Where does this season fall in the Reds' most disappointing since 1990?

The Cincinnati Reds have a storied history, the longest in professional baseball, but more than 30 years have passed since their last World Series title. Times have grown bleak for the Queen City. As the 2024 season draws to a close, it seems worthwhile to reflect how the year’s doldrums rank among the Reds’ 34 seasons since the team’s last championship.

The Reds ended the season with yet another losing record. Cincinnati finished with a 77-85 win-loss record and a .475 win percentage. This is by no means be the worst win percentage in recent history, or even the worst win percentage under recently ousted manager David Bell.

That dubious accolade goes to the 2022 club, whose 100 losses rank second-most in franchise history. That season was replete with injuries, underperforming vets, and underdeveloped rookies. To give you an idea of the extent of Cincinnati’s woes that year, the team’s closer had more wins than any starter on the squad.

Was this year's Reds team worse than any of Bryan Price's ball clubs?

While not pleasant by any means, this season will not match Bryan Price’s run as manager from 2014-2018. Price steered the team to three straight last-place finishes before he was replaced 18 games into the 2018 season. The club also finished in last place that year.

The most disappointing aspect of these seasons was the wasted potential. Price had a Cy Young runner-up, Johnny Cueto, in 2014 and an MVP runner-up, Joey Votto, in 2017. Still, two of Price’s teams land in the franchise’s top 10 for runs allowed. The four straight worst-place seasons are the team’s worst stretch since 1931-1934.

Second-half letdowns have defined the Reds in recent years

Cincinnati fans are no stranger to disappointment. In fact, the majority of the past 34 seasons have seen the team produce a worse win percentage in the second half than the first. In fact, it’s been more than a decade since the last September surge in Cincinnati when the club pushed its way into the postseason in 2012 with a 50-27 record in the second half.

Perhaps the worst collapse in recent Reds history can be blamed on a World Series hangover. The 1991 squad surged to 10 games over .500 before hitting a 10-game losing streak that bookended the All-Star break. The difference between their first half and second half win percentage was 18.4%, and they broke the record for worst win percentage by a defending champ.

To add insult to injury, the Reds earned the fifth pick in the MLB Draft and used it on Chad Mattola. The journeyman outfielder is now best known as the guy Cincinnati drafted instead of choosing Derek Jeter.

So, by most real metrics, this year hasn’t been the worst since the last World Series title. But if you consider bad luck a real metric, 2024 might take the cake. The difference between the Reds’ actual win percentage and Pythagorean win percentage was -.028. This is the fourth-worst negative differential since 1990. The 2024 Reds is the first Cincinnati club since at least 1990 to outscore their opponents and have a losing record.

This year’s team has also been on the losing end of a no-hitter, has a 15-28 record in one-run games, and has been shutout 16 times. Even when the team avoids catastrophe – like a potential perfect game tossed by an intrastate foe – the Reds come under fire. This is to say nothing of the injuries, personnel changes, and transactions that have rocked the club.

All in all, it might be a tougher time than ever to be a Reds fan.

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