2016 Cincinnati Reds

2016 Cincinnati Reds / BR Team Page

Record: 68-94, Finished 5th in NL Central Division (2016 NL)

Managed by Bryan Price

Coaches: Freddie Benavides, Billy Hatcher, Tony Jaramillo, Mack Jenkins, Don Long, Ted Power, Mark Riggins, Jim Riggleman and Mike Stefanski

Ballpark: Great American Ball Park

History, Comments, Contributions

On May 3rd, the 2016 Cincinnati Reds established a new major league record when their bullpen gave up a run for the 21st consecutive game, breaking a record set by the 2013 Colorado Rockies. In 18 of those games, the bullpen had given up multiple runs. Things then went from bad to worse during the month as the Reds put together an eleven-game losing streak starting on May 16th. Only the awful Atlanta Braves had a worse record in the National League at that point. On July 4th, with the Reds still in last place, pitching coach Mark Riggins paid the price for the team's struggles on the mound, being fired with the Reds' staff sporting a collective ERA of 5.51, the worst in the majors. Bullpen coach Mack Jenkins was named to take his place while Ted Power was promoted from the AAA Louisville Bats to be the new bullpen coach.

One of the major problems for the Reds all season was the gopher ball. Their pitchers shattered the franchise record of 236 homers allowed, which had been set in 2004, as well as the major league mark of 92 home runs allowed by a team's relievers, which dated back to the 1964 Kansas City Athletics. On September 19th, they gave up three homers in a game to the Chicago Cubs to bring their season's total to 242, one more than the previous major league record set by the 1996 Detroit Tigers. The Reds still had 12 games to add to their record at that point and continued to give up scores of long balls, ending up with 258. That record was in turn shattered by the 2019 Baltimore Orioles.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Jay Bruce and Adam Duvall

Further Reading

• Zach Buchanan: "Cincinnati Reds fire pitching coach Mark Riggins", USA Today Sports, July 4, 2016. [1]
• Howard Megdal: "Rebuilding Reds: 'Sleeping better,' but not satisfied taking their lumps", USA Today Sports, April 28, 2016. [2]

2016 MLB season by team