What has happened to Joey Votto?
- Thread starter kevcat
- Start date
he's notorious for starting slow, but this is just ridiculous so far. You can see his frustrations at the plate. I have to think it will come together at some point, but I think his days of batting .310 and getting on base 2-3 times a game are behind him.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Kev, I've never been big Votto fan but this is horrible and he's absolutely killing the Reds. Four K's in the last game against the Giants and only 8 RBI's on the season. Took a called third strike a few moments ago with runners in scoring position against the Cubs. Hitting a stellar .204 for the season and striking out a lot. Probably time for him to give it up.
Maybe they can trade him to the Yankees or the Dodgers, like Homer Bailey, just to get some B list players and they eat the salary (still can't believe the Dodgers did that, although they did unload Matt Kemp in the process)
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Who knows how it's going to play out. He's 36 and obviously on a downhill slide. I don't know why he's choking up on the bat so much. Players normally do that with two strikes unless you're Felix Milan for the old days.
He’s getting old for baseball my man. He’s in great shape but he’s 36. If he were on steroids like bonds was he would be killing it still
I gotta think Votto turns it around. He isn't going anywhere though, would be shocked. Cincinnati for good and for bad is an extremely sentimental city. They overpaid Larkin at 40 or 41 on a 2 year deal just so he'd retire here....Votto will be the same...he will play out his contract.
I think he still has something in the tank.
.280, 15-20 HR, 70 RBI....hell he could break out again, who knows.
It's going to be a long year for Votto. You know how you know? He popped out to 1st base. That's how you know.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Starting to remind me of Scott Rolen who retired a few years ago. Could no longer get around on the fastball and was fooled badly by hard breaking stuff. 36 is old for a MLB player but there are pitchers that have lasted until close to 40.
At his age, (though I wish I was 36 again) it's difficult to even watch him run the bases without fear he's gonna pull up with a hammy or something. He barely had a lead off first in the 10th last night and damn near got thrown out trying to get to third. Then they put a pinch runner in for him. I have to think he's still having some sort of underlying leg issues that's affecting him at the plate as well.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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That very well may be the case. Playing any sport nine months out of the year puts a lot of wear and tear on the body.
It doesn’t seem to be getting any better. What has happened to his power? He looks like he’s just trying to slap the ball past the pitchers mound.
His contract doesn’t expire until after the 2024 season.
Can he really be finished at age 35?
Yeah, you’re right, age has caught up to him. The problem for the Reds is that his contract doesn’t expire until after the 2024 season. Ouch. That’s 5 more years and a total of $120 million more dollars they have to pay him.
Has zero to do with age. He is a basket case at the plate and his preference of drawing a walk vs. swinging the bat has reached epic insanity. His swings are awful and he is taking way too many pitches. Some of this may be related to his spot in the order which was ignorance to begin with, but most is his head and mindset.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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I hope so but now our pitching is letting us down. Just can't seem to string about 4-5 wins in a row.
Well since you seem to be a hitting expert why don’t you go up to Cincy and teach a former MVP how to hit?
Getting up there in years now, a lot of wear and tear on the 35 year old. All but four of his full seasons at the MLB Level he's logged 150 plus games out of 162. 5 of them he played 162 games twice, 161 once and 158 twice. Good for 600-700 + ABs in his full, healthy seasons. Miguel Cabrera 36 showing signs of age much like Votto and lesser production. Even Pujols better years were behind him at that age.
Votto is too good of a hitter to not pull the average up.
He is staring to break out of slump but his days of 20-30 homers may be behind him...which honestly is fine because Reds have other guys who can play long ball.
He is staring to break out of slump but his days of 20-30 homers may be behind him...which honestly is fine because Reds have other guys who can play long ball.