and by franchise, I mean the entire organization top to bottom.
The first thing I have to say, and it saddens me but it's beyond time, Walt Jocketty has to go. I'm eternally grateful for guiding this team towards the only great years they've had since I've had a conscious memory. But he's worked himself into a corner over time, he doesn't appear to be capable of working out of it, he may be the most passive GM in the game, and the hardest thing to say is that it looks like the game has passed him up. I think he's done all he can do here. He has to go.
Second, and this is where I think I'm really going to get reamed, but is anyone else beginning to get the sinking feeling Bob C. is not the awesome owner most of us believed he was? Again I appreciate everything he's done for the club, but is he really that great, or are we just conditioned to expect less after years of apathetic or inept ownership?
Because here's the thing: Bob C. does spend money. There is no denying that.
At the same time...he also has a MAJOR cheap ass streak. And honestly? I think winning comes secondary to marketing when it comes to dollar allocations with this club. Look at who has been extended: Phillips, Votto, Bailey. Phillips was the face of the franchise and Twitter whatever blah blah but an objective analysis says even at the time that deal was not smart. Votto was a good move definitely, no issues there, but was he resigned because he's good or because letting the MVP walk looks bad to customers? I wouldn't have that suspicion if not for Bailey, who, while good and the fan in me is glad he's still here, my head says he was clearly never a 100 million dollar man...but you can't let the guy who tossed two no hitter in back to back years walk either right?
I don't have faith in Bob anymore. Aside from the flashy big buys, getting him to open the wallet and patch up even minor holes on the team (moneywise) that needed serious addressing seems like pulling teeth. I am absolutely sick of hearing Walt/Castellini say "the money just isn't there." What, you couldn't claim a productive Marlon Byrd when he was freely available despite a suckstorm in left field at the time? And just letting the pen burn like a tire fire? People are coming out to see the Reds again. Money is flowing into MLB like crazy. And yet, when this team is contending yet has glaring holes that CAN be addressed in the middle of the season, what does end up happening?
This:
So I don't know...maybe it's just my mood in general but...the shine is off the Reds leadership, in my eyes. I don't have a ton of faith in them anymore. Not none, not 2000s level bad. But...I don't trust them any longer as much as I used to.