Outstanding player, but HOF?? I suppose reaching his milestone the other night helps, but HOF might be reaching it.
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JAWS has Votto as the 12th best first baseman of all time.
His traditional stats compare favorably with Tony Perez and Orlando Cepeda. Perez got in on the 9th vote and Cepeda was a veterans committee selection. I donât think itâs a case of if but when for Votto depending on how inclined the voters are to viewing non-traditional stats along with the traditional and who else is in the voting class.
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Yeah I think heâll definitely get in. It also doesnât hurt that heâs become much more fan/media friendly over the last few years.
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Per Baseball Ref, heâs below the HoF average on a few statistical standards (above for Grey Ink and JAWS). The hall tends to have a bias to players in larger markets, though a bias towards players who spend their entire careers in one place.
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Nice HR for Votto with 1 on to put the Reds up 3-0.
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Huge stretch of 6 games coming up here with the Brewers. 3 games in Milwaukee right before the All Star break, and then 3 games in Cincinnati immediately after the AS break. Reds could build a nice cushion here with these games. Go Reds!
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I played softball with Joe Weimer 20 years ago. His son, Joey, 3-4 years old, used to hang around the team, in the dugout, run the bases after the game, etc. Now that kid is in the majors, kicking ass. Crazy.
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De La Cruz with a single and then steals the next 3 bases!
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And it wasnât even very close at home. 
Huge WâŚheaded into the AS break in 1st.
What has Votto done for you lately? 
Votto has certainly rebounded nicely. Have to think the energy from the young guys is reenergizing him to some extent. And likewise his steady veteran presence is a plus. All in all fun and exciting team to watch. Letâs keep this run going after the AS break!
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That De La Cruz base stealing sequence was incredible âŚI watched it live and then and a number of times on replay. What excitement he brings amd as an old school âsmall ballâ baseball fan, I just love how the Reds play the game this yearâŚpower, speed, base stealingâŚthe entire package!
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So if the Reds enter the trade market, to bolster their playoff chances, who should they go after? To me, the obvious position of need, should they choose to go this route, is starting pitching. I am not by the way advocating one way or the other on entering the trade market. Just discussing âwhat ifâ scenarios if they do. One player that would be an interesting pursuit, should the Twins decide to sell rather than buy, is former Red, Sonny Gray. Just off an all star game appearance, he is having a good year. One downside to Gray is he is free agent eligible after this year. But perhaps that brings his return value down as a team might only have him for half a season. Anyway, thought I would start the discussion.
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Or do you go the opposite approach and get a bunch of guys who can eat up innings. Seems like this approach has been proven to win last couple years. If so, maybe we land a closer and dare I sayâŚChapman?
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Considering he has already been traded to Texas, I would say no.
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Oh crap! I didnât see that. Oh well!
Reds have Diaz. Chapman is not a need. Starting pitching is.
A starting rotation ofâŚ
Greene
Lodolo
Abbott
Ashcraft
Williamson
âŚwould probably win you the division. But youâre looking at another month before Greene and Lodolo return. I donât think the Reds can keep playing over .500 ball with Weaver and Lively getting starts, and going with Ashcraft and Abbott as your #1 and #2.
All of the short starts are killing the bullpen, and while the pen has been pretty good, I worry about them wearing out. Hopefully Antone can bolster the back end in the near future.
If, in 2 weeks, Greene and Lodolo are on track for a mid-August return, I add an expensive veteran starter who is a FA at seasonâs end (like a Sonny Gray, or even Lance Lynn), as those type of guys wonât require a high prospect in return.
What I believe they will do is trade for a bullpen piece or two, like they did in 2021.
My notion was about getting guys who can eat up innings. Assuming a starter deal canât be reached.
Curious as to why you like Williamson better than Lively?
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