Posts tagged ‘Alfonso Soriano’

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.

The comparisons of this year’s Cubs team to last year’s repeat division-winning team have been constant this season, and at times stifling. It says a lot that you can hear an audible groan in our episodes whenever Mark DeRosa’s name is uttered. I thought that all the “what would have been”-type talk would die down by the end of April, but it’s still going strong until June. Here’s hoping it ends as soon as possible.

It’s been a strange season in a lot of ways. The injuries. The ejections. The suspension. That poor Gatorade machine. However, what’s most interesting to me is that one player (or several, but I’m not trying to be greedy) hasn’t gone All-World for the Cubs yet this season. Sure, we’ve seen some awesome performances:

* Ted Lilly’s no-hitter through 6 2/3 on a frigid April day

* Dempster’s 7 shutout innings in Saturday’s outing vs. the Dodgers

* Reed Johnson’s RBI method clinic that same Saturday

* Tuffy Rhodes’ 450th HR in Japan

* Soriano’s 2 HR game in Houston and his HR on the 2nd pitch he saw this season

We’ve also seen a good amount of suckitude, and I won’t make that list for a variety of reasons. Still, nobody pops out (poor terminology) on this Cubs roster as a runaway All-Star, even despite cleverly titled articles on the flagship Cubs site such as Soriano, Fukudome making All-Star impact.

I’ll vote for those players and will hope they make it, but if All-Stars are chosen based on a rounded game from April through June, I think Kosuke Fukudome is the only deserving Cub. Soriano can get hotter than a car on a desert highway any given game or week, but the fact that his average has dropped nearly 30 points in May doesn’t bode well for his selection. He’s still obviously one of the most feared home run threats in the league, and that counts for something to a lot of players.

Last years Cubs All-Stars: Kosuke Fukudome, Soriano, Soto, Wood, Dempster, Ramirez and Zambrano.

Is anyone more deserving in your opinion that Fukudome? Post a comment and let us know.

It was announced this weekend that the Chicago Cubs are going to have 7 players represent the National League in this year’s All-Star Game on July 15th. Seven Cubs! By mid-July it’s normally tough to throw a dart and hit 7 of them healthy enough to take the field, let alone represent something that isn’t a pain relief spray or tablet. And while the health thing is debatable on at least one Cubs All-Star, here they are, in all their glory:

Ryan Dempster - SP
Kosuke Fukudome - OF (starter)
Aramis Ramirez - 3B
Alfonso Soriano - OF (starter)
Geovany Soto - C (starter)
Kerry Wood - RP
Carlos Zambrano - SP

Congrats to each of them, and to Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who was directly involved with bringing at least 5 of these players to the Cubs. We don’t often sing his praises, but Hendry has bolstered the club especially in the last 2 years, and has made the Cubs more competitive with his deals each year since he started. Plus, it’s no secret that the day before the 2002 trade of Todd Hundley was one of the darkest days in Cubs history, or what The Rock would call rock bottom. Whenever the Cubs GM retires or moves on, he should be given a room full of plaques for that move. Not to mention any of the other moves that happened in order to bring many of the above players to the North Side.

However, there’s a few duds in every box, so since I had some time I went back and selected a few players that Hendry helped acquire that will represent no one in any All-Star game this year or likely any year. They play the same positions as the talented Cubs players selected by fans, other players, and Rockies coach Clint Hurdle.

Cliff Bartosh - RP
Freddy Bynum - OF (starter)
Todd Dunwoody - OF
Wade Miller - SP (starter)
Josh Paul - C
Neifi Perez - 3B
Les Walrond - SP

Okay, as sad as that list is, I have to admit that I only gained more confidence in Hendry in spending a few minutes looking at the lists of transactions from 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Jim and the Cubs front office drafted both Tim Lincecum and Micah Owings in the late rounds, but they both refused to sign. If they had (especially Lincecum), maybe the Cubs could have sent 8.

Anyway, best of luck to these players at Yankees Stadium (and at the skating rink, respectively) and thanks to Jim Hendry and his staff for working to better this franchise. They unquestionably have done that.

UPDATE: Congrats to Zac and Lifesize, the co-winners this first. Each will receive a prize pack that includes a brand new “Rookie of the Year” DVD. Thanks to everyone that submitted a caption!

As announced on today’s Opening Day episode, the Cubscast Photo Caption Contest is back! To submit an entry, simply click on the photo below and enter your caption as a comment. Everyone is welcome to participate (even fans of our Central Division rivals). First prize this week is a Cubscast Prize Pack which includes a Cubs-related DVD. Official Photo Caption Contest Rules.

Contest ends on Sunday April 6th at 8 p.m. CST. Winner will be chosen and announced ‘live’ on Monday April 7th’s podcast.

Thanks again to everyone for participating, and good luck!