Cincinnati Reds firing Bryan Price was the only move

After an awful start to the 2018 season, the Cincinnati Reds have relieved Bryan Price of his managing duties.

The Cincinnati Reds have seen enough. After posting a putrid 3-15 record, the Reds decided it was time for a change. Bryan Price was named Dusty Baker’s replacement prior to the 2014 MLB season. In the four full seasons at the helm, Price’s teams never finished above .500.

Please don’t hide your head in the sand. Bryan Price took over a 90 win team. Once he started calling the shots, the Reds began to plummet. Bryan Price was hired to put Cincinnati over the playoff hump.

Lets be fair: The Cincinnati Reds are in the same division as the 2016 World Series Champions, Chicago Cubs. They also compete with the much improved, Milwaukee Brewers and perennial power, St. Louis Cardinals. The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to an impressive despite trading Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole within days of each other. However, for Bryan Price, it’s more than the tough NL Central.

Over Price’s tenure, the Reds have had plenty of talent. There is no excuse for finishing no better than 10 games under .500. Joey Votto, Todd Frazier, Jay Bruce, and Brandon Phillips have all stepped up to the plate for the Cincinnati Reds. Aside from Joey Votto, all these players became available via trade because Bryan Price’s teams were considered sellers at the trade deadline.

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Hitting sells tickets, but pitching wins championships. Bryan Price was heavily involved with the Reds’ pitching staff since he joined the organization in 2009. He served as the pitching coach from 2010-2013, before taking the lead role as manager. Once again, Bryan Price was unable to get the job done. Johnny Cueto anchored the starting rotation and Aroldis Chapman was available to close the door on the Reds’ opponents. No one is saying he had the 1971 Baltimore Orioles or the 1998 Atlanta Braves. However, as a pitching coach, he should elevate his rotation and bullpen. According to MLB Network, the Reds rank last in the National League in ERA, WHIP, and Opp. AVG. Unfortunately for Bryan Price, it was time for a new voice in Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati Reds named Jim Riggleman the interim manager. A former Nationals’ manager is replacing Bryan Price, who replaced a future Nationals’ manager. According to Ken Rosenthal, the Reds will seek their long term manager in the near future.