On November 19, 2006, I received a text message from my friend Dan that read “What do you think about the Cubs getting Soriano?” I thought to myself, Alfonso Soriano…the guy that just went 40/40 for the Washington Nationals…my favorite player? As a Chicago Cubs’ fan this was hard to comprehend as the organization does not have a history of going after high profile free agents–let alone getting the best free agent on the market. I quickly checked ESPN for confirmation of this exciting, yet ambiguous text and was overjoyed to find out that the Cubs were indeed set to sign Soriano. The deal was $136 million over 8 years. No big deal. Sure, we have “The Fonz” under contract until 2014 and the Cubs will be paying him $18 million when he is 38, but they finally made a big move.
Since that day, I have been on an emotional roller coaster ride with Fonzie, and it has not been the “Roller Coaster of Love” that the Red Hot Chilli Peppers sang to me about during high school. We are now past the days of wondering if Soriano should bat lead off or what leg ailment he will come down with next. Now, the question is whether or not Soriano should even be playing. What a fall from grace.
Despite the the injuries, gross defensive play, and lead off debate (that is now over), it hasn’t been all bad. In fact, I would argue that offensively, the streaky Soriano was pretty good in 2007 and 2008 despite injuries that severely limited his play. His averages for the 2007 and 2008 seasons were 31 HR, 73 RBI, 87 R, .290 BA, 19 SB, and .887 OPS. When you factor the 2009 career worst season in, his three-year Cubs’ averages are 27 HR, 67 RBI, 79 R, .273 BA, 16 SB, and .833 OPS. These numbers in no way justify an $18 million contract, but are not bad considering the time he missed with injury. Without injuries, would it have been possible for Soriano to go 30/30 his first two years in Chicago? I think so. Of course, you can’t cast aside the 120 games or so that Soriano has missed, which is part of the problem the fans have with Soriano. Nevertheless, I still think he can be an extremely productive offensive player despite the rough start to 2010, but this is debatable according to ESPNs Stephania Bell.
As the ultimate Alfonso Soriano apologist, it hurt me to read ESPNs Rob Neyer suggest that the Cubs may ultimately end up releasing Soriano down the road as there is not another bad contract to trade him for since Barry Zito has been pitching well. Aren’t there other alternatives? Derrek Lee is a free agent at the end of the year and I would say it is 50/50 on whether or not he ends up being a Cub next year. Would you try Soriano at first base? Or better yet, being that we are only 9 games into the season, why don’t we be a little more patient, agree that Soriano is a hack in the outfield, and hope the offense comes around. I think it may, but as I said, I am a Soriano apologist. In fact, I am thinking of ways to trade for him in my fantasy leagues as I type. I bet I can trade Barry Zito for Soriano in a second Rob Neyer.
Is Soriano playing like the real Fonz?
Jim Hendry is an idiot…I mean this guy signs big bust after big bust. Nomar, Sori, Kosuke, Rich Harden, Milton Bradley (more recently). The Cubs will never win a wrold series as long as that idiot is the GM