Reds’ Votto optimistic despite ‘rough stretch’
It’s been a tough start for Reds first baseman Joey Votto. He’s batting .133 (6-for-45) with one double, zero homers and two RBIS, and he’s struck out 20 times compared to five walks.
“It’s a lot like dancing,” the first baseman said. “You wait until you catch the rhythm and then when you do, you’re completely in sync, you feel completely connected with the music. I’m just slightly out of step. I have the technique. I know how to dance to the song, but I’m waiting for my beat. I just haven’t caught the beat, but it’s happening soon.”
Votto, who took break dancing lessons during the offseason, said he’s been struggling with fastballs and that it’s a timing issue.
He hit .306 with a .678 slugging percentage against fastballs last year, according to Statcast. This season, he’s batting .130 against fastballs with a .174 slugging percentage.
“I feel optimistic and motivated, but I haven’t timed a really good fastball and squared anything up,” said Votto.
Votto altered his batting stance for three at-bats against San Diego Padres left-hander Sean Manaea on Monday. Since a midseason benching in 2020, he’s stood taller at the plate, hands on the knob, focused more on hitting homers.
When Votto matched up with Manaea, however, he was in a more crouched position and choked up on his bat. The bats Votto uses this year don’t have a standard knob. They look more like a hockey puck, which already gives the effect of choking up.
He went hitless against Manaea with two strikeouts and a foul out, and by the eighth inning, Votto was back into his usual tall batting stance against righthanded reliever Pierce Johnson.
“Manaea is a really uncomfortable at-bat for me, otherwise I’ve been the exact same all year, spring training included,” Votto said. “There is no tinkering going on other than when I’m feeling, not overmatched, but like I’ve got my hands full. And that’s fine. That’s part of a Major League season. I did that last year.
“I said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m going to play better than last year. And I mean it. It’s coming at some point. I’m not concerned.”
Votto was pleased with his first two plate appearances against Padres lefty Mackenzie Gore Wednesday: a walk and a groundball single to center. Improving against left-handed pitching was one of Votto’s main goals throughout the offseason.
“It’s tough because my style matches up better with right-handers, but to be a complete hitter, you have to be able to have an answer for both arms,” Votto said. “I want to play every single day. You can’t do that unless you’re competitive against all options.”
And even if he’s a little out of rhythm, his expectations aren’t changing.
“The way I’ve played so far is not foreboding,” Votto said. “It’s just a rough stretch.”