The Cubs Rookies

[CaliforniaRaisin]

BA's top rookies in baseball has 3 Cubs involved:

 

1. Geovany Soto, c, 25, Cubs

AVG: .284 OBP: .371 SLG: .517 AB: 271 HR: 13 2B/3B: 22/1 SB: 0/0

Black Ink: SO (70). Gray Ink: AVG, OBP, SLG, AB, H (77), 2B, HR, RBIs (47), BB (39), TB (140).

 

Though he scuffled a bit in June (.250/.327/.420), Soto remains a leading contender for the NL Rookie of the Year award—which would go well with his Pacific Coast League MVP from last season. His case is bolstered by his handling of the pitching staff for the league’s top team and by the fact that he stands to be the starting catcher in the All-Star Game. In addition to his hitting exploits, Soto also has thrown out 13 of 46 (28 percent) of opposing basestealers, the sixth-best rate in the NL.

 

4. Kosuke Fukudome, rf, 31, Cubs

AVG: .296 OBP: .404 SLG: .430 AB: 284 HR: 6 2B/3B: 16/2 SB: 7/10

Black Ink: AVG, OBP, R (55), BB (52). Gray Ink: AB, H (84), SB.

 

The Cubs leading the NL in on-base percentage? It’s true, and Fukudome is the biggest reason why. And that’s not the only reason that Kosuke was born to be a Cub. Check out his numbers away from Wrigley Field: .218/.331/.296 in 142 at-bats.

 

17. Sean Gallagher, rhp, 22, Cubs

W-L: 3-3 ERA: 4.36 IP: 53 2/3 H: 54 SO: 47 BB: 20 HR: 6 G/F: 1.00

 

Gallagher stepped into Rich Hill’s vacated rotation spot and has helped ensure that the Cubs haven’t lost ground in the NL Central. Along with Soto and Fukudome, the Cubs have gotten more contributions from rookies than any other team—as successful teams often do—mirroring the Red Sox’ fortunes with Dustin Pedroia, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima last season.

 

All-Rookie Team

 

C—Geovany Soto, Cubs

1B—Joey Votto, Reds

2B—Alexei Ramirez, White Sox

3B—Evan Longoria, Rays

SS—Mike Aviles, Royals

LF—David Murphy, Rangers

CF—Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox

RF—Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs

DH—Ben Francisco, Indians

 

SP—Jair Jurrjens, Braves

SP—Joba Chamberlain, Yankees

SP—Greg Smith, Athletics

SP—Armando Galarraga, Tigers

RP—Kyle McClellan, Cardinals

 

And here's SI on Soto: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/albert_chen/07/02/chen.sotocubs/

 

"He's the difference maker," says one National League executive. "Not just with the bat he gives them. He's stabilized the pitching staff."

 

Says a scout, "Catchers who do it all are such a scarce commodity in the game. He doesn't play or carry himself like someone who's never played a full season. He's going to be the best catcher in the game for a number of seasons to come."

[Pushfrog98]

that rookie team would be a formidable club!

 

 

though I don't know why Gallagher was left off the starting rotation...

[NCCubFan]

Depending on what happens the rest of the year, this could be another 1/2 Cubs' finish in ROY voting just like 1989 (Walton and Smith).

[TruffleShuffle]

Depending on what happens the rest of the year, this could be another 1/2 Cubs' finish in ROY voting just like 1989 (Walton and Smith).

 

if so, let's hope that soto and fukudome have nothing else in common with walton and smith.

[NCCubFan]

Depending on what happens the rest of the year, this could be another 1/2 Cubs' finish in ROY voting just like 1989 (Walton and Smith).

 

if so, let's hope that soto and fukudome have nothing else in common with walton and smith.

No, let's hope they have a division championship in common. :D

[BCVM22]

Geovany Soto

[CubbieBum]

Isn't Edinson Volquez a rookie. Any list without him on it is absurd.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Isn't Edinson Volquez a rookie. Any list without him on it is absurd.

 

No, Volquez had thrown 80 innings over 3 seasons prior to this year.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I cant help but notice I havnt heard the name Jay Bruce lately.

[illiniguy]

I cant help but notice I havnt heard the name Jay Bruce lately.

He is hitting .296 .393 .630 good for a 1.023 OBP. I think he is still doing ok.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I cant help but notice I havnt heard the name Jay Bruce lately.

He is hitting .296 .393 .630 good for a 1.023 OBP. I think he is still doing ok.

 

Bruce is hitting .292/.361/.477/.837. He hit .223/.274/.340/.614 in June.

[illiniguy]

I cant help but notice I havnt heard the name Jay Bruce lately.

He is hitting .296 .393 .630 good for a 1.023 OBP. I think he is still doing ok.

 

Bruce is hitting .292/.361/.477/.837. He hit .223/.274/.340/.614 in June.

why is minor league baseball.com so wrong??? still .837 ops is pretty great for a 20 year old centerfielder.

[otis89]

I cant help but notice I havnt heard the name Jay Bruce lately.

He is hitting .296 .393 .630 good for a 1.023 OBP. I think he is still doing ok.

 

A 1.023 OBP? He's getting on base more often than he comes to the plate? ;)

[illiniguy]

I cant help but notice I havnt heard the name Jay Bruce lately.

He is hitting .296 .393 .630 good for a 1.023 OBP. I think he is still doing ok.

 

A 1.023 OBP? He's getting on base more often than he comes to the plate? ;)

Yeah, That should be OPS. #-o Plus I had bad numbers. Double #-o

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I cant help but notice I havnt heard the name Jay Bruce lately.

He is hitting .296 .393 .630 good for a 1.023 OBP. I think he is still doing ok.

 

Bruce is hitting .292/.361/.477/.837. He hit .223/.274/.340/.614 in June.

why is minor league baseball.com so wrong??? still .837 ops is pretty great for a 20 year old centerfielder.

 

That's right for his AAA numbers, I posted his MLB performance.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Is Manny Parra considered a rookie or was he up too long last year?

[CubinNY]

that rookie team would be a formidable club!

 

 

though I don't know why Gallagher was left off the starting rotation...

Alexi Rameriz is quite impressive. He's going to be a great player.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

that rookie team would be a formidable club!

 

 

though I don't know why Gallagher was left off the starting rotation...

Alexi Rameriz is quite impressive. He's going to be a great player.

 

The .309 OBP with a .021 IsoP isn't too impressive to me. He turns 27 in September too.

[CubinNY]

that rookie team would be a formidable club!

 

 

though I don't know why Gallagher was left off the starting rotation...

Alexi Rameriz is quite impressive. He's going to be a great player.

 

The .309 OBP with a .021 IsoP isn't too impressive to me. He turns 27 in September too.

27? I thought he was 20 or 21. I'll not mention that he's only played 1/2 of a season in MLB. Crap I just did. I think he is going to be very, very good for the next 4 or 5 years. I'd take him over Theriot or DeRosa right now.

[Guest]

that rookie team would be a formidable club!

 

 

though I don't know why Gallagher was left off the starting rotation...

Alexi Rameriz is quite impressive. He's going to be a great player.

 

The .309 OBP with a .021 IsoP isn't too impressive to me. He turns 27 in September too.

27? I thought he was 20 or 21. I'll not mention that he's only played 1/2 of a season in MLB. Crap I just did. I think he is going to be very, very good for the next 4 or 5 years. I'd take him over Theriot or DeRosa right now.

 

Why?

 

Ramirez: .288/.309/.439/.748 with a pretty IsoD

Theriot: .307/.388/.363/.751

DeRosa: .290/.378/.453/.831

[CubinNY]

that rookie team would be a formidable club!

 

 

though I don't know why Gallagher was left off the starting rotation...

Alexi Rameriz is quite impressive. He's going to be a great player.

 

The .309 OBP with a .021 IsoP isn't too impressive to me. He turns 27 in September too.

27? I thought he was 20 or 21. I'll not mention that he's only played 1/2 of a season in MLB. Crap I just did. I think he is going to be very, very good for the next 4 or 5 years. I'd take him over Theriot or DeRosa right now.

 

Why?

 

Ramirez: .288/.309/.439/.748 with a pretty IsoD

Theriot: .307/.388/.363/.751

DeRosa: .290/.378/.453/.831

 

Because I think Rameriz is going to be a better baseball player than either of those two.

[TruffleShuffle]

give the cubs some credit, their idiotic handling of soto last season prevented him from losing his rookie eligibility - and there was no way he was gonna beat out tulo/braun - so now he actually has a good chance at RoY this season.

[David]

Because I think Rameriz is going to be a better baseball player than either of those two.

 

Based on what?

[CubinNY]

Because I think Rameriz is going to be a better baseball player than either of those two.

 

Based on what?

The fact he's a better baseball player.

[otis89]

Because I think Rameriz is going to be a better baseball player than either of those two.

 

Based on what?

The fact he's a better baseball player.

 

Um, the stats currently show the opposite.