Well, how about that? 2 blog postings in one month for me! Good for me!
Continuing the Around the Horn system, and on the brink of the playoffs, I write this as the first pitch of the Brewers-Cubs game is being throw. And the man that is the focus of this posting is not currently playing, but I'm alright with that.
No one on the Chicago Cubs, save IF/OF Mark DeRosa, means more to the continued success of the Cubs as does C Geovany Soto. The guardian of the plate, and a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the order (and even in the bottom of the order, depending on how others in the line-up are hitting that day), Soto has done it all in this, his ROOKIE year. The stats don't lie: .285/.364/.504, 23 HRs, 86 RBI, 141 hits, 35 doubles, 2 triples, and 62 BB. As a Catcher. A Rookie Catcher. I don't know about you, but I can't remember a better all-around statistical season by a catcher in a very long time.
And then there's his prowess behind the plate, which is probably more important that anything he does with a bat. Soto has been a calming, steady influence for the pitching staff this year, and if you don't believe me, just ask SP Carlos Zambrano. Soto caught his no-hitter, but besides that brilliant day, Zambrano has needed more help that usually this year in getting through his starts. Soto, being only 25, is not afraid to go out to the mound and put the pitchers in line and get them on board with how they want to approach a pitcher. His instincts are sharp, his pitch-calling is creative and crafty, and he rarely is out of sync fundamentally. People may say that the best rookie catcher is Mike Piazza or Carlton Fisk, two oldies-but-goodies, but Piazza never had it on defense, being a primarily offensive catcher, and Fisk's offense didn't catch on until a year or two into his career. Whereas Soto has brought both the bat and glove to his rookie year, making him the clear choice for Rookie of the Year and propelling the Cubs into the playoffs.
So to Soto, I say, Congrats! You've played well all season, starting 131 games, helping the team win in any way possible. It is because of selfless, talented, and deserving individuals like Soto that the team has been able to accomplish what they have this year. Go Cubs! OOF WAH!
On deck: SS Ryan Theriot, in the hole: P Kerry Wood
Keywords: catcher, Chicago Cubs, Geovany Soto, Rookie, Rookie of the Year
