Cincinnati Reds radio broadcaster Jeff Brantley is known for speaking his mind, and during Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, he shared a strong opinion that’s likely to stir some debate among fans. His remarks focused on Reds’ pitcher Chase Burns, who had thrown a live bullpen session earlier that day before the game.
“Anybody that saw Chase Burns throw to Reds hitters today would’ve thought to themselves, what are the Reds waiting on? I realize that he’s a No. 1 pick and he’s got a trillion dollar arm, I get it,” Brantley said. “But there are a lot of folks that would tell you, that a lot of organizations would’ve activated him today.”
The Reds, of course, lost that game 12-9, in part because Nick Lodolo was scratched due to an illness. Cincinnati chose Scott Barlow to act as the opener in the first inning, and the right-hander gave up a leadoff homer and bases-clearing double before exiting. The Reds were down 4-0 before they even swung the bat.
Jeff Brantley exposes front office failure that has Reds fans fuming
Should the Reds have activated Chase Burns before Tuesday’s game and let the flamethrowing rookie log a few innings against the Blue Jays? Jeff Brantley certainly thought so. Still, it’s understandable why the team opted to wait, especially with Burns already operating under an innings limit.
But Brantley’s opinion highlights a broader issue that continues to frustrate Reds fans — the front office, led by Nick Krall, appears to lack urgency, even as the team remains firmly in the playoff race.
The trade deadline came and went with little action from Cincinnati. While Ke’Bryan Hayes has been a pleasant surprise — contributing well at the plate in addition to his expected defensive excellence — the Reds’ deadline moves drew lukewarm reactions at best, as the front office made only minimal efforts to bolster the roster.
That same hesitancy was on display again when the Reds delayed promoting top prospect Sal Stewart until September 1, despite an ongoing offensive slump and clear need for a spark. Many believe the move was stalled simply to keep Santiago Espinal on the roster a bit longer.
It’s a familiar pattern for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff series since 1995. While Brantley may not have intended to criticize Krall and the front office directly, his comments echoed the long-standing frustration among fans: the Reds continue to operate with caution, even when aggressive action seems warranted — and their handling of Burns is just the latest example.
Leave a Reply