Fukudome, Soto among top 5 NL Rookies.

[Little Slide Rooter]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080325&content_id=2456623&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[Ryno12]

The future All-Star must cut down on the strikeouts (14 in 54 at-bats last year), but as the everyday backstop in a Cubs lineup in which he'll likely get plenty of pitches to drive, he should have a fine season.

 

Wow, pretty bold prediction for Soto, with Martin, Molina, McCann all young and in the N.L.

[TruffleShuffle]

i could've told you that

[Post Count Padder]

The future All-Star must cut down on the strikeouts (14 in 54 at-bats last year), but as the everyday backstop in a Cubs lineup in which he'll likely get plenty of pitches to drive, he should have a fine season.

 

Wow, pretty bold prediction for Soto, with Martin, Molina, McCann all young and in the N.L.

Eventually, it will called the Geovany Soto Game instead of All-Star Game

[CubbieBleu]

I think we all have decently high expectations for Fukudome, and there are those who argue he and other Japan league transplants shouldn't be considered rookies. They don't think about how tough the transition must be though, so I'll give Fukudome the benefit of the doubt.

 

With Soto, I really like it. I think he's going to be good for us this year. Glad our 'youngsters' are getting some recognition

[Lockes Eye Scar]

The future All-Star must cut down on the strikeouts (14 in 54 at-bats last year), but as the everyday backstop in a Cubs lineup in which he'll likely get plenty of pitches to drive, he should have a fine season.

 

Wow, pretty bold prediction for Soto, with Martin, Molina, McCann all young and in the N.L.

 

Molina will have learn how to hit first

[RedFlash]

The future All-Star must cut down on the strikeouts (14 in 54 at-bats last year), but as the everyday backstop in a Cubs lineup in which he'll likely get plenty of pitches to drive, he should have a fine season.

 

Wow, pretty bold prediction for Soto, with Martin, Molina, McCann all young and in the N.L.

 

Offensively, I say he is SIGNIFICANTLY better then Molina, about equal to McCann and Martin. Defensively, Soto is clearly better then McCann and Martin, and is on par with Molina. So it is definately a possibility Soto could make the ASG, considering he is playing for a major market team, he should get enough publicity.

[CubColtPacer]

The future All-Star must cut down on the strikeouts (14 in 54 at-bats last year), but as the everyday backstop in a Cubs lineup in which he'll likely get plenty of pitches to drive, he should have a fine season.

 

Wow, pretty bold prediction for Soto, with Martin, Molina, McCann all young and in the N.L.

 

Offensively, I say he is SIGNIFICANTLY better then Molina, about equal to McCann and Martin. Defensively, Soto is clearly better then McCann and Martin, and is on par with Molina. So it is definately a possibility Soto could make the ASG, considering he is playing for a major market team, he should get enough publicity.

 

I wouldn't call Soto on Molina's defense level quite yet. Soto is a good defender behind the plate, but he can't completely stop the running game like Molina can. He is probably about at Martin's level defensively, and better than McCann.

 

And as for offense, I think most people would be thrilled if Soto matches Martin or McCann's averages over the last 2 years, but he certainly will be better than Molina offensively unless Molina's season last year was the start of a quick improvement with the bat.

[TruffleShuffle]

molina is probably the best defensive catcher in baseball; soto is good but not really that close to molina behind the plate.

[Keener98]

molina is probably the best defensive catcher in baseball; soto is good but not really that close to molina behind the plate.

And Molina isnt really that close to Soto in his offensive abilities.

[Tyrant]

 

Offensively, I say he is SIGNIFICANTLY better then Molina, about equal to McCann and Martin.

 

Holy cow. Let's see what he does first. Soto could OPS anywhere from 700-820 and it wouldn't surprise me.

[TruffleShuffle]

molina is probably the best defensive catcher in baseball; soto is good but not really that close to molina behind the plate.

And Molina isnt really that close to Soto in his offensive abilities.

 

right, but nobody said that molina was as good as soto offensively. and soto's floor offensively is pretty close to molina's ceiling; i wouldn't get too cocky about soto being way better than molina offensively until we see that last year was not a complete fluke.

[razzzorsharp]

Does anyone have any projections for these two players?