Making a guest appearance on WLW’s “Hot Stove League” on Wednesday night, one day before the team’s annual caravan began, Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart didn’t mince words about the last few seasons:
“We’ve sucked,” he said. “We haven’t been good. I think anybody that has been around here would tell you that.”
Barnhart is confident about the future. He was impressed by the coaching staff hires and he liked that the Reds added several veteran players who have playoff experience, pitchers Tanner Roark and Alex Wood, along with outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp.
After four consecutive 90-loss seasons, Barnhart and his teammates believe they are stepping out of the organization’s rebuilding period and that they can compete in the National League Central.