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3.8.10
BY: MEH
1B: JOEY VOTTO/HAL MORRIS
First base this season is owned by Joey
Votto, but before the 1990 season began the Reds had two players fighting
for the position. Hal Morris and Todd Benzinger went into Spring Training
1990, both having the same intentions to start the season at first base.
Benzinger got the nod, but during the regular season they split the time at
first virtually in half (Benzinger started 82 games at first and 8 in the
outfield while Morris started 80 games at first and 6 in the outfield). Both
Benzinger and Morris helped propel Cincinnati to the post-season in 1990,
but due to Morris' longevity with the Reds, career accomplishments, and flat
out awesome haircut, we're marking him down as the the 1990 Reds first
baseman.
HAL MORRIS
BATS:
LEFT THROWS: LEFT
HEIGHT: 6'3" WEIGHT: 200lb
William Harold Morris III was
born on April 9th, 1965 in Fort Rucker, Alabama. During High School in
Munster, Indiana, Morris was selected Player of the Year. Morris then
attended the University of Michigan. While at Michigan Morris played with
two future Reds teammates. Barry Larkin, Chris Sabo, and Hal Morris led the
Wolverines to a College World Series appearance in 1983 posting a 33-0 regular
season record. In 1986 Morris was selected in the eighth round of the
amateur draft by the New York Yankees. During his two seasons with the
Yankees ('88-'89), Morris was used primarily off the bench starting only
seven games. Morris was traded by the Yankees to the Cincinnati Reds after
the 1989 season for Tim Leary and Van Snider.
Hal Morris began his career as a Cincinnati Red in 1990. While compiling
at-bats playing first, roaming the outfield, and coming off the bench to
face right-handed pitchers, Morris put together an impressive .340 batting
average as he appeared in 107 games during the 1990 season. His versatility
undoubtedly helped push his team into the post season, and during the NLCS
against the Pirates Morris batted .417 going 5-12. Although he helped to get
his team to the World Series, Morris didn't do much to help them win it. In
14 at-bats Morris only managed to get one hit. In game 4 though, Morris hit
a sacrifice fly, scoring Herm Winningham, that ended up being the winning
run securing the Cincinnati Reds' 1990 World Championship.
In 1991 Morris (.318) finished just one point behind Atlanta's Terry
Pendleton (.319) for the National League Hitting Crown. Playing for
Cincinnati, Kansas City, Toronto, and Detroit Morris continued his
professional baseball career until 2000 and posted a .304 lifetime batting
average. Hal Morris is currently a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
JOEY VOTTO
BATS: LEFT
THROWS: LEFT
HEIGHT: 6'3" WEIGHT: 235lb
Joseph Daniel Votto was born
on September 10, 1983 in Toronto, Canada. Votto was drafted in the second
round (44th overall) of the 2002 MLB draft. Struggling to to make a name for
himself in the Reds' organization after average performances in '02 -'03
with Billings and Dayton, Votto emerged as a force during his '04 season.
Spending time in Dayton and Potomac, Votto hit a combined .301 in 135 games
(33 doubles, 92 RBI, and 19 HR). In 2005 he was promoted to Sarasota, but
his numbers declined. His batting average dropped nearly fifty points (.256)
as he struck out 122 times. In 2006 though, Votto was routinely moved to AA
Chattanooga, made his adjustments, and started putting up undeniable stats.
He batted .319 with 46 doubles, 22 HR, and 24 stolen bases during his '06
season leading the Southern League in average and total bases and was third
in home runs and RBI. Votto was selected to play in the '06 Futures Game,
Mid and Post-Season Southern League All-Star games, and was voted a minor
league All-Star by Baseball America. His final acclaim to his 2006 season
was winning the prestigious Southern League MVP award. After his career year
in '06, Votto spent a majority of Spring Training 2007 with the Cincinnati
Reds and made the 40 man roster, but was sent down to AAA Louisville to
begin the season. He played 133 with Louisville in '07 modestly batting .294
with 21 doubles, 22 HR, 92 RBI, and was named the International League's
2007 Rookie of the Year. On September 1st, 2007 Votto's talent could no
longer be denied as he was finally called up to the big league club and made
his major league debut on September 4th. In his second major league at bat
that day, Votto hit his his first career home run. In only 24 games and 84
at-bats for the remainder of the year with Cincinnati, Votto hit .321 with 7
doubles 4 HR, and 17 RBI. He ended the season, securing his major league
status, going 2-for-4 with a HR and 5 RBI in the Reds' final game of the
2007 season.
Joey Votto didn't make the Opening Day roster on March 31st, 2008. Instead,
he was to share time at first with veteran/mentor Scott Hatteberg, but that
didn't last long. In early April manager Dusty Baker decided to begin
playing Votto everyday at first base. During his rookie season with the
Cincinnati Reds, Votto batted .297 in 144 games hitting 32 doubles and 24 HR
quickly establishing himself as an everyday player in the Queen City. On May
7th, 2008
Votto hit three home runs against the Chicago Cubs. His 84 RBI in '08
broke Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson's previous Reds' record (83 RBI in '56)
for RBI by a rookie. Votto had his 2008 season further acknowledged by
finishing second (behind Cub Geovany Soto) in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
Prior to Votto's second major league season he played for Canada in the 2009
World Baseball Classic. Canada played only two games in the WBC, but
Votto
took advantage going 5-for-9 overall while doing most of his damage
against team U.S.A. going 4-for-5 with a HR.
In 2009 Joey Votto was the unanimous Opening Day first baseman for the
Cincinnati Reds. He tore up major league pitching the beginning of the
season hitting .378 through May, however, Votto was placed on the DL in
early June after missing multiple starts in due to personal issues. Prior to
returning to the team in July (after missing 21 games), Votto hesitantly
informed overly curious fans, teammates, and media personnel
about his depression and anxiety issues that kept him away from baseball
resulting from the sudden death of his father in August 2008. After
returning to the Reds, Votto finished the season among the NL leaders in
average (.322), OBP (.414), and on-base-percentage (.567). After hitting 10
doubles during a span of five games (Sep. 21-27, '09)
Votto was named MLB Player of the Week. The last player to accomplish
that feat was Hall of Fame outfielder Paul Warner who did it for the
Pirates, 77 years earlier, in 1932. Despite missing 31 overall games in '09,
Votto still led the team in
HRs
(25), TB (266), 2B (38), Runs (82), average (.322) and BB(70).
Joey Votto will continue to be one of the most feared hitters in the
National League in 2010. He has been working extensively during the
off-season on his defense. Votto has stated that he would like to improve
his already solid fielding and win a NL Gold Glove to go with the one's that
all of his surrounding infielders have. (Second baseman Brandon Phillips has
one, shortstop Orland Cabrera has two, and third baseman Scott Rolen has
seven.) He is the only member of the Reds' current infield without one.
Joey Votto embodies professionalism. He mimics the the unique history and
heritage of the Cincinnati Reds. He
leads
by example, he represents the quiet integrity of the game, and he is one
of the game's current elite. If Joey Votto can consistently put up the
numbers he did in his first two major league seasons and
stay
healthy, there is no question that he will someday become one of the
game's greatest.
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