Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto not yet 100% after knee surgery – MLB News
Game 5 of the National League Division Series marked the end of Cincinnati Reds’ race for the championship as the San Francisco Giants beat them 6-4 on Thursday. One player whose performance was closely observed and quite critically, was that of Joey Votto.
The All-Star first baseman had been included in the roster last month after he underwent knee surgery in August. With a surgically repaired left knee, Votto had indeed been under pressure, which he had to grapple capably considering the experience he has in his impressive credentials.
For example, in the National League Division Series alone, he had a .471 on-base percentage, with .389 batting average and a 5-for-18 record. The player who had returned on September 5, however, did not have any home-run coming off his bat.
Add to it the fact that he did not have any RBIs, something that must have been seen with immense concern in the team.
What is far more worrying than that, which cannot be overlooked, is the fact that he did not have any home-run after his knee surgery.
The absence of eight weeks must have played an immense role in whatever transpired at the end. While the Reds have a number of other things to weigh and ponder over after the elimination from the season, Votto’s team-mate Jay Bruce had his views to share about the first baseman’s performance.
For Bruce, Votto remains one of the best players out there.
"I don't think Joey feels 100 percent, but he's a 'hit getter,'" Reds' right fielder Jay Bruce said. "He can take the other aspects of his game and make them the best in the league. He missed eight weeks and he walked almost 100 times."
Bruce continued, “That's not something that a lot of people do -- they play the full season, and that's what they're best at. Joey's best asset is the ability to not make outs, and doing that tends to help you score runs, and even when he's not driving the ball he's the best at getting on base."
In 111 games that he played in the regular season, Votto had a total of 374 at-bats, 14 home-runs to his credit, 94 RBIs and a .337 batting average. The 2011 Gold Glove winner, however, could not see his team making it to the National League Championship Series, something that will remain a source of regret.
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