Looking back

[Chip R]

This recent hot streak by the Reds after a mediocre start got me thinking. I started thinking about another team that started out slow and then right around this time started rolling off some wins. It seems like a lifetime ago but was really only 13 years ago.

On May 14 of 1999, the Reds had a record of 14-18. They lost the opener of a 3 game series to S.D. 7-3. After that game the Reds ripped off 5 wins in a row and went 82-49 the rest of the way and lost that infamous wild card playoff at home to the Mets.

On May 14 of 2012, the Reds had a record of 18-16. Since then they have gone 6-3 including winning the last 5 in a row.

Even with all the offensive shortcomings of this team, maybe they aren't so bad after all.

[OnBaseMachine]

As amazing as 2010 was, the 1999 Reds are still my favorite Reds team of all-time. I was only 12 years old in 1999 but I remember everything from that team like it happened yesterday. The 24-12 win in Colorado, the 22-1 win in Philly when the Reds set a NL record by hitting nine homers, Greg Vaughn hitting 3 homers in Wrigley, the Pokey Reese walk-off HR vs the Cardinals, the filthiness of Scott Williamson, the durability of Scott Sullivan, the incredible athleticsm up the middle with Larkin at SS, Pokey at 2B, and Mike Cameron in CF. Jeffrey Hammonds. Sean Casey contending for the batting title. Eddie Taubensee. God I loved that team. It's still hard to believe they won 96 games and missed the playoffs.

If the Reds can acquire a bat or two, this team has a chance to be every bit as good as that team, IMO.

[redsmetz]

This recent hot streak by the Reds after a mediocre start got me thinking. I started thinking about another team that started out slow and then right around this time started rolling off some wins. It seems like a lifetime ago but was really only 13 years ago.

On May 14 of 1999, the Reds had a record of 14-18. They lost the opener of a 3 game series to S.D. 7-3. After that game the Reds ripped off 5 wins in a row and went 82-49 the rest of the way and lost that infamous wild card playoff at home to the Mets.

On May 14 of 2012, the Reds had a record of 18-16. Since then they have gone 6-3 including winning the last 5 in a row.

Even with all the offensive shortcomings of this team, maybe they aren't so bad after all.

I just went and looked at the '99 team's record after playing May 23rd - they were 21-19, 4 games behind Houston in 4th place. This year, we're at 24-19, 1/2 game back in second place.

I can relax a little since we've picked up 3 games over that club and perhaps we won't have to worry about just winning that "one more game" that the team lacked in 1999.

[Vottomatic]

I need to see this current team do more than hit home runs to make me believe they can win it all. The struggle to manufacture runs is a big concern for me.

[M2]

I've thought this team resembles the 1999 team from the get go. The big thing about both the '99 and '12 teams is that there were a lot of new pieces to assimilate.

[wheels]

Michael Tucker would look very good in that lineup of today....

[Puffy]

Michael Tucker would look very good in that lineup of today....

I don't know - - he's kind of old.

[RedEye]

I need to see this current team do more than hit home runs to make me believe they can win it all. The struggle to manufacture runs is a big concern for me.

Isn't hitting HR one of the most efficient ways of all to manufacture runs?

[M2]

Michael Tucker would look very good in that lineup of today....

And how.

It would also be nice if Drew Stubbs did something to justify those Mike Cameron comparisons when he was coming up.

Yet who on this team is going to affect the '70s pornstar stylings of Gabe White?

[Virginia Beach Reds]

Isn't hitting HR one of the most efficient ways of all to manufacture runs?

Right, it's probably one of the easiest to shut down as well.

[jojo]

The Reds currently have a .568 winning percentage which projects to a 92 win season.

[WrongVerb]

I'm just wondering when the Reds fired Dusty and replaced him with...well, who IS that guy?

[11larkin11]

And how.

It would also be nice if Drew Stubbs did something to justify those Mike Cameron comparisons when he was coming up.

Yet who on this team is going to affect the '70s pornstar stylings of Gabe White?

http://www.bigredredemption.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Sam-LeCure.jpg

OR

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OvmuvHN8HnM/TDpKghYWPQI/AAAAAAAACQQ/yzOIMXxGjUU/s400/Miller+Stache+2.jpg

[OnBaseMachine]

In June of 1999, the Reds went on a 10-game winning streak which started with a 3-game sweep of the Diamondbacks in Arizona, followed up with a 4-game sweep of the Astros in Houston, and topped off by sweeping the DBacks in Cincinnati. This Reds team just won the final two games in New York against the Yankees and just completed a 4-game sweep at home against the Braves who are viewed as one of the best teams in baseball. What an impressive week of baseball by the Reds. And to think they have won six in a row with Bruce and Votto slumping. Imagine how good this team can be if the bats begin to wake up and the strong pitching continues.

[marcshoe]

This is one of the best top-to-bottom pitching staffs I've seen in Cincinnati, at least going back to the underrated staffs of the BRM years. I think that will make it easier for the team to avoid serious slumps as the season progresses.

[CySeymour]

Right, it's probably one of the easiest to shut down as well.

Sooo, what would you like to see them do?

[DGullett35]

Scott Sullivan and Eddie Taubensee were 2 of my favorite Redlegs. Hopefully we get that division crown and don't have to play in the one-game playoff. The way the '99 playoffs in the NL were is how there going to be every year from here on out. Going to be pretty exciting.