All Things Must Pass

What if we've seen the last of Joey Votto?

Joey Votto’s “shoulder discomfort’’ is a pain in the neck for the Reds. Not a big one, though. Probably not as large as you’d imagine.

Votto is on the 10-day IL. "For me, it's a day-to-day thing, a commitment over the next 10 days to strengthen his shoulder, with the goal of getting him back as quick as we can," David Bell explained.

With the shoulder re-injury, is it even remotely possible we’ve seen the last at-bat of Joseph Daniel Votto as a Cincinnati Red? He took over as the team’s starting 1B in 2008. There has been no one else there since. (Name the guy Votto supplanted, win fabulous prizes chosen just for you. No peeking at baseball-reference.)

Votto has been the Carew Tower of Redlegs, scraping the downtown sky as reliably as Barry Larkin before him. Players come and go like streetcars. They have the shelf life of expired milk. When Votto started at 1B on Opening Day 2008, Elly De La Cruz was 6.

When a player has been in one place as long as Votto has been here, the tendency is to take him for granted. That applies to Votto, certainly. At various times across his years here, we’ve groused about Votto’s hitting approach (too many walks!) his contract (too many zeroes!) his lack of overt leadership skills and this season, his presence in the lineup (too often!)

Have we appreciated fully his potential HOF career? We’re a city that admires loyalty. Did we honor Votto’s? We like sports gods (and coaches and personalities) who like us. Sometimes, if they’re here long enough, we embrace them as One of Us, surely the highest honor an outsider can receive in Cincinnati.

See: Casey, Sean; Huggins, Bob; Munoz, Anthony; Brennaman, Marty.

What sort of hug have we saved for Joey Votto?

Baseball has no time for sentiment. Baseball lost its case for sentimentality the second Walter O’Malley called the moving trucks to Ebbets Field in 1957. That prompts the bottom-line question:

Is there any reason to think the Reds will pick up the $20 mil option on Votto’s contract for next year? The buyout is $7 mil. Even $7 mil is a lot for the low-budget Club.

So, no. Simply put, there is no room for Votto on the ‘24 Reds. Not financially, strategically or philosophically. The question is all but rhetorical. Teams doing the rebuild slog have no room in the jewelry box for a $20 million bauble.

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You didn’t have to be Nostradamus to have guessed it would come to this. We knew it in 2014, when Votto agreed to the 10-year, $225-million deal. Votto knew it, too. Endings in pro sports aren’t always happy. Rarely are they easy.

The day always comes when a player’s worth doesn’t match his performance. Votto will be 40 in less than a month. Everyone would love to see the clock reverse, but it doesn’t work that way in sports, unless you’re Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens. Who wants to be those two?

I have no idea how Votto’s cranky shoulder will respond to rest and treatment. Perhaps he’ll be back at 1st base for the next homestand, or the last one of the year. That doesn’t change the script, though.

I don’t mean to obit Joey. Just feeling wistful on a slow news day. How will you remember him?

Now, then. . .

I pity the fool who messes with Mister T

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HE’S A BAAAAD MAN. . . Mister T got no time for the jibba-jabba.

Look at him. Look at that tough-guy pose. Read this description of his mug shot, offered by Business Insider:

The man of the hour did not disappoint. His hair, in its signature comb over, was neatly done in an artful pouf. The refreshed, orange tan of his skin popped against the drab gray walls of the jail. And he wore a blue suit with a white shirt and a red tie, perhaps predicting that this photo might be used on flag-themed campaign merch.

Then, one has to note his expression. Some politicians smile in their mugshots, but not Trump. In this photograph, he stared down the camera defiantly, brow furrowed, eyebrows impressively arched, jaw set firmly in a scowl. His chin was tilted downwards, too, in a time-tested tactic to disappear double chins and make one's face appear smaller, known to IG baddies, Korean pop stars, and, I guess, Trump.

He takes no crap, especially not yours. Got it? Trifle with him, he’ll make you pay. (Checks to the re-election campaign are preferred, but we’ll take credit cards.)

He’s one bad hombre. Believe it, play-uh. Buy his T-shirt, support his return to the White House, where, as his photo clearly shows, he’s ready to resume kicking ass. If he’s not in jail.

AND THERE WAS THIS. . . Trump listed his height and weight as 6-3, 215. . . same as Lamar Jackson. I mean, who can’t see that resemblance?

AND THIS. . . Almost as soon as the scowling mug shot was released, the former president’s re-election campaign began using it to try to fundraise for his 2024 presidential run. The campaign sent an email to supporters saying it would give away a “free” premium cotton t-shirt featuring the historic booking photo – in exchange for a $47 donation. (Yahoo)

LET THE BURROW WATCH BEGIN. . . Apparently, there is still an outside chance Saint Joe will not start the opener in Cleveland. As ESPN.com’s Ben Baby reports. . .

Burrow didn’t travel for the team’s second preseason game so he could maximize his recovery time, according to a team source. Another source said Burrow was not participating in team walkthroughs ahead of the team’s preseason finale against Washington, with the thinking that staying off the calf could maximize his health for Week 1.

If there’s even the slightest issue, sit him.

The Men started last season 2-3 as Burrow recovered from an appendectomy. That wasn’t a problem. Fact is, the improved Browns might beat them even if Burrow does play. Get him right.

AND NOW. . .

If you can’t find fun this weekend, don’t look at Hey Michelle!

Exotic Wheels ~ Calling all car lovers to go to Wyoming Saturday 5-8 food, drink and live music. This great event is supporting The Cure Starts Now 

Tattoo Arts Festival ~ Show off your body art and check out some of the worlds award winning artists at Duke Energy Friday 2-11, Saturday 11-11 & Sunday 11-8 

ArtWorks presents a new mural ~ Join the artist and designer of the Stand Together mural Sunday 3-5:30 at Queen City Radio. Love all of our beautiful “street art” in Cincy! 

FC CIncinnati ~ After that nail biter Wednesday we will certainly win 7:30 Saturday with the pre party staring at 4:30 at Washington Park 

Hamilpalooza ~ Saturday Noon - 6 at Marcum Park this family friendly event will have tons of entertainment, food vendors, shopping and more. 

Music ~ ZZ Top & Lynyrd Skynyrd Friday 6:30 Riverbend,  Barry Manilow 7:00 Saturday Heritage Bank, 5 Seconds of Summer Saturday 8:00 at Riverbend, The Wailers 7pm at the Madison Theater

Cincinnati Beer Run Disco ~ Saturday 10am-2pm at the Hofbräuhaus in Newport. This 2.5 mile course will have craft beers samples every half mile and a 16 oz at the finish! Post race music, food and drinks included.

Ring of Fire.. The Music of Johnny Cash ~ Starts Saturday and runs through Oct. 1st at The Playhouse in the Park 

Village Flea ~ Sunday 9-3 at Mainstrasse Village in Covington and then walk around and have a little Sunday Funday 

Ohio River Swim ~ Sunday 7am-9:30am 200 swimmers will swim 900 meters across the river and back starting at the Serpentine Wall benefiting Swim Training Program providing swim lessons and lifeguard certification to teens. 

Hey Michelle,

Do you want to know where to eat, drink and have fun in Cincinnati? Follow me @HeyMichelle1 on IG  https://heymichelle-help.com

Imbiber Dave is blown away by the Windy City

Visited Chicago recently, with the family for the first time they will actually be able to remember.

It was great to visit some classic tourist attractions that we rarely visited even during our tenure living in the Windy City. The Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum of Natural History are both amazing. Seeing my dinosaur-crazed son run through the exhibit naming each monster was worth the price of admission.

You know we had to enjoy some Chicago-style pizza. My opinion is it’s not the best in the world, but I really love it every so often. We didn’t make it to my favorite, Pequod’s, but Lou Malnati’s was a great stand in. I enjoyed our sausage mushroom deep dish with a Double Clutch Brewing Kolsch.

The highlight of the trip was taking our boys to see the Cubs at Wrigley. The Reds were in town and you know they continue to have the Cubs number, especially when yours truly is in the house. I think the Cubs scored 25+ runs the next two games.

If you’ve never had a Chicago hot dog, head over to Senate and have one. We did some tasting, and the highlights of the night were Tolo Tolo Mexican Lager and Funkytown’s Hip Hops Pale Ale.

Getting close to the last month of baseball, and there’s still postseason hope for both teams!

Cheers!
cincybeerguydave@gmail.com

TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . This one tears me up, every time. Love me some J. Collins.