You are an established star of the game.
You can field and hit quite well and lead
By example when others are just seeking
Good contracts and appreciation for their
Varied talents. Hitters are happy to achieve a
Batting average of almost 28%. Pitchers
Satisfy themselves by achieving career
Win-loss records a few games above .500.
It is an age of mostly mediocrity but that is
Not the baseball sphere you live in. You hit
For power and for average and the fans
Adore you, and it makes sense: an All-Star,
An MVP, with multiple walk-off homers and
Three-homer games, more than 360 dingers,
More than 1,100 RBI’s, homers in
Seven straight games, more than 2,100
Base hits! The city you call home was
Named after a Roman emperor who gave
Up power willingly for his peace of mind.
You do not give up power but rather lead
The team, lead them on the field and in
The dugout and in the locker-room – – –
To the extent that you hired a tutor and
Become fluent in a second language,
Spanish, so as to converse smoothly
With the Latin players on your team, to
Be their leader, and not just on the field.
You honor every other player on your team
With due respect, which flows in both
Directions. You are peerless among your peers,
Receiver of fan-cheers and teammate
Admiration. There is no room for
Mediocrity in your approach, or settling
For less than athletic-spiritual significance.
You communicate with bat, glove, words,
Ideas, example and emotion.
You are Joey Votto.
THE POETRY OF THE GAME