Geovany Soto

[Roast]

Getting them both more AB's is more gooder.

agree.

[TruffleShuffle]

by the way, isn't it kind of insane that soto could very well end up being the best position player the cubs have developed in the last 20 years? i mean, a year ago if you'd asked pretty much anyone about soto, they'd have told you that his ceiling was "above average backup catcher." now his projections suggest he'll become one of the better backstops in the game.

 

Not really, an above average backup catcher probably would have been the best position player the cubs have developed in the last 20 years.

 

true, the cubs' piss-poor management and player development has a lot to do with that, but bp's projections of soto suggest he could be a borderline all-star for the next several years. his projected worth is about $10-11M per year. and he could end up being jorge posada with fewer walks but better defense. i think if anyone had said all this a year ago, it would've sounded completely ridiculous.

 

I think BP might be wrong on the "fewer walks" predictions. If he keeps mashing AND staying patient, teams will start pitching around him more for fear of the damage he will do if they give him something to hit. Everything about this guy when you watch him makes you think we're watching a very polished and experienced veteran at the plate.

 

By the way, is Von Joshua the man who gets the credit for Soto's turnaround?

 

the "fewer walks" thing wasn't them, that was my guess. it's hard for most guys to walk as frequently as posada does; at his peak he was walking an average of 85 to 90 times a year, and his career IsoD is .103, which is excellent. his minor league numbers also suggest a more patient approach than soto. i'm not saying that soto will be a hacking machine, and i think he could end up drawing 60 to 70 walks a year - he'd just fall a little short of posada. but you're right in that his power has to be respected. he doesn't look to be one of these patient guys with little power whose walk rate evaporates in the bigs because pitchers have no reason to fear them.

 

also if soto keeps mashing, lou is going to have to think about bumping him up a spot in the order. though it's not a bad thing to have him hitting after good OBP guys like fukudome and derosa.

[BigbadB]

As much as I enjoyed tonight's game, I'm a bit perplexed why he didn't get the day off after catching 15 innings last night. And when he roped that 2nd double, I would have had Marmol or someone come in and pinch run for him. I know, I know, he had a shot at the cycle. I would put his chances of roping a triple in one more at bat at about a million to one odds.

[shnsajax]

As much as I enjoyed tonight's game, I'm a bit perplexed why he didn't get the day off after catching 15 innings last night. And when he roped that 2nd double, I would have had Marmol or someone come in and pinch run for him. I know, I know, he had a shot at the cycle. I would put his chances of roping a triple in one more at bat at about a million to one odds.

 

If you still need a triple and your a catcher I don't think your that close to the cycle.

[sweetpeteman]

I find it awesome that Soto is the only Cubs player to hit a triple so far this year.

[NOLA]

Bat Soto 5th and Fukudome 2nd. Getting them both more AB's is more gooder.

Winner winner chicken dinner!! I also have been thinking this. Plus, you said "more gooder", which is pretty nice. If only Pie could start figuring things out...

1 Pie

2 Fukudome

3 D Lee

4 Aram

5 Soto

6 Soriano

7 Dero/Fontenot/Theriot

8 Cedeno/Theriot

Sweet!

[TBone]

Really? Z was pretty lean last year. Blanco has no purpose since Geo is a good defender. I'd like them to get a better hitting backup C. When Geo sits, the Cubs will see a downgrade on offense and defense.

 

I would disagree with Blanco having no purpose as Geo is a good defender. He's OK, but I still think a lot of people are blinded by his offensive production. He really hasn't looked anything more than average behind the plate to me. He's young and I can certainly see his defense getting better, but I still like Blanco's D better than Soto's at this point. Offensively, it's no comparison.

 

And I'd really like to see him batting 5 and Fuku batting 2, but I'm not too sure about Pie batting leadoff.

[Rob]

Soriano

Fukudome

Lee

Ramirez

Soto

 

I don't really care who you put behind them (though I'd go DeRosa, Pie, Cedeno), you're gonna be hard pressed to find a top five that is better than that.

[David]

.286/.367/.548/.915 in 11 games

 

Not bad, so far. Not bad at all.

[UMFan83]

.286/.367/.548/.915 in 11 games

 

Not bad, so far. Not bad at all.

 

And considering all the hits he had in the first home stand that could have been doubles and homers were wind aided outs. Impressive.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

meh, he is getting out performed by Jason Kendall. :lol:

[TruffleShuffle]

.304/.403/.554, 149 OPS+, 8.6 RC/27, .310 EqA

 

geovany soto.

[Jon]

I think I'm most impressed with his walk rate in the early going, which is double than what it was last year over the same number of ABs. That .099 IsoD is sexy.

[Sammy Sofa]

#5

 

#5

 

#5

 

#5

 

#5

[TruffleShuffle]

I think I'm most impressed with his walk rate in the early going, which is double than what it was last year over the same number of ABs. That .099 IsoD is sexy.

 

i like that, plus the fact that his LD% hasn't changed much since last year. he's still hitting the ball on the screws a lot. as long as he is a threat to get XBH's, pitchers are going to have to approach him carefully. with his solid patience, that will result in a good amount of walks.

[El Ridda]

While I see what you guys are saying, I would leave Soto where he is for the time being. If it ain't broke, you know. That being said, if Soto is still mashing at his current level at the all-star break it is going to be awfully hard for Lou to resist moving Geo the the 5 slot and Fuk to #2.

[Sammy Sofa]

While I see what you guys are saying, I would leave Soto where he is for the time being. If it ain't broke, you know. That being said, if Soto is still mashing at his current level at the all-star break it is going to be awfully hard for Lou to resist moving Geo the the 5 slot and Fuk to #2.

 

It would be flat out stupid to wait that long. Get our better hitters more AB's, ASAP.

[El Ridda]

While I see what you guys are saying, I would leave Soto where he is for the time being. If it ain't broke, you know. That being said, if Soto is still mashing at his current level at the all-star break it is going to be awfully hard for Lou to resist moving Geo the the 5 slot and Fuk to #2.

 

It would be flat out stupid to wait that long. Get our better hitters more AB's, ASAP.

 

 

Dude, they're winning and scoring runs right now. Additionally, both guys are in a comfort zone where they are at. Leave them be for now. If the cubs go into a drought then they should think about re-doing the lineup. I know you want to be proactive, but lets remember that both of the guys you want to move around are rookies and thus should be left alone when comfortable. Ideally, though, eventually the high on base guy fuk should move to 2nd with the rbi guy soto at 5 protecting Ram.

[TruffleShuffle]

seriously, he's good

[Rob]

While I see what you guys are saying, I would leave Soto where he is for the time being. If it ain't broke, you know. That being said, if Soto is still mashing at his current level at the all-star break it is going to be awfully hard for Lou to resist moving Geo the the 5 slot and Fuk to #2.

 

It would be flat out stupid to wait that long. Get our better hitters more AB's, ASAP.

 

 

Dude, they're winning and scoring runs right now. Additionally, both guys are in a comfort zone where they are at. Leave them be for now. If the cubs go into a drought then they should think about re-doing the lineup. I know you want to be proactive, but lets remember that both of the guys you want to move around are rookies and thus should be left alone when comfortable. Ideally, though, eventually the high on base guy fuk should move to 2nd with the rbi guy soto at 5 protecting Ram.

 

Free piece of advice...

 

Never, ever start off your argument with "Dude," if you're looking for anybody to take it seriously. After being subjected to hearing Dusty starting off every asinine thing he said with that, it's become a signal for those on this board to realize "hey, nobody should take this seriously"

 

And now to dissect your post...

 

Fukudome != rookie.

 

"RBI guy" = meaningless

 

lineup protection = myth

[third eye]

While I see what you guys are saying, I would leave Soto where he is for the time being. If it ain't broke, you know. That being said, if Soto is still mashing at his current level at the all-star break it is going to be awfully hard for Lou to resist moving Geo the the 5 slot and Fuk to #2.

 

It would be flat out stupid to wait that long. Get our better hitters more AB's, ASAP.

 

 

Dude, they're winning and scoring runs right now. Additionally, both guys are in a comfort zone where they are at. Leave them be for now. If the cubs go into a drought then they should think about re-doing the lineup. I know you want to be proactive, but lets remember that both of the guys you want to move around are rookies and thus should be left alone when comfortable. Ideally, though, eventually the high on base guy fuk should move to 2nd with the rbi guy soto at 5 protecting Ram.

 

Free piece of advice...

 

Never, ever start off your argument with "Dude," if you're looking for anybody to take it seriously. After being subjected to hearing Dusty starting off every asinine thing he said with that, it's become a signal for those on this board to realize "hey, nobody should take this seriously"

 

And now to dissect your post...

 

Fukudome != rookie.

 

"RBI guy" = meaningless

 

lineup protection = myth

 

Not necessarily fact. This point is still up for debate by even the statistically inclined. I like the angle this study takes:

http://mlbresearch.blogspot.com/

[TruffleShuffle]

.353/.451/.618/1.069 is pretty solid for a catcher.

[gflore34]

.353/.451/.618/1.069 is pretty solid for a catcher.

 

Yeah, I guess so...

[Backtobanks]

.353/.451/.618/1.069 is pretty solid for a catcher.

 

>.353/.451/.618/1.069 is not pretty solid for a catcher, it is amazing for an positional player.

[CubinNY]

I'm starting to get real excited about this team. The addition of Soto, Fukudome, and Johnson have helped tremendously.

 

I'm a little scared to be this excited.