Phil Castellini surprised that Opening Day tickets still unsold

[Old school 1983]

Let's pretend that 2020 was a normal year, and not COVID related, and that they raised their 2019 revenue about 10%, which has been the norm during normal years. That would have given them $303 million in revenue for 2020. A $147 million payroll is 48%, which isn't even the highest it's been during the Castellini years (they've gone up to 50% a couple of times). So no, a $147 million payroll isn't the highest it's even been, based on revenue. It's roughly what they were spending back in 2015-2016. In other words, it's about what they should be doing. I'm not sure how much credit they should get for spending what they should be spending anyway.

$147M is the highest dollar amount of a payroll. You know that. I knew that. And you know that’s what I meant. They generally spend what like 45-50% of revenue on payroll? For whatever reason they don’t spend more. I really don’t care what they reason is, whether they are reinvesting it, or pocketing it. Reality is, that’s the range they’ll likely spend in. It’s more important to spend that competently. It’s about as low hanging fruit as you can get in a rebuild year to scream the owner is cheap. No matter how rich you are, you have budgetary constraints. If the Reds are legit about this plan and stick to it, I think it’ll mean good things. Their back won’t be to the wall constantly payroll wise in hopes of a 500 or so finish. That level could be the baseline which they could add with the money they took off the books.

I wish the Reds could and would spend like drunken sailors, but it just isn’t going to happen. We can percentage of this and that all day. Bottom line is, they generally spend more than enough money to be a contender. In order to be that contender they need to do so competently with a sustainable plan. Seeing some fan favorites go sucks. Winker was one of my favorite players. But if the Reds can see the new model through, they can build a long term winner. And I like winning more than any single player.

[BCubb2003]

Here is the interview: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/eddie...podcast_widget

To be fair Mo Egger does basically ask your point 1 exactly at 6:18 of the interview. Phil then blames the fans for not buying enough season tickets.

10:12 they ask about fans losing faith, Phil responds by saying fans have no choice, "Well where you gonna go?" "What would you do to this team to make it more competitive? It would be to pick it up and move it somewhere else. Be careful what you ask for."

I listened to the interview and that’s what it sounds like, especially “careful what you wish for.” No one’s in the mood to parse his words in his defense or even ease up the pressure in the slightest, but I think he was talking about ownership in “where you going to go” not that the fans have no choice. Earlier they talked about how great it was that Cincinnati has three major leagues, and the team has to compete for the fans’ attention with their phones. This part seemed to be — Las Vegas, Nashville, we don’t want that, fans don’t want that, we’re not going anywhere. Later he says something like “if you don’t win, they won’t show up.” That should be the only thing to say about that topic, and it should drive everything they do.

Now, it’s possible that he says sort-of the right things most of the time but surly instincts show through in glimpses.

Maybe the Reds should sign Sean Casey to be the ambassador of the franchise.

[Wayne Krivsky]

As someone who has primarily defended the Castellini's during their tenure, even when they have made it really tough to do so Phil made a massive mistake today and they need their PR team to get on that ASAP. To say "where you gonna go?" and talk about relocation is about as stupid of a comment that one could make, and a direct slap in the face to fans. Phil probably needs to stay behind the scenes for a while after that interview.

As someone who thought the billboard idea was initially stupid, Phil's comments today make me want to donate.

[RedTeamGo!]

This Phil guy is an absolute idiot. The personification of a billionaire's kid.

Yeah, who would want to buy a lucrative business like a baseball team that continues to just print money.

[westofyou]

The Reds messaging is a prime example of an antiquated business voice in dire need of 21st century coaching

[Bourgeois Zee]

The Reds messaging is a prime example of an antiquated business voice in dire need of 21st century coaching

Actual Red ownership (with Old School 1983 behind)

[Old school 1983]

Actual Red ownership (with Old School 1983 behind)

Potter was out of touch incompetent. I’d not be standing behind that.

I didn’t realize saying spend the money that we know you will spend and do so competently was such a bad take. Asking to change something that is possible to change…competence level….is much more realistic than getting in an argument with Charlie Brown’s mom or yelling at a cloud about something they likely won’t…percentage of revenue going to payroll.

The Reds have spent more than enough money to produce a winner. Especially in this division. Spend the money wisely and make smart player moves to build a sustainable winner. That’s realistic. Yelling at them to spend more is an exercise in banging your head against the wall hoping to tear the wall down rather than getting a concussion.

[NachoMan]

I listened to the interview and that’s what it sounds like, especially “careful what you wish for.” No one’s in the mood to parse his words in his defense or even ease up the pressure in the slightest, but I think he was talking about ownership in “where you going to go” not that the fans have no choice. Earlier they talked about how great it was that Cincinnati has three major leagues, and the team has to compete for the fans’ attention with their phones. This part seemed to be — Las Vegas, Nashville, we don’t want that, fans don’t want that, we’re not going anywhere. Later he says something like “if you don’t win, they won’t show up.” That should be the only thing to say about that topic, and it should drive everything they do.

Now, it’s possible that he says sort-of the right things most of the time but surly instincts show through in glimpses.

Maybe the Reds should sign Sean Casey to be the ambassador of the franchise.

I think it shows how the Castellini's unearned belief in their own exceptionalism adversely affects the franchise. We've heard the stories about Bob's "suggestions" about baseball operations. Phil made about every gaffe possible in that interview, coming across as completely adversarial.

And I have no idea what to make of this "interview" between Sadak and Bob C: https://twitter.com/NoContextReds/st...18756573130752

Bob doesn't seem 100% cogent reading his (clearly prepared) remarks.

[REDREAD]

Again, use your head: if you lost $40m in a year and were in danger of losing anything else in a normal (non-covid) year), you wouldn't keep the team, you'd sell it. Bob's not selling. Because he's not losing money. He's using accounting shenanigans to claim he is, but he's not actually.

I agree with everything you say. I will add this.. if the Reds were just breaking even, losing money or just modestly- profitable, why has the frnachise appreciated to 3-4 times the value of what it was purchased for? Maybe I have those numbers wrong, but it has dramatically gone up in value. That alone says it is a very profitable investment. Sad to see Bob C using tactics like Lindner and Allen used to use when whining about what a poor small market they are, blah blah blah..

[REDREAD]

That Phil C. WLW interview was something else. In a nutshell:

1) Fans shouldn't complain about the Reds sucking because "where else you gonna go?"

2) Fans should beware of hurting the Castellini's feelings too much because of veiled threats to move the team

When the Reds come to the taxpayers , saying that the GAB is too old for them to "compete", I hope everyone tells the Reds to build their own new stadium then, without help from the taxpayers. As far as the threat to move? Who really cares at this point? If ownership is resigned to never trying to win, what's the point if they tank in Cincy or Nashville?
At this point, the Reds are a net drain on Cincy, not a benefit.

[LeatherPants]

I agree with everything you say. I will add this.. if the Reds were just breaking even, losing money or just modestly- profitable, why has the frnachise appreciated to 3-4 times the value of what it was purchased for? Maybe I have those numbers wrong, but it has dramatically gone up in value. That alone says it is a very profitable investment. Sad to see Bob C using tactics like Lindner and Allen used to use when whining about what a poor small market they are, blah blah blah..

The ownership group bought the Reds for $270 million in 2006 ($385 million in 2022 money), and Forbes has it worth about $1.2 billion, so it's gone up about 3 times in 2022 dollars.

[Old school 1983]

When the Reds come to the taxpayers , saying that the GAB is too old for them to "compete", I hope everyone tells the Reds to build their own new stadium then, without help from the taxpayers. As far as the threat to move? Who really cares at this point? If ownership is resigned to never trying to win, what's the point if they tank in Cincy or Nashville?
At this point, the Reds are a net drain on Cincy, not a benefit.

If the Reds moved you’d cry yourself to sleep over it. We all would.

[StRedlegs900]

As someone who thought the billboard idea was initially stupid, Phil's comments today make me want to donate.

Yup, this was the exact reason for the billboard and why I didn't hesitate to donate. I honestly didn't think it would shed such a glaring light on the incompetency of the front office to this degree. I never even expected a public response, but was just happy knowing Bob would be mumbling about it behind closed doors.

That interview was something else. I'm so sick of the "smallest market" rhetoric that they continually throw around as well. Just absolutely maddening. Invest in a good product for more than one year without throwing in the towel, and the fans will be there.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Potter was out of touch incompetent. I’d not be standing behind that.

Yeah, you are.

Castellini today said, basically, like it or lump it. I'll keep as much of the money you give me as I want. If you don't like it, tough. I'll move the team if enough of you think that way.

That's both out of touch and incompetent.

[Old school 1983]

The ownership group bought the Reds for $270 million in 2006 ($385 million in 2022 money), and Forbes has it worth about $1.2 billion, so it's gone up about 3 times in 2022 dollars.

How much of that is in their pockets until they sell the team? None. Do you know if they’ve borrowed against that? If they have what percentage of revenue is covering the loan? If they haven’t, the current estimated value of the team means nothing in dollars and cents spent on the Reds or in ownerships pocket unless they sell.