There’s very few 1st baseman I can see jumping into the top tiers for 2011, Joey Votto is one of them. This alone is reason for him to be a 2010 fantasy baseball keeper, but there’s more. Show me the way, Grey! I shall, random italicized voice! Last year, Votto missed games because of dizziness and a bad case of the Mondays. With that missed time, it was only natural to see Votto fall short of his previous year’s numbers when he had 151 games. Oh, wait. He outperformed those numbers in 20 less games. That’s a cause célèbre! If “cause célèbre” meant what it sounded like. To put it into colloquial Mandarin then back into English, “I’ve finished my meal now I want some fresh oranges.” “Here you go!” “Thank you!” So let’s look at what we can expect from Votto for 2010 fantasy baseball and why he’s a keeper and someone I’m targeting in drafts.
Double his 2nd half when he went 49/14/42/.300/2 in 267 at-bats and you’d have bottom of the barrel expectations for him. That would mean no step forward. If Votto continues to progress, you’re looking at a guy that could easily give you 32 homers, 10 steals and a .300 average. This is enough reason for him to be a 2010 fantasy baseball keeper, but, wait, there’s more. If you buy into Joey Votto for 2010, I’ll also throw in a climbing walk rate and OPS for absolutely free! Don’t want it? Who cares, it’s free! Before you have time to answer because I’m talking so fast, throw in a home park that makes the new Stadium Adjacent to the House That Ruth Built spacious. Want more? Tough noogs, it’s all I have.
