Jorge Soler Zero Percent Financing Thud On The Shower Door SPLOOGE Fest

[SKO]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, despite RBIs being kind of a pointless stat now, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

[PenFoe]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, pointless stat that RBIs are, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

Well, here's Brett telling you why Sammy shouldn't be a Hall of Famer.

[SKO]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, pointless stat that RBIs are, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

[url-http://www.bleachernation.com/2014/12/05/why-sammy-sosa-remains-just-shy-of-hall-of-fame-status/]Well, here's Brett telling you why Sammy shouldn't be a Hall of Famer. [/url]

I could give a shit about the Hall of Fame and it's moralizing and whether Sammy deserves to get in or not. There's no doubt there was a shitton of juice involved but fuck if what he did wasn't amazing anyway. That's all I care about

[Tonker]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, despite RBIs being kind of a pointless stat now, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

I don't think they necessarily forget how dominant he was.  They might, however, conveniently forget much they loved him for it.

[ChuckD]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, despite RBIs being kind of a pointless stat now, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

I don't think they necessarily forget how dominant he was.  They might, however, conveniently forget much they loved him for it.

I'll never forget much I loved him for it.

[SKO]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, despite RBIs being kind of a pointless stat now, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

I don't think they necessarily forget how dominant he was.  They might, however, conveniently forget much they loved him for it.

Yeah, that's what rubs me the wrong way. The people coming out of the woodwork post 2004 to say "well I never REALLY liked him to begin with."  I wore a Mark Grace shirsey with the best of them but fuck you if you were a Cub fan between 1996-2004 and wanna act like you "never liked" Sammy. You're either the kind of thinly veiled racist shitbag who hurled accusations of laziness at Aramis Ramirez or you were some kind of contrarian Chuck, either way, I hate you.

[InternetApex]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, despite RBIs being kind of a pointless stat now, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

I don't think they necessarily forget how dominant he was.  They might, however, conveniently forget much they loved him for it.

Yeah, that's what rubs me the wrong way. The people coming out of the woodwork post 2004 to say "well I never REALLY liked him to begin with."  I wore a Mark Grace shirsey with the best of them but fuck you if you were a Cub fan between 1996-2004 and wanna act like you "never liked" Sammy. You're either the kind of thinly veiled racist shitbag who hurled accusations of laziness at Aramis Ramirez or you were some kind of contrarian Chuck, either way, I hate you.

DadPex still sports two Sammy Sosa bobbleheads (1 Cubs, 1 Tulsa Drillers) on a shelf in his living room, right next to figurines of Walter Payton, Tony Hinkle and Ronald Reagan.

[PenFoe]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, despite RBIs being kind of a pointless stat now, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

I don't think they necessarily forget how dominant he was.  They might, however, conveniently forget much they loved him for it.

Yeah, that's what rubs me the wrong way. The people coming out of the woodwork post 2004 to say "well I never REALLY liked him to begin with."  I wore a Mark Grace shirsey with the best of them but fuck you if you were a Cub fan between 1996-2004 and wanna act like you "never liked" Sammy. You're either the kind of thinly veiled racist shitbag who hurled accusations of laziness at Aramis Ramirez or you were some kind of contrarian Chuck, either way, I hate you.

I don't think Sammy was ever my favorite Cub, but I sure as shit for rooted for him.

[Oleg]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, despite RBIs being kind of a pointless stat now, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

I don't think they necessarily forget how dominant he was.  They might, however, conveniently forget much they loved him for it.

Yeah, that's what rubs me the wrong way. The people coming out of the woodwork post 2004 to say "well I never REALLY liked him to begin with."  I wore a Mark Grace shirsey with the best of them but fuck you if you were a Cub fan between 1996-2004 and wanna act like you "never liked" Sammy. You're either the kind of thinly veiled racist shitbag who hurled accusations of laziness at Aramis Ramirez or you were some kind of contrarian Chuck, either way, I hate you.

I don't think Sammy was ever my favorite Cub, but I sure as shit for rooted for him.

It'd be pretty fucking weird to not root for the best offensive player on your favorite team.

[SKO]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

I just remember, despite RBIs being kind of a pointless stat now, in 2001 I was 12 and I cared about them and Sammy had 98 more than the next highest guy on the team, The Gut.

Steroids be damned, I get tired of Cubs fans conveniently forgetting just how dominant Sammy was.

I don't think they necessarily forget how dominant he was.  They might, however, conveniently forget much they loved him for it.

Yeah, that's what rubs me the wrong way. The people coming out of the woodwork post 2004 to say "well I never REALLY liked him to begin with."  I wore a Mark Grace shirsey with the best of them but fuck you if you were a Cub fan between 1996-2004 and wanna act like you "never liked" Sammy. You're either the kind of thinly veiled racist shitbag who hurled accusations of laziness at Aramis Ramirez or you were some kind of contrarian Chuck, either way, I hate you.

I don't think Sammy was ever my favorite Cub, but I sure as shit for rooted for him.

It'd be pretty fucking weird to not root for the best offensive player on your favorite team.

And yet there are dozens of idiots out there who retroactively claim not to.

I also remember my uncle (a Cubs fan) ardently rooting for McGwire to win the home run contest in 1998 because "A 'MERICAN SHOULD HOLD THE RECORD IN 'MERICA'S PASTTIME" but then rooting against Barry Bonds breaking sad record. Not sure why he preferred McGwire over Bonds....

[SKO]

Just for funsies, Jorge's 30 game career slash line is .295/.328/.589/.917, 150 OPS+. His counting stats in those 30 games project to 38 homers, 43 doubles, and 11 triples over 162 games. Still small sample size, but that's a hell of a start for his first 30 games.

[Quality Start Machine]

Sosa was a kicked grounder away from being NLCS MVP, and having a statue out there with the other guys.

[R-V]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

Speaking of feeling like Huey, I'm going to take this as another opportunity to rip on Ron Coomer. During Sunday's game - I can't recall if it was before or after Coomer butchered his play-by-play duties - Pat mentioned that Eric Young was the first base coach for the Rockies. Coomer (86 OPS+ for the 2001 Cubs) then waxed poetic about how the 2001 Cubs were full of guys like EY (92 OPS+) and Ricky Gutierrez (97 OPS+) who were "team first" and "didn't care about their stats, they just wanted to win." To his credit he did mention Sammy, but someone who didn't know any better would think that team won 88 games due mostly to the grit and determination of their ragtag group of infielders, not due to Sammy putting up a goddamn TWO HUNDRED AND THREE OPS PLUS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

[SKO]

Sosa and Soriano would have been road beef on that.

Soriano, probably. Sammy? We'd never know, because he would've taken that down-the-middle fastball from earlier in the at-bat off the new scoreboard.

For some reason I was thinking that this year's Cubs might be similar to the 2001, a few nice bats, with some better pitching.  And apparently I forgot what a goddamned beast Sosa was that year.  203 OPS+, 10.3 WAR.  I guess I always think of '98 as his best season since it gets the most hype thanks to the home run chase with McGwire and the team reaching the playoffs, but sweet baby Jesus, those numbers in '01 are goddamned incredible.

I have a vague recollection of his August that year and how he basically single-handedly kept them in the playoff hunt. 17 homers and a 1.405 OPS that month, which is about 300 points better than June of 1998, which more people probably remember.

This is the most Huey I've ever felt.

Speaking of feeling like Huey, I'm going to take this as another opportunity to rip on Ron Coomer. During Sunday's game - I can't recall if it was before or after Coomer butchered his play-by-play duties - Pat mentioned that Eric Young was the first base coach for the Rockies. Coomer (86 OPS+ for the 2001 Cubs) then waxed poetic about how the 2001 Cubs were full of guys like EY (92 OPS+) and Ricky Gutierrez (97 OPS+) who were "team first" and "didn't care about their stats, they just wanted to win." To his credit he did mention Sammy, but someone who didn't know any better would think that team won 88 games due mostly to the grit and determination of their ragtag group of infielders, not due to Sammy putting up a goddamn TWO HUNDRED AND THREE OPS PLUS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

They failed.

[PenFoe]

Just for funsies, Jorge's 30 game career slash line is .295/.328/.589/.917, 150 OPS+. His counting stats in those 30 games project to 38 homers, 43 doubles, and 11 triples over 162 games. Still small sample size, but that's a hell of a start for his first 30 games.

HOF Right Fielders through their first 30:
Hank Aaron: .279/.328 /.459/.787    
Roberto Clemente: .290/.316/.468/.784
Tony Gwynn: .270/.323/.328/.651
Reggie Jackson: .184/.280/.330/.610
Al Kaline: .250/.300/.357/.657
Mel Ott: .326/.326/.348/.674
Dave Winfield: .306/.363/.458/.821
Frank Robinson: .287/.369/.574/.943    
Babe Ruth: .358/.419/.687/1.105

So, based on my intricate knowledge of how comps work, his floor is Frank Robinson and his ceiling is Babe Ruth.