Cincinnati Reds: Forget Thom Brennaman, lets talk about Jesse Winker

Despite Cincinnati Reds’ announcer Thom Brennaman’s homophobic slur during Wednesday’s Reds-Royals game, Reds fans can smile at Jesse Winker’s success.

During Wednesday’s game between the road Cincinnati Reds and the home Kansas City Royals, Reds’ broadcaster Thom Brennaman uttered a homophobic slur, which was caught on a hot mic and broadcast along with the game.

Brennaman continued the broadcast but soon became aware that his hurtful words had been broadcast to the public.

After issuing a quick apology, Brennaman was whisked out of the booth and was promptly indefinitely suspended from announcing Reds’ games.

Hearing such outdated, disgusting language is never easy, especially when it comes from a respected figure.

Maybe there is some solace in that Brennaman meant to say the word privately. After all, in contrast to the many people publicly criticizing Brennaman, some have admitted to saying potentially more damaging words in private, in an attempt to take some heat off of Brennaman.

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Brennaman has worked with the Reds for the last 33 years and this is his first widely reported slip-up.

Maybe the situation can best be handled by leaving it alone. Let the Cincinnati Reds figure out a solution. Brennaman is beloved in Cincinnati, so maybe the best option is for the Reds to work with him on their own and help him grow as a person, potentially letting him enter the broadcast booth again, someday. Maybe that does not always work, though.

If there is any light-heartedness in this situation at all, it lies in that during Brennaman’s on-air apology, Cincinnati right fielder Nick Castellanos hit a home run into Kauffman Stadium’s “Judgement-Free Zone.”

While the situation is disappointing and heartbreaking for the city of Cincinnati, the Reds have some good mojo working for them in current designated hitter Jesse Winker.

Prior to Wednesday’s doubleheader in Kansas City, Winker had recorded a hit streak of five games, with at least two hits in each game.

Since August 4, Winker has a batting average .545.

Winker has homered in five of his last seven games, amounting to six home runs. He has driven runs home in five of his last seven games, as well, amounting to nine R.B.I.s.

His hot streak has set him up as the only player on the team with a batting average above .300, at an insane .357 through all 22 games played this season. He is fourth in baseball and third in the National League in batting average.

Winker is also second in baseball and first in the N.L. in slugging percentage at .732.

Winker leads Major League Baseball in on-base percentage at .493 and leads the Majors in O.P.S. at 1.225.

At this moment in the season, there is a strong argument that Jesse Winker is the best player in baseball.

If you want to save yourself a headache, then stop talking about the Brennaman fiasco and let the Reds’ organization and FOX Sports handle it in their own way. Start talking about Winker’s newfound superstar status.