The 3 Old Reds Fans Podcast

We're no different than you. We love having Geno Suarez back in the middle of the lineup because no doubt the Reds' offense needs to be 15 to 20 percent better than last year if they want to win the Central. If not, wildcard is probably in their future again.

Our Cincinnati Reds are in the Major League Baseball playoffs. Yeah, they play the Dodgers. But so what. Let's enjoy it, have faith in Tito magic, and stay up late.

Had we recorded this a week ago, we would have been much more positive ... or maybe gullible. Since the Reds have tanked on the West Coast. We talk about their chances to catch the Mets, but we mostly focus on what this team needs next summer. Warm up the hot stove.

This Reds team, with Terry Francona calling the shots, gives us hope once again. The apathetic past is behind us. We believe. Now the Reds just have to go out and prove us right that this season will be a lot better than whatever that was in 2024.

Not long after the mixed emotions and sad passing of a troubled legend, we celebrate the arrival of a new manager and a new hope. Strange times we live in everywhere we look.

We do our best to make sense of this disappointing first half of 2024. Then we talk about the love for minor-league baseball with our special guest, his love for Al Kaline, and the impossible task of picking the greatest living ballplayer now that the great Willie Mays has passed.

The Reds are close to finishing off their best April in recent memory with a killer schedule ahead in May. But fear not. This team is in it for the long haul. Listen in as Jeff talks with Locked On Reds podcast host Jeff Carr.

The Reds have adversity to contend with, but we believe this team will contend in the NL Central, probably win it, and this young team will make the playoffs. We like the improved depth, and just plain old like the fact that there are actual reasons to be optimistic.

Yes, that's a long title, but we were long winded. We like a few things we see but we remain relegated to the fact that this team is a ways off. The most talked about players under Reds control aren't in Cincinnati yet, which makes it difficult to see the future. We have an interesting discussion that goes slightly off the rails about potential. And dinosaurs. It's hard to explain. You'll just have to listen.

We talk about the potential lineup this season (and familiarize Tom with some names), we don't quite drool over the big three at the front of the rotation (but we like them a lot), we talk rebuilding philosophy with varying degrees of liking and trusting it, we learn the new rules and we pick the number of games the Reds will win. Don't get too excited about that last one. Also, random things happen like Billy Hamilton. 

Yes, it's been a while. Almost as long as the Reds went between wins this season. Well, not quite, but you get the point. Heck, we recorded this at least two weeks ago and are just now getting around to posting it. Yes, we are apathetic. Can you blame us? We agree that the Reds are bad as presently constructed. But we don't completely agree on how to fix it. If you care, give a listen. If you don't care, listen anyway. There are no winners and losers on this podcast. But apathy? Yeah, we're here for that.

The lockout behind us, the Reds are gearing up for another season. Will they be any good? Lots of doom and gloom out there after the trades. But what are the Reds really up to? Will they be terrible? Probably not. Will they make the expanded playoffs? Probably not. But there's baseball and our summer conversations will be fun. And Joey has a new bat.

The Reds will be back to full strength soon and the bullpen has reinforcements. For that we are glad. We talk about who probably goes when the injured players return. And Kim reminds all that it was Jeff who predicted a winning season.

It has been too long. But we finally were able to all be in the same place at the same time and talk Reds. Mostly we're waiting to see what happens over the next week against the Brewers. We are hopeful, but we are still crossing our fingers about the bullpen.

A full baseball season is upon us, and us Reds fans are a mix of optimistic, cautiously optimistic and guarded. Basically, we have concerns and we're just not sure what all to make of this team. Join Jeff, Tom, Kim and our special guest Nick Carrington as we analyze, wonder, pontificate and make things up and get ready for another riveting season of Reds baseball.

Raisel Iglesias, Curt Casali and Archie Bradley are gone with little in return. Some say the Reds have given up on the 2021 season. What do we say? As curmudgeonly as we can be, you won't find us giving up on 2021.

The Reds are headed to Atlanta for the first round of the playoffs, and we haven't been this excited about a Reds team since 2012. Join us for our 50th episode, which is almost as remarkable of an accomplishment as what the Reds did over the final three weeks of the season. Nobody gave us or the Reds much of a chance to make it this far. Hang in till near the end to hear quite the logical discussion of whether it's more important to win Game 1 or Game 2.

The Reds - yes our Reds - are knocking on the door of the National League playoffs. We're excited, and you should be too. Listen and see what we think needs to happen on the final weekend.

We attempt to answer that question with our less than infinite wisdom. We do get some help from our old friend and coach, Don Callan. He coached a little baseball back in the day, watches the Reds every day and wore a leather helmet the first day he stepped on a football field. Join us for fun, old stories and the laughs that go with them and for a deep dive into what the numbers say about how David Bell manages his pitching staff.

Baseball is back this week and so are we. We run down the changes to baseball, discuss the roster and lineup and make some pretty bold predictions for the 60-game season.

Jeff and Tom gather via Zoom with a friend who is a Pirates fan. But don't let that scare you. We have a good time talking about what it's like not to have any baseball, let alone the majors. But we are hopeful the season will find a way to start in May even if the division alignments are wacky. 

Will the 2020 Cincinnati Reds win more than 80 games? Are the new position players - Moose and Shogo - enough of an upgrade? Can old Votto be at least a little more like young Votto and not 2019 Votto? Who will be in the outfield rotation? We know thousands are asking. And we're here with answers, or at least muddled thoughts.  

It's no secret that the Cincinnati Reds need an offensive boost next season. We compare the Reds to the Cardinals and Dodgers and talk about the kinds of changes we want to see before next season. Please forgive the audio quality. We had some technical issues, but we wanted to post this show anyway. Please hang in there. It's a shorter show than usual anyway. Go Reds!

The Reds might be only on the fringes of the playoff chase, but that's better than being the completely out of it like the Pirates. We talk about Trevor Bauer the roster shakeup (and Aquino), what this team might do down the stretch (and Aquino) and what next year's roster might look like (and Aquino). Lots of good stuff to talk about this time of year for a change. Be sure to also follow us on Twitter and Facebook. 

To be in the hunt at the All-Star break is fun for a change. But can the Reds play at a high enough level over the last 75 games to climb into first place or earn a wild-card berth? We figure it's going to take playing close to a .600 level or better. Fortunately none of the other teams in the division look like a 90-win team either. We talk about our all-star pitchers, who we want around next year (and disagree on Puig) and try to guess a little at what the Reds might do. But it's not easy to read their minds. Hang around to the end to hear Part 3 of our look back at the Reds 3-for-5 trade with the Astros in 1971.

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.

The Reds' future still comes down to improving the starting rotation. We want a new face next year to lead the rotation and talk about who the five guys could be that will lead the Reds into contention. We learn that a legendary Red once wore No. 31. And we're split on whether Riggleman will be back for 2019.

While sitting poolside, we celebrate the resurgent Reds, the Reds' three all-stars, wonder what the Reds could and maybe should do with their roster and hear about Jeff's pressbox visit with Reds Hall of Famer Joe Morgan. 

The Reds are playing their best baseball since we started this show and they show no signs of slowing down. So we revel in that, talk about the merits of the double switch as it relates to Jesse Winker, reminisce about new Reds HOFer Fred Norman and lots of other cool Reds stuff. 

We're just as happy as everyone else that Jesse Winker is playing. Two of us at least think it's at least worth talking to Scooter Gennett about a new contract. We talk about the progress Hunter Greene is making in Dayton. And we love that guy who sprints in from the bullpen. 

We work really hard to see the glass half full with Tom's data-driven quiz. But it's hard when you talk about the outfield situation, the error-prone infield and Homer Bailey. The big question is does this management team have a viable plan? We also discuss Scooter, Hawaiian shirt day and a throwback player who got away.

Since we last met Bryan Price has been replaced by Jim Riggleman. The Reds are still struggling with their worst 25-game start in history, so who's to blame. We don't think it's Price. The blame starts at the top. We discuss Billy Hamilton's inability to learn to be a good hitter and what it will take to make fans believe the front office really wants to win. We talk a little Hiunter Greene. And we remember the 1970s Reds team, which went to the World Series with all of its best players in their 20s.

We gather for a Saturday morning breakfast of omelets to soften blow of the bad start to this Reds' season. We have not lost all hope despite the titanic struggles this team has had. But we do find something positive to talk about, and his name is Hunter Greene. Is he the next Doc Gooden? Hey, at least baseball is back, and that's always a good thing.

The offseason is finally over and it's time to see if the Cincinnati Reds can actually improve on the past two years. Jeff shares thoughts about things that could happen that would ensure a better season. Our guest on this show is Lynn Howard. He came to Studio 82 with several Reds caps and had great stories to tell about each of them, including autographs from some all-time Reds' greats. And Lynn talks about his unique experience of attending all of the Astros' home postseason games on their way to winning the World Series.

Joey Votto says he's tired of losing, and so are we. A healthy rotation (cross your fingers), position players who are finding their way (especially, we hope, Winker and Senzel) and good managing by Bryan Price of the young guys (again, cross your fingers) are our reasons for optimism. We answer the challenge of an over-under on Ws this season from a listener, and we relive some of our memories at spring training games.

The Reds start reporting to Goodyear, Arizona, this week and we have great hope that this season will be much better than recent ones. We pose and answer questions like, "The Reds will have a winning season if ..." and "Homer Bailey will ..." And we recorded live video of the show to our Facebook page (search 3OldRedsFans). Be sure to follow us there and get notified when we go live.

Well, the Reds' roster doesn't look much different than it did at the end of the season. But it was time to get back together and talk baseball in the dead of winter. So keep warm with us around the space heater, enjoy some Good & Plenty and hear our way-too-early predictions for the number of Ws in 2018.

Well, we were wrong about 70 victories, but we own up to it and discuss why the Reds fell short. We talk about the great Joey Votto. And we discuss the likely look of next year's rotation, bullpen, infield and outfield and ponder who from this team might be traded. 

Yes, the Cincinnati Reds are about to complete their 14th losing season in the past 17 years. But we are Reds fans and we still care, still have hope and still root for every W we can muster. And we look forward to vintage baseball on Oct. 15 in Cedarville to celebrate Bumpus Jones day.

Even when we don't think we have much to discuss about the Cincinnati Reds, we find plenty to say. What role do catchers play in pitcher development? Could two teams from the division make the playoffs? Jeff predicts next season's rotation and starting lineup, and Schebs isn't in it. And we discuss the merits of each former Red up for inclusion in the team's Hall of Fame.

We're back from a two-week break and suddenly some of the young arms we've been promised just might be in the early stages of blossoming into a real rotation. What we've had this year can't be called a rotation. The only thing rotating has been who's in the rotation on a weekly basis. Tom is insightful as always about what he sees in the young arms. And we talk about what clutch hitting is and isn't as Kim tries to wrap his head around another modern metric.