The Hardball Times on Joey Votto

[OnBaseMachine]

Good Upside, Close to Prime

Joey Votto
23 years old | Cincinnati Reds

Votto improved all facets of his offensive game in 2006. He made contact often enough to hit over .300, walked frequently enough to post an OBP over .400, and launched a career-high 22 home runs for Double-A Chattanooga. Votto earned MVP honors in the Southern League and is now the heir apparent at first base for Cincinnati. Of Votto's 22 home runs in 2006, 15 went to right field, so he should have no trouble maintaining his power production when he has a shot at Great American Ball Park's cozy right field.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...semen-of-2007/

[camisadelgolf]

Am I the only one who's wary about clicking on that link?

[membengal]

You shouldn't be. Hardball Times is a wonderful baseball site. I highly recommend it.

[Buckeye33]

You shouldn't be. Hardball Times is a wonderful baseball site. I highly recommend it.

I believe he may be refering to the word "semen-2007" in the shortened version of the URL.

Never know when you'll hit up a porn site nowadays.

[membengal]

Oh. Since I once get negative repped for a curse word, I guess my mind didn't leap to that in these PG environs...

[redsmetz]

I believe he may be refering to the word "semen-2007" in the shortened version of the URL.

Never know when you'll hit up a porn site nowadays.

I came to the link directly from the Hardball Times web site - it's truncated from "basemen-2007" - ouch, wrong choice from the system!

[OnBaseMachine]

Ex-Lookout Joey Votto Is Turning Heads In Spring Training
by Tim Evearitt
posted February 28, 2007

First base prospect Joey Votto has impressed Reds brass with his hitting during the early sessions of live batting practice. Votto led the Southern League with a .319 average and was its Most Valuable Player while playing last season for the Lookouts.

The 23-year-old had 22 homers and 77 RBIs and also led the league in hits (162), doubles (46), on-base percentage (.408), slugging percentage (.547), extra-base hits (70), total bases (278), runs scored (85) and walks (78). Rated the organization's third-best prospect by Baseball America, he's likely to begin this season at Triple-A Louisville.

"I know this. He was impressive [Thursday] in that live BP. Against Brian Meadows, I believe, he hit the ball out of the ballpark everywhere -- left, right and center -- everywhere. That's just batting practice. But to be able to hit the ball the other way out of the ballpark shows you he's got the chance to hit a little." -- Reds manager Jerry Narron, talking about Votto

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_102690.asp