Anyone else becoming concerned with Votto

[PuffyPig]

If any Reds fan ISN'T concerned about the cornerstone of our franchise, a guy to whom we just pledged a gargantuan amount of money, then they're just being silly. There is legit cause for concern.

Hope this is the start of something good, but two solo homers don't completely erase my doubts that something is wrong with the guy.

Votto is 1 HR behind his career pace, but his .506 OBA means his OPS is right in line with career averages (.952 vs. .967)

Add me to the list of posters who are riding the silly bus.

[Dom Heffner]

Votto is 1 HR behind his career pace, but his .506 OBA means his OPS is right in line with career averages (.952 vs. .967)

Add me to the list of posters who are riding the silly bus.

He is right in line with his career OPS if you just add it up, sure.

It's um...a little OBP heavy, wouldn't you say?

Randy, me, others- we aren't questioning his ability to walk, we are questioning his ability to be over the knee injury (and with that his mental game).

Things do not happen in a vacuum. It's one thing to have a slump.

It's another to swing like you're the third string SS. It's been ugly. Like visibly wrong. It's one thing to have a few weeks of unlucky balls in play, it's another when a casual fan can see you ain't right.

And while I think you're probably right, nobody needs to be ridiculed for asking.

There's some history here- he's been on the disabled list for stress, he's coming off a knee injury.

I don't think you're riding the silly bus, in fact you're a terrificly smart baseball guy.

But let's not take our understanding of the game and dismiss everyone else, either.

We've all been around enough to understand sample size. We all know that if you walk a lot, you're valuable.

But when we see someone who normally slugs .550 ish and they haven't since last June, we ask. Sorry.

And we've all been around to know the difference between an OPS that is on base heavy and actually hitting the ball heavy.

People are just asking. Nobody is saying he's done, nobody is saying he stinks, they are just wondering.

Why is that an issue?

You could have dismissed early concerns over Lincecum, and in fact people did. Turned out to be right.

[Vottomatic]

Looking like the Joey of old today. Nice HR. And the other at-bat, he pulled it between the 1st and 2nd baseman hole because the first baseman was holding the runner on.

2 rbi. Smart hitting.

I know the stats would prove me wrong, but it always seems like when Joey is hitting, everyone else isn't. LOL.

[mth123]

Votto with 4 hits today now at .305

[tomnuetten]

I´ve never been concerned with him...

of course it was in his head and therefore he took some bad swings... but it´s early and with some good at bats (like he had today) he will find his swing back

[PuffyPig]

He is right in line with his career OPS if you just add it up, sure.

It's um...a little OBP heavy, wouldn't you say?

I'm unaware of another method of calculating OPS without "adding it up".

And OBA is more valuable than SL%. 70% more valuable.

Which makes his current OPS more effective than his career OPS.

[Patrick Bateman]

I think it's fair to say Votto has looked a little frustrated with his approach lately. I get the concern, and I get the thought if that continues, the walks will stop, and he'll stop hitting.

At the same time, every player goes through these slumps.

I've watched Joey Votto enough the last few years, seen his approach this year to know that he will be a great hitter this year, and the temporary frustration he appears to be having is just that, temporary.

Seriously, Votto will be fine. I don't care what 3 weeks of baseball says. He's clearly taking bigger cuts than last year. This is not an injury problem. I think the overall concern is nothing more than "getting your panties tied in a knot." This is Joey Votto. He probably deserves 3 months of struggles before I would even think of being concerned. But then again, at some point his numbers need to at least show he is struggling before that even starts. I honestly think a lot of the comments in this thread will look pretty silly in the not too distant future.

[M2]

Just wondering out loud, but would Votto cause less concern if his slash line was .300/.400/.450? I suspect it would. The .300/.500/.450 line makes it look like he's doing something wrong, when in fact he's doing a whole lot of stuff right.

[Tom Servo]

none of this thread now needed, Votto good.

[Roy Tucker]

none of this thread now needed, Votto good.

Yeah, I bought a first class ticket on the silly bus.

Mark me chastised. But also very glad.

[NebraskaRed]

I'm concerned about his tools.

[RedsBaron]

Yeah, I bought a first class ticket on the silly bus.

Mark me chastised. But also very glad.

As I previously posted I have been concerned as well. Today was nice, not only four hits but driving the ball.

[harangatang]

If this slump is partially mental as some have suggested, I think it is logical that he will get through it. We all know what he battled in the past and if he can get over all of that I think the odds are in his favor.

[New York Red]

With 5 hits in his last 7 ABs, I think we can put the slump talk to bed.

[Jamz]

I think most people know Votto is going to hit well. That doesn't mean his slumps won't be concerning...specially when you consider how spoiled we've been with his elite talents over the years.