Mario Soto (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Mario Melvin Soto is a former Major League
pitcher
, mostly as a starter
, for the Cincinnati Reds
from through . He currently works in the Reds' front office.
, both thrown from the three-quarters position. Soto's changeup was particularly effective against left-handed hitters. On occasion, Soto would also throw a slider
, which he turned to more in the latter stage of his career. He less frequently threw a curveball
.
From to , Soto struck out
1,063 batters. No pitcher had more during this five-year period.
On May 12, , Mario Soto came very close to throwing a no-hitter
against the St. Louis Cardinals
. However, with two out in the top of the ninth inning and the Reds up 1-0, outfielder
George Hendrick
spoiled the no-hitter with a game-tying solo home run
. The Reds won the game for Soto in the bottom of the ninth, 2-1.
In , Soto finished second in voting for the National League's
Cy Young Award
. Philadelphia's
John Denny
was the winner. Statistically, 1983 and 1984 were Soto's best seasons. He compiled a 35-20 record with a 2.92 earned run average
and he established himself as the ace of the Cincinnati Reds' rotation. However, the Reds were mediocre, finishing with losing records in both seasons.
In a twelve-season career, all for Cincinnati, he was 100-92 with a 3.47 ERA
in 297 games, 224 of them starts. He had 72 career complete game
s and 13 shutout
s. He allowed 667 earned run
s and struck out 1,449 batters in 1730 and 1/3 innings pitched
. He also earned four saves (all during the 1980 season).
For all his pitching skills, Soto was known to give up quite a few home runs. On April 29, 1986 against the Montreal Expos
, Soto became the 11th pitcher in major league history to surrender four home runs in an inning. The homers were hit by Andre Dawson
, Hubie Brooks
, Tim Wallach
, and Mike Fitzgerald. (This has since been accomplished by 13 more major league pitchers, Catfish Hunter
and John Smoltz
being among them.)
In the first incident, on May 27 against the Chicago Cubs
in Wrigley Field
, third base
man Ron Cey
hit what was originally ruled a home run down the left field line. Believing the ball had gone foul, Soto and Reds manager Vern Rapp
disputed the call, and during the argument, Soto shoved third base umpire
Steve Rippley
, who had made the call. After conferring, the umpires changed their decision and ruled it a foul ball, drawing a protest from the Cubs. However, for shoving Rippley, Soto was ejected, prompting him to charge the field and attack Cubs coach Don Zimmer
, which triggered a ten-minute brawl
. Four days later, National League president Chub Feeney
suspended Mario Soto for five games. This game is also notable because Soto's opponent that day was future Hall of Fame Dennis Eckersley
, who would go on to become a record-setting closer years later. "Eck", who was making his Cubs debut after being acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox
(the Red Sox received Bill Buckner
and then-minor league
middle infielder Mike Brumley
), would take the loss that day. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907E6DE1739F93AA25755C0A962948260
In the second incident, on June 16, the Reds were playing the Atlanta Braves
in Atlanta
. Braves slugger Claudell Washington
homered in the 1st inning off Soto. During Washington's second at-bat, Soto threw a brushback pitch
at Washington. Washington let go of his bat in the direction of Soto and appeared to go out to retrieve the bat, but instead walked toward the mound. Umpire Lanny Harris attempted to intervene, but Washington threw Harris to the ground. Soto then sucker-punched Washington with the ball, and both benches cleared. In an attempt to end the brawl, several of Washington's Brave teammates tried to settle him down, pinning him to the ground at one point. Soto, who had put his glove back on with the game ball in it by then, threw the ball at Washington while he was on the ground being restrained, but he struck Braves coach Joe Pignatano
's shin instead. Soto was suspended five games and $5,000 for this incident, while Washington received a three-game suspension and $1,000 for his actions against Harris.
along with Long Bob Ewing
. He has also worked off and on with the team as a pitching coach, specifically helping several Reds pitchers develop his changeup. He currently works in the Reds front office. Soto is widely credited throughout the Reds organization as the person who taught Edinson Volquez
and Johnny Cueto
their changeups, which have been go to strikeout pitches in their brief and successful careers.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, mostly as a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
from through . He currently works in the Reds' front office.
Major league career
For most of his career, the Dominican right-hander was essentially a two-pitch pitcher. He possessed a hard fastball (clocked in the low-to-mid 90's) and complemented it with a baffling circle changeupCircle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name. The circle is formed by making a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel to the middle finger and holding the ball far out in the hand...
, both thrown from the three-quarters position. Soto's changeup was particularly effective against left-handed hitters. On occasion, Soto would also throw a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, which he turned to more in the latter stage of his career. He less frequently threw a curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
.
From to , Soto struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
1,063 batters. No pitcher had more during this five-year period.
On May 12, , Mario Soto came very close to throwing a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. However, with two out in the top of the ninth inning and the Reds up 1-0, outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
George Hendrick
George Hendrick
George Andrew Hendrick Jr. is a former major league outfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels. However Hendrick is best remembered as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he played for from 1979–84. He was a...
spoiled the no-hitter with a game-tying solo home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
. The Reds won the game for Soto in the bottom of the ninth, 2-1.
In , Soto finished second in voting for the National League's
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
. Philadelphia's
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
John Denny
John Denny
John Allen Denny is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher from 1974 to 1986 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds. He won the Cy Young Award in 1983.-Career:Denny was born in Prescott, Arizona and attended Prescott High School...
was the winner. Statistically, 1983 and 1984 were Soto's best seasons. He compiled a 35-20 record with a 2.92 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and he established himself as the ace of the Cincinnati Reds' rotation. However, the Reds were mediocre, finishing with losing records in both seasons.
In a twelve-season career, all for Cincinnati, he was 100-92 with a 3.47 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 297 games, 224 of them starts. He had 72 career complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s and 13 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s. He allowed 667 earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s and struck out 1,449 batters in 1730 and 1/3 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He also earned four saves (all during the 1980 season).
For all his pitching skills, Soto was known to give up quite a few home runs. On April 29, 1986 against the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
, Soto became the 11th pitcher in major league history to surrender four home runs in an inning. The homers were hit by Andre Dawson
Andre Dawson
Andre Nolan Dawson , nicknamed "The Hawk", is an American former center fielder and right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played for four different teams, spending most of his career with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs .An 8-time National League All-Star, he was named the...
, Hubie Brooks
Hubie Brooks
Hubert Brooks, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. During his career, he played as a third baseman, shortstop and right fielder for the New York Mets , Montreal Expos , Los Angeles Dodgers , California Angels and Kansas City Royals .Brooks played varsity baseball...
, Tim Wallach
Tim Wallach
Timothy Charles Wallach , nicknamed "Eli" in reference to actor Eli Wallach, is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played from to for the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, and California Angels. He won three Gold Glove awards for defensive excellence and 2 Silver Slugger...
, and Mike Fitzgerald. (This has since been accomplished by 13 more major league pitchers, Catfish Hunter
Catfish Hunter
James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter , was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1965-1979 for both the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees...
and John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
being among them.)
Controversy
Mario Soto also had a fiery temper. Two suspensions he earned during the 1984 season exemplified this.In the first incident, on May 27 against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
man Ron Cey
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey |Washington]]) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
hit what was originally ruled a home run down the left field line. Believing the ball had gone foul, Soto and Reds manager Vern Rapp
Vern Rapp
Vernon Fred Rapp is a retired Major League Baseball manager and coach. A career minor league catcher and a successful skipper in the minors, Rapp had two brief tours of duty as a big league manager.-Minor League playing career:...
disputed the call, and during the argument, Soto shoved third base umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
Steve Rippley
Steve Rippley
Thomas Steven "Steve" Rippley is a former professional baseball umpire. He worked in the National League from 1983 to 1999, and throughout both major leagues from 2000 to 2003....
, who had made the call. After conferring, the umpires changed their decision and ruled it a foul ball, drawing a protest from the Cubs. However, for shoving Rippley, Soto was ejected, prompting him to charge the field and attack Cubs coach Don Zimmer
Don Zimmer
Donald William "Popeye" Zimmer is a former infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball, currently serving as a senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization...
, which triggered a ten-minute brawl
Bench-clearing brawl
A bench-clearing brawl, sometimes known as a basebrawl or a rhubarb, is a form of ritualistic fighting that occurs in sports, most notably baseball and ice hockey, in which every player on both teams leave their dugouts, bullpens, or benches and charge the playing area in order to fight one...
. Four days later, National League president Chub Feeney
Chub Feeney
Charles Stoneham "Chub" Feeney was an American front office executive in Major League Baseball and president of the National League during a 40-plus year career in baseball....
suspended Mario Soto for five games. This game is also notable because Soto's opponent that day was future Hall of Fame Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck", is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
, who would go on to become a record-setting closer years later. "Eck", who was making his Cubs debut after being acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(the Red Sox received Bill Buckner
Bill Buckner
William Joseph Buckner is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Despite winning a batting crown in , representing the Chicago Cubs at the All-Star Game the following season and accumulating over 2,700 hits in his twenty-year career, he is best remembered for a fielding error during Game 6...
and then-minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
middle infielder Mike Brumley
Mike Brumley (infielder)
Anthony Michael Brumley is a former utility player in Major League Baseball, who played primarily as a shortstop and who currently is the first-base coach for the Seattle Mariners. He played from through for the Chicago Cubs , Detroit Tigers , Seattle Mariners , Boston Red Sox , Houston Astros ...
), would take the loss that day. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907E6DE1739F93AA25755C0A962948260
In the second incident, on June 16, the Reds were playing the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Braves slugger Claudell Washington
Claudell Washington
Claudell Washington is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics , Texas Rangers , Chicago White Sox , New York Mets , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees and California Angels...
homered in the 1st inning off Soto. During Washington's second at-bat, Soto threw a brushback pitch
Brushback pitch
In baseball, a brushback pitch is a pitch thrown high and inside, usually a fastball, to force the batter away from the plate, often to intimidate. It differs from the beanball in that the intent is not to hit the batter, or intentionally throw at the batter's head...
at Washington. Washington let go of his bat in the direction of Soto and appeared to go out to retrieve the bat, but instead walked toward the mound. Umpire Lanny Harris attempted to intervene, but Washington threw Harris to the ground. Soto then sucker-punched Washington with the ball, and both benches cleared. In an attempt to end the brawl, several of Washington's Brave teammates tried to settle him down, pinning him to the ground at one point. Soto, who had put his glove back on with the game ball in it by then, threw the ball at Washington while he was on the ground being restrained, but he struck Braves coach Joe Pignatano
Joe Pignatano
Joseph Benjamin Pignatano was a catcher in Major League Baseball. He played from 1957-1962.He played in the 1959 World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers and ended his playing career with the New York Mets, hitting into a triple play in his final Major League at bat.After his playing career...
's shin instead. Soto was suspended five games and $5,000 for this incident, while Washington received a three-game suspension and $1,000 for his actions against Harris.
Recent achievements
In , Mario Soto was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and MuseumCincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is an entity established by Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds franchise that pays homage to the team's past through displays, photographs and multimedia...
along with Long Bob Ewing
Bob Ewing
George Lemuel "Bob" Ewing , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in the majors from 1902-1912 for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals....
. He has also worked off and on with the team as a pitching coach, specifically helping several Reds pitchers develop his changeup. He currently works in the Reds front office. Soto is widely credited throughout the Reds organization as the person who taught Edinson Volquez
Edinson Volquez
Edinson Volquez [VOL-kez] , is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds. He bats and throws right-handed....
and Johnny Cueto
Johnny Cueto
Johnny Brent Cueto [KWAY-toe] is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.-Minor league career:...
their changeups, which have been go to strikeout pitches in their brief and successful careers.