ESPN.com First Half Awards

[David]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3483646

 

Figured I'd post this because Geo is getting some more love.

 

 

NL Rookie of the half year: Geovany Soto, Cubs

 

 

Rookies don't start the All-Star Game every year, you know. And rookie catchers aren't supposed to start an All-Star Game in any year. So Soto has carved out a cool little slice of history already. He's the NL's first rookie catcher ever to start this game. He's the second rookie catcher in history to start (joining Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1990). He's the first Cubs catcher to start an All-Star Game since Gabby Hartnett in 1937. And he's the NL's first non-Japanese rookie to start an All-Star Game at any position other than pitcher since Eddie Kazak in 1949. But that's not merely because this fellow won the popularity contest.

 

Geovany Soto is the real deal. His 16 first-half homers are the most by any rookie catcher since Mike Piazza in 1993. And he has a shot to become the first catcher in history -- rookie or otherwise -- to roll up 30 homers, 40 doubles and 100 RBIs in the same season. "He's a rookie," says one NL executive, "who isn't a rookie." And that's the highest praise you can heap on any rookie.

[TruffleShuffle]

livan hernandez is on pace to give up almost 300 hits :shock: :shock:

 

that's not good.

[Coach C]

livan hernandez is on pace to give up almost 300 hits :shock: :shock:

 

that's not good.

 

Psh, Andrew Jones is worse.

 

If Andruw Jones's second half resembles his first half, he's potentially heading for (ready for this?) the Worst Offensive Season in Baseball History. At this rate, he'd finish with a .172 average, .261 slugging percentage, five homers, 21 RBIs, 125 strikeouts and only 64 hits.

[RazzinGTO]

I don't know the stat's based on contract, but has there ever been a bigger flop (other then a player getting injured and not being able to play) then Jones? I mean he was very good in ATL but this year with the Dodgers, wow.....just wow.

 

JR

[Soul]

I don't know the stat's based on contract, but has there ever been a bigger flop (other then a player getting injured and not being able to play) then Jones? I mean he was very good in ATL but this year with the Dodgers, wow.....just wow.

 

JR

 

His numbers were dramatically down his last season in ATL too. I don't know what happened to him. After a good '05 and '06, Andruw had lost nearly 40 points off his OPS+ in '07 with the Braves. It's a massive drop.

[evv98]

I don't know the stat's based on contract, but has there ever been a bigger flop (other then a player getting injured and not being able to play) then Jones? I mean he was very good in ATL but this year with the Dodgers, wow.....just wow.

 

JR

 

His numbers were dramatically down his last season in ATL too. I don't know what happened to him. After a good '05 and '06, Andruw had lost nearly 40 points off his OPS+ in '07 with the Braves. It's a massive drop.

 

I can take a guess what happened. He gained a pound for every point he lost from his OPS+.