After a dreadful 3-18 start to the 2022 campaign, the Reds got back on track in May.
More wins than defeats
The club is still bottom of the NL Central with a sub-.400 win percentage, but 14 wins to 13 losses in May is better than I (and many other fans) expected on 1 May.
More runs scored than conceded
Only just! The Reds scored a total of 135 runs in May and lower just two fewer, 133. But it is a step in the right direction.
Four-game winning streak
Two wins against the Cubs and two against the Giants accounted for the season-best, four-win stretch, Okay, it’s not the A’s in Moneyball or Indians in 2017, but a winning streak is a winning streak.
20 runs in ONE game
Tommy Pham slaps Joc Pederson
One of the unwritten rules of baseball is… don’t cheat in fantasy football. It appears that Pham took umbrage to Pederson’s sketchy tactics in their high-stakes fantasy football league. And apparently, commissioner, Mike Trout, refused to step in.
Phil Castellani offers a formal apology
It seemed like he was apologising for being honest rather than apologising for being wrong. His statement of “Well, where are you going to go?” to Reds fans dismayed at the direction of the club will live long in the memory.
It is a trait of the entitled to think that they can treat people with contempt and then issue an apology to wipe the slate clean.
You can read the transcript of the apology here.
And the 2021 Most Outstanding Pitcher award goes to…
Prior to the game against the Cubs on 24 May, Wade Miley was presented with the Cincinnati Reds’ 2021 Most Outstanding Pitcher award.
That’s the same Wade Miley that the club dumped in a move Bob Nightengale described as “surrendering before season starts.”
Reds lose four in Canda
Not four games, but four players. Tyler Mahle, Joel Kuhnel, Brandon Drury, and Albert Almora were placed on the unpaid, restricted list as their non-vaccinated status prevented entry into Canada for the games against the Blue Jays.
Reds no-hit the Pirates, well, sort of
Hunter Greene and Art Warren combined for eight innings of no-hit ball. When the team is as poor as the 2022 Reds, we will take any contrivance of success.
The game was more notable for the Reds losing despite the no-hitter, and Greene tossing an MLB-leading 118 pitches during his outing.
Farmer’s feast or famine
Mired in a record-breaking slump of 0-for-34, the longest by a Reds batter since Bobby Adams in 1954, Kyle Farmer busted out of it with a three-run homer. A few days later, he notched three more home runs and 10 RBI in the space of three games.
Pitcher of the month: Luis Castillo
The 29-year-old made five starts with a 2-2 record, tossing 26 2/3 innings for 3.38 ERA (2.92 FIP).
Hitter of the month: Tyler Naquin
Three home runs, 15 runs, and 12 RBI, to go along with two stolen bases and a .362 wOBA.
This award going to Naquin rather than Brandon Drury reflects Naquin’s greater offensive contribution beyond just box scores.
Strikeout king: Alexis Diaz
The rookie notched his first career save. He is only 183 saves behind his brother, Mets’ closer, Edwin Diaz. Alexis was simply awesome with a strikeout rate of 35.6 K%.
Hall of fame
- Most runs: Brandon Drury (18)
- Most RBI: Brandon Drury (19)
- Most home runs: Brandon Drury (5)
- Most stolen bases: TJ Freidl (4)
- Best wOBA (min 20pa): Joey Votto (.438)
Hall of shame
- Most blown saves: Art Warren (2)
- Worst ERA: Vladimir Gutierrez (8.00)
- Worst strikeout rate (batter): Aristides Aquino (44.9 K%)
What did we miss this month? Let us know on Twitter @UKRedsMLB
Featured image photo of Joey Votto by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
4000 miles from Ohio 