Cincinnati Reds hoping Joey Votto can avoid disabled list

Cincinnati Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto is dealing with a left quad injury. Earlier this week the Reds indicated that a stint on the disabled list was likely, though their hopefulness in that regard improved somewhat when an MRI revealed no damage to his knee.

According to C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds are going to wait until the conclusion of their weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies to make a decision with Votto. Here is what manager Bryan Price had to say about the situation:

"I’m optimistic that Joey after that report could come back and not necessitate a DL (trip), that being said, we want Joey back as Joey Votto, not as a shell or shadow of who he is, because I want him to play confidently on that knee and that leg for the rest of the season and the rest of his career going forward.”"

Votto, 30 years old, has cooled off after starting 2014 at a blazing pace, though he remains an on-base ninja. His current line is .257/.410/.449 with six home runs and 12 RBI.

While people are quick to grumble about his low RBI numbers, anybody who watches Votto hit knows that he does damage when he gets the opportunity. Not unlike Joe Mauer in Minnesota, Votto’s elite on-base skills are harder to appreciate because of the lack of a lineup around him.

Whether he had 12 RBI or 40 RBI at this point, the Reds need Votto if they are going to matter in 2014. This weekend they will decide if a stint on the disabled list is required to make sure he is right for the long haul.