Tag: Joey Votto

Joey Votto wonderfully made it up to young Reds fan who was so sad to see him ejected

A sad story with a happy ending.

Joey Votto has a history of trolling opposing fans and others in the stands, but this is a different and heart-warming story.

A young Cincinnati Reds fan, 6-year-old Abigail, came to her first baseball game on Saturday to watch Votto, her favorite player.

But Votto had one at-bat in the first inning that ended with him furiously jawing at the home plate umpire and getting ejected.

Abigail was so sad, and her mom tweeted at the Reds to show a photo proving the fact. The team reached out to get Votto to make it up to her with a signed ball, and her reaction was the best:

Love it and good job by everyone involved. Also! In case you missed what happened with Votto that got him tossed, here you go:

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Reds’ Joey Votto almost single-handedly turns rare triple play

What a move from Votto!

Joey Votto’s defensive mastery at first base was on show once again for the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, this time in the form of a rare triple play.

In the bottom of the eighth inning of the Reds matchup against the Cleveland Indians, with runners on the corners, Votto was able to turn a triple play, seemingly with ease. Cleveland’s Josh Naylor lined a bullet right to Votto at first, who caught the missile for the first out. Then, Votto dove back to first to make the tag on Franmil Reyes for the second out.

The third and final out is where it gets interesting. After the second out, Votto correctly identified that Eddie Rosario — who went home to score — didn’t tag up at third, making the easy toss over to the plate to get the final out for the triple play.

A bit of a confusing triple play, but a really intelligent, impressive one nonetheless!

Votto’s triple play is the first of the 2021 season, and the most recent since the Milwaukee Brewers turned one on the St. Louis Cardinals in September 2020.

Not only was Votto’s triple play a possible inning saver for the Reds, it was a great heads-up sequence from one of the best in the business.

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A bettor asked Joey Votto if there would be any first-inning runs. Votto then hit a first-inning home run.

HA!

You’d think every pro athlete out there would have the same response to a fan or anyone telling them they’re trying to win a bet.

They would not care!

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto — who has been known to troll opposing fans in his terrific career — sort of went that route, but he was playful about it with a bettor who turns out to work for Bleacher Report. Greg Ivory asked Votto at pre-game batting practice before the vet faced the San Francisco Giants if there would be any first-inning runs, because he had a no-run first-inning (NRFI) bet.

He had another exchange with Votto, who was in the on-deck circle before he … smacked a dinger, ruining that NRFI bet:

Amazing. Almost as good as the time last week Pete Alonso was reminded of the Mets and Phillies over/under right before he went yard.

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Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds sports betting odds and lines, with MLB betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Chicago Cubs (3-1) play the Cincinnati Reds (1-3) in the second game of a four-game series Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park. We analyze the Cubs-Reds betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.

Cubs at Reds: Projected starting pitchers

RHP Alec Mills vs. RHP Tyler Mahle

Mills got into the rotation due to SP José Quintana slicing his thumb on broken glass while washing dishes.

He is 1-1 with a 3.77 ERA through six career starts and 19 total appearances. He has struck out 69 hitters over 57 1/3 innings pitched.

Mahle (2019): 3-12 with a 5.14 ERA over 25 starts and 129 2/3 innings

  • 2019 vs. Cubs: 0-0 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts (eight strikeouts in 11 IP).
  • Career vs. Cubs: 2-1 with a 3.64 ERA over five starts (25 strikeouts in 29 2/3 IP).

Get some action on this game or any other matchup with an MLB bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Cubs at Reds: Key injuries

Visit sportsdata.usatoday.com to track all MLB injuries leading up to game time.

Reds

  • 2B Mike Moustakas (illness) out
  • C Tucker Barnhart (personal) out
  • 1B Matt Davidson (COVID-19) out
  • OF Nick Senzel (illness) questionable

Cubs at Reds, lines, picks and betting tips

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Cubs 8, Reds 4

Moneyline (ML)

Despite their current 1-3 record, the Reds (-115) had three straight quality starts (six or more innings pitched and three or fewer earned runs) out of their first three starters. Monday, the Cubs (+105) got to SP Wade Miley early, chasing him after 1 2/3 innings pitched and five earned runs surrendered, in an 8-7 win.

Tuesday’s Reds’ starter, Mahle, fills in for regular No. 5 starter Anthony DeSclafani, who’s recovering from a shoulder injury. There’s a reason Mahle isn’t a regular starter; he has an 11-23 career record with a 4.88 ERA. Look for Cubs SS Javier Baez and LF Kyle Schwarber to find their stride—both of which have four hits in 10 at-bats against Mahle.

Also, the absence of Moustakas in the Reds lineup will make it easier for Mills, an inexperienced major league starter, to navigate. Cincinnati is ranked 22nd in batting average and has the second-most runners left on base.

BET CUBS (+105). New to sports betting? A $100 bet on the Cubs (+105) earns a profit of $105 if Chicago beats Cincinnati.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

The Reds (+1.5, -176) have lost three games by a combined four runs. Seven of the Cubs’ (-1.5, +145) eight wins over the Reds last year were by two-plus runs.

Since we are betting Chicago on the moneyline I lean to them here, however, I’ll PASS on the run line because of the suboptimal value.

Over/Under (O/U)

I LIKE OVER 10 (-110) in Cubs-Reds. The Over has cashed in the last four Cubs road games and in the last five starts for Mahle at home.

Cincinnati is due for some runs because of all those runners left on base and their 27th ranking in BABIP (batting average on balls in play).

New to sports betting? A $55 wager on Over 10 (-110) pulls a $50 profit if the two teams combine for at least 11 runs.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Detroit Tigers at Cincinnati Reds odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Detroit Tigers at Cincinnati Reds sports betting odds and lines, with MLB betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Detroit Tigers (0-1) visit the Cincinnati Reds (1-0) Saturday at Great American Ball Park for a 5:15 p.m. ET game. We analyze the Tigers-Reds odds and lines, with MLB betting odds and picks around the matchup.

Tigers at Reds: Projected starting pitchers

RHP Ivan Nova vs. RHP Luis Castillo

Nova in 2019 for the Chicago White Sox: 11-12, 4.72 ERA in 34 starts (tied with MLB lead).

  • 2019 vs. Reds: NONE
  • Career vs. Reds: 5-7, 4.24 ERA (35 ER, 74 1/3 IP) in 12 starts.

Castillo in 2019: 15-8, 3.40 ERA in 32 starts.

  • Career vs. Tigers: Never faced Detroit before.
  • 2019 at home: 8-7, 3.15 ERA in 20 starts.

Baseball season is finally here! Get some action on the 2020 season with an MLB bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Tigers at Reds: Key injuries

(List of injuries around the league)

Tigers

  • SP Daniel Norris (COVID-19) out
  • SP Jordan Zimmermann (forearm) out

Reds

  • SP Anthony DeSclafani (shoulder) out
  • RP Michael Lorenzen (forearm) questionable
  • OF Josh VanMeter (leg) questionable

Tigers at Reds: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12;30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Reds 9, Tigers 2

Moneyline (ML)

The 2020 Tigers (+210) came into the COVID-altered regular season expected to be basement dwellers in the standings and looked as bad as people assumed in their 7-1 loss to the Reds on Opening Day. They finished 2019 with the worst record (47-114) in MLB by 6½ games.

The Reds (-239) came in as one of the National League sleepers and a team expected to compete for the NL Central crown. Saturday’s starter, Castillo, would be an ace on a lot of other ball clubs but the Reds rotation is stacked. The 27-year-old enters his fourth season off an impressive 2019 campaign.

We are PASSING ON THE MONEYLINE on this one because the Tigers’ payout is too small and the Reds’ price is too expensive.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

Just like the Tigers were had the worst regular-season record in 2019, they were the least profitable MLB team to bet on (66-95 run line record). The Reds surprised bettors last year (81-81 run line record) but won’t sneak up on them this season hence the Reds (-1.5, -134) run line odds.

Castillo has never pitched against the Tigers, but Nova has faced the Reds. Nova has started 12 games in his career, and seven games at Cincinnati’s home ballpark.

His slash line against current Reds hitters is even less inspiring. Current Reds hitters have 155 at-bats, six home runs, 21 RBIs, and slashed .352 BA/.387 OBP/.592 slugging percentage according to http://dailybaseballdata.com/cgi-bin/index.pl.

We are more betting against the Tigers here so TAKE REDS (-1.5, -134) on the run line. New to sports betting? A $134 bet on the Reds run line earns a $100 profit if Cincinnati wins by two or more runs.

Over/Under (O/U)

Each team is bottom-10 teams in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging %. Entering 2020, the Reds lineup has hope: 3B Eugenio Suarez is coming off a 49 home run season, they picked up 2B Mike Moustakas, OF/DH Nick Castellanos and have perennial All-Star 1B Joey Votto.

I do lean Over 9.5 (-110), but the Reds had the highest Under percentage in MLB last season (61-93-8). Even if the Reds lineup is much better this season, it’s tough to see Tigers pitching in much run support here. PASS on THE TOTAL in Tigers-Reds.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter, and follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Joey Votto perfectly explained why coronavirus media clubhouse ban shouldn’t be permanent

Joey Votto gets it.

In a joint statement on Monday, the major American sports leagues announced that they would be restricting access to the locker rooms and clubhouses in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

This restriction would essentially leave the locker rooms closed to the media while players and team personnel were permitted to carry on as usual.

The announcement was met with reasonable criticism from reporters, unions and the APSE. Every journalist is mindful of the COVID-19 outbreak. But the notion that closing the locker rooms to the media is in the interest of everyone’s health turns questionable when you’re simultaneously having players make physical contact for two hours in front of packed crowds.

There was also the concern that temporarily limiting media access to locker rooms and clubhouses could turn permanent. Well, leave it to Reds star Joey Votto to explain why it’s in every fan’s best interest to not see clubhouse restrictions become the norm.

He said via The Athletic:

“No, I definitely think most of — I’d say a vast majority of the stories involve nuance, emotion, personal relationships. Even if they’re incorrect, a perception of how someone reacted or how a player reacted can be told through facial expressions, getting to know that person and tone. I think that if you don’t have that on a daily basis, you don’t get to share those insights and frankly, most fans don’t care about the balls and strikes and runs and wins — well, I guess wins — but runs, but they care about the person. They want to feel like they’re close to the performer in any sport. I think everyone in the media is the bridge that connects the athlete with the public and without that close proximity, I don’t personally think you get that human component.”

Joey Votto just gets it.

Let’s hope the leagues take notice.

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Joey Votto had the best response to MLB potentially limiting in-game video

Relatable.

In wake of the Astros cheating scandal, baseball players could be forced to change how they prepare and make adjustments during games.

MLB is looking into new rule changes that would limit the use of video, the showing of game broadcasts in the clubhouse, access to the replay room and the barring of non-uniformed personnel in the clubhouse.

These would be huge changes as players have grown accustomed to utilizing technology (within the rules) during games, and understandably, some players would not like to see MLB revert back to the analog days of old.

Joey Votto is not one of those players.

The Athletic recently published an article about the potential video rules for MLB, and it quoted players like Trevor Bauer and Corey Seager who would like to see baseball continue to allow players to use video as long as sign stealing isn’t involved.

Votto had other priorities for MLB. Via The Athletic:

“I don’t care. I just want the games to be faster. Most restaurants close around 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. It’s hard to get a reservation and make it if you’re playing a three-and-a-half-hour game.”

Even when Votto was asked specifically about video access, he reiterated that he generally just cares about shortening the games.

“Oh, I have no idea. I guess you didn’t ask about that. You were asking about a policy change. And the only thing I care about is that the games start getting faster. Do anything they want. I don’t care. They can make it a seven-inning game.”

Votto isn’t worried about the Astros cheating. He’s worried about that dinner reservation. We can relate to that.

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How many games will the Cincinnati Reds win in 2020?

Analyzing the Cincinnati Reds’ projected win total for the 2020 MLB season, along with their odds to win the NL Central and World Series.

The Cincinnati Reds come into the 2020 season looking to end a six-year playoff drought. Hopes are high for the Reds despite finishing fourth in the National League Central in 2019 and last the previous four seasons. Today, we focus on the Cincinnati Reds’ 2020 regular-season win totals and World Series odds. Do the Cincinnati Reds have what it takes? Let’s analyze:

Cincinnati Reds 2019 wins

The Reds are looking to improve on a 2019 campaign that was their winningest (75-87) since 2014. After winning on Opening Day, the Reds lost eight straight and were never above .500 again in 2019. The Reds had only one winning month — May when they went 15-13 — but were never in contention for the NL Central crown.

Cincinnati Reds offseason

There was a lot of moving and shaking for the Reds this offseason. They added three new bats to the lineup: five-time Japanese All-Star OF Shogo Akiyama, 2017 American League Comeback Player of the Year 2B Mike Moustakas and former DetroiNick CCt Tigers/Chicago Cubs OF Nick Castellanos. The Reds also signed free-agent and former Houston Astros LHP Wade Miley, and they should receive a full season from former All-Star RHP Trevor Bauer.

Baseball season is right around the corner! Get some action on this season with MLB futures bets at BetMGM. Bet now!

Cincinnati Reds odds to win NL Central division

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Lines last updated on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET.

I LIKE REDS +380 as a value play to steal the NL Central. First, the defending champ St. Louis Cardinals had the least wins (91) of any MLB division winner last year. Second, the Reds have four quality starting pitchers in their rotation and their fifth — Anthony DeSclafani — is coming off a respectable 2019 where he was 9-9 with a 3.89 ERA.

Cincinnati Reds World Series odds

Baby steps should be the expectation for a Reds team that hasn’t appeared in a World Series since 1990 when they swept the Oakland A’s. There would be some value if it was +6000, but their line to win the World Series is +3000, so I’ll PASS.

How many games will Cincinnati Reds win in 2020?

If the Reds can avoid injuries and have 1B Joey Votto return to his MVP-caliber form in 2020, watch out for the Reds to make a surprise run at the NL Central title. Since I like their chances of winning the division, I LOVE OVER REDS 83.5 (-115) WINS. BetMGM is trying to scare you by setting the Reds’ regular-season win total at 83.5 and pricing the Over a little higher. But we aren’t falling for it. The Reds pitching staff was top 10 in ERA, runs allowed per game and strikeouts, so when you factor in a revamped lineup, Over 83.5 wins is a relative lock.

Want some action on the MLB season or other sports? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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