If you glanced at the baseball standings this morning, you might have been forgiven for thinking there was a misprint in the NL Central, because it shows the Cincinnati Reds alone in first. But there they are - something they’ve managed this late in the year on one day in the past five-plus seasons. It was June 8th, 2006, and fans will hope that wasn’t an omen, as Cincinnati then lost eight of the next nine.
Cincinnati Reds In First. Yes, You Read That Right
Can Dusty Baker and his merry men hold on? The Reds do have some good players. Joey Votto and veteran Scott Rolen have powered the offense thus far, Mike Leake is unbeaten after seven starts, and Francisco Cordero’s dozen saves front a bullpen which is better than its collective 4.66 ERA. And the team seems to have responded to a closed-door shellacking from Dusty Baker, going 13-5 since that point.
However, it still seems unlikely, not least because Cincinnati have actually been outscored by the opposition in total this season. It’s the nine one-run wins - most in the majors - that have got them to the top of the Central, a trend unlikely (though the 2007 Diamondbacks remind us, not impossible) to continue. This is reflected in a collective OPS+ and ERA+ which are both below league average, at 96 and 92 respectively.
Still, Reds fans can dream and Red Reporter compares this version to the 1962 team that won 98 games. With the next 14 games for Cincinnati all against sides currently below .500, they will be looking to extend their lead through the end of May, when they face what could be a crucial road series against the Cardinals.
See More:
