,
world would you flip out one day if you woke
(31:02):
up and said THE nba has given a franchise to
the city Of. CINCINNATI i bet you would be the
first guy to buy a season.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
Ticket, YES i would love.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
IT i would love.
Speaker 6 (31:14):
It how great would that?
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Be?
Speaker 6 (31:16):
Though that would be so? Cool we love?
Speaker 1 (31:18):
It, yes it would. Be it would be a. Me
But i'd sign up for AN nhl. Team i'd sign
up for anything that gives us more, options creates more entertainment,
options enhances competition among the pro sports, teams gives us
more stuff to, do gives more people. Jobs Like i'm
in favor of all those. Things BUT i love, basketball
and so, Yeah i'd love.
Speaker 6 (31:37):
It, okay K mixer in the. FINALS i have no
faith in The. CAVES i have no faith in anybody
at this point except The. Knicks that's the only TEAM
i see coming. Out, wow the Only, well, tell what
do you what do you see about The cams that
makes you feel?
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Good The caves don't make me feel good at. ALL
i Think calves are going to lose in, Five So
i'm going to Assume New york gets Past. Philly that
might be a little bit, forward BUT i believe they
were going to win the series in. Six NOW i
think they're gonna win it in five and six wouldn't be,
stunning BUT i have serious reservations about their chances Against.
(32:16):
Detroit if Og anerobi is not, healthy And i've read
that he's going to try to give it a go,
tonight he is a huge factor for. THEM i believe
if he is healthy that they will beat The Detroit
pistons BECAUSE i just don't think they're going to have
a secondary. Scorer AND i, love for the most part
how The knicks are playing, defense but the asterisk Is OG's. Injury,
(32:39):
NOW i think they are better equipped than they were
two years ago when he got hurt and some other
guys got. HURT i think they're a little bit better.
Equipped but he has been so good in the postseason
that if he is, compromised or if he's not available Against,
DETROIT i don't want to get too far ahead of myself.
HERE i don't think they're gonna beat him four times
if he's, healthy if the team is, HEALTHY i think
despite the way they played Against detroit in the regular,
(33:01):
Season New york is.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
Better.
Speaker 6 (33:04):
No the way you're feeling about About detroit is that
based on a regular season or, record.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Well The pistons kick the crap out of. Him in
the regular. Season those games Were those games were not. Competitive,
now look last Year New york was awful Against boston
in the regular season and then beat them in. Six
i'm a little bit more willing to throw out regular season.
RECORDS i do feel LIKE i feel like it's it's
(33:31):
somewhat similar to this series WHERE i Think philly is
gonna win a game or two Because max he goes,
off or Maybe edgecumbe goes, off AND i Think Kay
cunningham is going to be good enough to do. That
but they have, played they have the way they have
played in the, postseason and credit to them for coming
back from down three one Against orlando and winning these
first two games Against. CLEVELAND i don't know that they
have enough scoring options to be a team that is
(33:54):
clicking on all cylinders like The knicks have been with
their defensive. IMPROVEMENT i don't think they have enough scores
to beat that team four. Times but If og doesn't
play in that, series or if he's, compromised THEN i
don't feel as good about that.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
Statement Plus Bernard king's coming out of retirement to help
him Next.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Okay, hey But, BERNARD i bet you could still shoot. It,
YEAH i bet she still has that like little subtle
ball fake that he was famous.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
For oh that, GUY i just loved. It him And
Andrew tony my two favorite jump shooters in THE nba. History,
okay real, quick, NOW i know you gotta. Go Uh,
rick do you believe? THIS i didn't realize. This Wilt
chamberlain never fouled out in a basketball game in THE,
nba never fouled.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Out UH i did not know.
Speaker 6 (34:42):
THAT i didn't, either and it shocked the crap on. Me,
Now Moses malone found fouled out a few times early
in his, career but he. Went he Broke wilt's record
of like fourteen hundred and some odd games without fouling.
Out but check it. Out wilt with his underhand grandma
shot Like Rick barry. Had Rick berry was probably the
(35:02):
greatest free throw shooter over other than step, Maybe but
But wilton missed over five thousand free throw.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Show?
Speaker 6 (35:10):
Yes is that?
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Crazy it's?
Speaker 6 (35:13):
Insane, Yes, Okay houston's coming to. Town they can really.
Hit fifty's not that, great but that team can. Hit
So i'm a little. Word The marquee matchup over the.
Weekend we know what it. Is Brave dodgers.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Without a, question.
Speaker 6 (35:31):
And Uh, AN i wanted to ask another. Question, Oh
i've been Following tampa pretty, closely more than The. Dodgers
really seems explighting, Though Handler. Simpson, NOW i know sul
is probably gonna win it in The National League golf,
things you, know Good Lord. Willing but This Chandler simpson
(35:52):
over At. Tampa he is. Special he's a disciple Of
Tony gwyn hitting, style contact. Hitter he's hitting over three,
hundred he's so in twelve thirteen bases. Already he is.
FAST i believe he Beat ellie in the. FORTY i
believe he beat him in the. Forty this guy is blazing.
Speed but nobody knows about, him But Chandler. Simpson nobody
(36:15):
knows about any of The rays Except Nick, martinez who's
ecstatic to be there at this.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Point, Yeah Chandler simpson's a lot Like Luisa riaz, right
old school sort of singles, hitter not a lot of,
punch doesn't have a whole lot of extra base, hits
but could just crank out singles and very fas very,
fast extremely.
Speaker 6 (36:32):
Pad, okay, well you have a blessed, weekend my.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
BROTHER i WILL i will try and you do the, Same,
mike things so much ate away from four o'clock five point,
three seven four, nine fifteen thirty and eight sixty, six
seven oh two three seven seven. SIX i don't quite
Have Jeff carr's. OPTIMISM i do not believe that things
are circling the drain so much that we are we
(36:58):
are careening toward ninety. LOSSES i Maybe i'm in the.
MINORITY i don't believe that that's the. CASE i do
worry that they're going to dig themselves a huge. Hole
AND i do worry, that you, KNOW i, mean if
you think of just since Early, March Hunter green, Injury
Nick lidolo, Injury Brandon williamson, injury But Rent louder. Injury
(37:21):
now like, this this is a, lot and at some,
point at some, points it becomes a little bit too.
Much we will see seven away from four. O'clock my
name Is. Melweger thanks for listening to us. Today this
IS espn fifteen, Thirty Cincinnati Sports, Station
Speaker 3 (37:38):
CINCINNATI'S espn fifteen Thirty traffic
Mo Egger News
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