The Cincinnati Reds dropped to 20–22 on the season after being shut out by the Houston Astros on Sunday, sparking growing frustration among fans over the team’s ongoing offensive struggles.
One of the most vocal critics was college football analyst and longtime Reds fan Kirk Herbstreit. The 55-year-old took to social media following the 6–0 loss to vent his frustration with the franchise.
“SO predictable. Another year of inconsistent hitting. Same thing for the last 12 years—season basically over by early May. How can a team NOT HIT for TWELVE YEARS?!?! Feel bad for Tito. One of the best managers of our time—yet even HE can’t fix this franchise. Just doomed,” Herbstreit posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The Reds have stumbled out of the gate in May, dropping series to the Nationals, Braves, and Astros. They’re 4–7 in the month and have scored one run or fewer in five of their 11 games.
Herbstreit’s post underscores a sentiment shared by many fans: frustration with a team whose offense has often failed to deliver over the past decade.
Still, the Reds haven’t been entirely anemic in 2025. They currently rank 13th in the majors with 42 home runs and are eighth in total runs scored with 198—solid numbers, even if they trail powerhouse lineups like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Cubs.
So while the team has been inconsistent, their overall offensive output hasn’t been quite as dire as Herbstreit’s criticism suggests.
