Danny Graves said what every Reds fan was thinking.
The Cincinnati Reds broadcast booth has undergone some changes this season so far, but some of the fans may like the perspective that former pitcher Danny Graves brings to the set. Filling in for Sam LeCure on the postgame show, Graves didn’t hold back in his thoughts surrounding the Chicago Cubs after both benches cleared during Game 2 of last night’s doubleheader.
For those who didn’t see last night’s game, words were exchanged between Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo the Reds dugout. For his part, Reds skipper David Bell seemed to ignore Rizzo, focusing rather on his discussion with the umpire after a fastball came in high-and-tight on Shogo Akiyama.
Earlier in the game, Tejay Antone came up-and-in on Rizzo. Both benches were warned, though nothing seemed intentional. After the favor was returned to Akiyama, Bell was questioning the intent and Joey Votto was seen exchanging words with the Chicago players on the field.
Things eventually became heated, as Rizzo was chirping at the Cincinnati dugout which caused both benches to empty. For reasons still unknown to me, both Votto and Jesse Winker were ejected along with David Bell. Cooler heads eventually prevailed and no punches were thrown. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Cubs and Reds exchange words.
Brian Giesenschlag, the host of Reds Live!, asked Danny Graves to take the audience behind the scene and give his perspective. Graves didn’t hold back, saying the two teams don’t like each other. Graves used terms like “entitled” when describing the Cubs and said that when things don’t go their way, the Cubs “have something to say.” Click here to hear Graves via FoxSports Cincinnati.
"“When it doesn’t got their way, they have something to say, so then when the Reds, or anybody else in baseball fight back or jump back at them, they start crying a little bit more…That’s how I see it and I think a lot of other people see it too. They’re not entitled. They think they are. They think that they’re America’s team, but they’re not. They’re really not.”"
Sign me up for more of Danny Graves thoughts and opinions because I’m all ears. The Cincinnati Reds all-time saves leader brought and opinion, and it’s likely not too far off from the way that most of Reds Country feels about the North Siders.
After being lovable losers for over 100 years, the Chicago Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016. Even since then, it feels like the Cubs players and the team’s fan base have been empowered to look down on the rest of the NL Central. Hopefully the Cincinnati Reds are able to inch closer to the division leader today, as the Reds look to take 3-of-4 from the Cubbies.