Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty ImagesA slimmed-down Geovany Soto has new motivation this season after a disappointing 2009.MESA, Ariz. -- Geovany Soto saw the 242 on the scale and was neither surprised nor upset. "Not really," he said. "I've seen worse."
It wasn't until the Chicago Cubs catcher looked in the mirror that he hated what he saw: a guy who failed his colleagues, his team, his fan base and himself.
"I feel like I let down my teammates," said the 2008 NL Rookie of the Year, whose sophomore slump contributed to a disappointing '09 Cubs season. "I wanted to show that I care. I needed to show that I really worked in the offseason."
Soto hired a personal trainer, changed his diet dramatically and worked out furiously. The next time his teammates caught a glimpse of him -- at the Cubs Convention in January -- they saw a fit athlete who looked like a middle infielder.
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Bruce Levine
Bruce Levine has covered sports in Chicago for over 28 years and hosts "Talkin' Baseball," heard Saturday mornings on ESPN 1000.
Doug Padilla
Doug covers the Chicago Cubs for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN Radio 1000.
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UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHC | 15-29 | 9-15 | 6-14 | L9 | |
| PIT | 20-24 | 11-10 | 9-14 | L2 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHC | 15-29 | 9-15 | 6-14 | L9 | |
| PIT | 20-24 | 11-10 | 9-14 | L2 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHC | 15-29 | 9-15 | 6-14 | L9 | |
| PIT | 20-24 | 11-10 | 9-14 | L2 |
TEAM LEADERS
| WINS LEADER | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Paul Maholm
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| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| BA | S. Castro | .313 | ||||||||||
| HR | B. LaHair | 10 | ||||||||||
| RBI | S. Castro | 25 | ||||||||||
| R | D. DeJesus | 25 | ||||||||||
| OPS | B. LaHair | 1.020 | ||||||||||
| ERA | R. Dempster | 2.28 | ||||||||||
| SO | J. Samardzija | 57 | ||||||||||
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