Former Cincinnati Reds great Joey Votto was asked during MLB Network's "MLB Now" whether he thinks there should be limits to the amount a player celebrates a home run after Junior Caminero's 38.66-second homer trot during the seventh inning of the Tampa Bay Rays' ALCS-clinching 7-3 win against the Cleveland Guardians.
"No, he's got me smiling," Votto said. "I'm so excited for that for that moment because (it's a) game-changing, season-changing moment. Pedro Martinez tweeted something along the lines of 'this is the way we play.'You know, they're both Dominican baseball players. 'This is the way we play. We show our passion.We show our enthusiasm for the sports, for our country, for everything that we've come from in these particular moments.'"
"I saw a young man who's about to go to the World Series, and really, he was just a kid," Votto continued. "And if you're at home, and … you're tuning into your Tampa Bay Rays, about to go to the World Series, you're in your living room, pumping your fists, jumping up and down, dancing with your kids."
"And Caminero is doing that on the field with you," Votto added. "And I think that it's just a beautiful thing. I understand back in the day, you put your head down and you try (to) act like you've done it before. We're not there anymore. And I think, especially in that particular moment, because Caminero, when you hit 40, 50 home runs, you're experienced. But he's not doing this on a consistent basis during the regular season. He's doing this in this one particular moment. I loved it."
After Chris "Mad Dog" Russo explained that he thought Caminero's celebration was excessive, Votto disagreed with him.
"I, Caminero and players that are in the box on a consistent basis, getting balls fired at us under our chin, over our head," Votto replied. "What do we owe to the average pitcher? Truly. Yandy Diaz got hit yesterday. What do we owe to you? We owe you nothing. And you know what, when we get you in a big moment, we're going to dunk on you and celebrate. And that's what I saw from Caminero."
Votto recently told Foul Territory he believes there's an "underinvestment in the easy wins" from the Reds.
In the same interview, Votto was asked what his top priority would be as general manager of the team.
"I would trade Elly for as many prospects as possible to start," Votto said.
Votto shared earlier in the month that he got to see the clock he gave as a gift earlier in the year, during a visit to Crosley Terrace, outside the main entrance of Great American Ball Park.
In September, Votto replied to National Baseball Hall of Famer and Reds analyst Barry Larkin's rant that followed a loss to Chicago by tweeting, "Captain Lark 100 (emoji)."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here's what Joey Votto thought of Caminero's 38-second home run trot
