Re: Soriano's defense

[Transmogrified Tiger]

In the video on MLB.com of Soriano's 2 run shot last night, the Brewers announcers blast Soriano's defense. I thought this was weird, I didn't watch the game, but the Cubs had no errors, so unless Soriano just did something dumb out there I'm really not sure why they were talking about it.

 

Beyond that, is Soriano's defense actually bad in LF? I know he's had some memorable mistakes out there - last year in pittsburgh and St. Louis, namely - but I would think his range and his arm would make up for it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Soriano has the most effective outfield arm in baseball, and overall he's relatively easily above average defensively.

[Clem Fandango]

In the video on MLB.com of Soriano's 2 run shot last night, the Brewers announcers blast Soriano's defense. I thought this was weird, I didn't watch the game, but the Cubs had no errors, so unless Soriano just did something dumb out there I'm really not sure why they were talking about it.

 

Beyond that, is Soriano's defense actually bad in LF? I know he's had some memorable mistakes out there - last year in pittsburgh and St. Louis, namely - but I would think his range and his arm would make up for it.

 

He actually made a really good catch last night, too, so they must've been talking in general about his occasional sloppy glovework. I've noticed that a lot of his errors tend come on plays that he probably would've routinely made errors on playing 2nd base. Basically balls hit out to LF that are on the ground and not in the air. Either that or I just missed all of the fly ball errors he makes and for some reason only catch the frustrating grounder misplays

[jersey cubs fan]

In the video on MLB.com of Soriano's 2 run shot last night, the Brewers announcers blast Soriano's defense. I thought this was weird, I didn't watch the game, but the Cubs had no errors, so unless Soriano just did something dumb out there I'm really not sure why they were talking about it.

 

Beyond that, is Soriano's defense actually bad in LF? I know he's had some memorable mistakes out there - last year in pittsburgh and St. Louis, namely - but I would think his range and his arm would make up for it.

 

I didn't see the game, but the game story I read on my phone said his homerun made up for his play that turned an RBI double into a triple, to Kendall I think. But considering Kendall didn't end up scoring, I'm not sure how turning an RBI double into an RBI triple made any difference, or how he needed a 2 run HR to "make up for it". A 2 run HR more than makes up for a missplay that doesn't actually result in any runs scoring.

[javy knows my name]

In the video on MLB.com of Soriano's 2 run shot last night, the Brewers announcers blast Soriano's defense. I thought this was weird, I didn't watch the game, but the Cubs had no errors, so unless Soriano just did something dumb out there I'm really not sure why they were talking about it.

 

Beyond that, is Soriano's defense actually bad in LF? I know he's had some memorable mistakes out there - last year in pittsburgh and St. Louis, namely - but I would think his range and his arm would make up for it.

 

I didn't see the game, but the game story I read on my phone said his homerun made up for his play that turned an RBI double into a triple, to Kendall I think. But considering Kendall didn't end up scoring, I'm not sure how turning an RBI double into an RBI triple made any difference, or how he needed a 2 run HR to "make up for it". A 2 run HR more than makes up for a missplay that doesn't actually result in any runs scoring.

 

That was still a really frustrating play, and should have been an error. It was a really bad effort; all he has to do is bend his knees a little to cut it off and he maybe has a play at 2nd. Also, he had a really bad jump on that ball.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Sosiano is an overall decent outfielder, but the problem is, once in a while he makes a play so mind blowingly horrible that he gets a lot of heat.

[TBone]

In the video on MLB.com of Soriano's 2 run shot last night, the Brewers announcers blast Soriano's defense. I thought this was weird, I didn't watch the game, but the Cubs had no errors, so unless Soriano just did something dumb out there I'm really not sure why they were talking about it.

 

Beyond that, is Soriano's defense actually bad in LF? I know he's had some memorable mistakes out there - last year in pittsburgh and St. Louis, namely - but I would think his range and his arm would make up for it.

 

That's the pot calling the kettle black with Ryan Braun's "awesome" defense. The only reason he doesn't get charged with errors is because he so badly misreads balls, as does Hart.

 

Fonzi did lollygag to the ball, then kicked it into the corner, then proceeded to walk in a semi-circle before realizing Kendall was going to third, and it should have been an error, and this sentence should be an excellent example of a run-on sentence.

[apete6]

Sosiano is an overall decent outfielder, but the problem is, once in a while he makes a play so mind blowingly horrible that he gets a lot of heat.

 

Exactly. His arm more than makes up for his occasional truly terrible play. His range has seemed to be pretty darn good this year as well, it might have something to do with his legs being fairly healthy.

[Ryno is God 23]

Sosiano is an overall decent outfielder, but the problem is, once in a while he makes a play so mind blowingly horrible that he gets a lot of heat.

 

Agree with that 100%....

Everyone once in a while he looks like a clown out there.

[UMFan83]

It was really the effort that was poor about that play. Soriano kind jogged to the ball, fully expecting Kendall to stop at second, and didn't even turn to see if he would try for 3rd until he picked up the ball. By the time he turned around Kendall was already rounding second on his way to third. At the time, Kendall was on third with 0 outs, so easily in a position to score another run, although he didn't. That's what he got ripped so hard for. Not for bad defense, for lazy defense, just like he gets ripped on for lazy baserunning and posing on HRs...not a sign of lack of talent but things that can be rectified with proper effort.

[SouthSideRyan]

just like he gets ripped on for lazy baserunning and posing on HRs

 

Sounds like double counting. I don't recall Soriano ever having "lazy baserunning" issues unless it was being slow out of the box thinking it's a HR.

[UMFan83]

just like he gets ripped on for lazy baserunning and posing on HRs

 

Sounds like double counting. I don't recall Soriano ever having "lazy baserunning" issues unless it was being slow out of the box thinking it's a HR.

 

Yeah...I guess its one in the same...posing for HRs and then jogging out of the box thinking its a HR and only getting a single on an easy double.

 

Whatever, I'm not ripping on the guy. I wish he didn't do those things but he does a lot of awesome things. But broadcasters rip him for doing all that stuff.

[jersey cubs fan]

just like he gets ripped on for lazy baserunning and posing on HRs

 

Sounds like double counting. I don't recall Soriano ever having "lazy baserunning" issues unless it was being slow out of the box thinking it's a HR.

 

Those are two different things.

[SouthSideRyan]

just like he gets ripped on for lazy baserunning and posing on HRs

 

Sounds like double counting. I don't recall Soriano ever having "lazy baserunning" issues unless it was being slow out of the box thinking it's a HR.

 

Those are two different things.

 

Well who cares if he's posing on a HR unless it's because it makes him slow out of the box?

[jersey cubs fan]

just like he gets ripped on for lazy baserunning and posing on HRs

 

Sounds like double counting. I don't recall Soriano ever having "lazy baserunning" issues unless it was being slow out of the box thinking it's a HR.

 

Those are two different things.

 

Well who cares if he's posing on a HR unless it's because it makes him slow out of the box?

 

Guys get ripped for posing on HR all the time.

[Z38Cubs]

LOL@ the Brewers announcers criticizing someone's defense when they have Braun patrolling left field. The guy makes Soriano look like a gold glover out there.

[shnsajax]

LOL@ the Brewers announcers criticizing someone's defense when they have Braun patrolling left field. The guy makes Soriano look like a gold glover out there.

 

Beat me too it.

[Guest]

Soriano has the most effective outfield arm in baseball, and overall he's relatively easily above average defensively.

Soriano came up as a SS. I'm not sure what you're talking about here, but it seems to me that Soriano's effective arm is only effective because guys are taking extra bases on him because of his terrible routes to the ball. I don't know if he's decoying or what but his arm seems to make up for his horrible fielding enough that his overall defense is just a little better than bad.

 

He's had near collisions with every single CF with whom he's played during the time he's been with the Cubs, including costing the late departed Joe G a catch in CF as recently as one series ago in Houston.

 

He's able to make up for a lack of skill with great athleticism, but he's not relatively easily above average defensively.

[DiamondMind]

I didn't realize there was a rule where your team has to have a better player at the position to rip a matching player on an opposing team.

[SouthSideRyan]

He has the "most effective OF arm" because his arm is the most effective. This isn't sitting around counting OF assists, this is holding guys to one base, and gunning them down when they try for more. And his range isn't any worse than average. He's a very good defensive OF. He'd probably be average in CF.

[XZero771679666304]

LOL@ the Brewers announcers criticizing someone's defense when they have Braun patrolling left field. The guy makes Soriano look like a gold glover out there.

 

Beat me too it.

 

BUT HE DOESN'T MAKE ANY ERRORS

[Guest]

He has the "most effective OF arm" because his arm is the most effective. This isn't sitting around counting OF assists, this is holding guys to one base, and gunning them down when they try for more. And his range isn't any worse than average. He's a very good defensive OF. He'd probably be average in CF.

His range is good, trouble is that he's a terrible route runner. He occasionally throws out a guy taking an extra base but he doesn't hold guys from taking extra bases, they do it all too frequently on him. If he was very good, he'd be in CF. That lasted what, a week in ST?

 

He's an average LF who makes up for his shortcoming with a good, accurate arm. Perhaps if he came up as an outfielder he would be good, he certainly has the athleticism.

[Brewhaha]

LOL@ the Brewers announcers criticizing someone's defense when they have Braun patrolling left field. The guy makes Soriano look like a gold glover out there.

Not really.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/thtstats/main/index.php?view=fielding&linesToDisplay=50&orderBy=zone_rating&direction=DESC&qual_filter=1&season_filter[]=2008&league_filter[]=2&pos_filter[]=7&Submit=Submit

 

 

Link doesn't work, but you could imagine what it would be like if it did.

[The Other 15]

He has the "most effective OF arm" because his arm is the most effective. This isn't sitting around counting OF assists, this is holding guys to one base, and gunning them down when they try for more. And his range isn't any worse than average. He's a very good defensive OF. He'd probably be average in CF.

His range is good, trouble is that he's a terrible route runner. He occasionally throws out a guy taking an extra base but he doesn't hold guys from taking extra bases, they do it all too frequently on him. If he was very good, he'd be in CF. That lasted what, a week in ST?

 

He's an average LF who makes up for his shortcoming with a good, accurate arm. Perhaps if he came up as an outfielder he would be good, he certainly has the athleticism.

If by occasionally, you mean that he's led all LF's in throwing out runners despite not playing full time, then yes, he occasionally throws out a runner.

 

You might be seeing these games where people take extra bases "all the time" and he trows out people "occasionally", but he's been much better than your perception.

[SouthSideRyan]

LOL@ the Brewers announcers criticizing someone's defense when they have Braun patrolling left field. The guy makes Soriano look like a gold glover out there.

Not really.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/thtstats/main/index.php?view=fielding&linesToDisplay=50&orderBy=zone_rating&direction=DESC&qual_filter=1&season_filter[]=2008&league_filter[]=2&pos_filter[]=7&Submit=Submit

 

 

Link doesn't work, but you could imagine what it would be like if it did.

 

Adam Dunn is 3rd on that list.