Joey Votto is not a Cincinnati Purple. Even two weeks later, it feels bizarre to sort.
In an period the place there are seemingly two to 3 farewell excursions yearly, Votto unceremoniously had his possibility declined by the one main group he’s ever performed for.
Reds GM Nick Krall might imagine Votto is only a “Corridor of Very Good” participant, declining the choice of a Midwest ball participant from his ivory tower, however he needs to be ashamed of himself.
I understand Votto isn’t a sure-fire Corridor of Famer like Miguel Cabrera or Albert Pujols, however he deserved higher than a press launch. He’s the most effective gamers in franchise historical past and definitely the Reds’ better of the twenty first century. Freddie Freeman acquired to cry and take a couple of laps simply because he modified groups throughout free company.
And this isn’t the tip of Votto’s profession — a minimum of he hasn’t given any indication that he’s going to retire – however it’s in all probability the tip of his illustrious Reds profession. He finishes his tenure sixth in video games performed, fifth in hits, second in OPS, second in doubles, second in house runs, first in OBP, and first in walks for one of many oldest franchises in baseball.
Krall claims the rationale for declining the choice is that they don’t undertaking sufficient enjoying time for Votto. To start with, you don’t maintain Votto as a result of he’s going to play lots. You do it for the vibes. And since, to some extent, at 40, he’s nonetheless acquired it. His 14 house runs in simply 65 video games illustrated as a lot.
Loads of different gamers hanging on as locker-room presences would like to put up the stats Votto did this previous season. Cabrera totaled simply 65 house runs (and one retirement All-Star recreation look despite the fact that he wasn’t retiring) during the last seven years of his profession, however you higher imagine the Tigers had been going to do no matter it took to have him on the crew in order that the opposing supervisor at each ballpark they visited may present him a Ferrari made out of taxidermied bald eagles.
And once more, I understand they aren’t the identical circumstances. Cabrera is the way more embellished participant and the Reds, not like the Tigers, have a future. They only pulled off the quickest rebuild in current reminiscence, going from a 3-22 begin in 2022, to a playoff contender and some of the thrilling groups within the league by the center of 2023.
The Reds are loaded with younger, proficient place gamers and if they’ll determine maintain their opponents underneath 10 runs per recreation, they’re going to be an issue for some time. However that’s all of the extra purpose Votto ought to been stored on the crew. He’s been to the playoffs 4 instances in his profession and deserved the possibility at yet one more with the identical crew.
Disgrace on Nick Krall and the entire Cincinnati group. This isn’t the way you deal with somebody who has given your franchise as a lot as Joey Votto has.
