09-15-2016, 03:35 PM
On May 29 the Reds played their 50th game. They were almost a third of the way through the 162 game schedule and on pace to lose far more games (110) that any teams in Reds history. Joey Votto was only hitting .207 with a .330 on base percentage and a .367 slugging percentage. His OPS (On base % + Slug %) ranked 140th in the majors.
Since then Votto has hit .376 with a .485 OB% and a .614 SLG%. He has raised his season totals to .318 BA, .433 OB%, and .529 SLG%. His .961 OPS is only 30 points behind National League leader Daniel Murphy and fourth overall in MLB. Mike Trout (.992) and David Ortiz (1.020) are the only other players ahead of him.
With no player putting up incredible offensive numbers in the National League this year Votto may have missed out on a good chance to nab another MVP. It would have been tough for him to win with the Reds sucking so badly, but if Votto had just produced at his career averages (.312 BA, .424 OB%, .533 SLG%) over those first 50 games he would currently have the highest batting average (.355), on base percentage (.464), and OPS (1.058) in the majors. Plus the Reds would have won quite a few more games. They are only 3 games under .500 (46-49) since Votto turned it around.
I have never seen a guy who was supposed to be healthy have a turnaround like that.
Since then Votto has hit .376 with a .485 OB% and a .614 SLG%. He has raised his season totals to .318 BA, .433 OB%, and .529 SLG%. His .961 OPS is only 30 points behind National League leader Daniel Murphy and fourth overall in MLB. Mike Trout (.992) and David Ortiz (1.020) are the only other players ahead of him.
With no player putting up incredible offensive numbers in the National League this year Votto may have missed out on a good chance to nab another MVP. It would have been tough for him to win with the Reds sucking so badly, but if Votto had just produced at his career averages (.312 BA, .424 OB%, .533 SLG%) over those first 50 games he would currently have the highest batting average (.355), on base percentage (.464), and OPS (1.058) in the majors. Plus the Reds would have won quite a few more games. They are only 3 games under .500 (46-49) since Votto turned it around.
I have never seen a guy who was supposed to be healthy have a turnaround like that.
