I just found a Q&A with Joey Votto on Baseball Prospectus from 2007. It is interesting how Votto changed and which ideas already exist in his minor league years..
I donīt know if itīs thread worthy and where to put it, but I liked it and wanted to share it with you
Q&A Joey Votto 2007
When I played in the Futures Game last year, everyone was trying to throw 98 (mph), which is why I don't like All-Star games that much. There's not as much thinking or strategy--it's more of guys playing for themselves and trying to show off what they can do. Basically, my approach was to try to hit it into McCovey's Cove. That's obviously not my normal approach, but in All-Star games you can do that.I've been told that there's a lot more research stuff available, like charts and video, and I'll be the type of guy who'll utilize it rather than going up there not knowing what I can about the pitcher. Down here we don't have that kind of information, at least not to the extent that you do in the big leagues.I'm like every other hitter in that you have to get ahead in the count. I don't know if there's a lot more to it than that. My approach is always the same, which is to look for a pitch I can do some damage with. I'm actually not that happy with the way I'm swinging the bat right now, despite my numbers, because I'm not driving in runs or hitting for as much power as I'd like to. I've been hitting for a solid average and getting on base, but I like to be "the hitter." I don't like to draw walks when I'm at the plate. I want to power the ball.
I'm not a huge stathead, but doubles and home runs are good. I know that I just mentioned driving in runs, but RBIs are something you can't control as much because there aren't always going to be guys on base in front of you. I do care about my strikeout rate, because if I'm putting the ball in play good things will happen. I guess the biggest ones are my power numbers.I prefer older Vottoīs approach towards stats and hitting more than minor league Joey Hope the bolded part will happenI obviously want to get to the big leagues, but I also try not to worry about things I can't control. Regardless, I don't want to get there because of a trade--I want it to happen because of what I'm doing on the field and deserve to get called up. And once I'm there, I want to be a career Red. That's another big reason I like the Golden Era--when you think Ted Williams, you think Red Sox. When you think Joe DiMaggio, you think Yankees. I want to be part of a tradition, not a player who jumps from team to team.There are a couple of things. One is that I played the game hard, and that I played it the right way. Another is that I became as good of a hitter as I was capable. I hope to be the kind of hitter that teams plan around. And I'd like to win championships. I'd like to be part of a Reds team that celebrates World Series titles.