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Thread: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

  1. #1
    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    I got Baseball America's Handbook today. If you don't have one and love minor league baseball you should really buy a copy of it.

    In Neftali Soto's writeup it says that the Reds tried him out at catcher in the Instructional League and he was receptive to the move and picked up on things quickly. Its not known if its something that will happen, and I know that it has been mentioned before by JJ Cooper that he thought it could be something to look into. Still, I think this could be a very interesting and potentially very smart move. Soto has the arm to play back there and his bat could profile quite well back there too where his approach wouldn't be as detrimental if he never brings the walks up.


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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    In Neftali Soto's writeup it says that the Reds tried him out at catcher in the Instructional League and he was receptive to the move and picked up on things quickly. Its not known if its something that will happen, and I know that it has been mentioned before by JJ Cooper that he thought it could be something to look into. Still, I think this could be a very interesting and potentially very smart move. Soto has the arm to play back there and his bat could profile quite well back there too where his approach wouldn't be as detrimental if he never brings the walks up.
    Would be huge!

    Hoping to get my handbook today...

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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    Quote Originally Posted by dougdirt View Post
    I got Baseball America's Handbook today. If you don't have one and love minor league baseball you should really buy a copy of it.

    In Neftali Soto's writeup it says that the Reds tried him out at catcher in the Instructional League and he was receptive to the move and picked up on things quickly. Its not known if its something that will happen, and I know that it has been mentioned before by JJ Cooper that he thought it could be something to look into. Still, I think this could be a very interesting and potentially very smart move. Soto has the arm to play back there and his bat could profile quite well back there too where his approach wouldn't be as detrimental if he never brings the walks up.
    Francisco, Alonso, Soto. Third time could be the charm!

    If nothing else, the move to Catcher worked for another former infielder named Soto in the NL Central...
    Go BLUE!!!

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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    I love it, even more so than moving Alonso behind the plate. Why? Because unlike Alonso, Soto still has some work to do with the bat and moving him to catcher wouldn't really slow down his development. I really hope the Reds decide to go through with this. Soto has the frame, arm strength, and enough ability to make the transition, IMO. And his bat has a chance to be special for a catcher.

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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    Speaking of the Prospect Handbook, does anyone know where I could get a good deal on one? Maybe there's a coupon floating around the net somewhere?

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    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    Quote Originally Posted by camisadelgolf View Post
    Speaking of the Prospect Handbook, does anyone know where I could get a good deal on one? Maybe there's a coupon floating around the net somewhere?
    It just came out, doubt anywhere has it for any cheaper than anywhere else at this point.

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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    It eventually became cheaper on Amazon.com last year. About half the price of buying it off BA site...

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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    I already checked Amazon, but I might wait around a little while. If anyone finishes reading his and decides to sell it at a discount, feel free to PM me.

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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    just went on amazon and it is $21.09 which is pretty good deal. I ordered Sickels book...Baseball America is probably slightly better but Sickels is a more enjoyable read.

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    Back from my hiatus Mario-Rijo's Avatar
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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    Hopefully they do it he's a good fit for the position but then what becomes of 3B, we have pretty much forced everyone worth a darn off the position. Francisco and Frazier are pretty much screwed with Rolens extension.
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    Quote Originally Posted by dougdirt View Post
    I got Baseball America's Handbook today. If you don't have one and love minor league baseball you should really buy a copy of it.

    In Neftali Soto's writeup it says that the Reds tried him out at catcher in the Instructional League and he was receptive to the move and picked up on things quickly. Its not known if its something that will happen, and I know that it has been mentioned before by JJ Cooper that he thought it could be something to look into. Still, I think this could be a very interesting and potentially very smart move. Soto has the arm to play back there and his bat could profile quite well back there too where his approach wouldn't be as detrimental if he never brings the walks up.
    Now that's a guy I could see playing Catcher.

  13. #12
    Titanic Struggles Caveat Emperor's Avatar
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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mario-Rijo View Post
    Hopefully they do it he's a good fit for the position but then what becomes of 3B, we have pretty much forced everyone worth a darn off the position. Francisco and Frazier are pretty much screwed with Rolens extension.
    Keep developing pitching, and you'll have no problem acquiring parts that your minor league seems deficient in producing.

    Honestly, with Mesoraco on the fast train to bustville, I'm more worried about the catching in this system than 3B.
    Cincinnati Reds: Farm System Champions 2022

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    Sprinkles are for winners dougdirt's Avatar
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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    Quote Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor View Post
    Keep developing pitching, and you'll have no problem acquiring parts that your minor league seems deficient in producing.

    Honestly, with Mesoraco on the fast train to bustville, I'm more worried about the catching in this system than 3B.
    The only thing that is holding back Mesoraco is injuries. His peripherals at the plate look good and his defense impressed last season once his wrist was healthy (mid May). Its one thing to consider someone on their way to 'bustville' as you call it, when their peripherals suck and they can't play defense. But Mesoraco showed very good power last season in a pitchers league, while having a good walk rate and throwing out half the runners that tried stealing on him for May-August. Not to mention he was young for the level.

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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    Quote Originally Posted by dougdirt View Post
    The only thing that is holding back Mesoraco is injuries. His peripherals at the plate look good and his defense impressed last season once his wrist was healthy (mid May). Its one thing to consider someone on their way to 'bustville' as you call it, when their peripherals suck and they can't play defense. But Mesoraco showed very good power last season in a pitchers league, while having a good walk rate and throwing out half the runners that tried stealing on him for May-August. Not to mention he was young for the level.
    Wake me when he gets his OPS over .725. Hell, I'd even take an OBP in the mid-.300s at this point.

    I know you're a Mesoraco supporter, but he's done very little thus far to distinguish himself as a #1 pick or show any signs of projecting to anything more than a below-average catcher. Part of that I blame on the Reds -- Meso's been overpromoted and should have repeated a year at Dayton instead of being pushed through to Sarasota.
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    Re: Neftali Soto - Catcher?

    Quote Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor View Post
    Wake me when he gets his OPS over .725. Hell, I'd even take an OBP in the mid-.300s at this point.

    I know you're a Mesoraco supporter, but he's done very little thus far to distinguish himself as a #1 pick or show any signs of projecting to anything more than a below-average catcher. Part of that I blame on the Reds -- Meso's been overpromoted and should have repeated a year at Dayton instead of being pushed through to Sarasota.
    He's on track and is exactly where he was supposed to be. He was never supposed to be on a fast-track. His was always supposed to be a 5-year process through the minors. It's actually very positive that he hasn't had any regressions. I've already seen some regressions by other Catchers who were drafted within a Round of him who had a ton more experience. I hated the pick at the time because I knew of his 5-year timeline. I wanted something better with that pick. But, Krivsky is always a long-term thinker. He's not a let's-get-it-done-now guy. He does what's best for the Overall Franchise and got screwed that he didn't even get to half-way finish what he started.

    Mesoraco was a good pick, who's done everything asked of him, while progressing at the pace he was meant to be on and doing so with positive results. AA is where you get most of your education as a Catcher to prepare you for the Majors. I hope Mesoraco spends the whole year there this season, and I really don't care what he hits. His hitting will come. We have the opportunity to have an above average hitter in the Majors combined with above average Catching skills, while he becomes a starter in the Majors as a Catcher at a young age (24).
    Last edited by Kingspoint; 02-03-2010 at 05:23 AM.


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