Reds General Discussion 2026, Part 2

[Sea Ray]

Yes I’m in favor of this.

Unfortunately, I suspect the torches and pitchforks will be pointed at Hinds by the end of April. It is what it is.

I suspect regardless of how Hinds is used that he will have hit a line drive by the end of April

[Sea Ray]

Anyways, Spencer Steer’s bWAR is lower than Marte’s.

Could this be because Spence isn’t speaking proper English?

Have you heard Steer speak? His English is fine. So no, his struggles are not due to improper English

[LeatherPants]

Have you heard Steer speak? His English is fine. So no, his struggles are not due to improper English

And neither is Marte’s

[shaggy]

Have you heard Steer speak? His English is fine. So no, his struggles are not due to improper English

Maybe his struggles are because he was busy perfecting his English rather then his hitting.

[mth123]

Could this be more about getting Marte right than anything else? Maybe there is something that the Reds noticed with Marte that they want him to work on. Maybe they are riding him harder than some other players because of his talent.

I don't think its a stretch to say that Marte is the odds on favorite for the RF job over the next couple of years. Giving him a few weeks to "get right" isn't a bad thing.

As for your favorite whipping boy in Benson, he is what he is, a 5th OF type. Giving him regular at bats in AAA and taking them away form someone they think can have a full time role in the near future doesn't make sense.

That's why I'd DFA Benson vs. Sending him down. He's on the team specifically to hit against RHP. He's shown for over two years now that he can't do that. I'd use his spot on the 40 man roster for Tejay Antone. He can go more than 1 inning at a time and is throwing well. Nicolas can be optioned.

[mth123]

Benson’s lifetime numbers against RHP — 920 PAs, .749 OPS, .439 SLG, .310 OBP.

Good power over 920 PAs, low OBP but he bats toward the bottom of the order.

Seems like a perfectly rational decision to give him a try based on those numbers.

Again, he had a .424 BABIP vs RHP in 2023. Throw out that fluke and he's been about 17% below average against them for 2 years in a row.

[mth123]

He's got to earn his playing time. He didn't. This isn't on the manager.

Why doesn't Benson need to earn his playing time? He certainly hasn't.

[Kc61]

Again, he had a .424 BABIP vs RHP in 2023. Throw out that fluke and he's been about 17% below average against them for 2 years in a row.

Gee whiz, BABIP, well -

Last year Benson had a .255 BABIP when his OBP was down. Despite a line drive rate above league average. And last year his SLG was .435 on a team with a .391.

[Sea Ray]

Why doesn't Benson need to earn his playing time? He certainly hasn't.

Is anyone complaining about Benson's problems being linked to how he was used? If not then that's the major difference. As to Benson's playing time, if he splits time with Hinds I will complain and say that he has not earned it. Benson is a 4th or 5th outfielder and should be used as such. Marte should go to AAA and earn a recall and possibly a starting job in Cincinnati. Benson should have no more visions of a starting job

[Kc61]

Just take an objective look at Benson’s numbers, particularly against RHP. He is not the terrible offensive player that he’s being portrayed to be.

Lifetime he is slightly below major league average, with a 92 wRC+. But against RHP his lifetime wRC+ is 100, exactly league average.

Some years he had high BABIP. Some years low BABIP. Lifetime his BABIP is normal, .308.

He’s no great shakes but he is not the terrible hitter some say. Defensively he’s versatile if not top of the line. Probably a fourth outfielder but better than advertised and a fair choice as a LHH given the Reds’ weakness in the area.

[Ron Madden]

MLB Is Hard. Players will struggle at times it doesn't mean they're mentally weak or lazy.

[JCM11]

According to bWAR the Reds have 7 of the 62 worst position players in MLB right now(Steer, Marte, Friedl, McLain, Trevino, Hayes, and Myers). Elly, Sal, and Stephenson are the only 3 with a positive WAR.

[UPRedsFan]

MLB Is Hard. Players will struggle at times it doesn't mean they're mentally weak or lazy.

I think all this talk about motivation comes from the leak in spring training that Freddy B and Tito had to "motivate" Marte to work harder. Not a good sign! And the mental approach stems from being 6th worst in baseball at chasing pitches out of the strike zone.

[mth123]

Just take an objective look at Benson’s numbers, particularly against RHP. He is not the terrible offensive player that he’s being portrayed to be.

Lifetime he is slightly below major league average, with a 92 wRC+. But against RHP his lifetime wRC+ is 100, exactly league average.

Some years he had high BABIP. Some years low BABIP. Lifetime his BABIP is normal, .308.

He’s no great shakes but he is not the terrible hitter that he’s being portrayed to be. Defensively he’s versatile if not top of the line. Probably a fourth outfielder but better than advertised and a fair choice as a LHH given the Reds’ weakness in the area.

Specifically, vs RHP Benson

2023 285 PAs .938 OPS, 147 wRC+, .422 BABIP
2024 317 PAs .676 OPS, 82 wRC+, .300 BABIP
2025 232 PAs .708 OPS, 85 wRC+, .274 BABIP

He was significantly lucky in 2023 and he wasn't that unlucky vs RHP in 2025. Even if you buy 2023 with the flukey BABIP, he's been a black hole 2 years in a row.

People want to write Marte off because he had a bad month at the end of 2025, but somehow 2 years of futility is OK. I don't get it.

Benson's purpose on this roster is specifically as a LH Bat to provide production vs RHP. For 2 years in a row, he has failed at that job. If he can't fulfill that purpose, what use does he have on the roster?

The Reds don't have good alternatives. I guess Benson is better at his job than Nick Krall is at his.

[wlf WV]

According to bWAR the Reds have 7 of the 62 worst position players in MLB right now(Steer, Marte, Friedl, McLain, Trevino, Hayes, and Myers). Elly, Sal, and Stephenson are the only 3 with a positive WAR.

This is why everyone picks a player or administrator to blame.