Joey Votto Comes Out Swinging Over Questions on Leadership and Taking Too Many Walks

Sometimes you really have to wonder, a) why follow sports b) why have an opinion on sports or c) why care about what anyone else’s opinion on sports might be since it’s mostly a waste of time and hot air. Take this really mind-numbing story that came out of Reds Spring Training centered around Joey Votto and “leadership.” Oh right and stats. We can’t have a discussion about baseball in 2015 without parsing over every number known to mankind.

Quick refresher here. Votto is coming off an injury-plagued 2014 that saw him post career lows in many offensive categories. It’s worth noting he’s owed over $200 million by Cincinnati through 2024 when he’ll be 40 years old. Last fall, Votto faced questions about the severity of his quadriceps injury and many wondered if he took his time getting back on the field, an allegation he strongly denied in September.

Going into 2015, the Reds look like they might finish in last place in the National League Central. Reds’ announcer Marty Brennamen decided to take a shot at Votto’s patient, walk-heavy approach at the plate.

Meanwhile, in an interview with FOX former Red Mat Latos bashed the organization’s training staff and team’s overall lack of accountability following the departures of veterans Scott Rolen and Bronson Arroyo, but supported Votto, saying any allegations of faking an injury were totally false and, when healthy, the Canadian first baseman is the best hitter in the NL. Latos said of Votto, “He was a great teammate, a great guy. He was always ready to play, always ready to fight.”

This leads to Tuesday when the normally reserved Votto(*), according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, spent five minutes addressing the leadership questions.

Leadership is one of sports clichés of clichés. Coaches and managers love to extol its virtues, be it at the pro level, college level, high school level or even youth sports level. We’ve collectively decided leaders = good. At the same time, all the leaders in the world don’t always make up for talent and skill, which win out more often than not.

The leadership questions about Votto are mostly besides the point, unless you need to fill air-time on a Cincinnati talk radio show.

Bear in mind, Cincinnati made the playoffs with Votto manning first base in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Did he mysteriously gain or lose his leadership qualities in 2011 when he led the Senior Circuit in doubles, walks and on-base percentage, finishing sixth in the MVP voting?

The on-base question, or Votto’s preference to take a walk rather than swing at pitches outside the zone to drive in runs is more of a valid question, albeit a foolish one. The primary offensive goal for all baseball players is to reach first base. Votto led baseball in on-base percentage from 2010-2013. His lifetime .417 on-base percentage is 21st all-time, which nestles him between Edgar Martinez and Stan Musial.

For a fun comparison, Votto’s lifetime averages over 162 games to Musial’s.

I’d imagine, since it’s human nature, Musial — by all accounts one of the best and well-respected baseball players ever, faced criticism during his playing days, although probably far below what Votto is feeling in Cincy right now.

The perception in some fans’ minds that a guy shouldn’t get paid $14 million a year (Votto’s contract expands to $20+ million per season next year) to walk to first base 100+ times is tough to overcome. If you’re watching a game, yeah, you’d probably rather see Votto swing than take borderline pitches. USA Today posted an interesting read on Votto, including his numbers swinging at pitches in and out of the strike zone. In 2014 his numbers outside the zone were well below the MLB average, but inside the zone they were significantly higher, so thinking Votto ought to change his approach is not that logical.

Or think of it this way. In 2012, Votto finished with an on-base percentage of .474, albeit in only 111 games. Call me crazy but any time a player can reach base nearly half the time that’s sort of, you know, good — a valuable talent, even.

As usual, some of the criticism of Votto stems from the Sabermetric stats vs. the traditional counting numbers. If we use FanGraphs wRC+ stat (Runs per PA scaled where 100 is average; both league and park adjusted; based on wOBA), Votto’s 154 is the fifth-best average in baseball since the year 2000. If we go by traditional counting stats of home runs and RBIs, his 28 home run average and 94 RBI average don’t necessarily fit the traditional mold of a slugging first baseman getting paid as handsomely as Votto, but these aren’t awful numbers by any stretch.

Realistically, to judge Votto we should judge the entire Reds lineup. In 2014 (when Votto missed significant time), the Reds trotted three players with sub-.300 on-base percentages (Billy Hamilton, Zach Cozart and Jay Bruce). Brandon Phillips and Ryan Ludwick each managed 400 at-bats with OBPs of .306 and .308 respectively. So total all that up and there’s not as many RBI opportunities, which as always are beyond any batter’s control.

If Reds fans and the Cincinnati media are deciding to grouse about Votto, of all players, in February, buckle up. It might be a longer season than anticipated in the Queen City regardless of clubhouse leadership or Votto’s pitch selection.

RELATED: Joey Votto Brought a Fan With Terminal Cancer to the Homer Bailey No Hitter Game Two Days Before He Passed Away

(*) For whatever it’s worth, Votto’s comedic performance as a Mountie was great. You’ve got to appreciate that dry Canadian humor.