If you're like me, the 1990 team holds a special place in the heart. Not only was it a World Series champ, but it coincided with the first Reds' team I watched from start to finish. I had watched the Reds previously the couple years before, but I was still young enough it didn't stick. Fortunately for me, I was 10 in 1990 and I picked a great season to fall in love.
This team, though not identical, has a lot of the same traits as that team.
That team was built on a solid rotation, great bullpen, very good defense and a fairly athletic team. Probably the biggest difference is that team was more reliant on speed on the basepaths than power.
Nonetheless, some startling comparisons:
OBP
1990 (.325)
2012 (.317)
SLG
1990 (.399)
2012 (.414)
OPS
1990 (.724)
2012 (.731)
ERA
1990 (3.39)
2012 (3.39)
DEF. EFF. RATIO
1990 (.709)
2012 (.700)
FLD%
1990 (.983)
2012 (.986)
Starters
Rijo, 25 (2.70)
Cueto, 26 (2.83)
Armstrong, 25 (3.42)
Latos, 24 (3.52)
Browning, 30 (3.80)
Arroyo, 35 (3.70)
Jackson, 28 (3.61)
Bailey, 26 (3.75)
Scudder, 22 (4.90) (*Charlton and Mahler also started in this spot)
Leake, 24 (4.75)
Bullpen
Closer
Myers, LHP, 27 (2.07)
Chapman, LHP, 24 (1.55)
Setup
Dibble, RHP, 26 (1.74)
Broxton, RHP, 28 (2.14)
Charlton, LHP, 27 (2.74)
Marshall, LHP, 29 (2.58)
Layana, RHP, 26 (3.49)
Ondrusek, RHP, 27 (3.59)
Food for thought