It was all downhill from the moment Ken Griffey Jr. tore his hamstring late this spring. Actually downhill doesn't quite capture what happened to the Reds in the first half of the season. After going 11-31 at home, a pace by which the Reds would eclipse their franchise mark for home futility, the team finds itself with the worst record in the National League. How many teams can you think of that have had four rookies in their starting rotation ... three of whom (Chris Reitsma, Jose Acevedo and Brian Reith) had combined for a total of five innings above Double-A in their careers? A look back at the disaster that was the Reds' first half.
First-half MVP: Is it possible that a minor-leaguer, yet to play a single major-league game, could be the team's MVP? Not really, but since the Reds are now playing for the future, it's tempting to say that Adam Dunn hitting 30 home runs combined between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville was the most exciting thing about the first half of this season. During those endlessly long innings at Cinergy Field -- as fans tired of watching the likes of Osvaldo Fernandez give up yet another run -- at least there was the pleasant fantasy of a future outfield including Dunn, Griffey, and, well, maybe Ruben Mateo. Back to the question, Sean Casey is the clear answer. Casey was the most consistent producer in the lineup, hitting .329. Some more power would be nice, but Cincinnati fans have to love their first baseman.
Biggest Surprise: Sorry, but Alex Ochoa is no surprise. After a solid year last year, that Ochoa is hitting .300 is good news, but doesn't exactly qualify as a major shock. And that leaves? Many mediocre performances. Is Ruben Rivera's average, hovering around .260, a shocker given his previous three campaigns in which he never hit over .210? Maybe it's Jim Brower, (4-6, 3.62 in 24 appearances) who has turned into a valuable inning-eater out of the bullpen, allowing just nine earned runs in his last 41 2/3 innings dating back to May 17. Elmer Dessens (6-6, 4.58) is now the staff ace, and that's a surprise, but that's due to injuries, as he's really just the same pitcher he was last year, when he was the team's fourth or fifth option. Rookie Reitsma (4-7, 4.20) has been serviceable, but unspectacular. We'll go with 35-year old Chris Nichting (3.26 ERA, 19 K in 19 1/3 IP), the long-time minor-leaguer who has been quite solid in the bullpen for the Reds in the first half.
Biggest disappointment: What wasn't a disappointment in Cincinnati this year? I defy you to find 10 things about the Reds that don't qualify for this category. This is a team that won 10-of-41 games at home. Think any fans were a bit disappointed? The injury to Junior is at the top of this list, trailing perhaps only Barry Larkin's first-half performance. Mired by injury, Larkin managed a paltry two home runs in 156 at-bats, batting a mere .256. Can't forget Pete Harnisch, who has made just seven starts, has just one win, and an ERA of 6.37. Does the name Deion Sanders ring a bell? Fearful that the team wasn't cornering the market in disappointing players, they traded for Mateo in June, a guy who is considered one of the best prospects in the game but had hit just .248 with one homer through the end of May and was sent to the minors by the Rangers.
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Reds first-half comparison
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2000
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2001
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W-L
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43-44
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33-54
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HR leader
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Griffey, 28
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Casey, 10
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BA leader
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Larkin, .315
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Casey, .329
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ERA
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Neagle, 3.52
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Reitsma, 4.20
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Second-half goals: Based on the offensive talent on this team, this answer should be related to getting the Reds in position to win the wild card spot at least. Instead, the team must look at the second half of the season as a chance to create for themselves some sort of identity. How is it that a team considered to have one of the most talented offenses in the league has no player with more than 10 home runs in the first half? Get Casey and Junior used to batting back-to-back in the order. Perhaps call up future-stars Mateo and Dunn to give them a look. Get Aaron Boone healthy and playing consistently. Mostly, figure out who is in the starting rotation. The Reds have used nine starters including four rookies this year. Which of these guys can step up and produce in the starting rotation for years to come?
Minor-leaguer to watch: Without a doubt, it's Dunn. The 21-year old former University of Texas backup quarterback has incredible power, plate discipline, and work ethic. Since being called up to Triple-A Louisville, he's hit 18 home runs in his first 45 games, hitting .331. Expect to see Dunn in Cincinnati some time in August. He's hardly the only minor-leaguer we'll hear from in the second half in Cincy. Watch for Chris Peters, the former Expos pitcher, beginning to put things together at Louisville. Outfielder Ben Broussard, tearing it up at Chattanooga, is another guy to watch for. Hearing from Mateo would be nice, though he's struggling in Louisville so far.
Grade:  -- Things couldn't have gone much worse for the Reds in the first half. Injuries took a huge toll to both their offense and their pitching. Since the return of Griffey Jr., the team has looked slightly better, but the Reds have a long way to go before they look like a contender once again. Just to get back to .500, the team would have to win 50 of their last 80 games. Not gonna happen, folks.
(Scale: 1 to 4 baseballs; 1 = worst, 4 = best)
Here's what your had to say about the Reds' first half.
Bill Konigsberg is an assistant editor at ESPN.com
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