Brenley vs. Soriano (Steve Stone redux?)

[OleMissCub]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-27-cubs-brite-chicagomay27,0,3955378.story

Soriano always seems to be in the eye of the storm, whether he's hitting seven home runs in one week, as he did from May 12-17, or losing a ninth-inning fly ball in the sun to help lose a game in Pittsburgh, as he did Sunday.

 

That gaffe led to some harsh criticism from Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly, who said Soriano can't be called a "superstar" because of his shaky defense and joked that if you threw a dart into the Cubs' dugout, anyone you hit could play left field better than Soriano.

Brenly declined to elaborate on his comments Monday but did not back off his criticism.

 

Asked about Brenly's assertion that Soriano is just not a good left fielder, manager Lou Piniella defended Soriano's effort, if not his execution, and reiterated he has no plans to lift him for a late-inning defensive replacement.

 

"Let's hope he's not hiding a deficiency where his legs are bothering him or something," Piniella said. "Outside of that, the guy gets his work. He plays to win. He's doing the best he can. That's all I can expect as a manager.

 

I sure hope we don't get another feud going between the booth and the players. That Stone stuff was ugly.

 

 

Also this...

In fact, a Cubs official offered protection for Soriano, instructing left-field bleacherites before Monday's game that any profane or inappropriate comments made toward Soriano would result in their immediate ejection.

[Old Style]

I sided with Stoney back then and I'll side with Brenly now.

[anabiono]

i wish brenly was our manager

[Sammy Sofa]

i wish brenly was our manager

 

Dear Lord, why?

[shnsajax]

I'm fine replacing Brenley with Grace.

[Sammy Sofa]

If this somehow ended up getting rid of Bob and bringing back Stone, it would ironic and awesome.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm fine replacing Brenley with Grace.

 

I'd be fine listening to Pat & Ron in those circumstances.

[cheapseats]

i wish brenly was our manager

 

Dear Lord, why?

 

He might be worse than Lou.

[Wilson A2000]

I knew I liked Brenly when two years ago he ripped Baker and Rothschild for allowing the Cub pitchers to miss covering first base two games in a row and not even practicing it the next day

[Laura]

I like Brenly. As a broadcaster.

[Soul]

Soriano's smart to not feed into it. It's better for everyone.

 

And Brenly's comment was out of line, though I still generally like him.

[Mizzou]

He's really been on him lately. Tonight LaSorda said something like "who's that on first; can he run?" (it was Soriano). Bob immediately chimed in with an enthusiastic "sometimes!" Not sure if that was a shot at his hustling or just commenting on his injuries. I have no problems with home team announcers pointing out mistakes rather than sugar coating everything, I just hope it doesn't get too excessive.

[Rob]

i wish brenly was our manager

 

Do you not listen to him suggest a bunt or a hit and run every inning?

[Tyrant]

If this somehow ended up getting rid of Bob and bringing back Stone, it would ironic and awesome.

 

Why? So we can hear him say over and over that he'd throw a slider low and away?

 

Stoney was smug, and it got old after a while.

[sporrer17]

I'm fine replacing Brenley with Grace.

 

I've liked Gracey the few times I've heard him broadcasting.

[XZero771679666304]

I'm fine replacing Brenley with Grace.

 

I've liked Gracey the few times I've heard him broadcasting.

 

Me too.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm fine replacing Brenley with Grace.

 

I've liked Gracey the few times I've heard him broadcasting.

 

Me too.

 

Mark Grace did too.

 

I really hope the stench of the end of Brenly's Diamondback career is still hanging over him, cause I really fear what would be in line to replace him.

[ConstableRabbit]

I wouldn't call Brenly's comments over the line, but he was getting a little bit annoying. The guy lost a ball in the sun and it was frustrating but he didn't need to use that event as an opportunity to unload on Soriano's defensive career.

 

I just hope this doesn't become something big

[TysonCBulls423]

"Who's Bob Brenly?" he said. "The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?"

 

-Soriano

 

ughhh...this situation is looking like 2004 all over again.

[XZero771679666304]

I'm fine replacing Brenley with Grace.

 

I've liked Gracey the few times I've heard him broadcasting.

 

Me too.

 

Mark Grace did too.

 

I really hope the stench of the end of Brenly's Diamondback career is still hanging over him, cause I really fear what would be in line to replace him.

 

I wouldn't want Brenly to go, he's a great color guy, and he and Len make a pretty good team. And Brenly shouldn't go, nor should Stone have. You should be able to make valid criticisms without fear of hurt feelings costing you your job.

 

And I'd rather listen to Grace than Santo any day. Or Dave Otto, Joe Carter or any other Cubs color man not named Steve Stone we've been subjected to over the past couple decades.

[ConstableRabbit]

The whole article has some signs for hope:

Does Brenly at all regret the "dart" comment?

 

"Part of my job is to entertain up here," he replied. "I thought it was a funny line. I'm sure some people probably took it the wrong way. I could've said the same thing and worded it a little differently, but I think everybody got the gist of what I was saying."

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080527-alfonso-soriano-defense-chicago-cubs,1,204570.story

[Yanksfan1523]

I like Len. I could care less if Brenley stays or goes. I admit he has gotten on my nerves on occasion, but not nearly as bad as Carter or others.

[BCVM22]

Soriano said he had not heard of Brenly's criticism.

 

"Who's Bob Brenly?" he said. "The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?"

 

Aha. Aha... :|

[Brett]

I miss Stoney. Maybe he shouldn't have been so brash, but everything he said was right on.

[biittner77]

He's really been on him lately. Tonight LaSorda said something like "who's that on first; can he run?" (it was Soriano). Bob immediately chimed in with an enthusiastic "sometimes!" Not sure if that was a shot at his hustling or just commenting on his injuries. I have no problems with home team announcers pointing out mistakes rather than sugar coating everything, I just hope it doesn't get too excessive.

 

Something is clearly wrong with Soriano. He's not running well at all. Considering that being able to run is about 35% of what makes him valuable at all, it's worth commenting on.

 

The dart line was a little harsh. Didn't Soriano hit a 2 run HR earlier in the game? I thought one of the announcers mentioned that and Brenly saying something like "He's not out there for his defense and you hope he outhits his mistakes."

 

Did Soriano say anything like "Yeah, I should have had that one. I let the team down." ?