The Daily Banter: Vote for Joey Votto Today

by Josh Kirkendall on Jul 6, 2010 11:48 AM EDT in Analysis

First things first. For a moment, I'm going to talk about the Cincinnati Reds. Just a moment. Don't like it, scroll down and blind yourself from this temporary talk about baseball. With 82 games in the books, the Reds, who are 12 games over .500, maintain a two-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. They destroyed the Cubs in two games of the four-game series over the weekend with both games having at least eight runs scored in a single inning.

But obviously the talk in Cincinnati isn't so much how the Reds are doing. It's how the hell does Joey Votto get snubbed out of this year's All Star game? Not only is the Reds first baseman the National League leader with 21 homeruns, he's also in the top-five of all three Triple Crown categories and he leads Albert Pujols with a 1.017 OPS. Red Reporter makes their case while you can still vote for Votto in the fan vote. By the way, vote for Votto. Now.

+ Dayton Daily News' Carlos Holmes wonders how much Brian Leonard can step up if Cedric Benson is out for any reason this year (uh-hum, suspended).

“I feel like I can do anything,” said Leonard, who reminds some of a young John Riggins, the Hall of Fame back who starred for the Jets and Redskins. “The coaches believe I can do it and feel comfortable with me at any position. My reps have increased, and I’m expected to be more involved in the offense. I’m a team player and will do whatever is asked of me.”

If you were to ask me to choose between Leonard and backup running back Bernard Scott, I would say that Leonard is better built to be a short-term feature back with Scott resuming his scat-back receiving roll out of the backfield.

+ Marc Hardin wonders if this is Andre Caldwell's year to breakout.

+ Former Oakland Raiders quarterback, and a bigger quarterback bust than Akili Smith and David Klingler combined, JaMarcus Russell was "charged with possession of a controlled substance -- codeine syrup -- after being arrested at his home in Alabama on Monday." This makes any comeback attempt particularly hard, wouldn't you say? The Jets now have no interest.

+ It's very possible that the Cincinnati Bengals could be looking at drafting a running back early in the 2011 NFL Draft. Gil Brandt provides an early prospect list of running backs that could be entering the draft next year.

+ Finally. Conan The Barbarian: The Musical

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Comments

RBs

Next year’s crop doesn’t look great, but it is early yet. As for this year if Ced were suspended that opens a roster spot which could be filled by Peerman or Eason until Ced gets back. As players go to the IR, the Bengals should look to add a RB in case Ced sits out a stretch like he did last year. I love both of our back-up RBs in their roles, but worry if they have to be a feature back for even a game.

by jim0ijk on Jul 6, 2010 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe

I don’t think Peerman or Eason are the answers. I think if Ced’s out for some time, they’ll look at another bigger name FA RB like they did with LJ last season. I like our backups too, but I’d be more comfortable with Scott as the starter and Leonard as the 3rd down back than with the two other above-mentioned guys. It is a testament to the O-Line though that 3 different RB’s ran for 100+ yards last season. I LOVE Benson’s running style and definitely think he is the most talented we have, but part of me also thinks that we could stick anyone back there and they’d be successful.
I don’t think Ced will be suspended though. Neither does Schefter or Reedy. It sounds like it was a self-defense kind of deal and he was more of the victim than anything. I will say that not having him for the beginning of the season (particularly the first 2 games) would be huge. The NE and BAL games are enormous for this team IMO.

by Anthony Cosenza on Jul 6, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Votto

What an absolutely ridiculous snub…seriously one of the worst ever. If you haven’t been voting Votto you are shirking your duty as a Cincinnatian. Get on it.

by Jaegner on Jul 6, 2010 12:40 PM EDT reply actions

Listening to Colin Cowherd this morning on ESPN radio

he was blasting Cincinnatians for not voting Votto in. It’s typical Cincinnati fans—cynical and apathetic about their teams until a Bengal gets arrested or the Reds are lousy. Then they all come out of the woodworks to piss and moan. He also told a story about how in the ‘50s, Cincinnatians were huge “ballot stuffers”. So much so, in fact, that the then-Commissioner on the MLB instituted the 1/3 vote rule and the “1 player per team” rule because Cincinnati players were making it over the likes of Willie Mays. Speaking of the “1 player rule” for MLB All-Stars, is that still in effect? If so, how is Votto not an All-Star? Who on the Reds would make it over him? I don’t really follow baseball nearly as close as I do football, but if he truly has the stats that were mentioned above, he should be a lock. Votto seems like an Adrian Gonzalez clone to me.

by Anthony Cosenza on Jul 6, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Arthur Rhodes should absolutely be there. So should Rolen and Phillips.

The problem is this…Joey Votto is a first baseman in the National League. His numbers obliterate Pujols’ numbers this year, but as long as Albert Pujols is playing ball he’s going to be the starter for the NL. It’s a reputation thing at this point. Not fair at all…but reality.

by Craig Conrad on Jul 6, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Colin Cowherd is a piece of shit.

I honestly have less respect for that douchebag than any other sports “analyst” out there. Apparently he also spent about 30 minutes bashing Votto and saying he doesn’t deserve to be in. The sad thing is that he probably swayed a few peoples opinions, and some of those may have potentially voted for Votto. That this no talent hack is paid to go on air and voice his absolutely baseless opinions when they can have a negative effect on somebody as deserving of an All-Star berth as Votto is criminal. I would pay good money to punch him in the face.

by Jaegner on Jul 6, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Mmk

Don’t kill the messenger, bro. Just relaying his show. I’m not a huge fan of him either, but his show is better than most of those out my way. I will NOT take back my comment about Cincinnati sports fans though. You want proof of how bad (as a majority, not necessarily those on here) Cincinnatians are as fans, go visit the Cincinnati Enquirer’s message board. It’s filled with degenerates that revel in the Bengals’ screw-ups, losses, etc.

by Anthony Cosenza on Jul 6, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

How is this relevant to Votto being snubbed?

by Jaegner on Jul 6, 2010 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

If you read my previous post you'll see

My point was that Votto is in the position of being “snubbed” because of the apathy and cynicism of Cincinnati sports fans coupled with the fact that Votto plays a position in a league that has Pujols and Adrian Gonzo. These fans that you are begging to vote for Votto are the same dopes on the Enquirer waiting to comment on a Bengal screw-up and/or claiming that Mike Brown ruined their lives. Again, my point was that if Cincinnati had a more passionate and less cynical fanbase (Reds OR Bengals), Votto may not be in the position of not being an All-Star.

by Anthony Cosenza on Jul 6, 2010 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay, there are factors in play other than fan voting,

and Cincinnati is a small market. It seems like you’re just reaching for a reason to complain about Cincy fans for some reason. I’m sure most cities whose sports teams haven’t seen a championship for 20 years have more than their fair share of cynics, too. People have the capacity for either cynicism or optimism anywhere, being located in Cincy doesn’t make one more apt to cynicism. The attitude of the fanbase is directly proportionate to the sustained performance of the teams.

by Jaegner on Jul 6, 2010 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree, but

I suppose I’m jaded because I live in a region where there isn’t an NFL team. So, it upsets me when a local fanbase bashes their NFL team and some even boycott it while other major markets (Los Angeles, cough, cough) don’t even have a team of their own. I’m not from Cincinnati and i’ll NEVER change allegiances from the Bengals, so I guess it upsets me when I see this story about a deserving All-Star not getting the votes he deserves from his hometown fans. I’m not nieve enough to think that fan voting is the major force behind a player making it, but it is part of the equation. I’m sure we won’t see eye to eye on this, seeing as how we’re from different backgrounds, but oh well. Either way, I hope Votto gets voted in with those numbers as he seems to deserve it, though I’m no Reds fan.

by Anthony Cosenza on Jul 6, 2010 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, give me a break.

You don’t even live here, and you’re going to make sweeping comments about Cincy fans based on some comments on the Enquirer? Are you from L.A. or are you just using that as an example? Hasn’t a stadium been the major flash point in getting and keeping an NFL franchise? Too bad L.A. doesn’t have fans like the Cincy taxpayers who foot the bill for PBS. Bashing a team, as you put it, is part of being a fan. Excuse us for not being happy with a losing tradition. Without a voice of dissent, things will never change.

Your Votto gripes are contradictory. You acknowledge that fan voting isn’t the major force in play, but you argue as if he didn’t get in because he didn’t get enough votes from fans. You’re making a huge assumption about his support from fans or lack thereof. As I stated earlier, Cincy is a small market, and as such our votes hold even less sway because there simply isn’t as many of us.

This isn’t simply a case of us not seeing eye to eye, your comments are just ignorant.

by Jaegner on Jul 6, 2010 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Your attitude is what I am talking about.

My comments are neither ignorant nor off-base/contradictory. Just because they’re not “Jaegner’s opinion” doesn’t constitute them as such. Colin Cowherd (your personal favorite DBag) and myself aren’t the only ones to notice the apathy coming from Cincinnati fans—it’s pretty widespread opinion. Are there reasons for it? Sure. Stretches of bad teams and your anger about paying for stadiums is understandable, but it’s honestly a bit laughable when fans, Cincinnatians or otherwise, get up in arms about a situation like this when there’s been years of poor attendance at games, non-support of teams, etc. Bottom line: Votto deserves his All-Star opinions an you need to lay off of the bitter pills, man. Learn to have a big boy discussion without throwing a cyber-fit or whatever. Thanks.

by Anthony Cosenza on Jul 6, 2010 8:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Point me to where I threw a cyber-fit?

Aside from my initial comments about Cowherd, which I admit were pretty harsh, I think you may be reading what I wrote in an angrier tone than I intended.

it upsets me when I see this story about a deserving All-Star not getting the votes he deserves from his hometown fans. I’m not nieve enough to think that fan voting is the major force behind a player making it

These statements contradict each other. If fan voting isn’t the major force then what makes you say he didn’t get the votes he deserved?

We obviously agree that Votto deserves the berth, I just don’t see why you decided to use that as an opportunity to bash Cincy fans. You clearly know little to nothing about Cincinnati fans firsthand, you’re basing your statements on “widespread opinion” – that’s why I called your statements ignorant.

by Jaegner on Jul 6, 2010 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions