Two teams in one week, and we are officially back in the swing of things! Today's team is the Cincinnati Reds. They joined the NL in 1890, and actually played in the NL West from 1969-1993 before joining their current division, the central. They've won five world series, with their first coming from the infamous 1919 Black Sox Scandal. Fun fact, that was one of a few best of 9 game series formats that they tried. They've also won 9 NL Pennants and 10 division titles. The Reds have many players enshrined in Cooperstown, however possibly the most famous is not there due to his alleged gambling ways.
Cincinnati Reds first logo (previously were Red Stockings)
This lineup is going to cause some serious problems for opposing pitchers. It features a wide range of eras, with some members of the dominant 70s Big Red Machines playing a pivotal point. Joe Morgan will slot into the lead off role due to his 23 speed, 10 OB and solid chart. Coming in at 6.54 runs he is the #1 2B card ever created, and it is abundantly clear as to why. Sliding in behind him will be the great Frank Robinson's 1961 card, which comes in at 6.49 runs and gives an amazing +3 on defense to go along with 10 OB, 20 speed and an unreal chart. Tony Perez will bat third and lends a ridiculous chart of 16-20 HR, 15 triple and 13-14 double to go with 9 OB for 5.91 runs. In the cleanup slot will be one of the best hitters of all time in Pete Rose. He brings an awesome 10 OB, two doubles and triples chart to go with a HR to the tune of 5.94 expected runs. Giving him some protection is the deadly George Foster 1977 card that might be 9 OB but 15-20 HR gives you a TON of pop and at 5.80 expected runs, he is a great fit there.
After Foster will be the breakout stud in Eugenio Suarez who gives another great 9 OB card and is actually the acting DH in this lineup, and brings a 5.46 expected run card to the 6 hole. Batting 7th is the Kid, in this custom made 2000 card you get a bunch of pop and some solid defense. Full disclosure, with Griffey and Bench I went against the mathematics, as both Winkler and Taubensee were higher rated. Griffey comes in at 4.995 expected runs to Winkler's 5.21 and Taubensee's 4.32 to Bench's 3.93, however I think the extra power and defense you get from Griffey is well worth it. I could not leave Bench off of this team, given his absolutely ridiculous home run range and arm. I know he won't get his chart often, but when he does, my oh my watch out. Furthermore, the difference between a +3 arm and a +10 arm is enormous. I know I'm going against my own formulas, however just like real life, the analytics only matter so much. Larkin will act as a defacto lead off man with great speed, 9 OB and a solid chart. The lineup will undoubtedly rake and put this team in a position to win. The rotation's success will be directly correlated to the manager's ability to get high rolls, as it is all 3 and 4 Controls. Despite the lower control, with their extended innings you could potentially roll yourself to dominance. The rotation is lead off by Gary Nolan's ridiculous card, coming in at 5.12 expected runs with 3 control but 20 to get on base. Ee slots in as a top pitcher and Cueto's 2014 card is follows him, giving 8 IP and a 19 to get on base for 5.66 runs. Gullet brings in an almost identical card, albeit giving up a double and one less IP.
Billingham and Harnisch fill out the roster with similar cards. Both having 4 Control and a 17 to get on base, they slot in at 6.59 and 6.77 expected runs respectively. This rotation definitely lacks in control, but with some decent rolling you will be on fire. The bullpen is led by Chapman, which follows the lower control trend, while giving up a single and double. This comes in at 4.82 expected runs which is solid, albeit not his best card. Williamson's 2000 card follows that up with another low control, albeit with only 2 walks for 5.51 expected runs. Eastwick gives the first 6 control in this pitching staff for 5.78 expect runs, with Carroll having a very similar card for 5.95 expected runs.
Borbon rounds out the bullpen with 5 control, and I would guess that there's going to be a time with this team that you're not rolling well and you're going to be happy there's some higher control guys available. For the bench, I'm going to include Winkler due to his 10 OB and ability to play every outfield position, and then I'm honestly torn up on how to fill out the roster. Do you add Graves for an additional bullpen arm? Taubensee for an 8 OB catcher? Dunn or Votto for some extra power? I think I'm going to lean to Graves and Dunn to give me an extra arm and some 10 OBs for the moments where Bench might be batting in the 9th against a 6 control pitcher and you really need the advantage.
It obviously isn't ideal having two guys who can't hit home runs on their own charts on the bench, but the 10 OB leads them both to having 5+ expected runs, which is more than Griffey, Bench and Larkin. Graves adds another solid arm in the bullpen, which is always nice to have. Overall they come in at 3,880 for their lineup, which is mostly due to the low valuation of Classic cards. Their pitching rotation comes in at a respectable 2,530 and their bullpen at 1,070. The bench comes in at 1,040 for a total of 8,520 which is definitely solid. This team will undoubtedly compete due to their stellar lineup and the ability of the starters to go deep in games. I wouldn't peg them to run away with the division, but they will definitely put up a fighting effort.
Hitters
Starters
RP
Looking for improvements in this lineup is going to be near impossible to find, as they find themselves having some of the best seasons from their best players displayed here. Ted Kluszewski's 1954 season at 1B might have some a spot in which he led the league with 49 HRs, 141 RBIs and slashed .326/.407/.642. For pitching there could be some help in Jim Maloney's 1965 season in which he went 20-9 with a 2.54 ERA over 255 IP while racking up 244 Ks. In more modern times, Arroyo's 2006 season could help with a 14-11 record and a 3.29 ERA he doesn't jump out at you but he led the league with 35 starts and 240.2 IP and tallied 184 Ks. In the bullpen Jeff Brantley in '96 had 44 saves, and in '97 Jeff Shaw had 42. Francisco Cordero also had a run of finishing games early this decade. For the most part however, the Reds have been lucky enough to have their stars shown in our wonderful game of showdown.
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