1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: This is the Budweiser reds Hot Stove League. The Red 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: surround the Radio. 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 2: The Hotstove League is brought to you by Jtmfood Group. 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 2: Let's create great dishes together. JTM MSA Design, the Legion's 5 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 2: leader in sports education and civic design and the official 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 2: architect of the Reds Tom's Watchbar. All the sports, all 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 2: the time. Bet MGM. Now you're betting with the King 8 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 2: of sportsbooks. Download the bet MGM app today. 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Visit RLC dot com and 15 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: make RNL Carriers your global transportation provider. 16 00:00:58,480 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 3: Deep the center field. 17 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 2: Going on at the wall leaved it is long gone. 18 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 3: Belli dala cruzza. 19 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: Now the reds Hot Stove League. 20 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 4: And hello and welcome, one and all to the Budweiser 21 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 4: reds Hot Stove League, presented by UDF Live at the 22 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 4: BEDMGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watchbar. Here at the banks, back 23 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 4: once again behind the microphone. I'm Mark Sheldon, the senior 24 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 4: beat reporter who covers the Reds for MLB dot com, 25 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 4: and I'm joined by Mike Petralia from CLNS since ape 26 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 4: dot com, where he covers all Sincy sports, all Cincinnati sports. 27 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 4: Pardon me, Your regular hosts, Tommy Thrall and Jim Day 28 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 4: are off again, but guess what, they return to the 29 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 4: airwaves next week, so you'll have them back. Our guests 30 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 4: tonight are red Starting pitcher Nick Lodolo, and then to 31 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 4: talk all things Reds Fest, we will speak with Charlie Frank, 32 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 4: the executive director of the Reds Community Fund. As you 33 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 4: may know, Redsfest, presented by PNC, is returning this weekend 34 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 4: at the Cincinnati Convention Center after a two year hiatus. 35 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 5: Mike. 36 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 4: There was also some free agent news that broke over 37 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 4: the weekend. According to sources, the Reds agreed to terms 38 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 4: on a one year contract with right handed reliever Pierce Johnson, 39 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,239 Speaker 4: who was a former Brave setup man. The deal team 40 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 4: with a mutual option for twenty twenty seven and has 41 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 4: a total value of six and a half million. Of course, 42 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:19,519 Speaker 4: it is not yet official and pending the passing of 43 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 4: Johnson's physical later this week, but assuming that is only 44 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 4: a formality, Mike, what are your thoughts as the Reds 45 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 4: try to further bolster their bullpen. 46 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:31,519 Speaker 6: Mark, I love the move, and as any manager or 47 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 6: a pitching coach, and we'll hear from Nicklodolo in a 48 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 6: few moments, Derek Johnson will tell you can never have 49 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 6: enough quality arms at the back end of the bullpen. 50 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 6: And this is somebody who has a wide variety or 51 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 6: wealth of major league and professional experience. He spent some 52 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 6: time in Japan. He's coming back now into Major League Baseball, 53 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 6: I think his third year back in MLB, and he's 54 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 6: been I think this matters. He's been with the Atlanta Braves. 55 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 6: And when you talk about an organization that knows its pitching, 56 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 6: it's the Atlanta Braves. And I think when you can 57 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 6: add a picture from a great organization with great acumen 58 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 6: and great reputation of developing pictures and even developing maybe 59 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 6: reclamation projects if you will, I think it's a great move. 60 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 6: The price is right, and I think Pierce Johnson is 61 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 6: going to probably fit right in with that Reds bullpen, 62 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 6: giving them kind of depth that Terry Francona and Derek 63 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 6: Johnson are looking for at the end of games. 64 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, definitely became a priority when Emilia Pigan became a 65 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 4: free agent. He came back, but they also lost guys 66 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 4: like Scott Barlow, Brent Suter and a few other guys, 67 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 4: and they needed to fill that group up. They got 68 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 4: Caleb Ferguson, like I said, they got Pegne back. Now 69 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 4: they have Pierce Johnson, who is more of a curveball guy. 70 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 4: That's his deadly pitch and he'll be a different kind 71 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 4: of look maybe, and Graham Ashcraft Tony Santion setting up 72 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 4: in the late inning, so we'll see what happens there. 73 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 4: In other news, the Reds also announced that pitchers and 74 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 4: catchers and players that are participating in the World Baseball 75 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 4: Classic are scheduled to report to spring training in Goodyear 76 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 4: on February ninth, and their first workout will be February eleventh. 77 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 4: Red's position players report on February fourteenth, with the first 78 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 4: full squad workouts set for February sixteenth. As you may 79 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 4: have heard already, the Reds earlier today put out a 80 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 4: list of non roster invitees to big league camp. Some 81 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 4: of those nine names should be familiar, but there are 82 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 4: a few new faces. The list includes right handed pitchers 83 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:41,559 Speaker 4: tj Antone, Carson Spires, Lyon Richardson, Hagen Danner, left handed 84 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 4: pitcher Joel Valdez, catcher Will Banfield, and infielders Garrett Hampson, 85 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 4: Michael Chavis and Michael Tolia. 86 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 5: Mike, what do you think about it? 87 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 6: I mean, can you not root any harder for tj 88 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 6: an Town. I mean, look at what he's been through. 89 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 6: He's been through multiple Tommy John procedure three three. It's 90 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 6: it's just remarkable. And to see him with the will, 91 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 6: the desire to want to come back and pitch for 92 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 6: the Reds. I think it's a great story to follow in. 93 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 5: Uh. 94 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,039 Speaker 6: You know, obviously in spring training we'll see how he does. 95 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 6: Everybody has to earn a spot, but it'd be great 96 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 6: if tj Antone, uh could follow in the footsteps of 97 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 6: other pictures who have been down that road before, battled 98 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 6: when they were non roster invites and made it back 99 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 6: onto the roster. Obviously, Carson Spires has served the Reds 100 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 6: very very well. Again, he is another story where if 101 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 6: the right position fits for him, right role fits in 102 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 6: the bullpen or even in the starting rotation. 103 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 4: I mean, he's he's got some real hard to do 104 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 4: still with Tommy John he probably won't be ready for 105 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 4: the start of the season, but he will be on 106 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 4: the on the you know, in the organization, which is important. 107 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 6: But just the fact that they want him back in 108 00:05:56,839 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 6: the organization I think is interesting. And I will tell 109 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 6: you that one name that sticks out to me, and 110 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 6: I covered him from my latter days in Boston is 111 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 6: Michael Chavs, first round pick of the Boston Red Sox 112 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,119 Speaker 6: way back in twenty fourteen. He's got a lot of power, 113 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 6: and when I see Michael Chavas, I think of Dustin Pedroia. 114 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 4: Well, we'll see over the coming weeks and months of 115 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 4: any of these guys, we'll crack the twenty six man 116 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 4: opening day roster. One person who will be on that 117 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 4: roster as our first guest. He joined the organization as 118 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 4: a first round draft pick in twenty nineteen and has 119 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 4: been with Cincinnati in the Big League since twenty twenty two. 120 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 4: He will be attending Redsvest this weekend. So let's welcome 121 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 4: starting pitcher Nicolodolo Nick. How's your off season been going? Hey, Mark, 122 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 4: how you doing? 123 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:42,040 Speaker 1: I'm doing well. 124 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 7: Doing, well, what. 125 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 5: Have you been up to this offseason? 126 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 7: Not much, you know, being a first time dad, just 127 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 7: hanging out and you know, doing dad things, and you're 128 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 7: just getting ready to get it going. 129 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 6: Here neck gets Mike Patral looking forward to seeing you 130 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 6: in a goodyear in a couple of weeks. I'm sure 131 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 6: that this is not only a relaxing time for you. 132 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 6: But when as Mark and I were just talking about 133 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 6: all the moves that the team is making, does that 134 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 6: get you excited kind of revved up to meet some 135 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 6: new faces and kind of get on with the twenty 136 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 6: twenty sixth season. 137 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 7: Yeah, for sure. I mean a lot of the guys 138 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 7: they haven't been on the team, but I feel like, 139 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 7: you know, they're guys that we've competed against and seen 140 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 7: them play and stuff, so you know, you know what 141 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 7: they bring to the table, and you know it. Definitely 142 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 7: it gets you excited. But I think overall, you start 143 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 7: to hit this point just in the offseason and you know, 144 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 7: you start you start itching to get going again here. 145 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 6: Obviously we mentioned just a few moments ago Nick about TJ. 146 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 6: Anton and Carson Spires. To see those guys being invited 147 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 6: to spring training, and especially with TJ's situation. To see 148 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 6: what he's battling through, how does that inspire you as 149 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 6: someone one who all but he has a spot obviously 150 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 6: cemented in the rotation. 151 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 7: Yeah, it's you know, TJ's a great person first of all, 152 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 7: so you're always rooting for good people, and you know, 153 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 7: for a guy to go through three arm surgeries and 154 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 7: continue to get after it and you know, want to 155 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 7: keep chasing that dream, it's something you know, you you 156 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 7: got to hand it to the guy. It's something that's 157 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 7: it's pretty cool. And I mean when TJ's been healthy 158 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 7: in the big leagues, He's produced at a high level, 159 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 7: so he knows how to do it. You know, we 160 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 7: all wish the best of luck for him because we 161 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 7: wanted to we know what he can do. So if 162 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 7: he can stay healthy and everything, not only for himself, 163 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 7: I personally would just love to see it for him. 164 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, Nick sent several career highs last season. You had 165 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 4: a career highs and innings starts, strikeouts. You were nine 166 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 4: to eight with a career best three point three three 167 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 4: e r A in twenty nine games. They also two 168 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 4: complete games. What was kind of the big key for 169 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 4: you to kind of have this relatively strong excellency it. 170 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,599 Speaker 7: Uh. You know, I think a lot of things you 171 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 7: could probably contribute it to. I would say number one 172 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 7: is that I've really had a full off season to 173 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 7: worry just about getting my body, like I guess in 174 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 7: a spot to be able to do that. The last 175 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 7: year and a half before that was just trying to 176 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 7: get myself back onto the field and that was a struggle. 177 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 7: So you know, having that full off season I think 178 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 7: really helped to chase that. And there's nothing like you 179 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 7: when when you're hurting stuff, you go through a lot 180 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 7: that you have time and stuff to try to figure 181 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 7: out how to like do things to make your body 182 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 7: recover better and things like that. So I think throughout 183 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 7: the years you've just kind of you learn things and 184 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 7: you put it all together, and I think, you know, 185 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 7: last year I was just a benefit of that plan 186 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 7: coming together. 187 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 4: Excellent, Nick. We got to step aside for a quick break. 188 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 4: If you don't mind hanging on, we will pick up 189 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 4: the conversation on the other side, But for right now 190 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 4: you we are listening to the Budweiser Red's Hot Stove League, 191 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 4: presented by UDF here on the REDS Radio Network. REDS fans. 192 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 4: Now is the time to get your twenty twenty six 193 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 4: season tickets. Members sit in the same seat for every 194 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 4: game with their friends and family and enjoy a flexible 195 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 4: ticket exchange program. Visit Reds dot com slash Membership for details. 196 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 4: And we are back with the Budweiser Red's Hot Stove 197 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 4: League presented by UDF Live at the bed MGM Sportsbook 198 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 4: inside Tom's Watch Part at the banks Mark Sheldon along 199 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 4: with Mike Petralia, and we're going to continue our conversation 200 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 4: with Nick Lodolo. Nick, you've been to Reds Fest a 201 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 4: few times now. From the player's point of view, what's 202 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 4: that like for you to enjoy and interact with the fans. 203 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 7: It's a lot of fun. You know, I've grown up 204 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 7: as a kid. I feel like in California we really 205 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 7: never had anything like that. So to see, you know, 206 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 7: a community and everything get so excited for the start 207 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 7: of baseball season and everything, it's something I thought that 208 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 7: was pretty special the first time go into it, So 209 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:06,840 Speaker 7: you know, I kind of get that that fel end 210 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 7: of time and you feel the excitement and it's always 211 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 7: it's good to see your teammates and everything. So looking 212 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 7: forward to its coming weekend. 213 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 6: Nick, I'm curious about the rotation and the stability of 214 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 6: the rotation and what that means to you as a 215 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 6: member of the upper part portion of that rotation. Coming 216 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:30,119 Speaker 6: into twenty twenty six, you have the obviously have Hunter Green, yourself, 217 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 6: Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer. We'll see how the fifth spot 218 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 6: in the rotation works out. But what is it like 219 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 6: to know that you guys have that set going into 220 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 6: a season. 221 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 7: I mean, it's it's definitely it's nice, for sure. I 222 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 7: think the one thing I like is every guy's different 223 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,680 Speaker 7: we have from a standpoint of how we pitch and everything. 224 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 7: So I think it gives us a good, good look 225 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 7: just match up to match up day to day. And 226 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 7: like you said, I mean we got a lot of 227 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 7: options and a lot of good options. So I mean 228 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 7: that's definitely exciting, and I think it gives you confidence. 229 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 7: You don't matter you know who's going out there, we've 230 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 7: got a good shout to win the ball game. 231 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 6: And what kind of sticks out to me, Nick about 232 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 6: what you just said is you do have a lot 233 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 6: of styles. You do have a lot of different approaches 234 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 6: to taking the mound every fifth day in that rotation. 235 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 6: Derek Johnson's a big part of that. How how has 236 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 6: Derek Johnson helped you and how do you think he 237 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 6: has worked his magic throughout the last several years in 238 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 6: working with so many different styles in the rotation. 239 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 7: Yeah, DJ, DJ has been great, especially for me personally. 240 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 7: I've really enjoyed working with him. He's taught me a lot. 241 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 7: The one thing I think that DJ does really well is, 242 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 7: like I said, those different styles, DJ doesn't try to 243 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 7: group everybody into the same bucket. It's kind of his 244 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 7: thing is always just be good at like, you know, 245 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 7: be good at what you're good at, and so he's 246 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 7: going to take your strength and try to maximize those 247 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 7: and instead of, you know, trying to get everyone to 248 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 7: like throw the same pitch or anything like that, it's 249 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 7: it's like, all right, you're great at this, and we're 250 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 7: going to run with this, and that's what makes you you. 251 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 7: So I think that's one thing that really helps. 252 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 4: We're talking with a red starting pitcher, Nick Lodolo. Nick, 253 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 4: you guys went through a grind of a season, eighty 254 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 4: three wins. You guys were fighting for your playoff lives 255 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 4: all the way to the very end, clinched the spot 256 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 4: on the last day. Obviously the season ended a little 257 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 4: shorter than you guys would have wanted. But what was 258 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 4: that experience like for you individually as a starting pitcher? 259 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 4: And then what do you think it does for the 260 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 4: team to build off this going in the next season. 261 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 7: I think it's good. It's just, you know it, it 262 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,959 Speaker 7: gives us that little taste of what it's like. I mean, 263 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 7: obviously it ended short than we wanted to, but you know, 264 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 7: we can say we've experienced it now and everything, so 265 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 7: we know what to expect. And you know, I think 266 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 7: we'd all love for it to you know, be on 267 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,959 Speaker 7: our terms on the last day of the season. We're 268 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 7: over before that. But you know, I'm excited for it. 269 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 7: I think it probably serves a bigger purpose than we 270 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,079 Speaker 7: even realize right now, getting that experience. 271 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 6: Do you have specific goals coming into twenty twenty six, Nick, 272 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 6: And if you do, what are they? 273 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 7: I don't really have any specific ones right now. You know, 274 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 7: my main goal right now is to build up and 275 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 7: be ready to go and camp and get through camp 276 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 7: healthy and you know, be in a good spot when 277 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 7: when we get rolling here open day. 278 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 5: Nick, how's your your finger? 279 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 4: Obviously the blister issue kind of popped up on you 280 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 4: this season a little bit. Luckily for you, is only 281 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 4: a two week absence. You had it also in twenty 282 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 4: twenty four you had in the minor leagues. How have 283 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 4: you been able to work on getting your fingers ready 284 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 4: for basically for pitching a whole season. 285 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 7: Yeah, that's a good question. Yeah, you know, it's it's 286 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 7: something that just the way I throw the ball, it's 287 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 7: doing something. So I'm trying a couple of different things. 288 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 3: You know. 289 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 7: Obviously I'm trying to toughing up like the skin in 290 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 7: that area and everything like that. But at the end 291 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 7: of the day, it just comes down to throwing in 292 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 7: the middle of the season and everything. So you know, 293 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 7: like we said, we're trying some different things and you know, 294 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 7: hopefully we can keep that keep up, I guess popping 295 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 7: up and keep it rolling in the middle of the year, 296 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 7: because believe me, I'm tired of it coming up and 297 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 7: stopping me. 298 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 6: So what was the one thing that or two things 299 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 6: or several things you learned about pitching and playing for 300 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 6: Terry Francona last year. 301 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 7: Uh, you know, Tito is awesome. Tito really he lets 302 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 7: you do your your own thing. You know, if you 303 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 7: if you want some advice or something, you know he's 304 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 7: there to give it, Tia, and there's very few better 305 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 7: to get it from. So you know, I really enjoyed 306 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 7: playing for him. I know the guys did as well. 307 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 7: He just you know, he brings a sense of the 308 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 7: confidence in the locker room and get us ready to play. So, 309 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 7: like I said, I really enjoyed it, and I'm looking 310 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 7: forward to doing it again. 311 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 8: I know that Andrew Abbott. 312 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 6: I think a couple of times last year I can 313 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 6: remember when he didn't want to come out of a game, 314 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 6: would turn the other way and try to avoid making 315 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 6: eye contact with Tito. And I remember Andrew in the 316 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 6: clubhouse would kind of joke with us the day after 317 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:30,080 Speaker 6: and about trying to make avoid making eye contact with Tito. 318 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 6: Can you ever remember any moment like that last year 319 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 6: when you were like, boy, I'm really pitching well and 320 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 6: I don't want to come out of this game. You 321 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 6: did have two complete games and a shutout. 322 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 7: Yeah, I think that's probably most of the time. When 323 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 7: you see Tito start walking you and you don't want 324 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 7: to see that. You want to stay in the game, 325 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 7: for sure. But I could tell you what, when Tito 326 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 7: starts making that walk, you're not convincing him. He's made 327 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 7: up his mind. 328 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 4: Especially when he does the clap break before he gets 329 00:16:57,760 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 4: to the mound. It seems like that's his tell that. 330 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 5: You're coming out. 331 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 7: Uh, he's already before that, he's already pointed the bullpen. 332 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:08,239 Speaker 4: When we get the field, Uh, Nick, when do you 333 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 4: start kind of ramping up your throwing program and getting 334 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 4: off the mound again? And and then also when do 335 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 4: you head out to Goodyear. 336 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,479 Speaker 7: Yeah, we're in the middle of that for sure. Some 337 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 7: guys are different how many times they've been off the mound. 338 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 7: I've been off the mount a couple of times now, 339 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 7: So thank you said, Yeah, everyone's different there. I'm gonna 340 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 7: head out uh the first week of February, but I said, 341 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 7: I feel good and you know, we'll be we'll be 342 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:35,160 Speaker 7: ready to roll. 343 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:37,880 Speaker 4: Do you have anything new in your in your toolbox 344 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 4: that you're going to be you know, as far as 345 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 4: your you're either your pitch selection or just something different 346 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 4: that you're going to be doing this spring that you 347 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 4: maybe hadn't done. 348 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:44,640 Speaker 5: In pass camps. 349 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 7: As of right now. No, but I'm sure there's be 350 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 7: something in camp that when we get there with DJ 351 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 7: and stuff that he'll have selling for us, right Like, 352 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 7: right now, everyone's main focus is just building up in 353 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 7: health and and once you get the spring, I know, 354 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 7: is when you know djil have something for you that 355 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 7: he feels like we could get better at. 356 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 6: I know a lot of baseball fans enjoyed the watching 357 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 6: the World Series, and it was a memorable one. 358 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 8: Obviously. 359 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: Did you watch, Yeah, I sure did. 360 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 8: And did you enjoy it? Picture yourself there one day? 361 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 7: Oh yeah, Game seven was awesome. You know, I think 362 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 7: that's probably one of the best World Series I've watched 363 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 7: in a while. So you know, that's the goal is 364 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 7: to be there and win that thing. So I mean, 365 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 7: it'd be great if if we could do that, I'll 366 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 7: tell you that. And I think, like I said, playing 367 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 7: in the playoffs this year is just a glimpse of 368 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 7: what I'm sure that's like. But playing in that atmosphere 369 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 7: in LA was pretty cool. 370 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,440 Speaker 4: Well, Nick, thank you very much for joining us here 371 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 4: on the show tonight. We will see you this weekend 372 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 4: at Redsfest, so take care and catch you later. 373 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 7: Yep, sounds good. We'll see y'all this weekend. 374 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 4: Thanks Nick, Thanks Nick, and This is the Budweiser Reds 375 00:18:58,080 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 4: Hot Stille League presented by UDF. 376 00:18:59,720 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 5: Here. 377 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 4: Reds Fest, presented by PNC, benefiting the Reds Community Fund, 378 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 4: is this Friday and Saturday at the Cincinnati Convention Center. 379 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 4: Enjoy everything Reds Baseball, including photos and autographs with current 380 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 4: and former Reds players. For Reds Fest tickets and updates, 381 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 4: visit Reds dot com slash Reds Fest. Welcome back to 382 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:25,160 Speaker 4: the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDP Live 383 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,719 Speaker 4: at the bed MGM Sports Book inside Tom's Watchbar at 384 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 4: the Banks with Mike Petralia. I'm Mark Sheldon and we're 385 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 4: in again for Tommy and Jim. And that's a great segue. 386 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 4: What I read before going into the coming out of 387 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 4: the break is Reds Fest. It's a big week for 388 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 4: the Reds. It's been two years since we've had Reds Fest, 389 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 4: and here to talk about it is Charlie Frank, the 390 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 4: executive director of the Reds Community Fund. Charlie, I guess 391 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 4: the finishing touches are probably being put on at the 392 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:51,439 Speaker 4: Convention Center as we speak. 393 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been an interesting process here. 394 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 9: You know, we've all been on hard hat tours and 395 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 9: obviously been watching very closely. This is a pretty compl located, 396 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 9: an involved event to roll out a new building, but 397 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 9: everything that we see in here is that they're ready 398 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 9: to roll It looks fantastic. I think for fans that 399 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 9: come down and see the new venue, they will really 400 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 9: enjoy some of these changes, a lot of the new 401 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 9: food options. I think a lot of it's going to 402 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:19,840 Speaker 9: be very well received. And you know, this is one 403 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 9: of the biggest events that they host all year, so 404 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 9: I think it's apropos that Redsfest would be the first 405 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 9: one end of the new Convention Center. 406 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 6: How much how much familiarity do you have with the 407 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 6: new venue, the new layout, and what the platform is going. 408 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 9: To look like, you know, Mike, this event rolled out 409 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 9: in its current format back in two thousand and six, 410 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 9: and I remember being scared to death because it's so ambitious. 411 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 9: It's really you know, the wavefil Castellini approaches things, whether 412 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 9: it was all the All Star Game activities in twenty 413 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,919 Speaker 9: fifteen or the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary with all 414 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 9: the bells and whistles in twenty nineteen. 415 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 3: There's no team that operates a fan festival like this. One. 416 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 9: There's some great ones out there, don't get me wrong, 417 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 9: But in terms of the scope of this event, it 418 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,479 Speaker 9: is just so big and ambitious, you know, And but 419 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 9: I think it's you know, it's going to be a 420 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 9: great fit with all the new space and all the 421 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 9: new technology. 422 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 3: And I'm relieved. 423 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,399 Speaker 9: As we've been over there this week that the you know, 424 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 9: everything seems to be working well because we rely on 425 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 9: an awful lot of Wi Fi and technology. 426 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 6: So this event, to you, must be all about logistics, 427 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 6: making sure the logistics run as smoothly as possible. And 428 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 6: I see that over eighty current and former players, coaches, alumni, prospects, 429 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 6: and broadcasters are scheduled to attend over a two day period. 430 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 6: When I see that number, that's a lot to me. 431 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 6: And I'm just wondering for you and all of your 432 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 6: staff and organizers, how do you make sure that everybody 433 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 6: gets their piece of the pie. 434 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 9: Well, you know, we're so fortunate we have this incredible 435 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 9: promo events team led by Zach Bonkowski, who's twenty plus 436 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 9: years with the Reds. He's been the architect of this 437 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 9: event since two thousand and six, working with Phil Castellini. 438 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 9: Zach and his staff and All of our scoreboard and 439 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,199 Speaker 9: productions staffs are over there right now working out all 440 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 9: the kinks. 441 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 3: I mean, you've got so much AV in that space. 442 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 9: I mean, we had a conversation today with Prestige AV 443 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 9: and Creative Services about the scoreboard down at the whiffle 444 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 9: ball fields. You know, down on the west end of 445 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 9: the main floor. 446 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 3: There's you know, everything going on in the main stage. 447 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 9: There's activities going on in the second and third floor. 448 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 9: But you know, Zach and his staff are just incredible 449 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 9: the amount of time and energy and expertise and precision 450 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 9: that goes into it. 451 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 4: Red's best on Fridays from three to ten thirty. But 452 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 4: I think the big moment is on that main stage 453 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 4: at five thirty for player introductions, where player and fans 454 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 4: can see like Eli Da La Cruz and Tito Francona 455 00:22:51,160 --> 00:22:53,920 Speaker 4: Sal Stewart in the gang. What do you think fans 456 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 4: can expect from that big, you know production on the stage. 457 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 3: Well, you know, I'll tell you. Mark and Mike just 458 00:22:58,600 --> 00:22:59,640 Speaker 3: mentioned this a minute ago. 459 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 9: The eighty plus players and former players and future prospects 460 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 9: and broadcasters in front office staff. I remember when we 461 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 9: hosted the twenty fifteen All Star game with Major League Baseball, 462 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 9: and you know, all the fan festivals are really based 463 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 9: on the All Star Game fan festival, and you know, 464 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 9: every hour they'd roll in two other or two different 465 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 9: Hall of Famers. I remember being over at one point 466 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 9: gay Lord Perry and Harmon Killerbrew were there, and. 467 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 3: I'm thinking, hey, that's pretty cool. 468 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 9: It's gay Lord Perry and Harmon Killerbrew. But it's a 469 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 9: couple guys, and I mean Hall of. 470 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 3: Famers, not just guys. 471 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 9: But you got eighty you know, Red celebrities walking around 472 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,679 Speaker 9: this place. You can't walk ten feet without bumping into 473 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:46,159 Speaker 9: a Reds player or prospect or a Hall of Famer. It's, 474 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 9: you know, from a fans perspective, from a young fans perspective, 475 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 9: it's incredible. And everyone's wearing the authentic jerseys, so I 476 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 9: mean it's hard to miss the staff. But the level 477 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 9: of access here is you know, it's absolutely unchallenged at 478 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 9: any other event of this type. Plus Reds leadership and 479 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,880 Speaker 9: ownership has never dynamically priced for autographs. 480 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 3: This is about the fans. You go to just about 481 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 3: any other fan. 482 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 9: Festival, you're going to play different prices based on the 483 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 9: you know, the statue of the player of the alumni 484 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 9: and here that has never been the rule. 485 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 3: It's been about the fans. 486 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 4: You know, one thing about Reds Fest is everyone gets 487 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 4: an autograph. If they get in line, they get photos. 488 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:28,719 Speaker 4: But the other thing is you can also get your 489 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 4: Reds tickets for the season starting at Redspetz. 490 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 9: Right, Yeah, I mean, this is a huge event for 491 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 9: so many Reds departments, whether it's our ticket sales, whether 492 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 9: it's our corporate sales, whether it's our outstanding Hall of 493 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:43,439 Speaker 9: Fame and Reds Community fund staffs. Of course we'll be 494 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 9: selling the outstanding fifty to fifty. 495 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 3: Raffle throughout the facility. 496 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 9: We've got our poker event which caps the event, which 497 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:55,400 Speaker 9: is a huge Saturday night fundraiser. So so many cool 498 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 9: things happening on the main stage. It's it's really just 499 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 9: phenomenal how much a Reds fan can experience two days. 500 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:02,880 Speaker 4: Well, we're gonna step aside for a second, Charlie. We'd 501 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 4: love to talk more about Reds Fest in the on 502 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 4: the other side, so for now we'll just step aside. 503 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 4: This is the Budweiser Red's Hot Stove League, presented by 504 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 4: UDF Here on the Red Radio Network. Get access to 505 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:17,679 Speaker 4: all thirteen Tuesday Reds home games this season with the 506 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 4: three two to one Tuesday Ballpark Pass for as low 507 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,640 Speaker 4: as forty nine ninety nine. Budweiser three two to one 508 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 4: Tuesdays at Great American Ballpark include three dollars beers, two 509 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 4: dollars hot dogs, and one dollar ice cream cups. Get 510 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 4: your three two to one Tuesday Ballpark pass right now 511 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 4: at Reds dot com slash pass. You are listening to 512 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 4: the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF live 513 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 4: at the bed MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watch Bar at 514 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 4: the Banks with Mike Petralia. I'm Mark Sheldon. We're back 515 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 4: with Charlie Frank, the executive director of the Reds Community Fund. 516 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 4: Redsfest is this weekend, but Charlie, tomorrow you have a 517 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 4: big day as well with Saint Elizabeth Healthcare and an 518 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:55,960 Speaker 4: equipment drive. What's gonna be going on with that? 519 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 9: Yeah, Mark, this is the tenth year in a row 520 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:01,239 Speaker 9: that we've teamed up with Saint Elizabeth and with a 521 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 9: great national recreation nonprofit called Pitchin for Baseball and Softball. 522 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:09,359 Speaker 3: They're based out of Philadelphia. You know, we have a 523 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 3: good fortune in Cincinnati. You know, when you work with 524 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 3: Cincinnati Public schools, you're covering fifty two neighborhoods. 525 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:18,679 Speaker 9: You're covering, you know, a school system with sixty six schools, 526 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:20,679 Speaker 9: you're really covering the whole footprint of the city. We 527 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 9: didn't have anything similar in northern Kentucky until we started 528 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 9: working with Saintes and this pitchin. 529 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 3: For baseball and softball. 530 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 9: Now we have twenty four high schools, fourteen youth organizations 531 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 9: that are going to be receiving close to seventy thousand 532 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 9: dollars worth of youth baseball and softball gear at this 533 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 9: event tomorrow. 534 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 3: We literally will have the gear there for. 535 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 9: The teams to pick up, and Rebbitt's going to be 536 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:46,639 Speaker 9: there with us to speak with the kids. It's a 537 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:48,639 Speaker 9: great way to kind of get the season started. But 538 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 9: as you guys know, I mean, our game is expensive 539 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 9: to play and it's a healthy game in most places 540 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,199 Speaker 9: in the suburbs. When you get into some of the 541 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 9: lower economic areas, in some of the urban areas. 542 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 3: It's hard and you know, when you get to the 543 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 3: end of the. 544 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 9: School year, athletic budgets are strapped, and so we're trying 545 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 9: to do our part with these great partners. We also 546 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 9: work with the rc dur Foundation to take it even further. 547 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 9: They've been with us the last few years, so we're 548 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,359 Speaker 9: really grateful to them. So, you know, again we have 549 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 9: a partnership here that can really dig in and create 550 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 9: a level playing field for every high school and not every, 551 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:25,440 Speaker 9: but a majority of high schools in northern Kentucky and 552 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 9: southeast Indiana. And now we feel like we've got great 553 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 9: connections on both sides of the river and can really 554 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 9: help these teams before the seasons get started. 555 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 6: I think I met you a couple of years ago 556 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 6: at a very similar event. 557 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 8: Actually it was it was that event. It was that event, and. 558 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 6: I'm curious to when you're talking to the coaches to 559 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:48,840 Speaker 6: the players, how critical is this equipment to keeping their 560 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 6: programs alive. 561 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:51,880 Speaker 3: It's beyond critical, Mike. 562 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 9: It's the sense of gratitude and partnership is one of 563 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 9: the best elements of this job. 564 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 3: We just had the ability yesterday to meet. 565 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 9: With folks in Dayton, Kentucky, so we you know, checked 566 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,320 Speaker 9: out their new indoor field house and saw their new 567 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:07,479 Speaker 9: football field, and they wanted us to see the condition 568 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 9: of their baseball and softball fields and they pour a 569 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:11,680 Speaker 9: lot of time and energy into those. 570 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 3: They're going to be with us. 571 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 9: They're going to be one of the high schools there tomorrow, 572 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:17,360 Speaker 9: and they were telling us just how important it is 573 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,359 Speaker 9: to get that head start for a lot of the 574 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 9: school districts that don't have a lot of cash sitting around, 575 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 9: but you still want to give that same love and 576 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 9: attention to baseball and softball. 577 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:27,640 Speaker 3: So this really makes an impact. 578 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,880 Speaker 4: And you have an upcoming field project coming in April too, right. 579 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 3: We do. 580 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 9: You know, every other year we partner with Seeing Elizabeth. 581 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,199 Speaker 9: We've been doing this since the twenty nineteen. That one 582 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 9: hundred and fiftieth year, we did a big field project 583 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 9: in Saint Bernard on the Ohio side that year and 584 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 9: in Bellevue, Kentucky. And we've been to Bellevue, We've been 585 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 9: to Ludlow, Kentucky, Augusta, Kentucky, and then most recently decided 586 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 9: we were going to take our first trip into Southeast Indiana. 587 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 9: So we're working with just a fantastic school district and community. 588 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 3: In South Ripley and we're going to be with them 589 00:28:58,640 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 3: as well. They'll be one of the. 590 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 9: Main st age ceremonies that we host on Saturday to 591 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 9: tell their story, and we'll be dedicating a beautiful new 592 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 9: ballfield that can be used for baseball and softball on 593 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 9: a synthetic in field in late April. 594 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:14,720 Speaker 6: I know, obviously Friday is going to be a big 595 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 6: day for Reds Fest, but Saturday, I'm just looking at 596 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 6: the schedule and the itinerary of events coming up. One 597 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 6: thing that stands out to me the Kids only press conference, 598 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 6: where you give kids a chance to play our role. 599 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 8: So to speak for a day. 600 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 6: How important is it to get kids involved in baseball? 601 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 6: We hear so often that the lifeline, the lifeblood of 602 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 6: this sport going forward is getting the kids involved. 603 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:46,200 Speaker 9: You know, it's taken the work of the Community Fund 604 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 9: and the other community arms of baseball really to a 605 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 9: different level because when I arrived, you know, over twenty 606 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,960 Speaker 9: years ago, a lot of the community and nonprofit work was. 607 00:29:55,960 --> 00:29:58,160 Speaker 3: A nice to have. You know, here we are in 608 00:29:58,320 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 3: twenty twenty six. 609 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 9: You know, you get all the data on you know, 610 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 9: who's watching the national telecasts and the playoff telecasts, and 611 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 9: we've got an older audience than the NBA and the NFL, 612 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 9: and we need to be focused on making the game 613 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 9: accessible to every kid, not just kids that come from 614 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 9: baseball and softball families and come from affluent communities. So 615 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 9: getting them down to this event, Mike putting them on stage, 616 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 9: getting them to the mascots, getting them. 617 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:32,200 Speaker 3: To the whiffle ball fields, and just stoking. 618 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 9: Their imagination to why this game matters so much to 619 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 9: our region is vitally important and we got to you know, also, 620 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 9: we're lucky here. We've got Ellie Dela Cruz that's really 621 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 9: ignited a younger fan base. 622 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 3: And Ellie arrived the same year that MLB. 623 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 9: You know, made the changes with the pitch clock and 624 00:30:47,720 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 9: with the bases and with the shifts, so you know, 625 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:52,479 Speaker 9: all these things have to work in concert, and we 626 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 9: have to do our work to make sure kids really 627 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 9: have access to our game. 628 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 4: Charlie only got about a minute left, but I wanted 629 00:30:57,800 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 4: to touch on the celebrity poker tournament. Who do you 630 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 4: expect to see it there? And that's also a big 631 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 4: fundraiser for the community fund. 632 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:05,840 Speaker 3: Too, right it is, guys, we'll have over five hundred players. 633 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 3: We literally had to stop sales. They were supposed to. 634 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 9: Be until midnight tonight, but we're already over five hundred 635 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 9: and thirty that will be playing. The cool part about 636 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 9: it is that all the Reds players, coaches, broadcasters, front office, 637 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:19,640 Speaker 9: they will come up and if they don't plan to 638 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:20,880 Speaker 9: hang around, they'll go all in. 639 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:22,120 Speaker 3: And if you knock out one. 640 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:24,480 Speaker 9: Of the players or one of the red celebrities or 641 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 9: media celebrities, you win the authentic jersey off their back. 642 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 3: So it's a really cool thing. 643 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 9: We'll give prizes for more than I think the first 644 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 9: top twenty three and the winner will take home ten 645 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 9: thousand dollars, So it's I can't imagine there's a bigger 646 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:39,000 Speaker 9: celebrity Texas hold them event anywhere, and it's a really 647 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 9: cool way to wrap up the Reds Fst weekend. 648 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 4: Well a reminder, Reds Fest is on Friday from three 649 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 4: to ten thirty Saturday from eleven am to six thirty pm. 650 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 4: All proceeds go to the Reds Community Fund Charlie Real Quick. 651 00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:51,880 Speaker 4: Where and where can fans get tickets? 652 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 9: Yeah, best way to do it is Reds dot com 653 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 9: slash Reds Fest. There will be tickets available at the door, 654 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 9: but you never know what kind of crowd's gonna be 655 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 9: waiting for you, so you can do that, but I 656 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 9: would really recommend reds dot com slash Redsfest and if 657 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 9: you need more information on the poker event, reds dot 658 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:08,200 Speaker 9: Com slash Poker. 659 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:11,080 Speaker 4: Well excellent, Charlie, Thank you so much. Remember everyone turn 660 00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 4: out for Redsfest. It's a lot of fun. And we'll 661 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:15,040 Speaker 4: be back to wrap up the show here on the 662 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,040 Speaker 4: Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF on the 663 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 4: Reds Radio Network. And we're back to wrap up the 664 00:32:23,120 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 4: Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF. I'm Mark 665 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 4: Sheldon along with Mike Petralia and Mike. We're in the 666 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 4: home stretch of the offseason. Spring training is right around 667 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 4: the corner. As I read Pitchers and Catchers February ninth report. 668 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,160 Speaker 4: A lot of roster tinkering still left to do, though, 669 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:40,560 Speaker 4: isn't there? 670 00:32:41,040 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 3: There is? 671 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 8: And I don't. 672 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 6: I am not one of those staying awake late at 673 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 6: night worried about their power bat. 674 00:32:49,680 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 8: I'm just not. 675 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:53,880 Speaker 6: I think the Reds are going to find ways to 676 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 6: generate more power with the bats that they already have. 677 00:32:57,480 --> 00:32:59,880 Speaker 6: They just are gonna have to a stay healthy and 678 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 6: be take that next step forward. Spencer Steer is somebody 679 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 6: I would take a long, close, long hard look at 680 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:10,960 Speaker 6: in terms of taking that next step. He had a great, 681 00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:13,360 Speaker 6: a terrific year in terms of power twenty one home 682 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 6: runs and seventy five RBIs last year. But Matt McClain 683 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:19,719 Speaker 6: is another. I don't think Matt McClain is going to 684 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 6: have the kind of off season that he had this 685 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:25,400 Speaker 6: year that he had last year. And I think that's 686 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 6: a big part of the Reds plans. They are counting 687 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 6: mark on Matt McClain being that Matt McClain of twenty 688 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 6: twenty three and me. You know, the joke is hope 689 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:37,800 Speaker 6: is not a plan, but I think they believe this 690 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 6: is more than hope. They have seen demonstrated evidence of 691 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:43,960 Speaker 6: McClain when he first came up that he can handle 692 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 6: big league pitching and then you have noel Ve Marte. 693 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 6: I think with a full year under his belt in 694 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:53,200 Speaker 6: the outfield this year, I think his power numbers are 695 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 6: going to soar. 696 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:56,480 Speaker 4: And the important one, the most important one is Elida. 697 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:59,560 Speaker 4: Sure he only hit four home runs after the All 698 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:01,240 Speaker 4: Star break. I think a lot of it was due 699 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:03,280 Speaker 4: to the quad injury that he was dealing with. He 700 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:04,920 Speaker 4: was also just gonna wear and Terry played all one 701 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 4: hundred and sixty two games. Tito Francona has already said 702 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 4: that he's going to give him days off, which should 703 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 4: help him be fresher and maybe more productive. But I 704 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,879 Speaker 4: think he has to level up in his production this year. 705 00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:19,040 Speaker 6: He does, but I would rather La play a whole 706 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:23,840 Speaker 6: year fully healthy and maybe creep up towards that thirty 707 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:27,480 Speaker 6: home run number, but play that overall game and the 708 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:31,080 Speaker 6: other thing. And we've talked about this last week. He's 709 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 6: got to improve his defense, and I think a big 710 00:34:33,680 --> 00:34:37,640 Speaker 6: part of the focus this spring will be on improving 711 00:34:37,680 --> 00:34:41,560 Speaker 6: that the fundamentals, the mechanics of the position of playing shortstop, 712 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,080 Speaker 6: because like it or not, he is going to be 713 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:45,040 Speaker 6: your opening day. 714 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:47,879 Speaker 4: Shortstop and it should be a really good infield. If 715 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 4: Ellie de la Cruz can improve. You already got a 716 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 4: two time goal Glove winner and Keith Brian Hayes at 717 00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 4: third base. He got McLain who always played solid defense 718 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 4: even when he wasn't hitting last year, and then Spencer Steer. 719 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:00,000 Speaker 4: If he's at first base, that's a Gold glob finalist. 720 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:02,120 Speaker 4: Or it could be South Stewart who has some work 721 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:03,879 Speaker 4: to do to improve at first base. He's even said 722 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:05,160 Speaker 4: that to us last week, why. 723 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:06,959 Speaker 6: He is a bat that I didn't even really mention 724 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:09,640 Speaker 6: it inlisting off bats. That's why I don't think the 725 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:12,239 Speaker 6: Reds were overly concerned. They would have loved to have 726 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:15,280 Speaker 6: had Kyle Schwarber, we all know that, but that didn't 727 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:17,960 Speaker 6: work out, and the Reds have decided to put their 728 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:21,680 Speaker 6: racehorses in other places, like Pierce Johnson for instance. 729 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 4: For instance, we'll see if that closes, but that they 730 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:26,720 Speaker 4: have Pierce Johnson is a pretty solid bullpen. We already 731 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:28,919 Speaker 4: know about the rotation, and then it's just really seeing 732 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:30,239 Speaker 4: what the bench can be. You know, what they can 733 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:32,799 Speaker 4: put together. You got guys like JJ Bladetta was signed 734 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 4: to compete for an every day spot, Dane Myers of course, 735 00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:37,799 Speaker 4: will Benson's back, and we'll see what they end up 736 00:35:37,840 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 4: doing with that. 737 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 6: I think health is a big, big factor in all 738 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:43,799 Speaker 6: of this. Mark If they are healthy, they are going 739 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:45,720 Speaker 6: to be competing for the NL Central. 740 00:35:45,760 --> 00:35:47,200 Speaker 8: I do believe that well. 741 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 4: I think they'll definitely contend, but that's certainly with the Cubs. 742 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:51,759 Speaker 4: With the moves they've made this week, it's gonna be 743 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:53,840 Speaker 4: a tough division. We'll see what happens, it's wide open. 744 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:58,480 Speaker 4: Before we go, I want to thank Nick Lodolo, Charlie Frank, 745 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:01,920 Speaker 4: Mike Bittralia, Davon Ruster, and Drew Wester Heidi back at 746 00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:05,000 Speaker 4: the studio from MLB dot Com. I'm Mark Sheldon, and 747 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 4: this has been the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League, presented 748 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:22,360 Speaker 4: by udf right here on the Reds Radio Network.