Cincinnati Reds 2006 Season and Off Season

The Cincinnati Reds improved their overall record during the 2006 season. Cincinnati finished the 2006 season in third place just three and a half games out. The Reds finished just two games under .500. This is the closest the team has come to a .500 record since they had a winning record in 2000.

The Cincinnati Reds finished in fifteenth place in the National League in batting average. They did finish second in home runs. The Reds where in the middle of the pack with the seventh best on-base percentage and eighth in runs batted in. The pitching staff had the second highest batting average against. They walked the fewest batters, so the staff made the other teams put the ball in play. The closer spot is what hurt the Red during the 2006 season. The team leader in saves had just 12 saves.

Offensively, Adam Dunn lead the team in home runs with 40 and had 92 runs batted in. Brandon Phillips played in 149 games during his first season with the Reds. Phillips hit .276 with 17 home runs and drove in 75 runs. He also stole 25 bases in 27 attempts. Ryan Freel hit .271 and stole 37 bases. Ken Griffey, Jr. played in only 109 games. Griffey hit 27 home runs and drove in 72 runs. Catcher David Ross played in a career high 90 games. He batted .255 with 21 home runs and had 52 runs batted in.

Bronson Arroyo put up pretty good numbers during his first season with the Cincinnati Reds. Arroyo had a record of 14-11 with an era of 3.29 in 240.2 innings pitched. Aaron Harang had a record of 16-11 with a 3.76 era in 234.1 innings pitched. Harang struck out 216 batters while walking just 56. Eric Milton mad 26 starts and had an era of 5.19. No other starter made more than 20 starts. The two pitchers out of the bullpen with the most appearances were David Weathers and Todd Coffey. Weathers had a 3.54 era with 12 saves but he also had 7 blown saves. Coffey appeared in 81 games and posted an era of 3.58.

In November, the Cincinnati Reds signed shortstop Alex Gonzalez to a three-year contract. Veteran reliever Mike Stanton signed a two-year deal. David Weathers agreed to stay with the team when he signed for two more years. The Reds traded for Jeff Conine and picked up one time prospect Josh Hamilton. They gave Harang a four-year contract.

The Reds did not make any major improvements to the pitching staff. To have a good pitching staff it will take more than Harang and Arroyo. They will have to hope for improvements from the players that they already have in their system. Having Ken Griffey, Jr. stay healthy all season will make the offense that much better. If the pitching staff does not improve then it will be another long season for the Cincinnati Reds.