Cincinnati Reds have the best player in the National League

The Cincinnati Reds have the best player in the National League and the fans should remember that.

During the rebuild it is easy for the fans of the Cincinnati Reds to forget this key fact, first baseman Joey Votto is the best player in the National League.  Year over year during his career their isn’t too much discussion.  Without Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout, Votto would potentially be the best player in his generation.

Right now, Votto ranks seventh among active players in runs created.  He also trails everyone above him by at least two seasons played.  Miguel Cabrera has a solid lead on Votto, but the rest of them look bound to be caught if Votto maintains something similar to his current pace.

Right now, Votto is tied with outfielder Billy Hamilton with 1225 career runs created.  No, not that Billy Hamilton.  This Billy Hamilton played most of his career prior to 1900.

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In support of the National League MVP going to the wrong guy, in all of baseball only Charlie Blackmon had more runs created in 2017 at 157 than Votto’s 155.  Stanton was fourth in MLB and the other usual NL suspect, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, was sixth.  In a rarity Trout was outside the top ten at eleven, but fourth in the American League.

Aside from runs created, Wins Above Replacement is another great way to look at players across teams and leagues.

More from Joey Votto

• Joey Votto single-handedly saved the Reds’ bacon vs. the Pirates
• Will Joey Votto surpass Johnny Bench for the most HRs in Reds history?
• Reds: Joey Votto has been MLB’s best player since the All-Star break
• Reds: Joey Votto’s quest for a second MVP is very realistic
• Reds: Joey Votto making second-half push for NL MVP

In WAR Votto was sixth in MLB in 2017 at 7.5.  He was also third in the NL behind Max Scherzer and Giancarlo Stanton.  His nemesis for best in the game, Trout, was tenth in MLB at 6.7.

Trout, however, explodes onto the scene when you only look at his offensive WAR.  Only Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had a higher offensive WAT in all of baseball than Trout at 8.1.  Trout’s for 2017 was 7.4.

Offensively, Votto had the third best WAR in the NL in 2017 behind Blackmon and Stanton.

Overall in MLB it was seventh.  In 2016, Votto only had a WAR of 4.0, good but not elite.

In WAR terms, Votto ranks 240th in the history of the game.  That is pretty good, but Ian Kinsler and Justin Verlander are both ahead of him among active players.  So is Trout with four fewer seasons.

Next: Oh no, Joe! Morgan tells other HoFers how to vote!

The point here is that Votto is the best position player in the NL year after year.  He has to keep playing this well to cement his Hall of Fame career.  However, he is well on his way to Cooperstown and a retired jersey at GABP.