1999 Cincinnati Reds

1999 Cincinnati Reds / Franchise: Cincinnati Reds / BR Team Page[edit]

Record: 96-67, Finished 2nd in NL Central Division (1999 NL)

Coaches: Harry Dunlop, Ken Griffey, Don Gullett, Tom Hume, Denis Menke and Ron Oester

History, Comments, Contributions[edit]

The 1999 Cincinnati Reds were an offensive powerhouse that had ten players finish with double-digit home runs and six players finish with ten or more stolen bases. Their offensive prowess, coupled with solid pitching, led them to a 96-67 record and a second-place finish in the National League Central. The home run barrage was powered by Greg Vaughn, who smashed 45 dingers and had 118 RBI in 153 games. He also contributed 15 stolen bases. Perhaps the most well-rounded offensive campaign belonged to first baseman Sean Casey, however, who hit .332/.399/.539 with 25 home runs, 99 RBI, 103 runs scored and a team-best 132 OPS+ in 594 at-bats. Batting .311 with 21 homers and 87 RBI, catcher Eddie Taubensee had a career year, while future Hall of Famer Barry Larkin contributed a .293/.390/.420 line with 12 home runs, 30 stolen bases and 108 runs scored. Mike Cameron and Pokey Reese tied for the team lead in stolen bases with 38 each, while contributing 21 and 10 home runs, respectively. Aaron Boone added 14 home runs and 17 steals, Michael Tucker contributed 11 and 11, respectively, and Jeffrey Hammonds slugged 17 home runs in just 262 at-bats. 25-year-old Dmitri Young continued to impress with a .300 average, a slugging percentage over .500 and 14 homers in 127 games. Former starter Hal Morris performed well off the bench with a .284 mark in 102 ABs and pitcher Jason Bere even added to the onslaught with a .286 average. The club tried 20-year-old top prospect Travis Dawkins, though he had just one hit in seven at-bats and never would find much success in the majors.

The rotation was not dominated by any one name, however multiple pitchers who, otherwise, were not particularly stellar in their careers, contributed fine seasons. Only one made 30 starts and none pitched over 200 innings, but a strong bullpen kept them in games day-in and day-out. Pete Harnisch led the staff with a 16-10 record and a 3.68 ERA in 33 starts, while Steve Parris went 11-4 with a 3.50 mark in 128 2/3 innings. Ron Villone contributed a 110 ERA+ in 142 2/3 innings and Brett Tomko managed to eat up 172 frames. The mid-season addition of former ERA champ Juan Guzman was a huge boost to the rotation, as he went 6-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 155 ERA+ in 12 starts over the latter half of the campaign. The rotation paced the loop in shutouts with three; Harnisch tossed two of them.

Of the bullpen's top five relievers, four of them finished with ERA+'s over 120. Rookie of the Year Scott Williamson was the best performer, winning 12 games, saving 19 and posting an ERA of 2.41 and an ERA+ of 194 in 62 appearances. Scott Sullivan had a 3.01 ERA and 155 ERA+ in 79 games, while Vietnam-born primary closer Danny Graves, in addition to 27 saves, had a 3.08 ERA and 152 ERA+. Dennys Reyes also pitched 65 games and had a 123 ERA+. The bullpen led the league in total saves with 55.

Despite the team's performance, it didn't make the playoffs as the club lost a one-game playoff to the New York Mets for the Wild Card spot, 5-0. That was the last time a team with 95-plus wins didn't make the postseason and the first time since 1993, when the San Francisco Giants won 103 games and didn't advance.

Prior to the campaign, the team had made multiple notable trades to facilitate its success in 1999. On November 10, 1998, they shipped Bret Boone and Mike Remlinger to the Atlanta Braves for contributors Tucker and Denny Neagle, as well as pitcher Rob Bell. The next day, they sent future 400-home run hitter Paul Konerko to the Chicago White Sox for Cameron. In early February, Vaughn, along with Mark Sweeney (who hit .355 in 31 ABs), joined the club from the Milwaukee Brewers at the cost of Reggie Sanders, Damian Jackson and minor leaguer Josh Harris. Guzman was their big deadline acquisition; they surrendered B.J. Ryan and minor leaguer Jacobo Meque to the Baltimore Orioles to get him.