Nick Lodolo pitched another gem, but the Cincinnati Reds could not overcome walks and defensive miscues late in the game, ultimately leading to a 5-4 extra-innings loss against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Thursday night. It was the Reds’ second extra innings loss of the four game series.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (19-20) | 4 | 10 | 1 |
| Atlanta Braves (18-19) | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| W: Scott Blewett (1-0) L: Taylor Rogers (1-1) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Braves jumped out in front early off Nick Lodolo with back-to-back hits from Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna in the first inning. Lodolo was able to limit the damage, however, by only allowing one run to score on a sacrifice fly by Matt Olson. Meanwhile, the most action Reds players saw on the bases early in the game vs. Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach was a TJ Friedl leadoff walk in the first inning. That was quickly extinguished by a Matt McLain double play, which was hit very hard (104.8 mph), but also hit right at the second baseman.
After the first inning, Lodolo settled down quickly. He retired 11 straight batters, including five strikeouts in a row at one point. Eli White broke up that streak in the fifth inning with a bunt single. The Braves would go on to score White on a Michael Harris II triple, but Lodolo was able to limit that Braves opportunity to just one run as well. Lodolo’s final line was quite good, giving up only two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and zero walks.
The Reds broke through on the scoreboard in the fifth with a leadoff single by Spencer Steer followed by a single (or an Austin Riley error if you’re anyone but the Braves official scorer) off the bat of Santiago Espinal. One batter later, Jose Trevino smoked a ball down the left field line for a double, scoring Steer. That was all the Reds would get though, as Rece Hinds struck out on three straight sliders out of the zone and Friedl lined out to second base.
The Reds tied the game in the top of the seventh against the Braves bullpen. Tyler Stephenson drew a one-out walk and Jose Trevino doubled down the left field line. After a Rece Hinds walk, Friedl tied the game with a double down the right field line. The Reds had a golden opportunity to take the lead with two on and only one out, but McLain and De La Cruz both struck out swinging to end the inning.
Facing former Red Raisel Iglesias in the top of the ninth, Jose Trevino doubled with one out and then Rece Hinds got his chance to shine. On an 0-2 count, he got a hanging slider and launched it into the left field seats for a two-run home run. Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived. With Emilio Pagan unavailable, Graham Ashcraft came on for the save in the ninth and promptly surrendered the lead, with some help from bad defense behind him.
It started with Ashcraft walking the leadoff batter. Rece Hinds had a ball ricochet off his glove to put another runner on base, and White laid down a bunt for a squeeze play that scored the runner from third to make it 4-3. Up stepped Michael Harris II and he came through a second time tonight with a single against a drawn-in infield to tie the game. Ashcraft was able to keep the game tied and send it to extra innings despite a runner on third with one out.
The Reds failed to score in the 10th and 11th innings. The 11th inning also included a controversial out call on an attempted steal of second base that saw Colin Cowgill and Terry Francona both get ejected after arguing obstruction by Ozzie Albies. In the bottom of the 11th, Drake Baldwin singled to left field with two outs, scoring the ghost runner from second base and walking it off for the Braves.
Key Moment of the Game
Graham Ashcraft walked the leadoff hitter in the 9th inning, and it set off a series of Braves’ hits and Reds’ defensive miscues that led to the Braves tying the game in the ninth. The Braves would go on to walk it off in the 11th on a single by Drake Baldwin.
Notes Worth Noting
-The Braves hit Lodolo’s fastball hard right out of the gate. In the first inning, the Braves’ first three hitters had exit velos of 106.2 mph, 107.8 mph, and 110.8 mph. Only Alex Verdugo, the leadoff hitter, made an out. Knowing this, it’s quite impressive that Lodolo limited the Braves to only one run that inning.
-Lodolo’s quality start was his fifth of the season, tying him with Hunter Greene for the most among Reds starters in 2025.
-Spencer Schwellenbach had his slider working against Reds hitters tonight. Of the eleven sliders he threw, Reds batters whiffed at seven of them. While his slider is usually one of his better pitches (32.5% whiff rate against right-handed batters), it was particularly good tonight.
-Lyon Richardson gave the Reds a much-needed two innings out of the bullpen in the 7th and 8th innings, allowing only two hits while striking out two.
-The bottom third of the Reds lineup tonight was 5-for-9 with three runs scored, two walks and three RBI. The rest of the lineup was 5-for-28 with six strikeouts.
Up Next
Cincinnati Reds vs. Houston Astros
Friday, May 9th, 2025
Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19 ERA) vs. Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67 ERA)
This is just a BAD team. Bad teams find ways to lose, and that is what this team does over and over again. Frustrating to say the least!
How many blown late innings has this BP had? Starting with opening day, Diaz,Ashcraft,Barlow and Pagan?
Rogers
This season is now officially on the brink. With all the injuries, lack of production and lack of fundamentals they are in big big trouble.The pitching match ups with Houston are horrible, I could easily see a sweep. They have lost 5 of 6 and it could get to 8 of 9. Oh well, maybe they will surprise me, not counting on it. Right now I would settle for 1 win to go home 20 and 22.
You nailed it. This season may already be over. It will take a vast improvement to be a .500 team without Hunter and not having a shutdown bullpen.
I took a sec to realize that “Blew ett” won.
Had some serious cognitive dissonance as I thought the Reds had that patented, good job to their effective blew-it
Patience. Yes, Houston could be an ugly experience. I expect Francona will right the ship, but maybe not completely this year. The Reds counted on McLain, Steer, and Fraley bouncing back somewhat. Hasn’t happened yet. And CES is on the IL yet again. As is Marte, Candelario, and Callihan. Someone needs to step to the plate – Hays, Hinds, even Johnson. Looks like it won’t be Dunn or Hurtubise. Yes, Krall needs to make a move. But, more than anything, Tito needs time to teach this team to win. Lots of bad habits developed over the last several years.
LDS, do you expect Framcona to return next year? I juat dont see it but maybe I am wrong?
I do. He doesn’t strike me as a guy that gives up. I hope he’s giving the FO direct and honest feedback about the state of the team and the quality of the players. And trusting Krall & company to do their jobs. That’ll never play out in public but it’s likely happening. His comments post- game last night, about competing hard but making too many mistakes is the kind of thing that you want from a manager. He’s a substantial upgrade on the field. He just has a lot of work to undo Bell, Price, and decades of contented mediocrity. Culture change takes time.
I also think TF will be around for awhile. The Reds are a young group that will continue to get better. & TF is the right guy to lead that improvement. I applaud the call for patience!
Patience? Ha. Been patient since 2014.
Try since 1990
Jimbo44cn: Since 1991
I agree. But since Baker, the Reds have run out Price, Riggeleman, and Bell. Those aren’t managers that were going to turn the franchise around. I doubt Krall is either, but there’s at least hope. As a throwback to the late 60’s and the 70’s, I miss winning as well. And had the Reds continued on with Bell, winning would not be in the near future. With Francona, there’s a chance that it’ll come soon. Still tons of work to be done, but I think it’s happening.
On a positive note, the Reds actually played better this series than against Washington or St. Louis I believe. Competitive the last 3 games, but so many issues offensively, and now major issues closing out the game. As bad as the offense is, Pagan and Ashcraft almost immediately blew saves in the 9th inning in this series once the offense gave a lead. The way they are losing is more frustrating than them actually losing I think. Several teams have players hitting under .200 but the Reds are putting out 3-4 regular right handed batters on a consistent nightly basis hitting below .200.
I don’t understand not giving Elly De La Cruz a night off either. I heard awhile ago I think he asked to play every game? I respect him not wanting to ever sit, but there’s no more Cal Ripken Jr’s! He really slumps at times and I think would be better with a little more rest.
Every time i turn on a game either Elly,Steer or Mclain are striking out.
Elly definitely needs a night off badly.
Unfortunate, we have a lot of sorting out to do, and it may well take more than one season to accomplish.
Ashcraft had a stellar April but only pitched 11.2 innings, which is about normal for a reliever. He’s been roughed up in May, but he’s pitched 5.2 innings in 8 days.
I was at the game, my first Reds game of 2025. Some thoughts:
Matt McLain is about to break out of his slump. He looked comfortable at the plate and hit four balls hard.
The Reds were a little unlucky and a lot bad at situational hitting. Near total failure with runners on third and less than two outs. They should have won easily in regulation. That will have to improve.
Tyler Stephenson is going to need some reps before he really contributes. He does not look up to major league speed just yet.
If I were an opposing pitcher I’d never throw Rece Hinds a fastball. He has so much raw talent, but he’s going to have to learn better plate discipline and patience. If he does, look out.
Spencer Steere looks lost at the plate. I have no solutions for that, but yikes.
Blake Dunn is not a major league player, at least not yet, maybe never. The Reds have too many MIA from their offense to be carrying Dunn and Hurtubise right now. I’d bring up Wil Benson (I know, but please don’t forget his 2023 success) in a heartbeat to replace him.
EDLC needs a day off. Or three. When was his last extra base hit?
Nick Lodolo started rough but then locked in. Another nice start for the Reds. Greene (come back soon), Lodolo, Abbott and Martinez, and perhaps Singer, will keep this team relevant. If they can get enough offense healthy and productive they could be good. If not, it’s going to be another frustrating “what might have been” year.
Finally, I do not know what to make of this bullpen. The same crew that retired 32 (or more?) straight hitters recently coughed up two winnable games in Atlanta. Terry Francona has some sorting, and probably a little head knocking to do. Plenty of talent, not enough winning.
We had some brief jubilation after the Hinds home run. Before and after that, mostly just missed opportunities. But I still love Major League Baseball and our Cincinnati Reds. Is there another Reds game tomorrow? Can’t wait.
CFD good insight, and that is hopeful about Mclain too hitting the ball hard. I just see the highlights so not aware he was hitting the ball hard so maybe he is ready to break out a bit.
Jeremiah –
McLain did K, but his four batted balls were 105, 98, 95 and 101 mph. Only the last one went through for a hit. I think he’s finding his timing.
People were writing about how hard McLain was hitting the ball hard weeks ago as they predicted he was just having bad luck. Hard outs count as much as soft outs.
While your scouting report on Hinds is generally speaking pretty accurate, I find it to be hilariously ironic based on last night’s game. He showed great plate discipline, drawing a walk and going deep into counts. And his home run was on a breaking ball. So he literally did the opposite of your scouting report last night, which was supposedly the source of the report.
But yes, on the whole, those are accurate assessments of Hinds if you look at his career. But if you just look at last night, it’s as inaccurate as it gets. 😉
Didn’t he whiff on three straight sliders, two out of the zone, in one important at bat?
Luke –
You’re not wrong, but I wasn’t suggesting he has no plate discipline at all, nor that he can’t hit offspeed pitches at all. I’m just saying that if I were pitching to him I’d never give him a fastball – at least not over the plate. He did draw a walk but on four pitches well below the zone, three in the dirt. And he did homer on a center cut slider. But he also struck out swinging on three curveballs out of the zone and his double was on a middle of the zone cutter. I see a ton of potential but I don’t think last night’s results were a huge departure from the scouting report. Either way I’d much rather see him in the lineup than Fraley or Dunn or Hurtubise though I don’t think that’s a shocking statement.
Whatever Valaika is doing, it’s not working. Rockies already fired their hitting coach. Pirates fired their manager. Reds need to replace their hitting coach. No hitter that was with this organization last year has improved whatsoever, except Espinal (who’s only on his second season with the Reds after coming from Toronto). McLain, Steer, Fraley, De La Cruz, Stephenson, Candelario, CES…all are trending in the wrong direction.
Was Cleveland a good hitting team with him the last few years as hitting coach? I honestly don’t know, but when I heard he came from the Guardians, they don’t strike me as a team that has been great offensively recently unless I just don’t remember correctly.
Reds need to replace more than their hitting coach, the manager needs to go as well. After that kick in the head last night he FINALLY showed some urgency in saying that they needed to turn this around quick. Too little too late. That kind of attitude should have started on opening day. All we’ve been getting are constant palms up, “oh wells” and “yeah, that was unfortunate, I feel so terrible for him”. I’m feeling like Dusty is back. The mistake that Francona has made is not having the urgency from the start, or familiarizing himself with the constant losing, disappointing, and frustrating culture of the entire organization over the past three decades and making a serious plan to fix it immediately. This is why you hire someone outside of the organization. Now it seems to be too late, the seed has been planted for 2025. Another disastrous May leading to another wasted season. Guess we should adopt Tito’s philosophy and not care. “Oh well, it’s just a game”.
I mean Terry Francona was from outside of the organization?
That’s depressing.
I mean wow..
Tito needs to go? After 39 games? Are you serious? After 5+ years, 865 games of Bell, 666 games of Price, and 144 of Riggleman, you’d dump Francona this early? Wow, your expectations for this season are really not aligned reality. No manager, living or dead, could have made this team a World Series contender in just 40 games. Too much to learn and way too much to unlearn. Does Krall have some holes to fill? No question? The manager just isn’t one of them.
Good news is that Hays will be back in the lineup hitting 4th in LF tomorrow. Stephenson needs a day off. Hinds earns another day in RF tomorrow after his 2 hits today. Should Trevino be the #1 C and playing 4-5 times a week? Hard to take him out of the lineup. Wynns should get 2 starts at 1st every week to get him ABs. With Hays returning, I’d like to see a lineup of Friedl, MM, Elly, Hays, Lux(DH), Espinal, Trevino, Wynns(1B), Hinds. Bench of Stephenson, Steer, Dunn and Hurtubise( if Fraley goes on IL). Hurtubise to Louisville if Fraley remains active. Go Reds!
Wynn should get more ABs than Stephenson, at least until Wynn stops hitting and Stephenson starts. This presumes, of course, that the goal is winning, in which case the people who are performing should be playing. The people who are not should be sitting.
As RedsFanForLife pointed out Hays will be back tomorrow so that alone should help a good deal. Hinds showed signs tonight as to why he’s been improving and why he’s been so hot in AAA. If he continues like I think he will he too should help the offense a good deal. As it turns out so far it’s Trevino and his bat that we need to make sure stays in the lineup and not TS as he still looks like he’s in ST. I agree that Mighty Mac is showing signs of life and maybe Steer a little. All is not lost by any means. On to Houston. We aren’t getting blown out in our losses. We’re competitive. Just have to find ways to get over the hump. It takes time to learn how to win. It’s very hard sometimes for me and everyone else to be patient after what we’ve all been through the past several years but improvement is being made little by little.
One team didn’t stop believing they could win until the very end. That team played to win. The other team, our team, played not to lose.
It’s a mindset. It’s an approach. And it’s real.
The nerds who have taken over the analytical part of the game will have you believe that games, and especially baseball, are pure math. It’s all science. But it’s not. The human, emotional element is what makes it real.
McLain & Elly whiff with bases loaded while their no name gets a 2 out walkoff. Key guys aren’t producing and/or hurt and you’ve blown multiple games in the 9th by early May? Only surprise is we’re not 7 games under
What did you expect from McLain. His odds of getting a hit in any AB are about 1 in 7. That means the non hit with the bases loaded is the expected outcome 6 out of 7 times.
Not being in the dugout, I dont know what the players mindset is. To suggest they played not to lose is a opinion not based on anything. Are they pressing, more in likely. They, however are playing hard and as a fan sure it is frustrating. The sliver lining though is with all the injuries and inconsistent play. They are 19-20…
Play hard?
To quote Christmas Vacation
“He worked really hard, grandma”
“So do washing machines”
You need to do more than play hard. These are supposed to be among the best baseball players in the world. They sure don’t play like it
@jessecuster44. How do you know? Are you down on field? Mlb is a hard game to play and yes these are the best. Yet they are human and make mistakes. Sometimes as fans we expect too much or perfection
Amen to that statement, Klugo.
I agree with Klugo 100%.
The Braves were given a big series gift of 3-1 instead of the Reds with three wins. Richardson pitched two solid innings. It’s too bad he couldn’t have pitched a third inning to close it out. It was obvious Ashcraft did not have it when he put the tying run on in the ninth with the Reds up 4-2. Other than some bright spots, the Reds are struggling to put it together. On to Houston.
Correction: The walk wasn’t the tying run but a bad omen of another Reds failure to close out a game in the ninth.
Just so unbelievably frustrating how this team continues to find ways to give away games. Tough week to be a reds fan
Tough 782 weeks.
Every positive post I start to write becomes a negative one today. Therefore, I’m just going to list a few negative things.
Hinds, I thought you could field.
This team doesn’t know how to win.
I was high on the bullpen, but now I think they are conspiring against us.
McLain, what are you swinging at?
And I only watched like 3 innings last night, so I don’t know how much more negative comments I would have had had I watched 9.
Other than that, Hinds look really good on that breaking ball homerun last night. Mey the Mower is killing it so far.
This bullpen is not as good as they were in April, or as bad as they have been lately. The 26 games in 27 days (plus 2 west coast trips) is wearing this team out. Along with injuries, this bullpen has been overworked. Hopefully for Houston they will use hunters spot to bring up an inning eater for the bullpen. One win there would be huge. I just hope we avoid the sweep.
Lance Mc pointed out that Rogers has allowed 7 of 8 inherited runners to score, and given up the hits that allowed this to left handed batters… go figure.
I did not try to write anything last night because I was sure I could be any more coherent than the Reds’ play from the bottom 9 on. I’m still not sure. At least Hinds recovered his misplay in time to hold the hitter at 1b and stop the lead runner at 3b. Is that a step forward? ;.-)
It’s true that he probably should have caught that ball but it wasn’t as easy of a play as some think. As you said it’s good that he got the throw back in quickly and kept a run from scoring and also another runner from scoring position. According to Sadak he was just instructed from the dugout to move in and over which may have been a contributing factor. In any case I expect him to be better than that most of the time. He’s still a good fielder in my mind. I’m very happy to see him getting a double, walk, and two run homer. Only one AB was really bad when he got over anxious. I’m excited about him hopefully being the full time RF.
Friedl and Fraley will be 30 this year and well they probably have reached their ceiling.Neither would start on most teams but nice players.Hinds is 25 and has more tools to work with.Lets see what he can do after 400 or more at bats.
Hinds is actually 24 and doesn’t turn 25 until September. In comparison EDLC is 23 and turns 24 in November. McLain is 25 and turns 26 in August. Hinds is right there with them still maturing with great potential.
You’re right Fraley turns 30 this month and Friedl turns 30 in August. They’ve both probably reached their peak.
@Melvin>> In defense of Hinds, he has also spent the spring and regular season so far playing CF. Reading the ball off the bat is a whole different thing from the corners.
On the play in question, he was charged with doing that on probably the best struck ball (104.2 EV) he had seen in the 2 nights in a park he had not played in before, and had to decide if it was going to hook, slice, or drop straight when it turned over at its apex.
Fraley and Friedl may have reached their ceiling, but it’s a decent ceiling.
In a parttime role as the heavy part of a platoon, Fraley was between good and very good from 2022 (the year he joined the Reds) to 2023. Yes, 2024 wasn’t as good (he was approximately an average offensive player), but look at the Reds team as a whole in 2024 – he was actually our 5th best hitter last year (sadly).
Friedl was also between good and very good in 2022 and 2023. He has a .819 OPS in almost 500 at bats in 2023, while playing good defense in CF. You don’t give up on that guy. He’s making only $780k this year, and you have him locked up another 3 years (at the Reds option).
Friedl should play as long as he’s healthy. I don’t mind Hinds getting some playing time over Fraley, but as of now, my goal is to win this year. I’m not ready to give up the season yet.
No need to be defensive about Hinds: Everybody makes errors from time to time and you and Jim have given some good context.. Plus, he accomplished a rarity for this team: A home run! I’d already cleted, so I missed it. But, of course, I also missed the extra-inning fiasco.
Hinds is not a great outfielder defensively. He misplayed at least 1 ball last year in his short time. In 2023 he had 8 errors and 14 assists. 2024 he had 6 errors and 8 assists. 2025 he has 3 errors and 2 assists in limited time. One thing he has over some is a strong arm. If he can hit then it’s easy to over look his defense. Heck we did when Castellanos was here. Can replace him late in games with a better defender. People screaming that they need a power outfielder. Well Hinds might be it. Now they scream because they also wanted one with defense. Well good luck with that. There aren’t any of those available.
Fingers crossed on Hinds. If he can utilize his power on the MLB level the lineup could certainly use it.
Not giving up on Friedl and Fraley just saying its time for Hinds and Benson to get some at bats especially Hinds.Those 4 guys + Hays are your outfield.Tito can figure out who plays based on who has the hot hand and matchups.Dunn and Hurtubise are not ready and that’s so obvious.Lets not forget Benson ha a really good 2023 just like Friedl
wkuchad – Definitely want to win now. Friedl is no doubt at least one of the three best outfielders we have at the moment. Fraley not so much. I would be very happy if Hinds replaced him permanently. When talking about the ages is was just more about maturity/potential and the future for several years.
Tito has work to do but where or where do you start.Reds as a team just seem to be totally lost at the plate and in the field and its just not one or two players either.I think its speaks to where your organization is when guys from other organizations like Trevino,Espy,Hays and Lux are your best players after 40 games.Even more telling is 3 of them are backups.Thats where this team is and I have to believe I am not the only one that sees it.Hopefully Tito and Krall work together and sort this mess out but in all honesty some don’t belong in the majors at all and some need to go down to the minors and earn their way back up.Seemed to work for Marte and hopefully it works for Hinds.Personally I can live with the next 120 games if we indeed work towards getting things done but too many game like last night just wont’ cut it for me.Sixty + years as a Reds fan and I have never seen such a little league display of baseball by so many players in one game.
Why are the “best players” back-ups?
Because year after year have many of our starters out with extended time on the IL. Before the year started if you told me McLain would struggle mightily coming back from his year long injury, Elly’s power would take a long break, CES would not hit and be on the IL, Candelario would not hit and go on the IL, Marte would start to hit and go on the IL, Steer would not hit, Hays would be on the IL x2 and not even to the all star break, Stevenson would be on the IL for a while and then not hit, Jake Fraley would slump, Candelario forgot how to hit and is on the IL, Sam Moll played poorly then to the IL, Ian Gibaut to the IL and finally for the cherry on the parfait our one player playing great is now on the IL I would have taken up watching lawn bowling . Thank goodness for our “big guns” Jose Trevino, Austin Wynns and Santiago Espinal or I don’t know where we would be.
Sorry mentioned Candelario twice but I guess he deserves it.
Possibly because they haven’t regressed to the backs of their baseball cards yet. Or, if they’re for real, they could stand as evidence that the hitting coach is doing okay. Some, not all, of the current underperformers will probably come around, but we have to hope that the pitching is still doing heroically.
A while back I said I wouldn’t want this guy on the Reds because of his attitude and received a lot of criticism for it.
I get he wanted to remain the 3B. He reluctantly took on the DH role, but they now need help at 1B, and this is his response.
“I know I’m a baseball player,” said Devers, “but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every position out there. During the offseason, they talked to me and basically told me to put my glove away, that I wasn’t going to play any position other than designated hitter. So right now, I feel it’s not an appropriate decision on their part to ask me to play another position.”
Yeah, he’s a “me” player not “we”.
He was one of the worst 3B defensively in the league, so they moved him off of it and he had an issue with that. That said, he’s still productive, but not the attitude you want on your team. And not a guy you want under contract til 2033.
Every time the Reds play the Braves it seems they play well but can’t pull out the wins normally. That missed call on the umpire at 2nd was crazy. The Brave’s player was clearly blocking the bag. The injuries again are just really hurting this team. I don’t know what they can do to prevent them from happening. As this season moves forward the team really is feeling like around a .500 club at best.
“The Brave’s player was clearly blocking the bag.”
That’s something I don’t understand. A catcher blocking the plate is reviewable. Why not a fielder blocking the bag. I agree that he clearly had his knee blocking the bag.
I’m curious what they would have called if we just slid right into his knee/leg.
wkuchad – Yeah I know. Of course if guys start sliding feet first with their spikes it will end that for good. The fielder is taking a risk for sure doing that. Career ending risk potentially.
Ashcraft was so disappointing in this one. He had a perfect opportunity to prove himself. Looks like Mey is taking advantage of his opportunities. I’m guessing we will see him in more high leverage situations in the next few games.
This is usually the time in the season when I start to bow out. The futility is frustrating especially compounded over a decade. Auto racing, NBA, and NHL are all in full swing. I don’t want it to be this way, but I can’t take it. Reds’ ownership is killing off generations of fans.
I don’t think Reds ownership really cares about the record. They stand to make a pretty penny if they ever sell them the team. They will probably NET close to $750M on a sale. Pretty good investment appreciation. This is clearly just a business to them, nothing more. I often times wonder how big of a Reds fan this ownership group really was over the course of their lifetimes. I know Marge had plenty of faults, but she did feel like a fan and she did spend a lot on payroll for a good portion of the 1990’s. If I recall correctly, the Reds had one of the largest payrolls for a good portion of the 1990’s. This current group DOES NOT CARE about the team they field. They do not have deep pockets relatively speaking compared to other ownership groups, they are extremely tight fisted over money on all levels of the organization, and they take absolutely no chances (i.e. being obsessed with hoarding prospects that never pan out long-term). There will be no sustainable changes to this organization until this current ownership group sells. Anyone thinking that playoffs are a possibility this year has rose colored glasses on. There is no way this team can compete for the other wildcard spots– look at their competition (far better run organizations on all levels).