1 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Six, twenty seven hundred WLWRNL carry or Sports Talk presented 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: by Kelsey Chevallet. My first guest is back from Goodyear, 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: where since February ninth, I count seventy nine red stories 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: he wrote from UH since day one of spring training, 5 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: not to count all his Bengal stories, including free Agency. 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: You can read him at Fox nineteen dot com. Get 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: Charlie's Chalkboard email daily free through substack, and you got 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: to watch the Power Stacks podcast. He teams with Brian 9 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: Gaesenslaw And we must be speaking of Charlie Goldsmith. Hi, Charlie, 10 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:36,919 Speaker 1: how you doing? 11 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 2: Lance? 12 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: I am well, it is great to hear your voice. 13 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: Glad to have you back. Let me let me skip 14 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: over Lodolo, who's blister seemingly is still to be determined. 15 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 1: Let me jump to Andrew Rabbit. Do you have any 16 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: raised level of concern over Andrew Rabbit's spring? 17 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 2: Do you evaluate every spring differently and how much to tread 18 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: into it with Abbot? Like I care. I can't guarantee 19 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 2: you he's gonna have amazing season and do again what 20 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 2: he did last year, but I think if he struggles, 21 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 2: it'll be for different reasons than we saw in spring, 22 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 2: just because Spring was focused and command and a couple 23 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 2: of mistake pitches, that's not who have it is Again, 24 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 2: he might struggle. I can't say any firm guarantees here, 25 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: but I'm not reading too much personally. It's to how 26 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: he looks in spring. 27 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 1: Tito's trying south Stewart in the cleanup spot after Ellie 28 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: in front of Auneo at five. What does that reveal 29 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: about south Stewart, Charlie. 30 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 2: This is a huge deal. Carry Francona is as hands 31 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 2: on with his lineup as any manager in baseball, and 32 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 2: he's as he's used the word stubborn kind of joke 33 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 2: and leave it. I'll use the word patient with his 34 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: lineup as anyone in baseball. Like when he makes a decision, 35 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 2: he's telling you something. And when he puts a rookie 36 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 2: for him, the first rookie since Scott Rowland in nineteen 37 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 2: ninety seven in his lineup, when you look at his 38 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 2: entire managerial career, when he what's a rookie in front 39 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 2: of the who Heinho Suarez. I don't know that Tito 40 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 2: could speak any more loudly about how confident he is 41 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: in sol. I think he, you know, behind Ellie. I 42 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: think Sal is going to be the story of the season, 43 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 2: and it was a blast, especially during the last three 44 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 2: weeks of spring. Just the way he was playing those 45 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 2: games was a thrill to watch, to watch compete. All 46 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: of that put together, I think in a lot of ways, 47 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: sALS turning the volume up from the player who was 48 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 2: a year. 49 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: Ago, Nathaniel Lowe. Seemingly it's the final roster spot over 50 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: guys like Bludet and Reese Hines, Charlie, how does Nathaniel 51 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: low fit in and how do you see them getting 52 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: him playing time in at bats? 53 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:43,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, part of the reason why he made the 54 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 2: team is because it's going to be a more limited role. 55 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 2: You look at the roster and like, if there's a bench, 56 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 2: I'd already want to get Will Benson Moore at that's 57 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 2: against right handed pitching and find ways to start him. 58 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 2: I'd already want to get Dave Myerg in more against 59 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: LEFTI for those reasons, it's harder to get Nathaniel Obviously 60 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: he'd start against writing, but he's your eleventh guy on 61 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: the depth chart against those pitchers, and you know factor 62 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 2: and Myers's defense, it's like eleven and a half so 63 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: for those reasons, it'll be a pinch hit bench role. 64 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: But we all know these things change, Guys get hurt. 65 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 2: Things evolved very quickly, and because the other versatility you 66 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: have on your roster, he's just an injury or two 67 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: away from being a guy who you know, Kit can 68 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 2: hit right handed. Pitching it a pretty good clip. He 69 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 2: would have been the Red fit best hitter against Writing's 70 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: last year. To have that guy in reserve is a 71 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: nice tool for the Red. 72 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: To have and Charlie speak to. And you wrote a 73 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: wonderful piece about Nathaniel low just how he's fit in 74 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: in the clubhouse, how he's been received, the opportunity, he 75 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: appreciates it. It was a tough spring for him for 76 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: a couple of different reasons. Just kind of kind of 77 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: speak to how he has become a part of this organization. 78 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 2: I'm enjoyed Washington take grumballs every day with South Stewart. 79 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 2: I mean, in theory they were two guys competing and 80 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 2: low was really bright, really open, really energetic and helping 81 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 2: sal learn a new position, a relatively new position. And 82 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: then personally, so you know, we all know, unfortunately Lowe's 83 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: mom passed away a few weeks ago, he decided to 84 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: stay in camp. He said, it's what she would have 85 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: wanted me to do. He had had his chance to 86 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 2: say his goodbyes to her. She fought a thirty three 87 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 2: month battle with cancer. He said, she fought for everything 88 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 2: she had. I want to stay here and fight for 89 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 2: a spot. And he did that, and then he said 90 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 2: his dad was going to come out in a bit. Well, 91 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 2: his dad came out on Saturday, or really Friday, but 92 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 2: he didn't get to see Nathaniel on Friday. So he 93 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: got to see his dad on Saturday. And when he 94 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 2: saw dad, he got to tell him him and I 95 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: made the team. And that must have been unbelievably cool 96 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 2: for that family. 97 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 1: Unreal. Yeah, no doubt, Charlie Goldsmen checking in talk a 98 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: little Reds today. Charlie Will Benson, no doubt has a 99 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: very strong core fan club of supporters. There's also detractors 100 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,840 Speaker 1: who point to is two twenty four lifetime batting average 101 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: and wonder why the continued opportunities? How does what are 102 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: the Reds like about Will Benson and how does he 103 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 1: fit in with this team? In your mind? 104 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 2: I'll start with the fact that I kept track last 105 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: September of our how did the Reds win games? And 106 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 2: Benson was like the hero the start of the game 107 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 2: of like three of those wins in September. So if 108 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 2: you're winning must win games, you're doing something right. He's 109 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 2: a classic upside player in the fact that there's gonna 110 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 2: be some swinging miss there's gonna be some in consistency's 111 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 2: and some streaks, but when he's on, he just has 112 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 2: a knack for swinging games like that. And clearly the 113 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 2: Reds determined they hadn't seen enough to make him a 114 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: starter entering twenty twenty six. And you know, they didn't 115 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 2: clear out ways to pave opportunities for ap bask for him. 116 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 2: But when you look at that offensive upside, they're having 117 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 2: him tap into more of his power. That's kind of 118 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 2: been the big message for him, pulling the ball, driving 119 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 2: the ball even more than he did last year, shooting 120 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 2: for that upside. And then I think, what we don't 121 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 2: talk about enough. I don't know that I've seen a 122 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 2: Red player proved more defensively over the last three years 123 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 2: than Benton. He's gone from a guy who played like 124 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 2: he was afraid to make mistakes. So one of the 125 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 2: better outfield defenders. So you put that all together, He's 126 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: gonna play a lot this season. I think Benson's a 127 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: very nice piece who probably would be irregular on a 128 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: lot of teams and even some very good teams out there. 129 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 2: Who's a Red tab playing a role where they're going 130 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 2: to try to mix and match and play the strength. 131 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: Charlie, there might have been times during camp where people 132 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 1: kind of scratched their head about what they were seeing 133 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: from nov Marte for various reasons. You wrote about the 134 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: nudge he needed and got and has responded since. Take 135 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: us through that. 136 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: This to me was one of the stories of the spring. 137 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 2: You know, I was discouraged, all concerned, very substandard first 138 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: half to camp from Marte. And I'm not just talking 139 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 2: about Spring training Cactus League results. There were little things 140 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 2: that were seeing I was seeing in games and the 141 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 2: little things that was seeing in practice that I just 142 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 2: wanted to see be better, and I was asking about 143 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 2: it at the time, I was talking to people about that. Well, 144 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,799 Speaker 2: it turns out the Reds were, you know, clearly doing 145 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: you know, doing their due diligence. So around the end 146 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 2: of the first week of March they called him in. 147 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 2: He met with the coaches and they said, there's more 148 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 2: for you to show. You got to go earn it. 149 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: Nothing's going to be handed to you. This isn't the 150 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 2: player you are. Basically and literally that day, Noelvie like 151 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 2: had a great game and there truly was a turnaround 152 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 2: just from an attention to detail and all of the 153 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: things you wanted to see noelbe doing in spring training. 154 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 2: I mean, one coach even told me he flipped the 155 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: switch after that conversation. So you don't love the fact 156 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 2: that they had to have that talk. It was a 157 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 2: good response by to the Welbie. But he also has 158 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 2: a lot to prove, you know, he has to prove 159 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 2: that he can be a consistent defender, right he has 160 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 2: to prove that he can hit lefties. That's gonna be 161 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 2: a big swing because he's got huge upside. But but 162 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 2: he's had some some tough stretches as well as recently 163 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 2: as last September. So he's going to be a very 164 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 2: important player to watch in April. 165 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 1: He is Charlie Goldsmith. Read him at Fox nineteen dot com. 166 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: Get his Charlie's chuckboard emailed to you daily through substack. 167 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: It's free. I would highly recommend his rate on fun 168 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 1: facts of every Reds hitter and Charlie Am I to 169 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: understand that The Power Stacks Podcast season preview is up 170 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: and running and available to be viewed. 171 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 2: I had some fun with the name. It's like the 172 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 2: Power Stacks Opening Day Preview, Jamboree Celebration Spectacular or something 173 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 2: like that. But it's a fun show and it's a 174 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 2: pack show. We sat down with Nick Crawl, We talked 175 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 2: with Jeff Brantley, We had him on we all know 176 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 2: he's the best. Here, from Andrew Rabbit here, from Fencer 177 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 2: Steer on a lot of sound, some good conversations set 178 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 2: in the tone for the season. All right. 179 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: I mentioned off the top, I counted seventy nine stories 180 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 1: from February ninth forward. Can you confirm? Does that sound 181 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: like an accurate number that I count correctly? Do you 182 00:08:58,240 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: keep track of such things? 183 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 2: You know what? It's funny. Brian Diesus last me this 184 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 2: morning and I counted ninety Red Dan Bengals stories. I 185 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 2: didn't differentiate between the Red Dan the Bengals, but I'm 186 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 2: impressed that you did, and I appreciate you taking it now. 187 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: That's been a blast. That's I've said to see before. 188 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 2: I can sense how excited people are about this Red season. 189 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: No doubt about it. Charlie are the best. Congrats on 190 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: all the kick butt stuff out there, and good to 191 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: have you back and I always appreciate you making time. 192 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 2: Thanks less. 193 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: There you go, Charlie Goldsmith Charlie's Chalkboard. We've got ground 194 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: to cover on the UC front with a new coach. 195 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: Chad Brenda reacts from Bearcat Journal as we continue at 196 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: six point thirty, that's News Time, RNL Carrier Sports Talk 197 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: presented by Kelsey Chevelle seven hundred WLW