https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/joey-votto-gets-notable-offer-from-his-former-team/ar-AA1tUfhs?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=ASTS&cvid=00ad68c584984d569cf20f18752fa2c4&ei=5

Who knows in what capacity? part time pinch hitter/coach of some sort?

God, I hope not.

Almost every superstar struggles with coaching. Larry Bird was a rare exception as a star turning head coach. It's hard explaining to others why you are/were great.

Most good coaches were part-time players that spent a lot of time on the bench. Most the time that they were in the Majors, they're near the coaches while the team is in the field and they're not prepping for the next at bat when the team is hitting. Those are the guys that pick up the small things that coaching staff does to improve their teammates.

I think that he's too much of a head case. If they need someone to teach them how to suck for a couple of months every year before turning it on, then I guess that he's your guy.

If Francona trusts Votto in a coaching capacity then I am good with it.

(11-12-2024, 09:58 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: God, I hope not.

Almost every superstar struggles with coaching. Larry Bird was a rare exception as a star turning head coach. It's hard explaining to others why you are/were great.

Most good coaches were part-time players that spent a lot of time on the bench. Most the time that they were in the Majors, they're near the coaches while the team is in the field and they're not prepping for the next at bat when the team is hitting. Those are the guys that pick up the small things that coaching staff does to improve their teammates.

I think that he's too much of a head case. If they need someone to teach them how to suck for a couple of months every year before turning it on, then I guess that he's your guy.

That's kinda my sticking point. Every time I think of Votto that screwed up half swing uppercut thingy he did when stepping out after a pitch comes to mind.

Don't get me wrong he was a great player (in his prime) but he got way out in the weeds those last few years. I'm just not sure on this one?

(11-12-2024, 10:35 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: If Francona trusts Votto in a coaching capacity then I am good with it.

I tend to agree but.... I'm just kinda unsure he's going to help more than he hurts?

(11-12-2024, 12:13 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I tend to agree but.... I'm just kinda unsure he's going to help more than he hurts?

If Francona is a good leader then he'll figure out how to utilize Votto. 

Francona was brought in to develop the young players.   So how does old man, washed up Votto figure into this ? He doesn't

Reds need to stick to the main reason they said they brought in Francona. They didn't think Bell was developing the young players, Francona has a history of developing young players with Cleveland and in winning World Series with Boston Red Sox for first time in 100 years.

The young players.  Not bringing back Votto and Moose and adding their insane contracts again.  The young players.  

Votto would have been gone a long time earlier if not for the no trade 10 year contract.  Votto held Reds to that up to the very end.  Some of you think he was here forever because he was so great.  The truth is many of his seasons were lousy, and he was one of the most over paid players in baseball,  but the Reds were stuck with his darn no trade contract.

Votto  is the past, not the future.  The 2025 Reds are Francona trying to develop the young players. They do not need old geezers like Votto back.  The 2025 focus is to see what Francona can teach the young players, that Bell wasn't.  

Francona should be allowed to bring in his own coaches.  Just as Tigers let Sparky bring in his coaches who helped win in Cincinnati.  Francona who won with Red Sox probably has coaches he would like to use again  

Stick with the program, and that is bringing in Francona to try to develop the young players, which Reds felt Bell just wasn't doing.  

2025 is all about this off season and spring training and trying to teach these young players how to play better baseball.  That is why Francona was hired, for the young players.  For example, as good as De La Cruz is, he could be better.  That goes for every young hitter and fielder and pitcher on this team.  Francona was brought in to get the most out of the Reds young players.  Under Bell the Reds made too many bad base running mistakes, and threw to the wrong base or wrong cut off man.  Reds lost too many games on mental mistakes.  Physical mistakes will happen, but good managers do not allow mental mistakes over and over.   Cut down on the mental mistakes and you win many more ball games.  Francona's job is to get these young players heads out of their butts and focus and improve.  

Francona was brought in for PLAYER DEVELOPMENT of all the young talent Reds have needing coached up. The key word is Young Reds Players.