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2009 MLB National League Central Notebook
Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto actually allowed the human side of his life to come through.
Votto admitted that the reason he went on the disabled list was because a part of him could not get past the death of his father Joseph. Joseph Votto died last August. Votto did not disclose the reasons why.
Still, you can feel for Votto because people deal with grief in different ways. For Votto, he said that he had problems after the 2008 season with anxiety and depression. And then an episode in late May this year told him it was best to shut it down rather than trying to play through it.
Votto came off the disabled list on June 23 and is hitting .360 through his first 41 games.
HOUSTON
Right fielder Hunter Pence is showing that he can become one of the new bright offensive stars in the game.
Pence is in his third year in the Astros lineup and has reached double figures in home runs in all three years. He is at 10 home runs after hitting 17 in his rookie season 2007 and 25 in 2008. Pence, though, is showing his ability to maintain his consistency as he is batting .319 for the season. He also appears to have a better command of the strike zone. He has struck out only 40 times in his first 253 at bats. That’s about once every six at bats.
ST. LOUIS
The Cardinals are going through a pretty telling part of their schedule. They hold first place in the division but a lot will be known as they are playing 30 of 43 games away from Busch Stadium through July 26.
They finished an early stretch by going 4-3 on a roadtrip to Kansas City and the New York Met. The Cardinals have been more than respectable on the road as they are 19-18. The Redbirds are one of seven teams in the major leagues with winning road records.
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PITTSBURGH
Because he pitches for the Pirates, Zach Duke probably does not get the recognition that he deserves.
But take a closer look at what he has done this season. He’s 8-5 with a 3.09 ERA. The ERA ranks ninth in the National League, while his 105 innings pitched are second. Duke is not a strikeout pitcher, but he also helps his team by not walking anybody. He has issued only 25 passes throughout the season.
Duke is on pace to have his best winning season in his career. He has never won more than 10 games in any season. He is on pace to do 18.
MILWAUKEE
General manager Doug Melvin has quelled recent talk that the Brewers would likely trade third baseman Mat Gamel or shortstop Alcides Escobar before or on the July 31 trading deadline.
Melvin knows his team needs some offensive punch on the left side of the infield because third baseman Bill Hall has declined so rapidly. He is in a platoon situation with Gamel who is hitting .244 with two home runs and 12 RBIs.
However, Melvin has not dismissed the idea entirely. Melvin is willing to ride out the season a little more before he decides if he should do something.
CHICAGO
Although Milton Bradley has picked it up recently and raised his batting average to .241, it still hasn’t stopped manager Lou Piniella from benching him for a couple of games to give him time off.
Bradley is well off of his usual production with five home runs and 16 RBIs. He’s on pace for a career low 14 home runs and 43 RBIs. That’s not exactly what the Cubs were counting on when they signed him to a three-year contract in the offseason.
By Kevin Lonnquist
MLBcenter.com Staff Writer
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