At the end of June, Joey Votto was removed from a game and wound up being diagnosed with knee inflammation. It wasn't thought to be serious, and Votto wasn't placed on the disabled list. He's started nine games in July, batting 39 times. But one figures that Votto's knee must've kept on bothering him, because now he's doing something about it, and it's going to keep him on the sidelines for a little while.

Dan Plesac:

#reds have confirmed Joey Votto to be out about 2 weeks, having surgery to repair meniscus issue in knee. Not considered serious.

— Dan Plesac (@Plesac19) July 16, 2012

MLB subsequently came through and made things out to be more significant:

BREAKING: @Reds 1B Joey Votto diagnosed with torn meniscus in left knee, to undergo surgery Tuesday. Expected recovery time is 3-to-4 weeks.

— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2012

The Reds currently lead the NL Central division, but they lead by only one game over the Pirates, and they lead in large part thanks to Votto and his incredible .465 OBP. To say nothing of his incredible .604 slugging percentage. This isn't a huge deal, provided Votto makes a swift and complete recovery, but there aren't many players who'd be worse to lose for a time than Joey Votto, and the Reds will just have to manage with more Todd Frazier. Todd Frazier owns a .916 OPS so perhaps this could work out. But they'll also have to play more Scott Rolen and he's got a .574 OPS, soooo ...