Cincinnati Red's Joey Votto returned to the field tonight versus his hometown Toronto Blue Jays. It was in a losing cause for the Reds, but they did get their slugger back into the lineup.
In a great interview with George Grande (one of the Reds/Fox Sports TV personalities) he put everything out into the open. For so long it was all speculation of why Joey Votto was on the DL. Most people just assumed it was drug or alcohol related. It is actually a serious case of depression and anxiety attacks.
If you have never experienced a anxiety attack it feels like you are losing control of your mind and body. The chest pain and dizzyness will send most to the doctor and maybe even the hospital. Try hitting a 90-95 mph baseball feeling great - let alone with these mental issues.
Joey went on in the interview to expain that the death of his father in the off season as the cause of his problem. His father was only 53 and left behind Joey and 2 of his young brothers that where in the dugout tonight with the Reds.
I hope that Joey will turn this into something positive on the field. His dad being his biggest fan would have probably wanted him to continue what he was born to do.
Everyone has lost some body in their life and everyone deals with it in their own way. Everyone is allowed to deal with it in their own way. Hang in there Joey!
