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Baker on Votto: ‘I’m not worried about Joey’

Reds skipper says ‘high-pressure world’ of professional sports affects athletes in different ways.

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer 1:27 AM Tuesday, June 2, 2009

ST. LOUIS — Dusty Baker said he has not talked to Joey Votto since he left the team with stress-related issues Friday and added, "I'm just going to leave him alone for a few days.  "I'm not worried about Joey. He'll call," Baker added. "He is one of the most respectful players I've had, easily. He's wonderful on and off the field. He's a pro like I'd like to have my son be. A great example."

Baker laughed and said Votto is his 10-year-old son, Darren's, favorite player, "But he always likes good hitters."

Without saying any of this applied to Votto, Baker talked about the pressures of playing baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals have Khalil Greene on the disabled list with social anxiety.

"Nobody knows who it is going to affect and when it is going to affect anybody," he said. "You deal with pressure every day in this game. People throw the money issue in your face all the time. There is a lot more coverage. It's a high-pressure world.

"Sports is one of the few professionals where you reach your goal at a very young age," Baker added. "Most guys reach their goals between their 40s and 50s. Maintaining a balance in your life can be a very tough thing. The game can become all-encompassing, day and night. It wakes you up in the middle of the night. It does me and I'm not even playing."

"It's tough to explain, tough to understand, tough to deal with," he said.

Asked if he thought Votto some day would come forward and reveal his issues, Baker said, "That's something I haven't approached him with and I probably never would."

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Thank god Neanderthals like Cry Me a River are becoming extinct. Most people now recognize mental illness for what it is - a disease, not a character fault.

Unfortunately, Southwest Ohio seems to have a disproportionate share of the remaining Neanderthal population. I hope Reds "fans" won't run Joey out of town when he gets back.

cmg
1:12 PM, 6/3/2009

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Hope Votto get back quick..good point on Jimmy Piersall. Movie about him called "Fear Strikes Out" tells a lot. Does anybodyknow what Tracy Jones is trying to say in a Reds game commercial..he says "sapeer" 10 times. Probably should be "superior", not exactly a tongue twister..How about paying for that one if your'e the client!

mike
6:55 PM, 6/2/2009

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Depression is a serious illness. No one is immune. Those who criticize Votto are not only uninformed but ignorant. Those who understand depression can empathize with Votto and only wish him the best. He will come around, but it will take time.

Keith
5:33 PM, 6/2/2009

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I'm always so relieved to read the words of wisdom from Dr. Carnac Baker, the team psychologist. Whenever he posits, I know that the truth -- the opposite of whatever he says -- is somewhere nearby.

sal monella
11:18 AM, 6/2/2009

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For anyone who thinks that Joey Votto is the first player to succumb to the pressures of MLB, Google Jimmy Piersall.

jim
10:55 AM, 6/2/2009

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