Reds fans continue to vote with their feet
Plus: Should Reds manager David Bell be on the hot seat?
On Monday night, the Reds returned home to begin a quick three-game series against Texas before heading back to the road for six games out west. Cincinnati got down early, but gave the fans a thriller, clawing their way back from a 5-1 deficit to win 7-6. TJ Friedl had the big blow in the bottom of the ninth, a walk-off single that scored Jonathan India and sent everyone home happy.
Well, it sent a few people home happy, anyway. The rest of us were already at home.
Only 8,810 hardy souls ventured out to Great American Ball Park for Monday night’s titanic struggle. That has been a common theme all season long. It’s hardly surprising, with the Reds coming off a 100-loss season, and after a winter when ownership and management gutted the roster. But still, how long is this sustainable?
Last year was only the second 100-loss campaign in Reds history. By season’s end — a season which began with Phil Castellini’s now-famous “Where ya’ gonna go?” refrain — Cincinnati’s total attendance across 81 home games was 1,395,770. That was the lowest attendance mark in the history of Great American Ball Park. The last time the Reds drew fewer fans was nearly four decades ago, in 1984.
Things appear to be continuing to trend downward in 2023. Last year, after 13 home games, Cincinnati’s attendance was 224,730. This year, after 13 games, it’s 212,497. I’m no statistician, but I’d say we’re on pace for the Reds to set a new record low GABP attendance. Not coincidently, the Reds are on pace to lose 106 games this season. That would also set an ignominious record.
What does the ownership group think about this ongoing embarrassment? We don’t know because they aren’t telling us*, but they have to see the empty seats every night. It’s the strongest indication yet that Reds fans have taken Phil’s advice, and found somewhere else to go.
*Presumably, Phil’s muzzle is secured tightly at this point.
Honestly, I’m impressed with Reds fans. It’s unlikely this particular ownership group will ever pay attention to the wishes of the fans at this point, but all we can do is vote with our feet. Don’t give them more of your dollars until they put a product on the field that is worth watching. Don’t worry, they have plenty of TV dollars to tide them over until the next payroll is due.
On the other hand, if you’re one of the devoted few who venture out to the ball park on occasion, I tip my cap to you. I went to a couple of games in Kansas City last week, and it confirmed for me what I’ve always known: there aren’t many things better in life than relaxing and taking in a big league game. If you’re going out to a Reds game, you know you are more than likely going to see a stinker, but it can still be a fun night out. Enjoy yourself.
I just wish the Reds cared whether we were there or not. Because I miss the ol’ ball orchard.
Should David Bell be on the hot seat?
A historic event in Reds history passed by earlier this season without even a whisper. When the bullpen melted down and Cincinnati suffered a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Philadelphia on April 7, it represented the 297th loss of manager David Bell’s tenure. That moved him into the all-time top 10 in that auspicious category for Reds managers.
What’s interesting about that particular top 10 list is that most of the managers ahead of Bell were good skippers. Hall of Famer Bill McKechnie tops it, followed by Sparky Anderson and Dusty Baker. Of the 10 losingest managers in Reds history, only two actually have a losing record: Bell and Bryan Price. There’s a reason for that: To manage long enough to be among a franchise’s leaders, you either have to be good enough to survive for a lot of years or have an owner who will let you lose and lose and lose without penalty.
Should David Bell be on the hot seat right now? Read the rest of my weekly column at Cincinnati Magazine.
What’s Chad Watching?
Have you seen the BBC series Luther, starring Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson? It’s incredible television and, with only 21 episodes, you can watch the entire run in a short period of time. Elba is back in Netflix’s “Luther: The Fallen Sun.” It’s more Luther, so I really enjoyed it. The pacing is excellent and the plot holes aren’t too terribly large.
“Design for Living” is a 1933 film directed by Ernst Lubitsch and starring Gary Cooper, Miriam Hopkins, and Fredric March. Adapted from a Noel Coward stage play, it’s a somewhat-humorous pre-Code comedy about two friends who fall in love with the same woman. You may guess that hijinks ensue. Definitely worth a watch.