CINCINNATI -- What will it take for the Reds to make a second-half playoff push under first-year manager Terry Francona? Trags is joined by Reds.com beat writer Mark Sheldon to break down all of the factors, the upcoming trade deadline and what to think about Andrew Abbott, Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene in the second half. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- The Reds will honor the baseball legacy of Pete Rose Wednesday night before their game with the Chicago White Sox. On Tuesday, just a day before, MLB removed Rose from the permanently ineligible list, clearing the way for him to be included in conversation for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. But Wednesday night is not about Pete Rose the man banished from baseball until his death last September. It's about his legacy and contributions to the game and to the city of Cincinnati. Rob Dibble played for Rose the Reds player-manager in 1988-89 and worked with him in spring training as early as 1985. Dibble talks with Trags about Rose's legacy and how he should be remembered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- The Reds have shown glimpses of their potential this year, with a four-game winning streak and a 24-run breakout against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday at Camden Yards. But what will it take for the pitch and offense to put it all together over a sustained period. How has the new coaching staff worked with the coaches who have remained like Derek Johnson and Freddie Benavides? The Cowboy - Jeff Brantley - joins Trags to discuss on the latest episode of the Code Reds Pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- Hunter Greene continues to dominate early in the season for the Reds while the offense continues to struggle to find its groove. But on Monday night, Greene was good enough for the win by himself, throwing 8 2/3 innings of four-hit, shutout ball in a 2-0 win over the San Francisco Giants. Pat Brennan of the Cincinnati Enquirer joins Trags to discuss why Greene is the highlight of the early season for the Reds, why the Giants were willing to try anything Monday to get him off his game and why the Cincinnati offense will eventually come around, once fully healthy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- There's no shortage of storylines just four games into the 2025 Reds season, starting with Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain being together again. Elly is on fire and McLain is slugging already with three homers. De La Cruz used the torpedo bat Monday night and went 4-for-5 with a career-high seven RBI's in a 14-3 win over Texas. Annie Sabo of the FanDuel Sports Network and Reds Live pre and postgame joins Trags to discuss that and how much fun it was to be with her dad on Opening Day as he served as Grand Marshal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- The Reds head into a new season on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants as Opening Day 2025 is finally here. How will Terry Francona handle the roster in his first season? How will injuries to Tyler Stephenson and Spencer Steer impact the everyday lineup in left field? How will Jose Trevino handle the catching duties until Stephenson returns? And who will start in the closer's role or will it be by committee until Alexis Diaz returns from his hamstring injury? Mark Sheldon of MLB.com joins Trags to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- The Reds continue to make progress in their first spring training under skipper Terry Francona. In this episode of the Code Reds podcast, Trags is joined by C Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic to discuss how Opening Day pitcher and staff ace Hunter Greene looks this spring and why it's important not to judge by the numbers in spring. Trags and Rosecrans also talk Elly De La Cruz and how his personality and intelligence on the baseball diamond compares to another former baseball great from the Dominican. Why Gavin Lux could be so important to Francona's early plans with Spencer Steer still nursing a sore shoulder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- Terry Francona's first camp as Cincinnati Reds manager is underway and already he's leaving an indelible imprint on the team. Trags is joined by Brian Giesenschlag of FanDuel Sports Network to examine exactly what it is that makes Francona perfect for the job that lies ahead for this edition of the Reds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pitchers and catchers have reported for the start of Cincinnati Reds spring training in Goodyear, Arizona and already there's news concerning one of the young projected starters in the rotation. Trags is joined by Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer to discuss Rhett Lowder, Spencer Steer, the best possible defensive lineups and why depth and roster flexibility, not the starting lineup, is the most important thing to new manager Terry Francona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- There are great expectations with the 2025 Cincinnati Reds. With new manager Terry Francona and seven additions, the Reds have an expectation to not only compete to get to the postseason, but play deep into October. How will the club begin building momentum to meet those expectations in spring training? Where will Gavin Lux play? How will Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand fit in? Reds radio voice Tommy Thrall joins Trags to discuss on the latest episode of the Code Reds podcast. Welcome to CLNS Media's Cincinnati Sports Studio, your ultimate hub for everything sports in the Queen City! We bring you in-depth analysis, exclusive interviews, and breaking news covering your beloved Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds. As passionate fans ourselves, we understand the heartbeat of the Cincy sports community and aim to keep you ahead of the game with accurate and timely information! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds have big expectations for 2025 and a big part of those expectations center around the pitching staff. Derek Johnson returns for his seventh year as pitching coach under new manager Terry Francona. What are the next steps for Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo as leaders of the staff? What will be the keys to an effective pitching staff in 2025? How does DJ view the role of Alexis Diaz and Graham Ashcraft? Johnson addresses all of those questions and more with Trags as Spring Training 2025 rapidly approaches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- Chris Valaika has worked with some of the top young hitters in baseball in his last three years with the Cleveland Guardians as hitting instructor. He worked with Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez, helping to turn the Guardians into one of the most feared lineups in the American League. Can he work that same magic with the likes of Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz? New Reds skipper Terry Francona hired Valaika in 2022 and worked with him for two seasons. Now, Francona has brought Valaika on board for the similar role with the Reds. Trags talks with Valaika about he plans to work with Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain and the other talented and promising prospects on the Reds roster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- Hunter Greene was somehow not the pitcher of the month for July and Elly De La Cruz goes off Monday night in Miami like only Elly can. Annie Sabo of Bally Sports Cincinnati joins Trags to discuss the present and future Reds and why Jonathan India deserves much more praise than he gets. As for the past, Trags asks Annie about the biggest advice she received from her Reds legend father, Chris. All this and more on the latest episode of the Code Reds podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- The 2024 All-Star break is here and the Reds have yet to demonstrate consistency necessary to put together a playoff run in the second half. What will it take to change that and how big a role will Elly De La Cruz play? Are the Reds building a dominant pitching staff of the future? The drafting Chase Burns with their first round pick Sunday would seem to indicate as much. C. Trent Rosecrans joins Trags on the latest episode of Code Reds to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- It's been a typically up-and-down week for the 2024 Cincinnati Reds as they try to make a push before the All-Star break to get above .500 and generate momentum for a second-half playoff push. Rece Hinds has come out of nowhere to provide a spark and Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene are both headed to the All-Star Game in Texas for the first time. Mark Sheldon of MLB.com joins Trags to break it down on the latest edition of the Code Reds podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- While the offense still continues to struggle to find consistency without several key pieces, Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo have emerged as aces of the Cincinnati Reds staff. What does that mean for the 2024 Reds as the season approaches July? Could it help the Reds hold on long enough to make a playoff push? And what can the Reds realistically expect from the return of Noelvi Marte from his PED suspension? Trags welcomes Reds play-by-play voice Tommy Thrall to discuss this and much more on the latest Code Reds podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Reds appear to be slowly breaking out of their May slump, during which they won just six of 26 games. The offense is starting to heat up while the pitching is still carrying the load as the team looks to build momentum throughout June. The Reds won their first rubber game in nine tries Sunday in Chicago against the Cubs. Can the Reds put themselves on a pace to return to .500? Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer joins Trags to discuss on the latest episode of Code Reds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- From an inconsistent Alexis Diaz to a re-injured TJ Friedl, the Reds cannot catch a break. The season from injury hell continues and the Reds pitching staff once again looks like it's hitting a wall, and it's only May. What do the Reds and GM Nick Krall need to do to re-energize the clubhouse and help the players realize there's still hope for a playoff run? Trags welcomes Austin Elmore of ESPN1530 and 700 WLW to discuss all the possibilities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CINCINNATI -- Some 35 games through the MLB season and the Cincinnati Reds have baseball's worst team batting average at .207. There are many reasons for this: underperforming starters, injuries and suspensions to name a few. What do the Reds have to do to turn it around? How patient will Reds fans be? What can David Bell do? All these topics and more are discussed as Trags welcomes Mo Egger of ESPN1530 to the pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Reds are in the midst of a tough 31-game stretch against teams projected to contend for the postseason. The bats haven't quite come around in total but the pitching is showing very impressive signs. What will it take for the Reds to continue their push toward contending status? Trags chats with Bally Sports Ohio host of "Reds Live" Brian Giesenschlag on a number of topic in and out of the baseball realm on the latest episode of Code Reds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices