Reds All-Star contingent thwarted

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - This All Star game was hopefully going to be a repeat of 2010 and 2011 for the National League; that being NL wins.

But then again presumably different for three-time All-Star Joey Votto of the Reds, joined by teammates Jay Bruce and Aroldis Chapman, second- and first-timers respectively.

Yes certainly this 83rd version of the Mid-Summer Classic would be when Votto broke his frustrating mold in marquee games.

Remember he was one for 10 in the Divisional Playoff series against the Phillies in 2010, with one run batted in. And what's more, Joey was 0-6 in his two previous All-Star appearances.

Tuesday night, with even Reds Trainer Paul Lessard on hand as part of the National League support staff, this All-Star Game would be the breakthrough in really big games when the whole worlds watching.

Not that Joey has anything to prove to anyone in baseball. The 2010 National League MVP is this year among the offensive leaders in the NL, so the pressure's off.

Especially considering he was voted a starter this year for the first of what will undoubtedly be many times to come in his career. But something changes it seems when the lights go on and Joe Buck is in the booth with Tim McCarver.

And its not like Kaufman Stadium is an intimidating place to play like, say, Yankee Stadium. No treacherous backdrop to hit against. Nothing really to cope with other than the pitcher and one's own thoughts.

So you wonder what is going through Votto's introspective mind after again going hitless in the All-Star Game. He looked at a called third strike in the first inning when the National League scored 5 times. And grounded out in his two subsequent at bats before being subbed for in the bottom of the 5th inning. By which time the NL had an 8-0 lead and he'd contributed nothing to it.

That makes Votto 0 for 9 in All-Star plate appearances. Frankly, he looked a little slow with the bat. As he did in the Reds weekend series in San Diego. Four days off would have done him, and by extension the Reds, wonders when they resume the season Friday versus the Cardinals.

But who would suggest that he shouldn't take the opportunity to bask in the glow of his hard earned achievements. Now the task is for Dusty Baker to insist Votto get days off at regular intervals to make sure his pre-All-Star and indeed All-Star Game slump doesn't carry over when it really matters. Like Friday and beyond.

With Jay Bruce going hitless in his two at bats, Aroldis Chapman had the best night of any Reds' All-Star: Two batters faced, one walked, one whiffed in the National League 8-0 win.