Cincinnati Reds‘ players and fans might feel sick to their stomachs during the three-game home series against the Chicago Cubs that starts tonight.
The Reds were the team to beat in the NL Central just four years ago in 2012. The Cubs were the laughingstock doormats of the division then. Now, the tables have turned.
The 2016 Reds have a 29-47 record to start the series against the Cubs. Somehow, the 2012 Cubs managed to be even worse. The Cubs posted a 27-49 record through the first 76 games of the 2012 season.
The 2016 Cubs are actually on a much more impressive roll to start the season than the 2012 Reds. The 2016 Cubs are 48-26. The 2012 Reds led the division at this point in the season with a mere 41-33 record.
The 2012 Reds did catch fire, though. The team had a 10-game winning streak amidst a 21-3 tear from July 6 through August 4. The club finished the season with 97 wins on their way to a division title. The Reds then blew a 2-0 lead in the 2012 NLDS.
The 2016 Cubs don’t quite have the numbers of some of the Big Red Machine teams of the 1970’s. The 1970 Reds went 70-30 in the team’s first 100 games. The 1975 Reds won a whopping 108 games and the World Series. Furthermore, the 1976 Reds won 102 games and successfully defended their World Series title.
The Cubs aren’t at the Big Red Machine level. The Cubs’ big market advantage, however, gives the team the chance to buy a shot at similar success.
The small market Reds will find the going difficult just to piece together another five-year window of contention within the next decade.
Fortunately for Reds’ fans, the Reds provided a tribute to Pete Rose and the Big Red Machine just prior to the upcoming series with the Cubs.
Now, the reality of the Reds will sink in again. Stands that were just chock full of the red of the Big Red Machine yesterday now will look more akin to a swarm of blue cockroaches.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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