Soriano blames team "make up" for playoff demise

[kente777]

"Yeah, it's tough," he (Soriano) said. "We tried, but it just didn't happen. We played all year like a very good team and we expected a little bit more, but it didn't happen."

 

While he didn't pass the buck, Soriano said he believes the Cubs were built for a marathon, not a sprint.

 

"We're a very good team for [162] games, but we don't do nothing after that," he said. "That's the difference. We're not put together for [a short series]."

[Cynosure]

That has to be the dumbest comment I've ever heard... why did we waste so much money for this [expletive]?

[UK1679666180]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

[daske17]

I... what?

 

Ugh, and the team has this bozo for another six years? I can't wait. :roll:

[UMFan83]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

 

Who cares if he's right? He shouldn't be saying it. Especially after consecutive bad postseasons.

[Cynosure]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

 

How are they not set up for a short series?

 

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

And the best offense in the NL with arguable the best depth... how are they not set up for a short series?

[kente777]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

 

Who cares if he's right? He shouldn't be saying it. Especially after consecutive bad postseasons.

 

I think Soriano should be saying one thing, "we sucked." Saying anything else given his pathetic performance the last 2 postseasons can be construed as finger-pointing.

[JeffH]

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

Actually, scoring more runs than your opponent does.

 

Oddly, scoring runs factors into that.

[SweetZombieJesus]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

 

How are they not set up for a short series?

 

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

And the best offense in the NL with arguable the best depth... how are they not set up for a short series?

 

And a good part of the offense was dictated on streaky hitters. Soriano, Ramirez and Edmonds. Heck, even Soto were all susceptible to slumps in a short series.

[Cynosure]

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

Actually, scoring more runs than your opponent does.

 

Oddly, scoring runs factors into that.

 

I completely agree... but our starting pitching did the job more or less... our offense and defense killed us.

 

Regardless, this team was built to win it all... Soriano is wrong.

[C.C.]

Funny how a player who doesn't show up for two straight years is giving criticism of this team. He should just keep his mouth shut, or take the blame.

[UK1679666180]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

 

How are they not set up for a short series?

 

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

And the best offense in the NL with arguable the best depth... how are they not set up for a short series?

 

They didn't have the best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching going into the post-season. Z wasn't heathly going into October nor was he effective coming back from injury and neither was Harden as far as health.

 

The Cubs don't have a 7th inning reliever yet, Howry was Howry, Samardzija can't counted on in that role.

 

Offensively, you seen what can happen against RH'ers who can control the outer 3rd of the plate with 4 seam FBs. This offensive was too streaky all year and facing the RH'ed power pitchers of LA exploited that.

[UK1679666180]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

 

Who cares if he's right? He shouldn't be saying it. Especially after consecutive bad postseasons.

 

I'm not bothered it, I'm glad he brought it to the table instead of cliches. Of course, I'd rather see him address his own obvious weaknesses.

[wade]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

 

How are they not set up for a short series?

 

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

And the best offense in the NL with arguable the best depth... how are they not set up for a short series?

 

And a good part of the offense was dictated on streaky hitters. Soriano, Ramirez and Edmonds. Heck, even Soto were all susceptible to slumps in a short series.

 

I think every hitter in baseball is susceptible to slumps in a short series. That's just the nature of the game.

[Cynosure]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

 

How are they not set up for a short series?

 

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

And the best offense in the NL with arguable the best depth... how are they not set up for a short series?

 

They didn't have the best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching going into the post-season. Z wasn't heathly going into October nor was he effective coming back from injury and neither was Harden as far as health.

 

The Cubs don't have a 7th inning reliever yet, Howry was Howry, Samardzija can't counted on in that role.

 

Offensively, you seen what can happen against RH'ers who can control the outer 3rd of the plate with 4 seam FBs. This offensive was too streaky all year and facing the RH'ed power pitchers of LA exploited that.

 

Zambrano's health has nothing to do with "how the team is made up for a short series", because who knew he wouldn't be healthy at the beginning of the season?

 

I agree with the bullpen, but the only real beef I had was with Howry.

 

And the hitters just sucked... it doesn't matter if this game was a 7 game series, we weren't going to win it after those first 3 dismal games.

 

This team choked, and Soriano has no right to say anything.

[MPC]

what exactly is a team that is built for a short series? why are the cubs not that type of team?

[UK1679666180]

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

Actually, scoring more runs than your opponent does.

 

Oddly, scoring runs factors into that.

 

I completely agree... but our starting pitching did the job more or less... our offense and defense killed us.

 

Regardless, this team was built to win it all... Soriano is wrong.

 

The starting pitching was awful.

 

15.1IP

15H

10ER

12BB

13K

 

That's the combined line of the 3 starters.

[Cynosure]

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

Actually, scoring more runs than your opponent does.

 

Oddly, scoring runs factors into that.

 

I completely agree... but our starting pitching did the job more or less... our offense and defense killed us.

 

Regardless, this team was built to win it all... Soriano is wrong.

 

The starting pitching was awful.

 

15.1IP

15H

10ER

12BB

13K

 

That's the combined line of the 3 starters.

 

Take out Dempster's start and Harden/Zambrano did fine... but again... it still doesn't make a difference, who thought Dempster was going to bad? I had nothing but confidence in him...

 

The argument at hand is that Soriano said we weren't built for a short series, and that is false. WE WERE BUILT FOR IT... just didn't execute.

[SouthSideRyan]

Why? Soriano is exactly right.

 

How are they not set up for a short series?

 

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

And the best offense in the NL with arguable the best depth... how are they not set up for a short series?

 

And a good part of the offense was dictated on streaky hitters. Soriano, Ramirez and Edmonds. Heck, even Soto were all susceptible to slumps in a short series.

 

Everyone in baseball is succeptible to slumps in short serieses. Because they're short.

 

I don't see how Soriano's "right" here, but the reason everyone's pissed at him is because he's making a lot of money, it has nothign to do with what he said. It's the standard throw your highest paid player under the bus when things don't go your way. It's sad. Soriano was offered a lot of money and he said ok. Don't be pissed at him for that. Be pissed at Jim Hendry.

[UK1679666180]

 

Zambrano's health has nothing to do with "how the team is made up for a short series", because who knew he wouldn't be healthy at the beginning of the season?

 

I agree with the bullpen, but the only real beef I had was with Howry.

 

And the hitters just sucked... it doesn't matter if this game was a 7 game series, we weren't going to win it after those first 3 dismal games.

 

This team choked, and Soriano has no right to say anything.

 

Let me guess, they knew that Dempster would pitch as well as he did this year in ST?

 

Zambrano proved after last year that he isn't a legit #1 starter. He certainly isn't as good as he was 4 years ago.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I can honestly say that I have no idea what the hell Soriano is talking about. This team was built to win it all, or at least not get swept in round 1 by an inferior team. Just admit that you choked when it counted, and failed in the long run. Zambrano and Harden both pitched well enough to win. The defense screwed Z, the offense screwed Harden. Dempster screwed himself with walks, and wasnt as ready for the pressure he probably caused for himself with his pre season comments as he thought he was. When a team dominated during the regular season and collpases in the playoffs thats just choking, plain and simple. No excuses. Just come ready to play next year or stay home and count your money.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think everyone should be required to post their salary with every comment they make about Soriano. Then I can whine that they make too much money to be sitting on nsbb.

[YearofDaCubs]

Soriano's is a moron. I dislike him even more now.

[Cynosure]

I think everyone should be required to post their salary with every comment they make about Soriano. Then I can whine that they make too much money to be sitting on nsbb.

 

Has nothing to do with his money. I would say the same things if it was Ryan Theriot making these comments.

[UK1679666180]

Best 1-2-3 punch in baseball as far as starting pitching (pitching wins championships, folks).

 

Actually, scoring more runs than your opponent does.

 

Oddly, scoring runs factors into that.

 

I completely agree... but our starting pitching did the job more or less... our offense and defense killed us.

 

Regardless, this team was built to win it all... Soriano is wrong.

 

The starting pitching was awful.

 

15.1IP

15H

10ER

12BB

13K

 

That's the combined line of the 3 starters.

 

Take out Dempster's start and Harden/Zambrano did fine... but again... it still doesn't make a difference, who thought Dempster was going to bad? I had nothing but confidence in him...

 

The argument at hand is that Soriano said we weren't built for a short series, and that is false. WE WERE BUILT FOR IT... just didn't execute.

 

So now it's down to Z and Harden doing well...

 

11.2IP

11H

6ER

5BB

11K

 

 

That's an era of 4.6, that ain't going to get it done either.

 

Offensively, they're built for beating up on bad to medicore pitching staffs. Pitching, they're close to where they need to be for short-series but like most teams they lack a true ace, if Harden could stay healthy, it would be him.

 

Look at LA.

 

Combined over the course of the year, I would take Lowe, Billingsley and Kuroda over the Cubs 3. Although several factors loom over next year (Lowe's age, Z's workload, and Harden's health, Dempster's regression).