Well, Votto's poor defense finally reared its ugly head

[Blitz Dorsey]

Votto was quoted last week when asked about his rep as a poor defender (and at that point he was looking really good), "I don't know where that came from." Well, I'm pretty sure I know where that came from. It came from Joey Votto not being a good defensive first baseman. Maybe he'll grow into one, but he's a long way off.

I think Votto jinxed himself with his comments. Since then he has been an Encarnacion-like disaster with the glove. Booting balls, missing on his (overly long) loops to the pitcher covering first, things like that. And not just the 18-inning game in which he cost the Reds a L with his error. Overall the last week he's been bad.

I love Votto and was hoping his rep as a poor defender was pure bunk. But unfortunately, it was true. Again, he could work his way into a good MLB defensive first baseman, but right now he's pretty bad compared to other MLB starting first basemen.

[reds44]

He's played about as bad of a defensive 1st base as you are going to find.

[Always Red]

Yes, but to be fair, he got the throw there on time, and Volkie dropped the ball.

[Aronchis]

Incorrect. Votto's defense has been serviceable. He needs to work on his throwing, but isn't unlike many young 1stbaseman who still need to hone their game.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Yes, but to be fair, he got the throw there on time, and Volkie dropped the ball.

A. That is true.

B. He booted the ball which made the play close and put pressure on the last-second throw to Volquez.

C. I'm not just talking about the 18-inning marathon game. Overall recently, Votto has been vinegar-poor defensively.

[OnBaseMachine]

Votto's makes the tough plays and botches the easy ones. It happens to young guys.

[Kc61]

I think he'll get better. Didn't he mess up another play in the ninth inning last night, with a high throw to Cordero covering? He needs work, but he'll get there.

[Highlifeman21]

IMO, Dunn's a better defensive 1B than Votto.

I'm not sure why people think Dunn isn't good at 1B. From what I've seen when he's been there for the Reds, he's been average to maybe slightly below-average. IMO, he's a better 1B than a LF, and IMO he's an average to below-average LF (definitely not the -20 runs a year, or whatever garbage stat that is that gets thrown around these parts like a football at a tailgate... ).

[Blitz Dorsey]

Incorrect. Votto's defense has been serviceable. He needs to work on his throwing, but isn't unlike many young 1stbaseman who still need to hone their game.

No one is going to hang Votto for one bad play. That is going to happen. But I am starting to notice a disturbing trend. But unlike Encarnacion, at least Votto actually makes up for it with his bat.

[KittyDuran]

Votto's makes the tough plays and botches the easy ones. It happens to young guys.

See Encarnacion...

[*BaseClogger*]

he has been an Encarnacion-like disaster

[Votto and EE] make the tough plays and struggle with the routine, but I don't know about "disaster"...

[OnBaseMachine]

BTW Votto's saved Friday nights game with a web gem...

[Blitz Dorsey]

"since then" being key words you convieniently omitted from that quote. Overall, Votto hasn't been bad at all. I just hope his recent struggles aren't a trend.

[*BaseClogger*]

"since then" being key words you convieniently omitted from that quote. Overall, Votto hasn't been bad at all. I just hope his recent struggles aren't a trend.

Yeah, but emphaisis on "Encarnacion-like", when I don't see his defense as a disaster. He almost makes up for the bad throws with his range...

[Always Red]

IMO, Dunn's a better defensive 1B than Votto.

How on earth do you know that? Half the games he played at 1B were 6 years ago.