Votto's power

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Much has been said about Pujols's disappointing power so far, but we're just about a month into the season and Votto is still sitting on a single homerun. Last season he started very slowly in this regard as well, and though "he's getting pitched around" is the obvious answer, it's still looking a far cry from the almost-40 he hit in his MVP season - and the 2010 version of Scott Rolen, while very good, wasn't exactly striking fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers. His massive walk rate is keeping him a very productive player, so the HR rate can be somewhat excused, but at this point would anyone be shocked if he finished the year with only 20-25?

I know the response coming is "OH MY GOD WE'RE 20 GAMES INTO THE SEASON, CALM DOWN," and I know he'll get hot eventually, but I guess it's worth having a discussion over.

[Maker_84]

He's a doubles guy, not often will he hit a high number of homers. One of the reasons I was perplexed by his contract. Only player that should get that money is Matt Kemp

[Falcon7]

He never turns on the ball, takes way too many pitches right down the middle! I don't buy the "he never gets anything to hit theory". It's BS!

[improbus]

He's walking on 21% of his AB's, up from 15% last year (when he led the NL in walks). The power will come.

[Ironman92]

I thought I heard where over half of the #3 hitters in baseball still had just 0-2 HR (heard 4-6 days ago)

[R_Webb18]

Votto has never been a hr hitter. yes he has hit a lot. but a lot of them are opposite field and barely over the wall.

[DirtyBaker]

Really not concerned at all about Votto. He's not seeing the ball well but his timing is off. For someone in a slump, he's getting on base over 43% of the time and going deep into counts. Sooner or later he'll catch up to it and hit 20-some home runs, but he's not an elite power hitter.

[Wonderful Monds]

Wasn't Rolen around 20 HR at the All Star break in 2010? He was a pretty great hitter most of that year.

Anyway, if Joey does only turn in 25 HR annually, that's still a good amount especially considering he's a high average hitter that gets on base a ton. He'll still probably sit around .950 OPS every year with those numbers.

[Falcon7]

The first $20 million a year singles/doubles hitter. Maybe they should move him to lead-off.

[Krawhitham]

The first $20 million a year singles/doubles hitter. Maybe they should move him to lead-off.

Does not run fast enough

[texasdave]

The first $20 million a year singles/doubles hitter. Maybe they should move him to lead-off.

At least the pitchers would get some pitches they can hit. :)

[Jamz]

Speaking of Votto's power....he ****ing crushed that ball.

[Krawhitham]

At least the pitchers would get some pitches they can hit. :)

Batting in front of Votto means +.220 to your batting average

Cozart
In front of Votto 0.370
Not in front of Votto .171

Stubbs
In front of Votto .371
Not in front of Votto .130

[Krawhitham]

Speaking of Votto's power....he ****ing crushed that ball.

Did he turn on it or was it opposite field?

[texasdave]

Did he turn on it or was it opposite field?

Hit it by the smokestacks. It was a shot.

[New York Red]

I'm more concerned with hitting with RISP than HRs. Joey is hitting well over .400 with RISP, so no complaints here.

[TheBateman]

I really don't see Votto as a 40 HR/year kind of guy. I think 25-35 is going to be the more likely range. You have to remember that his MVP season was his breakout year and there were a lot of Reds players who were really hot that year which helps him to get more pitches.

Teams have learned, and he's almost averaging a BB/game this year. He doesn't even look all that dialed in right now and yet he's still hitting close to .300 and driving in runs.

[Ironman92]

Does not run fast enough or play CF

FIFY

[GoReds19]

Looks like hes starting to come around 3 doubles, and a hr in his last 4 games.

[New York Red]

As someone else said, he's not even dialed in yet, but he still leads the NL in doubles and walks. Probably top ten in RBI and OBP too. He's not leaving the yard a lot, but the rest of his numbers look pretty good, IMO.

[Jamz]

Joey Votto continues to be the most clutch player in the league, for what it's worth. With runners on he is without a doubt the #1 guy you want coming up to bat.

[LaFlamaBlanca]

Who really cares? As long as he continues to be the best hitter in baseball w/ RISP, OPSes approximately .950-1.000, and puts up ~30 HR a year, Joey Votto is incredibly valuable to the Reds. Just look at the corresponding statistics to the batters in front of his spot.

[The Rage]

Votto has been slumping for most of April........yeah his slumps are not like mortal baseball players.

[LexRedsFan]

Whenever I saw this thread, I immediately knew Joey would go on a tear not long thereafter.

Seems like that's how this stuff always works.

Good work, OP. Now go start a thread asking a question about Latos.

[DGullett35]

Votto likes to go the opposite field. I'd much rather have that over.400 average with RISP that he currently has than having him trying to pull every pitch down the RF line. The guy is one of the best if not the best LH hitter in the game today. If he hits .320 with 25 HR and 100 RBI I will not complain about that

[Jamz]

Votto likes to go the opposite field. I'd much rather have that over.400 average with RISP that he currently has than having him trying to pull every pitch down the RF line. The guy is one of the best if not the best LH hitter in the game today. If he hits .320 with 25 HR and 100 RBI I will not complain about that

You could make a case for him being the most complete hitter in the league at this point (taking Matt Kemp's ridiculous run aside right now.) Even considering our line-up there's a reason that Votto is the most walked man in baseball.

[swaisuc]

Votto has been slumping for most of April........yeah his slumps are not like mortal baseball players.

This is what I'm seeing as well.

[Girevik]

The ball always seems to carry better in warm weather, and look where the Reds have played so far this year...Cincy (obviously) and the weather has been on the colder than normal side, St. Louis, DC, Chicago (where it was bad football weather, let alone baseball). They haven't played in too many games with decent weather, so I'd expect that to have an impact.

[redssince75]

Batting in front of Votto means +.220 to your batting average

Cozart
In front of Votto 0.370
Not in front of Votto .171

Stubbs
In front of Votto .371
Not in front of Votto .130

Those are a couple of fascinating stats.

[Jamz]

Guys who are good fastball hitters will thrive in front of Votto IMO. It's very doubtful that a pitcher will want to walk the batter before Votto (especially given how clutch he is.)

Votto is probably, and rightfully so, the most feared hitter with runners on in the league.