[RedEye]

Originally Posted by Santo Alcala

I believe Castellini. I think he means it. I don't think ownership is the problem anymore. I still wonder about the baseball people. I read something earlier tonight that the consensus among other teams is that the Reds are going to give Adam Dunn away. That is the residual problem when a gm sticks his neck out and gets it lopped off in a deal like the one Krivsky made with the Nats last summer. True or not, the rest of the league is going to assume you're an idiot when you open negotiations on a deal. It becomes a road block, because the other guy is always going to hold out as long as possible to see if you are going to "break" again.

I don't think any reasonable person expects the club to compete with the ridiculous spending that is going on in free agency this winter. Castellini might be showboating a little to even suggest it. But, a good gm who has established his credintials has plenty of time to make good moves moving forward. I have no doubt that ownership would not fixate on a bottom line if we could make a move that would make a difference. I just wonder if Krivsky is capable to doing that, especially considering the "trap" he has created for himself.

Well put. Unfortunately, I completely agree.