Alfonso Soriano

[Tracer Bullet]

Don't overreact to 2 games coming back off the DL. Soriano will be fine.

 

Soriano was really bad before the injury.

 

He was. I'm beginning to think he's going to be prone to long slumps forever because he doesn't seem like to care much for coaching. It's always Lou needing to tip-toe around Sori's wishes. I hate that, I don't care the kind of money you make.

 

We're going to be tip-toeing around this guy for 7 more years. It's really starting to get under my skin.

 

It's been under my skin. The guy is hobbled with a bad quad but he has good HR power, yet the manager is too afraid to take him out of the leadoff spot. Who is running the team, Lou or Soriano?

 

I don't think it's Soriano that's demanding to hit leadoff and play LF. I think it's Lou and/or Hendry that's looking at his numbers in the past (and the few ABs he's had when playing CF or hitting elsewhere in the lineup this year) and concluding that he has to hit first and play LF. I don't remember seeing Soriano make any demands about it, so I don't blame him. I blame our manager/GM.

[davearm]

Don't overreact to 2 games coming back off the DL. Soriano will be fine.

 

Soriano was really bad before the injury.

 

He was. I'm beginning to think he's going to be prone to long slumps forever because he doesn't seem like to care much for coaching. It's always Lou needing to tip-toe around Sori's wishes. I hate that, I don't care the kind of money you make.

 

We're going to be tip-toeing around this guy for 7 more years. It's really starting to get under my skin.

 

It's been under my skin. The guy is hobbled with a bad quad but he has good HR power, yet the manager is too afraid to take him out of the leadoff spot. Who is running the team, Lou or Soriano?

 

I don't think it's Soriano that's demanding to hit leadoff and play LF. I think it's Lou and/or Hendry that's looking at his numbers in the past (and the few ABs he's had when playing CF or hitting elsewhere in the lineup this year) and concluding that he has to hit first and play LF. I don't remember seeing Soriano make any demands about it, so I don't blame him. I blame our manager/GM.

Amen to that.

 

This notion that Soriano is dictating his spot in the order is far more imagined than real.

 

The reality is that Lou fills out his lineup card however he thinks gives the team the best chance to win.

[frostwyrm]

Don't overreact to 2 games coming back off the DL. Soriano will be fine.

 

Soriano was really bad before the injury.

 

He was. I'm beginning to think he's going to be prone to long slumps forever because he doesn't seem like to care much for coaching. It's always Lou needing to tip-toe around Sori's wishes. I hate that, I don't care the kind of money you make.

 

We're going to be tip-toeing around this guy for 7 more years. It's really starting to get under my skin.

 

It's been under my skin. The guy is hobbled with a bad quad but he has good HR power, yet the manager is too afraid to take him out of the leadoff spot. Who is running the team, Lou or Soriano?

 

I don't think it's Soriano that's demanding to hit leadoff and play LF. I think it's Lou and/or Hendry that's looking at his numbers in the past (and the few ABs he's had when playing CF or hitting elsewhere in the lineup this year) and concluding that he has to hit first and play LF. I don't remember seeing Soriano make any demands about it, so I don't blame him. I blame our manager/GM.

 

Probably true. They're still entranced by his 2006 numbers that he put up in LF/leadoff. Next year Lou will have to face the fact the 2006 was a career season that Soriano is extremely unlikely to reproduce. At that point Lou might consider batting him 5th and moving him to RF. We can only hope.

[Yestheydo]

 

This notion that Soriano is dictating his spot in the order is far more imagined than real.

 

The reality is that Lou fills out his lineup card however he thinks gives the team the best chance to win.

 

Naturally, I can't find the quote anywhere, but I definitely recall reading that Soriano prefers leading off because he sees more fastballs there.

[ConstableRabbit]

 

This notion that Soriano is dictating his spot in the order is far more imagined than real.

 

The reality is that Lou fills out his lineup card however he thinks gives the team the best chance to win.

 

Naturally, I can't find the quote anywhere, but I definitely recall reading that Soriano prefers leading off because he sees more fastballs there.

 

That's the reason I always thought he hit better leading off. It might be a mental thing, but hasn't he had a higher OBP when he starts leadoff? It would make sense because he's really a fastball hitter.

[swordsman]

Don't overreact to 2 games coming back off the DL. Soriano will be fine.

 

Soriano was really bad before the injury.

 

He was. I'm beginning to think he's going to be prone to long slumps forever because he doesn't seem like to care much for coaching. It's always Lou needing to tip-toe around Sori's wishes. I hate that, I don't care the kind of money you make.

 

We're going to be tip-toeing around this guy for 7 more years. It's really starting to get under my skin.

 

It's been under my skin. The guy is hobbled with a bad quad but he has good HR power, yet the manager is too afraid to take him out of the leadoff spot. Who is running the team, Lou or Soriano?

 

I don't think it's Soriano that's demanding to hit leadoff and play LF. I think it's Lou and/or Hendry that's looking at his numbers in the past (and the few ABs he's had when playing CF or hitting elsewhere in the lineup this year) and concluding that he has to hit first and play LF. I don't remember seeing Soriano make any demands about it, so I don't blame him. I blame our manager/GM.

 

Probably true. They're still entranced by his 2006 numbers that he put up in LF/leadoff. Next year Lou will have to face the fact the 2006 was a career season that Soriano is extremely unlikely to reproduce. At that point Lou might consider batting him 5th and moving him to RF. We can only hope.

 

I have to say I find your signature photo oddly mesmerizing.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

 

This notion that Soriano is dictating his spot in the order is far more imagined than real.

 

The reality is that Lou fills out his lineup card however he thinks gives the team the best chance to win.

 

Naturally, I can't find the quote anywhere, but I definitely recall reading that Soriano prefers leading off because he sees more fastballs there.

 

He may prefer to leadoff, but he certainlty does not dictate it.

[SouthSideRyan]

 

This notion that Soriano is dictating his spot in the order is far more imagined than real.

 

The reality is that Lou fills out his lineup card however he thinks gives the team the best chance to win.

 

Naturally, I can't find the quote anywhere, but I definitely recall reading that Soriano prefers leading off because he sees more fastballs there.

 

I'm working now, so don't have time to search for it, but I recall Soriano saying he'd play any position and hit anywhere in the order to help the team.

[Fred Hornkohl]

 

This notion that Soriano is dictating his spot in the order is far more imagined than real.

 

The reality is that Lou fills out his lineup card however he thinks gives the team the best chance to win.

 

Naturally, I can't find the quote anywhere, but I definitely recall reading that Soriano prefers leading off because he sees more fastballs there.

 

I'm working now, so don't have time to search for it, but I recall Soriano saying he'd play any position and hit anywhere in the order to help the team.

 

That is true. As others have mentioned, he also expressed a preference for hitting leadoff.

[frostwyrm]

 

This notion that Soriano is dictating his spot in the order is far more imagined than real.

 

The reality is that Lou fills out his lineup card however he thinks gives the team the best chance to win.

 

Naturally, I can't find the quote anywhere, but I definitely recall reading that Soriano prefers leading off because he sees more fastballs there.

 

I'm working now, so don't have time to search for it, but I recall Soriano saying he'd play any position and hit anywhere in the order to help the team.

 

That is true. As others have mentioned, he also expressed a preference for hitting leadoff.

 

Unfortunately for us when a guy who just signed a $136M contract expresses a "preference" it carries the same weight as an average player expressing a firm demand. It'll be next year at the earliest before Lou or Hendry will feel comfortable deviating from Soriano's preferences.

[KyHen]

Lee is having a better year (126 OPS+, versus 111 from Alfonso), but then again, he plays in Minute Maid... is it a hitter's park? No. But does it have a short left porch that caters to right-handed pull hitters? Yes.

 

Look at his home/road splits:

Home: .359 AVG / .415 OBP / .595 SLG / 1.010 OPS

Road: .252 / .302 / .469 / .771

(Not to insinuate that the park explains that big of a difference)

 

Soriano

+ should age well

+ versatile enough to play CF

+ intangible speed

- $36 million more than Lee

- 114 OPS+ out of a corner outfielder is not acceptable at his salary

 

Lee

+ $36 million cheaper

- his body will not age well

- (arguably) benefiting from Minute Maid's short porch

 

 

Interestingly, Soriano and Lee both have a career OPS+ of exactly 114; similarly, they were both bad signings. They were both way overpaid and were signed for way too long. I can honestly say I didn't want St. Louis to pursue either of them this offseason.

[jersey cubs fan]

Soriano

+ should age well

+ versatile enough to play CF

+ intangible speed

 

Two leg injuries already in the first year of his deal suggests potential for further trouble down the road, and jeopardizing chances that he ages well (which, over time, is going to have a tangible effect on whatever intangible speed quality he has).

 

Also, CF is no longer an option. They tried it this year, and quit quickly. There's next to no way they go back to it next year, and as he ages, and slows, there's probably not going to be much of a chance to try him there again.

[Soul]

Soriano's versatility is an illusion. He should be able to do a ton of things for you -- hit anywhere in the order, play multiple positions, etc. etc. But every time we try to bring that out in him he promptly sucks and forces us to put him back leadoff and in LF.

 

It's incredibly frustrating. I'm starting to really hate the idea of paying him all that money for that many years.

[jmajew]

In order to offset Soriano deficiencies, caused by his huge contract, we are going to need to make a strong run at a few younger alterntatives. We should really look at making strong pushes for Carl Crawford, Nick Swisher, Adam Dunn, and Jason Bay. We need to get some cheap young production to offset Soriano's expensive older production. Edited August 30, 2007 by jmajew

[Tracer Bullet]

 

This notion that Soriano is dictating his spot in the order is far more imagined than real.

 

The reality is that Lou fills out his lineup card however he thinks gives the team the best chance to win.

 

Naturally, I can't find the quote anywhere, but I definitely recall reading that Soriano prefers leading off because he sees more fastballs there.

 

I'm working now, so don't have time to search for it, but I recall Soriano saying he'd play any position and hit anywhere in the order to help the team.

 

That is true. As others have mentioned, he also expressed a preference for hitting leadoff.

 

Unfortunately for us when a guy who just signed a $136M contract expresses a "preference" it carries the same weight as an average player expressing a firm demand. It'll be next year at the earliest before Lou or Hendry will feel comfortable deviating from Soriano's preferences.

 

I don't think that's necessarily true. Lou put him in different spots in the order and in CF and I don't recall seeing anything anywhere that even hinted that Soriano was the slightest bit upset (and I was looking - after his initial stunt in Washington of throwing a fit when asked to move to the OF, I expected him to get really pissed). I think Lou honestly thinks that Soriano will not produce as well unless he's hitting 1st and playing LF. And I think Lou is completely wrong about that.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

In order to offset Soriano deficiencies, caused by his huge contract, we are going to need to make a strong run at a few younger alterntatives. We should really look at making strong pushes for Carl Crawford, Nick Swisher, Adam Dunn, and Jason Bay. We need to get some cheap young production to offset Soriano's expensive older production.

 

Bay and Swisher are not going anywhere the next few years

[Bull]

In order to offset Soriano deficiencies, caused by his huge contract, we are going to need to make a strong run at a few younger alterntatives. We should really look at making strong pushes for Carl Crawford, Nick Swisher, Adam Dunn, and Jason Bay. We need to get some cheap young production to offset Soriano's expensive older production.

 

Good luck with that.

 

who would you offer?

[frostwyrm]

I wish Soriano had gotten time in RF during spring training. Having him jump from LF to CF was always a sketchy proposition. RF would have been far more doable.

[SouthSideRyan]

Soriano really wasn't too bad in CF. He would've been fine out there if they woulda just left him there. Just like he'd be fine in the 5 spot if they'd just leave him here. But if this stupid team doesn't get results after 2 games it's time to go back to that which worked before.*

 

(Complete generalization because I know Lou's actually done alright with this, but he seems to brainfart every now and then and go back to the old reliables like this with Soriano and playing anybody but Matt Murton.)

[NewUserName]

I wish Soriano had gotten time in RF during spring training. Having him jump from LF to CF was always a sketchy proposition. RF would have been far more doable.

 

 

Yeah. Funny how Soriano had to move back to LF to be comfortable, yet Lou didnt seem to care how comfortable Murton and Floyd were. Its like he has to bat Lead off to be comfortable. Seems the Cubs are making a lot of concessions for Soriano. It doesnt make a difference if he is asking for them or not. Where I work we like to call these type of people High Maintenance.

 

The Free agent market is mostly a bad gamble. Teams almost always pay more for declining production. The Cubs at some point have to make postition player development a higher priority. Or they will never be consistent winners.

[jaydee]

is there a way to find out who gets in scoring position more often in the leadoff, Soriano or Theriot? I'd guess its Soriano.

[jmajew]

In order to offset Soriano deficiencies, caused by his huge contract, we are going to need to make a strong run at a few younger alterntatives. We should really look at making strong pushes for Carl Crawford, Nick Swisher, Adam Dunn, and Jason Bay. We need to get some cheap young production to offset Soriano's expensive older production.

 

Good luck with that.

 

who would you offer?

 

Pie, Marshall, and Guzman i think would be a pretty fair package for someone like Crawford or Bay.

[jersey cubs fan]

In order to offset Soriano deficiencies, caused by his huge contract, we are going to need to make a strong run at a few younger alterntatives. We should really look at making strong pushes for Carl Crawford, Nick Swisher, Adam Dunn, and Jason Bay. We need to get some cheap young production to offset Soriano's expensive older production.

 

Those names aren't going to help anything, they will all be making big bucks very soon. What they need is Felix Pie and Tyler Colvin to be productive withing 2-3 years, and down the road guys like Vitters and a few others will have to come through. Or, find a way to trade for somebody else's better pre-prime position players who have yet to make an impact. Any established player is already going to be too expensive.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

is there a way to find out who gets in scoring position more often in the leadoff, Soriano or Theriot? I'd guess its Soriano.

 

This ignores any successes or failures at stealing 3rd, but it's quick.

 

From the leadoff spot:

 

Soriano

(29 2B + 4 3B + 19 HR + 17 SB - 5 CS) / 442 PAs = .142

 

Theriot

(13 2B + 1 3B + 1 HR + 5 SB - 1 CS) / 151 PAs = .126

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

In order to offset Soriano deficiencies, caused by his huge contract, we are going to need to make a strong run at a few younger alterntatives. We should really look at making strong pushes for Carl Crawford, Nick Swisher, Adam Dunn, and Jason Bay. We need to get some cheap young production to offset Soriano's expensive older production.

 

Good luck with that.

 

who would you offer?

 

Pie, Marshall, and Guzman i think would be a pretty fair package for someone like Crawford or Bay.

 

That would not be enough to get Bay