AUTHOR: Reds03 TITLE: The Emergence of a Star DATE: 6:04:00 PM ----- BODY:

In 2002, the Reds took a 19 year old from Canada on the 44th pick of the draft. This young man turned out to be Joey Votto. Votto burst on to the scene in 2004 in A ball. Votto blasted 14 home runs and hit .302 in a little less than a full season before being promoted to AA. In AA,Votto struggled at the plate, dropping nearly 50 points to .256. Votto also had 122 strikeouts to add to his stats. The following year, Votto rebounded in AA. He hit .319 with 22 bombs and 24 stolen bases. This caught the eye of Cincinnati Reds, and they added him to the 40 man roster. It didn't go as Votto hoped though. He was sent down to AAA beofore he even had a chance at the MLB. On September 1st, 2007 Joey Votto was called up to the Bigs. The following year he earned a job at 1st base for the Reds, but split time with Scott Hatteberg. Later on that season, Votto was named the every day 1st baseman. To reward Baker's decision, Votto hit not 1, not 2, but 3 long balls off the Chicago Cubs. He went on to brake the Reds rookie RBI reocrod with 84. A record previously owened by one of baseball's greats,Frank Robinson. While playing for Team Canada in the 2009 WBC, he went 4 for 5 against the US team in the round 1 opener, a game that I attended. When he returned back to the Reds, he hit .346 the first month of the season. Votto was tearing up the majors, until he was placed on the DL. Votto suffered from depression and anxiety because the loss of his father a year before. The Canadian was also diagnosed with an inner ear infection, which caused him to miss 31 games. Despite the the trip to the DL, Votto ended up hitting .322, OBP of .414, and 25 home runs. If Votto is healthy in 2010, the Central better watch out!

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Anonymous DATE:2/11/2010 07:11:00 PM Thanks red I'll add this to my favorites. I'm just getting back into the techno word after an 8 yr hiatus. I guess I'm going through my own st right now. I've really enjoyed the reds site. "Theres a whole lot going on out there". Great article on Joey by the way. Not sure how to fill out form but I've got a good reference book to figure it out. thanks again ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Reds03 DATE:2/11/2010 07:13:00 PM Thank you, but who are you? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: ChiSoxMike DATE:2/11/2010 08:15:00 PM Great article on Joey, he is one of my favorite players ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Reds03 DATE:2/11/2010 08:47:00 PM Thank you sir ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR: Ebes DATE:2/13/2010 01:46:00 PM I am Ebes. Joey Votto is a hero to us here in Cincinnati. Can't get enough of him. Keep up the good work good luck with the blog. I think I sorted out the sign in problem. Thanks for the open invitation to come here.I'm passing it on. ----- --------