December 10, 2025 • 39 mins
Tommy and Jim talk with Colin Cowgill, Mark Sheldon, and Emilio Pagan.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, very delightful, good evening to you, and welcome out
to the Budweiser reds Hodstove League presented by UDF. We
are live at the bet MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watch
Bar at the Banks, and we've got a pretty big
crowd assembled here to uh hear what Colin Cowgill has
to say Reds first base coach, based running coach, outfield coach.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
He's on with us today.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
We're also gonna have Mark Sheldon checking in redsbeatwriter for
MLB dot Com. He will check in from the Winter meetings.
Emiliopagon will join us a little bit later on with
Jim Day. I'm Tommy Graw. It's great to be with
you as we talk Red's Baseball for the next hour. Jimmy,
I know a lot of people want to talk about
the news of the week, and that was the fact that,
of course everybody in Red's country hoping Kyle Schwarber would
(00:43):
return home and suit up in a Red uniform this year,
only for him to re sign with the Phillies.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Really not surprising for me.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
I mean I said it on the record all along,
I thought it was going back to Philadelphia. As you know,
let's slide from the big city.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It's free agency.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Good for him, it was the last big contract for
him perhaps, and you gotta move on now, you gotta
beat him right.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Well, we will talk more about that a little bit
later on. We'll get Mark Sheldon's thoughts about it as well.
But first, let's welcome in Colin cal Gill CEC. Thanks
so much for joining us. You just took part in
a Q and A here at Tom's watch Bar and
the bet MGM sportsbook. But you know, for you last season,
I mean, a new manager. We kind of talked about
(01:28):
that a little bit ago, but a new manager that
the base running certainly something that this team is capable
of doing and doing very well. It seems like they
got a little bit more efficient last year.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Definitely more efficient. It was good. Well boy, feedback, Yep,
it feels good. Take care of that.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yeah, feels good in the ear drums wakes you up
a little bit.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
Yeah, you know, And we did talk about it earlier
and it was challenging, you know, going from one manager
who has a style of aggression to another manager who
just isn't as aggressive of a mindset, especially on the
basis and and Tito's one that just doesn't like to
make outs on bases on the basis and.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
And and I can I can totally agree with that.
It's it's it makes sense to me.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
I think the what we were talked about earlier was
was just trying to find the balance of of not
being overly aggressive where we make costly mistakes, but being
aggressive enough to where, you know, sometimes it might open
up a hole for us, or it might get us
a few more fastballs, or it might affect the game
in some way that you know, we could take advantage
of some of our better athletes, the skills that they
(02:38):
that they possess, their instincts, all those things.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
So, you know, going from one.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
Manager to another is definitely challenging with their different styles
and belief systems. But uh, the one thing that you
can count on with Tito is that that that man
wants to win the game.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
However that that may look like.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
There was times when he'd come down to the end
of dugout and like, hey man, we gotta go, and
I'd be like, finally, you know, let's go. But there'd
also be times like, hey man, let's be a little
bit more conservative here.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
You know, there was a real life example.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
We were in Colorado and we're facing a I can't
remember his name, Tyler Kinley I think slowed the plate,
gave up a lot of stolen bases. I think it
was Freedom or Frehley was on and Tito was giving
me the red light. And this was early, early on
in the season, and I came back out and I
was like, Hey, Tito, what what's up?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Man?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Like why we would have second and third?
Speaker 5 (03:25):
And say, well, they would have just walked Ellie, you know,
And like now we got bassis loaded with Ellie not
having a chance to hit in a lesser matchup with
a right handed hitter behind him, Like all right, well
that makes a little bit more sense to me, you know.
But that's an early moment where we're trying to feel
each other out, understanding the relationship how he thinks, where
in the previous it was like, Hey, we're gonna go
because we're gonna be safe, and then whatever happens after
(03:46):
that happens. We might have a two pointer on a single,
But the way he thinks about and looks at the
game and the running game is just a little bit
different and was a learning process. But now I feel
like I got a pretty decent handle on it.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
The times that he did say go, gave you the
green light, where those times where the club was going
through maybe a stretch of offensive struggles. You had a
ton of games where you scored less than two runs
where maybe you need to manufacture some runs. Where those
the times and do you think we could see more
of that?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Maybe? Just it's Tito. I get his.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Philosophy, but you just pushed the envelope just a little
bit more.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Yeah, And that's right, and it was time, and it's
it's challenging and in that aspect too, because if you're
down two runs and then you get thrown out with
your only opportunity that with somebody on base, you know,
like you're kind of you're kind of cutting off.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Your legs there too.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
So it's it's definitely we need to be right when
we make the decision to go, and that needs to
be right, and that needs to be moving the needle
for us.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
To win that game or score that run.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
So I think moving forward with him, yes, I think
to answer your question, yes, I think we will be
more aggressive, especially having one year under his you know,
his regime, the way he thinks and feels our players
understand the way he thinks and feels. Because there was
a bit of a lull kind of the middle of
the season where we were very very passive. I would
I would, I would say, uh, and then we kind
(05:09):
of picked it back up towards the latter part of
the season. So having known knowing what Tito wants, knowing
our players knowing what Tito wants, I think you can
probably see us, you know, being a bit more aggressive
and when the offense is struggling the way it does, Yes,
like we're gonna need to to make something happen. Hit
and run a little bit more st doe attle bit
more bases, you know, score some more runs.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Juse the offense.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
We obviously all know that Ellie is an elite base runner.
He's electric, especially when he's healthy. Who's somebody that kind
of flies under the radar a little bit as far
as base running goes, and their ability to maybe surprise
you with a stolen bag here and there.
Speaker 5 (05:43):
Yeah, well, I think we saw like a glimpse of
sal Stewart, you know, towards the end of it, with
a little bit you know of of his uh, but
he's just you know, he's he's exciting. Uh, he's an
excitable person. We're gonna have to tame that a little bit.
But but he's really instinctive. He's a guy that sees
something in a picture and takes advantage of that. Spencer
Steer is one of the better bolt steel players in
(06:06):
the league. He's not the fastest guy, but he is
just an opportunistic base runner.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
And then Noelvie.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
You look at a guy like Noelvie who is a
big human being. He's probably two hundred and thirty pounds,
but he runs really, really well, and he's also a
really really smart based runner. He has some techniques that
he likes to use, and he's sneaky. So I think,
you know, with him, as long as he stays in shape,
stays healthy. Spencer two, I think we got some guys
(06:32):
that are gonna, you know, get back to running bases
the way where we know we can run bases.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
How much of a challenge was it for you in
that Ellie at times with his injury, and there was
a lot of you know, he was injured more than
was led on that he was a ferrari that wasn't
working on all cylinders at times, where you had to
hold him back because I know he goes to first
base and the first thing he says to you is Poppy,
I'm going to score.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So you had to hold him back.
Speaker 6 (06:57):
How much of a challenge was that?
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Yeah, you know what, most of the time I just
felt bad for him, because, like, he wants to go,
and I'm like, hey, man, like, we.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Can't risk you. You're probably gonna be safe. But if you.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Set yourself back to three more days and we lose
you for any day, our chances of winning that game
that day are very, very are a hell of a
lot smaller, you know, because he's such an impactful player.
So not only is our shortstop, you know, he's our
best offensive player. He's our most dynamic players. So trying
to keep him healthy and also satisfy his need to
(07:29):
you know, be aggressive and use his legs was super challenging.
But hopefully all this is behind him, you know, and
we can get back to watching Ellie run the way
he's capable of running.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
It's obviously fun to talk base running because of how
athletic this team is, and there are some dynamic guys
like we've talked about, But the other thing that is
A big part of what you do is working with
the outfielders. We saw a guy like Noelvie Marte make
huge shrides in very short order. What was the key
to kind of get him comfortable with and then becoming
(08:03):
not just a respectable outfielder in right field, but a
pretty darn good right fielder. We saw him rob the
home run that may have saved the season and helped
this team get to the postseason late in the year.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
It was so fun to watch him, you know, just
the relief he felt moving from the infield to the outfield.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
He just he was just dragging that around.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
He was dragging his his his miscues on defense into
the box, and you know, it's hard to battle yourself
and the pitcher at the same time offensively, So just
to watch him be able to just play free, have fun.
There was always a smile on his face. But the
way he got better was because he just worked at
it every day. We worked every day. I stood behind
(08:43):
him in BP. I helped him with his his pre pitch,
his first step, and then just kind of like let
him make mistakes out there, like hey, man, go catch
the ball or don't catch the ball. But if you
don't catch the ball, learn from it. You know what happened.
And there beat there was plays in the season which
he didn't miss very many, but there was a couple
of where his routes weren't great. But I would take
the iPad to him and I'd show him and and uh.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And he'd get the hang of it. And then and
the very next play he'd clean it up.
Speaker 5 (09:08):
So he's that good at at at making changes and
adjusting and and he's just a great baseball player.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
So the more he.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
Works, and if he continues to work, he's going to
continue to be a pretty good outfielder.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
That robbing of the home run is directly correlated to
the drill that you have with the pitching machine. I'm serious,
and I'm blowing smoke here.
Speaker 6 (09:26):
You guys work on that.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
So congratulations on that play.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Come in to Prision congratulation.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Seriously, Hey, you know I've seen defense go by the wayside,
uh somewhat in this game.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
You're known for your enthusiasm.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
You're you're more like a football coach and the baseball
coach I've ever seen when guys get down to first base,
you headbutt them. Now, has there ever been a time
where a guy had butted you so hard that it
like you saw stars a little bit, or vice versa,
or you did it too.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Hard to get into concussion protocol.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
I'm telling you, Uh, Freedol will absolutely send it on
some head butts. I could see that, and and I
will absolutely send it back to Freedel. So it's morally
just you know, because you know we're kind of the
same size, we're very similar, uh, you know, little pit bulls.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
And Jack Russell's whatever you want to call us.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
But when he gets a bunt down for a not
I am more fired up for that event than I
am a lot of other things. And if he forgets
the head butt me, I will take his head and
I will smash it against my head just to make
sure that he doesn't under didn't misunderstand how fired up
I am because he works really hard at bunting and
(10:38):
when he gets it done, it's a big it's normally
a big moment for us, and uh, and that fires
me up.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
You boys, right, that's that's right.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Well, thanks so much for the time. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Thanks for coming down.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Always fun to chat baseball with you and enjoy the
rest of the winter.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
Yeah, you got it.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
My pleasure guys is Colin cal Gill joining us on
the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League. We are live, Hey,
but the bet MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's watch Bar at
the Banks. We're back with Mark Sheldon. Next on the
Reds Radio Network. Beckets the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove Leak
(15:11):
presented by UDF.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
We are live the.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Bet MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's watch Bar at the Banks. Meanwhile,
Mark Sheldon is staying nice and warm. I'm sure he's
got a good tan working. He is down in the
Sunshine State. I bet it ain't raining down there, Marky, Mark,
what's going on?
Speaker 7 (15:28):
How are you doing?
Speaker 6 (15:29):
Pretty good?
Speaker 7 (15:30):
I can tell you that I don't have any tan
because I barely left the hotel all week and the
hotel was freezing inside with all the air conditioned plumping in.
But I'm at the airport and I'm ready to come
home in the slop that we're gonna get in Cincinnati soon.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Yeah, you're bringing some snow with you, which is really nice.
Speaker 8 (15:46):
Well.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Mark has been down in Orlando, not for vacation, not
just checking out the area Disney hotels, but he is
down there for the winter meetings. He's on his way
home now, hanging out at the lovely Orlando Airport. Well
Mark Danks for joining us. But you know, obviously there
was a lot of excitement on whether or not the
Reds were going to land Kyle Schwarber. They didn't. What
(16:08):
have you learned and and how how much have you
realized about how close the Reds really were on that deal?
Speaker 7 (16:15):
You know, Schwarber said today on his zoom with the
Phillies writers that he thought the Red's offer was impressive.
He thought the Reds efforts to get him were legit,
and he I think the term he used, they weren't
pulling his chain. Him and his wife were at Great
American Ballpark the Monday before Thanksgiving and they listened to
what everyone had to say from the front office, which
(16:36):
included Nick Krawl and Brad Metter and Bob Castellini and
Tito Francona and Chris Valaika and Jeff Garpe. You know,
they went left and they came away okay with that,
but that ultimately when the offer came, they they were
better offers and and honestly, the Reds were a long
(16:57):
shot in a lot of ways. But because the phil
were always going to be the leader in the clubhouse,
they they wanted him back. I think he wanted to
go there first priority, and the Phillies produced the money
to make that happen.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Where do you think the Reds go from here? Where
are some rumblings that you're you've heard this week? You know,
there are a thousand rumors out there. You don't know what
to believe, You're gut feeling where they go.
Speaker 7 (17:22):
It's you know, that's a tough one. It's it's wide
open now at this point, Jim, because you know, it's
not like they're you know, pet A Lonzo's off the
board now, of course, but I'm not sure they were
ever They were never in play for him. But there's
obviously there's the biggest probably free agent for them that's
left is Boba Shet, but they're not connected to him yet.
I would wonder if they would think about going to him.
(17:46):
Nick Krawl has said that they are willing to look
at guys that maybe their position is filled on the team,
and then maybe requiring to move a guy to a
different position because they have a lot of flexible players,
and that kind of makes sense with Brandon lou coming
up as a trade candidate maybe from the Raise because
he's a second baseman, and that would mean someone like
Matt McClain would have to move maybe to center field.
(18:06):
So there's there's different hoops, you know, things they can
do it. It's just not as easy to pinpoint as Yeah,
they were after Kyle Schwarber. Now it's like they have
a lot of different, you know, irons in the fire.
They've been talking at free agents, they've been talking to
the trade partner's, potential trade partners, and we'll have to
see what happens.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
One hundred and twenty five million dollars is what they
were willing to pay over five years for Kyle Schwarber.
That seems to be a pretty good price tag for
a team that's budget seems to be fairly limited. Would
that give you an indication that they're willing to spend
if it's the right player moving forward?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yes to no.
Speaker 7 (18:42):
I mean Nick Caral's been pretty transparent about the part
with the what the payroll is going to be. Similar
to last year they gave Emilio Pegan, you know, ten
million a year for the next two years. They didn't
have a whole lot left, and I think what they're
trying to do is that whether it's with trying what
they tried to do with Schwarber or what they might
do with another free agent, is can they find a
(19:03):
way to get creative in year one? They know their budget,
maybe if they can get a guide to the first
of money. I think deferrals is a big part of
what they might try to do, and then then they
can see where they are for the twenty twenty seven
budget and twenty twenty eight, et cetera. So if they
can find the right guy and tofer some money and
have that player be willing to do that, or maybe
they try some opt outs or other creative ways to
(19:25):
make it work, they will. But I don't think they're
going to expand based on what he said today, I
don't think they're going to expand the budget, nor were
they trying to expand the budget to get shorter.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
If they can't dip into the free agent market. And
as you said, the two.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Big sluggers are off off the board, so trade would
be the next avenue. Now they've are build within franchise,
they've been reluctant to trade prospects coming up with a
trade major league player for major league player is less
frequent nowadays. Do you see them dipping in the trade
(20:00):
market to try to come up with the bat Do
you think that they would deplete the farm system to
do so.
Speaker 7 (20:06):
I mean, it sounds like the way things were going
at the Winter Meetings, and you've seen it a couple
of times with trades before the Winter Meetings.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
It seems like there's been.
Speaker 7 (20:13):
More major league for major league player trades this time around,
which is a change from the past. Like you said,
it was more rare for a while, But it seems
like teams aren't hunting for prospects the way they were
hunting for them in past years. There's there are fewer
rebuilding teams.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
You know.
Speaker 7 (20:30):
The one place I keep mentioning, much to people's chagrin,
is dipping into starting pitching.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
You know, they have a lot of depth.
Speaker 7 (20:37):
But at the same time, both Nick cral and Brad
Metter have been pretty open about the fact that they
really don't want to trade someone like Hunter Green or
Brady Singer or any of their starters because they, you
know what, the that was deep and talented as it is,
a lot of those guys have histories of going on
the injured list, and they have three guys that missed
all of last season, so I would think their starting
(20:57):
pitchers would be the ones that would attract the offers.
I don't know if they have position players that would
grab what they need, you know, elsewhere. Obviously, if they
have a good hitter on their team, they're gonna want
to hang on to him because they need him in
the lineup too. They don't want to deplete one spot
for another.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Well Mark, it's certainly going to be interesting real quickly
talking about trades before we let you go? Is could
tell Marte a viable option you think on the trade market.
Speaker 7 (21:24):
I mean he's been rumored. I think somebody did mention
his name. It connects you with the Reds. I don't
know how serious it is. I also don't know really
know what a fit he would be. I think clubhouse
fit is a big part of it. And el Marte
maybe had some issues in Arizona, so I don't know
where that goes. If he's the guy they would get,
But and again if they got him, they would have
to move McClean, no doubt, so it would be it
(21:46):
would be interesting to see what they do. But I
think he's like he's making like one hundred million dollars,
so I don't I don't know if if that's the
right fit or not quite honestly.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Well, Mark, thanks for the time, appreciate it. Be safe
getting home and we'll we'll talk to you, I'm sure
again soon.
Speaker 7 (22:02):
Thanks and happy holidays.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Happy holidays.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
That is Redsbeat writer for MLB dot Com, Mark Sheldon.
We're back with Red's closer, Emilio Pagan. It's the Budweiser
Reds Hot Stove League presented by u DF live at
the bed MGM Sportsbook. Inside Tom's Watch Bartha Banks on
the Reds Radio Network. Welcome back into the Budweiser reds
Hot Stove League presented by u d F with Jim Day.
(22:27):
I am Tommy Throw continuing on the show. Now, we
are thrilled to be joined by Red's closer, Emilio Pagan. Boy,
how refreshing it is to be able to say those words, Emilio.
I'd like to say welcome back, but you you never
ended up leaving, so it's it's great to it's great
to have you still in a Reds uniform. How thrilled
were you to get this deal? Done, especially as quickly
(22:49):
as it got done.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Yeah, I was pumped, you know.
Speaker 9 (22:53):
I told Brad and Nick and Jeff, you know, pretty
much everybody that you know. I was hoping to be
bad and uh, you know, I was really grateful that
we were able to get it done. Man it uh
and uh, and it moved fast, You're right. But it
was a fun process. It was super humbling to hear
from all the teams that were calling. You know, anytime
(23:15):
you get a phone call from a major league club
and they they're interested in signing you as one of
their players, Uh, it's a.
Speaker 6 (23:20):
Super cool feeling, you know.
Speaker 9 (23:21):
I I've watched baseball my whole life, and so to
uh to have those calls was a fun process.
Speaker 6 (23:27):
But at the end of the day, there's.
Speaker 9 (23:30):
A lot to like about what we've got going on
in Cincinnati, and I knew that's where I wanted to be.
Speaker 10 (23:34):
That last day at Dodger Stadium, Uh, when you guys
got knocked out and and everyone in the clubhouse is
saying they're goodbyes, and it's kind of an emotional moment.
Did you think at that moment that might be the
last time you put on a Red's uniform? How much
were you thinking because I was saying goodbye to you
because I didn't it was gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Uh.
Speaker 9 (23:58):
It's it's really hard, from being honest, to not think
about that, to not think about, man, this could be
the last time teammates with these guys, and so you
know in the moment, you know, I tell guys.
Speaker 6 (24:11):
All the time, I am terrible at goodbyes.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (24:14):
I'm a very emotional person.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
I think fans can see that. And when I'm on
the mound, you know, I have fun.
Speaker 9 (24:19):
Out there, and and so I'm not afraid to show
my emotions a little bit. And so uh when it
comes time at the end of the year, whenever that
time does come, I'm I'm not good at goodbyes, and so, uh,
you're right. I was kind of just sitting in my
locker taking it all in and uh, you know, being
thankful for for my time there and with those guys.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
I've had a blast the last two years. Uh.
Speaker 9 (24:42):
But there was you know a huge part of me
that was very hopeful that we could figure something out
and could uh could get it done to bring me
back and and you know, take another run at it,
because I believe in this team. I believe in these guys,
and you know, I said it a couple of days
ago when I was up in Cincinnati. I think we
were just uh, I think we just grabbed to surface
on what this team can accomplish. And so I'm excited
(25:02):
to get back to work.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Emilio Pagun, big Irish exit guy.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Uh Hue, Emilio, you you talked about, uh, you know,
the process and that other teams were calling you.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Uh, how'd that process go?
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Uh? Take us behind the curtain just a little bit.
I mean, did you you said you wanted to be
back with the Reds. You've You've made that clear to
everybody involved. So during the during that process, did you
feel like the Reds had to outbid some other teams
or just get competitive? I mean, how does that whole
process kind of play out, especially when you know where
you want to be.
Speaker 9 (25:40):
Yeah, you know, the process is it is what it is.
Speaker 6 (25:44):
Man.
Speaker 9 (25:44):
You know, teams call, uh, teams call my agent asient
does a really good job of communicating with with all
the teams and with me. I'm aware of who's calling,
when they're calling, what they're thinking, and you know, it's
really just having fun with it.
Speaker 6 (26:03):
As far as as far as offers.
Speaker 9 (26:05):
In the market, I don't really worry about that. Uh,
to be honest, you know, you know, I feel like
it's not really something to worry about.
Speaker 6 (26:16):
You know, I grew up in church.
Speaker 9 (26:19):
You know, for me, you know, God had a plan
for my life to play baseball, and so for me,
he's He's provided opportunities and and uh places for me
to go. And so you know, I had a desire
back in Cincinnati, and you know, I felt like it
was gonna happen the whole time. And so as far
(26:39):
as the market goes, I wasn't really concerned about it.
You know, I have said, and I do believe this
is true. I do owe a little bit to the
game of baseball and to players and to the future
players to get what the game might dictate. You know,
somebody who's done what I've done in this game is
worth and so there there is a little bit of
that factor. But as far as being like anxious or
(27:02):
concerned about the market like that, you know, I'm grateful
that that was never a part of my process, and
so I'm just glad we were able to get it done.
Speaker 6 (27:12):
Be back in Cincinnati.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
There's been so many players that have come through Cincinnati,
and there's I guess there's just something about it that
players like. Even during the down years, there were players
that I really like it here and I'd really like
to come back, and a lot of times they didn't twofold.
What is it about Cincinnati, Cincinnati Reads, and what is
(27:35):
it about this particular group that's so enticing and situation.
Speaker 9 (27:40):
Yeah, yeah, it's hard for me to comment on like
previous guys, because I don't know what the you know,
what the clubhouse was like, you know, during those years
that you're referring to. For me, I can say right now,
what's enticing for me is the people. The guys in
that clubhouse. Our front office staff, our coaching staff, are
port staff in the clubhouse. It's just a really special
(28:03):
group of people where it feels like we're all on
the same page. It feels like there's one common goal,
which is to get better, to win games, and to
hopefully bring a championship to this organization. And so, you know,
as a fan of baseball, you like to think that
every team is trying to win as many games as
possible every year. Being in the game, I think we're
(28:25):
all aware that that's not always the case, unfortunately, and
so as far as guys in previous years that have
wanted to come back, I'm not sure what was enticing
to them. But for me, you look at the talent
on this roster, you pair that with the group of
people that we have in this organization, it's just a
special place at a special time, and I think, like
(28:48):
I said, we're just scratching the surface. I think this
is going to become a destination in this league if
we do this right, and you know, we start taking
more and more steps in the right direction towards winning
a championship, and so I'm great to be a part
of it and excited to see what we can accomplish.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Emilio, closing wasn't probably at the top of your radar
coming into the last season. You turned into not just
the team's closer, but a reliable closer. At that what
you learn about yourself throughout the course of the year
doing it day in and day out.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
I learned that I needed more sleep than normal.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Man.
Speaker 9 (29:27):
It's a stressful role, but it's something that I've always
really really hoped that I would get another shot at.
You know, I did it a little bit in twenty
nineteen with Tampa and then a little bit in the
beginning of twenty twenty two in Minnesota. And both of
those years I put it on such a pedestal, you know,
calling myself I get to be a major league closer,
(29:49):
you know, and just really adding unnecessary importance to getting
three outs, you know what I mean, when you really
boil it down, that's all it is, just go get
three outs.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
And so.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
I've matured enough.
Speaker 9 (30:02):
At least I thought I had matured enough to get
another shot at it, and you know, I was really
hopeful that I would get another shot at it. And
this time around, I just tried to have fun and
tried to go get three outs as fast as possible
and not really care what it looks like. You know,
if I get three outs before they you know, tie
the game or go ahead, then I did my job.
(30:23):
And so I had a lot of fun with it.
But yeah, what I learned was when you're in that role,
sleep becomes even more important.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
So the arm's good.
Speaker 10 (30:35):
You mentioned twenty nineteen, you seventy innings pitched that year,
sixty eight and two thirds this year, but they were
all stressed.
Speaker 6 (30:43):
Is that a big difference.
Speaker 9 (30:47):
I don't know, we'll find out. You know, Physically, I
feel fantastic right now. You know, obviously everybody in spring
training says, yeah, I'm in the best shape of my life.
I feel better now in this off in this off
season that I felt probably the last two or three
off seasons. And so you know that there's gonna be
ebbs and flows with that as you're as you're building up,
(31:09):
there's gonna be periods of dead arm and uh times
in the off season where you're more sore than others.
You know, that comes, you know, being able to manage
that comes through experience, and so I'll know when it's
time to step on the gas or maybe you know,
take it back and notch. But as far as how
I feel right now going into you know, the later
(31:32):
stages of the off season where bullpens will start to
pick up and long toss will start to pick up,
I feel great. And so I'm really happy with how
I feel physically. And uh yeah, I mean I threw
a lot last year, but it's not the most I've
ever thrown. And so you know I met they were yeah, yeah,
for sure, Yeah, for sure, they were.
Speaker 6 (31:50):
They were definitely all high leverage, which has not always.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Been the case.
Speaker 9 (31:54):
But uh, you know, for me, and I think a
lot of people would say this, like any inning in
the Big league is high stress. Like we all want
to stay in the big leagues as long as possible,
and so you know, the score and and everything dictates
some uh you know, the leverage index, you know, whatever
that stat is. But as far as how I approach it,
(32:15):
I'm trying to put up a zero. I don't care
if it's the first or the fifteenth, you know. So
that's that's the way I look at it.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
You talk about sleep, a little harder to sleep after
the adrenaline rush of pitching a ninth inning, isn't it.
I mean that that's not easy to just shut it down,
go home, put your head on the pillow and call
it a night.
Speaker 6 (32:33):
Yeah. Yeah, no, it's it's definitely not.
Speaker 9 (32:36):
But again that comes from like what I was referring
to is like just keep it into perspective, Like when
I was getting when I was getting a chance to
close in Tampa. Yeah, I was up till three four
o'clock in the morning after games, just either super pumped
up because I got the job done or super disappointed.
Speaker 6 (32:52):
In myself because I blew the game this time around.
Speaker 9 (32:55):
I was just trying to be you know, more honest
with myself about how I threw the bait, not necessarily
what the result was. Like if I threw good and
blew the game, I was okay with it, which you know,
fans may or may not want to hear that, But
my process was, in my opinion, the right way to
go about it. Like I don't want to pitch bad
and get the job done and think, man, I'm in
(33:17):
a good spot, you know, like this is sustainable for
the next two weeks. So like if I threw bad
and didn't and and still got the save, like all right,
let's look into why I wasn't commanding my fastball as
much or whatever. Which the flip side of that was
if I pitched good and gave up a homer and
we lost, like I was okay with that because I
(33:37):
knew that if I kept throwing the ball like that
more times than not, just the way that baseball is designed,
like if you pitch good, you're gonna get out. It's
really hard to get hits in this game and string
string two.
Speaker 6 (33:48):
Or three together.
Speaker 9 (33:50):
And so that was my whole thought process, and because
of that I was able to get better sleep.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
As somebody once told me, they decided to become a
pitcher because they realized it was a lot easier than
being hit her.
Speaker 6 (34:01):
Yeah that guy was you.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Yeah, yeah, well, Emilio certainly appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Really happy for you and your family and have a
great holiday season.
Speaker 6 (34:11):
All right, Yeah, thanks guys. I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Absolutely That is Red's Closer, Emilio Pagan joining us. We'll
take your phone calls and mores. We wind down on
the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Next on the Reds Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
BET, wrapping things up on the Butterwiser Red Hot Stove
League presented by ud ALF. We are live the BET
MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Wahbar at the Bank. Shopping for
a Reds fan this holiday season, there are plenty of
great gift options available tickets, fan club memberships, memorabilia, apparel,
and more.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Plus don't miss thirteen.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Days of Christmas at the Reds Team Shop, with new
deals on select days through December twenty third. Visit Reds
dot com for details. Let's go to the phone lines.
Now if five one, three, seven, four, nine, seven hundred
the big one. Let's go to Grandpaul, Mike and Dayton. Gramps,
what do you got for us?
Speaker 8 (35:09):
You know him?
Speaker 1 (35:09):
Sir, you're behaving, trying not to, but you know there's
plenty of people to keep.
Speaker 8 (35:14):
Hey, that's where I am. Well, I have a new job,
but I'm not going into that. I'm knowing a lot
of traveling. But anyway, with the Reds, I am a
big Reds fan. I'm a diehard Yankee fan, being rigid
from New York. I hate the Orioles. How the hell
the Casteline let the Ools sign Alonzo? I hated them.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Well, thanks for the call, Gramps, appreciate you calling in.
I gotta be honest with you. I you know, I
like the idea Kyle Sharber. I thought he would be
a really good fit for this Reds team. And by
all accounts, look, the Reds did everything they could. Uh,
the Phillies came up with a better offer, And I
think it probably comes down to deep down he was
comfortable there, that's where he wanted to stay. Pete Alonzo,
I don't Jim, I don't know how you feel about this.
(36:01):
I don't feel as though Pete Alonzo would have been
as good of a fit with this team. Granted, the
bat's great, the power numbers are great, but sometimes it
has to be a fit all the way around. It's
a boatload of home runs.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
It's hit a botload of home runs in Great America
that that was certainly playing on this team, that would play.
But the reports are that it's even a slightly larger
contract right than what Shwarbur got.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
So I don't know the finances.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
I'm not privy to the talks of how much was
offered to Schwarbur, how much you know he's in the
end gonna get or Pete Alonzo. I'm not gonna pooh
pooh on a guy hits that many home runs that
he wouldn't fit in.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Well, you find a way to make it work, don't you. Yeah,
But I never I never got the sense that he
was a guy that the Reds were necessarily interested in. Yeah,
I don't know that he was on the radar for them,
But you know what, I'm sure he'll work out great
for the Orioles. He's certainly a power back that could
use in their lineup, and they need to figure out
(37:02):
a way to get some power from somewhere. We wrap
up the show and we come back next on the
Reds Radio Network. It's up on the Budweiser Reds Hot
Stove League presented by UDF. Give the gift of Reds
Baseball this holiday season with Red's Holiday Flex Ticket vouchers.
Your favorite Reds fan will get a choose which games
(37:24):
they want to see in twenty twenty six. Visit Reds
dot com slash Holiday for details. Well, pretty much out
of time for today's show. Who knows, maybe we'll be
talking about some excitement next week. Shows on a Tuesday.
Great to have Emlio Pagan on today. Great to have
him back in the bullpen. Sounds like the Reds are
still willing to go out there and spend some money.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Remains to be seen.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
It does not my money to spend, nor my position
to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Things that I don't know. We'll see, we'll.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
See what will be waiting Like everyone else, we will
be And you know what, it is disappointing that the
Kyle Schwarber thing didn't work out, but you got to
move on.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
And now we'll see where.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
The Red's pivot and how they continue to try to
piece together this team for twenty twenty six. But you've
got to try to find a way to build on
the momentum getting to the postseason last year. Tito's talked
about it, Emilio Pagan talked about it. They want to
get back there, they want to pop bottles again.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
They're gonna have to come up with a creative trade then,
in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
And I think that's probably what we'll be looking at. Yeah,
maybe we'll halt, Maybe we'll be talking about that.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
Perhaps Tuesday is the show. Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Next Tuesday, we'll be here in the same spot, all right,
at the bet MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watch Bar at
the Banks. We're out of time for this show. Big
thanks to Calling cal Gill for joining us today. Thanks
to Mark Sheldon for calling in. Also thanks to Emilio
Pagan for our producer, engineer, dave Yiddy, Arm Brewster, Joe
Waddell back in our network headquarters, and for Jim Day.
(38:57):
I'm Tommy Thrawl saying good night from the bet MGM
Sportsbook inside Tom's Watch Bar at the Banks. You've been
listening to the Budweiser reds Hot Stove League presented by
UDF on the REDS radio network,
Hey, very delightful, good evening to you, and welcome out
to the Budweiser reds Hodstove League presented by UDF. We
are live at the bet MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watch
Bar at the Banks, and we've got a pretty big
crowd assembled here to uh hear what Colin Cowgill has
to say Reds first base coach, based running coach, outfield coach.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
He's on with us today.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
We're also gonna have Mark Sheldon checking in redsbeatwriter for
MLB dot Com. He will check in from the Winter meetings.
Emiliopagon will join us a little bit later on with
Jim Day. I'm Tommy Graw. It's great to be with
you as we talk Red's Baseball for the next hour. Jimmy,
I know a lot of people want to talk about
the news of the week, and that was the fact that,
of course everybody in Red's country hoping Kyle Schwarber would
(00:43):
return home and suit up in a Red uniform this year,
only for him to re sign with the Phillies.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Really not surprising for me.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
I mean I said it on the record all along,
I thought it was going back to Philadelphia. As you know,
let's slide from the big city.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It's free agency.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Good for him, it was the last big contract for
him perhaps, and you gotta move on now, you gotta
beat him right.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Well, we will talk more about that a little bit
later on. We'll get Mark Sheldon's thoughts about it as well.
But first, let's welcome in Colin cal Gill CEC. Thanks
so much for joining us. You just took part in
a Q and A here at Tom's watch Bar and
the bet MGM sportsbook. But you know, for you last season,
I mean, a new manager. We kind of talked about
(01:28):
that a little bit ago, but a new manager that
the base running certainly something that this team is capable
of doing and doing very well. It seems like they
got a little bit more efficient last year.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Definitely more efficient. It was good. Well boy, feedback, Yep,
it feels good. Take care of that.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yeah, feels good in the ear drums wakes you up
a little bit.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
Yeah, you know, And we did talk about it earlier
and it was challenging, you know, going from one manager
who has a style of aggression to another manager who
just isn't as aggressive of a mindset, especially on the
basis and and Tito's one that just doesn't like to
make outs on bases on the basis and.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
And and I can I can totally agree with that.
It's it's it makes sense to me.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
I think the what we were talked about earlier was
was just trying to find the balance of of not
being overly aggressive where we make costly mistakes, but being
aggressive enough to where, you know, sometimes it might open
up a hole for us, or it might get us
a few more fastballs, or it might affect the game
in some way that you know, we could take advantage
of some of our better athletes, the skills that they
(02:38):
that they possess, their instincts, all those things.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
So, you know, going from one.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
Manager to another is definitely challenging with their different styles
and belief systems. But uh, the one thing that you
can count on with Tito is that that that man
wants to win the game.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
However that that may look like.
Speaker 5 (02:54):
There was times when he'd come down to the end
of dugout and like, hey man, we gotta go, and
I'd be like, finally, you know, let's go. But there'd
also be times like, hey man, let's be a little
bit more conservative here.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
You know, there was a real life example.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
We were in Colorado and we're facing a I can't
remember his name, Tyler Kinley I think slowed the plate,
gave up a lot of stolen bases. I think it
was Freedom or Frehley was on and Tito was giving
me the red light. And this was early, early on
in the season, and I came back out and I
was like, Hey, Tito, what what's up?
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Man?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Like why we would have second and third?
Speaker 5 (03:25):
And say, well, they would have just walked Ellie, you know,
And like now we got bassis loaded with Ellie not
having a chance to hit in a lesser matchup with
a right handed hitter behind him, Like all right, well
that makes a little bit more sense to me, you know.
But that's an early moment where we're trying to feel
each other out, understanding the relationship how he thinks, where
in the previous it was like, Hey, we're gonna go
because we're gonna be safe, and then whatever happens after
(03:46):
that happens. We might have a two pointer on a single,
But the way he thinks about and looks at the
game and the running game is just a little bit
different and was a learning process. But now I feel
like I got a pretty decent handle on it.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
The times that he did say go, gave you the
green light, where those times where the club was going
through maybe a stretch of offensive struggles. You had a
ton of games where you scored less than two runs
where maybe you need to manufacture some runs. Where those
the times and do you think we could see more
of that?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Maybe? Just it's Tito. I get his.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Philosophy, but you just pushed the envelope just a little
bit more.
Speaker 5 (04:23):
Yeah, And that's right, and it was time, and it's
it's challenging and in that aspect too, because if you're
down two runs and then you get thrown out with
your only opportunity that with somebody on base, you know,
like you're kind of you're kind of cutting off.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Your legs there too.
Speaker 5 (04:37):
So it's it's definitely we need to be right when
we make the decision to go, and that needs to
be right, and that needs to be moving the needle
for us.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
To win that game or score that run.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
So I think moving forward with him, yes, I think
to answer your question, yes, I think we will be
more aggressive, especially having one year under his you know,
his regime, the way he thinks and feels our players
understand the way he thinks and feels. Because there was
a bit of a lull kind of the middle of
the season where we were very very passive. I would
I would, I would say, uh, and then we kind
(05:09):
of picked it back up towards the latter part of
the season. So having known knowing what Tito wants, knowing
our players knowing what Tito wants, I think you can
probably see us, you know, being a bit more aggressive
and when the offense is struggling the way it does, Yes,
like we're gonna need to to make something happen. Hit
and run a little bit more st doe attle bit
more bases, you know, score some more runs.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Juse the offense.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
We obviously all know that Ellie is an elite base runner.
He's electric, especially when he's healthy. Who's somebody that kind
of flies under the radar a little bit as far
as base running goes, and their ability to maybe surprise
you with a stolen bag here and there.
Speaker 5 (05:43):
Yeah, well, I think we saw like a glimpse of
sal Stewart, you know, towards the end of it, with
a little bit you know of of his uh, but
he's just you know, he's he's exciting. Uh, he's an
excitable person. We're gonna have to tame that a little bit.
But but he's really instinctive. He's a guy that sees
something in a picture and takes advantage of that. Spencer
Steer is one of the better bolt steel players in
(06:06):
the league. He's not the fastest guy, but he is
just an opportunistic base runner.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
And then Noelvie.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
You look at a guy like Noelvie who is a
big human being. He's probably two hundred and thirty pounds,
but he runs really, really well, and he's also a
really really smart based runner. He has some techniques that
he likes to use, and he's sneaky. So I think,
you know, with him, as long as he stays in shape,
stays healthy. Spencer two, I think we got some guys
(06:32):
that are gonna, you know, get back to running bases
the way where we know we can run bases.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
How much of a challenge was it for you in
that Ellie at times with his injury, and there was
a lot of you know, he was injured more than
was led on that he was a ferrari that wasn't
working on all cylinders at times, where you had to
hold him back because I know he goes to first
base and the first thing he says to you is Poppy,
I'm going to score.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So you had to hold him back.
Speaker 6 (06:57):
How much of a challenge was that?
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Yeah, you know what, most of the time I just
felt bad for him, because, like, he wants to go,
and I'm like, hey, man, like, we.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Can't risk you. You're probably gonna be safe. But if you.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
Set yourself back to three more days and we lose
you for any day, our chances of winning that game
that day are very, very are a hell of a
lot smaller, you know, because he's such an impactful player.
So not only is our shortstop, you know, he's our
best offensive player. He's our most dynamic players. So trying
to keep him healthy and also satisfy his need to
(07:29):
you know, be aggressive and use his legs was super challenging.
But hopefully all this is behind him, you know, and
we can get back to watching Ellie run the way
he's capable of running.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
It's obviously fun to talk base running because of how
athletic this team is, and there are some dynamic guys
like we've talked about, But the other thing that is
A big part of what you do is working with
the outfielders. We saw a guy like Noelvie Marte make
huge shrides in very short order. What was the key
to kind of get him comfortable with and then becoming
(08:03):
not just a respectable outfielder in right field, but a
pretty darn good right fielder. We saw him rob the
home run that may have saved the season and helped
this team get to the postseason late in the year.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
It was so fun to watch him, you know, just
the relief he felt moving from the infield to the outfield.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
He just he was just dragging that around.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
He was dragging his his his miscues on defense into
the box, and you know, it's hard to battle yourself
and the pitcher at the same time offensively, So just
to watch him be able to just play free, have fun.
There was always a smile on his face. But the
way he got better was because he just worked at
it every day. We worked every day. I stood behind
(08:43):
him in BP. I helped him with his his pre pitch,
his first step, and then just kind of like let
him make mistakes out there, like hey, man, go catch
the ball or don't catch the ball. But if you
don't catch the ball, learn from it. You know what happened.
And there beat there was plays in the season which
he didn't miss very many, but there was a couple
of where his routes weren't great. But I would take
the iPad to him and I'd show him and and uh.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And he'd get the hang of it. And then and
the very next play he'd clean it up.
Speaker 5 (09:08):
So he's that good at at at making changes and
adjusting and and he's just a great baseball player.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
So the more he.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
Works, and if he continues to work, he's going to
continue to be a pretty good outfielder.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
That robbing of the home run is directly correlated to
the drill that you have with the pitching machine. I'm serious,
and I'm blowing smoke here.
Speaker 6 (09:26):
You guys work on that.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
So congratulations on that play.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Come in to Prision congratulation.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Seriously, Hey, you know I've seen defense go by the wayside,
uh somewhat in this game.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
You're known for your enthusiasm.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
You're you're more like a football coach and the baseball
coach I've ever seen when guys get down to first base,
you headbutt them. Now, has there ever been a time
where a guy had butted you so hard that it
like you saw stars a little bit, or vice versa,
or you did it too.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Hard to get into concussion protocol.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
I'm telling you, Uh, Freedol will absolutely send it on
some head butts. I could see that, and and I
will absolutely send it back to Freedel. So it's morally
just you know, because you know we're kind of the
same size, we're very similar, uh, you know, little pit bulls.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
And Jack Russell's whatever you want to call us.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
But when he gets a bunt down for a not
I am more fired up for that event than I
am a lot of other things. And if he forgets
the head butt me, I will take his head and
I will smash it against my head just to make
sure that he doesn't under didn't misunderstand how fired up
I am because he works really hard at bunting and
(10:38):
when he gets it done, it's a big it's normally
a big moment for us, and uh, and that fires
me up.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
You boys, right, that's that's right.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Well, thanks so much for the time. Really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Thanks for coming down.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Always fun to chat baseball with you and enjoy the
rest of the winter.
Speaker 6 (10:52):
Yeah, you got it.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
My pleasure guys is Colin cal Gill joining us on
the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League. We are live, Hey,
but the bet MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's watch Bar at
the Banks. We're back with Mark Sheldon. Next on the
Reds Radio Network. Beckets the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove Leak
(15:11):
presented by UDF.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
We are live the.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Bet MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's watch Bar at the Banks. Meanwhile,
Mark Sheldon is staying nice and warm. I'm sure he's
got a good tan working. He is down in the
Sunshine State. I bet it ain't raining down there, Marky, Mark,
what's going on?
Speaker 7 (15:28):
How are you doing?
Speaker 6 (15:29):
Pretty good?
Speaker 7 (15:30):
I can tell you that I don't have any tan
because I barely left the hotel all week and the
hotel was freezing inside with all the air conditioned plumping in.
But I'm at the airport and I'm ready to come
home in the slop that we're gonna get in Cincinnati soon.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Yeah, you're bringing some snow with you, which is really nice.
Speaker 8 (15:46):
Well.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Mark has been down in Orlando, not for vacation, not
just checking out the area Disney hotels, but he is
down there for the winter meetings. He's on his way
home now, hanging out at the lovely Orlando Airport. Well
Mark Danks for joining us. But you know, obviously there
was a lot of excitement on whether or not the
Reds were going to land Kyle Schwarber. They didn't. What
(16:08):
have you learned and and how how much have you
realized about how close the Reds really were on that deal?
Speaker 7 (16:15):
You know, Schwarber said today on his zoom with the
Phillies writers that he thought the Red's offer was impressive.
He thought the Reds efforts to get him were legit,
and he I think the term he used, they weren't
pulling his chain. Him and his wife were at Great
American Ballpark the Monday before Thanksgiving and they listened to
what everyone had to say from the front office, which
(16:36):
included Nick Krawl and Brad Metter and Bob Castellini and
Tito Francona and Chris Valaika and Jeff Garpe. You know,
they went left and they came away okay with that,
but that ultimately when the offer came, they they were
better offers and and honestly, the Reds were a long
(16:57):
shot in a lot of ways. But because the phil
were always going to be the leader in the clubhouse,
they they wanted him back. I think he wanted to
go there first priority, and the Phillies produced the money
to make that happen.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Where do you think the Reds go from here? Where
are some rumblings that you're you've heard this week? You know,
there are a thousand rumors out there. You don't know what
to believe, You're gut feeling where they go.
Speaker 7 (17:22):
It's you know, that's a tough one. It's it's wide
open now at this point, Jim, because you know, it's
not like they're you know, pet A Lonzo's off the
board now, of course, but I'm not sure they were
ever They were never in play for him. But there's
obviously there's the biggest probably free agent for them that's
left is Boba Shet, but they're not connected to him yet.
I would wonder if they would think about going to him.
(17:46):
Nick Krawl has said that they are willing to look
at guys that maybe their position is filled on the team,
and then maybe requiring to move a guy to a
different position because they have a lot of flexible players,
and that kind of makes sense with Brandon lou coming
up as a trade candidate maybe from the Raise because
he's a second baseman, and that would mean someone like
Matt McClain would have to move maybe to center field.
(18:06):
So there's there's different hoops, you know, things they can
do it. It's just not as easy to pinpoint as Yeah,
they were after Kyle Schwarber. Now it's like they have
a lot of different, you know, irons in the fire.
They've been talking at free agents, they've been talking to
the trade partner's, potential trade partners, and we'll have to
see what happens.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
One hundred and twenty five million dollars is what they
were willing to pay over five years for Kyle Schwarber.
That seems to be a pretty good price tag for
a team that's budget seems to be fairly limited. Would
that give you an indication that they're willing to spend
if it's the right player moving forward?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yes to no.
Speaker 7 (18:42):
I mean Nick Caral's been pretty transparent about the part
with the what the payroll is going to be. Similar
to last year they gave Emilio Pegan, you know, ten
million a year for the next two years. They didn't
have a whole lot left, and I think what they're
trying to do is that whether it's with trying what
they tried to do with Schwarber or what they might
do with another free agent, is can they find a
(19:03):
way to get creative in year one? They know their budget,
maybe if they can get a guide to the first
of money. I think deferrals is a big part of
what they might try to do, and then then they
can see where they are for the twenty twenty seven
budget and twenty twenty eight, et cetera. So if they
can find the right guy and tofer some money and
have that player be willing to do that, or maybe
they try some opt outs or other creative ways to
(19:25):
make it work, they will. But I don't think they're
going to expand based on what he said today, I
don't think they're going to expand the budget, nor were
they trying to expand the budget to get shorter.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
If they can't dip into the free agent market. And
as you said, the two.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
Big sluggers are off off the board, so trade would
be the next avenue. Now they've are build within franchise,
they've been reluctant to trade prospects coming up with a
trade major league player for major league player is less
frequent nowadays. Do you see them dipping in the trade
(20:00):
market to try to come up with the bat Do
you think that they would deplete the farm system to
do so.
Speaker 7 (20:06):
I mean, it sounds like the way things were going
at the Winter Meetings, and you've seen it a couple
of times with trades before the Winter Meetings.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
It seems like there's been.
Speaker 7 (20:13):
More major league for major league player trades this time around,
which is a change from the past. Like you said,
it was more rare for a while, But it seems
like teams aren't hunting for prospects the way they were
hunting for them in past years. There's there are fewer
rebuilding teams.
Speaker 6 (20:30):
You know.
Speaker 7 (20:30):
The one place I keep mentioning, much to people's chagrin,
is dipping into starting pitching.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
You know, they have a lot of depth.
Speaker 7 (20:37):
But at the same time, both Nick cral and Brad
Metter have been pretty open about the fact that they
really don't want to trade someone like Hunter Green or
Brady Singer or any of their starters because they, you
know what, the that was deep and talented as it is,
a lot of those guys have histories of going on
the injured list, and they have three guys that missed
all of last season, so I would think their starting
(20:57):
pitchers would be the ones that would attract the offers.
I don't know if they have position players that would
grab what they need, you know, elsewhere. Obviously, if they
have a good hitter on their team, they're gonna want
to hang on to him because they need him in
the lineup too. They don't want to deplete one spot
for another.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Well Mark, it's certainly going to be interesting real quickly
talking about trades before we let you go? Is could
tell Marte a viable option you think on the trade market.
Speaker 7 (21:24):
I mean he's been rumored. I think somebody did mention
his name. It connects you with the Reds. I don't
know how serious it is. I also don't know really
know what a fit he would be. I think clubhouse
fit is a big part of it. And el Marte
maybe had some issues in Arizona, so I don't know
where that goes. If he's the guy they would get,
But and again if they got him, they would have
to move McClean, no doubt, so it would be it
(21:46):
would be interesting to see what they do. But I
think he's like he's making like one hundred million dollars,
so I don't I don't know if if that's the
right fit or not quite honestly.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Well, Mark, thanks for the time, appreciate it. Be safe
getting home and we'll we'll talk to you, I'm sure
again soon.
Speaker 7 (22:02):
Thanks and happy holidays.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
Happy holidays.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
That is Redsbeat writer for MLB dot Com, Mark Sheldon.
We're back with Red's closer, Emilio Pagan. It's the Budweiser
Reds Hot Stove League presented by u DF live at
the bed MGM Sportsbook. Inside Tom's Watch Bartha Banks on
the Reds Radio Network. Welcome back into the Budweiser reds
Hot Stove League presented by u d F with Jim Day.
(22:27):
I am Tommy Throw continuing on the show. Now, we
are thrilled to be joined by Red's closer, Emilio Pagan. Boy,
how refreshing it is to be able to say those words, Emilio.
I'd like to say welcome back, but you you never
ended up leaving, so it's it's great to it's great
to have you still in a Reds uniform. How thrilled
were you to get this deal? Done, especially as quickly
(22:49):
as it got done.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Yeah, I was pumped, you know.
Speaker 9 (22:53):
I told Brad and Nick and Jeff, you know, pretty
much everybody that you know. I was hoping to be
bad and uh, you know, I was really grateful that
we were able to get it done. Man it uh
and uh, and it moved fast, You're right. But it
was a fun process. It was super humbling to hear
from all the teams that were calling. You know, anytime
(23:15):
you get a phone call from a major league club
and they they're interested in signing you as one of
their players, Uh, it's a.
Speaker 6 (23:20):
Super cool feeling, you know.
Speaker 9 (23:21):
I I've watched baseball my whole life, and so to
uh to have those calls was a fun process.
Speaker 6 (23:27):
But at the end of the day, there's.
Speaker 9 (23:30):
A lot to like about what we've got going on
in Cincinnati, and I knew that's where I wanted to be.
Speaker 10 (23:34):
That last day at Dodger Stadium, Uh, when you guys
got knocked out and and everyone in the clubhouse is
saying they're goodbyes, and it's kind of an emotional moment.
Did you think at that moment that might be the
last time you put on a Red's uniform? How much
were you thinking because I was saying goodbye to you
because I didn't it was gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Uh.
Speaker 9 (23:58):
It's it's really hard, from being honest, to not think
about that, to not think about, man, this could be
the last time teammates with these guys, and so you
know in the moment, you know, I tell guys.
Speaker 6 (24:11):
All the time, I am terrible at goodbyes.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (24:14):
I'm a very emotional person.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (24:16):
I think fans can see that. And when I'm on
the mound, you know, I have fun.
Speaker 9 (24:19):
Out there, and and so I'm not afraid to show
my emotions a little bit. And so uh when it
comes time at the end of the year, whenever that
time does come, I'm I'm not good at goodbyes, and so, uh,
you're right. I was kind of just sitting in my
locker taking it all in and uh, you know, being
thankful for for my time there and with those guys.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
I've had a blast the last two years. Uh.
Speaker 9 (24:42):
But there was you know a huge part of me
that was very hopeful that we could figure something out
and could uh could get it done to bring me
back and and you know, take another run at it,
because I believe in this team. I believe in these guys,
and you know, I said it a couple of days
ago when I was up in Cincinnati. I think we
were just uh, I think we just grabbed to surface
on what this team can accomplish. And so I'm excited
(25:02):
to get back to work.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Emilio Pagun, big Irish exit guy.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Uh Hue, Emilio, you you talked about, uh, you know,
the process and that other teams were calling you.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Uh, how'd that process go?
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Uh? Take us behind the curtain just a little bit.
I mean, did you you said you wanted to be
back with the Reds. You've You've made that clear to
everybody involved. So during the during that process, did you
feel like the Reds had to outbid some other teams
or just get competitive? I mean, how does that whole
process kind of play out, especially when you know where
you want to be.
Speaker 9 (25:40):
Yeah, you know, the process is it is what it is.
Speaker 6 (25:44):
Man.
Speaker 9 (25:44):
You know, teams call, uh, teams call my agent asient
does a really good job of communicating with with all
the teams and with me. I'm aware of who's calling,
when they're calling, what they're thinking, and you know, it's
really just having fun with it.
Speaker 6 (26:03):
As far as as far as offers.
Speaker 9 (26:05):
In the market, I don't really worry about that. Uh,
to be honest, you know, you know, I feel like
it's not really something to worry about.
Speaker 6 (26:16):
You know, I grew up in church.
Speaker 9 (26:19):
You know, for me, you know, God had a plan
for my life to play baseball, and so for me,
he's He's provided opportunities and and uh places for me
to go. And so you know, I had a desire
back in Cincinnati, and you know, I felt like it
was gonna happen the whole time. And so as far
(26:39):
as the market goes, I wasn't really concerned about it.
You know, I have said, and I do believe this
is true. I do owe a little bit to the
game of baseball and to players and to the future
players to get what the game might dictate. You know,
somebody who's done what I've done in this game is
worth and so there there is a little bit of
that factor. But as far as being like anxious or
(27:02):
concerned about the market like that, you know, I'm grateful
that that was never a part of my process, and
so I'm just glad we were able to get it done.
Speaker 6 (27:12):
Be back in Cincinnati.
Speaker 10 (27:14):
There's been so many players that have come through Cincinnati,
and there's I guess there's just something about it that
players like. Even during the down years, there were players
that I really like it here and I'd really like
to come back, and a lot of times they didn't twofold.
What is it about Cincinnati, Cincinnati Reads, and what is
(27:35):
it about this particular group that's so enticing and situation.
Speaker 9 (27:40):
Yeah, yeah, it's hard for me to comment on like
previous guys, because I don't know what the you know,
what the clubhouse was like, you know, during those years
that you're referring to. For me, I can say right now,
what's enticing for me is the people. The guys in
that clubhouse. Our front office staff, our coaching staff, are
port staff in the clubhouse. It's just a really special
(28:03):
group of people where it feels like we're all on
the same page. It feels like there's one common goal,
which is to get better, to win games, and to
hopefully bring a championship to this organization. And so, you know,
as a fan of baseball, you like to think that
every team is trying to win as many games as
possible every year. Being in the game, I think we're
(28:25):
all aware that that's not always the case, unfortunately, and
so as far as guys in previous years that have
wanted to come back, I'm not sure what was enticing
to them. But for me, you look at the talent
on this roster, you pair that with the group of
people that we have in this organization, it's just a
special place at a special time, and I think, like
(28:48):
I said, we're just scratching the surface. I think this
is going to become a destination in this league if
we do this right, and you know, we start taking
more and more steps in the right direction towards winning
a championship, and so I'm great to be a part
of it and excited to see what we can accomplish.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Emilio, closing wasn't probably at the top of your radar
coming into the last season. You turned into not just
the team's closer, but a reliable closer. At that what
you learn about yourself throughout the course of the year
doing it day in and day out.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
I learned that I needed more sleep than normal.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
Man.
Speaker 9 (29:27):
It's a stressful role, but it's something that I've always
really really hoped that I would get another shot at.
You know, I did it a little bit in twenty
nineteen with Tampa and then a little bit in the
beginning of twenty twenty two in Minnesota. And both of
those years I put it on such a pedestal, you know,
calling myself I get to be a major league closer,
(29:49):
you know, and just really adding unnecessary importance to getting
three outs, you know what I mean, when you really
boil it down, that's all it is, just go get
three outs.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
And so.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
I've matured enough.
Speaker 9 (30:02):
At least I thought I had matured enough to get
another shot at it, and you know, I was really
hopeful that I would get another shot at it. And
this time around, I just tried to have fun and
tried to go get three outs as fast as possible
and not really care what it looks like. You know,
if I get three outs before they you know, tie
the game or go ahead, then I did my job.
(30:23):
And so I had a lot of fun with it.
But yeah, what I learned was when you're in that role,
sleep becomes even more important.
Speaker 6 (30:34):
So the arm's good.
Speaker 10 (30:35):
You mentioned twenty nineteen, you seventy innings pitched that year,
sixty eight and two thirds this year, but they were
all stressed.
Speaker 6 (30:43):
Is that a big difference.
Speaker 9 (30:47):
I don't know, we'll find out. You know, Physically, I
feel fantastic right now. You know, obviously everybody in spring
training says, yeah, I'm in the best shape of my life.
I feel better now in this off in this off
season that I felt probably the last two or three
off seasons. And so you know that there's gonna be
ebbs and flows with that as you're as you're building up,
(31:09):
there's gonna be periods of dead arm and uh times
in the off season where you're more sore than others.
You know, that comes, you know, being able to manage
that comes through experience, and so I'll know when it's
time to step on the gas or maybe you know,
take it back and notch. But as far as how
I feel right now going into you know, the later
(31:32):
stages of the off season where bullpens will start to
pick up and long toss will start to pick up,
I feel great. And so I'm really happy with how
I feel physically. And uh yeah, I mean I threw
a lot last year, but it's not the most I've
ever thrown. And so you know I met they were yeah, yeah,
for sure, Yeah, for sure, they were.
Speaker 6 (31:50):
They were definitely all high leverage, which has not always.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
Been the case.
Speaker 9 (31:54):
But uh, you know, for me, and I think a
lot of people would say this, like any inning in
the Big league is high stress. Like we all want
to stay in the big leagues as long as possible,
and so you know, the score and and everything dictates
some uh you know, the leverage index, you know, whatever
that stat is. But as far as how I approach it,
(32:15):
I'm trying to put up a zero. I don't care
if it's the first or the fifteenth, you know. So
that's that's the way I look at it.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
You talk about sleep, a little harder to sleep after
the adrenaline rush of pitching a ninth inning, isn't it.
I mean that that's not easy to just shut it down,
go home, put your head on the pillow and call
it a night.
Speaker 6 (32:33):
Yeah. Yeah, no, it's it's definitely not.
Speaker 9 (32:36):
But again that comes from like what I was referring
to is like just keep it into perspective, Like when
I was getting when I was getting a chance to
close in Tampa. Yeah, I was up till three four
o'clock in the morning after games, just either super pumped
up because I got the job done or super disappointed.
Speaker 6 (32:52):
In myself because I blew the game this time around.
Speaker 9 (32:55):
I was just trying to be you know, more honest
with myself about how I threw the bait, not necessarily
what the result was. Like if I threw good and
blew the game, I was okay with it, which you know,
fans may or may not want to hear that, But
my process was, in my opinion, the right way to
go about it. Like I don't want to pitch bad
and get the job done and think, man, I'm in
(33:17):
a good spot, you know, like this is sustainable for
the next two weeks. So like if I threw bad
and didn't and and still got the save, like all right,
let's look into why I wasn't commanding my fastball as
much or whatever. Which the flip side of that was
if I pitched good and gave up a homer and
we lost, like I was okay with that because I
(33:37):
knew that if I kept throwing the ball like that
more times than not, just the way that baseball is designed,
like if you pitch good, you're gonna get out. It's
really hard to get hits in this game and string
string two.
Speaker 6 (33:48):
Or three together.
Speaker 9 (33:50):
And so that was my whole thought process, and because
of that I was able to get better sleep.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
As somebody once told me, they decided to become a
pitcher because they realized it was a lot easier than
being hit her.
Speaker 6 (34:01):
Yeah that guy was you.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Yeah, yeah, well, Emilio certainly appreciate the time.
Speaker 2 (34:06):
Thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
Really happy for you and your family and have a
great holiday season.
Speaker 6 (34:11):
All right, Yeah, thanks guys. I appreciate you having me on.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Absolutely That is Red's Closer, Emilio Pagan joining us. We'll
take your phone calls and mores. We wind down on
the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
Next on the Reds Radio Network.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
BET, wrapping things up on the Butterwiser Red Hot Stove
League presented by ud ALF. We are live the BET
MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Wahbar at the Bank. Shopping for
a Reds fan this holiday season, there are plenty of
great gift options available tickets, fan club memberships, memorabilia, apparel,
and more.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Plus don't miss thirteen.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Days of Christmas at the Reds Team Shop, with new
deals on select days through December twenty third. Visit Reds
dot com for details. Let's go to the phone lines.
Now if five one, three, seven, four, nine, seven hundred
the big one. Let's go to Grandpaul, Mike and Dayton. Gramps,
what do you got for us?
Speaker 8 (35:09):
You know him?
Speaker 1 (35:09):
Sir, you're behaving, trying not to, but you know there's
plenty of people to keep.
Speaker 8 (35:14):
Hey, that's where I am. Well, I have a new job,
but I'm not going into that. I'm knowing a lot
of traveling. But anyway, with the Reds, I am a
big Reds fan. I'm a diehard Yankee fan, being rigid
from New York. I hate the Orioles. How the hell
the Casteline let the Ools sign Alonzo? I hated them.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Well, thanks for the call, Gramps, appreciate you calling in.
I gotta be honest with you. I you know, I
like the idea Kyle Sharber. I thought he would be
a really good fit for this Reds team. And by
all accounts, look, the Reds did everything they could. Uh,
the Phillies came up with a better offer, And I
think it probably comes down to deep down he was
comfortable there, that's where he wanted to stay. Pete Alonzo,
I don't Jim, I don't know how you feel about this.
(36:01):
I don't feel as though Pete Alonzo would have been
as good of a fit with this team. Granted, the
bat's great, the power numbers are great, but sometimes it
has to be a fit all the way around. It's
a boatload of home runs.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
It's hit a botload of home runs in Great America
that that was certainly playing on this team, that would play.
But the reports are that it's even a slightly larger
contract right than what Shwarbur got.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
So I don't know the finances.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
I'm not privy to the talks of how much was
offered to Schwarbur, how much you know he's in the
end gonna get or Pete Alonzo. I'm not gonna pooh
pooh on a guy hits that many home runs that
he wouldn't fit in.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
Well, you find a way to make it work, don't you. Yeah,
But I never I never got the sense that he
was a guy that the Reds were necessarily interested in. Yeah,
I don't know that he was on the radar for them,
But you know what, I'm sure he'll work out great
for the Orioles. He's certainly a power back that could
use in their lineup, and they need to figure out
(37:02):
a way to get some power from somewhere. We wrap
up the show and we come back next on the
Reds Radio Network. It's up on the Budweiser Reds Hot
Stove League presented by UDF. Give the gift of Reds
Baseball this holiday season with Red's Holiday Flex Ticket vouchers.
Your favorite Reds fan will get a choose which games
(37:24):
they want to see in twenty twenty six. Visit Reds
dot com slash Holiday for details. Well, pretty much out
of time for today's show. Who knows, maybe we'll be
talking about some excitement next week. Shows on a Tuesday.
Great to have Emlio Pagan on today. Great to have
him back in the bullpen. Sounds like the Reds are
still willing to go out there and spend some money.
Speaker 3 (37:48):
Remains to be seen.
Speaker 4 (37:49):
It does not my money to spend, nor my position
to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Things that I don't know. We'll see, we'll.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
See what will be waiting Like everyone else, we will
be And you know what, it is disappointing that the
Kyle Schwarber thing didn't work out, but you got to
move on.
Speaker 3 (38:05):
And now we'll see where.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
The Red's pivot and how they continue to try to
piece together this team for twenty twenty six. But you've
got to try to find a way to build on
the momentum getting to the postseason last year. Tito's talked
about it, Emilio Pagan talked about it. They want to
get back there, they want to pop bottles again.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
They're gonna have to come up with a creative trade then,
in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
And I think that's probably what we'll be looking at. Yeah,
maybe we'll halt, Maybe we'll be talking about that.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
Perhaps Tuesday is the show. Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Next Tuesday, we'll be here in the same spot, all right,
at the bet MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watch Bar at
the Banks. We're out of time for this show. Big
thanks to Calling cal Gill for joining us today. Thanks
to Mark Sheldon for calling in. Also thanks to Emilio
Pagan for our producer, engineer, dave Yiddy, Arm Brewster, Joe
Waddell back in our network headquarters, and for Jim Day.
(38:57):
I'm Tommy Thrawl saying good night from the bet MGM
Sportsbook inside Tom's Watch Bar at the Banks. You've been
listening to the Budweiser reds Hot Stove League presented by
UDF on the REDS radio network,
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