Knuckle Curve » geovany soto

Chicago Cubs Lose First Playoff Game

Stephen Kersey — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:46:56 +0000

The 100 year curse looks to be alive and breathing. The Chicago Cubs lost their first playoff game in 2008 by a final score of 7-2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

At first, things looked fine for Chicago. They got up 2-0 by scoring two in the bottom of the second inning. But then James Looney of the Dodgers hit a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning to put Los Angeles up for good.

Not surprisingly, Manny Ramirez shined for the Dodgers. He was 2-4 with a walk, two runs, an RBI and a homer run. Derek Lowe pitched a fine six innings, giving up two earned runs while striking out six.

For the Cubs, things weren’t as rosy. Ryan Dempster struggled through 4.2 innings that saw him walk seven batters and give up four earned runs. Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto combined to go 0-12.

Chicago still has a chance to put the curse to bed but Game 2 has now turned out to be a must win game. Taking the hill for the Cubs will be ace Carlos Zambrano and he will take on Chad Billingsley of the Dodgers.

Game 2 will be Thursday at 9:30 PM CST.

Manny Ramirez and Joe Torre have to like the Dodgers’ Game 1 success.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Midseason Baseball Awards 2008 – MLB Awards

Stephen Kersey — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:14:39 +0000

AL MVP – Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
Ian Kinsler and Milton Bradley are playing very well for the Rangers. However, I believe that it is Hamilton who is the backbone of that team’s lineup. Take him away and the Rangers wouldn’t be nearly as deadly.

NL MVP – Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Sure, the Astros are a bad team and chances are slim that they will make the playoffs. That said, Berkman is having a career year and is the best hitter in the NL to date this season.

AL Cy Young – Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
Mariano Rivera might be having his best season in his career but Lee has been amazing. His 12-2 record is very impressive, as is his 2.31 ERA. Lee was nothing special until this year but now the Cleveland ace is making a name for himself.

NL Cy Young – Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds
Josh Hamilton is playing amazing baseball for the Texas Rangers, however the Reds have to be happy with their offseason move. The Reds got Volquez from the Rangers and he has consistently been the best pitcher in the NL this season.

AL Rookie of the Year – Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
One day soon, Evan Longoria might become more famous than Eva Longoria. He’s the clear cut rookie of the year in the AL — and it’s not even close. He has exceeded all the hype he had coming into the season.

NL Rookie of the Year – Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
A lot of players on the Cubs are getting notoriety this season but one can argue that Soto is the most valuable player on Chicago’s roster. He has stepped in as a rookie and is playing great baseball.

Is Geovany Soto the best player on the Cubs?

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Best Baseball Teams in April 2008

Stephen Kersey — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:02:11 +0000

Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are young but amazingly talented. With great pitching, bashers at the plate and a solid manager, the Diamondbacks are for real. If Randy Johnson can return to 80% of his former self, he’d make Arizona the heavy favorite to represent the National League in the World Series.

Boston Red Sox
The reigning champs haven’t shown too many weaknesses so far this season. David Ortiz got off to a slow start but he’s playing well again. The pitching can only get better and the bats can only get hotter. You have to think the New York Yankees will make a run but the Red Sox could be too far ahead by the time they get healthy.

Los Angeles Angels
The Angels have a devastating lineup that never seems to end. They certainly have the potential to be the best hitting team in all of the major leagues. Their pitching needs step up but there’s enough talent on that staff to figure things out. The Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners will keep the heat on in the AL West.

Chicago Cubs
Even though Alfonso Soriano has missed a chunk of the season to date, the Cubs have been able to get off to a hot start. Derrek Lee is smashing the ball again and Geovany Soto is as hot as any catcher in baseball. If the pitchers can become consistent, the Cubs have a chance to – eh nevermind, they’re still the Cubs.

Geovany Soto, Cubs catcher

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Hottest Hitting Catchers in 2008

Stephen Kersey — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:16:38 +0000

Which major league catchers are having the most early season success at the plate?

Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves
With five homers and 12 RBIs, Brian McCann is becoming a force for the Braves. He has shown very good potential in the last few seasons and seems to be taking a step forward this year. He’s now cemented as one of the best catchers in the majors.

A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox
This 31-year-old veteran catcher is off to a blazing start. He’s hitting .323 with three homers and 11 RBIs. While it’s unlikely that A.J. Pierzynski will be able to keep up this pace, the White Sox have been appreciative of his effort to date.

Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh Pirates
While Ryan Doumit is technically in a platoon situation with Ronny Paulino, Doumit is starting to make a push for an everyday spot in the lineup. He’s hitting .345 and has four homers and eight RBIs. If Doumit can keep hitting like this, the Pirates will be forced to find room for him.

Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs
In his first full season at catcher, Geovany Soto has already surpassed expectations. The 25-year-old is hitting .353 with three dingers and 14 RBIs. Sota is one of the main reasons why the Cubs are 15-6 on the season.

Post from: Knuckle Curve