December 10, 2025 • 19 mins
Tony and Austin talk Reds with Jeff Carr from LockedOn, on ESPN 1530!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Tony Pike Cincy three sixty About Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsored in part by Penn Station East Coast Subs. Hand
prepped it. I'm grilled subs, fresh cut fries in lemonade.
It's all about good taste. Penn Station East Coast Subs
order on mine today. This is ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati
(00:25):
Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
It is our number three. We think, as you heard right,
there are friends at Penn Station. Thank you for listening.
Let's get our number three underway. Let's do so by
talking to our good friend from the Lockdown Reds podcast
and a guy you just got to check in on
after what has transpired in the last twenty four or
so hours. Jeff Carra is joining us right now.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Hi, Jeff, Tony haustin. It's really good to hear your voices.
You guys seem like some dudes that know how to
spend money outside of Middletown.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Jeff, here's my issue. Here's my issue. So on Sunday,
the Bengals went up by ten with under nine minutes
left in the game, and I allowed myself for a
moment to believe. I believe that it would be different
on Sunday and then the Bengals broke my heart. And
I had heard coming into this week a lot of
Kyle Schwarber talk and could this be the domino that
(01:20):
finally falls? And I was a little bit on the fence.
And then yesterday, as I got into the studio, I
watched a video on your ex and it seemed like
you were believing. It seemed like with all the conversation
that was going on around Kyle Schwarber, that maybe this
was more than just a rumor, maybe this was more
than just kicking the tires, Maybe this can actually happen.
(01:42):
And I did the same thing I did Sunday, and
I allowed myself to believe, and it felt as if
moments later the world came crashing down again. Your reaction,
let's start with that. Your reaction seeing the Swarber deal
to the Phillies. What is reported that that deal is worth,
and the reports of what the Reds offered Kyle Schwarber.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, the thing that I had come to the conclusion
of on that video, Tony, was that it felt like
ninety nine percent of this was done, but it's clear
that the one percent that was left was one hundred
percent of the matter. You know, doing a little bit
of John Madden math here for you on this Wednesday.
When it comes to the money, the Reds were outbid
(02:27):
by twenty five million total dollars, and some people want
to say, well, you know, it's thirty million dollars, thirty
million dollars per year compared to twenty five million dollars
per year. Kind of feels like the Reds were in
the ballpark, and it's like, yeah, but that's like saying
that they were setting up in the five hundred section
and the Phillies were down on the field. Because you're
talking about another twenty five million dollars. That's basically an
(02:49):
entire year, a year's worth of money that he is
going to get from Philadelphia as opposed to Cincinnati. And
it's clear that they really felt as though some sort
of local drawl, call it the will of the force
or something in Middletown was going to cause him to
take less money. And I don't know where they got
(03:13):
this from, because every reporter I saw was saying thirty million,
thirty million, thirty million. Some people said twenty eight, but
most people were saying thirty million. And for them to
go twenty five just makes me, it makes me wonder
how serious they were. But then what they said after
that is really what It's really what flattened me. Like
I felt like then getting to the playoffs was fun
(03:36):
in the way that they lost stunk, but I didn't
feel this flattened as I feel right now.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Well, I want to get to that comment in just
a moment.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Let me ask you this first.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
If you think that the Reds came in with the
exact same offer that the Phillies did, do you think
Kyle Schwarber would have chosen Cincinnati. I mean, obviously we
don't know that, but do you think if the money
was the exact same would he be a Red one
dred percent?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, I think that there's a lot of folks that
are reporting, you know, man, he just didn't want to leave.
He was really comfortable in the clubhouse, and he really
loves Philadelphia. But that's literally exactly what they were saying
about his feelings toward coming home. And I think that
they're saying that with hindsight being the determining factor here.
I fully believe that he was ready to build something
(04:17):
here with the Reds and be a part of his
hometown team for the rest of his career if the
money made sense, and the fact that they not were
only outbid by the Phillies but also outbid by the
Orioles is just super telling to me.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
And then Jeff, we get the Ken Rosenthal piece and
the quote was unlike the Orioles, who, by the way,
have already signed Pete Alonzo to one hundred and fifty
five million dollar deal. Unlike the Orioles, the Reds are
not expected to pursue other expensive free agents. They're offered
to Schwarber, a native of Middletown, Ohio, was tied to
their belief that his addition would help drive ticket sales.
(04:54):
That to me, Jeff, is shocking in the sense that,
holy cow, they actually admitted it, that it's not truly
about winning, it's more about selling tickets. Your reaction to
the Rosenthal quote.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I was worried throughout this entire process that the main
reason that they were ever in on Kyle Schwarber was
because he was local. And I thought, well, that's silly.
Nobody could truly believe that. But it's clear that that's
what they believed. And they said that, well he drive
ticket sales and all this other stuff. Pete Alonzo would
drive ticket sales. Cody Bellinger would drive ticket sales because
(05:30):
they would help the.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Team winding drive ticket sales.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yes, that happens. Yes. When they were on streaks in
twenty twenty three and when they were on a streak
this past year, there were times when you're just like,
let's go down to the ballpark and watch this team.
I wasn't going, like, obviously you go because you like
watching different players, but it's because you know it all
comes together in a winning product. That's why people are
(05:56):
down at pay Court Stadium every week to watch Joe Burrow.
And that's why people show up to Reds games whenever
they know that they're going to win. And the thing
for me, Tony is that they could have just said,
and they do this all the time, they could have
just said, we thought that this was a legitimate move
to make us a legitimate contender. No, they chose to
(06:17):
say we thought this would drive tickets.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Unbelievable, Like, isn't it kind of amazing how transparent they
have been.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Yeah, I think it's funny because there's times when Nick
Caral gives an answer to a question and it's like, Okay,
he's he's holding his cards close to his vest. Here
he's got something up asleep. And then there's other times
where he tells you that Elie de la Cruz had
one leg for two months, and you're like, oh, so
you think that we wanted to know that, like tell
(06:49):
us something else. Like there's times where I'm just like,
thank you for your transparency. You should have told us
anything else like that. That's what it feels like. And
this is another one of those examples.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
I think it's also part of it. We obviously know
the main issue is that the ownership has a plan
that doesn't and doesn't include spending to the best of
their abilities to try to win. But do you think
it's made worse by the fact that there's not really
an adequate spokesperson for the franchise to try to communicate
what the plan is because of what you just said.
(07:21):
I mean, on one hand, you've got Phil Castellini saying
where are you going to go? And on the other
hand you've got Nick Krawl. You know, depending on which
way the wind is blowing that day.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yeah, I mean, we've got a lot of humdingers from
Nick Krawl. You know, the peaks in the valley's comment,
the break even comment, you know, the kind of things
that really drive inspiration around Red's Country. It really really
gets people to the ticket booth. No, you're right like that.
That seems to be the biggest problem here, and I
see that sometimes, like looking at other teams. With the Yankees,
(07:53):
anytime Brian Cashman gets in front of a microphone, Yankees
fans just collectively grown because he says ever comes to
his mind. And that's not necessarily what nitkrawl does, but
it feels as though they craft these messages that they think, well,
we're being transparent and we're being honest with the fan base.
But the honesty that they're giving us is just absolutely
(08:15):
depressing because they have told us over this last week
that they will try for somebody who grew up here,
and if they didn't grow up here, then we're not
going to pay that much for him, because for some reason,
growing up here is what leads to winning baseball or something.
And while I love a local hometown, again, I just
want to see some winning baseball. And it feels as
(08:37):
though there are three ways that you can build a team.
You draft and develop, you sign free agents, and you
make trades. And said, we were actively shunning two of
those three things.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
I'm fascinated if they actually believe the stuff they're saying
half the time, Like Moe brought this up off air today, Jeff, Like,
if you are a fan and you're legitimately thinking about
buying tickets or buying a ticket package, and you're that
fan and you say, well, I'm in if they get
Kyle Schwarber, but I'm not buying that package if they
were to land Pee Alonzo, Like, do the Reds actually
(09:11):
believe that.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
That's the thing?
Speaker 3 (09:14):
To me?
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Like, if I'm choosing to buy tickets, I'm choosing to
buy because I want to go see a winning product,
and whether that's Kyle Schwarber, which is a cool story
because he's from Middletown, or a guy from Pee Alonzo
or anyone else that helps this team win. It's not
like I'd be like, yep, I was buying with Schwarber,
but now I'm out with Alonzo. Do they believe that?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
I have a hard time arguing against it, to be
honest with you, Like the way that they have presented
themselves these last couple of days is just so silly,
Like there were so many people you and me and
Mo and maybe Austin. I don't know. Sometimes I don't
know what Austin's thinking, but I'd like to think that
(09:56):
Austin was in on this too. That man at Schwarber's here,
I'm buying jersey, I'm buying something from Sensey shirts. I'm
buying some kind of couch war but memorabilia. I saw
people talking about. Man, I'm signing up for season Dicats,
Let's go. There was so much excitement and then immediately
it was crushed and now everyone is mad again. And
(10:17):
nobody has that kind of ability in Major League Baseball
like the Cincinnati Reds to drum up that sort of
feeling only to squash it.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Now that being said, the reports out about to tell
Marte and the Red's interest in that. How much are
you buying that?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
All right? I would like to, And I think if
this were a few years ago, I would have. Guys.
I love the Reds, I really do. But this whole
like super optimism thing has really gotten beaten down over
the last couple of years. Man, I'm like, looking at
this rumor, it's nice, tell Marte all Star last two years,
(10:59):
silver Lugger last two years. Even Brandon lau from the
Tampa Bay Rays. He hit thirty bombs last year. These
are the kind of guys that the Red should be
looking at. But there's a part of me, and there's
a question, and I'm not saying that I firmly believe
this question, that this question is probably in your minds too.
Is this rumor out there to soften the blow from yesterday?
(11:22):
Because they did a lot of damage yesterday and I
think they know that, and I think they've got to
come back with, well, we talked to these guys or
these teams about these players, and so maybe that's there,
But it feels like if it is there, they're just
starting those negotiations and we know how that goes with
Nick Crawl and trade negotiations. If it happens, we'll see
(11:42):
you in May.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
That's the thing, like to me, Like and Austin made
this point today. Is it legit interest in Marte or
is it man we messed up so bad yesterday If
we just leaked that we're linked to him, maybe people
are thinking that we're now trying to kick the can.
But you just told us yesterday that you're not kicking
the can on anybody else because you wanted to just
put fans in the stands instead of actually win baseball games.
(12:06):
If it were to come to fruition, if Marte did
work out, Jeff, what would that require in your opinion,
the Reds giving.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Up That would be a tough one because he is
He's thirty two years old, so it's not as if
he's like a prospect anymore or somebody who's like just
entering his prime. He's in the middle of it, maybe
on the twilight of it, but he does have six
years left of team control. At just over one hundred
million dollars, that's still well within the price range that
(12:34):
the Reds presented that they were willing to accept in
some cases. So I could see this working out, but
you would probably have to give up a decent bit
to get him. I don't necessarily know that it would
require Hunter Green, but it would require some names that
we know. They're not gonna dig down deep in Daytona
or the or the Dominican Summer League and grab a
(12:56):
few guys and throw them at Arizona's way and get
to tell market. But they will have to give up
some pieces that you could conceivably see playing next year
in order to acquire him. And then on top of that,
he plays second base. I don't know about you, but
that's not in the outfield, right, and that's not first
(13:19):
or third. Like we're pretty bullish about the guy that's
currently at second base, sir? Are we talking about moving
Matt McClain, Like, you know, we broached this subject this
last offseason a little bit tongue in cheek. Matt McClain
played center field at UCLA. Is that what we're going
to be talking about this offseason? Because it kind of
feels like, you quote unquote fill a hole in the lineup,
(13:40):
but you also add a question to the outfield.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
So now that they pivot back to the break even
strategy and the same payroll as a year ago strategy,
is there any realistic option out there that would make
this team better than it was a year ago that
either that fills any of those holes?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
If I base, because you know, well we all know
that Charlie Goldsmith is the goat, and so with him
saying that, you know, the Reds are going back to
their idea of five to ten million dollars and that's
what they got to spend, then they need to go
give that money to Reece Hoskins right now, because Reece
Hoskins has the power that they need, assuming that he's healthy,
which once again, this guy falls within the Reds wheelhouse,
(14:26):
right of a guy coming off of injury plague seasons
who was once good and once really powerful. Let's see
if we can get that back. But if that's all
that they've got to offer, that's who they're looking at
is Reece Hoskins, and so he is available. There's a
lot of projections that have his contract being like a
one year, ten million dollars thing. Go get him that
ten million dollars. We can figure out the bullpen stuff
(14:48):
from within. I feel like the Reds have a lot
of talent there and there's a lot of guys with
unrealized potential, and then you could work with that through
the season. If there are holes, you could make a
trade here or there. But and it comes to this lineup,
you cannot go to Goodyear in February and say that
the lineup we had last year is good enough for
this year. You've got to add at least one more
(15:09):
guy to it. Go get Reese Hoskins right now.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Lastly, before we let you go, Jeff, there is growing
concern about a lockout for the twenty twenty seven MLB season.
How much are the Reds or how much are teams
in baseball operating in that sense of understanding that lockout
and does that go into any of the decision making
coming up for the twenty twenty sixth year.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Oh, I think it's prevalent through Major League Baseball right now.
The only team that doesn't seem bothered by is, of
course the Dodgers because money is not a problem in
Los Angeles. But even the Chicago Cubs have said, like
Craig Council was talking at the Winter Meetings the other
day and said that he is excited about the playing
time that young guys are going to get this year
(15:51):
on the Chicago Cubs. And I'm like, that's the second
biggest or third biggest, however you look at it market
in America. So there should be no reason why the
Cubs are sitting on their hands and letting guys walk
or or letting guys go to other teams that they
could be signing. If the Cubs feel this way, that's
(16:12):
a feeling amongst all of Major League Baseball that they
are worried about what's going to happen next year, and
I think that they're posturing their strategy that's going on
with this, and there's a really good chance that after
we come out of the CBA we do see more spending.
But that's what's really had me wondering about this year,
and the fact that the Red's even made an offer
the guys Schwarber. Actually that's the only part of it
(16:34):
that surprises me in a good way that they were
in on that, because it really feels like they have
been posturing themselves to the point that they don't have
guaranteed money on the books after this CBA is over,
because all it is right now is Hunter Green and
Kee Brian Hayes, and so if they add more to that,
it almost feels a little bit surprising. But yeah, I
think that that has kind of overshadowed all of this
(16:56):
stuff right now because the guys that have the big
time contra going to the teams that can print money
and just hand it to them ten fifteen years down
the road.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Certainly an interesting time and an interesting time to be
a Cincinnati Reds fan. By the way, first baseball team,
A lot of pride here in this fan fan base
that's ready to rally around, not any type of winning.
Just want to win, and we'll support winning and we'll
buy tickets if you're winning.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
I have one more question for Jeff.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Actually, Jeff our friend Chad Dotson posted on Twitter last
night that the Reds are not a professional sports franchise.
They're a lifestyle brand. What's your reaction to that. It's
hard to argue.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
It kind of feels that way at the moment where
it's like, all right, if we're going to focus on
guys who are more local, and that's the guys that
we really want to stretch for and sort of build
on our local brand. I always think of this one team,
and I don't know if it's changed. It was years
ago that I had read about this, but it was
a Spanish league soccer team over in the oh, what
(18:04):
do they call the Syria No Laaliga? That's right, Italian
La Liga. That was real associatedad and they only filled
their roster with players who lived within a fifty mile
radius of the stadium. And I'm like, if this is
where we are going with Major League, we got some
(18:30):
we got some interesting it is It certainly certainly is,
and I would yeah, lifestyle brands really hard to argue.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Right now, Damn, it's not hard to argue. There's always
something going on around the Cincinnati Reds. And for you
covering the Reds, what's the easiest way for listeners to
follow along with everything you get going on and uh,
the enjoyment you take in watching what transpires here with
this organization.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Hey, I'm all over it on social media. Don't you
follow me at Jeff Carr with three ess on X.
I'm also on TikTok of that same name, and you
can follow the show everywhere you get your podcasts, including
the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Jeff, thank you so much. Man, hang in there, buddy,
hang in there, we'll talk, so.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
We'll get there, guys.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Just oh yeah, Christmas is coming soon, Jeff, enjoy the
holiday season.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Thank you, thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
That is Jeff Carr. Wow, he kept the Go Reds
in there, kept the Go Reds man. I appreciate return.
I respect that. Let's break, Let's come back. Plenty more
still to go and our number three, including an excerpt
of what Jimmy V said in his original x SP speech.
As it is Jimmy V. Wee happening right now with
the V Foundation, the Jimmy V Classic was last night.
(19:44):
We'll get to that before Quick Hits. A little bit
more on the football side when we come back. ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station
This is Tony Pike Cincy three sixty About Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsored in part by Penn Station East Coast Subs. Hand
prepped it. I'm grilled subs, fresh cut fries in lemonade.
It's all about good taste. Penn Station East Coast Subs
order on mine today. This is ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati
(00:25):
Sports Station.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
It is our number three. We think, as you heard right,
there are friends at Penn Station. Thank you for listening.
Let's get our number three underway. Let's do so by
talking to our good friend from the Lockdown Reds podcast
and a guy you just got to check in on
after what has transpired in the last twenty four or
so hours. Jeff Carra is joining us right now.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Hi, Jeff, Tony haustin. It's really good to hear your voices.
You guys seem like some dudes that know how to
spend money outside of Middletown.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Jeff, here's my issue. Here's my issue. So on Sunday,
the Bengals went up by ten with under nine minutes
left in the game, and I allowed myself for a
moment to believe. I believe that it would be different
on Sunday and then the Bengals broke my heart. And
I had heard coming into this week a lot of
Kyle Schwarber talk and could this be the domino that
(01:20):
finally falls? And I was a little bit on the fence.
And then yesterday, as I got into the studio, I
watched a video on your ex and it seemed like
you were believing. It seemed like with all the conversation
that was going on around Kyle Schwarber, that maybe this
was more than just a rumor, maybe this was more
than just kicking the tires, Maybe this can actually happen.
(01:42):
And I did the same thing I did Sunday, and
I allowed myself to believe, and it felt as if
moments later the world came crashing down again. Your reaction,
let's start with that. Your reaction seeing the Swarber deal
to the Phillies. What is reported that that deal is worth,
and the reports of what the Reds offered Kyle Schwarber.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, the thing that I had come to the conclusion
of on that video, Tony, was that it felt like
ninety nine percent of this was done, but it's clear
that the one percent that was left was one hundred
percent of the matter. You know, doing a little bit
of John Madden math here for you on this Wednesday.
When it comes to the money, the Reds were outbid
(02:27):
by twenty five million total dollars, and some people want
to say, well, you know, it's thirty million dollars, thirty
million dollars per year compared to twenty five million dollars
per year. Kind of feels like the Reds were in
the ballpark, and it's like, yeah, but that's like saying
that they were setting up in the five hundred section
and the Phillies were down on the field. Because you're
talking about another twenty five million dollars. That's basically an
(02:49):
entire year, a year's worth of money that he is
going to get from Philadelphia as opposed to Cincinnati. And
it's clear that they really felt as though some sort
of local drawl, call it the will of the force
or something in Middletown was going to cause him to
take less money. And I don't know where they got
(03:13):
this from, because every reporter I saw was saying thirty million,
thirty million, thirty million. Some people said twenty eight, but
most people were saying thirty million. And for them to
go twenty five just makes me, it makes me wonder
how serious they were. But then what they said after
that is really what It's really what flattened me. Like
I felt like then getting to the playoffs was fun
(03:36):
in the way that they lost stunk, but I didn't
feel this flattened as I feel right now.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Well, I want to get to that comment in just
a moment.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Let me ask you this first.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
If you think that the Reds came in with the
exact same offer that the Phillies did, do you think
Kyle Schwarber would have chosen Cincinnati. I mean, obviously we
don't know that, but do you think if the money
was the exact same would he be a Red one
dred percent?
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, I think that there's a lot of folks that
are reporting, you know, man, he just didn't want to leave.
He was really comfortable in the clubhouse, and he really
loves Philadelphia. But that's literally exactly what they were saying
about his feelings toward coming home. And I think that
they're saying that with hindsight being the determining factor here.
I fully believe that he was ready to build something
(04:17):
here with the Reds and be a part of his
hometown team for the rest of his career if the
money made sense, and the fact that they not were
only outbid by the Phillies but also outbid by the
Orioles is just super telling to me.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
And then Jeff, we get the Ken Rosenthal piece and
the quote was unlike the Orioles, who, by the way,
have already signed Pete Alonzo to one hundred and fifty
five million dollar deal. Unlike the Orioles, the Reds are
not expected to pursue other expensive free agents. They're offered
to Schwarber, a native of Middletown, Ohio, was tied to
their belief that his addition would help drive ticket sales.
(04:54):
That to me, Jeff, is shocking in the sense that,
holy cow, they actually admitted it, that it's not truly
about winning, it's more about selling tickets. Your reaction to
the Rosenthal quote.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I was worried throughout this entire process that the main
reason that they were ever in on Kyle Schwarber was
because he was local. And I thought, well, that's silly.
Nobody could truly believe that. But it's clear that that's
what they believed. And they said that, well he drive
ticket sales and all this other stuff. Pete Alonzo would
drive ticket sales. Cody Bellinger would drive ticket sales because
(05:30):
they would help the.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Team winding drive ticket sales.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Yes, that happens. Yes. When they were on streaks in
twenty twenty three and when they were on a streak
this past year, there were times when you're just like,
let's go down to the ballpark and watch this team.
I wasn't going, like, obviously you go because you like
watching different players, but it's because you know it all
comes together in a winning product. That's why people are
(05:56):
down at pay Court Stadium every week to watch Joe Burrow.
And that's why people show up to Reds games whenever
they know that they're going to win. And the thing
for me, Tony is that they could have just said,
and they do this all the time, they could have
just said, we thought that this was a legitimate move
to make us a legitimate contender. No, they chose to
(06:17):
say we thought this would drive tickets.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Unbelievable, Like, isn't it kind of amazing how transparent they
have been.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Yeah, I think it's funny because there's times when Nick
Caral gives an answer to a question and it's like, Okay,
he's he's holding his cards close to his vest. Here
he's got something up asleep. And then there's other times
where he tells you that Elie de la Cruz had
one leg for two months, and you're like, oh, so
you think that we wanted to know that, like tell
(06:49):
us something else. Like there's times where I'm just like,
thank you for your transparency. You should have told us
anything else like that. That's what it feels like. And
this is another one of those examples.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
I think it's also part of it. We obviously know
the main issue is that the ownership has a plan
that doesn't and doesn't include spending to the best of
their abilities to try to win. But do you think
it's made worse by the fact that there's not really
an adequate spokesperson for the franchise to try to communicate
what the plan is because of what you just said.
(07:21):
I mean, on one hand, you've got Phil Castellini saying
where are you going to go? And on the other
hand you've got Nick Krawl. You know, depending on which
way the wind is blowing that day.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yeah, I mean, we've got a lot of humdingers from
Nick Krawl. You know, the peaks in the valley's comment,
the break even comment, you know, the kind of things
that really drive inspiration around Red's Country. It really really
gets people to the ticket booth. No, you're right like that.
That seems to be the biggest problem here, and I
see that sometimes, like looking at other teams. With the Yankees,
(07:53):
anytime Brian Cashman gets in front of a microphone, Yankees
fans just collectively grown because he says ever comes to
his mind. And that's not necessarily what nitkrawl does, but
it feels as though they craft these messages that they think, well,
we're being transparent and we're being honest with the fan base.
But the honesty that they're giving us is just absolutely
(08:15):
depressing because they have told us over this last week
that they will try for somebody who grew up here,
and if they didn't grow up here, then we're not
going to pay that much for him, because for some reason,
growing up here is what leads to winning baseball or something.
And while I love a local hometown, again, I just
want to see some winning baseball. And it feels as
(08:37):
though there are three ways that you can build a team.
You draft and develop, you sign free agents, and you
make trades. And said, we were actively shunning two of
those three things.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
I'm fascinated if they actually believe the stuff they're saying
half the time, Like Moe brought this up off air today, Jeff, Like,
if you are a fan and you're legitimately thinking about
buying tickets or buying a ticket package, and you're that
fan and you say, well, I'm in if they get
Kyle Schwarber, but I'm not buying that package if they
were to land Pee Alonzo, Like, do the Reds actually
(09:11):
believe that.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
That's the thing?
Speaker 3 (09:14):
To me?
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Like, if I'm choosing to buy tickets, I'm choosing to
buy because I want to go see a winning product,
and whether that's Kyle Schwarber, which is a cool story
because he's from Middletown, or a guy from Pee Alonzo
or anyone else that helps this team win. It's not
like I'd be like, yep, I was buying with Schwarber,
but now I'm out with Alonzo. Do they believe that?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
I have a hard time arguing against it, to be
honest with you, Like the way that they have presented
themselves these last couple of days is just so silly,
Like there were so many people you and me and
Mo and maybe Austin. I don't know. Sometimes I don't
know what Austin's thinking, but I'd like to think that
(09:56):
Austin was in on this too. That man at Schwarber's here,
I'm buying jersey, I'm buying something from Sensey shirts. I'm
buying some kind of couch war but memorabilia. I saw
people talking about. Man, I'm signing up for season Dicats,
Let's go. There was so much excitement and then immediately
it was crushed and now everyone is mad again. And
(10:17):
nobody has that kind of ability in Major League Baseball
like the Cincinnati Reds to drum up that sort of
feeling only to squash it.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Now that being said, the reports out about to tell
Marte and the Red's interest in that. How much are
you buying that?
Speaker 3 (10:37):
All right? I would like to, And I think if
this were a few years ago, I would have. Guys.
I love the Reds, I really do. But this whole
like super optimism thing has really gotten beaten down over
the last couple of years. Man, I'm like, looking at
this rumor, it's nice, tell Marte all Star last two years,
(10:59):
silver Lugger last two years. Even Brandon lau from the
Tampa Bay Rays. He hit thirty bombs last year. These
are the kind of guys that the Red should be
looking at. But there's a part of me, and there's
a question, and I'm not saying that I firmly believe
this question, that this question is probably in your minds too.
Is this rumor out there to soften the blow from yesterday?
(11:22):
Because they did a lot of damage yesterday and I
think they know that, and I think they've got to
come back with, well, we talked to these guys or
these teams about these players, and so maybe that's there,
But it feels like if it is there, they're just
starting those negotiations and we know how that goes with
Nick Crawl and trade negotiations. If it happens, we'll see
(11:42):
you in May.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
That's the thing, like to me, Like and Austin made
this point today. Is it legit interest in Marte or
is it man we messed up so bad yesterday If
we just leaked that we're linked to him, maybe people
are thinking that we're now trying to kick the can.
But you just told us yesterday that you're not kicking
the can on anybody else because you wanted to just
put fans in the stands instead of actually win baseball games.
(12:06):
If it were to come to fruition, if Marte did
work out, Jeff, what would that require in your opinion,
the Reds giving.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
Up That would be a tough one because he is
He's thirty two years old, so it's not as if
he's like a prospect anymore or somebody who's like just
entering his prime. He's in the middle of it, maybe
on the twilight of it, but he does have six
years left of team control. At just over one hundred
million dollars, that's still well within the price range that
(12:34):
the Reds presented that they were willing to accept in
some cases. So I could see this working out, but
you would probably have to give up a decent bit
to get him. I don't necessarily know that it would
require Hunter Green, but it would require some names that
we know. They're not gonna dig down deep in Daytona
or the or the Dominican Summer League and grab a
(12:56):
few guys and throw them at Arizona's way and get
to tell market. But they will have to give up
some pieces that you could conceivably see playing next year
in order to acquire him. And then on top of that,
he plays second base. I don't know about you, but
that's not in the outfield, right, and that's not first
(13:19):
or third. Like we're pretty bullish about the guy that's
currently at second base, sir? Are we talking about moving
Matt McClain, Like, you know, we broached this subject this
last offseason a little bit tongue in cheek. Matt McClain
played center field at UCLA. Is that what we're going
to be talking about this offseason? Because it kind of
feels like, you quote unquote fill a hole in the lineup,
(13:40):
but you also add a question to the outfield.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
So now that they pivot back to the break even
strategy and the same payroll as a year ago strategy,
is there any realistic option out there that would make
this team better than it was a year ago that
either that fills any of those holes?
Speaker 3 (14:04):
If I base, because you know, well we all know
that Charlie Goldsmith is the goat, and so with him
saying that, you know, the Reds are going back to
their idea of five to ten million dollars and that's
what they got to spend, then they need to go
give that money to Reece Hoskins right now, because Reece
Hoskins has the power that they need, assuming that he's healthy,
which once again, this guy falls within the Reds wheelhouse,
(14:26):
right of a guy coming off of injury plague seasons
who was once good and once really powerful. Let's see
if we can get that back. But if that's all
that they've got to offer, that's who they're looking at
is Reece Hoskins, and so he is available. There's a
lot of projections that have his contract being like a
one year, ten million dollars thing. Go get him that
ten million dollars. We can figure out the bullpen stuff
(14:48):
from within. I feel like the Reds have a lot
of talent there and there's a lot of guys with
unrealized potential, and then you could work with that through
the season. If there are holes, you could make a
trade here or there. But and it comes to this lineup,
you cannot go to Goodyear in February and say that
the lineup we had last year is good enough for
this year. You've got to add at least one more
(15:09):
guy to it. Go get Reese Hoskins right now.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Lastly, before we let you go, Jeff, there is growing
concern about a lockout for the twenty twenty seven MLB season.
How much are the Reds or how much are teams
in baseball operating in that sense of understanding that lockout
and does that go into any of the decision making
coming up for the twenty twenty sixth year.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Oh, I think it's prevalent through Major League Baseball right now.
The only team that doesn't seem bothered by is, of
course the Dodgers because money is not a problem in
Los Angeles. But even the Chicago Cubs have said, like
Craig Council was talking at the Winter Meetings the other
day and said that he is excited about the playing
time that young guys are going to get this year
(15:51):
on the Chicago Cubs. And I'm like, that's the second
biggest or third biggest, however you look at it market
in America. So there should be no reason why the
Cubs are sitting on their hands and letting guys walk
or or letting guys go to other teams that they
could be signing. If the Cubs feel this way, that's
(16:12):
a feeling amongst all of Major League Baseball that they
are worried about what's going to happen next year, and
I think that they're posturing their strategy that's going on
with this, and there's a really good chance that after
we come out of the CBA we do see more spending.
But that's what's really had me wondering about this year,
and the fact that the Red's even made an offer
the guys Schwarber. Actually that's the only part of it
(16:34):
that surprises me in a good way that they were
in on that, because it really feels like they have
been posturing themselves to the point that they don't have
guaranteed money on the books after this CBA is over,
because all it is right now is Hunter Green and
Kee Brian Hayes, and so if they add more to that,
it almost feels a little bit surprising. But yeah, I
think that that has kind of overshadowed all of this
(16:56):
stuff right now because the guys that have the big
time contra going to the teams that can print money
and just hand it to them ten fifteen years down
the road.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
Certainly an interesting time and an interesting time to be
a Cincinnati Reds fan. By the way, first baseball team,
A lot of pride here in this fan fan base
that's ready to rally around, not any type of winning.
Just want to win, and we'll support winning and we'll
buy tickets if you're winning.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
I have one more question for Jeff.
Speaker 4 (17:27):
Actually, Jeff our friend Chad Dotson posted on Twitter last
night that the Reds are not a professional sports franchise.
They're a lifestyle brand. What's your reaction to that. It's
hard to argue.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
It kind of feels that way at the moment where
it's like, all right, if we're going to focus on
guys who are more local, and that's the guys that
we really want to stretch for and sort of build
on our local brand. I always think of this one team,
and I don't know if it's changed. It was years
ago that I had read about this, but it was
a Spanish league soccer team over in the oh, what
(18:04):
do they call the Syria No Laaliga? That's right, Italian
La Liga. That was real associatedad and they only filled
their roster with players who lived within a fifty mile
radius of the stadium. And I'm like, if this is
where we are going with Major League, we got some
(18:30):
we got some interesting it is It certainly certainly is,
and I would yeah, lifestyle brands really hard to argue.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Right now, Damn, it's not hard to argue. There's always
something going on around the Cincinnati Reds. And for you
covering the Reds, what's the easiest way for listeners to
follow along with everything you get going on and uh,
the enjoyment you take in watching what transpires here with
this organization.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Hey, I'm all over it on social media. Don't you
follow me at Jeff Carr with three ess on X.
I'm also on TikTok of that same name, and you
can follow the show everywhere you get your podcasts, including
the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Jeff, thank you so much. Man, hang in there, buddy,
hang in there, we'll talk, so.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
We'll get there, guys.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Just oh yeah, Christmas is coming soon, Jeff, enjoy the
holiday season.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Thank you, thanks guys.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
That is Jeff Carr. Wow, he kept the Go Reds
in there, kept the Go Reds man. I appreciate return.
I respect that. Let's break, Let's come back. Plenty more
still to go and our number three, including an excerpt
of what Jimmy V said in his original x SP speech.
As it is Jimmy V. Wee happening right now with
the V Foundation, the Jimmy V Classic was last night.
(19:44):
We'll get to that before Quick Hits. A little bit
more on the football side when we come back. ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station
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