The 3 Old Reds Fans are Jeff Gilbert, Tom Sizer and Kim Jenerette. We love baseball and the Cincinnati Reds, we talk about the Reds as often as we can and we just might have a good insight or two now and then.
Positive vibes are vibing around the Reds these days. What should we expect? Hard to say, but we have some opinions of course. We talk about the whole buyer-seller thing at the trade deadline, possible future of the starting rotation, Senzel and many other insightful things. We also take another look back at the big trade in '71 and discuss why we remember Ed Armbrister.
We're back after a too-long hiatus with another exciting episode. When will this team hit? Wish we knew the answer. One thing is for sure: the next four weeks are crucial and will determine whether the Reds are buyers or sellers after the All-Star break. We field several questions from listeners, and we wish we had more concrete answers. And we look back at one of the key acquisitions in the big 1971 trade with Houston. Bet you'll learn something or be reminded of something you forgot if you're old enough to remember watching the 1975 and 1976 World Series.
In our first episode since opening day, we grade David Bell on his performance as a manager while he's navigated the treacherous lineup waters with a team that hasn't exactly been known for its offense. Of course, we love what we've seen from the pitching staff. We talk about some interesting theories we are developing. Hang in till the end and hear our predictions about whether the Reds can be over .500 a month from now and when we think Senzel will get the call. And in honor of Episode 39 we look at some Reds who wore that number. Some pretty good ballplayers you'll remember.
A more anticipated Opening Day than we've had in a few years is here. The roster is set and we talk about that, the Senzel injury and handling, the bench, the bullpen and well, just about everything. We also give our over-unders on the how many wins we can expect. The gap between the least optimistic and the most optimistic of us is six games. That's a pretty big gap. And Tom is going to Opening Day. Jeff and Kim are jealous, but we've got Fox Sports Ohio.
We discuss the depth the Reds have suddenly amassed and think out loud about what it all means. We have different opinions on what to do with Nick Senzel, who to start opening day, etc. Jeff clarifies how to pronounce Taylor Trammell's last name while trying not to cough too much. Mostly we have a good time as always talking about our favorite baseball team.
Reds superfan Jim Lisle joins Jeff and Kim fresh off three stops on the Reds Caravan. We've got interviews with Scooter Gennett, Sal Romano and Cody Reed from the Dayton stop. They talk about putting the rebuild in the rearview mirror, the excitement of the coaching and player additions, and about being ready and healthy for spring training and the 2019 season. This is a must-listen episode. But, of course, they all are.
The Reds celebrate a Merry Christmas with a blockbuster deal with the Dodgers, and we break it down. We like the aggressiveness of the front office and the additions of Wood, Puig and Kemp as well as Roark. We also debate the merits of Peraza and Winker as leadoff hitters or at least top part of the order guys. And what about another pitcher? There is no shortage of opinions on this show. And could one of our current pitchers throw like an ace at least for one season. It's happened before, and if you're at least 40 years old you probably remember that pitcher. So spend an hour with us and think for a while what it will be like when the weather is warm in Ohio.
Yes, we are eagerly awaiting our new starting pitchers. We're not too picky, but they have to be good. We hope Billy Hamilton lands in a good spot in the new year. But we are intrigued to see who our new center fielder will be. Will it be Nick Senzel? Two of us want to see him there. One of us says, "Yeah, but he's not proven."
David Bell is the big topic of conversation in this episode and there are varying opinions from the 3 regulars, our friend John and a new friend to the show Jim, an uber Reds fan, who runs the popular Cincinnati Reds Rounding Third and Heading for Home Facebook page. He loves Suarez.
We still love the Reds, but it's been rough since the All-Star break. No surprise, but we're still begging the Reds to go out and get pitching and stop trying to develop it all. If the Reds do that, we will be looking forward to next year. And apologies to Joey Votto. Right after we recorded this episode he hit a grand slam later that day and another homer the next day. He's still really good. And so is Scott Schebler.
