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If you haven't heard about the Cincinnati Reds and their President Phil Castellini, then you are in for a real treat. After years of mediocracy, and also noted cheapness, Castellini addressed the fans on Opening Day with a "note of encouragement".
Instead of providing reassurance, or at least a PC answer of "we're trying", he hyped the fans up by saying he'd dump the team, "so be careful what you ask for".
Since those comments, the Reds have been not Red hot. Literally the exact opposite.
As of last night, they lost their 9th straight game and became the first team in 2022 to hit the 10+ loss mark. During that span, they have gone 6 straight games scoring 2 or fewer runs. They've been outscored by a combined score of 59-18, and they’ve had a lead for a mere 18 pitches.
Not so great for the tenants of the Great American Ballpark.
To makes matter worse, their offseason add, Tommy Pham, is only here for himself and not to be a Red.
“I am going to approach this season as a revenge tour. I’m playing to get my numbers, man. I’m being dead honest with you. There is nothing selfish about it. In the past I put up some really good seasons. I’m playing to get some numbers. I don’t care about anything else. I’m looking out for me. At the end of the day baseball is going to move on without me. I have to get mine right now." - Tommy Pham
Well this season he is batting a nice .158 with 9 strikeouts. In the first nine games he was 1-for-26 with a -20 wRC+ (the average MLB player is 100). Now he's threatening to fight Luke Voit after a collision with Tyler Stephenson. Respectfully, Luke Voit would beat the living shit out of him with half his bicep, but what do I know?
Yikes...
It doesn't help that Luis Castillo, Mike Minor, Tyler Stephenson, Jonathan India, Mike Moustakas, Tyler Naquin, and Donovan Solano are all on 10 day IL's, but still, 11 losses this early after the President doesn't give a rats ass is unsettling. I mean, what do they have to play for?
Besides the shortened COVID season, where they went to the NL Wild Card, they haven't been to the playoffs since 2013 (which was another Wild Card loss). They were never a championship caliber team, but they have had some names that could have built something since their 2013 postseason.
Adam Duvall
Amir Garrett
Anthony DeScalfani
Aroldis Chapman
Billy Hamilton
Brandon Phillips
Eugenio Suarez
Freddy Galvis
Homer Bailey
Jay Bruce
Jesse Winkler
Johnny Cueto
Michael Lorenzen
Mike Leake
Nick Castellanos
Scooter Gennett
Shin-Shoo Choo
Sonny Gray
Todd Frazier
Trevor Bauer
Tucker Barnhart
Wade Miley
Wandy Peralta
Zach Cozart
That's just mismanagement of a team right there. These comments are annoying as a baseball hell for a baseball fan, because his comments indicate that Castellini doesn't care about winning or building a franchise. It's all about a business.
But I feel bad for Joey Votto. The former MVP has given it his all for this team and city since 2007. The guy signed his life away to Castellini in 2012 for 12 years and $251.5 million—the longest active deal in baseball at the time. At least give him a chance to win a ring.
As for now, things don't seem like they are going to change. It's safe to start the movement... #FadeTheReds. Dance your winnings to the bank.