Reds and NL Central since 2006 when Bob Castellini took control (16 seasons + 2022)
We get caught up in MLB payroll disparity, TV money, market size and the 'woe is us' sense in a sport without a salary cap. Most understand the difficulty in the Reds going toe-to-toe vs the large market likes of the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Phillies.
The problem is the Reds are not competing with/beating teams in similar market sizes in their own division...And it's not even close.
I put together a look at the Reds and NL Central since 2006 when Bob Castellini took control (16 seasons)
Market:
Metro Market Size: St. Louis 21, Cincinnati 30, Milwaukee 40
Nielsen DMA (Designated Market Area) rankings: St. Louis 23, Cincinnati 36, Milwaukee 37
Average yearly payroll
$116.3M Cardinals (Highest of group 15 of 16 seasons)
$91.9M Reds (Higher than Brewers 8 of 16 seasons)
$88.0M Brewers
Average record/win %
88-74 Cardinals (.546)
83-79 Brewers (.512)
77-85 Reds (.478)
Winning seasons
15 Cardinals
10 Brewers
5 Reds
Playoff appearances
10 Cardinals
6 Brewers
4 Reds
Division titles
6 Cardinals
3 Brewers
2 Reds
Advancement to NLCS
5 Cardinals
2 Brewers
0 Reds
World Series titles
2 Cardinals
0 Brewers
0 Reds