Joey Votto's defense of baseball's oldest stat is something the Reds must take to heart

Joey Votto has criticized the Cincinnati Reds' heavy reliance on the three true outcomes—walks, strikeouts, and home runs—arguing instead for a return to valuing batting average. The Reds lead MLB in strikeouts at 25.5% while ranking last in batting average at .230, yet have scored only 633 runs and finished last in the NL Central with a 72-82 record. In contrast, the three teams with the best records in baseball—Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles—rank first, second, and third in batting average, suggesting a correlation between consistent hitting and winning. Votto contends that batting average represents the most difficult and important skill in baseball, and that relying solely on home runs and walks fails when those outcomes don't occur in crucial situations.

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