Reds first baseman Joey Votto was extremely disappointed in a Reds fan seated in the first row on Tuesday.
During the seventh inning AT HOME against the Cardinals, Votto gave chase to a foul ball drifting towards the seats. He knew he would have a play on the ball, but as he reached to make the grab, an overzealous Reds fan made contact with Votto’s elbow.
That threw off Votto’s position and concentration, and he missed the would-be inning-ending out.
Votto was furious. He gave the fan, who was wearing a Reds jersey, a stare down. Then, he pulled on the Reds logo to remind him which team he was rooting for.
This fan won’t experience near the shame that Steve Bartman was subjected to by Cubs fans, but Votto’s reaction was, oh, a billion-times better than Moises Alou’s tantrum in left field. This reaction was cool, calculated and to the point. But it was also pretty mean.
Votto evidently does not want to be mean.
Being a nice guy and all, Votto felt bad about his reaction and made it right with the fan between innings. He signed a baseball with a note on it, and took a photo with him.
More from the Cincinnati Enquirer:
“He was generous enough to apologize at the time and afterwards,” Votto said after the game. “In retrospect, he’s not the one who should be apologizing. I should be apologizing. He’s just trying to catch a ball, and here I am bullying him.”
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Plus, all would be fine as Stephen Piscotty struck out later in the at-bat.
Nicely done, Joey Votto.
