Legendary Reds nemesis remains haunted by Great American Ball Park even in retirement

Longtime St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright retired after the 2023 season. Wainwright is currently part of the broadcast team on FOX Sports for the 2024 MLB Playoffs. While it's oftentimes difficult for Cincinnati Reds fans to tip their hat to a former Cardinal, Waino does a good job as a color analyst alongside A.J. Pierzynski.

Pierzynski, of course, is one of the hosts of a popular baseball podcast called Foul Territory. Several former players, including former Reds All-Star Todd Frazier, routinely get together and talk shop while also conducting interviews with many current and former Major League stars.

Legendary Reds nemesis Adam Wainwright remains haunted by Great American Ball Park

With both Pierzynski and Wainwright on the road calling the playoff games this week, the former St. Louis hurler joined Frazier and others on the podcast. After a playful exchange between Frazier and Wainwright, you could tell that the ex-Cardinals pitcher is still haunted by his failures while pitching the Reds home ballpark.

Wainwright went as far as to say, "If they ever decide they're going to blow that place up, I want to press the button." The thing is, based on his record at GABP, Wainwright might not be joking.

This isn't the first time that Reds fans have heard Wainwright whine and cry about pitching in Cincinnati. Back in 2022, Wainwright went as far as to call Great American Ball Park a disaster and said it made his skin crawl. Not much has changed for Wainwright, even in retirement.

Wainwright did not have a sterling record at GABP. In fact, Wainwright's eight career losses at Great American are the most at any road venue during his career. The right-hander was 8-8 with a 5.83 ERA. Among every visiting ballpark, only Truist Park in Atlanta saw Wainwright post a higher ERA among stadiums in which he's logged at least 15 innings pitched. As for homers, the 18 big flies Wainwright saw leave the yard in Cincinnati are the most at any stadium not named Busch. The Reds scored 79 runs off Wainwright during his 23 career games inside Cincinnati's hitter-friendly stadium.

But Waino doesn't have to worry about giving up round-trippers in Cincinnati anymore. He can continue his broadcasting career and keep delving into his second passion — country music. Perhaps one days he'll perform in front of the crowd at Great American Ball Park. But I doubt it.

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