Cincinnati Reds: Does 2016 Record Matter?

The Cincinnati Reds are in full rebuild mode but what should fans expect for 2016? Does winning matter?

After six seasons of the Reds starting the year with expectations of postseason baseball, 2016 has taken a different turn after the trades of top players since last years trade deadline. The Reds have traded top stars in Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Todd Frazier, and Aroldis Chapman since last July’s trade deadline. The expectations of the Reds has transitioned to long-term planning.

Some have suggested that this should mean that the Reds’ record this season does not matter. That 2016 should only be about improvement and progression of the younger talent. The argument is that the focus should be on how well the team executes fundamentals, not how many wins or losses the team has. Some have even suggested that the Reds should go ahead and extend Bryan Price, who so far has been one of the worst managers of the Reds in the past 20 years. I reject these arguments. Winning always matters.

I agree that the team needs to improve on fundamentals and playing hard. However, if they do those things they will win more than the lose. If the fundamentals are bad, they will lose. It is factually wrong to argue that winning doesn’t matter but how they play the game does. The Reds played bad fundamental baseball last year and because of that they lost 98 games. If they improve on the fundamentals and progression is made this year, they will win.  The win-loss record is how you fairly judge how effective the team is executing those fundamentals.

Reds fans need to take a different approach for 2016. First, they need to hope that the 25-man roster features the best 25 players in the organization, regardless of service time clocks. This will give the Reds the best chance to develop a winner for 2017 or 2018. Holding players in Triple-A after they are MLB ready does the team nor the player any service.

Secondly, Reds fans should expect better in-game management from Bryan Price. The way he has mismanaged the pitching staff his first two seasons was abysmal, leaving guys in for multiple batters too many. With the number of young pitchers on the staff it will be imperative that Price pull guys at the right time.

Finally, while no one would predict the Reds to compete this year, fans should root their team to win every game.  That is what potentially could make this year fun, exciting wins when the expectation is to lose. For the team, they should go into each game expecting to win. If this year’s team features the future, a winning attitude must be instilled in them now, and not wait for when the experts think they could compete again.

When you enter the Reds clubhouse there is a large mural of GABP. Above the mural are the words “Prepare to Win.” On the doorway from the clubhouse to the dugout there is another sign, “Expect to Win.” In 2016, the Cincinnati Reds must expect to win and their record does matter.