Joey Votto gave Reds fans another jolt of pain on Sunday night, and this time it came before the New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies game on NBC’s “Sunday Night Baseball.”
Speaking with Bob Costas, Votto was asked, “As a guy who played for the Cincinnati Reds for 17 seasons, and during that time they were a contender occasionally but not often, do you feel as if on a national basis as you make your debut with us here at NBC, that there are some people who don't appreciate your career?”
Votto’s answer went straight to one of the most bruising moments in Reds history.
“Any Philly fan knows the Cincinnati Reds because we were no-hit on this field vs. Roy Halladay in 2010,” Votto responded. “So they may know me, but not for the right reasons.”
Halladay threw the no-hitter in his first-ever postseason appearance, leading the Phillies to a 4-0 win in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
The reminder landed just days after Votto had already stirred up another sore spot for Cincinnati fans. On July 22, he appeared on MLB Network’s “MLB Now” with Brian Kenny, Bob Costas and Jake Peavy and offered a sobering note about the Reds’ place in recent baseball memory, saying he couldn’t point to anything like the Boston Red Sox’s recent winning streak and turnaround.
Votto also came up in another MLB Network video shared last week, when he was asked whether any current hitter reminds him of himself. His answer: Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony.
In Other News...
Reds Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Problem Fans Feared
Spencer Steers afternoon ended early when the Reds utility man left the game after hurting his right wrist, and Edwin Arroyo took over in his place. The immediate concern is medical, with X-rays next to help the club figure out how serious the issue is for a player who has become part of the broader conversation around Cincinnatis deadline plans.
The timing only adds to the uncertainty for a Reds front office already weighing whether to take a softer sell approach in the coming days. Steer is one of several names circulating in trade talk, alongside Tyler Stephenson and Brady Singer, so any injury update now matters on two fronts: what it means for the lineup in the short term and what it could mean for the market as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Reds May Have Found The Deadline Arm They Can't Realistically Get
The Reds are still shopping for controllable starting pitching as the deadline approaches, and the market keeps circling back to arms that can help now without forcing a long-term commitment. One pitcher drawing attention has been turning in a strong season for Seattle, giving Cincinnati the kind of profile it wants if the front office decides to push for rotation help rather than settle for a rental.
The problem is that Seattle is in no hurry to move a starter with that kind of value, especially with its depth making it easier to say no than yes. Any serious conversation could require the Reds to put together a heavier package than they might prefer, and the names floating around in that kind of deal suggest negotiations would not be simple. [Read more 🡒]