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          After slumping early, Joey Votto has started 'scaring' pitchers again

          By choking up on the bat, Joey Votto gets the barrel of the bat closer to his body. Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
          • Eno Sarris, Special to ESPN.comAug 3, 2016, 11:39 AM ET
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            • Baseball writer, BBWAA member, fantasy baseball blog manager at Fangraphs
            • Freelance writer who has written for mlb.com, foxsports.com, ESPN The Mag and others
            • Helped found Kumon Publishing North America
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          On May 1 of this year, Joey Votto was batting a very un-Vottoian .224/.320/.306. It was enough for some of us to wonder if the 32-year-old first baseman was beginning his decline phase.