Nationally syndicated radio host roasts Reds president Phil Castellini over his 'obnoxious' behavior
Phil Castellini's insulting rant on WLW is getting some national attention, and it's probably not the kind that the Cincinnati Reds president and chief operating officer would like to hear. But hey, where's he gonna go?
Damon Amendolara of CBS Sports Radio took the airwaves on Wednesday to publicly criticize Castellini's now infamous comments. Amendolara ripped into the Reds' executive using words like distasteful, offensive, and tone deaf.
Castellini went on the WLW during the team's Opening Day festivities on Tuesday and when asked about the lack of support from the Reds fanbase, Castellini's response was, "Well, where you gonna go?"
Reds COO Phil Castellini's comments are getting national attention.
The anger that Reds Country is experiencing is quite legitimate. After all, Cincinnati Reds general manager Nick Krall spent the offseason trading away fan-favorites like Eugenio Suárez, Jesse Winker, and Sonny Gray.
The Reds also traded Amir Garrett and Tucker Barnhart and decided not to pick up Wade Miley's team option; opting instead to waive the left-handed starter. Strangely, the front office then picked up Mike Minor in a trade with Kansas City. Minor is slated to make $10M this season which is exactly the same amount of money the Reds would've owed Miley had he stayed.
Nick Castellanos, who signed a five-year/$100M contract with the Philadelphia Phillies has not been shy about his feelings toward the Reds ownership either, saying that the fans in Cincinnati are suffocating because of the Castellini's not spending money to improve the team.
At one point in the conversation, Amendolara describes the situation as a dysfunctional relationship with one party saying to the other, "Where you gonna go? You can't do better than me, and I know it. So you're stuck with me, even if you hate me."
Phil Castellini, late in the day on Tuesday, issued an apology that was lacking empathy, humility, and sincerity. While I don't expect ownership to change hands, no matter how many billboards are erected, bringing national attention to the petulant manner than Castellini displayed on Tuesday is a step in the right direction.
I don't believe that new ownership is necessary in order for the Cincinnati Reds to be competitive. But a new attitude certainly is. All the Reds need to do is take a look at their neighbor along the banks of the Ohio River.
The Cincinnati Bengals, for the first time in a long time, became a competitive franchise and the fanbase flocked to Paul Brown Stadium. It didn't take a change in ownership; Mike Brown still owns the team. But it took a commitment to winning. That's all that Reds fans are looking for.