It’s not a news flash that the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff is bad. But a quick look at one number confirms that it is not just bad, it could be historically bad.
At the halfway point of the season, the Reds’ pitchers are giving up home runs faster than any team in major league baseball history.
In the first 81 games of the season, Cincinnati pitchers allowed 137 home runs. If baseballs continue flying out of the park at that rate the rest of the season they will have allowed 274 home runs when it is all over.
The major league record for home runs allowed by a team’s pitching staff is 241 by the 1996 Detroit Tigers. The runner-up is the 2001 Colorado Rockies staff, which provided 239 souvenirs to fans sitting in the outfield seats.
The 1996 Tigers roster included names like Felipe Lira (6-14 record, 30 home runs allowed), Greg Gohr (7.17 ERA, 24 home runs in 91 innings) and Brian Williams (3-10, 21 home runs). Gohr also allowed seven more home runs not included in that total after being traded to the California Angels in July. The Tigers finished 53-109 in 1996.
The most often victimized pitcher for the 2001 Rockies was Mike Hampton, who managed to win 14 games with a 5.41 ERA and 31 home runs allowed. Denny Neagle permitted 29 homers and Shawn Chacon gave up 26. Colorado finished 73-89 that season.
A few other items:
• LEBRON OFF THE BENCH JUST ONCE: Something you might not know about LeBron James. He has not been in the starting lineup when healthy or being rested only once in his 13-year NBA career.
James came off the bench on Dec. 9, 2007, when the Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 118-105.
Asked after the game when was the last time he didn’t start when healthy, James said, “Uh, never.”
He was coming off a hand injury that had sidelined him for the previous five games, but James said there was another reason.
Teammate Anderson Varejao was playing his first game after a holdout and James said he thought if he entered the game at the same time as Varejao it could limit the unfavorable reaction from fans to his teammate.
Hopefully, mega-flopper Varejao told James he was floored by that gesture.
• COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND MONEY: Penn State has announced that beginning in 2017 it will charge fans who do not have season parking passes for home football games $20 to park at its spring football game.
According to Harrisburg Patriot News columnist David Jones, who called the move “tone deaf,” Penn State’s athletic department made a profit of $36 million last year.
It will be interesting to see if that $20 fee ever goes into effect. In 2014 Ohio State announced tickets for its spring football game would cost $20, but dropped the price back to $5, where it has remained, after receiving many complaints.
• WOMEN’S MATCH PLAY TOURNAMENT: Entry deadline for the Lima Area Women’s Match Play Golf Tournament is July 15.
The tournament will run from July 21-24 at Lost Creek Golf Club, Hidden Creek Golf Club, the Delphos Country Club and the Shawnee Country Club.
Entry fee is $70. The tournament is open to any woman living in Allen County or an adjacent county.
Contact Asa Donaldson at 419-229-4801 for information. Entry forms can be downloaded at asagolf.com by clicking on the Upcoming Events Calendar category.
• LEGENDS OF NORTHWEST OHIO: The District 8 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Legends of Northwest Ohio weekend July 15-17 includes a golf outing July 15, two youth football camps on July 16 and a banquet at the UNOH Activities Center on July 17.
Athletes participating include NFL players like Jarrod Pughlsey (Chiefs), Jordan Thompson (Lions), Zac Dysert (Dolphins), Keith Wenning (Bengals) and college players like Noah Furbush (Michigan), Matt Bahr (Kent State) and Brice Fackler (Kent State).
Call Andy Lynch at 419-296-3891 or at 419-339-4444, extension 126 for information.
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