It was fitting that recently a reunion of the Big Red Machine took place.
Why? Because it provided an opportunity to relive those fond memories when Cincinnati was at the epicenter of baseball's universe.
Sadly, those memories are about all this once proud ball club has to cling to at the present time. It's no exaggeration to say that the Cincy franchise is in one serious funk. Lulls don't get much more pronounced.
So how severe is this downturn? Pretty bad and that's putting it mildly! The Reds' fall from grace is tantamount to a Stock Market collapse.
The Reds have been so inept they haven't posted a winning season since the turn of the century (2000).Their last postseason appearance came during Bill Clinton's first-term for heaven's sake. Eighteen seasons have passed since the Reds were viable enough to compete in a World Series.
If that's not a slump, it's a mighty good facsimile one. You could make a very strong case that in the past decade-plus, Cincy has clearly lost its' way.
Isn't time that the game's oldest professional team got back on track? A turnaround is long overdue. So what could kick-start the Reds and shake them from this extended lethargy?
Generating some noise, that's what! And the only way to do that is to consummate a bold move. A headline grabbing, earth-shaking maneuver. The Reds are in desperate need of creating some buzz to show both their players and fans that they're serious about becoming relevant again. Cincy could use some shock treatment.
Since Reds' G.M. Walt Jocketty has all but ruled out a dalliance into the free-agent market, only one avenue is open to the Reds by which to significantly bolster their prospects.
Time to make like Monty Hall and proclaim "Let's Make a Deal. The Reds need to get to hagglin' and do some good old fashioned horse tradin'. We're talking some big-time swappin' here.
There are a number of areas that could be addressed. Another top flight pitcher would work. A consistent and potent bat, preferably manning an outfield position, might do wonders. A proven catcher could make a huge difference. And another dependable arm in the bullpen sure wouldn't hurt.
Now, obviously none of those commodities is going to come without a price. As the old adage in sports reminds us, to get something, you've got to give something.
But the Reds' organization is at a point where they've got to start taking some calculated gambles. If you don't dare or risk, you'll probably get nowhere. Which incidentally is exactly where the Reds find themselves, so what the hell do they have to lose?
Short of giving away Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips or Edinson Volquez for peanuts, anything or everyone should be on the table. When you lose as often as the Reds have, your roster should have few, if any, sacred cows.
Reds' management must do something to dramatically gin up the excitement surrounding the team. Without a doubt, the brass have to kick it up a notch. Given the mediocre to poor product they've continually put on the field, they owe it to everyone, including themselves, to put some pizzazz back in Great American Ball Park. They need to give Reds' nation a stimulus package. What is required is to create a wow factor.
And trying to acquire someone the likes of Coco Crisp, as the Reds allegedly did, isn't exactly what we're talking about. That kind of bland deal won't raise anyone's pulse rate. If that transaction had gone through, it would have been nothing more than a blip on baseball's radar screen. Red execs are going to have to go for a lot more gusto than that. PLEASE!
So with the winter meetings soon to commence, here are Walt Jocketty's marching orders. Do something spectacular to get us interested again. Make a splash that will reverberate from coast to coast. Give us something that will renew our faith and loyalty.
Show us that you're not afraid to wheel and deal with the best of them. And, for goodness sake, don't stand pat. Coming home empty handed is not an option. That would be a crime.
The reality is, the Reds need some buzz. Here's hoping that Jocketty gives them some.