Geovany Soto

[BigbadB]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

 

Wasn't Cabrera a young (for MiLB) teenager for most of those AB's, though? It's a little more understandable there. Not that I have any doubts about Soto, I'm just saying.

 

Yes, Cabrera was a young teenager for most of those at bats. And going back to my original comment, players develop at different stages. Soto just got it going later.

[bukie]

Hey, worst case scenario this is as good as Soto will ever be, and he will return to his modest career #'s and be a defensive backup catcher.

 

Then the only sad thing about it would be that the Cubs wasted his offensive breakout year with 4 months of it in AAA when they had nothing but catcher issues in the big leagues all year.

[CubinNY]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

I'm hitting what you are pitching BBB but Cabrera also came upt to the bigs when he was 20.

 

I don't like this automatic assumption that every players who had a good/great year is no the juice.

 

 

Unfortunately, that is part of the deal today. If Soto was a Cardinal, we would be buying into it.

That is a completely moronic statement. Completely and utterly stupid. No it isn't part of the deal today and no we wouldn't.

 

No one said anything about Ankeil until it was reported in the media. And the morons who bought into the story neglected to realize he received the PED in 2003 not 2007.

[Peoriaman]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

 

Wasn't Cabrera a young (for MiLB) teenager for most of those AB's, though? It's a little more understandable there. Not that I have any doubts about Soto, I'm just saying.

 

Yes, Cabrera was a young teenager for most of those at bats. And going back to my original comment, players develop at different stages. Soto just got it going later.

 

 

No disrespect intended, but you have no more idea if this is true than I do if the juice is true. In modern day baseball, when a guy's numbers change as dramatically as this, esp at his age, it brings suspicion.

[BigbadB]

Miguel Montero had a year somewhat similar to Soto's 2007 back in 2005, unlike any other year previously in his minor league career. He's now in the bigs.

 

I'm not going to assume every player who shows development in power is a juicer.

[Peoriaman]

Miguel Montero had a year somewhat similar to Soto's 2007 back in 2005, unlike any other year previously in his minor league career. He's now in the bigs.

 

I'm not going to assume every player who shows development in power is a juicer.

 

 

and neither am I. Unfortunately, others will. That is modern day baseball where these suspicions run wild--and for good cause.

[brinoch]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

 

Wasn't Cabrera a young (for MiLB) teenager for most of those AB's, though? It's a little more understandable there. Not that I have any doubts about Soto, I'm just saying.

 

Yes, Cabrera was a young teenager for most of those at bats. And going back to my original comment, players develop at different stages. Soto just got it going later.

 

 

No disrespect intended, but you have no more idea if this is true than I do if the juice is true. In modern day baseball, when a guy's numbers change as dramatically as this, esp at his age, it brings suspicion.

 

Whoa now, Soto's 24 years old. A lot of players show significant power development at this age. Additionally, one factor that you haven't taken into account is the nature of the PCL this year. It was very clearly a huge hitter's league.

[Peoriaman]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

I'm hitting what you are pitching BBB but Cabrera also came upt to the bigs when he was 20.

 

I don't like this automatic assumption that every players who had a good/great year is no the juice.

 

 

Unfortunately, that is part of the deal today. If Soto was a Cardinal, we would be buying into it.

That is a completely moronic statement. Completely and utterly stupid. No it isn't part of the deal today and no we wouldn't.

 

No one said anything about Ankeil until it was reported in the media. And the morons who bought into the story neglected to realize he received the PED in 2003 not 2007.

 

 

With all due respect, if Soto was a Cardinal and Stone said that, many here would be more likely to run with it.

 

As fro Ankiel, his case is so weird that steroids were the last thing on people's minds.

Edited September 25, 2007 by Peoriaman

[Peoriaman]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

 

Wasn't Cabrera a young (for MiLB) teenager for most of those AB's, though? It's a little more understandable there. Not that I have any doubts about Soto, I'm just saying.

 

Yes, Cabrera was a young teenager for most of those at bats. And going back to my original comment, players develop at different stages. Soto just got it going later.

 

 

No disrespect intended, but you have no more idea if this is true than I do if the juice is true. In modern day baseball, when a guy's numbers change as dramatically as this, esp at his age, it brings suspicion.

 

Whoa now, Soto's 24 years old. A lot of players show significant power development at this age. Additionally, one factor that you haven't taken into account is the nature of the PCL this year. It was very clearly a huge hitter's league.

 

 

Stone didn't take it into account. Me, I have no idea. :)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

 

Wasn't Cabrera a young (for MiLB) teenager for most of those AB's, though? It's a little more understandable there. Not that I have any doubts about Soto, I'm just saying.

 

Yes, Cabrera was a young teenager for most of those at bats. And going back to my original comment, players develop at different stages. Soto just got it going later.

 

 

No disrespect intended, but you have no more idea if this is true than I do if the juice is true. In modern day baseball, when a guy's numbers change as dramatically as this, esp at his age, it brings suspicion.

 

Especially at his age? This whole conversation is a brutal oversimplification. Soto isn't 31, he's 24. Players at his age in the minors make adjustments in their swings to add power, they add muscle (see the comment about him getting into shape this offseason), or they finally start facing age appropriate competition and take off. All of these are possible if not probable factors in Soto's case. He was always young for his league, and showed the discipline throughout his minor league career to be a discriminating enough hitter. Add in the fact that catchers are often have a later offensive development due to the physical demands of fielding their position, and there's plenty of reason to think Soto is legit. Jumping straight to "Soto hit a bunch of HR that he never hit before, he could be on steroids" is simply a lazy intellectual response.

[brinoch]

 

Stone didn't take it into account. Me, I have no idea. :)

 

Fair enough... and Stone wouldn't take it into account. Hey, did you know that a slider off the plate on an 0-2 count will strike this guy out?

[Peoriaman]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

 

Wasn't Cabrera a young (for MiLB) teenager for most of those AB's, though? It's a little more understandable there. Not that I have any doubts about Soto, I'm just saying.

 

Yes, Cabrera was a young teenager for most of those at bats. And going back to my original comment, players develop at different stages. Soto just got it going later.

 

 

No disrespect intended, but you have no more idea if this is true than I do if the juice is true. In modern day baseball, when a guy's numbers change as dramatically as this, esp at his age, it brings suspicion.

 

Especially at his age? This whole conversation is a brutal oversimplification. Soto isn't 31, he's 24. Players at his age in the minors make adjustments in their swings to add power, they add muscle (see the comment about him getting into shape this offseason), or they finally start facing age appropriate competition and take off. All of these are possible if not probable factors in Soto's case. He was always young for his league, and showed the discipline throughout his minor league career to be a discriminating enough hitter. Add in the fact that catchers are often have a later offensive development due to the physical demands of fielding their position, and there's plenty of reason to think Soto is legit. Jumping straight to "Soto hit a bunch of HR that he never hit before, he could be on steroids" is simply a lazy intellectual response.

 

 

It is a natural response in today's game.

 

I hope he is 24. :)

[Soul]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

I'm hitting what you are pitching BBB but Cabrera also came upt to the bigs when he was 20.

 

I don't like this automatic assumption that every players who had a good/great year is no the juice.

 

 

Unfortunately, that is part of the deal today. If Soto was a Cardinal, we would be buying into it.

That is a completely moronic statement. Completely and utterly stupid. No it isn't part of the deal today and no we wouldn't.

 

No one said anything about Ankeil until it was reported in the media. And the morons who bought into the story neglected to realize he received the PED in 2003 not 2007.

 

 

With all due respect, if Soto was a Cardinal and Stone said that, many here would be more likely to run with it.

 

As fro Ankiel, his case is so weird that steroids were the last thing on people's minds.

 

I suppose but I didn't hear the Stone comment. It didn't sound like he actually said Soto was using PEDs, but I didn't actually hear it. I know Stoney is sarcastic nearly all the time though -- but he can always fall back on that he didn't actually say PEDs if he didn't.

 

Soto did lose alot of weight, so that tells me he was working out pretty hard, which could also account for an increase. Plus, he hasn't been here that long -- he might regress like so many others.

[brinoch]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

 

Wasn't Cabrera a young (for MiLB) teenager for most of those AB's, though? It's a little more understandable there. Not that I have any doubts about Soto, I'm just saying.

 

Yes, Cabrera was a young teenager for most of those at bats. And going back to my original comment, players develop at different stages. Soto just got it going later.

 

 

No disrespect intended, but you have no more idea if this is true than I do if the juice is true. In modern day baseball, when a guy's numbers change as dramatically as this, esp at his age, it brings suspicion.

 

Especially at his age? This whole conversation is a brutal oversimplification. Soto isn't 31, he's 24. Players at his age in the minors make adjustments in their swings to add power, they add muscle (see the comment about him getting into shape this offseason), or they finally start facing age appropriate competition and take off. All of these are possible if not probable factors in Soto's case. He was always young for his league, and showed the discipline throughout his minor league career to be a discriminating enough hitter. Add in the fact that catchers are often have a later offensive development due to the physical demands of fielding their position, and there's plenty of reason to think Soto is legit. Jumping straight to "Soto hit a bunch of HR that he never hit before, he could be on steroids" is simply a lazy intellectual response.

 

 

It is a natural response in today's game.

 

I hope he is 24. :)

 

I don't think it's a natural response in today's game. To be frank, it's a ridiculous jump to a conclusion unsupported by any facts, whereas an analysis of minor league improvement trends would demonstrate that this isn't a unique or even an extraordinary circumstance.

 

He's an American citizen -- born in Puerto Rico.

[Peoriaman]

well, it is a natural response with millions of fans and apparently, Steve Stone.

[Peoriaman]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

 

Wasn't Cabrera a young (for MiLB) teenager for most of those AB's, though? It's a little more understandable there. Not that I have any doubts about Soto, I'm just saying.

 

Yes, Cabrera was a young teenager for most of those at bats. And going back to my original comment, players develop at different stages. Soto just got it going later.

 

 

No disrespect intended, but you have no more idea if this is true than I do if the juice is true. In modern day baseball, when a guy's numbers change as dramatically as this, esp at his age, it brings suspicion.

 

Especially at his age? This whole conversation is a brutal oversimplification. Soto isn't 31, he's 24. Players at his age in the minors make adjustments in their swings to add power, they add muscle (see the comment about him getting into shape this offseason), or they finally start facing age appropriate competition and take off. All of these are possible if not probable factors in Soto's case. He was always young for his league, and showed the discipline throughout his minor league career to be a discriminating enough hitter. Add in the fact that catchers are often have a later offensive development due to the physical demands of fielding their position, and there's plenty of reason to think Soto is legit. Jumping straight to "Soto hit a bunch of HR that he never hit before, he could be on steroids" is simply a lazy intellectual response.

 

 

It is a natural response in today's game.

 

I hope he is 24. :)

 

I don't think it's a natural response in today's game. To be frank, it's a ridiculous jump to a conclusion unsupported by any facts, whereas an analysis of minor league improvement trends would demonstrate that this isn't a unique or even an extraordinary circumstance.

 

He's an American citizen -- born in Puerto Rico.

 

 

as is Pujols, I believe. And nobody in MLB believes Pujols is the age he proclaims.

 

Hey, no reason to get uptight. Stone mentioned it and anytime a guy suddenly develops great power, suspicions are bound to come up. I am not accusing Soto of anything, this is just a natural reaction to the rampant use of steroids/HGH in the game.

Edited September 25, 2007 by Peoriaman

[brinoch]

well, it is a natural response with millions of fans and apparently, Steve Stone.

 

Really? Or is it just that every player who hits for some power is subjected to a media-stoked steroid/HGH flagellation session?

 

I'm going with the latter.

[CubinNY]

Miguel Cabrera hit 28 HR's in 1428 at bats during his entire minor league career.

 

Soto hit 25 HR's in 1574 at bats prior to his 2007 minor league season.

 

Wasn't Cabrera a young (for MiLB) teenager for most of those AB's, though? It's a little more understandable there. Not that I have any doubts about Soto, I'm just saying.

 

Yes, Cabrera was a young teenager for most of those at bats. And going back to my original comment, players develop at different stages. Soto just got it going later.

 

 

No disrespect intended, but you have no more idea if this is true than I do if the juice is true. In modern day baseball, when a guy's numbers change as dramatically as this, esp at his age, it brings suspicion.

 

Especially at his age? This whole conversation is a brutal oversimplification. Soto isn't 31, he's 24. Players at his age in the minors make adjustments in their swings to add power, they add muscle (see the comment about him getting into shape this offseason), or they finally start facing age appropriate competition and take off. All of these are possible if not probable factors in Soto's case. He was always young for his league, and showed the discipline throughout his minor league career to be a discriminating enough hitter. Add in the fact that catchers are often have a later offensive development due to the physical demands of fielding their position, and there's plenty of reason to think Soto is legit. Jumping straight to "Soto hit a bunch of HR that he never hit before, he could be on steroids" is simply a lazy intellectual response.

 

 

It is a natural response in today's game.

 

I hope he is 24. :)

 

I don't think it's a natural response in today's game. To be frank, it's a ridiculous jump to a conclusion unsupported by any facts, whereas an analysis of minor league improvement trends would demonstrate that this isn't a unique or even an extraordinary circumstance.

 

He's an American citizen -- born in Puerto Rico.

 

 

as is Pujols, I believe. And nobody in MLB believes Pujols is the age he proclaims.

Well at least you're batting 1.000. Are you on the juice?

 

Pujols is from the DR and pretty much everybody who isn't a complete soapdropping idiot believes he is his age.

[Peoriaman]

well, it is a natural response with millions of fans and apparently, Steve Stone.

 

Really? Or is it just that every player who hits for some power is subjected to a media-stoked steroid/HGH flagellation session?

 

I'm going with the latter.

 

 

I will agree with that too. Players have nobody to blame but themselves.

[David]

as is Pujols, I believe. And nobody in MLB believes Pujols is the age he proclaims.

 

 

Pujols was born in the DR, though.

 

Having been born in Puerto Rico, Soto is a natural born US citizen.

Edited September 25, 2007 by David

[BigbadB]

I hope he is 24. :)

 

Wow. End of discussion.

[brinoch]

 

He's an American citizen -- born in Puerto Rico.

 

as is Pujols, I believe. And nobody in MLB believes Pujols is the age he proclaims.

 

Riii-iight, the same Albert Pujols who was born in the Dominican Republic. Who later moved to Kansas City in 1996, graduated from a high school there, enrolled in a community college to play baseball, and became a US citizen in 2007?

 

Got news for you, Albert is the age he says he is. Because today, after 9/11, you can't become a US citizen without real, verified documentation.

[Peoriaman]

All this said, I am glad Soto is our catcher and think he should be the #1 guy until he proves he isn't capable.

[Peoriaman]

 

He's an American citizen -- born in Puerto Rico.

 

as is Pujols, I believe. And nobody in MLB believes Pujols is the age he proclaims.

 

Riii-iight, the same Albert Pujols who was born in the Dominican Republic. Who later moved to Kansas City in 1996, graduated from a high school there, enrolled in a community college to play baseball, and became a US citizen in 2007?

 

Got news for you, Albert is the age he says he is. Because today, after 9/11, you can't become a US citizen without real, verified documentation.

 

 

He might be, anything is possible.

[brinoch]

All this said, I am glad Soto is our catcher and think he should be the #1 guy until he proves he isn't capable.

 

No argument on this statement. Kendall should be sent packing this offseason. Soto is likely to provide significantly more offense, definitely superior defense, all for a fraction of the price.