Loading ...The Joey Votto saga gets curiouser and curiouser:
The reason was more surprising and mysterious than expected but one thing was certain on Saturday: The Reds will be without the services of best hitter Joey Votto for at least two weeks, maybe more.
Votto was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of what was termed by the club as “stress-related issues.” No more details were revealed, at Votto’s request.
“He’s dealing with a personal issue,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “He wants us to respect his privacy about that.” …
On May 21, after a battery of tests, the inner ear infection was revealed, but it apparently has less to do with Votto’s current departure from the team than what was originally speculated.
“It’s partly that. Let’s leave it at that,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. …
“It’s basically something that Joey needs some time away to deal with,” Jocketty said. “We gave him that time. It’s not a big deal, but it’s something that was affecting his ability to play at the level he wants to play at.”
It wasn’t clear if Votto would be ready to return when he’s eligible for activation on June 14.
“At this point, we don’t know,” Baker said. “We’re hoping.”
Well, what do you make of that?
I have no clue. None whatsoever. I want to respect Votto’s privacy on this one, so I’m not going to speculate.
That said, the lack of information makes it hard to evaluate how honest and forthright the Reds organization – including Mark Mann, Dusty Baker, Walt Jocketty, and Rob Butcher – has been throughout this whole thing. That’s the part that needs reporting. Until I have reason to believe otherwise, I’ll assume innocence and good motives all around. But I do think it’s appropriate to ask some questions.
We talked on the other thread about how hard it is to isolate or define chemistry or attitude, etc. I think is also very hard to figure out what is going on at the moment with Joey Votto. I’ll bet it is pretty complex right now. And very probably has a number of factors. With not a clear understanding of how those factors are all interacting. I think there are a lot of people with the Reds management who have been trying desperately to figure that out. I think you can take at face value that they have been doing all the tests they say they have done. I know they are smart enough to know that Votto is very important part of this team. I doubt that any of them are smart enough to know all that is going on and how is affecting Joey. I assume that they and Joey are relying on the experts that they have. And it seems that there must be confusion on the professionals part as well. Otherwise they would not have done so many tests and had Joey go out there time and again. I doubt that the ear infection diagnosis was a ruse. My guess is that they truly hoped that was at the bottom of it. It could still be. Being dizzy without warning can shake up your whole concept of what is up and down in your world.
Jocketty said it’s not a big deal, but it sounds like it’s not a minor deal either. I hope Votto is alright and I also don’t think the Reds are trying to be deceitful. Maybe really knows what’s going on with Votto. It must be a very personal thing, which isn’t really any of our business. In a weird way, it’s refreshing to see a ballplayer admit that baseball isn’t the be all end all of life. He’s had a great year, but he could still be stressed out or really struggling with personal issues. I just hope he’s alright and of course I hope he is able to resume playing in a few weeks. But his health and state of mind are more important then playing baseball.
Let’s not forget the young guy lost his father less than a year ago if I’m not mistaken? Whatever it is, I’m hoping along with the rest of redleg nation that he can get back being the steady influence of professionalism he has been since he’s been up here as quickly as he can. In the meantime, we are all supporting him in whatever it is he is going through. Great teams pick up the slack for their leaders and this will be the true test of how great this team can be this year.
I just hope it’s nothing like the struggles Zack Greinke first went through when he came up to the majors. Hope everything is ok with him and it’s nothing too serious
I don’t have any more of a clue as to what’s going on with Joey than anyone else, but I don’t believe there’s been a ruse here. The flu-like symptoms were real, so is the inner ear infection and the bouts of dizziness. He’s also probably taking some kind of medication for this and there might be side effects.
There is something personal going on and the above factors and who knows what else have become incapacitating. Joey has character and will be back strong.
I said it on the other thread, but Redleg Nation has shown its class in the face of this crisis for Joey and the Reds.
Now let’s kick some butt !
With all the medicine that has been pumped into this guy’s system the past few weeks, it may simply be some chemical issues bringing on depression. I hope he is getting sound medical advice and treatment.
Yeah, I don’t see a ruse at all. I think everyone is searching for answers on this including Joey. I think there is a good chance that the loss of his father could be a big part of this. People grieve in different ways and it could be really affecting him. I don’t think the Reds managements should be grilled on this at all.
Let’s just hope its only 2 weeks.
I thought it was a bigger issue than the ear infection. I just hope Joey takes care of whatever he needs to take care of and joins the team in a couple of weeks.
I’ve been told that flying will aggravate an inner ear problem. They could really be a problem for a mlb player.
Guys, read the link. Inner ear infection is just PART of the problem.
“That said, the lack of information makes it hard to evaluate how honest and forthright the Reds organization – including Mark Mann, Dusty Baker, Walt Jocketty, and Rob Butcher – has been throughout this whole thing. That’s the part that needs reporting. Until I have reason to believe otherwise, I’ll assume innocence and good motives all around. But I do think it’s appropriate to ask some questions.”
So basically you’re insinuating that the entire management of this ballclub is dishonest because Joey Votto may be going through some personal problems coupled with his nagging infection? Maybe, just maybe, this is indeed a personal issue and none of your (or anyone else’s) business. Despite what you may think because of your blog, the Reds don’t have to run everything past you before acting.
So, do you believe they’re being dishonest as you imply in your first sentence, or do you assume innocence and good motives, as you state in your second to last sentence? Do you have to be so insufferably cynical about every facet of this team’s existance?
I also don’t believe it’s as complicated as many are making it out to be.
The HIPAA laws are pretty clear on a patient’s right to privacy. Chad, you’re a judge, so you understand why no one on the team can come forth with clear explanations without the player’s permission. And Votto has proven with the issue with his father’s death, the first go-round with this dizziness and now with the DL that he’s is very insular about his private affairs.
Here’s where Rob Butcher fails.
It’s his job/responsibility to work with the player and come forth with a statement that answers the appetite of the media and fan base. Otherwise, all you home-school doctors run amuck with hair-brained hypotheses, half-baked remedies and Nick Esasky comparisons. The statement doesn’t have to be fully revealing but say enough that satisfies everyone. Something like this:
“Obviously the issue with my inner ear infection is not fully healed and twice now after flights I’ve had occurrences of dizziness. We need to get to the bottom of this problem. It’s aggravating for me and it’s not fair to my teammates. I want to be there for them and I feel like I’m failing them. It’s gnawing at me—the symptoms and not being on the field. So it’s best for everyone that I step back for a couple of weeks, let the medications continue their progress and we don’t have the daily issue of my availability to play.”
Not . . . very . . . hard.
To me, that’s likely what’s happening here. Votto is frustrated with the pace of recovery and being intense and competitive, the anxiety of having to wait each day to see how he feels to play is driving him a little nuts. So just stop the madness. Go home, rest, get away from the clubhouse, have a few more tests and put his mind at some ease.
Let’s not forget there are HIPPA laws in place now, so it’s not a big deal to me if Reds management isn’t talking publicly about Votto’s situation. They probably can’t legally.
You know what, I am actually ok if they were not totally honest with us. If he was having a personal issue the last thing he would want/need is it being talked about on the radio and I don’t think it is a bad thing if the team tried to protect him a little, even if that means they stretched the whole inner ear thing.
Best wished to Votto, and hope he takes the time he needs regardless of the standings.
I just want to say that I’ve been reading up on this story around the Reds blogosphere and RLN fans and commenters are the very best there are… I’m not being at all sarcastic, I promise. While commenters on other blogs are making false conclusions and accusations and all they care about is how this affects the Reds, the fans here have the best interests of Joey Votto at heart. While I’m no one special at RLN, I am proud to be a part of this fan community.
Thanks, EKy.
And Joe, if this site is truly “insufferable,” you’re welcome to leave at any time. Frankly, I’d prefer you do that than levy personal attacks.