This was a very difficult thing for the Cincinnati Reds this year.
After a miserable 3-22 start, they found themselves in the last place in the National League Central Division and with the worst record in baseball.
Things have picked up a bit for them, but they still find themselves at the bottom of the pile.
Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person.
A Reds Insider noted that 14 of the team’s next 17 games are against teams that are currently below the .500 mark.
The Reds have played 15 of their next 17 games at home (they have played the least number of home games in baseball so far).
Out of their next 17 games, 14 are against teams that currently have a losing record (only 3 teams have fewer games against teams under .500).
– Joel Lukaupt (lujluckhaupt) May 23, 2022
An opportunity for liberation?
While the Reds are not a team that you see and think of as competitors after their fire sales, there is room for improvement.
It’s not that this team is completely incompetent.
Their lineup still includes Joey Voto, Jonathan India, Mike Mustakas and Tommy Pham.
Luis Castillo has one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.
Perhaps through this next game against teams below the .500, they can regain some momentum and get themselves a little closer to the .500 mark.
This is a team that finished 83-79 a year ago and would have created a post-season if the new rules for making a sixth team per league were in effect.
This will not make them an obvious competitor by any stretch of the imagination, but they can at least get themselves close to the .500 mark and become a sleeping team.
Not that there is much hope for them, but a stretch against a bad team can always help revive your team.