"THE MORE YOU watch Joey Votto, the more you shake your head and wonder why any pitcher throws him a strike. Votto is on the same level as Albert Pujols on that level — challenge him and pay the piper a stiff price.

They try to pitch around Votto, a league-leading 93 walks, but they also try to pitch him away, on the outside corner.

Big mistake.

Votto is one of the best lefthanded hitters I've ever seen at hitting the ball to left field — and not just for base hits, but for mind-numbing power.

ON WEDNESDAY, the Cincinnati Reds split a doubleheader with the Florida Marlins in Sun Life Stadium, a place that has fewer people in seats than a church on Mondays.

Votto was 5 for 7 with two home runs and four RBI as the Reds lost the first game, 6-5, and won the second game, 3-2.

Said Votto, "I believe I'm having a better year this year than I did last year." But he won't repeat as National League MVP because his surface numbers are not as good as last year and teams try to pitch around him, giving him fewer opportunities for home runs and RBIs."