It's a fair question.  Lots of very successful businessmen who want to win buy sports franchises.  They all want to win.  They all are used to winning otherwise how in the world would they get to the point where they can own a team.  Sure, having a RICH Daddy can help.

So, just because someone comes into any town and says I HATE LOSING, I WANT TO WIN NOW.  That's nice.  BUT, we live in a world of show me.

I believe the MINOR LEAGUE structure was in place to win over the long haul.  That was my number one reason for being upset that KRIVSKY was fired.

C. Trent agreed with me this morning.  Jocketty, I respect.  You have to.  He's earned that.  But, if i was picking one of the two to build my farm system, it would be the fired one.

Did Castellin jump too fast ?

Can you "not" run a baseball team like you can other businesses.

Have you been fooled by someone saying the right thing because you were so happy to see a change in owners ?

The calls this morning were mixed.  The e mails the same way.

If next July, the REDS have the same kind of record that they have today, Castellini is going to be feeling heat from the public he's not used to. 

Hope you got a chance to listen to Jim Maloney this morning.  Honest...sounds like a good guy, who is often overlooked because he was gone just before the REDS got extra special.

Smart move by Castellin to invite former players like this to spring training to share their knowledge with the current and future group. 

Maloney might have enjoyed it more than the players.

"I had a ball,' said the man who at least 20 games twice.  "It was nice to put on a uniform again.  I thought I had their attension."

As a player ?

"I had a great time.  We should have won in 1964."

He talked about being able to smell the Hot Dogs when he played.

When I teased him that if he played today he would have made millions.  Maloney says he got in enough trouble making $50---60,000.  He admitted to having an alcohol problem when he played.

3 no hitters, and he once hit 99 on the radar.  WOW !

Bloggers want to cover the NBA Playoffs.  Mark Cuban is saying no.  There are only so many spots for the media. Besides, how long before a blogger uses a cell phone to put up a naked picture of an athlete.

John Fay listed players who can be free next year.

"But 11 other players on the current 25-man roster are free agents as well. That's the most in baseball. Here's the list:

David Ross
Javy Valentin
Paul Bako
Scott Hatteberg
Jerry Hairston Jr.
Corey Patterson
David Weathers
Jeremy Affeldt
Kent Mercker
Mike Lincoln
Josh Fogg

Ross also has an option -- for $3.5 million.

Walt Jocketty is going to have a chance to makeover the roster. Those 13 players accounted for $43 million of the $74.1 million payroll."

John doesen't like to put $$$$$ in the paper.  The guess is, when he does, guys in the locker don't like it.  And, he has to face them.

How many do you want back ?  And, the performance for the rest of the year might make that obvious.

Affeldt is a problem.  If he is as good this year as he was last year, and if he gives up the thought of starting, he might get tooooooo expensive for the REDS.  Although Castellini says he wants to win.  You can't have it both ways.

David Weathers.  I'd have him back in 2 seconds if he's as good as last year.  He might get more years somewhere else.  And, I'd be careful about years because of all the eating the REDS have done with relief pitchers who get old overnight.