Joey Votto: Join me in appreciation of St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina

Reds first baseman Joey Votto tweeted minutes before the first pitch of Wednesday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park, calling for "appreciation for the experience of competing against" Cards "icons" Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.

Votto joined John Sadak and Barry Larkin in the Bally Sports Ohio broadcast booth during the game, from the 2nd inning through the 8th inning.

"This is the first time I've taken in a Reds game from this angle, so it's a nice experience," Votto said during the early part of the broadcast.

"You can learn a lot just by watching," Votto said during the 3rd inning. "I wanted to be a great hitter, so I watched obsessively, and I still do. … I'm watching the best hitters in the game during their hottest stretch. And I'm not watching their highlights. I'm not even semi-concerned about their highlights. I'm watching everything in between. How is their fastball timing relative to their teammates? Where are they aiming the ball? How are they matching up? … Do I need to adjust? Over and over and over. I'm about to turn 39 here. It's my 16th Major League season. I still feel hungry and motivated - similar to all these young guys that are on the Reds' bench right now. I feel no different. The best tool I've used to improve is trying to emulate the best in the game. Just copycat over and over and over. And change. And copycat over and over and over. Because the best in the game … are matching the style of the game. The style of the game changes. Tony Gwynn was one of the best hitters of Barry's time. He had a specific style that probably would be different if he was playing in today's era. There would be some subtle changes. And he would match his style to the pitchers, because it's different now. Different style of pitching. The shift, different now. The umpiring, different now. The baseball, the stadiums. And that's what I watch. I watch the best guys. How do they do it? Copy that."

"To me, I noticed in (2018) that I just wasn't quite what I was in '17," Votto said during the 6th inning. "I was an All-Star that year. And the stubborn player in you says that was a fluke. I'm running it back again in '19. And I had the worst year of my career. The following year was (the) COVID-shortened year. … (After I was benched), the conversation in the mirror was, 'What's fun? What's gonna make you want to play everyday? What's gonna make you want to have a good time?' … I looked at my contract. I looked at my goals. I want to play into my 40s. I want to be 40 years old and still wearing a Major League Baseball uniform. And I'm not gonna get there if I hate the game. And there were times where I was really unhappy with my … and it's not a popular thing to say, but I'm being truthful. But so much of my baseball enjoyment was tied to being a good player. I finished 2nd (in MVP voting). The year before I'm an All-Star. And all of a sudden I'm playing very poorly. To me, it was a mirror moment. Something needed to change. I needed to have a good time or I wasn't gonna make it to my goals. And I certainly wasn't gonna make it to the end of the contract just in terms of wanting to put the uniform on. I don't know. I probably would still be playing, grinding, even if I was playing poorly because I do love baseball and I do always play with hope and optimism. And I expect big things because … I've overcome things and made myself into who I am as a ballplayer. But what I'm getting at is - I don't know - I just was not having a good time and I wanted to have a good time as a baseball player."

"I see one of the all-time greats getting his due as he sprints through the finish line of his career," Votto said of Pujols during the future National Baseball Hall of Famer's 8th-inning at-bat. "He's played so long he's got an answer for everything. And to me, I just want to appreciate what he's done. And I love that the fans get to see some of the greatness that he's been known for for the last 20-plus years. 20 years? 20 years. 20-plus years - can you imagine? I just got my 15th year of service time the other day. And some people were talking about 'Three, four, five more!' And I was like, 'Oooh, boy oh boy. Let's see if I can make it through this year first, you know?' Albert is in the probably first three right-hand hitters of all time. For me, it's probably Hank (Aaron), Willie (Mays) and him. No disrespect to the families of some of the players I omitted. But (it's a) different game post-integration. The game is the best. You have everyone. Everyone can play. All the communities all over the parts of the world that love baseball and want to support the sport. They can play. … Albert, Willie and Hank are the best three right-hand hitters I think of all time because they competed against the best. No one was kept from the game. ... You win the Most Valuable Player. You sign the big contract. You perform well. All-Star Games, etc. And you still feel like you're looking up to an idol. You still feel like you're looking up to somebody that you don't view as a peer. It's like, 'I learn from you. You're better.' It's hard to explain. He's just an inner-circle, all-time great that until the day he leaves us he's gonna be viewed as such."

"I'm so happy and I hope he is," Votto continued about Pujols. "I hope he's happy doing it back in St. Louis again. Because it feels right. It feels right. And it'd be pretty cool if they played well deep into October for him. Three-time champion - you can't dismiss that. Three-time Most Valuable Player. Approaching 700 home runs. And he did it with grace and class. No hiccups. No scandals. I don't think he gets any credit for that. He just kind of plugged along and did great work. And is universally respected in the game and in his communities."

From Votto earlier via Twitter:

From @BallySportsCIN via Twitter:

Votto said earlier this week that he is confident he can still play at a high level after recent season-ending surgery. He added that it's a priority of his to remain with the Reds as he nears the end of his contract.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Joey Votto appreciates Cardinals' Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina