Juan Soto -- looking like a bust for the Mets

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bk400

I also think that this "generational" label is being batted around too casually. Soto has had a great career so far, but generational?

In my mind, this generation's only generational players are as follows:

Pujols
Trout
Judge
Ohtani
Kershaw
Verlander
Ichiro

I wouldn't put Ichiro on that list, myself. I think the idea on Soto is that he is a generational talent, not that he has achieved enough yet.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Since it's a card forum, here are my Sotos which are sinking like the Titanic lol.

[sbfinley]

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Since it's a card forum, here are my Sotos which are sinking like the Titanic lol.

I see your Sotos (nice, btw), and I raise you a Strawberry. The glory days in right field at Shea!

[bk400]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I wouldn't put Ichiro on that list, myself. I think the idea on Soto is that he is a generational talent, not that he has achieved enough yet.

I see the challenge on Ichiro, but the guy had 10 consecutive years of 200 base hits, which beats the next guy (Wade Boggs at 7 consecutive) by a lot. The only other guy with 10 seasons (non-consecutive) of 200 base hits is Pete Rose. So Ichiro, who came over without the benefit of his early prime years, has a case for being the best contact hitter of two generations of players. Him, Tony Gwynn, and Wade Boggs.

As for the distinction between a generational talent and a generational player, I'll just say that Dwight Gooden was a generational talent and Hank Aaron wasn't. But one was a generational player, while the other wasn't. For me, the generational talent label is a bit meaningless.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by bk400

I see the challenge on Ichiro, but the guy had 10 consecutive years of 200 base hits, which beats the next guy (Wade Boggs at 7 consecutive) by a lot. The only other guy with 10 seasons (non-consecutive) of 200 base hits is Pete Rose. So Ichiro, who came over without the benefit of his early prime years, has a case for being the best contact hitter of two generations of players. Him, Tony Gwynn, and Wade Boggs.

As for the distinction between a generational talent and a generational player, I'll just say that Dwight Gooden was a generational talent and Hank Aaron wasn't. But one was a generational player, while the other wasn't. For me, the generational talent label is a bit meaningless.

It's meaningful until a player has proven he can't live up to it. IMO Soto is not there yet, not even close. Although he may never get another hit at this rate lol.

[bk400]

Just when you think the Dodgers have that bed-sh*tting, soul-destroying blown save + long extra inning loss that might sap their confidence a bit, the Mets collectively let them off the hook.

I can't say it was Soto's fault, but he certainly didn't help.

[WhatsNext]

Such a loser post. He and the Mets are fine.

Statcast has Soto's expected slash line so far at .300/.421/.582 (xOPS of 1.003), compared to his actual line of .233/.363.409. He's just gotten (very) unlucky. Nothing to worry about.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by WhatsNext

Such a loser post. He and the Mets are fine.

Statcast has Soto's expected slash line so far at .300/.421/.582 (xOPS of 1.003), compared to his actual line of .233/.363.409. He's just gotten (very) unlucky. Nothing to worry about.

Yes, John1941 made the Statcast point earlier in the thread, which is a good one. This said, if we went by Statcast predictions instead of actual results, Aaron Judge catches that ball in the 5th inning of last year's World Series and Freddie Freeman doesn't hit the grand slam in Game 1. The Knicks don't choke Game 1 last week, and the Pacers don't give away Game 3. The 2007 Patriots beat the Giants and poor Arthur Blank isn't a meme.

And finally, I suppose that if the stakes in one's life are such that making lighthearted, fan-talk posts constitutes loser behavior, then yes, I guess I'm a loser.