http://tinyurl.com/2x3423

Perhaps talking about next year is just a habit with Cubs fans, especially me, but none the less, the comments on Soto are interesting. His catching skills have always been considered solidly above average. He does everything you want a catcher to do behind the plate well, but nothing about his offensive skills has indicated that he could be anything special until this season.

http://tinyurl.com/2a32oy

His minor league career averages of .279/.359/.426 over 7 seasons and 1959 AB is respectable, but does not suggest he would be more than adequate, but then there is this season. .353/.424/.652 over 385 AB is exceptional for any player, but especially a catcher. Are these numbers an aberration, or are they the sign of a serious uptrend? Has Soto's bat finally caught up to his catching skills? In this day and age, the increase in power alone make you wonder if he did it all naturally, but according to the story, Soto has actually lost weight, not gained. I can't find any hard evidence to substantiate or disprove this claim. Depending upon what website you are looking at, Soto is listed anywhere from 190 to 230, and I have not seen any website that lists his 2006 playing weight.

Only time will tell if Soto's 2007 numbers are legitimate signs of a hitter coming into his own. For this reason alone, I would not mind seeing Kendall resigned as long as it could be done reasonably and with the understanding that he is here to be a stable pony. This way Soto can be worked in slowly versus being thrown to the wolves.

OK, here's the plan: get rid of the catcher who can hit and then hand the catching duties over to three Steve Lake's. You never know, it might work.

Gone is Felix Pie, who was here to stay until he wasn't, and whose treatment eerily resembles that of Corey Patterson's. Here is Geovany Soto, the third catcher.

Of course, maybe it's too harsh to label Soto "no-hit." He has, after all, put up a half season of .341/.412/.584 for triple-A Iowa. Then again, his previous career high OPS in the minors was 756, for double-A West Tenn in 2004.

He had a rough season debut today, going 0-for-5 in the Cubs' 6-0 shellacking of the Houston Astros. With the way Koyie Hill and Rob Bowen have hit, he's likely to get more chances. Especially since he did do something well: handled three pitchers to a combined shutout.

Henry Blanco has a cervical herniated disc and the Cubs have placed him on the 15-day disabled list. They have called up Koyie Hill to take his place on the roster, which is interesting because Hill was not on the 40-man roster while Geovany Soto is. Also, Soto is having his best year at the plate, hitting .319/.383/.504. Hill is hitting .304/.346/.448. Hill has a lifetime OPS 20% below league average in 132 big league plate appearances. I'd love to know the explanation for bypassing Soto.