Quite jamming my BVD's, dude! Hey, I keep making posting errors to get you post up to 30,000. LOL

Far easier said than done on whether they can afford both....After going thru BC's financials, then come back and let us know because, at this point, you're so far off base to even make that comment or, rather, assumption..

Texas is a bankrupt franchise. Cincinnati, financials are healthy and the owner has deep pockets. Only problem I see is the Cincinnati Dutch mentality.

The last Reds owner had more money than Steinbrenner. He wouldn't move off his wallets either. These agents know what the Red can afford.

What's the last reds winner, the billionaire, have to do with the current reds owner, the multi-millionaire?

Well in the last ten years the Reds payroll has roughly doubled from the 40+ million range to 80+ million.

I think Bob Castellini genuinely wants to see the Reds return to glory and for modern fans to experience the feeling of having a winner in town.

The feeling in Cincinnati back in the 70's was electric. Being a Reds fan then was magical (sorry, a little dramatic) but i think he wants people to feel that way again.

A lofty goal perhaps but he has learned alot about baseball operations since he bought the team and i really believe his business acumen is exceptional to a degree and the only thing that has stopped him from going over the top with any spending has been not having a solid understanding of personnel and how talent is evaluated.

I believe he is getting closer to that point where he believes we can really win and when that day comes the pockets will open up.

Well, then sign Votto and Phillips and show us his acumen!

Ownership has constantly poor mouth Reds fans about small market/small budget. That's what I am talking about. If you can't afford top level athletes then trade them for young talented farm system players. The Reds need to decide if they are going to compete with Stl and Milwaukee or just field a team and be mediocre. What do you think Castellini is worth, anyway?. The Reds budget has increased to 80 million but percentage wise is it any different when compared to the rest of the Central Division leader ?

Not sure if I would call it "poor mouth"..If anything they've been non-committal with not even a comment most of the time. But they did sign KG junior to big dollars and got burnt, did they not? You don't think present-day ownership does not see that and is a bit gun shy so as not to set the franchise back several years?But really when have the reds really had a couple players the past few years as good, and possibly coveted, as both BP and Votto that are/could be sexy FA's? And trading them is premature right now if you're playing the market. Maybe they want to sign both players but it's "wait and see" approach. Why trade BP right now when they have him for the coming season and they've seem to have gone all in to win this year? That defeats the purpose.Why trade Votto "right now" for the same reasons? Need to ride the big dogs. I'm not saying that trades should not be made at the AS break or trade deadline if progress is not made because I believe they should as I'd rather have real good AA/AAA players ready to roll then future draft choices.

I'm just saying that the reds are at a pretty good place with a real good farm system and now have some veteran pieces to mesh with that and they're hoping this is the year. Winning games, being in the race, and putting butts in the seats this year to the tone of 2.2 million or so really is the only way to keep Votto or at least have a chance with him. Again, I have no idea what the worth of BC and family is and that's why I'll never bad-mouth an owner without knowing their wealth and where it all comes from. It takes alot of $$$ to own a team and you need a fan base that churns revenue every season. Not sure that's happened in Cincinnati. You think he's a billionaire? I know plenty of teams that have owners far far far wealthier than others..

Well, then sign Votto and Phillips and show us his acumen!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If he signs Votto and not BP then i would say he is showing his acumen. I think we have gotten the best out of BP with one more season to go before he is hasta la vista.

Not only Phillips will be hasta la vista so will every chance for the Reds to get another player committed to the team on and off the field. IMO

BP is not committed to the Reds. If he was committed to the Reds we would never hear a peep from beep about his GD contract.

Team players ST-FU and get it done between the lines, not on Twitter. Sure, he is fan friendly but who is he representing when he does that?

BP, that's who.

I think you're, like about ten others on this board have BP disease. Phillips is the best defensive 2nd baseman in the majors. His hit totals mirror Votto's. Physically he looks 28. Losing Phillips, you are losing the second best contact hitter on the team. Plus he can bat anywhere in the order. He is the most versatile player on the roster.

and Votto is?

If Phillips was for just himself then he wouldn't go to every Reds sponsored event, He would not move up and down the batting order when asked. How many selfish players done that in the past. Who cares if Phillips is also marketing himself that is how you make the big money.
Tweeter is the way of life these days. People just has to accept that. It is like wondering how people lived before Cell Phones? Even before then how did a household not have a TV? Sorry Grandpa but the world is evolving it may not be for the good but what can you do about it but complain as your dad before you and his before him.

Yep, spot on and I'm not even a big BP supporter...I do know that outside of saying "no comment" every single freakin' time these mor.onic writers/announcers/etc ask him the billionth time about his contract and desire, that he's in a no-win situation. As sincere, forthright, etc as he can be you got the same BP haters on this board that want to tell you he's a punk, selfish, etc etc.....And not to mention other things they say under their tongue...
I laugh my ar.se off at the people on this site that say "he needs to be fair"...The kid deserves a 4-5 year deal at big big money and IDC if he gets it here, as long as it does not hinder the franchise, or anywhere else....

"The kid deserves a 4-5 year deal at big big money and IDC if he gets it here, as long as it does not hinder the franchise"

I agree but that is not what bothers me about this whole thing. The communication between the Reds front office and Phillip is way off. The team has no problem in asking Phillips to represent them but they can't tell him what their plans are for him?

"if" we can agree on everything we read/hear from the media .....Again, nothing against BP, but he may be lending a bit more frustrations in his comments than actual facts...I'd venture to say that the talks are going on and there are stances on both sides...........The reds are in an extremely dangerous area here, as a small/ moderate "spending" team, and if BP wants 5-6 years, if that's the case, and the reds are offering 3-4, then it's pretty obvious there's a big elephant in the room that can't be ignored.

Excellent post! I agree with your comments 100%

Well pal if you don't want to discuss it then move along.