Lifted this from Sports Illustrated:
And because Soto has a Baseball Reference-calculated Wins Above Replacement mark of 5.0 and Acuña is at 4.8, they are, in all likelihood, going to end up on this short list of pairs of players under 22 to share a 5-WAR season:
Donie Bush (6.5) and Tris Speaker (6.3), 1909Jimmie Foxx (7.9) and Mel Ott (7.4), 1929Eddie Mathews (8.3) and Mickey Mantle (5.8), 1953Al Kaline (8.2) and Hank Aaron (6.3), 1955Frank Robinson (6.6) and Kaline (6.5), 1956Trout (10.5) and Harper (5.2), 2012Trout (9.0) and Machado (6.7), 2013
― clemenza, Friday, 6 September 2019 23:56 (four years ago) link
that trout guy was good
― k3vin k., Saturday, 7 September 2019 01:40 (four years ago) link
That was the premise of the SI piece I took that from: that Acuña/Soto are the new Trout/Harper (acknowledging that the latter is a non-issue now).
― clemenza, Saturday, 7 September 2019 15:32 (four years ago) link
Devers (22) has a fWAR of 5.5 (ie, higher than Acuna & Soto)
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Saturday, 7 September 2019 16:18 (four years ago) link
or wait is it <=22 or <22?
wow that's a very impressive list of HOFers, future HOFers, some guy named Donie Bush, and Bryce Harper.
― omar little, Saturday, 7 September 2019 17:16 (four years ago) link
Per Baseball-Reference, Soto joins Alex Rodriguez, Ruben Sierra and Jose Canseco as the only major-league hitters in the last 50 years to record a 30-homer, 100-RBI, 10-steal season before their age 22 season.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Sunday, 8 September 2019 14:16 (four years ago) link
I don't really understand his contract status:
Signed thru 2019, Earliest Arb Eligible: 2022, Earliest Free Agent: 2025
If he's only signed through this season but not eligible for arbitration until 2022, what does that mean for 2020 and 2021?
― clemenza, Sunday, 8 September 2019 16:05 (four years ago) link
i'm not sure about the technical/legal background but it's similar for other pre-arb players. soto is definitely under team control through 2022
― I am also Harl (Karl Malone), Sunday, 8 September 2019 16:23 (four years ago) link
by "similar" i mean you'll see the same kind of contract status for other pre-arb players
― I am also Harl (Karl Malone), Sunday, 8 September 2019 16:24 (four years ago) link
Thanks. Baseball Reference should make that clearer...if they control him until 2022, why not just say "signed through 2021." There's almost an implication of the old reserve-clause system there, where the Nationals can just renew him for whatever they want in 2020/21.
― clemenza, Sunday, 8 September 2019 18:48 (four years ago) link
hey clemenza, just noticed that fangraphs has updated their contract summary pages for each team. i don't know what you usually refer to for that kind of information, but to me this is pretty much the easiest and simplest way to get it. here's the page for the nats:
https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/nationals
and here's more info: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/introducing-rosterresource-payroll-pages/
― I am also Harl (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 10 September 2019 19:17 (four years ago) link
One of the things that makes Juan Soto special is his mature approach at the plate. The Nationals outfielder may not be able to legally buy alcohol in the United States, but he doesn’t just have the discipline of a seasoned vet, he has the discipline of Joey Votto in his prime. A 15 percent walk rate would be good for anyone, but it’s incredible for someone who is younger than OK Computer.His low chase rate is the primary driver of his ability to draw a walk, but Soto has another strategy he employs. When the count reaches two strikes, Soto crouches down lower to shrink his strike zone.
His low chase rate is the primary driver of his ability to draw a walk, but Soto has another strategy he employs. When the count reaches two strikes, Soto crouches down lower to shrink his strike zone.
https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2019/9/4/20848679/juan-soto-washington-nationals-two-strike-crouch-robot-umps
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 10 September 2019 19:27 (four years ago) link
Kinda faded a bit over the last 2 weeks of the season, but can now add "clutch postseason heroics" to his CV.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 2 October 2019 04:53 (four years ago) link
Juan Soto is the second youngest player in postseason history to have a WPA over .500 in a game.The youngest, Miguel Cabrera, did it in Game 4 of the 2003 NLDS, a series-clinching game but not an elimination one https://t.co/XL00s8G42k pic.twitter.com/kPjbewAa9k— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 2, 2019
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 2 October 2019 14:36 (four years ago) link
<3
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, 10 October 2019 03:47 (four years ago) link
https://sports.theonion.com/juan-soto-sheepishly-asks-group-of-nationals-fans-enter-1838887733
― frogbs, Thursday, 10 October 2019 20:09 (four years ago) link
so did Miggy or Cobb homer as a WS cleanup hitter under 21?
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 01:31 (four years ago) link
Youngest to hit a World Series home run: Andruw Jones, 19 years, 180 days; Miguel Cabrera, 20 years, 187 days; Mickey Mantle, 20 years, 352 days; Juan Soto, 20 years, 362 days.
― mookieproof, Wednesday, 23 October 2019 01:47 (four years ago) link
Soto & Jones are the only <20 year olds to hit a HR in their WS debut.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 02:06 (four years ago) link
Nats Dominican academy pic.twitter.com/vLIoQLrWF5— johnny (@dipuglia) October 23, 2019
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 23 October 2019 20:59 (four years ago) link
Happy birthday, Juan Soto! We will adjust our World Series content accordingly. pic.twitter.com/jAICJ0t14q— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 25, 2019
― mookieproof, Friday, 25 October 2019 14:23 (four years ago) link
Watching Juan Soto lash a beautiful oppo homer this afternoon is as good a reason as any to gaze in wonder yet again at his career XBH spray chart. pic.twitter.com/g3RJlP7H6D— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) February 25, 2020
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 25 February 2020 18:58 (four years ago) link
cardinals broadcast made sure to keep track of how long his home run trot was (25.5 seconds)
― But guess what? Nobody gives a toot!😂 (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 19:06 (four years ago) link
iirc last week when someone asked him what his goals for spring training were, he said 'to make the team'
otm
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 25 February 2020 19:09 (four years ago) link
i think he will probably make the team
― But guess what? Nobody gives a toot!😂 (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 19:13 (four years ago) link
*crosses fingers*
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 25 February 2020 21:22 (four years ago) link
positive for COVID
― brooklyn suicide cult (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 23 July 2020 18:29 (three years ago) link
After being away from the team for ten days due to a positive COVID-19 test, Juan Soto returned to the Nationals on Saturday and joined the team for a workout at Nats Park. “For me, in my mind, I think it was a [false] positive,” he said. “I’ve been working on it. I tested a bunch of times negative. Following the rules, being in the right spot. I think that’s why I think it’s a [false] positive because I’ve been following the rules. I’ve been really serious with this. It’s out there. But, for me, they can look at me however they want. I’m going to be the same guy.”
https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/nationals/juan-soto-rejoins-nationals-nationals-park
― brooklyn suicide cult (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 2 August 2020 14:04 (three years ago) link
Activated from the IL but not in the starting lineup...?
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 4 August 2020 23:01 (three years ago) link
Maybe need a Fernando Tatis Jr. thread to parallel this one (born about two months later).
― clemenza, Monday, 10 August 2020 16:04 (three years ago) link
Go for it, lots of lesser players have dedicated threads.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 11 August 2020 03:01 (three years ago) link
I'm the guy who jumped the gun on Carlos Correa.
Jumping the Gun: the Carlos Correa Thread
― clemenza, Tuesday, 11 August 2020 12:08 (three years ago) link
Or you could do a poll like TROUT V. HARPER but throw in Acuña as another option?
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 11 August 2020 15:54 (three years ago) link
I mean...
FREE HUNTER PENCE!!!
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 11 August 2020 15:55 (three years ago) link
yeah but hunter pence is awesome, love that guy.
jose martinez is an honorary hunter pence, to me
― The GOAT Harold Land (Karl Malone), Tuesday, 11 August 2020 15:56 (three years ago) link
Fernando Tatis Jr. is Bringing Joy Back to Baseball
i won't regret this
― ℺ ☽ ⋠ ⏎ (✖), Wednesday, 12 August 2020 04:40 (three years ago) link
also considered a "how many seasons will it take for FTJr to surpass james shields in WAR" poll but that just seems mean
― ℺ ☽ ⋠ ⏎ (✖), Wednesday, 12 August 2020 04:41 (three years ago) link
2020 OPShttps://i.imgur.com/j2FmMMG.jpg
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, 13 August 2020 15:44 (three years ago) link
this year he's no Mike Yastrzemski
― brooklyn suicide cult (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 13 August 2020 17:10 (three years ago) link
nor any other year I hope.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Thursday, 13 August 2020 19:46 (three years ago) link
And maybe Bo Bichette too. (Okay, I'm cherry-picking after his big night.)
― clemenza, Friday, 14 August 2020 00:00 (three years ago) link
In-depth analysis of his season to date:
https://www.mlb.com/news/juan-soto-best-all-around-hitter-2020
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 25 August 2020 18:29 (three years ago) link
"Tatis and Soto aren't just the best young stars in Major League Baseball. They're the best players."
Way too early, and not a real season anyway, but for what it's worth, Baseball Reference has Betts as the best player in baseball right now.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 25 August 2020 22:45 (three years ago) link
Top of the 3rd: Nats down 0-4 to the Red Sox.
Trea Turner hits a lead off double.
Soto is faced with a radical shift, and surprisingly decides to bunt down the 1B line with Turner running. The pitcher has trouble fielding it, throws it over the 1B's head, Turner scores, Soto takes 2nd on the throw home. Sets up a 3-run response that puts the Nats back into the game.
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Sunday, 30 August 2020 01:54 (three years ago) link
Highest SLG since 2004 (Bonds) was Yelich last year: .671Soto is at .800
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Tuesday, 1 September 2020 04:46 (three years ago) link
Soto 2019: 132 strikeouts vs 34 homersSoto 2020: 13 strikeouts vs 11 homers
From a SI piece: "Among those with at least 1,000 plate appearances prior to their age-22 season, Soto's career OPS through his age-21 season ranks fourth, behind only Ted Williams (1.041), Jimmie Foxx (1.015) and Mel Ott (.986)."
― clemenza, Friday, 25 September 2020 12:29 (three years ago) link
(Which is .967...mlb.com piece, I mean.)
― clemenza, Friday, 25 September 2020 12:31 (three years ago) link
They pulled Soto after going 1-1 today--some things never change--so it looks like he'll win the slash TC. Younger than when Williams did it in '41, so I'm guessing he's the youngest ever.
― clemenza, Sunday, 27 September 2020 21:01 (three years ago) link
he's gonna be a yankee, isn't he
― mookieproof, Sunday, 17 July 2022 00:58 (one year ago) link
With six playoff teams per league, "rebuilding" doesn't mean what it used to.
Can't blame Soto for wanting to bet on himself though.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Sunday, 17 July 2022 12:17 (one year ago) link
i feel bad for nats fans
― na (NA), Monday, 18 July 2022 19:50 (one year ago) link
I can’t believe there seems to be a growing consensus that he will be traded in a week or two. My guess is that it probably costs a team their top 3-5 prospects plus some of their current starters. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/with-juan-soto-available-the-nationals-have-upended-the-trade-market/
― Michael F Gill, Monday, 18 July 2022 23:06 (one year ago) link
Goofy trade scenarios (skimmed--I think the writer's just making them up).
https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/exploring-juan-soto-trades-no-matter-how-far-fetched/
― clemenza, Tuesday, 19 July 2022 03:18 (one year ago) link
whats going on here.
The #Padres, barely clinging to the final wild-card berth, are still awaiting dividends on their blockbuster trade:Juan Soto is hitting .063 (3-48) without an extra-base hit in his last 15 games; .202 with 7 RBI in 35 games since his arrival.Josh Bell is hitting .204/.319/.307.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 16, 2022
― Spottie, Friday, 16 September 2022 19:58 (one year ago) link
And that's not even to mention Josh Hader's 4-digit ERA as a Padre. What's going on?
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Friday, 16 September 2022 20:38 (one year ago) link
san diego is where stars go to die
― Spottie, Friday, 16 September 2022 20:41 (one year ago) link
It’s fascinating to me how bad the deadline deals have worked out so far to the Padres. And I say that as a person who wants them to do well.
― Michael F Gill, Friday, 16 September 2022 23:52 (one year ago) link
I was gonna post that Drury's been great but I see he only has a 700 OPS too!
― Piven After Midnight (The Yellow Kid), Saturday, 17 September 2022 00:12 (one year ago) link
just a poorly timed slump
― ciderpress, Saturday, 17 September 2022 01:31 (one year ago) link
Haven't read it yet, but Posnanski has a column on Soto today:
What gives? At ages 21 and 22, Soto was channeling Ted Williams. Now, all due respect, he’s channeling Ted Sizemore. How can we make sense of any of this?
― clemenza, Friday, 21 April 2023 17:30 (eleven months ago) link
san diego is where stars go to die― Spottie, Friday, September 16, 2022 1:41 PM (seven months ago)
― Spottie, Friday, September 16, 2022 1:41 PM (seven months ago)
― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Friday, 21 April 2023 17:46 (eleven months ago) link
Probably no surprise, in view of the fact Soto again leads the league in BB; Posnanski (with some numbers for support) thinks Soto has become too selective.
I've got to believe he'll come back--if not all the way, at least to an All-Star level. Mostly I liked the Ted Sizemore reference in that quote.
― clemenza, Friday, 21 April 2023 18:06 (eleven months ago) link
Finally, finally--having a player-of-the-month May:
.346/.485/.680, 11 doubles, 5 HR
I don't know if there was any validity to that "too selective" theory (always a dicey proposition). Has he become more aggressive? Twenty-one walks for the month would suggest otherwise. Tim?
― clemenza, Saturday, 27 May 2023 18:31 (ten months ago) link
(Will be seeing them/him in July.)
― clemenza, Saturday, 27 May 2023 18:32 (ten months ago) link