Reds General Discussion 2026, Part 2

[JCM11]

Maybe Marte is just not good.

Yeah I think it's time to face reality. We had high hopes for Barrero and CES and to me Marte is another in the same mold as them. He has the physical tools to be a stud, but the lack of plate discipline and in Marte's case lack of baseball instincts is holding him back.

I'm not expecting Hinds to be a savior, but he will make the defense better when he's out there.

[mth123]

I see no problem with the Reds playing Marte against some LHPs. If he can't hit them he'd better learn. I would consider it "coddling" him to only play him vs RHPs. This is the big leagues. It's a no coddle zone

I see a problem playing a guy vs Pitchers he has a 55 wRC+ against and sitting him against guys who he has a 119 wRC+ against while playing a guy with an 83 or so wRC+ against those some guys.

If you want him to get experience against LHP, then play him every day. Don't sit him when he's at his best so a guy who is about 30% worse can play instead.

[Boss-Hog]

Was it coddling Benson only playing him against RHP or was it putting him in a position to succeed?


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I would have never only played Marte against LHP to start the season; I would have had him playing every day whether that's with the Reds or in Louisville. But there really isn't a comparison to the stage that Marte and Benson are at in their careers. Benson is a somewhat known quantity in terms of his age that if he's going to be used, it should only be against RHP. Marte is young enough that he should have the opportunity to improve against the handedness that most right hand hitters do better against, and while his numbers coming in to the season against LHP were certainly not good, it's not as if we're talking about some huge sample size. If Marte is ever going to be an every day player, he needs reps against LHP whether that's in Cincinnati or Louisville rather than trying to make him a reverse platoon only option at his age.

[shaggy]

Learning English is a sign of his attitude and work ethic

No it isn't, he is being paid by the Reds to play baseball not speak a second language.

Do you also think that Ohtani has a bad attitude and no work ethic? I mean he has been playing here since 2018 and doesn't do interviews in English.

Also there is the issue of Marty being full of crap as always since Marte does speak English, its just he doesn't seem to do it the way Marty wants him to.

[GAC]

Marte getting picked off 3B had to be the final straw. I question this kid's motivation. Another Austin Kearns.

[LiferJim]

Benson should not be coddled either. He also deserves a demotion. But there is a difference between sitting LH hitters vs LH starters. The physics makes that a more difficult thing. The physics are in Marte's favor when facing a LH pitcher. He needs to get past this

Yes he needs to get past that, but forcing him to do that at the expense of the team was clearly not a good idea. If that’s what they wanted or needed from him, that should have been done in AAA, not the major league level, as it was obviously already a problem.

Hopefully they learn from their mistakes and don’t make the same mistake with Hinds.


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[mth123]

Yeah I think it's time to face reality. We had high hopes for Barrero and CES and to me Marte is another in the same mold as them. He has the physical tools to be a stud, but the lack of plate discipline and in Marte's case lack of baseball instincts is holding him back.

I'm not expecting Hinds to be a savior, but he will make the defense better when he's out there.

Might be right, but I don't think Barrero or CES had anywhere close to the level of talent that Marte has. It's probably going to be wasted, but it's a much bigger waste IMO. Barrero doesn't have Marte's power. CES has similar power without the speed and CES is even a lesser defender.

From a talent/tools standpoint, only EDLC is better than Marte on this roster.

[LiferJim]

I would have never only played Marte against LHP to start the season; I would have had him playing every day whether that's with the Reds or in Louisville. But there really isn't a comparison to the stage that Marte and Benson are at in their careers. Benson is a somewhat known quantity in terms of his age that if he's going to be used, it should only be against RHP. Marte is young enough that he should have the opportunity to improve against the handedness that most right hand hitters do better against, and while his numbers coming in to the season against LHP were certainly not good, it's not as if we're talking about some huge sample size. If Marte is ever going to be an every day player, he needs reps against LHP whether that's in Cincinnati or Louisville rather than trying to make him a reverse platoon only option at his age.

I agree with this. I think he should have learned how to hit LHP in Louisville, before being forced to do it at the MLB level.


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[shaggy]

Marte getting picked off 3B had to be the final straw. I question this kid's motivation. Another Austin Kearns.

I do enjoy how a 24 year old kid who was rushed to the big leagues by a bad organization has struggled and immediately his motivation and ability to speak English are what Reds fans focus on.

It is crazy to me how so many unmotivated, chain wearing, non english speaking, soft players all end up on the Reds.

[Sea Ray]

I see a problem playing a guy vs Pitchers he has a 55 wRC+ against and sitting him against guys who he has a 119 wRC+ against while playing a guy with an 83 or so wRC+ against those some guys.

If you want him to get experience against LHP, them play him every day. Don't sit him when he's at his best so a guy who is about 30% worse can play instead.

He started 3 games vs LH starters. 3 games. He started 6 games vs RH starters and he still can't hit a line drive. I'm not hanging my hat on those 3 games screwed him up. He hasn't looked good vs RHPs either. It's the major leagues. He's the only RH hitting right fielder we have. He's going to have to deal with 3 starts vs LHPs in 16 games. If he has to be so coddled that he can't handle 3 starts vs LHPs in 16 games then he's not worth a darn anyway. 3 starts

[westofyou]

Lots of coding going on here, awesome restraint

[Kc61]

My hunch -

Reds outfield against RHP will be Friedl LF, Hinds CF, Steer RF.

Against LHP will be Steer LF, Myers CF, Hinds RF.

Benson moves into a pure bench role. Friedl sits v lefties. Hinds plays everyday for now.

To get the third LHH into the lineup, we’ll see Lowe playing instead of Hayes a bit more often.

[Sea Ray]

I do enjoy how a 24 year old kid who was rushed to the big leagues by a bad organization has struggled and immediately his motivation and ability to speak English are what Reds fans focus on.

It is crazy to me how so many unmotivated, chain wearing, non english speaking, soft players all end up on the Reds.

His English is one thing I mentioned that is a bad sign and you've decided to make a big deal about it. It's one of many signs with this guy. It's mainly other things. Don't blow up the language thing into more than it is. I think it's a big plus that Elly learned English. Kudos to him

[LeatherPants]

His English is one thing I mentioned that is a bad sign and you've decided to make a big deal about it. It's one of many signs with this guy. It's mainly other things. Don't blow up the language thing into more than it is. I think it's a big plus that Elly learned English. Kudos to him

I mean, it's been posted multiple times here that he does know English, he just chooses to do interviews in Spanish.

[JCM11]

I agree with this. I think he should have learned how to hit LHP in Louisville, before being forced to do it at the MLB level.


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There are only so many good LHP out there and most of them are at the MLB level. It's why we see a lot of our young hitters including Elly struggle against LHP early on. All the good ones are at the MLB level. I don't think Marte is going to learn how to hit MLB quality LHP in AAA. HE might learn some plate discipline, but at 24 time is running out. H Rod has already shown much improved plate discipline at age 22.