Soriano "to make leftfield decision"

[Blueheart05]

Give me a break! Reportedly, he is giving himself time to make a decision about changing positions. The Nationals need to nip this in the bud quickly. Whatever happened to the idea of the manager and organization deciding where the guy plays? Short of him refusing to play at all,I don't see how he can make this decision I wonder if the Nationals can file a grievance with the League?

 

Alfonso Soriano said yesterday he plans to decide in the next day or two how he feels about playing for the Nationals.

 

"I have 24 hours or 48 hours to think about it," Soriano said.

 

Soriano, acquired from the Rangers for Brad Wilkerson and two others at the winter meetings in early December, has balked at the Nationals' request that he play the outfield. Although there's no indication he's changed his mind and is ready to go to leftfield, it's also unclear whether he can force a trade.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

That's not quite an accurate example. They aren't making him a vendor, they're changing his defensive position.

[Blueheart05]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

I think he's an idiot because of the way he's handling it (through the media). His first move should have been to talk to Nationals' management about their plans for him before publically stating that he will not play at 2B.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

That's not quite an accurate example. They aren't making him a vendor, they're changing his defensive position.

 

They're changing his job description and future earning power (arguably). I'd want a say in that.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

I think he's an idiot because of the way he's handling it (through the media). His first move should have been to talk to Nationals' management about their plans for him before publically stating that he will not play at 2B.

 

Both parties are being stupid. The Nationals should have asked him about moving to the OF before trading for him. Teams have asked him to move to the OF in the past and he's fought it. Why should the Nationals be any different, especially as he nears FA? They put themselves in this position.

 

Soriano is taking the same position he always has...refusing the move from 2B.

 

Both parties need to grow up. Handling it through the media can't be good for either side. Soriano needs to play to get his FA money. He's quickly becoming a problem child, which will affect his wallet. The Nationals need to realize they made a mistake by not asking him about the move before the trade was finalized. Beg forgiveness if necessary, but don't try to strongarm someone into doing something they've always opposed.

[Blueheart05]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

I think he's an idiot because of the way he's handling it (through the media). His first move should have been to talk to Nationals' management about their plans for him before publically stating that he will not play at 2B.

 

Both parties are being stupid. The Nationals should have asked him about moving to the OF before trading for him. Teams have asked him to move to the OF in the past and he's fought it. Why should the Nationals be any different, especially as he nears FA? They put themselves in this position.

 

Soriano is taking the same position he always has...refusing the move from 2B.

 

Both parties need to grow up. Handling it through the media can't be good for either side. Soriano needs to play to get his FA money. He's quickly becoming a problem child, which will affect his wallet. The Nationals need to realize they made a mistake by not asking him about the move before the trade was finalized. Beg forgiveness if necessary, but don't try to strongarm someone into doing something they've always opposed.

 

Most teams don't consult with a player prior to trading for him. What's next, a refusal to bat a particular number in the lineup?

 

In reponse to your first question, about whether an employee has a say in an employer moving her/him from one position to another, the answer depends on the state and whether or not a contract or collective bargaining agreement exists. I live in Illinois, an at-will state. Here most employees can be terminated for any reason or no reason at all as long as the reason is lawful. So, unless you are a tenured college professor,like my mother, or are otherwise covered by a union that has negotiated the terms of your employment, you will change positions (happily or begrudgingly) or look for another job. Obviously, Soriano is protected by the Players Union against most forms of termination but there are rights for the team that may supersede his desire to remain at 2B. Without knowing the terms of the contract, it's reasonably safe to assume that his refusal to change a position isn't covered.

[badger1679666666]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

I think he's an idiot because of the way he's handling it (through the media). His first move should have been to talk to Nationals' management about their plans for him before publically stating that he will not play at 2B.

 

Both parties are being stupid. The Nationals should have asked him about moving to the OF before trading for him. Teams have asked him to move to the OF in the past and he's fought it. Why should the Nationals be any different, especially as he nears FA? They put themselves in this position.

 

Soriano is taking the same position he always has...refusing the move from 2B.

 

Both parties need to grow up. Handling it through the media can't be good for either side. Soriano needs to play to get his FA money. He's quickly becoming a problem child, which will affect his wallet. The Nationals need to realize they made a mistake by not asking him about the move before the trade was finalized. Beg forgiveness if necessary, but don't try to strongarm someone into doing something they've always opposed.

 

Most teams don't consult with a player prior to trading for him. What's next, a refusal to bat a particular number in the lineup?

 

 

*cough*Sosa*cough*

[Blueheart05]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

I think he's an idiot because of the way he's handling it (through the media). His first move should have been to talk to Nationals' management about their plans for him before publically stating that he will not play at 2B.

 

Both parties are being stupid. The Nationals should have asked him about moving to the OF before trading for him. Teams have asked him to move to the OF in the past and he's fought it. Why should the Nationals be any different, especially as he nears FA? They put themselves in this position.

 

Soriano is taking the same position he always has...refusing the move from 2B.

 

Both parties need to grow up. Handling it through the media can't be good for either side. Soriano needs to play to get his FA money. He's quickly becoming a problem child, which will affect his wallet. The Nationals need to realize they made a mistake by not asking him about the move before the trade was finalized. Beg forgiveness if necessary, but don't try to strongarm someone into doing something they've always opposed.

 

Most teams don't consult with a player prior to trading for him. What's next, a refusal to bat a particular number in the lineup?

 

 

*cough*Sosa*cough*

 

LOL, that didn't work out well for him either. :wink:

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

I think he's an idiot because of the way he's handling it (through the media). His first move should have been to talk to Nationals' management about their plans for him before publically stating that he will not play at 2B.

 

Both parties are being stupid. The Nationals should have asked him about moving to the OF before trading for him. Teams have asked him to move to the OF in the past and he's fought it. Why should the Nationals be any different, especially as he nears FA? They put themselves in this position.

 

Soriano is taking the same position he always has...refusing the move from 2B.

 

Both parties need to grow up. Handling it through the media can't be good for either side. Soriano needs to play to get his FA money. He's quickly becoming a problem child, which will affect his wallet. The Nationals need to realize they made a mistake by not asking him about the move before the trade was finalized. Beg forgiveness if necessary, but don't try to strongarm someone into doing something they've always opposed.

 

Most teams don't consult with a player prior to trading for him. What's next, a refusal to bat a particular number in the lineup?

 

In reponse to your first question, about whether an employee has a say in an employer moving her/him from one position to another, the answer depends on the state and whether or not a contract or collective bargaining agreement exists. I live in Illinois, an at-will state. Here most employees can be terminated for any reason or no reason at all as long as the reason is lawful. So, unless you are a tenured college professor,like my mother, or are otherwise covered by a union that has negotiated the terms of your employment, you will change positions (happily or begrudgingly) or look for another job. Obviously, Soriano is protected by the Players Union against most forms of termination but there are rights for the team that may supersede his desire to remain at 2B. Without knowing the terms of the contract, it's reasonably safe to assume that his refusal to change a position isn't covered.

 

I don't think Soriano is a team player. I wouldn't want him in Chicago...well, unless he was on the other side giving Kenny Williams a migraine. He is being a jerk about this. I'm just saying that his complaints aren't entirely invalid. There's a reason why teams ask players to change positions, rather than ordering it. Part of it is legal (the Player's Association can be a royal pain) and the other is getting the player to put out on the field. The Nationals gave up a valuable commodity to get Soriano. Having him unhappy or unwilling to play isn't in their best interests. Sheffield knowing tanked plays b/c he was unhappy. What will Soriano do?

 

I don't think a team should be held hostage by a player, but when you've done something as boneheaded as trade for a player unwilling to make a position change (historically) and get it in your head that he'll move...

 

I just don't feel sympathetic to the Nationals. They screwed up and now they get to face the consequences. Soriano will face the consequences too when his FA options dry up and his contract shrinks b/c of his unprofessionalism.

[NCCubFan]

If the Nats tell him to play in the OF, I believe he'd have no choice but to comply unless he wants to breach his contract and give the Nats grounds for terminating it. I'm sure his contract says nothing about being guaranteed to play a specific position. However, there'd be nothing to stop him from dogging it and going through the motions.

[frostwyrm]

Stupid team, stupid player. They both deserve this mess.

[Derwood]

unless his contract states what acceptable/unacceptable positions aer for him to play, Soriano has no leverage whatsoever.

 

The Nats should take their cue from how the Eagles handled T.O. (ie WE are the ones in charge here, not you)

[Jehrico]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

That's not quite an accurate example. They aren't making him a vendor, they're changing his defensive position.

 

They're changing his job description and future earning power (arguably). I'd want a say in that.

 

They're not changing his job description (hit, run, catch and throw the ball). You can make the argument that they are impacting his future earnings potential though. Sorry if I don't feel sorry for him if he makes 8 mil instead of 12 mil next season as a result. You could make a better argument that Soriano himself has hurt his future earning potential instead of WSH by his inability to adequately field his position. If you don't agree, then I take it you think he's adequate at 2B?

[frostwyrm]

Unless you're playing catcher your defensive position is just a matter of where you stand on the field. Technically a left fielder could be considered a second baseman who is playing deep and shaded to the left.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

 

That's not quite an accurate example. They aren't making him a vendor, they're changing his defensive position.

 

They're changing his job description and future earning power (arguably). I'd want a say in that.

 

They're not changing his job description (hit, run, catch and throw the ball). You can make the argument that they are impacting his future earnings potential though. Sorry if I don't feel sorry for him if he makes 8 mil instead of 12 mil next season as a result. You could make a better argument that Soriano himself has hurt his future earning potential instead of WSH by his inability to adequately field his position. If you don't agree, then I take it you think he's adequate at 2B?

 

2B is very different from the OF. It's not just simply catching the ball. Reading batters and playing the ball is a skill that varies by position. I guess catcher and pitcher have the same job description too, since they both catch, throw, hit, and run.

 

No, I think Soriano is a butcher at 2B. Supposedly the Rangers didn't let the Nats talk to Soriano before agreeing to the deal (knowing he'd tell them he wouldn't move and kill the deal). Bowden took this into consideration and then went ahead anyway. He gambled and lost.

 

What has Soriano done other than keep up his same stance toward a move to the OF? Bowden is the moron who brought this conflict up. Others were smart enough to skirt the issue and factor in Soriano's crappy 2B defense into the equation.

 

You don't sympathize with Soriano b/c he makes more money than you do? The organization makes much more than Soriano, fwiw.

[goonys evil twin]

Saying they are negatively hurting his earnings potential is absurd.

 

A good hitting 2B is worth more than a good hitting LF. But just because a guy moves from LF to 2B doesn't mean he can never move back. If somebody feels he's worth signing to a big contract next year to go back to 2B, they will, and the 1 year move to LF isn't going to change that.

 

Soriano is going to get his money no matter what position he plays next year. The only thing that can set him back is a dive offensively, and Washington can't be blamed for that. It's his own fault he has an easily exploitable flaw in his approach to hitting.

[BigbadB]

Baseball players should quit trying to be bigger than the game itself.

 

If Soriano wanted to stay at 2b, maybe he should have figured out a way to quit being such a hack out there in the field.

 

A move to left field is not a big deal. Should we list all the great left fielders that played this game before Soriano? Is Soriano too good to play that position? I sure don't think so. If you feel a certain section of the field should be yours to claim, then maybe you should field that section of the field better than any other player, so no one else can claim it.

 

Bottom line, he's making millions to play a game. He's living the American dream, and he isn't even American. If you don't want to play LF, then I'm sure there are some Dominican Republic teams that would be happy to stick you at 2nd base, but you aren't taking your 10m contract with you.

 

For 10m a year, I'd play any position on the field today, and clean jock straps tomorrow. And I wouldn't complain about it. The selfishness is growing to new heights each and every year, in seemingly every sport. And I for one really can't stand it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Well, it's going to get ugly.

 

Link

 

Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition will go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week.

 

 

"The player refused to take the field, which we believe is a violation of his contract," Bowden said.

 

A trade will happen soon. I am certain of it.

[Blueheart05]

Well, it's going to get ugly.

 

Link

 

Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition will go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week.

 

 

"The player refused to take the field, which we believe is a violation of his contract," Bowden said.

 

A trade will happen soon. I am certain of it.

 

You beat me to it! LOL, now he's refusing to play... I'm glad the team has threatened not to pay him if he doesn't take the field next time. I'm also glad that Hendry wasn't able to get him last Fall.

[Blueheart05]

From Nationals.com

 

Second baseman Alfonso Soriano informed the Nationals on Monday afternoon that he will not play outfield for them, while the team told him that he could be placed on the disqualified list if he failed to do so.

 

...general manager Jim Bowden indicated that Soriano will be given a second chance to play the outfield on Wednesday... If Soriano refused to play the outfield that day, the team most likely will put him on the disqualified list without pay.

 

"He made it pretty clear that he was not going to play," Bowden said. "We hope that when he reflects on it, we hope that he changes his mind and plays left field."

 

BTW, the Nationals' beat writer, Bill Ladson, does the team a disservice by calling him "second baseman Alfonso Soriano." On that team, he's a LF or he sits.

 

ESPN.com

 

"The player refused to take the field, which we believe is a violation of his contract," Bowden said.

 

Soriano... was listed as batting leadoff and playing left field on a lineup sheet posted in the Nationals' clubhouse...

 

But when the Nationals took the field in the top of the first, Soriano wasn't out there. With play just about ready to start, left field was empty.

 

"We told him if we get to Thursday, and he refuses to play left field, we told him at that point we will request that the commissioner's office place him on the disqualified list, at that time -- no pay, no service time," Bowden said.

 

"If he refuses to play and goes home, and the commissioner's office accepts our request to place him on the disqualified list, then at that point, if he were to sit out this year, he would not be a free agent, he would stay our property because his service time would stay the same."

 

...Bowden said. "We obviously will field offers, but we're not going to give the player away. If we can make a deal that makes sense, we will."

Edited March 21, 2006 by Blueheart05

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Well, it's going to get ugly.

 

Link

 

Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition will go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week.

 

 

"The player refused to take the field, which we believe is a violation of his contract," Bowden said.

 

A trade will happen soon. I am certain of it.

 

You beat me to it! LOL, now he's refusing to play... I'm glad the team has threatened not to pay him if he doesn't take the field next time. I'm also glad that Hendry wasn't able to get him last Fall.

 

You assume that Hendry won't try to get him now?

[Blueheart05]

Well, it's going to get ugly.

 

Link

 

Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition will go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week.

 

 

"The player refused to take the field, which we believe is a violation of his contract," Bowden said.

 

A trade will happen soon. I am certain of it.

 

You beat me to it! LOL, now he's refusing to play... I'm glad the team has threatened not to pay him if he doesn't take the field next time. I'm also glad that Hendry wasn't able to get him last Fall.

 

You assume that Hendry won't try to get him now?

 

Yes, I do. As I recall, Hendry wanted to move him to the outfield as well.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Bowden is an absolute moron. Soriano may be selfish, but it didn't take a genius to see this problem coming a mile down the road.

[Guancous]

If Hendry wants Soriano, he'll get him for a lot cheaper than he would have at the deadline last year. Todd Walker and Wellemeyer might do it if the Cubs pick up all of Soriano's contract.