Votto tries radio play-by-play: 'I'm bad luck'

It’s been tough for Reds broadcasters to call road games from Cincinnati. But the team of Tommy Thrall and Chris Welsh on the Reds Radio Network got an unexpected bonus on Friday during their call of the Reds' 1-0 loss to the Cubs from an empty Great American Ball Park.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto -- on the IL with a fractured left thumb -- dropped by the booth in the sixth inning. He ended up staying for the rest of the game and even tried his hand at Thrall’s play-by-play job.

Votto had been working out on the field before the game and taking swings from the cage against a pitching machine.

“It’s an odd experience, because I’m able to move really well -- run, I can even swing the bat pretty close to 100 percent,” Votto said during the top of the sixth. “But I play first. I have to catch the ball, and this is on my catching hand. I feel like I’m making progress. But I did not know it would take this long. I was hoping to be back sooner.

“I miss playing, of course. I miss being in the clubhouse. I miss the banter, I miss the jokes, I miss cheering on my teammates. I miss watching guys do well and, collectively, winning.”

Thrall asked Votto if he was pain-free.

“I’d be playing if I was pain-free,” Votto replied. “There is no question about that."

Then, Votto remembered his duty on the airwaves.

"I have to remember that we are on radio, so we need the updates as things go on. I need to zip it and let you step in and let people know what’s going on as they work or are at home or driving to and from somewhere.”

As the Cubs batted in the bottom of the sixth inning, Thrall turned over the play-by-play reins to Votto.

“Down and away slider in the dirt, picked by [Tucker] Barnhart, 3-1 count, [Kris] Bryant stays at first. [Heath] Hembree doesn’t look as sharp as he’d like to, but I’ve watched him climb back in innings. He is a very competitive pitcher. I really love playing with him. I feel glad that he’s on our roster this year.

“Foul ball by [Javier] Báez on a slider, good slider, a good comeback pitch on a 3-1 count. ...

“Tough slider there, tough swing there by Báez, a 3-2 count, foul ball.”

“Stay-alive swing, you’ve done a few of those,” Welsh commented.

“I’m trying to do less of those,” Votto replied, laughing. "I’m trying to be more aggressive up there. I have been. I’m glad the change is paying itself off. It’s one thing I look forward to -- when I come back, I am going to play well. I felt great. COVID really got in the way of my start to the year. It got in the way of the progress from last year. But I feel good, and I think I am going to come back and play well.”

Thrall asked if the time away has given Votto a chance to reset mentally.

Before he could answer, Votto first called a strike-three swing by Báez, which resulted in a double play when Barnhart threw out Bryant trying to steal second base.

“You get better by competing,” Votto said, returning to Thrall’s question. “It’s like those phone updates. You always get that software update each and every series. I’ve played a bit, and I want to play more.”

Votto was invited to stick around, and he happily accepted. He wanted to do play-by-play for a potential Reds home run and test out his chops on such a call.

Alas, it wouldn’t happen as the Reds were shut out.

Votto detailed the final play as Jesse Winker grounded out against Craig Kimbrel.

“As he gets a slider, ground ball tapped back to the pitcher. And the Cubs win, 1-0,” Votto said.

“Well, Joey, I’ll tell you what, thanks a lot for stopping by,” Thrall said. “This has been a blast.”

“I don’t think I am ever coming back,” Votto joked. “I’m bad luck.”