Today was #reds position player physicals. Francona was thrilled with how everybody came to camp in good shape already. “I’m proud of them. I’ll tell them that. Elly tested out so good, Marte. ... Steer didn’t just show up by luck feeling good.”

Consensus ERA projections for 2026: Hunter Greene (3.74) Chase Burns (3.75) Nick Lodolo (4.13) Andrew Abbott (4.17) Brady Singer (4.38) Rhett Lowder (4.58) Brandon Williamson (4.86)

The front office, manager, coaches and beat writers can say there’s a competition for the Reds fifth rotation spot. They each have their reasons for saying it. But Chase Burns is the guy. He could well be the Reds #2.

Just three years ago www.redlegnation.com/2023/01/14/w...

It’s sickening and discouraging to think of suffering through another generation of Reds ownership by this family. Phil has proven to be out-of-touch, and dim-witted.

Where ya’ gonna go?

LFG

Two Epstein file redactors fighting for POTUS approval Deleted Rivalry.

Context for the Reds new payroll spending and whether Reds ownership has "finally done" what fans have been calling for. Per FanGraphs, Reds 2026 payroll is $126m, up from $119m last year. Reds payroll averaged $137m over the three years of 2019-2021. Give me a shout when they get to $150m.

Every Democratic member of Congress should be on a plane to Minneapolis right now to join the people protesting in the streets. Federal elected officials should physically place themselves between the public and these dangerous thugs sent to terrorize this American city.

All of this is fucking senseless. Minnesota did not have an immigration problem. Trump sent his Nazi thugs here because he's racist against Somali people and to own libs like Tim Walz. Now two Minnesotans are dead and Minneapolis is on the verge of going up in flames. None. Of. This. Was. Necessary.

ICE agents are America's failures, basically indistinguishable from lazy school shooters, losers who want to play Call of Duty on our streets against people who can't fight back. They have unlimited ammo and toss tear gas like they're pressing L1. They have to be defunded and jailed. All of them.

Trump's Davos speech is an embarrassing ramble. America, humiliated.

Google him.

No matter who wins, this has been a worthy national championship game.

Too bad the Reds owners never feel the need to step it up.

Exciting message? This👇 would be a legit exciting message for Reds fans: "The Reds ownership group has agreed to contribute 5% of the wealth they've gained from owning the club to increased payroll, starting in 2026, boosting spending from $120 million to $170 million."

"exciting message" = we may have an extra $3 million to spend on a bargain basement position player Seriously, if you get excited about that, with how much other teams are spending on good players, the Reds have crushed your spirit, which is what they want.

Bob Castellini and son Phil have run the Reds for 20 years. In that time, the Reds have not won a postseason series. Have not won a postseason game at home. Have finished 3rd, 4th or 5th in the five-team division 18 times. The Reds haven't finished 1st or 2nd in the division for 13 years.

Remember, don’t be mad at the Dodgers. Direct your righteous anger and frustration at your own team’s wealthy owners for not competing the same way. Blame lies with their greed and lack of true ambition. Cramped vision not market size.

The #Reds are expected to opt out of their TV deal with Main Street Sports, per this story. Would most likely result in Reds games being produced by MLB in 2026.

Worst ownership family? 1️⃣ Browns 2️⃣ Castellinis 3️⃣ Evil of two lessers 📊 Show results

Cincinnati sports fans are saddled with two dreadful owners, both of whom have amassed massive wealth by owning the team.

Oh, the Reds are done.

Based on the numbers at the FanGraphs Roster Resource page for the Reds, payroll commitments for 2026 are $8 million below the 2025 payroll. That's a good ballpark figure for how much they have left to spend.

The Reds bookended their Saturday lunch with moves to bring in outfielders who, based on their previous work, probably should sit more often than they should play. About that:

When you think back on it, what a joke that the Reds tried to convince Schwarber (of Middletown) that they were serious about contending. Unlike those of us stuck with the “where ya gonna go” vision of the Castellini family, impact free agents have alternatives.

Being a Reds fan with this ownership group and front office is discouraging. The small vision. The satisfaction with mediocrity. The insulting treatment of their loyal fans. Losing ground by standing still. Disheartening.

Curb shopping - a hallowed after-Christmas tradition for the Castellini ownership group.

A left-handed outfielder with significant career platoon splits and below-average defense who was non-tendered by his previous sub-.500 team should be a perfect fit for the Reds. Where can I buy season tickets?

Average MLB salary increases 5-7% a year. Reds ownership is keeping total payroll the same as last season. They’ll be buying a worse team. If instead they increased payroll by the industry inflation rate they’d have $7 million more. And they’d just be treading water.

This is both a peak and a valley.

And maybe Kyle Schwarber didn’t want to play for a team where the central hitting philosophy and approach that’s taught is slapping opposite field singles.

Reds: We figured our fans would show up because Schwarber is from Middletown. But we won’t spend that money on other impact players because our fans wouldn’t be drawn to a team that, you know, wins. Pathetic. Damning. Hopeless.

Tough, but essential reading for every Reds fan.

When you play checkers at a chess match.

. @reds.com

For 20 years, the Castellini family has been unwilling to ask the team's other owners in the ownership group for another penny. In fact, Bob wears that as a badge of honor. Of course, the downside of that is not being able to convince top free agents you're willing to do what's needed to win.

I'm sure the Reds checked in.

Reds ownership shares have appreciated from $6.5 million in 2006 to ~ $80 million each now. There are 19 shares. If owners would kick in $2 million per share, payroll would jump from $120 million to $160 million. More than enough for Schwarber. Penny wise, damned foolish.

Grossly misleading. There’s wealth and there’s annual operating income. Reds ownership gets wealthier as their shares appreciate by 10% annually. Their conservative “break even” budgeting regards operating income. They won’t/don’t put a penny of their new wealth (> +$1billion) ‘back into’ the team.

The Reds have checked in.

It makes sense that strikeouts and walks are more predictive than defense-dependent stats like wOBA and certainly ERA which is also polluted by scoring, park dimensions, relievers and sequencing. Pitchers have more direct control over K% and BB%.

ERA is next to useless as a predictor, yet commentators still use it as a central indicator. Hard to defend when other, better stats are so easily available. Strikeouts and walks, for instance.

The only way the Reds can make a competitive offer to Schwarber without unloading other key players is for Castellini - for the *1st time ever* - to ask other ownership group investors for money. $4-5 million per share would get it done. Share value has increased from $6.5m in 2006 to ~$80m today.

Sayin slipped. Sat on the ground a half yard short.

You know that scene in Dead Poets Society where Robin Williams has his students tear pages out of their antiquated textbooks? If I was a head football coach that’s what I’d do on Day One for end zone fade routes.