2011 MLB All Star Game: Why Joey Votto Should DH for National League
By on July 5, 2011
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The 2011 MLB All Star Game is only two days away and the National League has yet to name the starting DH.
Boston Red Sox David Ortiz has already been tabbed with the honor for the American League yet San Francisco Giants and 2011 NL All Star manager Bruce Bochey has remained tight lipped on his decision.
It's a debate that is pretty easy to figure out: Pick Cincinnati Reds first basemen Joey Votto.
The reigning MVP is putting up another magnificent season for the oldest franchise in baseball history.
The lefty is second in the NL with a .326 batting average to go along with 13 homers and 55 RBI. His 66 walks are good enough for second overall in the majors.
David Schoenfield of the Sweet Spot Blog on ESPN.com talks about how Votto became the player he is today:
So why did Votto develop better than expected? I think that first quote about him being a “baseball rat” speaks volumes. This is a guy who moved slowly through the minors. It took him a year to adjust at low Class A and he had mediocre time at high Class A. He learned and adjusted at each level; he wasn’t a guy who just relied on natural talent.
Once regarded a poor fielder and slow runner, he proved experts wrong in both phases, where he’s turned into a solid fielder and guy who can swipe a few bases. But undoubtedly the biggest key to his success is his plate discipline, something he had from the beginning of his career. Just check his walk totals in the majors: 59 to 70 to 91 to 62 already this season. He’s learned to wait for his pitch, which in turn has allowed him to become a .300 hitter in the majors.
The natural progression of Votto has been fun to watch and it's hard to imagine him not making at least half a dozen more appearances in the mid-summer classic.
His competition for the spot?
Hunter Pence, Jay Bruce, Justin Upton, Troy Tulowitzki and Matt Holliday.
The only person that could challenge him would be Holliday, but his numbers are down and he has battled injuries that have kept him out of the line-up a fair amount in the first half.
Votto is the clear choice and it would be a major upset if you didn't see him placed right in the middle of the lineup along side Prince Fielder and Lance Berkman.
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