Playing the Game the Right Way

Barry Larkin recently praised how the Dodgers under Dave Roberts emphasize professional conduct and team culture with younger players, contrasting this with the Reds' current struggles. The article argues that while front office leader Nick Krall has faced criticism for failed signings and trades, the real problem lies with owner Phil Castellini, who has repeatedly rejected Krall's proposals to build through prospect development and trading established players at peak value—an approach that has worked for small-market teams like the Brewers and Rays. According to reporting from the Athletic, Krall presented a list of trades Castellini refused to approve, forcing the Reds to instead pursue short-term major league competitiveness despite limited resources. The article contends that the Reds' reliance on outdated philosophies about "playing the right way" and clubhouse discipline, rather than modern analytical approaches, reflects ownership's influence and will continue to produce poor results.

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