If you haven’t checked out of the Reds season yet, you know the offense has been almost non-existent. It’s painful and hard to watch, the last three games against the Atlanta Braves excluded. It’s especially hard to watch when first baseman Joey Votto struggles, because fans know what he’s capable of and he’s at the age where if he struggles, people start to fear it’s the start of his decline.
Votto isn’t struggling in a way others in the Reds lineup are struggling. He’s hitting .256/.363/.337, but he hasn’t hit the way fans expect him to hit. In reality, Votto just starts slow.