By the time you’re reading this, Juan Soto and the New York Yankees may be locked in to the 2024 World Series, but New York won Game 4 (3 -1 loss), he was on base in all 11 games. ESPN’s Buster Olney noted that during his career, he only played seven WS games in 2019 and four this year, a rare feat.
from @EliasSports: Juan Soto has reached base safely in all 10 games he played in the World Series (seven in 2019, three this year). The last players to reach safety in the first 11 games of the World Series were David Ortiz (14 times from 2004-2013) and Allen Craig (11 times from 2011-2013).
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 29, 2024
In the Yankees’ game notes for Game 4, the team notes that Soto started that night, having reached base in 23 consecutive postseason games.
“Juan Soto has reached base in 23 consecutive games in the postseason (since Game 2 of the 2022 Wild Card Series against San Diego)…His current streak is the 8th longest streak in the postseason in Major League history. It’s tied for the on-base record and second only to Miguel Cabrera’s 31-game streak from 2011-13, Chase Utley’s 27-game streak from 2007-09, and Jose Altuve’s 2017-19 streak. 25-game streak, 2012-14 Pablo Sandoval’s 25-game streak, Bug Powell’s 25-game streak from 1966-1971, Carlos Beltran’s 24-game streak from 2004-2012, and Carlos Ruiz’s 24 consecutive games from 2008 to 2010… [Soto] Batting average .294/.396/.553 (25 in 85 at bats), 16 RBIs, 4 doubles, 6 HRs, 16 RBIs[s]in that span 14 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SB, 1 SF.
The walk in his first at-bat on Tuesday gave him 24 consecutive games on base.
Juan Soto has reached base safely in 24 consecutive postseason games starting in 2022.
The only consecutive on-base record in PS history:
2011-13 Miguel Cabrera: 31
2007-09 Chase Utley: 27
2017-19 Jose Altuve: 25
2012-14 Pablo Sandoval: 25
1966-1971 Boog Powell: 25 years old— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 30, 2024
[ed. note – “He extended it to 25 with a walk the first time up on Wednesday, and he scored on an Aaron Judge HR.”]
Soto, of course, was part of the 2019 D.C. Crew that brought a World Series title to the nation’s capital as a 20-year-old in his second year in the majors.
Soto, now 26 and likely headed for a big contract as a free agent this winter, spoke this fall about how his experience with the Yankees compares to his first shot at winning the World Series and his experience in the postseason. . He was traded to the Padres in 2022 and then transferred to San Diego.
Soto was asked what he learned from his playoff experience so far.
“I think a low memory is a huge advantage in a situation like this. Everything that was in the past is in the past,” he said.
“Forget about that and try to move forward. Take that energy every day. It’s going to be one of the factors that helps you move forward to the end. And never give up. Just take it day by day. Please come.
Photo credit: Alex Slits/Getty Images
“It doesn’t matter what happens, the score of the game doesn’t matter.
“Everything can change at any time.
“I think that’s one of the biggest things, the energy that we brought every day on that field and how positive we are about winning games. That’s going to be the most important thing. .”
What did Soto, who won the World Series at such a young age, take away from his run in 2019? What stuck with him?
“One of the things that stands out to me is how much fun that race was. It’s one of those things you want to keep on hand and do again and again. For me, I learned a lot from that,” Soto said.
“I [had] When I won, there were a lot of veteran players. I learned a lot from them.
“Now I’m trying to bring that to the team I’m playing and help the whole team win a championship because I think it’s a great experience.”
“Winning a championship is one of the biggest things in the big leagues. It’s for the city, it’s for the family, it’s for everyone.
“I think that’s one of the biggest things you can do for your team and your career.”
Soto said another lesson he learned in 2019 is that star players can do everything they can to help the team, but it takes the entire roster to win it all.
“First of all, I would say that as a team we were consistently successful in 2019. Without a doubt, our big stars had some great moments, as we all expected.” said. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about the team. We can’t rely on one player and expect him to do everything to take us to the end. No. We have to do it as a team.
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Photo by G. Fiume/Getty Images
“At the end of the day, when you look at that run, that race, the lineup, the starting rotation, the bullpen, all the guys, they had their moments.
“They had a moment where they had to come out for the team and they did, and that’s how they go all the way.
“Certainly, I think they have star players that they want to play, but at the end of the day, it’s all about the team. And every player in that clubhouse is going to help the team go all the way. You have to have your own moment.”
Wow, what a great role model he is for a (rebuilding) young ball club in need of a big bat and a mentor for future stars…
[ed. note – “Yes, we wrote a whole post about Soto just to tease the fact he could, you know, sign back in D.C. as a free agent (not holding our breath) and play alongside all the players the Nationals acquired for him from San Diego, and the rest of their young players they’ve acquired and assembled since kicking of the reboot/build in 2021.”]
