Can MLBbro Tommy Pham Save Season For Cincinnati Reds?

When the Cincinnati Reds signed MLBbro Tommy Pham to a contract less than two weeks before the season started, the plan was clear for the 34-year-old veteran.

This season was considered a “Revenge Tour” to show the rest of the baseball world what they missed out on.

His interview with WCPO.com left very little to the imagination.

“I am going to approach this season as a revenge tour. I’m playing to get my numbers, man. I’m being dead honest with you. There is nothing selfish about it. In the past I put up some really good seasons,” Pham said.

“I’m playing to get some numbers. I don’t care about anything else. I’m looking out for me. At the end of the day, baseball is going to move on without me. I have to get mine right now,”

“I’m going to get the opportunity to play. I’m going to try to get mine,” he said.

After a slow start at the plate, Pham has emerged as Cincinnati’s most consistent offensive weapon as of late. Overcoming an 0-23 start was key. Pham has recovered to raise his batting average to .211 with three homers and 15 RBI. He had a 10-day stretch with slashes of .303 / .378 / .636.

 

However, Pham’s efforts may get lost in the overall team’s 3-19 start which is historically one of the worst in MLB history. Cincinnati’s 3-18 April has them connected with the 1988 Baltimore Orioles who started their season with a 21-game losing streak, and a list of baseball teams that existed in the 1800s.

That list includes the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, a team that many believe is the worst professional baseball team in history at 20-134. The overall team struggles also remind many baseball purists of the 1962 New York Mets team that lost 120 games, which is the modern-day record for futility.

When the Reds signed Pham to a one-year, $7.5 million deal, they were counting on finding one of the game’s diamonds in the rough when he posted a .284 /.381 /.475 slash line with averages of 22 homers and stolen bases in the 2017-19 seasons.

With a good eye at the plate to draw walks, he was a productive offensive player with St. Louis, Tampa Bay and San Diego.

In the outfield, the Reds need our MLBbro to fill in the gaps left with the departures of right fielder, Nick Castellanos and left fielder, Jesse Winker.

Tommy Pham came into this season a career .265 hitter with 97 homers and 300 RBI. Pham is definitely looking for a season like he had in 2017, when he deposited 23 balls into the seats with 73 RBI with some fine glove work in the field.

Pham A Solid Piece For Winning Team

If the Reds continue to slide, don’t worry too much about this MLBbro because if Pham continues to perform well at the plate, he will be a viable trade candidate for a playoff contender.