Votto taking grounders again

I realize the photo to the right looks like grainy spy film shot in the old Soviet Union, but that is indeed Reds 1B Joey Votto taking groundballs from third base coach Mark Berry and throwing on the field at GABP Sunday morning. It was the best I could do with the trusty iPhone zoomed in all the way from the press box.

Votto, who had a second left knee surgery to remove cartilage on Aug. 10, resumed some baseball activity again. He played catch on Saturday, as well.

With the resumption of baseball activity, Votto hoped the process of getting back to the lineup would accelerate.

“I anticipate so,” Votto said before going on the field. “I’m healing every day and I’m able to do different things. But it’s going to take its time, whenever it’s ready.”

There is still some pain in Votto’s knee.

“Sure there’s pain. I just had a second surgery roughly a week ago,” Votto said.

Votto is not making the trip to Philadelphia on Monday.

“I know he hates not going because even at Spring Training, he mentioned to me about beating Philly,”  said Reds manager Dusty Baker, who met privately with Votto for about 10 minutes Sunday morning . “That’s probably been our toughest spot to play in the last couple of years – or them period.”