Goevany Soto

[SouthSideRyan]

Ankiel was on coke.

[CubbieBum]

Just so no one gets the wrong idea I don't think Soto is a fluke. I'm not sure he's the .868 OPS guy from last season but I could see him being a .750-800 OPS catcher for years to come. When you add in his defense that would make him a very good catcher.

[Soul]

2 weeks people. 2 weeks. If it was just a 2 week thing with Lee, he wouldn't be catching NEARLY the flack that he is right now. But Lee's been in decline for a while now, and we've all seen it. We're just reaching the point where we don't think it's going to turn around.

 

But Soto's been struggling for two weeks. He struggled for 2 weeks in the middle of the season last season (didn't he have a 4 or 5 k game?) but managed to get out of the funk. And he's a catcher, so you can let his offensive woes slide a bit more, especially if the other guys that are supposed to be hitting are doing so. (Which they aren't.)

 

completely ignore his 5 year struggle prior to 07-08. Soto is a fluke.

 

You're right. Hitters never develop. What they are at 26 is the same as what they were at 21.

 

It's understandable to expect him to drop off a little last year, but it's way too early to call him a fluke.

 

I'll give him some time but it's very disappointing to see this from him.

[David]

2 weeks people. 2 weeks. If it was just a 2 week thing with Lee, he wouldn't be catching NEARLY the flack that he is right now. But Lee's been in decline for a while now, and we've all seen it. We're just reaching the point where we don't think it's going to turn around.

 

But Soto's been struggling for two weeks. He struggled for 2 weeks in the middle of the season last season (didn't he have a 4 or 5 k game?) but managed to get out of the funk. And he's a catcher, so you can let his offensive woes slide a bit more, especially if the other guys that are supposed to be hitting are doing so. (Which they aren't.)

 

completely ignore his 5 year struggle prior to 07-08. Soto is a fluke.

 

You're right. Hitters never develop. What they are at 26 is the same as what they were at 21.

 

It's understandable to expect him to drop off a little last year, but it's way too early to call him a fluke.

 

 

Given his post about Hendry being to blame for not getting Pudge in the post before that, I think/hope he was being sarcastic.

[fromthestretch]

2 weeks people. 2 weeks. If it was just a 2 week thing with Lee, he wouldn't be catching NEARLY the flack that he is right now. But Lee's been in decline for a while now, and we've all seen it. We're just reaching the point where we don't think it's going to turn around.

 

But Soto's been struggling for two weeks. He struggled for 2 weeks in the middle of the season last season (didn't he have a 4 or 5 k game?) but managed to get out of the funk. And he's a catcher, so you can let his offensive woes slide a bit more, especially if the other guys that are supposed to be hitting are doing so. (Which they aren't.)

 

completely ignore his 5 year struggle prior to 07-08. Soto is a fluke.

 

You're right. Hitters never develop. What they are at 26 is the same as what they were at 21.

 

It's understandable to expect him to drop off a little last year, but it's way too early to call him a fluke.

 

I'll give him some time but it's very disappointing to see this from him.

 

He also didn't get to have a typical spring training, as he participated in the WBC.

 

It's natural to expect some regression from last season, but for someone to call him a fluke because he's struggled in 36 plate appearances this season is asinine.

[fromthestretch]

2 weeks people. 2 weeks. If it was just a 2 week thing with Lee, he wouldn't be catching NEARLY the flack that he is right now. But Lee's been in decline for a while now, and we've all seen it. We're just reaching the point where we don't think it's going to turn around.

 

But Soto's been struggling for two weeks. He struggled for 2 weeks in the middle of the season last season (didn't he have a 4 or 5 k game?) but managed to get out of the funk. And he's a catcher, so you can let his offensive woes slide a bit more, especially if the other guys that are supposed to be hitting are doing so. (Which they aren't.)

 

completely ignore his 5 year struggle prior to 07-08. Soto is a fluke.

 

You're right. Hitters never develop. What they are at 26 is the same as what they were at 21.

 

It's understandable to expect him to drop off a little last year, but it's way too early to call him a fluke.

 

 

Given his post about Hendry being to blame for not getting Pudge in the post before that, I think/hope he was being sarcastic.

 

Didn't initially see that post. That makes a bit more sense.

[UMFan83]

You also have to consider that Soto was injured for 1/3 of the season so far. I'm willing to give him longer to start hitting because of that.

 

That said, I'm not sure that Soto is going to be a consistent .868 OPS hitter.

 

First 39 games: .328/.433/.620/1.053

Last 102 games: .269/.336/.459/.795

 

After a blazing hot start, he settled into an around .800 OPS hitter. Hell, but that with solid D and the rest of the Cubs lineup, I'm satisfied as all hell. I just think people here expect him to put up a .850+ OPS and personally I'm not sure if its likely. Maybe people will disagree. He did have an exceptionally good August last year in the midst of his .795 OPS in the remaining 102 games, so there is some evidence that he can do it.

[Bull]

I predicted a huge sophomore slump for Geo. I hope I'm wrong, but I stand by that.

 

The reason this isn't as much of a concern as Lee is twofold. 1. Lee is being paid big bucks and slotted into the 3 slot and 2) lee is playing an offensive position. Defense can save you at catcher, but I don't care how good you are at first, you have to hit. Bottom line, if Soto doesn't hit a ton this year, "meh, he's just the catcher, hat do you expect."

[rocket]

2 weeks people. 2 weeks. If it was just a 2 week thing with Lee, he wouldn't be catching NEARLY the flack that he is right now. But Lee's been in decline for a while now, and we've all seen it. We're just reaching the point where we don't think it's going to turn around.

 

But Soto's been struggling for two weeks. He struggled for 2 weeks in the middle of the season last season (didn't he have a 4 or 5 k game?) but managed to get out of the funk. And he's a catcher, so you can let his offensive woes slide a bit more, especially if the other guys that are supposed to be hitting are doing so. (Which they aren't.)

 

completely ignore his 5 year struggle prior to 07-08. Soto is a fluke.

 

how can you say with such confidence that 1000 at bats at AAA level or higher with great production is a fluke?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Similar struggles for Soto last year:

 

Early May, 27 PA's

 

Late May/Early June, 48 PA's

 

Late June, 26 PA's

 

Mid July, 34 PA's

 

Early September, 26 PA's

[CubbieBum]

2 weeks people. 2 weeks. If it was just a 2 week thing with Lee, he wouldn't be catching NEARLY the flack that he is right now. But Lee's been in decline for a while now, and we've all seen it. We're just reaching the point where we don't think it's going to turn around.

 

But Soto's been struggling for two weeks. He struggled for 2 weeks in the middle of the season last season (didn't he have a 4 or 5 k game?) but managed to get out of the funk. And he's a catcher, so you can let his offensive woes slide a bit more, especially if the other guys that are supposed to be hitting are doing so. (Which they aren't.)

 

completely ignore his 5 year struggle prior to 07-08. Soto is a fluke.

 

how can you say with such confidence that 1000 at bats at AAA level or higher with great production is a fluke?

 

I'm just going out on a limb here but maybe its that he had 1,800 at bats that span six years of average and only 1,000 at bats over two years of greatness.

 

I can understand someone saying Soto is a fluke I just don't agree with it. He's not as good as he was last year or the year before but he's also not as bad as he was 2001-2006.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Similar struggles for Soto last year:

 

Early May, 27 PA's

 

Late May/Early June, 48 PA's

 

Late June, 26 PA's

 

Mid July, 34 PA's

 

Early September, 26 PA's

 

This time last year he was hitting .352 and OPSing over 1.000.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Similar struggles for Soto last year:

 

Early May, 27 PA's

 

Late May/Early June, 48 PA's

 

Late June, 26 PA's

 

Mid July, 34 PA's

 

Early September, 26 PA's

 

This time last year he was hitting .352 and OPSing over 1.000.

 

Okay?

[Banedon]

Similar struggles for Soto last year:

 

Early May, 27 PA's

 

Late May/Early June, 48 PA's

 

Late June, 26 PA's

 

Mid July, 34 PA's

 

Early September, 26 PA's

 

This time last year he was hitting .352 and OPSing over 1.000.

 

If your argument is that he's having a slump, right now, nobody is disagreeing with that. We're simply saying that he's had slumps of similar duration at several points last season.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Similar struggles for Soto last year:

 

Early May, 27 PA's

 

Late May/Early June, 48 PA's

 

Late June, 26 PA's

 

Mid July, 34 PA's

 

Early September, 26 PA's

 

This time last year he was hitting .352 and OPSing over 1.000.

 

If your argument is that he's having a slump, right now, nobody is disagreeing with that. We're simply saying that he's had slumps of similar duration at several points last season.

 

Gotcha, I thought you were talking about this time last year. Ive never been one of those who feels that hes a fluke anyway. I just wish hed break out of it sooner or later and bring Lee, Bradley, and Fontenot with him.

[Soul]

2 weeks people. 2 weeks. If it was just a 2 week thing with Lee, he wouldn't be catching NEARLY the flack that he is right now. But Lee's been in decline for a while now, and we've all seen it. We're just reaching the point where we don't think it's going to turn around.

 

But Soto's been struggling for two weeks. He struggled for 2 weeks in the middle of the season last season (didn't he have a 4 or 5 k game?) but managed to get out of the funk. And he's a catcher, so you can let his offensive woes slide a bit more, especially if the other guys that are supposed to be hitting are doing so. (Which they aren't.)

 

completely ignore his 5 year struggle prior to 07-08. Soto is a fluke.

 

You're right. Hitters never develop. What they are at 26 is the same as what they were at 21.

 

It's understandable to expect him to drop off a little last year, but it's way too early to call him a fluke.

 

I'll give him some time but it's very disappointing to see this from him.

 

He also didn't get to have a typical spring training, as he participated in the WBC.

 

It's natural to expect some regression from last season, but for someone to call him a fluke because he's struggled in 36 plate appearances this season is asinine.

 

I really don't think the WBC can be blamed. Fuku was in the WBC too, and has been off to a hot start (just to give one example).

 

I agree calling him a fluke just because of a poor start in '09 is harsh.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Didnt Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, and Prince Fielder all get off to god aful starts last year?

[javy knows my name]

Didnt Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, and Prince Fielder all get off to god aful starts last year?

 

dude, you are the king of non-sequitors

 

TT's post is the correct answer. When Soto slumps, dude slumps. Wasn't his 4 k game against the Nats last year?

[Bull]

Didnt Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, and Prince Fielder all get off to god aful starts last year?

 

dude, you are the king of non-sequitors

 

TT's post is the correct answer. When Soto slumps, dude slumps. Wasn't his 4 k game against the Nats last year?

 

at one point he had 8 straight strikeouts and yes it was against the Nats.