Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Joey Votto Self Critique






Joey Votto doesn’t think he played well enough last year.

The‭ ‬35-year old,‭ ‬11-year veteran in the middle of a‭ ‬10-year,‭ ‬$225‭ ‬million contract,‭ ‬thinks a‭ ‬.284‭ ‬batting average and leading the National League in on-base-percentage doesn’t earn that type of cash.‭

“It was the first year where I had a poor offensive year,‭” ‬Votto said.‭  “‬Every season just happens.‭ ‬It is hard to speak on this without sounding arrogant.‭  ‬I've always performed at a certain level.‭  ‬Last year was a bit of a shock.‭  ‬I didn't perform any where near to what I'm used to.‭”

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otto started working on his batting stance in December while supporting the negotiating stance of Manny Machado and Bryce Harper,‭ ‬who had successful seasons but are still unsigned.

(Machado signed a 10-year contract worth $300 million with the San Diego Padres this morning, 2/19)

‭“‬I did things differently,‭ ‬so I hope it works,‭” ‬Votto said.‭  “‬Intuitively,‭ ‬I know why I wasn't ready and came up short last year.‭  ‬I just made sure I didn't do that again and learn from my mistakes.‭  ‬I feel very confident.‭  ‬I'm excited to work.‭”

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Votto’s power numbers were down.‭  ‬He hit just‭ ‬12‭ ‬home runs,‭ ‬lower than even his‭ ‬2012‭ ‬season in which he hit‭ ‬14‭ ‬in‭ ‬35‭ ‬fewer games.‭  ‬He had a knee injury that cost him‭ ‬48‭ ‬games.‭  ‬Votto hit‭ ‬37‭ ‬homers in his MVP season in‭ ‬2010‭ ‬and‭ ‬36‭ ‬in‭ ‬2017.‭  ‬Last year the drop off had zero to do with health.‭

“I don't know if I've ever hit under‭ ‬.300.‭  ‬It is a very arbitrary number.‭  ‬If I had hit‭ ‬.285‭ ‬with‭ ‬35‭ ‬home runs,‭ ‬I would have been more or less OK with it but a couple or two of them where I didn't hit for average or power,‭” ‬Votto said.‭  “‬I felt fantastic.‭  ‬I was fully healthy.‭  ‬There wasn't anything but a lack of preparation.‭  ‬We just traded for Puig.‭  ‬I'm not that sort of athlete.‭  ‬Any really good player pays a bit of a price unless they are a super good athlete.‭ ‬I'm not that level of an athlete.‭  ‬I have to be very detail oriented.‭   ‬I wasn't mechanically sound last year.‭”

Yasiel Puig,‭ ‬one of the team’s many new faces that Votto saw on his first day of camp.‭

“We've added All-Stars.‭ ‬We've added guys with long track records.‭ ‬They have a lot of things to gain by playing very well here,‭” ‬Votto said.‭ “‬Hopefully,‭ ‬we carry that into a winning performance.‭”

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David Bell replaced interim manager Jim Riggleman in October.‭  ‬Bell managed farm teams in the Reds‭’ ‬system,‭ ‬giving him a head start in building a report with his longest tenured player.‭ ‬Bell was also the bench coach for the St.‭ ‬Louis Cardinals for three seasons,‭ ‬bringing another perspective.‭

“We are all human beings.‭  ‬There is a different relationship but there is also a friendship aspect to it.‭  ‬It takes a lot of time,‭ ‬effort and care,‭” ‬Bell said.‭  “‬He was the most difficult guy to defend.‭  ‬H He was not only the most dangerous but he played the game.‭  ‬He took what was given to him.‭  ‬He can handle the bat.‭  ‬He is very unpredictable.‭ ‬He was the most difficult guy to defend.‭  ‬He was not only the most dangerous but he played the game by taking what was given to him,‭” ‬Bell said.‭ “‬He is very unpredictable.‭”

While Votto has already begun tending to business on the field,‭ ‬he has strong feelings about business off the field,‭ ‬supporting the games stars who are‭ ‬unsigned.

‭“‬I'm very proud of them,‭ ‬as a fellow union member,‭ ‬for really sticking out and make sure they get what they think is fair,‭” ‬Votto said of situation Machado and Harper are in.‭ “‬They are the two marquee players.‭ ‬I don’t know either of them well so I don’t want to speak for them,but I think the toughest thing to do is stand your ground when what your really want to start playing ball.‭”

Votto started playing ball early Monday.




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