Recently lost to a season-ending shoulder injury (he underwent surgery for a torn rotator cuff last month), Joey Votto spent his Thursday night in the Reds’ broadcast booth, appearing on Bally Sports Ohio alongside Hall-of-Famer Barry Larkin and play-by-play veteran John Sadak. It’s been a frustrating year for the Reds and Votto in particular (he submitted a career-worst .205 average over 376 plate appearances). Though, as evidenced by his spirited monologue when asked if he enjoys baseball’s “variety” with each ballpark presenting its own quirks and eccentricities, Votto’s passion hasn’t waned in the slightest, still enamored with the granular details that give baseball its familial charm.
“Whether it’s the fog in San Francisco, the shadows can be a factor here in Cincinnati, the wind in Chicago,” said Votto, marveling at baseball’s rich tapestry of stadiums, cities and fans, all unique in their own way. “I love that there’s no uniformity to our game.”
Baseball, by most accounts, is seen to be in a state of peril, an outdated game struggling for its life amid plummeting attendance figures and stagnant television ratings, both exacerbated by an inability to connect with younger audiences. Some of the more desperate measures taken by commissioner Rob Manfred in recent years would attest to baseball’s decline, no longer occupying its former space as “America’s past time.” But Votto, in his childlike enthusiasm, doesn’t seem to share that cynicism, loving baseball wholly and unconditionally.
“I’ve heard comments about our sport and [its] direction. I think we’ve got a monopoly on the summer. Blue skies and green grass and baseball caps. There’s something about the different ballparks, the different climates, the different fan bases that to me, is the appeal of our game,” said Votto, a six-time All-Star and former National League MVP. “You can sit and putt around on your phone. You can have a beer, a hot dog. You can stay locked in on the game and score it. You can stand on the concourse and banter with friends and family and catch up. Come late, leave early and you can still have a great time. I love our game for that reason.”
Votto’s poetic genius is both a great marketing pitch and arguably why he’s been so successful, reveling in the painstaking process of honing his craft, constantly experimenting with new techniques and approaches in an ever-evolving sport. It’s hard not to appreciate baseball’s artful beauty, a whimsical expression of nostalgia and regional pride that can be enjoyed by all ages. One of the game’s more colorful personalities, Votto would seem to have a bright future in broadcasting whenever his extraordinary career reaches its end.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram