Johnny Bench's comments will have Reds fans nodding in agreement

When Johnny Bench speaks, fans throughout Reds Country listen. The Hall of Famer and greatest catcher of all-time offered some honest observations about this year's Cincinnati Reds team.

During a recent interview, Bench mentioned the inordinate number of injuries the Reds have faced this season. Cincinnati has been without Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain, and Brandon Williamson throughout most of, if not all of the 2024 campaign. The Reds were also without Noelvi Marte for 80 games, and TJ Friedl was on the IL three times this season.

But Bench went a cut deeper, citing the lack of clutch hits and an inability to create offense as the Reds' biggest faults this season. Bench said, "But we got to create the offense. We got guys that have not filled their role as well as they hoped; new guys that came, traded over and everything else. You can't have outs in the lineup. You got to have winning hits and drive in runs." And every Reds fan said, "Amen."

Johnny Bench's comments will have Reds fans nodding in agreement

Bench's comments are sure to have every single Reds fan nodding in agreement. Cincinnati's offense has been the biggest reason for the team's lack of success in 2024. Heading into Thursday's series finale against the Miami Marlins, the Reds rank 17th in OPS, 23rd in on-base percentage, and 27th in batting average.

The Reds' pitching staff, which Bench praised by the way, ranks 11th in batting average against, 12th in ERA, 14th in WHIP, and 15th in strikeouts. While both Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott have been shaky of late, Hunter Greene has been locked in and may be in line for the NL Cy Young Award.

But if the Reds have any hope of making a late-season push for the playoffs, Bench is right, it starts with the offense getting timely hits and driving in runs. Tyler Stephenson and Elly De La Cruz have been doing that of late, but the rest of the Reds lineup has been lacking.

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