1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Jeff is with us Locked on Reds podcast and did 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: like an emergency episode after yesterday's news. 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 2: So I know you've been busy, man, It's good to 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 2: have you. What's going on? Man? 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 3: I am so excited Mo, because this was I didn't 6 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 3: expect this. I thought he was going to go back 7 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 3: to Seattle and we were going to have to squint 8 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 3: really hard at Miguel, Andrew Harvey and the DH of 9 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:21,639 Speaker 3: this team. So this is much better than what I 10 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 3: hadn't envisioned yesterday morning. 11 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: If I would have asked you, what how do you 12 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: grade the Reds off season? 13 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: What would you have said? 14 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 3: C minus because the bullpen's awesome, but they missed out 15 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 3: on the biggest thing they need. 16 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 2: Now, what's the grade the Reds off season? 17 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 3: Give him a B because I think that they addressed 18 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 3: their biggest need. They probably didn't do it with like 19 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 3: the best dude on the market, I mean best available 20 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 3: right now. Yes, but it's not as if they went 21 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 3: and they got KYLEE. Schwarber. Although there are some things 22 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 3: to say that the deal that they got for the 23 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 3: guy that they have might be even better than what 24 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 3: they would have had to get for Kyle Schwarber. So 25 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 3: I give him a solid B the because I still 26 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 3: think you look at the outfield and you're like, Okay, 27 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 3: there's a lot of hope out there. You got to 28 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 3: you gotta work with some things out there. But the 29 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 3: lineup is better than it was last year in my opinion. 30 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 3: The pitching staff is better than it was in last 31 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 3: year in my opinion. So I think that this team, 32 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 3: as currently constructed as a division contender. 33 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: Does this is this is my hope. My hope is 34 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: this ends the era of not leaning in the home runs. 35 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: Can I say that this signifies that they're going to 36 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 1: start leaning back in the home runs? 37 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 3: Yes, because they signed the guy that that is all 38 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 3: he is supposed to do. Like, he's not coming here 39 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 3: to be the third baseman. He's not coming here to 40 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 3: be the first baseman. He's coming here to hit dingers. 41 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 3: And that is exactly his his role as currently constructed, 42 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 3: because he comes in with an isolated power for his career, 43 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 3: isolated power being slugging percentage of minus batting average, trying 44 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 3: to you know, set aside the extra base hit potential 45 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 3: for a guy his career number on that is two eighteen. 46 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 3: There was no regular player in the reds Alan up 47 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 3: last year over two hundred. The closest to that was 48 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 3: Will Benson, but do we call him a regular player 49 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 3: in this atlaneup? So he was at two h nine, 50 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 3: nobody else was above two hundred. They immediately upgraded their 51 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 3: extra base hit potential. 52 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: Some will point out, and perhaps accurately so that, yes, 53 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 1: Gino hits a bunch of home runs, he also strikes 54 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: out a lot, and that while you have added more power, 55 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: or at least power potential, you're also adding a lot 56 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: more played appearances that end with no contact being made 57 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: for a team that already has a lot of guys 58 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 1: who at times make no contact. 59 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 2: What would you say to. 60 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 3: That, That's exactly what they would have added. How they 61 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 3: signed Kyle Schwarber because both guys have the same wifth percentage. 62 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 3: Were're swinging this percentage from last season of thirty three percent, 63 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 3: and in fact, Kyle Schwarber actually struck out one more 64 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 3: time than Auhanio Swarez did. 65 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: All right, is there is there another move out there 66 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: that with spring training looming here now in less than 67 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: a week, is there another move out there that fans 68 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 1: should jump on the bandwagon and say, you know what, 69 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: for the right price, which at this stage in the 70 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: game is what you would be paying. Adding this guy 71 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: would make sense. 72 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 3: In any free agent market, They don't think so, not 73 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 3: without a trade to open up a spot, because it 74 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 3: seems as though the Reds are going to enter camp 75 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 3: for better or for worse with a position battle for 76 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 3: the platoon of left field between JJ Bleda and Will Binson. 77 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 3: If they could upgrade it, that would be good. But 78 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 3: there isn't necessarily a just surefire upgrade that is available 79 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 3: on the market for the Reds at this point, and 80 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 3: then you'll be talking about are they going to make 81 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 3: a trade. There's a lot of rumors that have been 82 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 3: shut down, like rumors early on in the offseason of 83 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 3: Catel Marte or Jared Duran that have since been shut 84 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 3: down by both the Diamondbacks and the Red Sox. So 85 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 3: I don't foresee any other move that really moves the 86 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 3: needle for them. Could be, you know, those non roster invites, 87 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 3: the spring training type deals, but nobody that were going 88 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 3: to be doing another emergency podcast. 89 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: For Jeff Carr locked on Red's podcast Emergency Podcast. Go 90 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: watch or to listen to it. Did it last night? 91 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: I think here's what I like most about the offseason. 92 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: And I do wish the outfield was better, I will 93 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: admit that. But they have addressed their biggest issue. And 94 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: yet Hunter Green is still a red, Nico Lodolo is 95 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: still a Red, Andrew Abbotts still a red, Chase Burns 96 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: still a red, Reet Louder still a red. They did 97 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 1: what I think a lot of folks did not expect 98 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: them to do or didn't think they could do. They 99 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: have made the team better. And we could debate how 100 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: much better they're going to be, but they have made 101 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: the team better and they haven't cut into their biggest strength. 102 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 1: That is the biggest win of all. 103 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 3: Because that's what we heard at the beginning of the 104 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 3: off season. They were going to have to do right. 105 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,840 Speaker 3: Like you heard it from Mark Sheldon, heard it from 106 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 3: multiple peoples like, well, if they're gonna upgrade the lineup, 107 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 3: they have to trade one of those starting pitchers. They 108 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 3: have to do there's no two bones about it. And 109 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 3: yet they didn't. And they said the thing, and at 110 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 3: least in Charlie Goldsmith's SUBSEAC article that he wrote about 111 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 3: the signing of Suarez, they said the thing that none 112 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 3: of us would have put money that they said. They 113 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 3: said that there is no move that they have to 114 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 3: make in order to financially explain this signing, because they 115 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 3: are going to spend the necessary dollars to bring in 116 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 3: Suarez without damaging the rest of the roster, because they 117 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 3: want to build a winner. And while I think some 118 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 3: of us might snicker at that a little bit because 119 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 3: they're like, well, now now you're going to do that, 120 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 3: at least they're finally doing that, and it looks as 121 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 3: if they're going to commit to twenty twenty six. 122 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: You know what, I think I like beyond that more 123 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: than anything, that we're not talking about them giving something up. 124 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 2: For Luise Robert. 125 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: I was out on that from the beginning. And look 126 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 1: at he may he may work out in New York. 127 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: We'll see. He's got to stay healthy. That's only been 128 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,359 Speaker 1: an issue in Chicago. But I remember having a conversation 129 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: with somebody four or five weeks ago where I'm like, look, 130 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 1: Luis Robert or are u Haaneo Suarez. I will take 131 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 1: d one dimensional Geno instead of the perhaps zero dimensional 132 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: Luise Robert, do you agree? 133 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 3: In fact, the moment that the news was announced that 134 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 3: Suarez was a red are Lockdown White Sox host Todd 135 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 3: Welter texted me and he said, eu Haneo Suarez is 136 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 3: better than Luise Robert. So he even admits that, and 137 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 3: he was the guy that had to watch Luis Robert 138 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 3: for the part of his career that he was in 139 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 3: Chicago now, So I am with you one hundred percent, 140 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 3: and I think that the biggest it's between that could 141 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 3: say that Luis Roberts a five tool player, you cannot 142 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 3: say that he is able. You absolutely have no doubt 143 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 3: about that with heyu Haneo Suarez because he's got several 144 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 3: seasons in a row now of playing at least one 145 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 3: hundred and fifty five ball games. 146 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 2: You mentioned the left field battle. 147 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: Beyond that, what is your biggest question about this team 148 00:06:58,960 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: going into spring training? 149 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 3: Who is Matt McClain. Is Matt McClain twenty twenty three, 150 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 3: Is Matt McLain twenty twenty five or is he somewhere 151 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 3: in between? What's that gonna be because that's going to 152 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 3: raise the ceiling of this fall club even more so 153 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 3: than the addition of au Haano Suarez, Because as much 154 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 3: as we talked about the lineup needs protection for La 155 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 3: de la Cruz. The lineup also got absolutely zilch out 156 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 3: of the number two spot in this lineup. And while 157 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,559 Speaker 3: noelfe Marte is probably gonna be your opening day number 158 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 3: two hitter, and he's got a shot to really take 159 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 3: control of that, I know what I saw from Matt 160 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 3: McLain in twenty twenty three, and I know it wasn't 161 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 3: what we saw from him in twenty twenty five. So 162 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 3: if he comes back with more of twenty twenty five's 163 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 3: version of Matt McClain, then I'm gonna have a lot 164 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 3: more questions about this scene moving forward than if the 165 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 3: Reds had had gone and gotten you know, au Haaneo 166 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 3: Suarez light instead of the man who we will see 167 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 3: named Gino and yelling Sicara and goodbyes. Only. 168 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: I like the fact that Tito acknowledged that Sal Stewart 169 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: is going to have to make the team first. But 170 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: I get excited over this possibility, and you know, it 171 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: might not be the most likely outcome, But if I 172 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: could jot down in black magic marker, if he plays 173 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: the entire season, thirty to thirty five home runs from 174 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: a Uhaneosuarez, which would be down from forty nine last year. 175 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: If I could somehow get thirty from Sal Stewart, which 176 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: the dude did hit five in less than a month 177 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 1: last year. Maybe that's a little bit pie in the sky, 178 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: but you could take a team that had such a 179 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: hard time getting any pop, that hasn't had a guy 180 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,959 Speaker 1: hit thirty home runs in a season since Gino did it. 181 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: If I can in the course of one season have 182 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: an offense that just with those two guys, not to 183 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: mention what you might be able to get from a 184 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,559 Speaker 1: healthy Elie de la Cruz, suddenly I've gone from a 185 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: team that had no power threat to one that now 186 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: might have an over abundance of power threats. 187 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 2: Jeff right, and I end. 188 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 3: Up that is just causing damage left and right. I 189 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 3: felt like the narrative and kind of like you said, 190 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 3: You're like, they're finally committing to power because the narrative 191 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 3: of well, they've got to Bill Rowley, they've got a 192 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 3: string hits together, which is explaining how a bad offense 193 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 3: these less bad or it is less bad. So I 194 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 3: really like to see that jump forward and south Stewart 195 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 3: to your point, I mean, I think there's a lot 196 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 3: of folks around the country who evaluate minor league talent 197 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 3: that would say, we're not that far off expecting the 198 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,719 Speaker 3: numbers that we're expecting from him, because he was one 199 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 3: of the very few guys in all of minor league 200 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 3: baseball the last couple of years to average really high 201 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 3: quality of contact and really low strikeout rates to be 202 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 3: called up to the major leagues. I think that we'll 203 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 3: see a lot more from sal. I think he's going 204 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 3: to be on this opening day roster. 205 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 2: I appreciate it. 206 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 3: Like you said, they're not handing it to him, but 207 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 3: I think it's going to be clear that he earns it, 208 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 3: especially given the alternatives. I mean, are we really thinking 209 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 3: that Cees is going to take his seat back on 210 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 3: this bench? 211 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: I doubt that. 212 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 3: I think that south Stewart's going to win this thing, 213 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 3: clear and a far and away very quickly into spring trading. 214 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: Stringing hits together is inefficient. Three hits for one run 215 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: doesn't work. One hit for one run works, and so 216 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: I like home runs awesome stuff. 217 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 2: As always, Man, thanks so much 218 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 3: Mo, thanks for having man go d