5:26pm: Votto has not tested positive; he self-reported symptoms, according to manager David Bell (via Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). He is day-to-day.
3:37pm: The Reds announced they’ve placed Joey Votto on the COVID-19 injured list. Catcher Tyler Stephenson was reinstated from the IL to take his spot on the active roster. Cincinnati also recalled infielder Alejo López from Triple-A Louisville while optioning backstop Mark Kolozsvary.
The team didn’t specify whether Votto’s IL placement is reflective of a positive COVID test, virus-like symptoms, or exposure to someone who tested positive. Under the league’s 2022 health-and-safety protocols, players who test positive are subject to a 10-day absence from the club, though it’s possible to be reinstated in less time if the player has gone 24 or more hours without a fever, received a pair of negative PCR tests, and been given approval from a team physician and the MLB/MLBPA joint committee (a panel of one league-appointed and one union-appointed physician). If Votto is “merely” dealing with symptoms, he could return in shorter order. Players who test negative can return once their symptoms dissipate, so long as they’re cleared by the joint committee and the team doctor.
Stephenson returns after a two-week absence. The talented young catcher was injured in a collision with Padres first baseman Luke Voit at home plate during a game on April 19. Stephenson suffered a concussion, leaving the Reds to rely on an Aramis Garcia – Kolozsvary pairing behind the dish. It marked another blow to a Reds’ lineup that has been anemic through the season’s first month. Stephenson had been off to an impressive .267/.378/.467 start even as the club languished at or near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories.
Votto has been part of that miserable month, as he’d been off to a terrible start. Through 22 games, the six-time All-Star is hitting just .122/.278/.135 with a lofty 32.2% strikeout rate.
Votto to IL due to Blindness in batters box
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Reds need some “offense” so they should trade for Duvall. Apparently, people still convinced Duvall is a good hitter.
Don’t forget that he’s an expert base runner.
And a gold glover. The Reds could use his 30 homer power and gold glove defense. We’ll take cash considerations for him.
Alejo Lopez has been getting called up or sent down almost daily. Under the new rule doesn’t it now count toward the season options limit?
i would have to imagine injury-related recalls don’t count. could be wrong though.
Ok, if I understand the rule correctly, a player can be optioned up to 5 times after May 1. Lopez was optioned on May 2, so that would have been his first toward the limit. If he’s optioned again(say, when Votto is reactivated) that would be his second. Only 3 more available for the rest of the season.
I don’t see anything about an injury-related exception. Which makes sense since that could probably be used to justify almost any transaction.
When break dancing, getting gold teeth inserts and making Tik Tik videos is what you’re proud of in 22′ while being on a 200k+ pace while being a de facto captain for a team on its way to 110+ L’s. Going out with a whimper Joe.
15 years in Cincinnati, 1,922 games played, 2 seasons he played the full 162 games, a lifetime batting average of an even .300 with 331 HR’s, a single MVP-winning season, and 6 All-Star appearances doesn’t look like it can be overlooked or taken over by antics done in 2022.
Better to go out with a whimper, than be a never-was, right?
Please, tell us how you keep your K-rate down in your local beer league. Heck, give Joey some tips – he’d love to know how you carried your team to the Guntersville slow pitch quarter finals in ’04
Dude is a possible Hall of Famer who almost always starts off slow. And he was amazing just last year. Looking back, in 2016, he was hitting .215/.336/.403 on June 1. Finished the season at .326/.434/.550. So this is not unprecedented with Votto. Take your hate elsewhere.
Don’t forget Scott….its, “do you want fries with that”?
Oh man….without Votto the Reds are gonna struggle! Oh, wait…..
Ouch, rubbing salt in the wound and dumping alcohol in it right after.
It’s easy to be a fan of a team when they’re winning but how you handle your favorite team losing shows a lot more about you as a fan than anything. Every Reds article posted everybody is a downer. It’s just a baseball team. Some of you all get way too bent out of shape about it. I’ve loved the Reds for going on 40 years but my blood pressure feels a lot better these days because I can handle losing. I invest a lot of time in things that don’t always go the way I plan so what’s the big deal if my baseball team doesn’t put up better results. Limit the emotion you invest and you’ll be a lot happier at the end of the day.
I hope Reds can get back at least India, Castillo and Lodolo soon, they’ve been hit really bad by injuries.
I guess Vottos career BA will be slipping under .300 soon…..
Kind of a shame because that’s what defines his offense in many ways. It was the same with Mantle (not that I’m comparing their offenses, merely their BAs) slipping under & he said that not hitting .300 (.298) was one of his biggest regrets.
Hope he’s better soon.
Maybe this will start a win streak! Nah..
LOL Covid Loophole for Votto to go on the DL instead of just sitting him for being absolutely terrible this year.
Who else thinks Votto should be in the Hall of Fame?
On the real, lead the NL in obp 7 seasons, 3 of which lead mlb. Plus 330+Hr 430+2B and .300 career average that might disappear after this year. An MVP and a GG. Dude is a interesting interview. Your call.
Imma say yes
He’s borderline now. It really depends on what he does from here on out, because nearly all his statistical categories could be insufficient should he regress.
Obviously, the only category in which he would clearly qualify, that he can’t hurt, is HRs and he’s probably +75 over the min threshold. OBP is +50 right now, so he’s pretty good there too, positionally.
But, his AVG, RBIs, SLG, ISO, & WAR are either just under (RBIs) or just over (the others) the threshold for HOF candidacy.
Naturally, it’s not a perfect science & we can only use how the BBWs have applied these categories historically to make inductions, which does vary.
In summary, good year or two, he looks like he would get in after some time on the ballot. Bad year or two & it looks like he may have to rely on the Players’ Era Committee…
If the Reds had built a better team around Votto he’d be a HoF lock. He’s had to play much of his career without a whole lot of support.
Absolutely the truth. The Reds lacked commitment to the minor leagues and development under Marge. They lack a commitment period under the current owners. The game plan seems to be to go through the motions with the bottom line to make money, all the while deceiving the fans.
Armaments216: Yeah, I agree with that as well.
That’s not how it works. And you need to realize that was years ago…. If shim pushed it today, like shim did when hir husband was in office, you realize it would be characterized as “fat shaming” correct? Lmao you guys can’t even keep your “views” straight. I can’t believe that s?he was into fat shaming kids! Let them live their life Karen they are old enough to make life changing decisions haha I love it. Not sure about the other person but correct, I personally don’t like shim. Dang it, shim. Shim!! Sorry it won’t let me write them, him, or her.
Lmao encouraging people to eat healthily and exercise is not fat-shaming. You’re reaching so far you’ve fallen off a logic gorge.
Because if we go with what you’re saying and that we shouldn’t encourage healthy eating or exercise because it’s “fat-shaming” then what should we encourage people to do to protect themselves from COVID? I’ll give you a hint: it starts with v and ends with -accine! Or are you gonna argue we have people drink bleach?
Huge fail bro. Might want to delete your account here, I’m embarrassed for you.
Also, what are you smoking that won’t let you write basic pronouns? The fact that you can’t even say her name shows how scared you are of her.