Based on my walk through downtown and The Banks, Cincinnati still loves baseball and drinking beer — not necessarily in that order. It looked like a perfectly normal Opening Day.

Folks were enjoying the sunshine and talking Reds. The sidewalks along the parade route were packed. (Personal note: It’s the first time I’ve witnessed the parade. I was always already at the ballpark chronicling the last few player moves while the parade marched on).

Last year, of course, was anything but a normal Opening Day. Phil Castellini gave his infamous “Where you going to go?” quote on WLW show that morning, then doubled down with WLWT. It lit a social media fire that the Reds never really were able to put out.

t didn’t help that they lost 21 of the next 22 games. Call it the Phil Curse.

The question for 2023: Will the fans forgive the ownership? I’m guessing not. But I think this team — full of young players — can win over the fans.

That will take a decent start to the season.

Is that possible? Surre. The thing I like best about this team is the three young pitchers anchoring the rotation. If Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft can be above average, it will go a long way to having the pitching staff fall into place.

Bullpens are better when they only have to cover two or three innings a night. The lineup isn’t going to scare many pitchers. But I think you Jonathan India, Tyler Stephenson and Wil Myers will hit. And they should get Joeyt Votto back in eight days or so.

The offense’s success will ultimately relie on TJ Frield, Spencer Steer, Will Benson and Jose Barrero. Unproven, unproven, unproven and unproven.

But that’s what happens when you’re rebuilding with young (read cheap) players.

As for ownership, the only thing that will get them back in the good graces is winning — going from 62 wins like last year to, say, 74 or 75. That won’t be easy,

As for Phil Castellini, I think it would have served him well to tape an apology and play it on the big board before the first pitch: Something along the lines of:

“I said some foolish things on Opening Day last year and Rosie Reds this offseason. For that, I am truly sorry. We love our fans. We’ve stuck with our plan to rebuild with young players. We think we’re going to reap the rewards that soon. I hope you can move past my words and embrace this team. Thanks for filling up the ballpark today.”