In the 18 previous years of the NL Central's existence, the Reds have been in 1st at the break 3 times (1994, 1995, 2010) and went on to win the division in each of those years - their only three titles.
The Reds were in 2nd place at the ASB four times (1999, 2000, 2002, 2006) and finished 2nd or 3rd each of those years.
They've only improved their divisional standing (games back or games
ahead) after the break four out of eighteen times - 1995 (+4), 2006
(+0.5), 2007 (+0.5) and 2010 (+4).
In other words, let's hope that over the remaining 9 games of the first half, they can hang on to this lead.
More random notes:
Only 7 of 18 times, the Reds were .500 or above at the break.
Only 6 of 18 times, the Reds finished the season .500 or above.
The 1996 team improved from 39-43 to finish .500.
The 2002 and 2006 teams fell off their winning paces to finish below .500.
In the 14 previous years of the current 6-team configuration, the Reds have finished in the top three only 6 times. Thankfully they've never finished dead last, a spot normally reserved for the Pirates.
Mr. Redlegs is watching you. Always.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Reds All-Time Offensive Leaders in Interleague Play
Since interleague play began in 1997 the Cincinnati Reds have, without question, been a team in flux. They've made only one playoff appearance (in 2010) and the lineup, aside from a few mainstays, has shifted on an almost annual basis.
For example, the cutoff I used in comparing rate stats for this post was 55 interleague games - which is not even equivalent to four full seasons of such contests. Even so, only 10 players made the mark.
Active players underlined. All statistics through June 21st, 2012 - so they exclude the Reds/Twins series.
Most games:
1) Griffey - 115
2) Phillips - 106
3) Dunn - 98
4) Casey - 93
5) Larkin - 71
6) Bruce - 70
7) Votto - 67
8) Reese - 66
9) LaRue - 61
10) A. Boone - 55
Most hits:
1) Phillips - 132
2) Griffey - 105
3) Casey - 94
4) Dunn - 87
5) Larkin - 82
Most doubles:
1) Tie - Larkin, Votto and Phillips - 18
4) Casey - 17
5) Tie - Dunn and Bruce - 16
Most triples:
1) Larkin - 4
2) Numerous others tied with 1
Most home runs:
1) Griffey - 32
2) Dunn - 28
3) Votto - 18
4) Phillips - 17
Most RBIs:
1) Griffey - 71
2) Phillips - 62
3) Dunn - 56
4) Votto - 49
5) Casey - 43
Most walks:
1) Dunn - 59
2) Griffey - 43
3) Larkin - 39
4) Votto - 38
5) Casey - 30
Most strikeouts:
1) Dunn - 125
2) Griffey - 102
3) Bruce - 72
Most stolen bases:
1) Phillips - 20
2) Reese - 14
3) Tie - Freel and Stubbs - 10
Best batting average:
1) Phillips - .317
2) Larkin - .314
3) Votto - .298
Best on-base percentage:
1) Larkin - .401
2) Votto - .394
3) Dunn - .361
The biggest surprises from this list, for me:
- Brandon Phillips dominated a bunch of categories. I didn't expect him to have the best batting average or second-most RBIs. Very impressive.
- Joey Votto with a batting average below .300 is a shocker.
For example, the cutoff I used in comparing rate stats for this post was 55 interleague games - which is not even equivalent to four full seasons of such contests. Even so, only 10 players made the mark.
Active players underlined. All statistics through June 21st, 2012 - so they exclude the Reds/Twins series.
Most games:
1) Griffey - 115
2) Phillips - 106
3) Dunn - 98
4) Casey - 93
5) Larkin - 71
6) Bruce - 70
7) Votto - 67
8) Reese - 66
9) LaRue - 61
10) A. Boone - 55
Most hits:
1) Phillips - 132
2) Griffey - 105
3) Casey - 94
4) Dunn - 87
5) Larkin - 82
Most doubles:
1) Tie - Larkin, Votto and Phillips - 18
4) Casey - 17
5) Tie - Dunn and Bruce - 16
Most triples:
1) Larkin - 4
2) Numerous others tied with 1
Most home runs:
1) Griffey - 32
2) Dunn - 28
3) Votto - 18
4) Phillips - 17
Most RBIs:
1) Griffey - 71
2) Phillips - 62
3) Dunn - 56
4) Votto - 49
5) Casey - 43
Most walks:
1) Dunn - 59
2) Griffey - 43
3) Larkin - 39
4) Votto - 38
5) Casey - 30
Most strikeouts:
1) Dunn - 125
2) Griffey - 102
3) Bruce - 72
Most stolen bases:
1) Phillips - 20
2) Reese - 14
3) Tie - Freel and Stubbs - 10
Best batting average:
1) Phillips - .317
2) Larkin - .314
3) Votto - .298
Best on-base percentage:
1) Larkin - .401
2) Votto - .394
3) Dunn - .361
The biggest surprises from this list, for me:
- Brandon Phillips dominated a bunch of categories. I didn't expect him to have the best batting average or second-most RBIs. Very impressive.
- Joey Votto with a batting average below .300 is a shocker.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Baseball Card Scans: 6 Murderers, 4 Mustaches and 3 Managers
Okay, so not actual murderers. They just look like it. But the mustaches and managers are real!
First, the guys who look like they might kill you, each in their own unique way. Click the photos to enlarge.
On to the mustaches. You'll notice that Tom Brookens appears again here, because he's got a killer 'stache...literally.
And finally, some early pictures of eventual managers. How many of their teammates figured these guys would coach?
First, the guys who look like they might kill you, each in their own unique way. Click the photos to enlarge.
On to the mustaches. You'll notice that Tom Brookens appears again here, because he's got a killer 'stache...literally.
And finally, some early pictures of eventual managers. How many of their teammates figured these guys would coach?
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Cincinnati Sweeps Cleveland: Facts and Stats
The Reds successfully finished off a sweep of the Indians with a 12-5 afternoon victory at GABP, and are now back to their season-high mark of 8 games over .500.
- This was only the second time they've swept Cleveland in an interleague series. The first was in May of 2008. Cleveland has swept Cincinnati 3 times, in 1999, 2004 and 2011.
- The Reds' all-time record against Cleveland is now 39-38 in interleague play.
- This was the second-highest single-game run total for the Reds against Cleveland. They won 14-5 on July 8th, 2000 at Cinergy Field.
- This was the highest single-game run total for the Reds in any interleague game since June 22nd, 2007 when they won 16-1 at Seattle.
- This is only the 6th time in 229 interleague games that the Reds have scored 12 or more.
- The Reds scored a total of 24 runs in the three-game series. They've never done that against Cleveland.
- The last time the Reds scored 24 or more in ANY three-game series was August, 2010 at Arizona (26 runs in a sweep).
- The last time the Reds scored 24 or more in a home three-game series was May, 2010 against Houston (27 runs in spite of being on the losing end of a shutout in the finale).
- The last time the Reds scored 24 or more in an interleague three-game series was June, 2005 against Tampa Bay (34 runs in a sweep). They only accomplished it one additional time - 1999 at Kansas City (30 runs in a sweep).
- The Reds' interleague record now stands at 103-126, for a winning percentage of .450 which is still the fourth-worst in MLB. Only the Orioles, Padres and Pirates have been worse.
- This was only the second time they've swept Cleveland in an interleague series. The first was in May of 2008. Cleveland has swept Cincinnati 3 times, in 1999, 2004 and 2011.
- The Reds' all-time record against Cleveland is now 39-38 in interleague play.
- This was the second-highest single-game run total for the Reds against Cleveland. They won 14-5 on July 8th, 2000 at Cinergy Field.
- This was the highest single-game run total for the Reds in any interleague game since June 22nd, 2007 when they won 16-1 at Seattle.
- This is only the 6th time in 229 interleague games that the Reds have scored 12 or more.
- The Reds scored a total of 24 runs in the three-game series. They've never done that against Cleveland.
- The last time the Reds scored 24 or more in ANY three-game series was August, 2010 at Arizona (26 runs in a sweep).
- The last time the Reds scored 24 or more in a home three-game series was May, 2010 against Houston (27 runs in spite of being on the losing end of a shutout in the finale).
- The last time the Reds scored 24 or more in an interleague three-game series was June, 2005 against Tampa Bay (34 runs in a sweep). They only accomplished it one additional time - 1999 at Kansas City (30 runs in a sweep).
- The Reds' interleague record now stands at 103-126, for a winning percentage of .450 which is still the fourth-worst in MLB. Only the Orioles, Padres and Pirates have been worse.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Cincinnati Reds: May 2012 Summary
The Reds went 17-11 in May to surge into first place in the NL Central, holding a lead of 1.5 games over the St. Louis Cardinals entering play June 1st.
Cincinnati won 5 series, split 3 and lost 2.
Home: 8-4
Road: 9-7
vs Central: 6-5
vs East: 7-4
vs West: 2-1
vs AL: 2-1
Overall offensive trends: Average stable at an ugly number (.240 April, .242 May). OBP the same story: .306 in both months. The only improvement was in power - slugging rose from .387 to .421, boosting the Reds' OPS+ from 95 to 98. Bottom line: the Reds can win with this offense, but only if the pitching remains other-worldly. They need to get on base more to help win this division.
Overall pitching trends: The starters posted almost identical, solid-but-not-spectacular numbers in May (3.86 ERA) relative to April (3.89). The bullpen went from great to insanely great, lowering its ERA from 2.81 to 2.02 and its WHIP from 1.25 to 1.03. All these numbers are good enough to make the playoffs. Again, the question is offense.
Individual offensive trends:
UP significantly (40 or more OPS+ points): Votto, Heisey, Hanigan
DOWN significantly: Bruce, Cozart, Mesoraco
NOT MUCH CHANGE (GOOD): Phillips
NOT MUCH CHANGE (BAD): Stubbs
Individual pitching trends:
UP significantly: Latos, Bailey, Leake, Simon, LeCure, Marshall
DOWN significantly: Cueto, Arroyo, Ondrusek
NOT MUCH CHANGE (GOOD): Chapman, Arredondo
And finally, my "Randy Awards" for the month of May.
RANDY NEWBIE:
JJ Hoover (0.90 ERA in 10 IP, 10 K) - yes he pitched in April, but May was his first full month with the Reds.
Cincinnati won 5 series, split 3 and lost 2.
Home: 8-4
Road: 9-7
vs Central: 6-5
vs East: 7-4
vs West: 2-1
vs AL: 2-1
Overall offensive trends: Average stable at an ugly number (.240 April, .242 May). OBP the same story: .306 in both months. The only improvement was in power - slugging rose from .387 to .421, boosting the Reds' OPS+ from 95 to 98. Bottom line: the Reds can win with this offense, but only if the pitching remains other-worldly. They need to get on base more to help win this division.
Overall pitching trends: The starters posted almost identical, solid-but-not-spectacular numbers in May (3.86 ERA) relative to April (3.89). The bullpen went from great to insanely great, lowering its ERA from 2.81 to 2.02 and its WHIP from 1.25 to 1.03. All these numbers are good enough to make the playoffs. Again, the question is offense.
Individual offensive trends:
UP significantly (40 or more OPS+ points): Votto, Heisey, Hanigan
DOWN significantly: Bruce, Cozart, Mesoraco
NOT MUCH CHANGE (GOOD): Phillips
NOT MUCH CHANGE (BAD): Stubbs
Individual pitching trends:
UP significantly: Latos, Bailey, Leake, Simon, LeCure, Marshall
DOWN significantly: Cueto, Arroyo, Ondrusek
NOT MUCH CHANGE (GOOD): Chapman, Arredondo
And finally, my "Randy Awards" for the month of May.
RANDY HITTER:
Joey Votto - .355, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 23 walks
Honorable mention: Ryan Hanigan
RANDY MOST IMPROVED HITTER:
Chris Heisey (raised his OPS+ by 46 points)
RANDY STARTER:
Mat Latos (3-0, 3.26, and a 1.12 WHIP)
Honorable mention: Homer Bailey
RANDY MOST IMPROVED PITCHER:
Mike Leake (his ERA was 2.1 runs lower)
RANDY RELIEVER:
Aroldis Chapman (still sporting a 0.00 ERA, struck out 23 batters in May)
RANDY MOST IMPROVED RELIEVER:
Sean Marshall (his ERA was 2.4 runs lower)
JJ Hoover (0.90 ERA in 10 IP, 10 K) - yes he pitched in April, but May was his first full month with the Reds.
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