Well, TJ

Friedel, he's not going to be here.

I don't think that's a question at all.

I think McClain's the question because you think there's a really good upside to him.

Key Brian Hayes, you signed him to a big contract, so unless you can trade him, I think he'll be here unless you're going to eat whatever you still owe on him.

So those are some questions.

I think the other thing, one of the big things I think they should do is try to re-sign Tyler Stevenson.

I

Yeah.

So I, I don't know.

I'd have to go back and investigate on that.

I know it's happened in baseball with other players where everybody gets, you play, you know, one inning, and that's fine, I guess.

I, I, I d- I don't know.

I'm not a big fan of, of doing that because if you're not serious, then you shouldn't be playing professional baseball.

Y- [laughs]

Uh, so yeah, no, I, I, that- that's one of the shams of Hall of Fames.

Yed, how are you today?

I'm really good, Mike.

And, you know, it is a brutal month of September.

But, you know, a lot of times you can say, just kind of ignore March and September.

But I think it's different this year because this schedule is so hard that you're going to see guys playing.

And the Reds are in a spoiler role.

They can really hurt other teams trying to make the playoffs.

But what about the rest of the team? I mean, I guess we're going to get to see some new talent, do you think?

That whole thing of a bullpen day, that's a relatively new phenomena, isn't it? And do teams do that for reasons other than, you know, they've got a starter or two down? Or is there some strategy involved in it?

Well, I mean, I don't – it's not a brand-new concept.

I think – The opener is a newer concept that the Tampa Bay Rays started, I don't know, probably eight, nine years ago now.

But I think teams have always had bullpen days where guys, you know, your rotation is beat up for whatever reason.

Maybe somebody gets hurt or there's a rain out and you play a doubleheader.

There's always been some sort of a bullpen day.

I'm not sure they always called it that, but It's been around for a while, but the opener is a new concept, and that all goes back to some of the analytics that a pitcher is less effective the third time through the order, and that's true.

Right.

Mm-hmm.

That's all, uh, Lowe is for the Guardians.

So you get what you can get from, for him.

And, you know, if that turns out to be something, great.

I mean, that, that's just the way that works.

And so, um, it's like Héctor Rodríguez.

He was, he was just kind of a throw-in on a trade, and he started in right field for the Reds.

Mm-hmm.

How, if any way, does that affect a player when they think, man, I'm just about ready to get out of here and go somewhere else? How does it affect them, if at

all? Well, in his case, I don't think it affects him at all.

I mean, a little bit.

You don't want to leave your buddies or whatever.

But he's not signing here when his contract's up.

Of course.

So this is just a precursor of something to come.

Who else do you think? The blog Red Machine mentioned possibly Eugenio Suarez, who I like, but I think you've got to say he was a disappointment.

4.59 here to talk about it is our guy for all things cincinnati reds davey d.r brucer but yet i want to ask you first because i'm asking all my guests what does it mean to you to be an american

Well, that's a good question, Mike.

I think it means you have a chance.

I mean, in this country, you have a chance.

And I spent some time in 2016 with Matthew 25 in Haiti.

And as screwed up as our country is right now in the politics, and believe me, I'm not a fan of either side.

I think they're both crooks.

On the injury front with the Reds, besides Hunter Green coming back, how are we doing on that? Who's close to coming back, and are any of those players that you think can

It sure is.

And I think by, I think by the All-Star break, you will know for sure if they're buyers or sellers.

I mean, I, I, I think they're probably, I don't know, nobody's said this to me, but just looking at the record and where they are in the standings, they're probably leaning toward being sellers.

But you got a chance to make up some ground here.

You got four, a g- but the schedule is daunting.

You have four against Milwaukee, then the Baltimore Orioles, they're just so-so, but then the Phillies, they're good.

Then the Cubs for three, and that takes you up to the All-Star break.

I mean-