| Henry signed with the Cubs as a free
agent in December 2004 ... prior to joining the Cubs, Blanco saw
big league action with Los Angeles (1997), Colorado (1999), Milwaukee
(2000-2001), Atlanta (2002-2003) and Minnesota (2004) ... has
thrown out 41.7-percent of baserunners attempting to steal off
him during his career ... ranks first among big league catchers
in caught stealing ratio since 1999 (minimum 300 appearances)
... has seen postseason action with Atlanta (2002) and Minnesota
(2004) ... attended Antonio Jose de Sucre High School in Venezuela.
2006 Highlights:
Blanco finished strong, batting .300 in 57 games from June 16
to the end of the season. He stepped in for Michael Barrett, and
made 59 starts at catcher. Blanco was effective behind the plate,
throwing out 15 of 39 runners attempting to steal. He tied a career
high with four hits and four RBIs on Sept. 26 against Milwaukee.
2005 Highlights:
Henry hit a career-high .242 in his first season with the Cubs
... saw action in 54 games, throwing out 19 of 39 baserunners
(48.7 percent) ... made 48 starts ... the Cubs were 27-21 in his
starts ... recorded a 3.58 catcher's earned run average ... the
catcher's ERA was the second-lowest of his career (2.94 with Atlanta
in 2002) ... hit safely in 22 of his last 37 games, going 32-for-111
(.288) with 22 RBI over the span ... drove in a season-high 3
runs on two occasions, hitting a bases-loaded double off Florida's
John Riedling on August 28 and then driving in 3 of the Cubs'
6 runs on August 30 in a 6-3 defeat of Los Angeles ... tied a
career high by collecting 4 hits in the contest July 24 in St.
Louis ... it was his second career 4-hit game ... hit his first
homer of the season May 3 at Milwaukee off Chris Capuano ... the
solo shot was his first home run since September 20, 2004 ...
collected his first hit in a Cub uniform on April 21, singling
off St. Louis' Chris Carpenter ... made his Cub debut April 9,
catching a combined one-hitter hurled by Carlos Zambrano, Chad
Fox and LaTroy Hawkins in a 4-0 defeat of Milwaukee. |
