Cincinnati Reds have one of the best offenses in all of baseball despite lacking home run power in 2017

The Cincinnati Reds are in the middle of the pack for hitting home runs despite giving up a large number of them.

The Cincinnati Reds have allowed the second most home runs in the National League in 2017.  The starters are tied for the most home runs allowed in all of baseball.  They are eight home runs ahead of the second place Philadelphia Phillies

Offensively, the Reds are tied for 13th in home runs hit so far in 2017.  They are seventh in the National League.  Those are very middle of the pack numbers.

The Reds only have 11 more home runs total than they starters have given up.  That is the runs allowed issue.  The starters are allowing too many home runs in too few innings.

The Reds’ offensive power comes from four batters.  Only Adam Duvall, Scott Schebler, Eugenio Suarez, and Joey Votto have hit double digit home runs so far this season.  Those are the only power hitters on the team, but the fall off from them to the next person is shortstop Zack Cozart with 5.

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The Reds didn’t project Schebler to hit this many.  The Reds expected a line-drive hitter expected topping out around 20 home runs.  Now it appears that the Reds may have four legitimate power hitters in place.

The Cincinnati Reds are still one of the best offensive teams in all of baseball despite the general lack of power.

In an unusual season where the National League is scoring more runs than the American League, the Reds rank seventh in MLB in runs scored.  They are accomplishing this by ranking in the top ten in average, OBP and slugging.  In fact without hitting many home runs, the Reds rank fifth in baseball in slugging.  This offense is what has determined their record in 2017.

It is difficult to have a high slugging percentage without home runs.  The Reds do it by maintaining a high average, while ranking ninth in doubles.  Their real secret, though. is their MLB leading 14 triples.

The Reds have three players with three or more triples in Cozart, Billy Hamilton, and Jose Peraza.  Back-up infielder Scooter Gennett also has a pair.  That allows the Reds to maintain a better slugging percentage without hitting home runs.

The Reds also lead MLB in stolen bases.  Hamilton by himself would rank near the middle of baseball without help from other teammates.  The Reds also rank second in stolen base percentage.  They are avoiding outs on the base paths.

Next: The Reds are looking at the next Manny Machado

The Reds have found a way to score without traditional sluggers.  That is a change for teams at Great American Ballpark.  Maybe that is the secret to putting together a winner in this age of baseball. In any case this part of the rebuild is a long way from the disastrous 2014 season.