Cincinnati Reds: Slotting Joey Votto sixth in the lineup is not the answer

Joey Votto has struggled, by his standards, the past two seasons. But, the six-time All-Star should still bat second in the Cincinnati Reds lineup.

Why this has become a question is beyond me, but it has. Many fans throughout Reds Country have suggested that it’s time for Joey Votto to slide down to No. 6 or lower in the Cincinnati Reds batting order. While I understand that Votto has struggled, by his standards, at the plate over the past two seasons, he still should be hitting second in the Reds lineup.

The name of the game is to score runs, right? One of the easiest ways to do that is to put players at or near the top of the batting order who get on base routinely. No one over the past five years, other than the game’s best player Mike Trout, has done that better than Votto. The Reds first baseman has an on-base percentage of .426 over the last five seasons.

Now, I’ll admit that Votto has struggled to produce at the plate like we’re used to. The former MVP, who should actually have two trophies to his name, has not lived up to the lofty expectations he set for himself. However, despite the worst season of his career, Votto was still second on the team (one point behind Eugenio Suárez) in on-base percentage last season.

Joey Votto has led the National League in on-base percentage seven times during his career and three times in the past four seasons. Votto’s lifetime OBP is .421, which is the best in Cincinnati Reds history, just ahead of Hall of Famer Joe Morgan (.415).

With the additional bats brought into the Reds clubhouse this season, having Votto batting in front of them will enable the likes of Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas to put up some big numbers. In fact, there’s a good chance that one of those two players, along with Suárez, could lead the league in RBIs.

Unfortunately, the days of Joey Votto mashing 30 homers is likely over, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t add value to this team. While some fans will bemoan the fact that Votto is not getting paid $25M to draw walks, I’d counter with the idea that he is. Votto’s chief goal should be to get on base and let the big hitters in the lineup do their job.

Now, for those who think it’s a good idea to bump Votto down to No. 6 in the lineup, I have to disagree. While I understand that Votto isn’t the same hitter that he used to be, why would you want you best on-base threat to get aboard just to be stranded at first base with the three worst hitters in the lineup due up behind him?

While fans throughout the Queen City are hoping for a return to form, Tucker Barnhart struggled at the dish last season. Barnhart hit just .231 and had his worst OPS+ (82) since becoming a full-time starter. Do you really want Votto, who reaches base 40% of the time, to be standing on first base with a player at-bat who’s career-OPS is less than .700?

What about Freddy Galvis? The Reds shortstop is likely to bat seventh or eighth in the lineup, and while Galvis set a career-high in home runs (23) last season, he also would’ve set a career-high in strikeouts had he not been injured to finish the year. Galvis has a career on-base percentage of .291.

According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, David Bell has yet to commit to a lineup for Opening Day, but it’s a good bet that Votto will be back where started last season – in the No. 2 hole. Votto hit second in the batting order in 121 games last season, and I’d look for more of the same in 2020. Honestly, it shouldn’t even be a debate.