The Cincinnati Reds were dead in the water. They were 3-22 as of May 6, losing 11 in a row directly after team president Phil Castellini asked “Sell the team to who?” after the fanbase called out for a change in ownership. They won one out of their 21 games heading into last weekend, a streak of misery that invoked images of the 1899 Cleveland Spiders and the 1962 Mets.
That changed in the span of 55 hours. Not only did the Reds win their first series of the year, but they managed to double their win total on the season.
Three days make major difference on Cincinnati Reds
To say that the beginning of the 2022 season was a disappointment would be an understatement. Although they made moves to either trade, or outright get rid of, any salary they considered exorbitant, they still expected to contend. They would not have signed Tommy Pham or made the confusing trade for Mike Minor otherwise.
There have been mitigating circumstances. The Reds have 14 players on the Injured List, a number that decreased when Luis Castillo was activated on Monday. Key members of the lineup and pitching staff have been missing while the majority of the roster has underperformed.
But there is some degree of hope. Players are getting closer to returning. The Reds won a series, even if it was against the Pirates. They managed to defeat the Brewers on Monday. And, despite those issues, they are just two games behind the Tigers when it comes to getting out of the overall basement in the major league standings.
Chances are, the boat has already sailed as it comes to the Reds contending in 2022. That horrific start to the season may have killed the season before it ever began. However, the Reds finally have a glimmer of hope, something that had not been there before the past weekend.
The Cincinnati Reds were dead in the water heading into this past weekend. Just 55 hours later, there is a small sense of hope around the team.