Former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos gave a fitting answer to NBC Sports reporter Jim Salisbury after the Philadelphia Phillies lost to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night.
Salisbury asked Castellanos if he heard the boos after striking out earlier in the game, to which the outfielder responded, "No man, I lost my hearing." After Salisbury pushed him to give a better soundbite, Castellanos told him that his question was stupid.
To be honest, the question as much stupid as it was disrespectful. Of course Castellanos heard the boos. Philadelphia is the city that boo'd Santa Claus for goodness sakes.
Former Reds OF Nick Castellanos gives hilarious answer to reporters asinine question.
Nick Castellanos has struggled mightily in 2022, there's no denying that. The former and beloved Cincinnati Reds outfielder is hitting just .245/.290/.366 with eight home runs 46 RBIs. It's eerily similar to Castellanos' sluggish numbers from his first season in Cincinnati when the slugger hit just .225 during the pandemic-shortened season.
The Philadelphia Phillies as a whole are struggling. Bryce Harper is still on the IL and the Phillies are well off the pace set by the New York Mets in the National League East. The defending champion Atlanta Braves are also well ahead of Philadelphia.
The Phillies have already fired their manager and are currently one game back in the chase for the third and final Wild Card spot. If the Phillies fail to make the playoffs, it'll be a massive shortcoming.
But Nick Castellanos is far the from the only reason the Phillies are struggling in 2022. Philadelphia hasn't received great production from Didi Gregorius, Harper and Jean Segura are on the IL, and it's probably fair to say that J.T. Realmuto is playing below his typically lofty standards as well.
The Philadelphia fans are obviously unhappy with Nick Castellanos' lack of production in 2022, but I dare say that the entire Cincinnati Reds fanbase would welcome the former All-Star back with open arms.
Castellanos was a fan-favorite in Cincinnati and it's a shame to see him struggling so much this season. It's an even bigger shame to see a well-seasoned reporter ask a question, and then when he doesn't receive the answer he was hoping for, become snippy and irritated.