Geo Back in Action at Fitch Park

On an injury rehab assignment in Mesa, AZ, Cubs catcher Geovany Soto went hitless in five plate appearances this morning in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training game played at Fitch Park.

Soto, who was seeing his first game action in two weeks after suffering a groin strain in a game on May 10th, was the starting catcher and got five at bats in the game played on Field #2 (there was another game played simultaneously on Field #3), batting third in each of the first five innings. He looked a bit rusty at the plate, bouncing out 5-3 in the 1st inning, popping out to the first-baseman in foul territory in the 2nd, flying out to the warning track in CF in the 3rd, getting called out on strikes in the 4th, and striking out swinging in the bottom of the 5th. Also two Rockies base-runners stole 2nd base while Soto was behind the plate.

As far as the games were concerned, one squad of EXST Cubs and one squad of EXST Rockies played to a 1-1 tie on Field #2, while the other squad of Rockies defeated the other squad of Cubs 5-2 on Field #3.

The games were played simultaneously on adjacent fields, and both games were seven-inning affairs.

Here are the abridged box scores from today’s games (Cubs players only)

FIELD #2

NOTE: Geovany Soto batted third in the bottom of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings.

SQUAD “A” LINEUP:
X. Geovany Soto, C: 0-5 (5-3, P-3, F-8, K, K)
1. Pin-Chieh Chen, CF: 1-3 (K, 3B, K, R)
2. Gregori Gonzalez, 2B: 1-3 (F-7, 1B, P-3, RBI)
3a. Jesus Morelli, DH: 0-2 (4-3, 4-3)
3b. Yaniel Cabezas, C: 0-1 (F-9)
4. Wilson Contreras, 3B: 0-2 (5-3, F-9)
5. Reggie Golden, RF: 0-1 (K, BB)
6. Wes Darvill, SS: 0-2 (K, 4-6 FC)
7. Max Kwan, 1B: 0-2 (F-8, F-9)
8. Blair Springfield, LF: 0-2 (K, P-4)

SQUAD “A” PITCHERS:
1. Willengton Cruz: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 60 pitches (41 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
2. Rafael Diplan: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 PO, 23 pitches (16 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
3. Larry Suarez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 17 pitches (9 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO

SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 2
1. 3B Wilson Contreras - E5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 2B Gregori Gonzalez - E4 (missed catch allowed runner to reach 2nd base safely on what should have been a 5-4 FC)

SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Geovany Soto: 0-2 CS
2. Yaniel Cabezas: 1-1 CS

=============================================

FIELD #3

SQUAD “B” LINEUP:
1. Vismeldy Bieneme, CF: 1-3 (3B, 4-3, K, R)
2. Marco Hernandez, 2B: 0-2 (BB, 3-U, 4-3)
3. Brian Inoa, C: 0-3 (K, 4-3, L-4)
4. Brandon May, 3B: 0-3 (5-3, 6-3, L-3)
5. Rafael Valdes, SS: 0-3 (K, 5-3, 1-3)
6. Eduardo Gonzalez, RF: 0-3 (5-3, 4-3, 5-3)
7. Dustin Geiger, DH #1: 0-2 (K, F-7)
8. Xavier Batista, 1B: 0-2 (F-7, 5-3)
9. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-2 (1B, E-6, R, SB)
10. Carlos Romero, DH #2: 1-2 (1B, K, RBI)

SQUAD “B” PITCHERS:
1. Joe Zeller: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 65 pitches (43 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
2. Starling Peralta: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 29 pitches (18 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
3. Manolin DeLeon: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HBP, 19 pitches (12 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO

SQUAD “B” ERRORS: 1
3B Brandon May - E5 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

SQUAD “B” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Brian Inoa: 1-2 CS, 2 PB

==============================================

ATTENDANCE: 11

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80’s

Tags: 
Geovany Soto
Extended Spring Training
EXST Cubs
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 3:56pm
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Comments

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 4:37pm

According to Tom Skilling on WGN, a nasty storm is due in the Chicago area around 6-7 pm that has produced tornadoes or gustnadoes (never heard of those) and he thinks at the least there will be a rain delay if the game isn't called, perhaps before it even starts.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 5:52pm

sigh...

http://weather.yahoo.com/images/central_sat_4...

also, i can't remember the last time the cubs had so many night games in a row.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 6:36pm

It is like a category 1 hurricane.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 6:39pm

Cubs are in a franchise record run of night games, 10 in a row, I think it is. They had one day game scheduled to break it up and it got rained out.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 6:45pm

Updated Illinois radar, looks wild.

http://www.accuweather.com/us/radar/re/il_/ra...

Submitted by BoiseHawks
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 6:02pm

Phil - I might have missed it in one of the recaps, but has Jose Valdez been reinjured, called up (which I haven't seen him in a box score), or released?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:01pm

Looks like they are going to try and start the game on time.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:07pm

and the sky looks like apocalyptic death.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:07pm

Wind howling in from LF. Game On! Race to get 5 innings in.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:37pm

I know it's just Casey Coleman, but seems like this is just going to be a waste of a starter.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:43pm

Coleman can't even throw 2 scoreless innings against a depleted Mets lineup.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:45pm

hater :)

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:49pm

Berg is even worse!

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:52pm

12 pitches, 12 balls from Justin Berg. I wonder if that's finally the end of his Cubs career. If Dusty or Lou were the manager it likely would be.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:57pm

You know, going to the bullpen in the 2nd inning in a game that is not likely going to even go 5 innings isn't the smartest thing. If Coleman went say 3 innings and the game was called, OK, not a big problem, but now we're 2 relievers into the game already in only the 2nd inning. If we go 3-4 innings, we probably get another pitcher in the game and then 3 rp's get wasted. Someone just needs to eat some innings here regardless of the score.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 8:10pm

Z will come out of bullpen

/ meh

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:52pm

Never mind that shit!

Here comes Russell!

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 8:16am

Russell's been a fairly effective long man in his last two chances. Maybe that's a role he won't suck at.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:54pm

breaking out the rain dance

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 7:54pm

Can't remember a worse succession of Cub pitchers in a game

Submitted by QuietMan
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 8:05pm

Chris Huseby signs with Red Sox. No mention if it's as an OF or pitcher.

http://twitter.com/#!/Kevin_Goldstein/statuse...

Submitted by Pell Mell
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 8:37pm

< crunch > Barney...woo. < /crunch >

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:03am

Top play of the night on espn

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 8:42pm

It's gone long enough to be official, but we're losing.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 9:08pm

Quade going berserk over the tarp being put on the field. Maybe your team should have scored some more runs today.

Submitted by George Altman
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 9:17pm

Can we end the Casey Coleman and Justin Berg experience?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 9:26pm

If we can't end the Mike Quade experience, can we at least have him stop looking like a little kid throwing a tantrum when he argues with umps? It's embarrassing how he acts.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 9:42pm

"get me! I'm managin'!"

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 8:18am

There's plenty of things to complain about with Quade without pointing out him acting like a three year old who has been denied a third fruit roll-up.

He's more embarrasing than the end of the season '04 Cubs, all by his lonesome.

I sure hope someone makes some cement shoes for his and Hendry's baseball careers quickly.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 12:27pm

As I said in my original post, if we have to watch Quade all year, at least put an end to his tantrums.

Submitted by Tito
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 9:59am

How was his arguing different from how most managers argue when they're angry?

What's next? "God damn, Quade, why do you have to be so bald?!!?"

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 9:27pm

I have gone on record early and often of my dislike for Justin Berg.

I can understand that Iowa may need roster fillers, but never, EVER, do I want to see him pitching in Wrigley unless it is for another team.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 10:08pm

Anybody notice how Berg resembles an early '70's Ringo Starr?

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 5:34am

Do you have a photograph?

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 7:03pm

Was referring to Berg's photo in Gameday. Kind of like how he looked around the time of the cover of the Ringo the 4th album. Not exact -- just reminiscent.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&b...

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 8:10pm

And you missed my Ringo starr joke.

/you know it don't come easy

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 2:06am

D'oh! That was pretty good, too. Sorry man -- I Should Have Known Better.

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 9:51am

Perhaps the blisters on his fingers led to the 12 straight balls.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 10:13am

Great call on that, Tito!

Lot of people think that was Lennon who said that.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 10:37pm

Vitters was 2 for 5 tonite with a 2B. Avg. is up to .271 for the season and for the last 10 days he is .375/.390/.550. For May, he is hitting .300/.325/.438.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 10:02am

I agree that Vitters's last ten days have been interesting. I don't recall him pulling out of a tailspin before. He usually goes down, down, down, then he bottoms out, then . . . wait till next year. Maybe this is something he can build on.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 10:39am

What tailspin? Is LeMahieu crashing and burning right now?

Submitted by navigator
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 12:33am

If you can, watch the 19th inning of the Phillies Reds game. Wilson Valdez called upon to pitch and he was hitting 88 89 on the gun. Got Votto and Bruce quickly. Then hit Rolen when he tried to throw a curve. Inning's over when the pitcher pops out to second.

edit..
AND he gets the win.
Then, during an interview someone pies him in the face.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 3:40am

LOL. Good for him, if Utley was healthy this spring Valdez might not have even made the team.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 8:22am

That's going to make for an interesting arbitration hearing.

Submitted by Andy
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:44pm

I was just thinking I'd watch the 19th inning tonight. Sounds like fun. Last night I was awoken by the Phillies broadcasters at God knows what hour when they won it in the 19th. I'd fallen asleep with At Bat '11 audio on sometime in the 12th or 13th.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 9:28am

what an ugly season so far...

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 10:11am

Yes, but . . .

Tennessee going for 10th win in a row today, Daytona trying for its 9th.

Tom Ricketts and Laura just made a quick visit to Daytona and Kodak, TN. On the Smokiesbaseball.com site, there's the audio of a booth interview with the two owners. Mostly boilerplate, but Tom does say that he reads a summary of the minor-league happenings every morning. A man after my own heart!

It's a rather long interview, because after the other team's half inning, the radio guy asked Tom if he could stick around, and then the Smokies came up and batted around.

Speaking of happenings, Luis Flores likes it at Tennessee, where he hit two home runs yesterday, to give him four HRs in 17 at bats.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 12:24pm

Buster Posey breaks his ankle on a play at the plate, also has ligament damage, likely out for the season. He also didn't have the ball, was up the first base side of home, and the runner had a clear view of home plate.

video:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6591997

His agent wants MLB to change the rules for plays at the plate.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 12:36pm

agent demanding rule change too

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 12:41pm

"He also didn't have the ball, was up the first base side of home, and the runner had a clear view of home plate."

He caught the ball in to the first base side of the plate and lunged to the third side of the plate with ball. Then collison.

Should have done swipe tag.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 2:04pm

Peter Gammons tweet-
Carlton Fisk almost ended his career with a home plafe collision in '74, learned to sweep tag and went to Cooperstown.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:00pm

well the fact like he acted like he had the ball is all the runner saw. The runner could have aimed for the back of the plate but Posey was blocking some of it. I'm not sure what video you're looking at.

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/artic...

part of baseball, if you don't want to get hit as a catcher, don't block the plate. They're the ones with all the gear anyway.

If MLB wants to change the rules, they should disallow blocking the bag, which they actually do in a way...

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official...

NOTE: The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.

Posey would know better than the runner if he didn't have the ball.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:14pm

All catchers block home plate, long before they have the ball, which is against the rules. If they are standing in front of home plate waiting for the ball, they are breaking the rules. They don't have to change the rules, just enforce them.

However, I suggest Rob G. go back an look at the video. Cousins launches himself sideways in the air at the same time Posey is turning back towards home plate. Cousins has his upper body pointed towards where Posey was, which was up the first base line. That was a total cheap shot by the runner. He didn't do a "normal" run the catcher over on the way to the plate, he turned his body sideways to annihilate the catcher, who was out of position. It's a cheap shot whether the catcher got hurt or not.

If the Giants and Marlins are playing today and Cousins is in the lineup I expect them to drill him in the head. Total bullshit by Cousins.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6591997

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:31pm

you can tell by Cousins reaction he had no intent to hurt him. The only bullshit right now is coming from you and Posey's agent. He's trying to score the winning run and there's a guy in front of the plate and did what every runner does. He's suppose to calculate in that split second whether Posey is in front of the plate enough to warrant running into him or not? The ball beat him and Posey acted like he had it and was partially in front of the plates. Cousins did what every runner did and try to knock it loose, shit happens.

Do you bitch when a runner gets spiked by a fielder by accident or nailed in the face by a tag?

You're the guy that throws flags in the NFL on defensive lineman taking 3/4 of a step instead of a half step and hitting the QB.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 2:01pm

It was a clean play, rough but clean.
You want dirty base running check out swisher slide to break up double play, earlier this year against Twins, he broke the Japanese 2nd baseman's leg.

Submitted by Andy
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 2:12pm

Ah, but those Japanese have brittle bones, see.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:21pm

They should start ejecting catchers who do it - I can't see any other way to get them out of there.

Looked like a double forearm shiver to the head on that one, a cheap shot, but Posey should get the hell out of the way.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:07pm

I-Cubs getting beat on a beautiful afternoon here; wish I was in attendance...tidbits from team's game notes: 6 of Colvin's 8 hits in 7 games are for extra bases; LaHair's 12th HR last night was INTO 20 mph+ wind; Gaub has whiffed at least 1 in all 17 apps & has 37 overall in 19 IP's; Clevenger is 15/35 since promo; Ortiz gives up too many hits [66 in 53 IP's] but his K/BB ratio is a tidy 54/12 [3rd in PCL in K's]

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:16pm

Ortiz gives up too many hits [66 in 53 IP's] but his K/BB ratio is a tidy 54/12

Mike, my theory, based entirely on the high BABIP that all the starters are allowing is that the I-Cubs don't turn as many batted balls into outs as they should. What's your take on that?

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:53pm

first off, i think i've memorized what BABIP stands for; second, i can recall off top of head an earlier post when i remarked on how little range scales was showing @ 2B one night & how it cost ortiz on 3 ground singles through right side...also think i-cub ss's have made an error in every game i've seen so far, whether it's been camp or mota...very slow/sluggish team defensively, especially w/out campana & given the irregularity of the poet's playing time

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 2:15pm

Sorry, BABIP is how often balls that get hit into the field of play fall for hits rather than get converted into outs.

Ortiz's is sitting at .384, which is pretty high. The major league average is about .300, and I would guess the AAA average is a little higher than that maybe .310.

The best any Iowa starter has done this year is .330.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 2:20pm

yeah, batting average of balls in play, right? the #'s you cite certainly jibe w/ my naked eye impressions - sometimes the pcl seems like a slo-pitch softball league...seen ortiz twice & was impressed both times; think his line is inflated by 1 horrendous start recently but most have been solid; he's certainly an upgrade over coleman & possibly davis as well - i'm all for going w/ experience for the young guys but i question what coleman's ceiling is i guess; is it worth it to season him?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 3:12pm

Thanks. I am with you on Coleman. Hopefully after this latest disaster the Cubs will be too... To me, Coleman's upside is a 6th starter, no need to get him experience at the cost of making the Cubs games interesting.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 1:32pm

Cubs game pushed back to 1:50.

Florida plays at SF again today at 2:45.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 2:22pm

is that a 3 already in the error column for the cc's on the linescore?!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 2:33pm

"Reyes doubled to right, Reyes to third on right fielder Fukudome's fielding error, Reyes scored on second basemen Barney's fielding error"

/cue yakity sax music

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 2:37pm

saw the replay, Fukudome cuts ball off in right field corner, one hops a throw to Barney that gets away. They still had Reyes dead to rights at 3b, but Barney throws it away.

Barney could have had Fukudome's throw, it wasn't that bad and looks like DeWitt could have had Barney's throw.

Clip is on MLB gameday.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 2:34pm

Dickey apparently out with some sort of ankle injury

Submitted by Andy
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 3:00pm

Koyieieie Hill and Z gettin' it done. (With an assist from CF, of course.)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 3:01pm

going into today

AB/BA/OBP/SLG/OPS

Reed 36 361/439/639/1078
Pena 68 265/420/515/935
Byrd 64 344/408/516 924
Baker 30 400/400/500/900
Soto 24/250/357/542 899

Castro 85 306/322/424/745
Soriano 69/290/329/391/720
Ramirez 74 284/338/351/689
Hill 35 257/297/371/669
Barney 84 298/326/321/647
Fukudome 218/268/273

Pena hit his 6th HR of the month today. Hope he keeps it through June/July so they can trade him.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 3:08pm

I keep seeing Pena hit a HR, get excited and check the box to see his triple slash line and realize, "Nope, still shitty".

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 3:18pm

sub .500 OPS April is gonna do that to you...

was 1/17 over last 7 days heading into the game as well. If he can manage 6 HR's a month the rest of the year, that'll get him to 30.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 3:58pm

I guess the expectations are so low now that I don't even notice a 1/17... He's pretty bad, but at least he's not Adam Dunn bad.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/26/2011 - 3:42pm

what in the hell did Z throw to get the last out of the top 6th?

it was a 69mph...something.

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 11:46am

Z busts out a slow curve about 3-4 times a season, and he usually throws it in the high 60s. It's beautiful in some cases--I've seen him use it in ABs where the batter has fouled off a number of good pitches, and it usually freezes the hitter.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 12:25pm

I was at game last year against SF in September, and Aubrey Huff looked like he swung twice at it.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 2:53pm

thanks. haven't seen that one that closely. it had the movement f'sure.

Submitted by Jumbo
on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 6:30pm

I think I remember him throwing it against Pujols a few years ago

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