Cubs’ Soto needs to ‘make adjustments’
MILWAUKEE — Catcher Geovany Soto got a start off Sunday after going 0-for-19 over his previous six games. He entered Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers as a pinch hitter and ended the game by grounding into a fielder’s choice.
Soto’s offensive numbers are way down from last year as he continues good and bad seasons in an alternating pattern.
For this year Soto has an average/on-base/slugging line of .229/.314/.404. Last year it was .280/.393/.497.
Soto has walked 38 times while striking out 108. Last season Soto had 62 walks and 83 strikeouts. His walk rate has fallen sharply, from 16 percent last year to 9.6 this year.
“I think with Geo, it’s probably continuing to work on covering the outer third (of the plate),” manager Mike Quade said. “If you make a mistake middle-in, he’ll make you pay.
“We’re working on the outer third of the plate, whether it’s hard or soft. Just continue to work on his breaking-ball coverage.
“As you hang around in this league for a while, people will try and get a better feel for you in places maybe they didn’t early on. It’s a constant deal of adjustments.”
“He’s got such good pull power. Just staying on the ball to being able to defend himself away is going to determine, I think, how good he’s going to be down the road.”
Soto was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2008. He had a down year in 2009 followed by a bounce-back year last season.
“I always look at things in 3-4 year periods and say, ‘OK, this is who this guy is,’” Quade said “I still think ‘Sote’s’ got plenty of room to improve and to have those kinds of years like he had last year or his Rookie of the Year year.
“But he’s going to have to make some adjustments.”
Yer outta here again:Mike Quade was ejected in the first inning by home-plate umpire Bill Miller after arguing a called third strike on Aramis Ramirez. It looked like Quade was trying to protect Ramirez. He was thrown out while walking away from the umpire.It was Quade#146;s sixth ejection this season, tying him with Minnesota#146;s Ron Gardenhire for the major-league lead.#147;Bill didn#146;t like what I said,#148; Quade said. #147;So I sat and watched. There#146;s no reason to talk about what I said. No #145;magic word.#146;#148;Ramirez was 0-for-4 and had his hitting streak snapped at 16 games. Starlin Castro had a hit streak snapped at 11.#147;I didn#146;t think he did anything wrong,#148; Ramirez said of Quade. #147;He didn#146;t say anything out of line. I don#146;t want to (disrespect) the umpires. They#146;re human.#147;I thought it (the pitch) was low. I watched the replay. It was low. I don#146;t want to make any excuses. I got 3 more at-bats after that, and I didn#146;t get the job done.#148;Casey on the mound:Cubs starting pitcher Casey Coleman worked a season-high 7 innings. He took the loss to fall to 2-7 with a 7.14 ERA.Coleman gave up 6 hits and 3 runs, including a 2-run homer to Corey Hart in the fifth. He walked the bases loaded in the third but got out of it with a double-play ball.#147;I got myself in a jam, walking three straight,#148; he said. #147;That#146;s what you#146;ve got to do, make adjustments on the fly. I was able to do that last year. It#146;s positive, keeping the team in the game and making it close in the end.#148;Cashner update:Right-hander Andrew Cashner will make his third rehab start for Class AA Tennessee tonight.If that goes well, Cashner will move to Class AAA Iowa as he finishes his comeback from a strained right rotator cuff. Cashner hopes to rejoin the Cubs in a relief role in September.The Cubs may send him to the Arizona Fall League, where he will work as a starter, getting limited innings per appearance.