Reds have fallen behind Brewers in an area Terry Francona should own

Writer Drew Koch argues that the Cincinnati Reds have fallen significantly behind the Milwaukee Brewers defensively under manager Terry Francona. Despite expectations that Francona would establish solid fundamentals after replacing David Bell following the 2024 season, Koch points out that Cincinnati has struggled across major fielding metrics while Milwaukee reached the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Statistically, the Brewers finished fifth in Defensive Runs Saved with 62 DRS, whereas the Reds ranked 27th with -31 DRS. Koch emphasizes that the Reds must return to basic fundamentals, including fielding and baserunning, heading into next season to close the gap on their division rivals.