MESA, Ariz. -- Any time a modern-day player loses 40 pounds in the off-season, he's subject to speculation about his past.
Was he on steroids? How else could he have lost so much weight?
Geovany Soto knows the drill. And on Tuesday at Fitch Park, Soto addressed rumors spread on talk radio that he must have been using performance-enhancing drugs before his dramatic weight loss.
"I laugh at that," he said. "My whole life, I've had weight problems and stuff. I've always been immature in terms of diets and stuff. I never stick to them.
"This year, I had such a bad year that I was really disappointed in myself and I was willing to take that step and (say) 'OK, I'm really going to work hard and take it to the next level.'... To me, (the rumors are) kind of ridiculous. I wasn't strong. I was just fat."
Photo: A slimmed-down Geovany Sota showed up at the Cubs Convention. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
Soto said he has had weight problems his whole life, but never dealt with them until last season.
"My dad used to tell me, because I used to open the refrigerator a lot, 'Just eat right, small portions throughout the day, it's a lot better,' " he said. "We didn't know that (growing up). I got a personal trainer, a professional in that area, to try and help me. I stick to the program and it worked. I'm really happy I did it, because I feel a lot better."
Soto was one of around 40 players at Fitch Park on Tuesday, working out with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo on the day before pitchers and catchers officially report.
"I'm anxious to go back there," he said. "(Last year) felt like a knockout in the second round, if I was a boxer. I'm just ready to go out there. I'm well trained. My head's clear. I owe it to the fans, to myself and my teammates most importantly. I just want to be there for them."
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If Geo hits 25-30 homers this year I don't care what part of his body he waxes.
Just to play devil's advocate here, hitting for power is usually the last thing to develop in hitting. Look at the power numbers at the low minors and you'll see less 20 homer seasons than you would at AAA and in the majors. It's much more suspicious at the MLB level when a guy who usually hits 7 homers a year suddenly hits 20 or a 20 homer guy suddenly hits 40. In this day in age you cannot rule out anyone, but I think Geo can get a little more benefit of the doubt than say Luis Gonzalez or Brady Anderson.
I have to laugh at fans like BearsForever. Yet another bitter Cubs fan who has to point to Pujols as a PED user. Look at Albert's playing weight during his career, dude. He's been the same weight since his rookie season. But I'm sure every good Cardinals player is on something, right? LOL
Mike: Nice try at trying to be a comedian,but you should stick with your traditional LOSER status,lol. Geo on Roids,Puhlease. The weight he gained was fat,more likely due to Munchies,not roids,ha,ha,ha. You should look to Albert Pujols if you want to label someone definitely on Steroids. Albert & Jared Allen Along with the Williams's boys are good candidates for steroid poster children..
All you have to do is look at his power numbers in the minors, then his power numbers with the Cubs.
Here they are, starting with 2004 at Tennessee:
2004: 9
2005: 4
2006: 6
2007: 26 WHOA!!!! Where did THAT come from?
2008: 23 Rookie year with Cubs.
So a guy who couldn't hit the ball out of the infield in A and AA ball suddenly became a major power threat at AAA and in the major leagues.
Nothing suspicious about that, is there?
Geo Soto was DEFINITELY on Roids last season. And by Roids, I mean his Mama's Red Beans and Rice. Spending all of that time in the preseason in Florida during the WBC with family caused him to gain a ton of weight.
He lost a ton of weight in the minors the year he started killing the ball. Geo's performance gets better as he gets lighter...not the other way around.
bodhi on February 16, 2010 3:09 PM
They should also ask him about his waxed eyebrows - I mean, c'mon that is just begging for ridicule.
That's cuz he's Puerto Rican!
I do believe the munchies were the cause of his massive weight gain last season....Hopefully he put his bong up until his playing days are over.....
They should also ask him about his waxed eyebrows - I mean, c'mon that is just begging for ridicule.
I would point to his sudden ability to hit which helped him become ROY as more of a red flag than the weight loss. He was terrible in the minors; hit like crazy for one year; and was garbage again last year.
It's unfortunate that every player has to answer PED questions when they either get themselves in better shape or have a good season. Baseball got itself in this mess over the last 15 years and today's players are paying for it.
Hopefully Geo did things the right way this offseason, but I suppose all players are guilty until proven innocent.