1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: This is the Budweiser reds Hotstove League. 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,319 Speaker 2: The res surround the radio. 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: The Hotstove League is brought to you by Jtmfood Group. 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: Let's create great dishes together. JTM MSA Design, the region's 5 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 1: leader in sports education and civic design and the official 6 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: architect of the Reds Tom's Watchbar. All the sports, all 7 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: the time. Bet MGM Now you're betting with the King 8 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: of sportsbooks. Download the bet MGM app today. Please gamble responsibly. 9 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: The reds Hot Stove League is also brought to you 10 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: by Kelsey Chevrolet, now driving forward with a new look, 11 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: the same promise and more ways to deliver peace of 12 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: mind from our family to yours. Visit kelseyshev dot com 13 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: and buy RNL Carriers. Visit RLC dot com and make 14 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: RNL Carriers your global transportation provider. 15 00:00:58,800 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 3: Deep to center. 16 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 4: Field, going back at the wall leaves it is long gone. 17 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 3: Belli Dala Cruz, the red Z on the Rady. 18 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: Now the reds Hot Stove League. 19 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 3: And Hello and Happy New Year. 20 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 4: This is the Budweiser reds Hot Stove League, presented by 21 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 4: UDF Live at the BEDMGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watchbar at 22 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 4: the Banks your regular hosts, Tommy Thrall and Jim Day 23 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 4: are off for the next two shows. Filling in, I'm 24 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 4: Mark Sheldon, the senior beat reporter that covers the Reds 25 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 4: for MLB dot com, and I'm joined by Mike Petralia, 26 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 4: who covers the Reds, Bengals and Bearcats for cnscinc dot com, 27 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,199 Speaker 4: so be sure to also check him out over there. 28 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:43,839 Speaker 4: We've got some great guests lined up for tonight's show. 29 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 4: We're starting off with Rick Wallace from the Reds Hall 30 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 4: of Fame, followed by MLB dot com national reporter Mark Fineshand, 31 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 4: who will fill us in on the hot stove action 32 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 4: with the Reds and around the league. That will cover 33 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 4: our first half hour. In the second half hour, we 34 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 4: will talk with new Reds outfield JJ Bleday. He signed 35 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 4: a one year, one point four million dollar contract on 36 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 4: December twenty seventh. Mike, can you believe that we're about 37 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 4: a month away from Reds pictures and catchers reporting to camp? 38 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 4: Can you believe spring training is almost upon us? 39 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 5: It's incredible, Mark, and I certainly think there's an era 40 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 5: of expectation for a Reds country this year, given how 41 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 5: last year ended. Even though it was disappointing at Dodger Stadium, 42 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 5: losing those two games to the eventual repeat World Series champions. 43 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,959 Speaker 5: I think a lot of people have expectations that Terry 44 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 5: Francona in year number two, is going to have a 45 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 5: much better grasp on what he has on this roster 46 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 5: and the roles they're going to play, going into spring training, 47 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 5: going into pictures and catchers reporting, and of course going 48 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 5: into the regular season. That's what I'm curious to say. 49 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 5: I'm curious to see how this roster makeup is going 50 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 5: to be handled differently by Terry Francona and his coaching 51 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 5: staff and how the players respond well. 52 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 4: Speaking of the roster taking shape, but there's still some 53 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 4: work to be done to build off of an eighty 54 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 4: three one season, isn't there? 55 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 6: There is? 56 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 5: And obviously there was some disappointment that the Reds couldn't 57 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 5: seal the deal on Kyle Schworber and bring him back home. 58 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 5: But the Reds know that in professional sports, and obviously 59 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 5: in Major League Baseball, the world keeps spinning and you 60 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 5: have to keep up. And that's what JJ Bleday was 61 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 5: all about, That's what Dane Myers was all about. Okay, 62 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,679 Speaker 5: we didn't get the player perhaps we wanted in free agency. 63 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 5: Let's see what we can do to compensate for that. 64 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 5: And maybe it's not the star player, but maybe it's 65 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 5: more depth, maybe it's better defense. Certainly, I think JJ 66 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 5: Bleday and Dane Myers can bring that to the outfield. 67 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 5: So that's what I think Nick Crawl and his staff 68 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 5: have really been charged with is trying to provide as 69 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 5: much depth on the roster as the budget will allow. 70 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 5: And I think, you know, so far, I like what 71 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 5: they've done in the bullpen, the pieces they've added there. 72 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 5: And we still have a month to go before Pictures 73 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 5: and Captures report. 74 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 4: Definitely, and we will dive into more about the roster 75 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 4: and potential moves in our next segment. But first we 76 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 4: have Rick Walls, who has been the executive director of 77 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 4: the Reds Hall of Fame since two thousand and seven. 78 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 4: And now, Rick, I'd have to imagine that one of 79 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 4: the best tasks of your job is to notify someone 80 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 4: when they are elected to the Reds Hall of Fame. 81 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 4: What was it like to make those phone calls informing 82 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 4: Brandon Phillips, Aaron Harang, Reggie Sanders, and Loupanella about their 83 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 4: new statuses. 84 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 7: Yeah, that's one of the great benefits or perks of 85 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 7: the job is making that phone call, you know, talking 86 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 7: to Brandon. 87 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 8: You know, you get a sense of how appreciative they 88 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:35,359 Speaker 8: are of this. 89 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 7: You know, making that phone call, you're trying to be 90 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 7: secretive and why you're calling them at this point, and 91 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 7: you think they might know. Brandon knwe was on the ballot. 92 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 7: Aaron Harang knew he was on the ballot. So why 93 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 7: am I calling from the Hall of Fame and setting 94 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,480 Speaker 7: this up? And I'm organizing with our board president Howard Kaplan, 95 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 7: who who made these calls with us. And it was 96 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 7: just such a joy to be able to talk to them, 97 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 7: kind of hear their emotion and just explain to what 98 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 7: this means to them. And I think the longer they 99 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 7: go through this process, they've all been to ceremonies in 100 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 7: the past, they see how we treat Red's history. They 101 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 7: know the Hall of Fame and the Reds do it 102 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 7: better than anyone else. So it's going to be not 103 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 7: just the honor they receive April twenty fourth through twenty six, 104 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 7: but really the way we treat them the rest of 105 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 7: their lives and beyond that we're about preserving that legacy, 106 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,119 Speaker 7: the Red's history, and that's what the museum is all about. 107 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 5: And Rick, I think it's fascinating that in Aaron Harang, 108 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 5: Brandon Phillips, Reggie Sanders and Loupanella, you have four distinct 109 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 5: personalities and it must be something that I'm sure you 110 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 5: take into consideration when you make for initial contact with them. 111 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:38,280 Speaker 5: How are they going to respond? And must be one 112 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 5: of the joys of your job knowing that each one 113 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 5: of these players and manager have an opportunity to enter 114 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,479 Speaker 5: into a very highly regarded place in the organization. 115 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 8: I love that you're still right on I mean the 116 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 8: different personalities. 117 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 7: I mean when I call Loopenel and I've talked to 118 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,479 Speaker 7: Loo many times over the years, he's been back. Same 119 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 7: with you know, with Aaron Harang, who is a fantasy 120 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,600 Speaker 7: camp coach for us even this year next week, so 121 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 7: we've seen him a lot. And then of course Reggie 122 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 7: Sanders has also been a camp coach, and I've seen 123 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 7: them on social media. I see how they interact with 124 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 7: the fans. I know how it's going to go down, 125 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 7: and it was exactly like I thought it was. They 126 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 7: were so happy about it and that's just a testament 127 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 7: to you know, their attachment to the Reds and the 128 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 7: organization and the history and understanding that lou Pannelli said 129 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 7: is the best Christmas present I could ever have. And 130 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 7: his wife was crying and it was just a really 131 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 7: neat moment. And that's kind of what you expect when 132 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 7: you hear you're being inducted into a Hall of Fame, you. 133 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 4: Know, Rick, during that the Hall of Fame weekend, like 134 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 4: you said, April twenty fourth or the twenty six, what 135 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 4: can fans expect to see when they come to the 136 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 4: ballpark during that weekend. 137 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 8: Well, that's a super strong class. As we talked about. 138 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 7: We've got a manager, outfielder, an infielder, and a pitcher, right, 139 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 7: so these are people that everyone's really aware of. But 140 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 7: we also bring back all the former Hall of famers, 141 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 7: so if you were wearing a Red jacket, you'll remember. 142 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 7: You and a guest are invited back to great activities 143 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 7: at the Hall. 144 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 8: Special receptions. 145 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 7: But what the fans get to do is, you know, 146 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 7: they definitely want to be at the ballpark and around 147 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 7: the Hall of Fame to meet these guys. They will 148 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 7: be available for me and greets and photo ops. Saturday, 149 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 7: the twenty fifth is when the induction takes place on 150 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 7: the field. You go want to get here early, get 151 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 7: your seat and be part of that. Sunday our induction gala, 152 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 7: which is about a fourteen hundred person event. It probably 153 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 7: will sell out this time at the Convention Center, which 154 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 7: is really one of our big events, the fundraiser for 155 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 7: the museum, but it gives everyone a chance to gather 156 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 7: and celebrate history. The current team goes to that, all 157 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 7: the former players, all the fans, and this is a 158 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 7: great chance to just celebrate Red history. 159 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 5: You know, Rick, One of the things that I'm biased, 160 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 5: but I believe that that Hall of Fame right across 161 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 5: the street is one of the singularly best hall of 162 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 5: fames in all of team sports. I really do believe that. 163 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 5: I've been around the you know, the country, you know, 164 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 5: covered the Red Sox, and they certainly do their thing 165 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 5: with Fenway Park. But what makes even as it's been 166 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 5: around years and years, what makes the Hall of Fame 167 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 5: here in Cincinnati so unique. 168 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 7: I think it's the fans. I think it's we treat 169 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 7: it as a palace for the fans. We understand how 170 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 7: it connects with the community. We think baseball is synonymous 171 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 7: with the history here in town and with the word 172 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 7: Cincinnati and from once a Red, always a Red, always 173 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 7: keeping that mantra in mind, and when we deal with 174 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 7: former players, that's what kind of gives you the foundation 175 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 7: and the fans and the appreciation for the history and 176 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 7: those players and wanting to stay engaged with that. If 177 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 7: we keep that as our foundation and collect and preserve 178 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 7: and promote Red's history and think about generations from now 179 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 7: how they'll look back on it, we'll be way ahead 180 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 7: of everybody. And that's what the museum strives to do. Collect, preserve, 181 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 7: and think about the future. 182 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 4: And you have another big thing coming up this week 183 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 4: on Saturday, Red's Fantasy Camp begins and you mentioned Aaron 184 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 4: Harangues among the coaches that'll be there. You have twenty 185 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 4: five former players turning out. What can you tell us 186 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 4: about Fantasy Camp. 187 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 7: Well, if you haven't been to Fantasy Camp, you need 188 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 7: to put it on your bucket list. I really want 189 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 7: to got to go. You know, we all have one 190 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 7: hundred and forty four spots. It sells out within hours 191 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 7: usually when we open it. It's a week long Baseball 192 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 7: in Goode Arizona at the first class Red Spring Training Complex. 193 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 7: You get to be a pro week and we always 194 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 7: tell people go on out there, have a great time. 195 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 7: You get the uniform, you get to interact with all 196 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 7: these coaches you just mentioned, I mean Aaron Harang, some 197 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 7: new coaches this year that we brought out in Johnny Gohmes, 198 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 7: Jason LaRue and Paul Yannish. But there's Hall of famers 199 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 7: like Jim Maloney that out there out there also, Billy 200 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 7: Hatcher is always there, Tom Hume, Ted Power, Joe Oliver, 201 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 7: Eddie Talbins, run RUMs, names that all Reds fans know. 202 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 7: But you get to go out. Ages thirty to eighty 203 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 7: five are at this camp and it's such a special experience. 204 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 7: Guys have been going to camp for twenty thirty years 205 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 7: because they love it so much. 206 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 8: You're building a great camaraderie there. 207 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 7: It's a fundraiser for the museum, but just a great 208 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 7: chance to kind of celebrate Red's history in a different way. 209 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 5: I just think it's amazing that you have so many 210 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 5: former players involved in the Fantasy camp, and I think 211 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 5: that's a testament to how they respect what you're trying 212 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 5: to pull off and how much joy they are trying, 213 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 5: you guys are trying to bring to fans. 214 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 7: I think with a player, there's a time in their 215 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 7: history when they realize that, you know, they miss the game. 216 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:58,199 Speaker 7: I think leaving the game for a few years you 217 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 7: let people kind of set for about five years and 218 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 7: they realize, I still want to be connected to the game. 219 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 7: And if you're a Red. And some of the players 220 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 7: I mentioned that their coaches out there weren't a Red 221 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 7: their entire career, but we like to think of them 222 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 7: only as a Red, so they'll come out and show up. 223 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,199 Speaker 7: For instance, Reggie Sanders is a works for the Royals 224 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 7: right now. He does two weeks of Fantasy Camp out there, 225 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 7: but he still thinks of himself as a Red, you know. 226 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,319 Speaker 7: So we have that great event out there, and I'm 227 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 7: just looking forward to going out there on Saturday for 228 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 7: about six days. I'll come back for Reds Fest and 229 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 7: a lot of our alumni will be there as well. 230 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 3: Rick. 231 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 4: We really appreciate you stopping over here. Thank you so 232 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 4: much for coming in and telling us about Fantasy Camp 233 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 4: and the Reds Hall of Fame and people can come out. 234 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 7: You got a Redsmuseum dot org for all the info 235 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 7: of everything we've talked about. 236 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 3: All right, well, thank you very much to Rick Walls. 237 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 4: We're gonna step aside for a little bit, and then 238 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 4: when we come back, we're gonna talk to Mark Fineshand, 239 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 4: a good friend of ours from MLB dot Com. And 240 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,439 Speaker 4: for now, you're listening to the Budweiser Red's Hot Stove 241 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 4: League presented by UDF on the Reds Radio Network. Reds Fans, 242 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,079 Speaker 4: Now is the time to get your twenty twenty six 243 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 4: season two tickets. Members sit in the same seat for 244 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 4: every game with their friends and family, and enjoy a 245 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 4: flexible ticket exchange program. Visit Reds dot com slash Membership 246 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 4: for details. And we are back with the Budweiser Reds 247 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 4: Hot Stove League presented by UDF, live at the BEDMGM 248 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 4: Sportsbook inside Tom's Watchbar at the Banks Mark Sheldon along 249 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 4: with Mike Petralia. We're filling in for Tommy and Jim. 250 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 4: As promised. Our next guest is someone who is plugged 251 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 4: into the business of baseball, not just here, but around 252 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 4: Major League Baseball. He is the national reporter for MLB 253 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 4: dot Com and a feature news insider that often appears 254 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 4: on MLB Network. Please Welcome via the phone from New 255 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 4: Jersey my longtime friend and colleague Mark Finestand Mark, how 256 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 4: you doing the night? 257 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 9: Bags? 258 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 10: And Sheldon two of my favorite boys, doing great? 259 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 3: Hey, Mark. 260 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 4: You know, as we've talked often during this offseason, the 261 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 4: Reds have solidified their bullpen, They've added to the outfield 262 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 4: so far this offseason, but it clearly feels like there's 263 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 4: unfinished business because they don't have the off's a boost 264 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 4: they still need. What do you think they can still 265 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 4: do with the time left in the offseason. 266 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 10: Well, you know, there are still some big bats out 267 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 10: there that we've all been talking about for weeks and months, 268 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 10: and you know, Bashett and Tucker and Bellinger. I don't 269 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 10: see the Reds getting involved in those three players. You know, 270 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 10: they took the big swing at Schwarburb and I think 271 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 10: he was a unique situation just given his hometown roots, 272 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 10: et cetera. But a guy that I think could fit 273 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:28,319 Speaker 10: in there nicely would be Hadeo Suarez. 274 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 2: I always been there before. 275 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 10: Forty nine home runs last year, big power bat isn't 276 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 10: going to cost what some of those other big bats 277 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 10: are going to cost. And you know, bangs to the 278 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 10: buckwise in terms of adding power to a lineup. I 279 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 10: think he's probably the best, the best option out there 280 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 10: right now. 281 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 5: Park It's tracks And by the way, it's great to 282 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 5: be reunited with you after all of those years covering 283 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 5: the Red Sox and Yankees that we did back in 284 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 5: the early two thousands. So this is a trait for 285 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 5: me personally. I wanted to ask you. Obviously, for agency 286 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,320 Speaker 5: is one way to add talent, but trades are another. 287 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 5: And I'm wondering what you're hearing out there about the 288 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 5: Reds being involved in talks with other teams to acquire 289 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 5: a bat and perhaps this is also a way to like, 290 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 5: you know, move some contracts that the Reds maybe don't 291 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 5: want to keep on the payroll. 292 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 6: I'm just curious what you're hearing in that regard. 293 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 10: You know, most of the trade talk that's been out 294 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 10: there this winter, for the most part, has been for pitching. 295 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 10: You know, we saw Edward Cabrera move to the clubs today, 296 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 10: Kensey Gore, Ornnie Baralta, there are plenty of Sandy ol 297 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 10: Contra is probably not going to get moved, but his 298 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 10: name has been. 299 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 2: Out there a lot. 300 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 10: Obviously, the biggest fish out there. If you were to 301 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 10: be traded Derek Scouble, But I haven't heard all that 302 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 10: much about big bats that are that are out there 303 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 10: to be had, So I'm not saying there aren't any, 304 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 10: but none are coming to the. 305 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 2: Top of mind at the moment. 306 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 10: That would really fit the bill, you know, for the 307 00:13:58,360 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 10: Reds and trying to boost their lineup. 308 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 4: So it sounds like the Reds are pretty much rolling 309 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 4: out the same lineup with the exception of Austin Hayes. 310 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 3: Being out JJ Blane being in. 311 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 4: Mark If this is what the Reds look like going 312 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 4: into twenty twenty six more or less, do you feel 313 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,959 Speaker 4: like does the industry feel like they can still contend 314 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 4: in the National League Central or for a National League 315 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 4: Wild card? 316 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 2: Well? 317 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 10: I picked them to be in the playoffs last year, 318 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 10: and I really liked their club. I think if you 319 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 10: get a little more from a couple of the guys 320 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 10: who are there, you know, if Ellie takes a step 321 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 10: forward and comes to players that everybody believes he can be, 322 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 10: you know, they get full healthy seasons from other other guys, 323 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 10: and those guys sort of take a step. 324 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 2: Forward as well. 325 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 10: I think they have enough talent to compete. I mean, 326 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 10: the pitcher staff is very good, but gone was a 327 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 10: great return in the full pen. So I think, you know, 328 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 10: the NL Central is not exactly overloaded with We're not 329 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 10: talking about the Al East here with the Blue Jays 330 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 10: and Red Sox and Yankee and Orioles raised. So you know, 331 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 10: I think if the Brewers trade Peralta, that certainly, you know, 332 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 10: gives a hit for them. You know, the Cubs they 333 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 10: added Cabrera, they haven't added a bat to replace Tucker. 334 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 10: I don't know that they're going to. I know they're 335 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 10: still in on Brigman to some extent, But I think 336 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 10: this is a winnable division. I don't think this is 337 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 10: going to be a division that necessarily has a you know, 338 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 10: ninety five ninety eight win team. 339 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 2: So I do like. 340 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 10: What the Reds you. 341 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 2: Know, have going for them as a whole. 342 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 10: And I'm a big believer in Tito and that was 343 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 10: one of the reasons why I picked on to make 344 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 10: the playoff last year. I think he has that team 345 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 10: believing in itself and if you guys can, like I said, 346 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 10: take a bit of a step forward, I think this 347 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 10: is a team that could contend in a relatively you know, 348 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 10: quiet division. 349 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 5: And that leads into My next question Mark, and that 350 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 5: is year number two of Terry Francona in Cincinnati. He 351 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 5: got the team to the playoffs in year number one. 352 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 5: What does year number two look like? And do you 353 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 5: think he makes a difference in terms of his familiarity 354 00:15:58,680 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 5: with the. 355 00:15:59,000 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 3: Roster this year? 356 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm sure. 357 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 10: I mean the fact that he you know, knows the 358 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 10: guys coming into this year, he'll have a better sense 359 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 10: of what he has on that roster and how he 360 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 10: can utilize He's player. You know, I think Sheldon will 361 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 10: be the first one to back me. 362 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 2: Up on this. 363 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 10: There was a different feeling in Reds camp last year, 364 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 10: and I know that's always one of those, you know, 365 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,280 Speaker 10: very popular spring training. 366 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 2: Stories of Oats. 367 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 10: He does bringing a new attitude, but just talking, I 368 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 10: was in Reds camp a couple of days covering from 369 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 10: Mark last year and just talking to guys who were 370 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 10: had been there for a bit, and they just you 371 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 10: could just sense a different confidence in that room of 372 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 10: I think the one line somebody said to me was, 373 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 10: you know, we all know what it takes to win, 374 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 10: but t is actually giving us the blueprint of how 375 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 10: to get there. And I think, you know the fact 376 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 10: that they did take a step forward and have some 377 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 10: success last year. I think that's only going to make 378 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 10: them hungrier and that experience. 379 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 2: Is going to help them in trying to get back 380 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 2: there this year. 381 00:16:58,040 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 4: Mark, we have about a minute left, but real quick 382 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 4: on the lookoutside of Cincinnati and just nationally, with these 383 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 4: free agents, you have Tucker, you have Bishett, Bregman, Bellinger. 384 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 4: Who do you think the next domino to fall is? 385 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 10: I would think Bregman is probably the favorite in that group, 386 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 10: Tucker and Bellinger. Bellinger seems to be in a situation 387 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 10: where he and the Yankees sort of want to reunite, 388 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 10: but there's still a gap between them, and I think 389 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 10: he's gonna wait until Tucker signs, because you know the 390 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 10: teams that don't get Tucker. Let's say he goes to 391 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 10: the Blue Jays, which is where you know, all signs 392 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 10: are pointing that he's gonna wind up there, but it's 393 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 10: certainly not a good deal. 394 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 2: Then all of a sudden, the Met the Yankees. 395 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 10: Could be at a biding war for Bellinger. So we 396 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 10: saw that last year with Soto and the Met to 397 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 10: merge victorious in that fitting war. Gregman's market isn't quite 398 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 10: as big the red Box want him back Buster Only. 399 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 10: Our friend at ESPN reported this week that they were 400 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,479 Speaker 10: prepared and willing to make him a pretty big offer. 401 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 10: I think that the natural reunion in the making to 402 00:17:58,480 --> 00:17:59,400 Speaker 10: bring Gregman. 403 00:17:59,200 --> 00:17:59,880 Speaker 2: Back to Boston. 404 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 10: The Cubs are still in on him, the Tigers are sort. 405 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 2: Of marginallying on him. But unless he's willing to do 406 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 2: what he did. 407 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 10: Last year, which stick a shorter term deal for a 408 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 10: higher av Boston seems like the natural fit. And it 409 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 10: wouldn't surprise me if you know, if that deal gets 410 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,439 Speaker 10: done in the next you know, called seven days or so. 411 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 3: That's fantastic information. Mark. 412 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 4: I really appreciate you, and Mike appreciates you calling in 413 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 4: and talking to us for a little bit. Thank you 414 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,120 Speaker 4: again very much, and I'll see you sooner and down 415 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 4: the road and we'll talk again. 416 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 2: Good talking to you, Fella's take care. 417 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 6: Thanks Mark. 418 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 3: Thanks Mark. Wow, that was pretty good stuff right there right. 419 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 6: I love talking to Mark. 420 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 4: Well, before we go to break, I just wanted to 421 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 4: a lurt those listening on Flagships seven hundred WLW because 422 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:45,679 Speaker 4: of Savior Basketball. The second half of our show is 423 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 4: moving over to thirteen sixty, so please join us over there. 424 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 3: The rest of us. The rest of. 425 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,360 Speaker 4: You can stay right where you are and we'll have 426 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 4: Red's outfielder JJ Bloda joining us next on the Budweiser 427 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 4: Red's Hot Stovely presented by UDF on the Reds Radio Network. 428 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:07,199 Speaker 4: Get access to all thirteen Tuesday Reds home games this 429 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 4: season with the three two one Tuesday Ballpark Pass for 430 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 4: as low as forty nine to ninety nine. Budweiser three 431 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 4: two to one Tuesdays at Great American Ballpark include three 432 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 4: dollars beers, two dollars hot dogs, and one dollar ice 433 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 4: cream cups. Get your three two one Tuesday Ballpark Pass 434 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 4: now at Reds dot com slash Pass and welcome back 435 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 4: to the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF 436 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 4: Live at the BEDMGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watch Bar at 437 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 4: the Banks. We are your substitute hosts Mark Sheldon and 438 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 4: Mike Petralia in for Tommy and Jim. Our next guest 439 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 4: was signed to a one year contract by the Reds 440 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,199 Speaker 4: late last month, and he was so excited about the 441 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 4: move that he already had a Reds cap on during 442 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 4: his zoom meeting with all the reporters. That's pretty cool, 443 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 4: well prepared, well prepared. His name is JJ Blade. He 444 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,119 Speaker 4: is joining us on the phone with everything settled in 445 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,439 Speaker 4: now for a couple of weeks. JJ, how how are 446 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 4: you feeling about your new deal with the Reds. 447 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 11: I'm feeling great, guys. I'm really looking forward to it. 448 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 9: I'm excited, and you know, I'm just kind of ready 449 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:06,920 Speaker 9: to get things going. 450 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 5: What has been your biggest priorities, JJ, in terms of 451 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 5: getting ready in the off season. 452 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 9: Yeah, I think just you know, making sure my body 453 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 9: is prepared for another you know, long baseball season. Making 454 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 9: sure I'm I'm staying mobile, I'm keeping my quickness, I'm 455 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 9: keeping weight, and I kind of getting to that that 456 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 9: place where you know you're going to be comfortable throughout 457 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,399 Speaker 9: the whole course of the season. And then outside of that, 458 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 9: it's just improving your game. You know, It's it's settling 459 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:41,400 Speaker 9: in what you want to work on mechanically at the play, 460 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,199 Speaker 9: and then you know, defensively, uh, you know, making sure 461 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 9: you get enough reps going on the spring training. 462 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 5: I think one thing that stuck out to me in 463 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 5: your zoom call with reporters right after you signed in 464 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,880 Speaker 5: Cincinnati was the fact that you acknowledged. You know, last 465 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 5: year was kind of a rough year for you, an 466 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 5: off year, but you look to bounce back. And what 467 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 5: you referenced is what you just spoke about becoming more athletic. 468 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 5: Focusing on becoming more athletic. What does that look like, 469 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 5: not only in your offseason preparations, but what do you 470 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:15,080 Speaker 5: envision it looking like in twenty twenty six at Great 471 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 5: American Ballpark? 472 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,160 Speaker 9: Yeah, I just see myself being an athlete and competing, 473 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 9: you know, like just being fluid and just you know, 474 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 9: being a bastard in the box as best I can. 475 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 9: And that's you know, just fight fighting to see new 476 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 9: pitch it or more pitches, and putting yourself an. 477 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 11: Account to do damage and just you know. 478 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 9: Going balls out like you know, going after balls, taking 479 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 9: the extra base and just playing the game hard, you know, 480 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 9: as hard as I've ever I've ever played JJ. 481 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 4: As you full well know, you hit your first home 482 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 4: run at Great American Ballpark back in twenty twenty two. 483 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 4: You're nine for thirty one over here with five extra 484 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 4: base hits. Why or and maybe how does this particular 485 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,479 Speaker 4: ballpark play into your strength? Yeah? 486 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 11: I don't know if I mean, it's just kind of 487 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 11: a byproduct. 488 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 9: You know, it's just you know, I just I've just 489 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 9: played well there, you know, every every time I've played 490 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 9: or you know, I've played two series there and uh 491 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 9: one with Miami, one with. 492 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 11: Bas and I mean it just sort of happened, you know. 493 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,119 Speaker 9: I mean it's just, uh, I like the area, I 494 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,880 Speaker 9: like the stadium, and it's just a good recipe for 495 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 9: things to happen when when everything falls in line. 496 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 6: What have your conversations been like with Tito? 497 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 2: Uh? 498 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 11: Very you know, just this real casual. You know, he 499 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 11: just congratulated me and looking forward to getting to beat. 500 00:22:35,520 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 9: Me, and you know, just kind of talking about uh 501 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 9: my roots throwing up here in western Pennsylvania and just 502 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 9: kind of telling me he's from that area, and just 503 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:46,919 Speaker 9: you know, we're just kind of joking around. 504 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 11: Along those lines. 505 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 4: You know, last year we talked about you had the plate, 506 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:51,880 Speaker 4: but also you know, you didn't have your best year 507 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 4: defensively either. You've been generally over your your career been 508 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 4: a strong defensive outfielder. What do you think changed in 509 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 4: that area and what on that side of your game 510 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 4: are you work looking on to bring it back to 511 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 4: where it was in twenty twenty six. 512 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 9: You know, I don't want to like point fingers and 513 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 9: have excuses. 514 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 11: I mean it was tough. 515 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:11,879 Speaker 9: It was tough playing in the ballpark you've never played 516 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 9: in before, especially in minor league stadium and and you know, 517 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 9: now just looking back, you know, I just I just 518 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 9: got to do more. 519 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 11: I gotta I gotta do more. 520 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 9: Speed wise, I got to do more, you know, fly balls, 521 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 9: take my shagging more seriously. And that's kind of been 522 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 9: the main emphasis this offseason is is get outside, have 523 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 9: someone hit me fun gos, you know, two three times 524 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 9: a week right now before going in spring training, and 525 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 9: really just working on that first step. 526 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 11: I feel like my first step last year wasn't very good. 527 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 9: I wasn't taking good routes at the ball, and you know, 528 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:48,919 Speaker 9: as a result, kind of lost a little bit of 529 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,440 Speaker 9: confidence out there. So it's just regaining that back and 530 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 9: just getting after it and going, you know, just trying 531 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 9: to literally catch everything. 532 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 11: Hit my way right now. 533 00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 5: One thing that stuck out to me JJ about this 534 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 5: Red's clubhouse in twenty twenty five, I think one of 535 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 5: the big reasons they were able to eventually make the 536 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 5: playoffs is they had a very tight clubhouse. They very 537 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 5: had each other's backs. 538 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 6: There was no. 539 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:16,120 Speaker 5: Backbiting, you know, back and forth. And I'm curious if 540 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 5: you've heard the same thing about this clubhouse, how together 541 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 5: they are, the young leadership that's in there, namely guys 542 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,639 Speaker 5: like Tyler Stevenson for one and Gavin Lux for another. 543 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 5: How have you gotten to know them in your time 544 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 5: so far in the last month, you know. 545 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 9: Honestly haven't delved too much into that. But like just 546 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 9: from watching Afar, you know, playing in the past few years, 547 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 9: you could just tell there's no drama, Like it's not 548 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 9: a drama team. The egos, you know, there's no huge egos. 549 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 9: Everyone's in line. Everyone seems like they get along with 550 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 9: one another. And I think just you know, that's just 551 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 9: you know, courtesy of the organization as a whole, and 552 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 9: then just the staff and then the with sure players 553 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 9: that are in the that are in the clubhouse, and 554 00:24:57,880 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 9: you know, I think just right now, it's it's having 555 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 9: guys like a million Pagan reaching out. 556 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 11: It's Spencer Steer who I played. 557 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 9: With in the Cape Cod League and just communicating with 558 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:10,360 Speaker 9: them and just having some type of dialogue to make 559 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 9: myself comfortable. 560 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 11: And they just do a good job at communicating that. 561 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 9: So I'm just I just think that's how they do 562 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:17,160 Speaker 9: a good job and that's why they win. 563 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 3: JJ. 564 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 4: We have a few other things we want to get 565 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 4: to you with you, but we have to take a 566 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 4: quick break. We'd love to talk to you on the 567 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,199 Speaker 4: other side if you don't mind, so we will be 568 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,639 Speaker 4: back with more with JJ Bladay. This is the Budweiser 569 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 4: Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF on the Reds 570 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 4: Radio Network presented by Penn Station is on sale now. 571 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 4: Receive an exclusive Ellie d La Cruz light Up bibblehead 572 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 4: plus your choice of six home games to purchase, go 573 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 4: to Reds dot com slash pick six. You are listening 574 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 4: to the Budweiser Red's Hot Stove League presented by UDF 575 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 4: live at the bed MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watch Bar 576 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 4: at the Banks with Mike Petralia. I'm Mark Sheldon, and 577 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 4: we are back with another segment with new Reds outfielder 578 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 4: JJ Blade. 579 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 3: JJ. 580 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 4: A while back, you were in Cincinnati playing for Midland, 581 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 4: a famed travel team around here before heading off to 582 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 4: college at Vanderbilt. You live just across the river, I 583 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,239 Speaker 4: think at Newport, Kentucky. What was that like for you 584 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 4: to be in this area. 585 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:17,919 Speaker 11: It was a blast, man, it was. 586 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 10: It was. 587 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 11: It was in a really good spot. 588 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 9: We did get to go to many Reds games because 589 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 9: we were playing ourselves, but you know, we could watch 590 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 9: it from afar hear the fireworks. Remember going to a 591 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:32,479 Speaker 9: lot of good restaurants, one of them being the Precinct. 592 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 11: Which is owned by Jeff Ruby. 593 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 9: I believe yes, and uh so, our ostat would always 594 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 9: take us out there, you know, every couple of weeks, 595 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 9: and it's the blast. 596 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 11: It was kind of getting you ready for college and 597 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:46,120 Speaker 11: definitely was was a fun experience. 598 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:46,879 Speaker 6: JJ. 599 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,199 Speaker 5: I'm curious about Midland and it is, like Mark was 600 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 5: just saying, it's a famed travel league, a travel team 601 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:58,399 Speaker 5: and travel organization. It really has gotten a lot of 602 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 5: young players ready for that next level of baseball. I'm 603 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 5: curious what you knew about that organization about Midland prior 604 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 5: to it and what it was like playing there. 605 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:13,880 Speaker 11: Yeah, it was always like a rival. We'd always see 606 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 11: them at tournaments. 607 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 9: And I played for another team called Indiana Prospects, which 608 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:21,400 Speaker 9: was a little bit of a younger age group, and. 609 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 11: I just remember Midland always having a good like seventeen 610 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 11: eighteen year old team, and I knew. 611 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 9: I didn't want to take classes in the summertime. I 612 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:33,120 Speaker 9: wanted to play some more baseball to get ready for 613 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:34,440 Speaker 9: my freshman year of college. 614 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 11: And I just think that's what it is. It's just 615 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 11: a good discipline. 616 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 9: You know, they take care of the details, good coaching, 617 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 9: and just high competitive tournaments and games. You know, you're 618 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,160 Speaker 9: facing some really good players in the high school class 619 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:48,920 Speaker 9: and it's just. 620 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 11: A fun tournament. 621 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 9: And then you get to go to try to go 622 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:53,959 Speaker 9: to Farmington to win it, which is like, you know, 623 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:56,440 Speaker 9: the World Series of an eighteen year old team. 624 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 4: Of course, you went on to play for Vanderbilt, where 625 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,200 Speaker 4: you you ended up being the SEC Player of the 626 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 4: Year in twenty nineteen. Your coach Tim Corben called you 627 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 4: an old soul and a low maintenance guy with quiet confidence. 628 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 4: Do you still feel that that is true even as 629 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 4: you've matured a few years. 630 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,880 Speaker 9: Oh yeah, yeah, I don't see, like I'm oh my god, 631 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 9: it's gonna have many issues. 632 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 10: You know. 633 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,439 Speaker 11: I'm kind of a guy that likes to, you know, listen, 634 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:23,639 Speaker 11: you know, and then and then speak. 635 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:25,880 Speaker 9: So I like to just kind of see how things 636 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 9: are are run and and going and then kind of 637 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 9: go from there. 638 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 5: Also, we have heard that you are talented in playing 639 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 5: the piano. I'm curious, are you Billy, Joel? 640 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 6: Are you out? 641 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 3: And John? 642 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 6: What's your style? You know? 643 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 9: I was actually just playing like ten minutes before this, 644 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 9: before I got you guys. Yeah, just we got one 645 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:55,120 Speaker 9: right before the holidays. We got one from my wife's 646 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 9: family member, so. 647 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 11: It needs a tune in. But I'm more of an 648 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 11: old school like cloud cool, Mozart, Beto. 649 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,720 Speaker 3: You don't get a lot of that in the clubhouse, no, 650 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 3: you know, if guys. 651 00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:10,720 Speaker 11: From the Dominican Pro I don't even know who. 652 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 3: They are, you should teach them. It's good music. 653 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,200 Speaker 11: Yeah, it is good music. I mean everyone should know that, 654 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 11: right right. Everyone probably does know some tunes. 655 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 3: Right absolutely. 656 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 4: And as you mentioned your teammates, you're gonna get to 657 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 4: meet a whole bunch of them next week. I understand 658 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:26,760 Speaker 4: you are confirmed to attend Reds Fest, which is returning 659 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:28,800 Speaker 4: to the Convention Center here in town after a two 660 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:31,160 Speaker 4: year hiatus. What are you looking forward to about meeting 661 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 4: your teammates and manager. You've talked to a few guys. 662 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 4: You mentioned Pegan, you mentioned Tito Francona. What are you 663 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 4: looking forward to about getting together with these guys in 664 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 4: about you know, ten days or so, you know, just. 665 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 9: Putting the name to the faces, just kind of hanging out, 666 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 9: having some some basic conversation and you know see how 667 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 9: talk talk some baseball, you know, talk talk city, you know, food, 668 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 9: places to live and then you know, just kind of 669 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 9: get together. 670 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 11: To to see the fans. So nothing too crazy, just 671 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 11: just got very nice. 672 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:10,680 Speaker 4: Oh what do you think about your about trying out 673 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 4: for an everyday role. You still obviously have to come 674 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 4: to camp. You got to earn You're gonna have a 675 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 4: spot on the team, but you want to earn a 676 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 4: regular role. I imagine what what do you feel about 677 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 4: the competition that you have coming up? 678 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:24,479 Speaker 11: Yeah, I think there's you know, good competition on this squad. 679 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 11: And you know, I do see myself playing. 680 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 9: Left field, and I'm I feel like I'm a corner 681 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 9: guy long term, you know, as much as uh, you know, 682 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 9: I played center in twenty four and I played center 683 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,920 Speaker 9: last year, I still see myself more as a corner 684 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 9: corner position. And you know, I'm just gonna, like you said, 685 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 9: I mean, just just come in and working hard to 686 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 9: earn a spot and earn the job and and just 687 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 9: do my best to stay focused and trust that process. 688 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:56,520 Speaker 6: Jay, Jay, what is it that you're looking forward to 689 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 6: playing in Cincinnati the most? 690 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:04,320 Speaker 9: I think just the chance to play playoff baseball. I think, 691 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,960 Speaker 9: you know, I saw it from afar with them, and 692 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 9: I just think it's a tremendous experience to be able 693 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:14,320 Speaker 9: to get to and I have yet to have that 694 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 9: in my career. And it just seems like the jel 695 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 9: of those guys have. 696 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 11: The city. 697 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 9: I mean, the city just loves sports, you know, I mean, 698 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 9: and I grew up in Pittsburgh, so it's a very 699 00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 9: similar town and similar atmosphere, and I'm just looking forward 700 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:29,280 Speaker 9: to be a part of that and to really go 701 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 9: out there and compete, you know, all nine innings, to 702 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 9: go out and win for that city. 703 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 5: Just a side note real quick, you have something in common. 704 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 5: Joe Burrow played the piano to heal from his wrist injury. 705 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 5: So maybe you can get together with Joe and go 706 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 5: over your piano playing skills. 707 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 11: Yeah, Yeah, that'd be sweet. I'd be all for that. 708 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 3: Sounds good. 709 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 4: Hey, JJ, we really appreciate you checking in with us 710 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 4: here tonight during the off season, and we all look 711 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 4: forward to meeting you at Redsfest in a few days. 712 00:31:58,640 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 4: So thank you very much for coming on. 713 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:02,760 Speaker 11: Likewise, yes, thanks for having me. 714 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 6: Thanks you, Jay. 715 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:07,480 Speaker 4: That was JJ Blade, the new Red's outfielder. We're gonna 716 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:10,560 Speaker 4: wrap it up and we're gonna finish Tiaboa on this show. 717 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:13,120 Speaker 4: So this is the Budweiser Red's Hot Stove League presented 718 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 4: by UDF on the Reds Radio Network. Okay, this is 719 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 4: the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF. We're 720 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 4: live at the bet MGM Sportsbook inside Tom's Watchbar at 721 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 4: the Banks, and we're gonna wrap this up. Like I 722 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:29,480 Speaker 4: said earlier, Mike, we got about a month ago and 723 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:32,280 Speaker 4: then spring training kicks off, and what do you think 724 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 4: the biggest roster battle we should be watching. 725 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,000 Speaker 6: Is number five starter? Oh easy? 726 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:39,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think there are so many options available to 727 00:32:39,880 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 5: Terry Francona, after Hunter Green, Niclodolo, Andrew Rabbit and Brady Singer, 728 00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:47,560 Speaker 5: those four pretty much I think locked in. 729 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 6: Then you have Rhet Louder. 730 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 5: People forget how solid he was to finish out the 731 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 5: twenty twenty three He had a one to finish that year. 732 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 5: That last month of the year. The last month and 733 00:32:57,320 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 5: a half was spectacular. Then you have Chase burn who 734 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 5: was the sensation that came up this year. I think 735 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:07,600 Speaker 5: those two could battle it out. Don't forget Brandon Williamson. 736 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 5: He is a lefty who has a lot of major 737 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,840 Speaker 5: league experience, I believe five years or four years of 738 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 5: major league experience. If he is fully recovered from Tommy 739 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 5: John he comes back, He's a lefty at the back 740 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:23,320 Speaker 5: end of the rotation, or he could wind up in 741 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 5: the bullpen. And then you have Julian Aggie are a 742 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 5: right hander. So I think those four names are spots 743 00:33:29,960 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 5: to keep or names to keep an eye on in 744 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 5: spring training. 745 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely. 746 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 4: The Reds have a very deep rotation, but the front 747 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 4: office has been pretty adamant they don't want to part 748 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 4: with any of these guys because the you know, Aggie, are, Williamson, 749 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 4: and Louder all miss time the entire season last year. 750 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:47,480 Speaker 4: The rest of the rotation also missed some time on 751 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 4: the IL except for Brady Singer. He was the only 752 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 4: guy to go from start to finish without any iel time. 753 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,719 Speaker 4: So they want to protect these guys and they're going 754 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:56,360 Speaker 4: to probably need all of them at some point. Because 755 00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 4: attrition in starting pitching is the thing now in Major 756 00:33:58,800 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 4: League Baseball. 757 00:33:59,440 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 6: No question. 758 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 5: And you're talking about cost control. Last year at this 759 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 5: time they had to go out and acquire Brady Singer, right, 760 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 5: But this year you're in a position where you really 761 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:13,120 Speaker 5: didn't have to spend a lot of money to add 762 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,839 Speaker 5: anything to the rotation or to the bullpen. You did, 763 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 5: obviously add Caleb Ferguson. I get that, but that was 764 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 5: really the only significant move that the Reds made in 765 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 5: terms of going outside the organization. 766 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 4: That and bringing back Emilio Pegan, Yeah, a closer. That 767 00:34:29,320 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 4: was a huge move that kind of set the things 768 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:32,920 Speaker 4: in motion to get the bullpen back. 769 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:34,399 Speaker 6: I love the move by the Yah. 770 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:35,719 Speaker 3: It's a big move for them. It is good for 771 00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:36,360 Speaker 3: the clubhouse. 772 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:38,799 Speaker 4: You got it Pegan, you have setting up, you have 773 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 4: Tony Santion, you have Graham Ashcraft. 774 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:43,360 Speaker 3: Now you have Caleb Ferguson. 775 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 4: You got a guy like Connor Phillips who was very 776 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 4: impressive in the last month of the season, and he's 777 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 4: gonna have a shot at making a you know, making 778 00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:52,880 Speaker 4: some moves in the bullpen. I mentioned Grant Ashcraft, So 779 00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:55,719 Speaker 4: there's some there's some guys that could make this a 780 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 4: very deep bullpen. 781 00:34:57,120 --> 00:34:58,160 Speaker 6: No question about that. 782 00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:01,640 Speaker 5: And other things that I'm looking forward to are how 783 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 5: does Ellie Dala Cruz handle playing defense at shortstop after 784 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:09,600 Speaker 5: a very very rough year defensively last year. What are 785 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:13,120 Speaker 5: the improvements he is going to make this year? Matt McClain, 786 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,560 Speaker 5: nobody is very few people have talked about how good 787 00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:20,880 Speaker 5: he was offensively before he got hurt and what he 788 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 5: could be this year if he bounces back offensively, and 789 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:26,959 Speaker 5: I think it goes without saying the Reds are really 790 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:29,839 Speaker 5: counting on him doing that. Throw that in with Sal 791 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 5: Stewart and I think you've got the potential of a 792 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:35,279 Speaker 5: much deeper lineup than you thought at the end of 793 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 5: last year. 794 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:38,160 Speaker 4: And it could be better defensively too, because you don't 795 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:41,319 Speaker 4: forget key Brian Hazy's not a great offensive players, kind 796 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 4: of you know, on the low end on the offense, 797 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:45,800 Speaker 4: but he is now a two time goal Glove winner. 798 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:48,400 Speaker 3: He makes it solid three. 799 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:50,240 Speaker 6: Games down the stretch with defensive plays. 800 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:53,560 Speaker 3: So there's a lot to like there. Well, we just 801 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 3: had a lot to do tonight. We got it all done. 802 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:59,200 Speaker 4: I want to thank JJ Blade, Mark Pines and Rick 803 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:02,800 Speaker 4: Wall Betralia plus Drew wester Heidie back at the studio, 804 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:06,080 Speaker 4: and our engineer Dave Abbott. I'm Mark Sheldon from MLB 805 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 4: dot com. Thank you so much for joining us to 806 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:11,040 Speaker 4: talk to you next time. This was the Budweiser Reds 807 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 4: Hotstove League, presented by UDF on the Reds Radio network.