Joey Votto - 'I want every single RBI, every single run'

[Razor Shines]

Not sure where to post his, so I'll put it here.

Joey just lost track of how many outs there were in the 7th inning of tonight's game.

I'm a huge Votto fan, but there is something going on with him. Something's not quite right.

I'd give him a break. He's flying drones over Syria with his mind right now.

[Larkin Fan]

Do we really have to microanalyze every single thing Votto does as if it's proof of some inner conflict or issue? Is it bad that he lost track of the number of outs? It's certainly not good. But let's not pretend he's the first star to ever do so, nor will he be the last.

[TSJ55]

Not sure where to post his, so I'll put it here.

Joey just lost track of how many outs there were in the 7th inning of tonight's game.

I'm a huge Votto fan, but there is something going on with him. Something's not quite right.

A mental lapse like that, in that situation, is inexcusable.

[Always Red]

Do we really have to microanalyze every single thing Votto does as if it's proof of some inner conflict or issue? Is it bad that he lost track of the number of outs? It's certainly not good. But let's not pretend he's the first star to ever do so, nor will he be the last.

Dude, I love ya, but this is not microanalysis. This is macro, as in very often, in the field and on the bases.

It's a trend, don't you think so, doc?

[Todd Gack]

Not sure where to post his, so I'll put it here.

Joey just lost track of how many outs there were in the 7th inning of tonight's game.

I'm a huge Votto fan, but there is something going on with him. Something's not quite right.

Normally, I'd give him a break on this. But his defense and TOOTBLANS immediately come to mind regarding this season and makes you wonder about his focus. But I guess as long as you're OPSing 900+, it doesn't matter what else you do.

[Raisor]

A mental lapse like that, in that situation, is inexcusable.

Sound like he should be written up and a letter placed in his personnel file by Human Resources.

[TSJ55]

Sound like he should be written up and a letter placed in his personnel file by Human Resources.

Whatever it takes.

[KronoRed]

[Always Red]

We're all Joey Votto fans here, and that lapse did NOT cost them the game, but it's time to ask, really, why Votto is daydreaming out there on the field and the base paths. It's been all year long. I watch nearly every single game.

I'm sure I will catch hell here. Votto did not give up 8 runs tonight. I'm not a Votto hater, by any means. He's the best player the Reds have. But he's been off this year, in the field and on the base paths.

[RedsManRick]

We're all Joey Votto fans here, and that lapse did NOT cost them the game, but it's time to ask, really, why Votto is daydreaming out there on the field and the base paths. It's been all year long. I watch nearly every single game.

I'm sure I will catch hell here. Votto did not give up 8 runs tonight. I'm not a Votto hater, by any means. He's the best player the Reds have. But he's been off this year, in the field and on the base paths.

Not that I actually think this was the case today, but Votto has mentioned that August is particularly tough for him mentally given the anniversary of his father's passing.

[harangatang]

Everyone makes mistakes in even bigger games and bigger situations than tonight. No one is perfect. If I didn't know any better, I would've thought Fred Merkle was playing 1st base tonight.

[RedEye]

I'm not unhappy with Votto's performance this year, and I'm not sure we need an explanation for it other than "sometimes players don't play as well as they have in the past."

That said, if I were to wildly speculate about psychological reasons, I would say that Joey is pressing because he's a perfectionist and it kills him not produce like he thinks he should. I still remember that press conference when he signed the big contract. Most guys would have been all smiles, but Votto was pretty serious and said something like "I'm just going to try my best. I can't guarantee anything." I think we can all be pretty sure that no one is as upset about this season as the guy himself.

All of this goes to show, of course, my other theory -- that Joey Votto, in addition to being the best current Reds player by far, is also an existentialist hero for the 21st century.