Opinion: Castellini should fix fractured relationship with Reds fans

Andy Furman

Opinion contributor

Cincinnati Reds chief operating officer Phil Castellini speaks about the upcoming season during a press conference to announce the 2022 Findlay Market Opening Day Parade at Findlay Market in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

It’ll be six months. Six long, depressing, losing months.

Tuesday, Oct. 4, will be just about six months since we heard those six words that really set the tone for the entire season: "Well, where are you gonna go?" said Cincinnati Reds COO Phil Castellini.

It was before the Reds home opener against the Cleveland Guardians on April 12 when Castellini told that to the assembled fans who lost faith in the team’s direction after multiple winters spent cutting payroll and just two postseason wins since 1995. He berated the audacity of such criticism by mocking them.

The season dragged on and the Reds are on the doorstep of losing 100 games. Thankfully for Castellini, the Reds and the fanbase, it all comes to an end Wednesday with a 4:10 p.m. makeup game with the Chicago Cubs. But will that angst disappear?

Well, don’t fret − we’re here to help patch things up and look at the positives.

First, let’s be thankful the team − no matter how poorly they played this season − still has Cincinnati on their chest. Remember, not only are the Reds baseball’s first professional ballclub, but having a pro team tremendously separates Cincinnati from Columbus, Lexington, Louisville and the other hamlets that create Reds Country.

Next, it’s time to extend the olive branch − from the Reds as an organization to the fan base that still remains. There’s nothing wrong in saying you’re sorry.

My good friend Mo Egger, the sports talker on iHeart Radio’s ESPN 1530 (AM) had the right idea. He suggested Castellini make himself available these last few home dates by walking through the crowds − if there are any − at Great American Ball Park. And, he said Castellini should shake some hands, give some vouchers for concession items, and perhaps throw in some ducats for next season while saying, "Thanks for your support."

But that exercise could only take minutes what with the size of the crowds these past few home dates.

Egger went one step further, and suggested Castellini get in a dunking booth − with proceeds supporting the Reds Community Fund. Another thought: Yet the lines, if any, for the possible dunking may not be there.

Let’s think big. Let’s have the Reds’ COO go to the fans, since the fans seemingly aren’t going to see him or his team. Have Castellini on Fountain Square some afternoon. Apologize for the remarks and have the dunking booth in public display for all to see.

As Cincinnati celebrated the Redlegs' 2022 home opener, Reds president Phil Castellini rhetorically asked disgruntled fans, "Well, where are you going to go?" Basically, fans get whatever the team wants to serve them, or they get nothing.

And of you thought his famous "six words" went viral, well, wait until you see him in that dunk tank.

The relationship between this sports team and its fans has been bruised to say the least. Phil Castellini, after some six months of silence, has a real chance of repairing some of his self-inflicted damage. Sure, it won’t help when David Bell makes a call for the bullpen. But it’ll make some Reds fans smile − something they haven’t done in six months.

Start warming up fans.

Andy Furman is a member of the Enquirer Board of Contributors. He also talks sports nationally on Fox Sports Radio, serves as PR coordinator for The Point/Arc in Northern Kentucky and writes for the Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle.