Juan Soto - The Truth making it in DC this year

[Optics]

First game, first AB, first pitch, first homer.

Stuff of legends.

[bluestreak]

 

First game, first AB, first pitch, first homer.

Stuff of legends.

Legends like Tommy Milone, Marcus Thames, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Andy Harris and Adam Wainwright...

[Baseball is Life]

Legends like Tommy Milone, Marcus Thames, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Andy Harris and Adam Wainwright...

Work with us here, bluestreak.

[bluestreak]

I was looking at the list and I came across two interesting stories.

Hoyt Wilhelm hit a home run in his first at bat and never hit one again.
John Miller hit home runs in his first and last major league at bats. And didn’t hit any between.

[Slateman]

It was Soto's second at bat

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

I expect some growing pains for a 19 year old, but Soto could have a rookie season similar to what Harper had.  He is that mature and advanced and talented.  What becomes interesting is if we put the wear and tear of CF on Eaton when he does return to have an OF of Soto/Eaton/Harper.  Or does Harper play CF?  What about when Robles is ready?  If we can navigate all these injuries and get healthy-ish in the 2nd half, a lot of interesting decisions present themselves. 

[bluestreak]

It was Soto's second at bat

I know. I was just looking it up because it was so close and the news outlets were making a big deal about it being his first pitch in his first start...just made me curious.

[bluestreak]

I expect some growing pains for a 19 year old, but Soto could have a rookie season similar to what Harper had.  He is that mature and advanced and talented.  What becomes interesting is if we put the wear and tear of CF on Eaton when he does return to have an OF of Soto/Eaton/Harper.  Or does Harper play CF?  What about when Robles is ready?  If we can navigate all these injuries and get healthy-ish in the 2nd half, a lot of interesting decisions present themselves.

Unless we do a trade, the only people playing CF this year are Taylor, Robles, Goodwin and Stephenson. And we don’t know what we are getting from Goodwin. I think Dusty was responsible for his and MAT’s emergence to some degree. Now that MAT regressed maybe Goodwin will too...

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Unless we do a trade, the only people playing CF this year are Taylor, Robles, Goodwin and Stephenson. And we don’t know what we are getting from Goodwin. I think Dusty was responsible for his and MAT’s emergence to some degree. Now that MAT regressed maybe Goodwin will too...

If Soto is hitting, he's not being dumped when Eaton returns so that MAT can hit .200 in CF.  Soto will keep playing, save for maybe against some tougher lefties if he's struggling with them.  Not sure on a timetable for Robles, but I imagine he will spend a month or so in AAA to get going. 

[Slateman]

I know. I was just looking it up because it was so close and the news outlets were making a big deal about it being his first pitch in his first start...just made me curious.

#fakenews

[Slateman]

Unless we do a trade, the only people playing CF this year are Taylor, Robles, Goodwin and Stephenson. And we don’t know what we are getting from Goodwin. I think Dusty was responsible for his and MAT’s emergence to some degree. Now that MAT regressed maybe Goodwin will too...

Goodwin's .250/.387/.375 would be a significant improvement over Taylor (.189/.254/.314), but his defensive metrics in CF are no where near Taylor.

Is that worth the tradeoff?

[bluestreak]

Goodwin's .250/.387/.375 would be a significant improvement over Taylor (.189/.254/.314), but his defensive metrics in CF are no where near Taylor.

Is that worth the tradeoff?

I personally don’t think so. Although I’d prefer MAT to be doing better than the Mendoza line. MAT would not be that much of a problem if everyone else was hitting. Any production you get up the middle of the field is gravy.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

I could see the OF situation playing out like this:

For now, Soto plays almost everyday.  He might sit against the occassional tough lefty and maybe once Zim returns, Mark Reynolds draws those starts in LF? 

Late June/early July Eaton returns.  If Soto is hitting and adjusting to this level, and MAT is still the same MAT, then he's headed to the bench and becoming a 4th OF/defensive sub late innings.  It's not ideal, but Eaton is going to play some CF or Harper will.  Eaton I'm sure will sit once a week or maybe even every 4th game, so MAT will still get some starts.  Against a tough lefty, it may be Eaton in LF and MAT in CF.  Eaton might hit the tough lefties better than Soto.  What about Zim/Reynolds/Adams?  Adams against righties and Reynolds against lefties are bats you want to start.  They'd make a great platoon at 1B, but Zim is there.  Zim is going to sit on occasion, but with all of them healthy that gets interesting. 

Later in the year, hopefully Robles is healthy and ready to come up.  I'd love to see Robles/Eaton/Soto as sort of a 3-man rotation between LF and CF with Robles playing CF when he plays. 

[mitlen]

Woody Paige on "Around the Horn" said Juan Soto had a better opening than Hans Solo.   

[Slateman]

I'm more impressed with 3 walks tonight than a homer

[LoveAngelos]

Or maybe resignation Eaton will never be available

[bluestreak]

I'm more impressed with 3 walks tonight than a homer

Truth.

[bluestreak]

I'm more impressed with 3 walks tonight than a homer

https://twitter.com/chelsea_janes/status/999121732861661185?s=21

Juan Soto said it wasn't hard to lay off bad pitches as the Padres walked him three times. "I know the strike zone, and the umpires are better here. So I take advantage of that. I know they don’t want to throw me a pitch to hit too hard. Maybe just be patient and see my pitch.”

[aBaltoNat]

https://twitter.com/chelsea_janes/status/999121732861661185?s=21

Juan Soto said it wasn't hard to lay off bad pitches as the Padres walked him three times. "I know the strike zone, and the umpires are better here. So I take advantage of that. I know they don’t want to throw me a pitch to hit too hard. Maybe just be patient and see my pitch.”

Let's hope he is telling the truth...if so, I like what we have.

[NJ Ave]

That’s a pretty impressive, reflective statement from a 19-year old. He either consciously decided to alter his approach based on better strike zone enforcement, or implemented a new approach based on guidance from his coaches. Either way that’s remarkable.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Even in the minors, he had more BBs than Ks.  I think in the minors, there were probably times when he said to himself, "that ump is never making it to the majors with that poor an understanding of the strike zone," and he probably was more right than the ump.

[zimm_da_kid]

Juan soto = David Ortiz, (the athlete version)

Or a lefty Manny

[bluestreak]

Juan soto = David Ortiz, (the athlete version)

Or a lefty Manny

A left-handed Manny Ramirez? Let’s slow our roll...

[Count Walewski]

He's got a lot of meals to eat and homers to hit before he can start to be compared to David Ortiz

[mitlen]

Juan soto = David Ortiz, (the athlete version)

Or a lefty Manny

I hopped in here thinkin' you had a trade up your sleeve.