Question: Is Alfonso Soriano really worth it?
And I'm not even talking about his 8-year, $136 million contract. I'm simply talking about whether it's worth it to have him in the line-up. Because there are plenty of reasons why not.
* His insistence on hitting lead-off
Lou Pinella, being interviewed by ESPN's Joe Morgan last night, said he compared Alfonso Soriano to Bobby Bonds, who was apparently never comfortable hitting in the No. 4 hole but relished the leadoff spot, where he was a 30-30 man.
Fine. Accepting that it's okay for a $100 million player to only be comfortable hitting in one spot in the order (even though it's not okay), then Soriano should produce for that spot. But he's not. Not hitting for average. Not getting on-base. Not hitting for power. Not getting runners over or having productive at-bats. And not even stealing bases... when he finally does get on. In short, not doing ANYTHING a leadoff man (or a middle-of-the-order guy, for that matter, is supposed to do).
* His adventures in left field
We all saw the game on Friday. What a disaster. I think the hitting troubles are having an effect on his defense. Either that or his head's not in the game.
* He no longer is a 30-30 man
One of the reasons Soriano got the massive contract that he did was that he was one of baseball's few power-speed guys. He could hit 40 home runs and swipe 30-40 bags. But after his leg issues, Soriano barely runs at all. I'd be surprised if he reached 20 SBs this year.
So, instead of being similar to Alex Rodriguez, with power and speed, he's more like Adam Dunn, with some pop and a ton of strikeouts.
Although, to be fair, Dunn has a great eye and reaches base quite often. Soriano doesn't. So perhaps the best comparison is to Rob Deer.
Ouch.
* His lack of plate discipline
Soriano went to the plate five times last night. Each and every time, he was immediately in an 0-and-2 hole. Each and every time! It's a combination of bad plate discipline, a bad eye, and an inability right now to put solid contact on the ball consistently.
Really good to see that from your leadoff hitter. Way to (not) work the count and (not) show the rest of the team what the opposing pitcher has.
* All the sacrifices the team has to make for him
Lou Pinella is even considering copying Tony La Russa's strategy of batting the pitcher eighth and a "second leadoff man" ninth. The reason?
“If we used a guy who could run in the 9-hole, it might help Soriano,” said Piniella. “Yeah, the 9-hitter gets on and maybe Soriano sees more of those fastballs he likes."
Classic.
You know what would also accomplish that, without having to resort to some sort of gimmick move? Putting Soriano fifth or sixth in the order, where he can hit with men on-base. That, too, would get him the "fastballs he likes" without ruining the top of the order.
Ugh. Makes a line-up of Mark DeRosa in left, Reed Johnson in center, and a Ronny Cedeno/Mike Fontenot platoon at second look pretty attractive to me.
And I'm not even talking about his 8-year, $136 million contract. I'm simply talking about whether it's worth it to have him in the line-up. Because there are plenty of reasons why not.
* His insistence on hitting lead-off
Lou Pinella, being interviewed by ESPN's Joe Morgan last night, said he compared Alfonso Soriano to Bobby Bonds, who was apparently never comfortable hitting in the No. 4 hole but relished the leadoff spot, where he was a 30-30 man.
Fine. Accepting that it's okay for a $100 million player to only be comfortable hitting in one spot in the order (even though it's not okay), then Soriano should produce for that spot. But he's not. Not hitting for average. Not getting on-base. Not hitting for power. Not getting runners over or having productive at-bats. And not even stealing bases... when he finally does get on. In short, not doing ANYTHING a leadoff man (or a middle-of-the-order guy, for that matter, is supposed to do).
* His adventures in left field
We all saw the game on Friday. What a disaster. I think the hitting troubles are having an effect on his defense. Either that or his head's not in the game.
* He no longer is a 30-30 man
One of the reasons Soriano got the massive contract that he did was that he was one of baseball's few power-speed guys. He could hit 40 home runs and swipe 30-40 bags. But after his leg issues, Soriano barely runs at all. I'd be surprised if he reached 20 SBs this year.
So, instead of being similar to Alex Rodriguez, with power and speed, he's more like Adam Dunn, with some pop and a ton of strikeouts.
Although, to be fair, Dunn has a great eye and reaches base quite often. Soriano doesn't. So perhaps the best comparison is to Rob Deer.
Ouch.
* His lack of plate discipline
Soriano went to the plate five times last night. Each and every time, he was immediately in an 0-and-2 hole. Each and every time! It's a combination of bad plate discipline, a bad eye, and an inability right now to put solid contact on the ball consistently.
Really good to see that from your leadoff hitter. Way to (not) work the count and (not) show the rest of the team what the opposing pitcher has.
* All the sacrifices the team has to make for him
Lou Pinella is even considering copying Tony La Russa's strategy of batting the pitcher eighth and a "second leadoff man" ninth. The reason?
“If we used a guy who could run in the 9-hole, it might help Soriano,” said Piniella. “Yeah, the 9-hitter gets on and maybe Soriano sees more of those fastballs he likes."
Classic.
You know what would also accomplish that, without having to resort to some sort of gimmick move? Putting Soriano fifth or sixth in the order, where he can hit with men on-base. That, too, would get him the "fastballs he likes" without ruining the top of the order.
Ugh. Makes a line-up of Mark DeRosa in left, Reed Johnson in center, and a Ronny Cedeno/Mike Fontenot platoon at second look pretty attractive to me.
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