Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto is easily the key reason for the Reds lackluster post season showings in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Votto simply walks too much. Of course all the SABR metrics nazis fall all over themselves with Votto's OBP and all that nonsense. But Votto is the team's #3 hitter and in that slot you are paid to drive in runs (plain and simple.) Votto ended 2013 with a pathetic 73 RBI's (tied with Red third baseman and first year starter Todd Frazier.)
Following the Reds 2012 post season exit, the team was criticized for it's lack on OBP at the top of the order (this was a team that won 97 games in 2012.) So then Reds listened to the critics and gave up talented shortstop Didi Gregorius to bring in OBP machine Shin Soo Choo and guess what? the team was worse in 2013. The 2013 Reds had two of the best OBP players in MLB at the top of the order and they played like corpses down the stretch in 2013 and were MIA in the team's one game playoff with Pittsburgh.
I lay this at the feet of Joey Votto. Votto needs to swing the bat and be more aggressive. I would much rather have Votto have an OBP of .360 and drive in 120 like he should. Either that or let him bat leadoff or #2. Since the SABR nazis don't value stolen bases, bat Votto lead-off like non-speed burners Rick Monday and Brian Downing did in the past.
Chief SABR nazi Brian Kenny actually had Votto ranked #1 of first basemen heading into 2014 (ahead of Baltimore's Chris Davis.) Davis hit 53 homers and drove in 138 runs with an OBP of .370. This shows how utterly deluded these SABR geeks are. Votto's 73 RBI's are a disgrace for a first baesman any way you slice it. The message is clear to Mr. Votto, SWING THE FUCKING BAT!
No comments:
Post a Comment