Soto called up to replace Barrett?

by Will23 on May 23, 2006 1:28 PM CDT Comment 33 comments

Rotoworld.com is reporting that Geovany Soto will likely be called up to replace Michael Barrett pending his suspension. Soto is expected to get limited playing time behind Henry Blanco.

Here are Soto's stats in AAA Iowa thru 5/22

.265/.341/.657 with 6 2B, 9 RBI, 13BB and 24 Ks in 36 games.

He made his ML debut last year, went 0-1 against the Astros in a game the Cubs won 5-4. It was his only AB all season.

I honestly don't know much about him. Would he be used to catch any specific pitcher or just fill in for Blanco occasionally?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Not That It really matters

but shouldn't Barrett appeal his suspension and hope they don't hear it until Derrek Lee comes back.

Nevermind that would require a brain...

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by RobG on May 23, 2006 1:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't see

what the point of that would be.

--Tim http://fridayafternoonintheuniverse.blogspot.com

by elscorcho0682 on May 23, 2006 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The point of it would be...

... to at least get one bat back, when another bat must sit.

The rotoworld post probably comes from speculation in the papers this morning. It may or may not happen that way.

by Al on May 23, 2006 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yabbut

Given the way the Cubs have been playing with Barrett in the lineup anyways, I'd rather see him serve his suspension right away (assuming there will be one, which I'm sure of) and have he and D-Lee back at or around the same time. What's the point of getting on base if there's no one to drive them in?

--Tim http://fridayafternoonintheuniverse.blogspot.com

by elscorcho0682 on May 23, 2006 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Someone will have to be sent down...

something tells me it will be Ryan Theriot..

Soto is a defensive catcher with a small stick who can hit .250 pop in 5-10 hrs and drive in a couple RBI's.. He has been in the Cubs system since 2001 where he was drafted in the 11th round

His numbers can be found Geovany's 2006 Stats

and
Geovany's Career Stats

by cubsfan2883 on May 23, 2006 1:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No...

... no one gets sent down. Barrett is suspended, but it is considered unfair to make the Cubs play one man short. Barrett is punished for his actions, not the team.

It has the effect of putting Barrett "on the DL" for the length of the suspension. Soto would replace Barrett, not Theriot.

by Al on May 23, 2006 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you sure?

I thought you were not allowed to replace the roster spot of the suspended player.. if thats teh case yeah Soto is pretty necessary

by cubsfan2883 on May 23, 2006 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

today's sun-times...

says Soto will get called up, but won't see any action. Blanco will start every game while Barrett is out.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cubnt23.html

Good thinking. Gotta keep that .053 hitter in the lineup.

by MikeJ on May 23, 2006 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

I thought that note was pretty funny when I read it as well. Seriously, could Soto be worse than Hank White has been so far? This is Dusty Baker to a T!

Check out my Cubs Minor League System website: Top Cubs Prospects

by jonpyardi on May 23, 2006 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seeing as how..

Soto is hitting .260 at AAA ...yeah.. I think he could be worse than Blanco

by cubsfan2883 on May 23, 2006 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Admittedly..

... Blanco has been nearly a zero (two hits, 39 AB) this year. That's .051.

I will remind all of you that he hit .059 (1 for 17) in April 2005, and .172 (5 for 29) in May 2005.

Pre All-Star 2005: .158/.177/.250
Post All-Star 2005: .318/.379/.518

Granted, the latter is only 85 AB, but those numbers are actually good.

Blanco is a career .215/.285/.353 hitter. That's pretty bad, but it's still better than his current numbers. History suggests he ought to hit at least enough to get the numbers up to near career norms -- that means, if he started for a week while Barrett is out, he might hit OK enough for that week.

by Al on May 23, 2006 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand this..

but Blanco does do a nice job of calling games behind the plate and throwing out baserunners...

If Soto can match the game calling and base runners caught that Blanco can.. sure by all means...DFA Blanco (he is a FA after 06' anyway) Soto needs to be given an extended look. Also the Cubs have a kid who is about 2 years away in Jake Fox (A Peoria) that is supposed to be the real deal..

by cubsfan2883 on May 23, 2006 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I saw Fox play in spring training...

... he does appear to be a pretty good prospect, though very raw.

by Al on May 23, 2006 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fox

So will the Cubs trade him or let him rot in the minors. We know he will not get a chance to play for Dusty. Catcher's a position where a "young player" is likely to make mistakes that Dusty thinks will matter.

I'll venture a guess. Fox will be traded as part of some package with a couple of other younger players for an over 30 veteran who turns out to be pretty much finished.

by Frustrated Fan on May 23, 2006 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's in Single A!

Certaintly you're not advocating that a single A player be promoted up three levels to the big leagues?!

One day, the dream will come true.

by brianp88 on May 23, 2006 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fox

could probably have been a AA player this year (batting-wise) except for Jose Reyes. He still needs experience behind the plate, calling games, and working on defense.

Soto at AAA, Reyes at AA - Fox pretty much has to be at single A to see any sort of real playing time this year.

But I don't think he was suggesting bringing Fox up to the majors now, rather, looking to the future, instead of bringing up one of the top hitting prospects in the system, we'll probably end up dumping him in a trade for a useless, over the hill position player given our track record of making such trades.

by false cognate on May 23, 2006 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sigh

I sure hope not. We should be hoarding prospects at this point.

One day, the dream will come true.

by brianp88 on May 23, 2006 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe THAT is Blanco's problem

- irregular starts and low AB count that disrupt his batting rhythm. It could very well be that a solid block of starts in Barrett's absence might finally kickstart his performance at the plate and get his BA in triple digits again.

by JFCubFan on May 23, 2006 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

worse than Blanco

Sure Soto hasn't been tearing up AAA, but Blanco has been down right pathetic at the plate.

All I'm saying is give the kid a start, it isn't like Blanco is Joe Mauer or anything.

And seriously, as long as Soto gets a hit in one of his first 18 ABs, he would be doing better than Blanco.

Check out my Cubs Minor League System website: Top Cubs Prospects

by jonpyardi on May 23, 2006 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stevie Wonder

couldn't hit as badly as Blanco.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on May 23, 2006 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

I thought you ALWAYS lost a player during suspensions
and had to play a man short which is why when teams
have multiple suspensions they are staggered. I am nearly
sure you can't just add a player to replace a suspended one

by jessica on May 23, 2006 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One man short

This is from the Trib today:

"The Cubs will be short one more position player when Michael Barrett's suspension comes down, leaving them with a 24-man roster. Triple-A Iowa catcher Geovany Soto likely will take Barrett's spot."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-0605230205may23,1,6614528.story?coll=chi-spor tscubs-hed

I think the move to bring Soto up is to send The Riot down, though I wish the Cubs would send Perez or Hairston down instead and let the kid play...

One day, the dream will come true.

by brianp88 on May 23, 2006 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re

No one has to be sent down, but the Cubs don't get to call someone up without sending someone else down. Barrett remains on the 25-man roster; he's just not allowed to play.

If the Cubs don't call up Soto, they're left with Blanco and, I guess, Neifi! to play catcher. That clearly isn't going to work for the week or so MB's suspended, so the Cubs will have to call up another catcher, necessitating them sending someone down. I hear there's some kid hanging around with a French name. Baker thinks he's the bat boy. He'll probably be sent down and the team will keep 12 pitchers to go along with the already weak bench.

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by Jed Taylor on May 24, 2006 5:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno

With all those base clogging walks, I don't think Dusty would want to use him. All the reason to use Henry "Blackhole" Blanco and his gaudy .051/.156/.201 numbers to replace Barret while he's out. .265/.341/.657? Pshaw! Not on Dudsty's watch.

Jacque Jones-doubled-off-second-o-meter: 3

by jrm78 on May 23, 2006 1:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The .657 is his OPS, not his slugging

n/t

by zambranofan on May 23, 2006 1:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

huh?

I always thought the splits were AVG/OBP/OPS. It doesn't matter though, because Blanco has been atrocious this year, and I'd welcome the chance to see if Soto can play. (and replace Blackhole)

Jacque Jones-doubled-off-second-o-meter: 3

by jrm78 on May 23, 2006 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Traditionally

splits are AVG/OBP/SLG, at least at most sabermetric sites.

Love the JJ-doubled-off-second-o-meter.

by false cognate on May 23, 2006 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

reply to myself

but MLB and the affiliated minor league sites list the stats in this order on the sortable rosters:

OBP/SLG/AVG

which I find really weird.

by false cognate on May 23, 2006 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh, ok

I always thought SLG was OPS...

(and no, my subject line isn't referring to ohio and oklahoma)

Jacque Jones-doubled-off-second-o-meter: 3

by jrm78 on May 23, 2006 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and

I know the difference between the two states.. er.. stats, just to clarify.

Jacque Jones-doubled-off-second-o-meter: 3

by jrm78 on May 23, 2006 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OBP + SLG = OPS

in case it wasn't clear. But to clarify, that .657 in the original post is OPS, not SLG. Soto is hitting 265/341/315 (by the traditional sabermetric arrangement). Not a great hitter, with little power, but would probably be an improvement over Blanco, unless Mr. White really steps it up. I guess it would depend on his defensive ability.

by false cognate on May 23, 2006 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs