Soriano as CF

[Bull]

cubs.com

 

Soriano mentions it in an interview. Then a fan asks the question. Apparently Piniella and Hendry were the last to discover this was a good idea.

 

other thoughts:

 

prelude to Floyd signing?

prelude to a Jones trade?

Edited January 20, 2007 by Bull

[nilodnayr]

I wonder if moving from CF to LF isnt considered a position change by Sori. Maybe when he said they promised him one position he meant OF vs 2b? Edited January 20, 2007 by nilodnayr

[Bull]

I think thats why they waited for him to mention it first and are being so careful not to do anything without clearing it with him. They promised corner OF, and if he plays center this year it will be his idea.

[RichHillIsABeast]

If Pie really is going to play for the Cubs in '07, we need to put the best defender in CF. That's not Soriano.

[Bull]

Those kind of players, they let you know when they're ready," Hendry said.

 

An outfield of Murton, Soriano and Jones could work just fine, Piniella said.

 

"It makes perfect sense to try," Piniella said. "We've talked about how do we get our best hitters and combination on the field.

 

"If Soriano can do it, that would take care of a lot."

[SouthSideRyan]

So there's actually a possibility we won't trade Jones for worthless crap and find a way to take away ABs from Murton AND start Pie before he's ready??

 

Or even a chance that none of these happen???

 

sweet.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If Soriano is in CF, then I'd like a Jones/Theriot platoon, with Theriot playing 2B and pushing DeRosa to RF against LHP.

[A New Era]

If Pie really is going to play for the Cubs in '07, we need to put the best defender in CF. That's not Soriano.

 

This doesn't make sense. If soriano is playing CF it's because were are not gonna play Pie yet and we will have Jones in right.

[frostwyrm]

If Soriano is in CF, then I'd like a Jones/Theriot platoon, with Theriot playing 2B and pushing DeRosa to RF against LHP.

 

Jones obviously needs a platoon partner but he's already unhappy in Chicago and if he's put in a platoon he'll likely be a major problem in the clubhouse. I hope the Cubs can persuade him to accept a platoon, because he never should have been an everyday player in the first place. Can't say I'm optimistic about that.

[Butterscup1679666578]

vs RHP (career OPS vs. RHP)

1. CF Soriano (.828)

2. LF Murton (.787)

3. 1B Lee (.850)

4. 3B Ramirez (.814)

5. RF Jones (.836)

6. C Barrett (.756)

7. 2B Theriot (.852)

8. SS Izturis (.620)

 

vs LHP (career OPS vs. LHP)

1. CF Soriano (.864)

2. LF Murton (.916)

3. 1B Lee (.908)

4. 3B Ramirez (.867)

5. C Barrett (.765)

6. RF DeRosa (.864)

7. 2B Theriot (.944)

8. SS Izturis (.661)

 

 

Besides that #8 guy...I like.

[Wrigley Rat]

vs RHP (career OPS vs. RHP)

1. CF Soriano (.828)

2. LF Murton (.787)

3. 1B Lee (.850)

4. 3B Ramirez (.814)

5. RF Jones (.836)

6. C Barrett (.756)

7. 2B Theriot (.852)

8. SS Izturis (.620)

 

vs LHP (career OPS vs. LHP)

1. CF Soriano (.864)

2. LF Murton (.916)

3. 1B Lee (.908)

4. 3B Ramirez (.867)

5. C Barrett (.765)

6. RF DeRosa (.864)

7. 2B Theriot (.944)

8. SS Izturis (.661)

 

 

Besides that #8 guy...I like.

 

I imagine Murton hitting 6th and DeRosa hitting 2nd, but it could go either way.

[RichHillIsABeast]

If Pie really is going to play for the Cubs in '07, we need to put the best defender in CF. That's not Soriano.

 

This doesn't make sense. If soriano is playing CF it's because were are not gonna play Pie yet and we will have Jones in right.

 

It absolutely makes sense. Soriano has said he wants one position and to be left there. Putting him in CF now and moving him to RF when Pie arrives is silly. Making him learn two new positions is not best for Soriano or the team's defense.

 

I guarantee you Jones plays a better CF right now than Soriano does. Pie leaves them both in the dust.

[nilodnayr]

If Pie really is going to play for the Cubs in '07, we need to put the best defender in CF. That's not Soriano.

 

This doesn't make sense. If soriano is playing CF it's because were are not gonna play Pie yet and we will have Jones in right.

 

It absolutely makes sense. Soriano has said he wants one position and to be left there. Putting him in CF now and moving him to RF when Pie arrives is silly. Making him learn two new positions is not best for Soriano or the team's defense.

 

I guarantee you Jones plays a better CF right now than Soriano does. Pie leaves them both in the dust.

 

I thought the "doesn't make sense" part was in reference to us not upgrading at the corner if Soriano is going to play CF.

[Radar3454]

If Pie really is going to play for the Cubs in '07, we need to put the best defender in CF. That's not Soriano.

 

This doesn't make sense. If soriano is playing CF it's because were are not gonna play Pie yet and we will have Jones in right.

 

It absolutely makes sense. Soriano has said he wants one position and to be left there. Putting him in CF now and moving him to RF when Pie arrives is silly. Making him learn two new positions is not best for Soriano or the team's defense.

 

I guarantee you Jones plays a better CF right now than Soriano does. Pie leaves them both in the dust.

 

I'll give you Pie but I don't know about Jones being better then Soriano in CF. Soriano is faster and has a better arm and I think he played a better LF than Jones did RF last year.

[A New Era]

If Pie really is going to play for the Cubs in '07, we need to put the best defender in CF. That's not Soriano.

 

This doesn't make sense. If soriano is playing CF it's because were are not gonna play Pie yet and we will have Jones in right.

 

It absolutely makes sense. Soriano has said he wants one position and to be left there. Putting him in CF now and moving him to RF when Pie arrives is silly. Making him learn two new positions is not best for Soriano or the team's defense.

 

I guarantee you Jones plays a better CF right now than Soriano does. Pie leaves them both in the dust.

 

Well maybe you can take it to mean he doesn't want to be shuffled out throughout the season? Think about it. Did anybody strictly ask him "would you be ok with playing one spot all year, then maybe next year, a different position in the OF". .

[radarluv1]

i thought soriano played CF for the yankees not too long ago? jones hasnt played much CF at all. who would be better defensively is not obvious at this point.

[nilodnayr]

i thought soriano played CF for the yankees not too long ago? jones hasnt played much CF at all. who would be better defensively is not obvious at this point.

 

I think they only talked about Sori moving to CF, he never actually did.

[Rob]

It absolutely makes sense. Soriano has said he wants one position and to be left there. Putting him in CF now and moving him to RF when Pie arrives is silly. Making him learn two new positions is not best for Soriano or the team's defense.

 

Maybe it's not best for Soriano or the team's defense, but it would almost certainly be best for the team.

 

Even if Soriano is a subpar defensive CF, his value is maximized with his offense coming from that position. He's hardly guaranteed to be an above-average right fielder... offensively or defensively. At least this way we'd be sure to be getting at least one positive from him.

 

Then maybe we can find a platoon partner for Jones in right and be set.

[radarluv1]

It absolutely makes sense. Soriano has said he wants one position and to be left there. Putting him in CF now and moving him to RF when Pie arrives is silly. Making him learn two new positions is not best for Soriano or the team's defense.

 

Maybe it's not best for Soriano or the team's defense, but it would almost certainly be best for the team.

 

Even if Soriano is a subpar defensive CF, his value is maximized with his offense coming from that position. He's hardly guaranteed to be an above-average right fielder... offensively or defensively. At least this way we'd be sure to be getting at least one positive from him.

 

Then maybe we can find a platoon partner for Jones in right and be set.

 

Ward? Might make for a brutal defensive OF though.

 

The only one who shouldnt want Soriano in CF is Pie.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Absolutely Sori should go to CF if he's willing, it's much easier to find a corner OF than a CF. He has the speed and the arm, why wouldn't he be at worst, acceptable on defense out there? He looked fine in LF to me.

 

If Pie is ready (he won't be), he's the kid, you put him in RF and tell him to learn it. No big deal. If his arm really is stronger than Soriano's, I'd rather have Pie in RF anyways.

[frostwyrm]

I not sure a Jones platoon is practical anymore. You can't just ignore the fact that he's unhappy as a Cub and wants a trade. If he's already unhappy as an everyday player he might be completely disgruntled and miserable if platooned. You don't want people like that on a team.

[GhostRunner]

This past week's issue of TSN had an article that seemed to think that Ryan Church is still in the running for the CF job.

 

Sounds good to me.

[Balsa]

vs RHP (career OPS vs. RHP)

1. CF Soriano (.828)

2. LF Murton (.787)

3. 1B Lee (.850)

4. 3B Ramirez (.814)

5. RF Jones (.836)

6. C Barrett (.756)

7. 2B Theriot (.852)

8. SS Izturis (.620)

 

vs LHP (career OPS vs. LHP)

1. CF Soriano (.864)

2. LF Murton (.916)

3. 1B Lee (.908)

4. 3B Ramirez (.867)

5. C Barrett (.765)

6. RF DeRosa (.864)

7. 2B Theriot (.944)

8. SS Izturis (.661)

 

 

Besides that #8 guy...I like.

Looking at that chart, I wonder how we could have possibly done so bad against LHP last year.

[rawaction]

vs RHP (career OPS vs. RHP)

1. CF Soriano (.828)

2. LF Murton (.787)

3. 1B Lee (.850)

4. 3B Ramirez (.814)

5. RF Jones (.836)

6. C Barrett (.756)

7. 2B Theriot (.852)

8. SS Izturis (.620)

 

vs LHP (career OPS vs. LHP)

1. CF Soriano (.864)

2. LF Murton (.916)

3. 1B Lee (.908)

4. 3B Ramirez (.867)

5. C Barrett (.765)

6. RF DeRosa (.864)

7. 2B Theriot (.944)

8. SS Izturis (.661)

 

 

Besides that #8 guy...I like.

Looking at that chart, I wonder how we could have possibly done so bad against LHP last year.

 

Guessing because they didn't have Soriano, or Derosa, or Lee for 80% of the year, or Theriot for 70% of the year, or Barrett for 25%. And instead they had Neifi, Cedeno, Blanco, Nevin, and Jones vs. LHPs.

[nilodnayr]

It absolutely makes sense. Soriano has said he wants one position and to be left there. Putting him in CF now and moving him to RF when Pie arrives is silly. Making him learn two new positions is not best for Soriano or the team's defense.

 

Maybe it's not best for Soriano or the team's defense, but it would almost certainly be best for the team.

 

Even if Soriano is a subpar defensive CF, his value is maximized with his offense coming from that position. He's hardly guaranteed to be an above-average right fielder... offensively or defensively. At least this way we'd be sure to be getting at least one positive from him.

 

Then maybe we can find a platoon partner for Jones in right and be set.

 

Ward? Might make for a brutal defensive OF though.

 

The only one who shouldnt want Soriano in CF is Pie.

 

Ohh duh. I forgot about Ward. He'd be a much better platoon option with Jones than Theriot if he is going to be playing RF.