Joey Votto

I'll take Votto over both. Votto makes CONSIDERABLY less money right now and doesn't get as much publicity right now because he isn't in large market and hasn't played for a playoff contender.. YET

Votto is putting up better numbers than both this season

2007:
Votto = .907 OPS, 127 OPS+
Howard = .976 OPS, 144 OPS+
Fielder = 1.013 OPS, 157 OPS+

2008:
Votto = .874 OPS, 125 OPS+
Howard = .881 OPS, 124 OPS+
Fielder = .879 OPS, 130 OPS+

2009:
Votto = .981 OPS, 155 OPS+
Howard = .931 OPS, 140 OPS+
Fielder = 1.014 OPS, 168 OPS+

2010:
Votto = .961 OPS, 153 OPS+
Howard = .812 OPS, 113 OPS+
Fielder = .819 OPS, 122 OPS+

Votto is 26 year old
Howard is 30 years old
Fielder is 26 years old

I'll be honest, I'm surprised Fielder's numbers are as high as they are.

Time to put Joey Votto on the DL. He is out of the lineup again today against the Cardinals.

According to ESPN today, Votto should be back in the lineup now.

He is back tonight, here is the Reds lineup:

Cabrera 6
Phillips 4
Votto 3
Rolen 5
Bruce 9
Gomes 7
Stubbs 8
Hernandez 2
Cueto 1

And now I wait for someone to ask you what the numbers mean beside their name.

Baseball is the one major sport out of the three that is just different. It's amazing how many people don't know what the numbers mean.

Welcome Back Votto...

2-2 with a single and a homerun thus far

That pitch he struck out on was 2 feet outside. Nice to see Rolen doing damage to his old team as well. Reds really need to hold onto this game.

Huge win for the Reds with Carpenter going tomorrow. Votto 4-5 and now leads the NL in hitting by my novice math calculations. He has also raised his OPS over 1.000!

I guess if he was depressed, he's over it now. Either that or he'll need therapy for that strikeout he had.

I do kind of worry about Votto after what happened last year. If you're going to be an elite player, you just can't sit out b/c you're sad about something. I understand having personal life issues, but we all do. You have to cope and move forward, even if that takes therapy sessions.

All that being said--very glad to see him back and going. He makes such a big difference in the lineup.