For Soriano, It’s Time to Choose Your Own Adventure

There much to be said about yesterday’s devastating 6-5 loss to the Braves, and without a doubt today’s episode of Cubscast (we’re recording in a couple hours) is going to be pretty lively. Going from a no-hitter and 5-run lead and ending the game the way the Cubs did was excruciating, and though it was almost entirely due to the bullpen, something else has bubbled up to the surface that I can’t ignore any longer.

Alfonso Soriano is never going to be my favorite player. I like him, I acknowledge the fact that he is instant offense as evidenced again on Tuesday, but I also acknowledge that his contributions in other areas are terribly lacking. I remember watching Andre Dawson in my formative years and seeing a full spectrum of on-field skills. He quickly became my favorite Cub, and always will be. He was a fearsome hitter, a great fielder with a cannon for an arm, and a guy that knew how to run the bases. However, it isn’t because of glowing memories of Dawson that I don’t accept Soriano’s on-field effort. It is because Soriano has these abilities but isn’t using them, and no one knows why.

Yesterday as I pondered Soriano’s misplay (bobble, bad throw) on Escobar’s single in the 12th, all this came to mind. And yes, it’s nit-picky because it didn’t even cost the Cubs a base. It cost them in other ways, though, and has already cost them this season. You don’t have to be a stat freak to realize that teams are trying to score from 2nd on Soriano more than they have in years past, and why the heck not. A quarter of the time he doesn’t pick up the ball and throw it cleanly.

That wasn’t the capper, however. The play that made this post possible was the game-ending single by Chipper Jones, which went right to Alfonso. It wasn’t clear from the play (or the replay) what happened with that ball when it got to our left fielder, but Escobar scored without a throw, and that is unacceptable. Yeah he probably was going to score anyway, but either Soriano misplayed it, or he ate that ball and decided in his own mind that the Cubs had lost. If it’s the latter, he’s got an even steeper hill to climb in my book.

So Alfonso, it’s time to choose your own adventure. Do you realize that your game has become one-dimensional? You aren’t the same player the Cubs acquired several seasons ago. Will you do whatever you have to do so that you can run full speed again? Full speed isn’t first gear, fyi. Will you take some extra time and work on your fielding? The coaches are paid to help you, but the word on the street is that you’re unapproachable when it comes to criticism. Choose wisely, and young Cubs fans will place your baseball cards in hard cases instead of between bicycle spokes.

I don’t know what will happen with this Cubs season. People getting paid to write are saying that game was a turning point. I just hope the bulb goes off for Soriano and he actively tries to improve his game. Otherwise we’re stuck with Adam Dunn.