COULD ’22 REDS RIVAL THE ’62 METS

The Cincinnati Reds are getting torched on and off the field.

The team enters Sunday tied for their worst start in franchise history, recording a 3-18 win/loss record.

Joey Votto is batting .129. “I’ve been through this,” said Votto said. “We did the same thing in 2018, (but) this feels the worst. I don’t remember us having that bad of a start in 2018. This is awful to experience each and every day. For me, it’s an awful and embarrassing experience.”

Overall, the team is batting .204 (14 of 15 NL teams) and last in pitching (5.97 ERA).

While the Reds are floundering, believe it or not, it’s not the worst start by a MLB team. The Baltimore Orioles own that dubious record, starting the 1988 season 0-21 and went on to lose 107 games. The 2003 Detroit Tigers own the second worst record over the first 21 games of the season by losing 19 of 21. The Reds are ranked third, tied with the 1969 Cleveland Indians and 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates.

It goes without saying, these are not teams you want to be associated with in conversation.

Still, none of those hapless teams went on to play as poorly as the 1962 New York Mets.

So, how likely is it that the 2022 Cincinnati Reds can match or top the 1962 New York Mets, who own the major league record for worst single season record (40-120)?

The ’62 Mets started their inaugural season 5-16, two games better than the 2022 Reds.

The difference between the ’62 Mets and ’22 Reds may turn out to be a single hot streak.

The original Mets were consistently bad month-after-month-after-month. It didn’t matter if they were at home, on the road, day, night, versus righties, lefty’s, April through September, etc. The Mets lost consistently … all … season … long.

With the exception of Casey Stengel, no one expected the 1962 Mets to win, but no one expected the team to be historically bad; not with a core of veteran stars including Gil Hodges, Frank Thomas, Richie Ashburn and Roger Craig and some talented young names (Jim Hickman, Ed Kranepool, Jay Hook and Al Jackson).

The intangible? Ownership.

While the 1962 New York Mets were fielding their first-ever baseball team in franchise history, and expectations were modest, the fans supported the team and, more importantly, Joan Payson and the team’s leadership were making every effort to be competitive. Reds President and COO Phil Castellini went on Cincinnati radio and television prior to the team’s home opener this season and blasted the fan base for not supporting and “celebrating” the franchise (see below).

Well, where you gonna go? Let’s start there. I mean, sell the team to who? I mean, that’s the other thing, I mean, you wanna have this debate?

The tone and attitude backfired. Castellini had no choice but to apologize. he told The Athletic: “I apologize to Reds fans and regret the comments that I made earlier today. We love this city, we love this team, and we love our fans. I understand how our fans feel and I am sorry.”

Castellini realized walking back his comments with an apology was too little, too late.

Since calling out the fan base, the Reds lost 11 in a row and 17 of their last 18 games.

Castellini said “we’re (ownership) not going anywhere,” but if the loses continue to pile up at the same rate, fans will get more brazen and the heat will be on ownership to do something.

The Big Red Machine needs an overhaul or by later this summer the ’62 Mets/’22 Reds debates will get real.

Games won so far in 2022:

Cincinnati Bengals: 4 (6 total games)
Cincinnati Reds: 3 (21 total games) pic.twitter.com/BBYtfKopq2

— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) May 1, 2022

Kirk we’ll send you a shirt if you want one pic.twitter.com/7osWaUfyXa

— LFGCincy (@LFGCincy) May 1, 2022