News
Soto beginning to right himself at plate
Chicago (39-38) vs. Milwaukee (42-38), 12:05 p.m. CT
By Andrew Simon / MLB.com
07/03/09 8:45 PM ET
CHICAGO -- Early in his career as a Minor League catcher, Geovany Soto could not pull the ball. "He was a decent catch-and-throw guy, but he couldn't hit that well," said Von Joshua, the Cubs' hitting coach, who previously worked with Soto at Double-A and Triple-A. "He used to inside-out everything. For years, I was trying to get him out of that." Joshua succeeded eventually and helped Soto develop the power he displayed in hitting 23 home runs last season on his way to the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Soto, who figures to be in the starting lineup Saturday against the Brewers after getting a day off Friday, has started to show that kind of pop again over the past couple of weeks after struggling mightily early in the season. Through May 19, Soto was hitting .198 with one home run and a .260 slugging percentage. Joshua, who replaced Gerald Perry as the Cubs' hitting coach June 14, said Soto was having the opposite problem he had early in his professional career. He was trying to pull the ball and hit it out of the ballpark too much, instead of staying relaxed at the plate and using the whole field. Pitchers had adjusted to Soto, Joshua said, and Soto had not readjusted. "It was tough," Soto said. "I felt like it was never going to end, just out after out after out. It gets to a point where you just want to say, 'Forget everything.' But you've just got to grind it out. It's a really long season." Coincidence or not, Soto has hit .315 with five home runs and 10 RBIs in 16 games since Joshua arrived. He homered Thursday against Brewers reliever Chris Smith, smacking a 2-0 fastball over the left-field wall. "That's the way you have to hit your home runs," Joshua said. "You can't just go up there and say every pitch, 'I'm going to try to leave the yard.' Wait until the pitcher gives you a pitch to do it with." Joshua said that although Soto likes to tease him by saying, "Forget right field," the catcher has been hitting the ball better the opposite way of late. As long as he continues to do that, "He'll be fine," Joshua said. Soto wants to maintain his improved play heading into the All-Star break. "It's huge," Soto said of the nine games remaining before the break. "I want to finish up the first half strong to take it to the second half." Pitching matchupCHC: RHP Rich Harden (5-4, 4.57 ERA)
Harden's changeup helped him dominate in his last start. Despite giving up nine hits, Harden struck out nine and gave up just one run for his first win since May 12. The right-hander has struggled at Wrigley Field this season, going 2-3 with a 6.31 ERA in seven starts. Harden got a no-decision in his only previous start against the Brewers this season, giving up one earned run in six innings in his first outing of the season. He struck out a season-high 10 batters in that one. Harden is 1-0 against Milwaukee in his career, with a 1.50 ERA over three starts. MIL: RHP Braden Looper (6-4, 4.90 ERA)
Looper pitched into the seventh inning on Monday to beat the Mets for his first win in exactly one month. He showed no ill effects from the line drive off the back of his right upper arm in his previous outing, limiting the Mets to three runs -- two were unearned, with the other scoring after he gave way to the bullpen -- and seven hits. Looper took a no-decision in his only previous start against the Cubs this season, a five-inning, one-run performance in the Brewers' April 10 home opener. It was Looper's Brewers debut. Tidbits
Right-handed pitcher Chris Carpenter made his first start with Class A Daytona on Thursday after being promoted from Peoria. Although he did not receive a decision, he shut out Jupiter for six innings, allowing just four hits and a walk and striking out five. Third baseman Josh Vitters went 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Cubs in his third game with Daytona. ... Manager Lou Piniella said he expects Jeff Baker, acquired Thursday from the Rockies, to fill a role similar to the one Mark DeRosa occupied the past two seasons, due to his ability to play five different positions. ... The Cubs are scheduled to face only right-handed starting pitchers between now and the All-Star break. Tickets
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• Sunday: Cubs (Ted Lilly, 7-6, 3.35) vs. Brewers (Mike Burns, 1-1, 3.31), 1:20 p.m. CT
• Monday: Cubs (Randy Wells, 3-3, 2.43) vs. Braves (Derek Lowe, 7-6, 4.44), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Cubs (Ryan Dempster, 5-5, 4.09) vs. Braves (Javier Vazquez, 5-7, 3.05), 7:05 p.m. CT
Andrew Simon is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
