Oh yea this has been all over the news here. And the national guys picked it up. This is going to be a long post/rant.
Here is the run down.
Pretty much since the Castellini family took over they had a cycle. They would have some good guys on the team that they got through FA or in the farm system. They second they start doing good and we get a decent season or two they are traded off for no name minor league prospects.
Well a couple season ago they did get some guys in free agency and Trades. Trevor B, Casty Shogo a couple others. We had a couple seasons we were doing wee. Trevor B even won the Cy Young. So at the end of the last season we felt good. Some off season moves and we could make a good run.
Well Casty left, (Not a shock our manager is a joke and he was wanting a fat check and wanted to be on a winning team) I aint mad at him. figured he was gone.
Then the FO started to trade off our decent pitchers and a couple fan favorites. And in return we got very cheap prospects and guys who have a history of underperforming. The fans were rightly mad.
It was a low level fire sale and money dump to save money under the guise of building to be competitive in the next 2 to 3 years. When the fact was we have been mildly competitive for the last two years and had a lot to build on.
So the fan backlash was massive.
Opening day here in Cincy is huge. Companies give people time off work, people come in from all over in Ohio Indiana, Tenn, Ky. We have a parade. A huge deal.
Well Phil said pretty much if the fans are not happy with the team they out out it doesnt matter. What are we going to do? Where are we going to go? No other teams in the area and its not like we are going to not root for the Reds and stop rooting for them. He said if us the fans really want the Reds to be competitive then the Reds need to be in a better market. So be careful what we wish for. He also added the team needs to make a profit for the owners.
He has of course done the Twitter im sorry tour. But fans and sports talk guys here are super super pissed. I am super pissed. I have been following this team for 33 years and we the fans have just gotten a big Fuck You from the owners.
The only reason people are in the stands tonight is one of our two most hyped pitching prospects are making their big league debut tonight. But I expect Great American to be a ghost town after our West Coast road trip.
And as to what are the fans going to do? Over 100 season ticket holders since his comments have called to demand refunds. And over 3000 on hold reserved tickets for the season have been cancelled.