Now that the World Series is over, Major League Baseball will start announcing its regular season awards. Last night, the Gold Gloves were announced.

And the Cincinnati Reds had two recipients: Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips.

Phillips has won the award for his defense at second base three of the last four years.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” Phillips said. “The manager and the coaches respect my work.”

Phillips realizes the importance of defense.

“Defense wins games,” Phillips said. “I go out and catch the ball the best way I know how. . . The baseball field is my coliseum. I go out and entertain the fans.”

The award was Votto’s first, and was the first ever for a Reds first baseman.

“I’d like to thank the managers and coaches who selected me,” Votto said. “It always means a tremendous amount to be selected by your superiors for any award, especially for one of this magnitude. I’d also like to thank the Reds’ coaching staff for their help, with a special mention to bench coach Chris Speier.”

Both Votto and Phillips had clauses in their contracts that award them bonuses for the awards. Phillips will be $250,000 richer, while Votto gets $50,000.

Last year, the Reds had three Gold Glove winners: Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen, and Bronson Arroyo. It could’ve been three again this year, but Jay Bruce was robbed by the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Andre Ethier. I guess there’s always next year.

Today at the Red Hot Household we’re holding our annual end-of-summer party. Coincidentally, this year the event happens to fall on my uncle’s birthday, so I thought it would be nice to make cupcakes. Then I realized it’s also Joey Votto’s birthday, so heck, why not make him one too?

I suppose if I were a true fan, I would have at least used red icing, and/or made the cupcake look like a baseball or maple leaf or something. But I’m not that obsessed; I’m just a woman with an extra cupcake and a rudimentary knowledge of baseball players’ birthdays.

Joey Votto showed why he should get a day off every two months this past week by demolishing the opposing pitchers. And he was awarded with the National League Player of the Week Award.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been named National League Player of the Week for the period of July 25-31, 2011. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

In seven games last week, Votto hit .385 (10-for-26) and led the National League with 24 total bases. The reigning N.L. MVP tied for the league lead in home runs (4), RBI (9) and runs scored (7) for the week, and ranked second in slugging percentage (.923) while posting a .467 on-base percentage. Votto collected hits in every game that he started during the week after going 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter on Monday, July 25th. He had four multi-hit performances and three multi-RBI games during the week. The Canadian-born All-Star clubbed home runs in three straight games from July 26th-28th, marking the second time in his career that he has homered in three consecutive contests (previously September 3-5, 2008). Votto doubled and scored a run in Cincy’s 7-2 victory on Saturday, July 30th over the visiting Giants. In Sunday’s matchup, the 27-year-old homered, doubled twice and collected four RBI en route to a 9-0 victory that completed a three-game sweep of the defending World Champions. Votto currently leads the N.L. in walks (74) and on-base percentage (.428), and has the league’s fourth-best batting average (.319). This is his second career weekly award, having won previously for the week of September 21-27, 2009.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Votto’s Cincinnati teammate Johnny Cueto (1-1, 0.00 ERA, 14.0 IP, 11 SO); Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder (.450, 2 HR, .800 SLG) and John Axford (0.00 ERA, 4 SV, 6 SO, 7.1 IP); Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman (.500, 15 H, .529 OBP) and Brandon Beachy (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.1 IP, 6 SO); David Freese (.381, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .857 SLG) and Albert Pujols (.355, 2 HR, 11 H, 5 2B) of the Cardinals; San Diego’s Jesus Guzman (.429, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .857 SLG); Philadelphia’s Raul Ibañez (.296, 3 HR, 9 RBI); Matt Kemp (.417, 2 HR, 9 RBI) of the Dodgers; Arizona’s Justin Upton (.348, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, .957 SLG) and Joe Saunders (2-0, 1.62 ERA, 16.2 IP, 7 SO); David Wright (.467, 14 H, 6 RBI) of the Mets; and Florida’s Ricky Nolasco (2-0, 2.19 ERA, 12.1 IP, 8 SO).

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Joey Votto will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

Enjoy that watch, Joey!

And not just a quick rinse like Mr. Redlegs, but the full 15 seconds. Pay attention kids: that’s how you avoid the dreaded flu-like symptoms.