[More Cowbell]

You can't manage a small-market team by giving millions of dollars to over-the-hill relievers like Stanton & Cormier. The Cincinnati media says the Washington deal was the beginning of the end, I would say that deal raised eyebrows, but the beginning of the end was the questionable contracts he approved listed above.

Let's not forget this: Castellini wants to win and win "now"...Krivsky was making quick fixes for the field, which in the long-run don't fly. Then again, if the Majewski or Bray either one had come through and helped the Reds in the pennant race a couple of years back, we may not in the place we are today.

Overall though, I think the move was needed and good. Finally, there's stability within the orgainization with proven people like Dusty Baker and Walt Jocketty. Now we need to chill with high expectations and let things progress. But don't be surprised to see a major shake-up with personnel if this team doesn't turn things around before the All-Star break. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see Adam Dunn traded. And that's just an example of a major deal that will happen to get this team in a different direction.

I agree completely about the fat contracts being Krivsky's biggest blunders, they tied up a lot of money in players that were underperforming or even no longer on the team. Overall, Krivsky has a very poor track record when it comes to evaluating veterans, either as free agents or current players.

That said, he had a keen eye for young talent, and the good moves he made bear that out. He picked up Phillips, Burton, and Hamilton for next to nothing. He then nabbed Volquez in a trade that the local fans and media absolutely roasted him for, which doesn't look so bad now. All in all, I think Krivsky would have been able to get the team turned around in the long run, and to me he got a raw deal no matter how you look at it.

Anyway, I do think that Jocketty will do alright, especially in the area of signing veterans who will pan out better than Stanton and company. So, let's hope for the best. Go Reds!