Since May, and an eight game losing streak, I've anxiously awaited someone within the Reds organization declaring what is happening as unacceptable. Anyone. From an intern, to Rosie Red, a vendor, even the Redzilla driver.
After all, the Reds are in last place. 24 games out. Eliminated Monday. No winning season guaranteed Tuesday.
But I've finally accepted that declaration isn't coming. It never was.
This was crystallized in reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer (Enquirer) and Mark Sheldon (MLB.com) over the weekend, when Nick Krall indicated he expects the management team from the front office to the manager's office to return in 2027.
The fact is, this is acceptable to the organization.
13 straight seasons failing to top 83 wins
14 straight seasons not finishing better than 3rd place.
Read those last two lines again.
To borrow a quote from Tracy Jones: It is what it is.
Four years into this latest rebuild, Krall has constructed a roster of spare parts, misfit toys, AAAA players and a handful of studs. With zero immediate help on the horizon in Louisville. Imagine getting seasons like these from Elly, Sal and Chase.....and being 24 games back of a Brewers team spending less money. And the architect of that is being invited back.
Forget accountability. Hell, the last person held accountable for anything was David Bell. The Reds are 153-160 since his firing.
No need for accountability when what's happening is deemed acceptable.
But don't worry, they are spending their time 'commiserating' as Tito told Wittenmyer.
Commiserate: "to express sympathy, pity and sorrow for someone's back luck, or misfortune." Sounds about right.
It's either injuries, bad luck, or the economic landscape of the game. It's never about the failures of the organization. Because this isn't failing. It's just coming up short.
The Reds have managed to recalculate their baseball model. The goal is to attempt to hover around the .500 mark, and hope to try and fall into the 3rd Wild Card. They can't even do that.
And hope isn’t a plan. It’s a cop-out.
Again, it is what it is. This is Reds baseball. Deal with it.