1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Is Tony Pike since e three sixty about Cincinnati. 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 2: From Cincinnati. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. 3 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,119 Speaker 3: All right, it's time for our number two. Since he 4 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 3: three sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Let's uh, 5 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 3: we're going to Goodyear right now, Austin. Uh, Yeah, Goodyear 6 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 3: Arizona because we got boots on the ground. 7 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: Yes, that's correct. 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 3: Charlie Goldsmith is in Goodyear. He's been watching spring training 9 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 3: and he's nice enough to give us some time today. Charlie, 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 3: what's going on? 11 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,919 Speaker 2: Man? How are you? I'm doing great technically, I've got 12 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 2: Jordan's on the ground. Not fun. 13 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 3: Oh you and me both, Charlie Man, okay, okay, Charlie, 14 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 3: you've uh, you've had a chance to get out to Goodyear. 15 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 3: Has anything stood out to you in the short amount 16 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 3: of time you've been there thus far? 17 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 2: Talking to the guys, I think there's a vibe that 18 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:03,959 Speaker 2: I didn't quite recognize until I caught up with each 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 2: of them about where they're at and how they're feeling individually. 20 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 2: And that's the fact that you look around this team 21 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 2: and even though they made the playoffs and took a 22 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 2: step forward a lot of guys had down years in 23 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 2: twenty five, and not that there's frustration, but there's a 24 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 2: little bit of that edge about how last year went. 25 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 2: You know, Stevenson had it down here, Sear had it 26 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 2: down here, McClain, Ellie Marte opened the year in triple A, 27 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: didn't have a full season, Benton up and down Green. 28 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 2: A lot of these guys feel like they weren't even 29 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: quite themselves. So now you flash forward to spring training 30 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: and I mean, I get here pretty early and this 31 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: is the first year. I'm not trying to say this 32 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 2: about me, but like, this is the first year where 33 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 2: the guys are beating me to the facility, like they're 34 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: already here working and grinding and adding to the fact 35 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: the days like on the first day of pitchers and 36 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 2: catchers reporting, seven of the team's top hitters were ready 37 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 2: to do live they be and they got some unbelievable 38 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 2: competition there like pitcher excuse me, hitters haven't even reported yet. 39 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 2: But everyone's here and everyone's working hard, like truly, because 40 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: there's that kind of edge. 41 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 3: I was gonna say, what does the overall vibe the 42 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,679 Speaker 3: energy that that feels different to you? It feels I 43 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 3: don't want to say refreshed, but you had and a 44 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 3: guy like Johannio Suarez, and it sounds like everyone's excited, 45 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 3: including him, for that. But does it feel like a 46 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 3: confident team? Does it feel like a team carrying themselves 47 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 3: differently knowing what's ahead. 48 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 2: They're older, and it's almost very practical about what these 49 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: guys need to do to get better, whether it's you know, 50 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: first base defense or thing with your swing or pitch recognition. 51 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 2: Like it's a group of guys who have had learned 52 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 2: on the fly in the big league and lived with 53 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 2: the challenges that come with that, who now have enough 54 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 2: data both literally and metaphorically to know exactly what they 55 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 2: need to do, and now they're just getting to work. 56 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: It's like it sounds cliche, but care Frank says it 57 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: and he means it, like it is just a blue collar, 58 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 2: hard working group of guys that makes for a good clubhouse. 59 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: Do you think that there is an advantage that just 60 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 1: about everybody knows what their role is going to be, 61 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: that there's a defined kind of pecking order or role 62 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: of what is expected of everybody, that there's less questions 63 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 1: than there are or have been in the past. Do 64 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: you think that's an advantage for them. 65 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,959 Speaker 2: It's kind of a huge not story, but it's kind 66 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 2: of the huge piece of camp. Like the Dodgers are 67 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 2: pretty well set. They know exactly how it's gonna look. 68 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: To write obviously at the Dodgers, but there really aren't 69 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 2: many teams that you can say that about, and the 70 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 2: rest are one of those teams. It goes down all 71 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: the way even to the fact that, like they know 72 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: who's going to that first starting force and we can 73 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: talk about who they're opposite second art. I'm working on that, 74 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 2: but the fact that they have that much settled is rare. 75 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 2: It's a side of the fact that they are very 76 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: confident that they know what they have. Like literally a 77 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 2: year ago, I remember talking to one of the high 78 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 2: people here and I was and he's gonna play third, 79 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 2: and they said, we don't know, and it ended up 80 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: being a four man battle between Jamer and CPS and 81 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 2: Gavin Locke too. I like Keavin a lot, but he 82 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 2: can't make it throw from third and Marte, who was 83 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 2: in the third baseman, like the Reds have those answers 84 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 2: now and will not all over were perfect and some 85 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:25,039 Speaker 2: of them have plenty of flaws. There is a very 86 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 2: very clear vision of what this seasons. 87 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 3: You mentioned the two hole, and that is something that 88 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 3: I think, out out of a lot that is known 89 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 3: of spring training, that is still a question that is 90 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 3: out there. I thought it was revealing on the Hot 91 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 3: Stove League earlier in the week with Terry Francona mentioning 92 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 3: that maybe at times last year they stuck with Matt 93 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 3: McLain a little bit too much and waited for him 94 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 3: to hopefully turn things around. So as you look at 95 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 3: what's going to happen with the two hole getting into 96 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 3: the meat of spring training, what are you expecting in 97 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 3: that role. 98 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 2: I talked with Terry Francona a lot about this this 99 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 2: morning actually, and what he really stressed and where he's 100 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 2: at is how these guys do verse left handed pitching 101 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 2: is going to be key because of how many times 102 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 2: they felt teams just able to sleep walk through the 103 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: cat and mouse game and just bring in the left 104 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 2: hander at the top of the order when the Reds 105 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: were coming up with Freedom one and l E three. 106 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 2: They really are good at value hitting lefties at that 107 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 2: two spot. Now, Marque has been bad versus lefties. I know, organizationally, 108 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 2: one of the things that got the most attention during 109 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 2: the off season. With the plans and the work that 110 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 2: market has been doing to improve vers lefties, We'll see 111 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: where that goes. Spear hits lefties very well. My line 112 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: of projection right now would have fear hitting second. Frank 113 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 2: Coonuriator aded today. Ideally, if it's all said and done, mcclains, 114 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: do we think he is? And he fixed in perfectly there. 115 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: One thing to I asked was why not Ellie? And 116 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 2: because I kind of think that getting him those extract 117 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: apps just getting your top guys at the top order 118 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 2: and let Elly be more of a run score as 119 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 2: opposed to have the deep more of an RBI guy. 120 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 2: But but Keito said the left right stuff was what 121 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 2: he was putting the most emphasis sports with a lot 122 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 2: of construction. 123 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: Speaking of La you wrote about his leg kick and 124 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 1: what that means, and it does kind of coincide with 125 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: what you said to us earlier this offseason that the 126 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: Reds are trying to hit home runs. Can you explain 127 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: this leg kick in Ellie's swing, why it went away 128 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: and why it's back. 129 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 2: This is a huge deal and Ellie, like I mean, 130 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 2: you know, Ellie like he's not going to come out 131 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 2: and say I want to hit forty homers this year, 132 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 2: like that's not him. But the leg kick is him 133 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 2: saying that without saying it. He debuted with it in 134 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three and there was a mighty leg kick 135 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: on that ball. Had a family swing used it in 136 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 2: twenty twenty fourth. What were you talking about? Ellie strikes 137 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 2: out too much. Ellie strikes out too much. He needs 138 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: to control his own So last year he switched from 139 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: a leg kick to a toe tap, which made his 140 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 2: much more balanced, a lot less moved or a lot 141 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 2: fewer moving pieces, and Ellie's average went enough significantly. His 142 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 2: strikeout rate went down, but he didn't have the same power. 143 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 2: Part of that was the quad, but a part of 144 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 2: that was the leg kick. And during the terrible second half, 145 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 2: a story we didn't talk enough about in September was 146 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: with two weeks left ago, Ellie kind of just said 147 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: forget it, going back to the leg kick. He was 148 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: really having a tough time in a lot of ways, 149 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 2: and he said, I'm just gonna go for it, and 150 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 2: he quietly was great during the last two weeks of 151 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 2: the season. This Ellie with the leg kick is to 152 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 2: quote Baker Mayfield, the guy who woke up feeling dangerous 153 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 2: and going back that this season is a sign of 154 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 2: type of hitter he wants to be. He can live 155 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: with some more strikeouts. There's a plan to work on 156 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 2: controlling his core to hopefully get both of both the 157 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 2: best of both worlds. And there's some week we you 158 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: know we could, but you know, it's kind of word 159 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 2: to talk about that. Uh, the overall power is the 160 00:07:58,520 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: bigger part of the emperor. 161 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: Is there any concern about the let's say his strikeouts 162 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: go up, about the obviously high number of strikeouts that 163 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: au Haanio Surez has had the last couple of years 164 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: and throughout his career, is there any concern about that much, 165 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: that much swing and miss, that many strikeouts in the 166 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: middle of the lineup. 167 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 2: Sure I mean they're right to have a top five rotation, 168 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 2: I think I don't think they have a top five lineup. 169 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 2: I don't think they have a top five middle of 170 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 2: the lineup. And baseball and we look at what the 171 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: flaw in that group's going to be. It's going to 172 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 2: be the strikeout stuff. Now, you know, it's it's chasing 173 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 2: your tail a bit like well, they needed more power 174 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 2: and then you know we'll come back around. Well, you 175 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 2: have too many strikeouts, Like that's just how this goes. 176 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 2: They think there's going to be enough balance around them 177 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 2: with TJ who doesn't strike out and is a perfect 178 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 2: st lead up hitter. With Stewart, who's a very polished 179 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 2: guy who could have pop without having the swing and 180 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 2: miss stuff. I was a guy like Spencer Steers, but 181 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 2: strikeouts just have to be part of it, and that'll 182 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: be a flaw in the middle lineup. 183 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,239 Speaker 3: Let's talk about the rotation, because there's been some conversation 184 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 3: about who man's the back end of the rotation, Chase Burns. 185 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 3: I know Terry Francona has talked about Red Louder outside 186 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 3: of those two is or anyone else we should be 187 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 3: talking about as a potential for that fit spawn the rotation. 188 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: My production has it's Burns, like when I talk about 189 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 2: the rotation, I said earlier it'll be a top five group, 190 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 2: Like I don't think there's any hyperbole when I say 191 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 2: that that Hunter Green's one of the best pictures in 192 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 2: baseball and he's healthy, that Andrew Rabbits one of the 193 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 2: most polished pitchers in baseball, and that Nick Fidolo is 194 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 2: a true all star talent who just hasn't had that 195 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 2: recognition yet, and maybe just because he hasn't had as 196 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 2: much of a spotlight, had it catch up to the 197 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 2: way he's viewed around the league. I don't think it's 198 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 2: hyperbly to throw praise onto those guys. I'm using all 199 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 2: my hyperbole points the hype up Chase Brown, Chase Brown, 200 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: Chase Burns. Chase Brown too, but Chase Burns. I just 201 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 2: think this guy's really good man now. Brandon Williamson is 202 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 2: sneakily one of the most interesting guys in camp. He 203 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 2: is a completely different pitcher than he was two years ago, 204 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 2: and that's because he has had eighteen months to do 205 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 2: nothing but shoulder rehab and he finally put he was 206 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 2: dealing with for nearly his entire career in the Red 207 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 2: organization behind him. So instead of having to be a 208 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 2: guy who pitched the contact, which he was in twenty 209 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 2: twenty three when he was the Red most insistent pitcher 210 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: in that year, he can actually also beat guys with 211 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 2: the fourteen fastball. That's several miles per hour factor this year, 212 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 2: and that's a big development. So this is a good 213 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,319 Speaker 2: rotation battle. I almost see how that hits out. 214 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: Does Some fans have asked about the idea of a 215 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:45,559 Speaker 1: six man rotation, given the injuries that Fdolo and Green 216 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: have had in the past, and maybe the innings limits 217 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: of Burns and Louder. Do you think that that would 218 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: be a possibility. 219 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: I've asked I haven't asked about that this year. Over 220 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 2: the last six years, I've asked Derek Johnson about that 221 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 2: at a different point in time, and he's always said 222 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 2: that he's like anti sixth man rotation. Adding to that 223 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 2: the fact that as of right now, there's no obvious 224 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 2: guy who would be available to provide lengths out of 225 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 2: your bullpen. There's no brand shooter, which you kind of 226 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 2: need also if you're gonna do a six man rotation 227 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 2: just because that leads you centner in the bullpen. 228 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, Charlie. We talked to Mark Shellden earlier in the 229 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 3: week and he had projected Rhet Louder to be the 230 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 3: fifth spot in the rotation and Chase Burns to be 231 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 3: in the bullpen. Even if it were Chase Burns, like 232 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 3: you think as the five man, does that mean Rhet 233 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 3: Louder get starts in triple A or Is there a 234 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 3: spot in the bullpen for a Ret Louder, for a 235 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 3: Chase Burns or somebody else that isn't in that starting role. 236 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: I don't see one of these guys going to the bullpen. 237 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 2: Starting pitching depth is so valuable. I think the best 238 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 2: the Reds one through eight is as good as you 239 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 2: could hope for. I'm kind of concerned about nine, ten, eleven, twelve, 240 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 2: which you need some fifteen starters to get through a season. 241 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 2: So having that organizational starting pitching depth is just too 242 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 2: important to mess with these guys in any way. I 243 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 2: see nothing wrong with having start the year in Triple A, 244 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 2: especially because they will be managing the innings this year, 245 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 2: and we see this around baseball. It will be relevant 246 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 2: to the Reds this year. If it doesn't want the job, 247 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 2: which he could, but you have him start in Triple A, 248 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:21,559 Speaker 2: you have him do like three inning starts to manage 249 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 2: the innings, and then when you need him you get 250 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 2: you get the most you can't out of him in 251 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 2: the big leagues. 252 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 3: Is there a player, and I feel like this is 253 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 3: a question always at spring training. Is there someone we've 254 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 3: not talked about enough that you think can have a 255 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 3: major role for this team this year. 256 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 2: The roster being set as much as it is, you know, 257 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 2: makes this a camp where that's less the case. I'd 258 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 2: also like to use the rest of my irrational Hyperboleague 259 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 2: points on salth Stewart, which I know is nothing new 260 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 2: for me because I've been high on him for a while. 261 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 2: But he's kind of the talking camp like, he looks 262 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 2: really good man and there's a chance that they just 263 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 2: build He's one of the guys they just build the 264 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 2: middle of this line up around some guys in the lead. 265 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 2: I'm a big Connor Phillips guy. I think he is 266 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 2: a chance to be a seventh thing piece. A prospect 267 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 2: who hasn't they do yet. Hector Rodriguez. This guy's just 268 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,680 Speaker 2: a flat out hitter who has a chance in the 269 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 2: summer to come up and impact this lineup. A real sleeper. 270 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: Michael Tolia, a guy who's legitimately good in twenty four, 271 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 2: a young recent first round pick, could be the kind 272 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 2: of depth guy who could get hot, who's a nice 273 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 2: guy to have in the mix. Aside from that, I 274 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:39,119 Speaker 2: would say those are the first and Williamson absolutely, Williamson, 275 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 2: who he just talked about. Williamson would be my number 276 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 2: one answer to this question. Those are guys that stand out. 277 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: Has anything surprised you since you've been out there. 278 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 2: From a baseball perspective, will kind of not there yet 279 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 2: just in terms of guys don't look good or look 280 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,079 Speaker 2: bad or look at anything yet, just in terms of how 281 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 2: they look, there hasn't been in a huge like aside 282 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 2: from South Stewart, Oh, this guy's made these huge changes 283 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 2: physically or mechanically. It hasn't been that type of can't 284 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 2: play yet. 285 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 3: Can you confirm you've not seen any arrival of Nick 286 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 3: Castianos to Red Spring Training. 287 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 2: I like Nick a lot. I had a great conversation 288 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 2: with Nick in Philly last and I know Nick had 289 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: a great conversation with Dick Crawl and Philly last year. 290 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 2: But I don't see I don't see that happening at all. 291 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 3: Fair enough, you mentioned a little bit before when talking 292 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 3: to Chase Burns, Chase Brown, Chase Brown, DJ Turner, Dax Hill, 293 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 3: those types of names we've talked about a lot for 294 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 3: the Bengals as perhaps getting deals done early in this offseason. 295 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 3: Do you think that this organization is any closer to 296 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 3: any of those guys getting the deal done? 297 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 2: You know what, I'm really glad you asked that, and 298 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 2: I'm going to answer this question in a completely different way. 299 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 2: We've talked about those guys, We will talk about those guys, 300 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 2: will continue to talk about those guys. The guy who's 301 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 2: in the exact same position that hasn't gotten nearly enough 302 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 2: attention is Tyler Stevenson. Tyler Stevenson's the first Red position 303 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 2: player to enter a contract year since twenty seventeen, and 304 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 2: the first player at all, sorry, their first homegrown guy 305 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 2: on his rookie contract, and the first player at all 306 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 2: since twenty twenty one. And I've talked to Tyler about 307 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 2: this and he was really open about this in a 308 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 2: way that you don't get as much in football. He's 309 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 2: talked with his life about just having enjoyed this year 310 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 2: because this could be in Cincinnati. The Reds talked with 311 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 2: Stevenson about an extension last spring. It didn't get done. 312 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 2: Stephenson was coming off a very good twenty twenty four season. 313 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 2: You typically see talks play out during the spring, but 314 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: those haven't started yet and there is no prospect in 315 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 2: the next two or three years. Alfredo do No's down 316 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 2: the road who looks like an even average or below 317 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 2: average starting catcher at all. So Stevenson entering this contract 318 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 2: year is feekly a huge organizational story in the exact, exact, 319 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 2: exact same way that Chase Brown, DJ Turner and Dak Hillar. 320 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 2: So whateveryone should do is the Reds you should get 321 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 2: Stevenson done and Bengals should just get all those contracts come. 322 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 1: To the news. I guess becoming official last night that 323 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: Phil Castellini is taken over in the lead role. I 324 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: know this was something that was put in motion towards 325 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: the end of twenty twenty four or twenty twenty five, 326 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 1: if I'm not mistaken. Do you think that plays a 327 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: role in the Stevenson thing? Do you think there will 328 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 1: be any changes that Red's fans will notice with Phil 329 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: at the helm? 330 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 2: This is a very complicated situation. Nick Krawl still reports 331 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 2: to both Bob and Phil, so it's not like Phil 332 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 2: has become the guy and today talking about Phil mostly 333 00:16:54,600 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 2: being focused on the business side. The sport technically was 334 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 2: that Phil was approved to succeed Bob. There has been 335 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 2: little information and clarity coming from ownership. I requested to 336 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 2: talk to ownership last week about a number of things 337 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 2: that was declined. The statement we got from the Reds 338 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 2: yesterday was from the Reds, not from Bob or Phil directly. 339 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 2: And then Nick Crawl, who's the president of Baseball Operations 340 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 2: but isn't the owner, is the one who took questions 341 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 2: about it today. So Bob will be out here in 342 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,360 Speaker 2: the next week. I don't expect we hear from him, 343 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 2: and until we do, there's still a lot a lot 344 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 2: of clarity on what's really going on here. 345 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 3: Can you talk a little bit, Charlie about the players 346 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 3: that will be leaving for the World Baseball Classic. Does 347 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 3: their spring training look any different or did they just 348 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 3: partake in what the normal spring training is up until 349 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 3: when they need to leave it. Then they head out. 350 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,360 Speaker 2: We'll do a little more like Gino is out here 351 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 2: getting live at bat before some other guys. Edwin Arroyo 352 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: is the other guy in that camp. But the story 353 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 2: there is that the Reds aren't really going to be 354 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 2: impacted by specifically when you compare them to a lot 355 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,240 Speaker 2: of other teams, like the fact that Gino is mostly 356 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 2: going to be a DH means that theret can do 357 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 2: all their defensive installs. They don't call it that, but 358 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 2: I'll call that Terry Frankcona talked about three years in 359 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 2: Cleveland where you know he didn't have Lindora, Santana or Ramirez, 360 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 2: so he couldn't do first at third place for a month. 361 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 2: So why do you do them without any of your infielders. 362 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 2: So and then Arroyo is just a prospect who won't 363 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 2: make the team or expected to make the team. So 364 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:35,680 Speaker 2: the Reds are in a good stock from a WBBC perspective. 365 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 3: Lastly, Charlie, before I'll let you go, the impact not 366 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 3: just on the field, but talking briefly about the impact 367 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:44,160 Speaker 3: that Suarez will have in the clubhouse for this Reds team. 368 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 4: I talked yesterday with two of his former managers, To Lavello, 369 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 4: who had him in Arizona, and Dan Wilson, who had 370 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 4: him in Seattle, And what was so unique to me 371 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 4: was kind of how different those teams were. 372 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 2: Seattle, they had Julio, they had cal Ralely Arizona. Gino 373 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,719 Speaker 2: was their most experienced and veteran position player. Tory Lavello 374 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 2: talked about how often the room would get quiet when 375 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 2: Gino spoke up at the perfect moment and he said, 376 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 2: we need to do this now. And Dan Wolfson talked 377 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 2: about just the way he uplifted everybody with the energy 378 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 2: and the pregnance from the personality and the character, and 379 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 2: then how when Gino was struggling during the second half 380 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 2: of last season, he responded and stayed himself and got 381 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 2: rewarded for that with such a huge moment in the playoffs. 382 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 2: So we all know Geno is a unique guy. We 383 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 2: all know he fits this team really well. And there's 384 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 2: some examples and some good stories of kind of what 385 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: he brings now or in both ways. And he's also 386 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,159 Speaker 2: kind of like the guy, like Elie's the guy, of course, 387 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 2: but in a different way, like Gino's kind of have 388 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 2: the center for the reds of what's all going on here. 389 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,919 Speaker 3: Charlie Goldsmith, you're the man out there in Arizona. What 390 00:19:57,040 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 3: do you got for listeners to follow along with everything 391 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 3: you have coming up here during spring training? 392 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 2: Let me tell you one more thing, and I'm saying 393 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,439 Speaker 2: this right now. This is interesting, This is new. It 394 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 2: looks like Ellie's about to get some extra agility running 395 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 2: progression type stuff, maybe a different aspect of his routine 396 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 2: coming off the quad last year, not connected to the injury, 397 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 2: But you know, continuing to build, continuing to make that star. 398 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,680 Speaker 2: I'm just seeing that right now. That's very interesting to me. 399 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 2: To make sure he's an even stronger runner and athlete 400 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 2: than he was last year. That's that's fascinating. And I'm 401 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 2: seeing this right now take place. So stuff like that 402 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 2: all at Charlie chalkboard. 403 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,679 Speaker 1: All right, go chase him down, Charlie, Charlie, thank you. 404 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 3: Hey, guys, that's Charlie Goldsmith. Normally your talkbacks, next talkbacks 405 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 3: come up to start of our number three. Tom Gallaird 406 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 3: will actually join us. Tom next The Talk FC Cincinnati 407 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 3: on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station Now