official soriano apology fanpost...

by ryno4ever on May 17, 2008 2:23 PM CDT

i know there has already been an official dempster apology fanpost & some of you even mentioned soriano in that....but this man NEEDS his own fanpost since 90% of this community has been bashing him up until recently!!!!

let me be the first to say, i'm sorry alfonso...i will never ever doubt your ability EVER again & i hope that everybody here can be man enough to do the exact same!!!!!! :)

GO CUBS GO!!!!!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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my gawd...

it is amazing. 5 for 5 today 2hrs, 2b, 3rbi 3 runs scored…just incredible. Fonz, i am so sorry that i tried to trade you for justin upton in my fantasy league. thank goodness the other guy said no! i would be kicking myself right now. I mean, look at this:

Fonz BA: .295
DLee BA: .294
Aram: .280

can you BELIEVE IT?! two weeks ago…WOW we were comparing his contract to barry zito’s!!!!!! I could go on forever about how much i really, really love this guy and how awesome he is – i hope he keeps it up the whole year (ya know, .300 average 30+ bombs 90+ rbi). and wow, DLee w/a lower average who saw that coming? He is in a humongous funk i just hope we can get all three big hitters going at the same time, and SOON.

again, apologies to my new favorite Soriano

very sincerely,

Cubby Blues

"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto

by CubbyBlues on May 17, 2008 3:01 PM CDT 0 recs

Unlike the Dempster diary

I don’t have to post an apology here. Soriano is a streaky hitter. At times, he will look awful. Other times, he will look like the past week.

by rlpete on May 17, 2008 3:08 PM CDT 0 recs

Exactly!

And he’s not a leadoff hitter, OK?

by Fraggin Judge on May 17, 2008 7:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

He's not leading off. He's batting first.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.

by dat cubfan daver on May 17, 2008 9:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

A restless crowd gathers...

...outside the residence of one MDB[lueMike]NIU, waiting…

Nanika Ga Okoru!

Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.

by dat cubfan daver on May 17, 2008 3:36 PM CDT 0 recs

You won't hear from him again until...

... Soriano goes into a cold spell, which he will.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 17, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

Soon enough....

there will be another “Soriano sucks” fanpost. He is streaky and that is the fact. He is hot as hell now but he will come down again and we just have to remember this streak.

I will give him props for being the hottest hitter in the league now…that’s for sure.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on May 17, 2008 3:36 PM CDT 0 recs

It is funny how that supposed Cubs fan

seems to disappear when the Cubs or players are doing well.

by rlpete on May 17, 2008 3:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

It's part of the Cub psyche

we don’t know what to do when the Cubs are winning. We are afraid to say anything because, we expect disaster could be just around the corner. e.g. were Soriano to remain hot for the whole rest of the year; we dould know it is only so that he could get cold in the playoffs; in fact, there would be some clever fans urging Lou to find a way to get Soriano cold in September so that he can be hot again in October.

(don’t take me too seriously, here)

by DGU on May 17, 2008 3:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

You're being half-serious...

... but I understand the mindset.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 17, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

Im in minority

Soriano can win a world series for us and I still won’t like him. And I’m sure I’m not alone.

by ak123 on May 17, 2008 3:49 PM CDT 0 recs

If he wins the WS for us...

... all will be forgiven, from me at least.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 17, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

if he wins the WS for us....

I dont care if they extend his contract to the tune of 15 years $395 Million

by bheidge on May 17, 2008 4:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't go that far.

Winning the WS… that’d be enough for me.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 17, 2008 4:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

ok maybe

maybe he’d be forgiven from me. But saying that is the equivalent to say Theriot getting a world series winning HR and cwyers never bashing him again :)

by ak123 on May 17, 2008 4:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm in the minority

He could not get a hit in the World Series and I would still like him.

by madeindetroit on May 17, 2008 5:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

If the Cubs win the world series he and every other Cub will own chicago, hands down.

by onedaythecubs on May 17, 2008 5:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

But not as much

As Michael Jordan owned Chicago :)

(Old topic that I think I might have just re-opened with this comment)

by ak123 on May 17, 2008 5:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's because you admire consistency, not streaks.

Yet, if Soriano wins a WS for us during one of his hot streaks, I bet you’ll like him. Really like him.

by Fraggin Judge on May 17, 2008 7:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

no one's asking anyone

to like the man.

Recognize his ability and his talent, that’s all.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 17, 2008 8:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

Again - why would anyone apologize?

I’m a fan of Soriano. But the fact is that he’s REALLY streaky. On average, he’s a very good and productive hitter. But he runs very hot and very cold.

But just like I thought it was silly to ask people to apologize for their opinions on Dempster, I think it’s silly to ask people to apologize for their opinions on Soriano. I won’t apologize for my opinions on Dempster before the season so I’m certainly not going to ask anyone who badmouthed Soriano to apologize now, either.

by SouthernCub on May 17, 2008 8:16 PM CDT 0 recs

I agree I'm not going to apologize

He’s had one hell of a week which is all to his credit, he is a really streaky hitter. Other than this week his numbers this season haven’t been that great so I don’t see the need to apologize but I will give him credit for a monsterous week

by CubsBall2202 on May 17, 2008 8:55 PM CDT 0 recs

A lot of the bashers don't want to apologize, but if

you were calling for the Cubs to get rid of him or saying that the team was better off without him, you kind of look bad right now. The fact is the guy is a tremendous offensive talent and there is no way the team is better off without him.

Yes he is streaky, but most hitters are streaky.(DLee right now?) You may not like some of his actions like not fielding balls but I for one am glad he is on this team. I’ll take streaks like this anytime. This team is good enough to pick him up when he slumps so let’s just ride this big horse until he bucks us off.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 17, 2008 9:39 PM CDT 0 recs

Good point

I’m not one of those people saying get rid of Soriano because well I’m smart enough to recognize we’re stuck with him.

However, he’s just one player I don’t like. For example, at Cubs Convention I won one of those free autographs and the ball I pulled was for Soriano. I returned it. Thankfully they let me go again (if I pulled Soriano twice I’d have to get his) and I got Sandberg.

by ak123 on May 17, 2008 10:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

There's probably about 29 other teams

that would mind being stuck with him the past week.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 17, 2008 10:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

The same 29

The same 29 teams were laughing us the week before…

by ak123 on May 17, 2008 11:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

they were?

we were in first or second place then, too.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 18, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up 0 recs

Billy Williams

was a streaky hitter. So was Sammy Sosa. Many of the great ones were and are.

Way to go, Sori.

by Clark Addison on May 17, 2008 9:40 PM CDT 0 recs

I'll bet if you polled

fans from the rest of the teams in the league, they would all love to have him. I am amazed that people bitch about him being a streaky hitter. His streaks can carry a team and it carried us into the playoffs last year.

There aren’t a lot of players that can put up numbers like he has the past two weeks and I am not going to complain about the fact that he doesn’t do it all of the time. Nobody does this all off the time.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 17, 2008 9:58 PM CDT 0 recs

I've never been overtly harsh upon Soriano ...

But I’m not going to apologize. He’s a streaky player and tends towards extreme selfishness when it comes to relationship with the team. I know we want our best players to exist in a given comfort zone, but his refusal to switch positions in the lineup to take better advantage of those times he is hitting for all get out is telling.

So he carried the team last September? Good. That’s what he’s paid the big bucks for. I wish the fellow no ill, but I’ve had it with him.

GEAUX FONTENOT!

by Little Rock Ryno Fan on May 17, 2008 10:31 PM CDT 0 recs

Do you have

factual evidence that he refuses to switch positions? On ESPN when the CUbs played sunday night Morgan asked Lou if Soriano would move in the lineup and said Soriano would move in the lineup, however he is more comfortable in the 1 hole. “Extreme Selfishness” where is the proof with that, explain please.
You have had it with him, well guess what ,he probably could care less about the fans that was booing his ass two weeks ago.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on May 17, 2008 10:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

He has never refused to

switch positions in the lineup. Lou has made that clear on several occasions. He perfers to hit leadoff because he seems more fastballs, but he has never refused to hit in other spots.

He carried the team in June also. Yes, he gets paid to produce but there are a lot of players who are getting paid to produce and don’t. It’s not like he has been a big surprise. He played like this when he was with the Nats and the Rangers. I think you are overstating the selfishness angle. He is getting paid to hit homeruns and produce offense. He does that. You may not like the way he does it, but he does it.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 17, 2008 10:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thank you

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on May 17, 2008 10:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

soriano

is not a selfish me-first player! he hits where he is told, and lou is the one that refuses to move him out of the 1-hole. besides, the way our team is hitting right now it has turned out he’s gotten more rbi opportunities out of the 1-hole than if he were hitting at 5.

i also think it is important to note that while he’s being a “selfish” player, according to you, he has been really involved in the chicago area helping kids and communities that need help – as well as being a social activist in the dominican republic. i just think its unfair to judge someone so harshly from afar, assume that people are good people.

"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto

by CubbyBlues on May 18, 2008 8:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

You are wrong on the selfishness

I’ll pile on. Piniella has never asked him to move. Piniella seems to like him there. Soriano prefers batting leadoff. That’s different than saying he must bat there. I bet Lee prefers batting 3rd. I bet Theriot prefers 2nd versus 8th.

Soriano moved to CF last season without complaining. He didn’t play it very well but that was no surprise.

I just don’t understand all this made-up stuff about his attitude.

by rlpete on May 18, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

I just

don’t get the hatred for the guy. I was in the minority and knew the guy was going to get going, however not like this. I mean to make the comment from above “Cubs win the World Series and I would still not like him and I am not alone” Geez get over yourself, What has Lee and Ramirez done lately? They get no grief or if it is, it is quite mild.
Hey Soriano will get cold again, and the snakes will be out, so be it, just remember at the end of year he will be needed and most likely he will come through just like last September.
I just don’t think the Cubs can win it all without him in the lineup.
Go Soriano and Go Cubs.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on May 17, 2008 10:32 PM CDT 0 recs

I don't get it either. There is just no

pleasing some people. He has one of the best offensive stretches we have see around here and all people say is “How come he can’t do it all of the time?” Give me a break. Nobody can do it all of the time.

It seems that some people want superstars to be perfect and humble too. This disdain for Sori is really kind of strange. He is what he is. He can produce monster numbers and carry a team for long stretches. As Lou would say, “What the hell else do you want?”

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 17, 2008 10:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

my other reason

Is that I just don’t think he’s a nice guy. I think he’s full of himself for his money. YES he seems like a team player but from what I’ve seen (and I’ve seen things first hand) he’s very cocky and that is someone I’m not a fan of.

by ak123 on May 17, 2008 11:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm sorry but I just don't see it. I have

seen a lot of guys that are full of themselves (Sammy?) and he just doesn’t strike me as a guy that is full of himself. His wanting to hit leadoff seems to rub a lot of people the wrong way. He perfers to hit leadoff because he fels that that gives him the best chance at being successful. I do’t see that as being cocky. He doesn’t seem obsessed with padding his stats. He seems to feel that if he produces, the team has a good chance of winning.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 17, 2008 11:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Outside the field

You see working with WWE last November we gave Soriano, Johnny Damon and Shaq backstage passes for themselves and family members. Now Damon and Shaq were all willing to sign autographs and do interviews for us. Soriano wouldn’t. He could not be bothered to be taken away from his posse. Now you see the backstage passes were all given so he would do the interviews and be seen with the Superstars. Now I know asking Soriano to sign a ball he wouldn’;t do it. Now when one of our wrestlers asks him and he shrubs him away that’s rude. He gave off an aura he made more money than everyone and couldn’t be bothered. Even Johnny Damon made a comment to the camera how he appreciates being here with his family and getting to meet the wrestlers…

This is why I’m not a fan of Soriano. I don’t think he appreciates what he’s earning, the fans, or anything else but a paycheck.

by ak123 on May 17, 2008 11:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

"Just don't think he is a nice guy"

How do you know that? I mean he could be the nicest guy in world, we don;t know either way, if he is a jerk or Mother Thresea.
I mean if there is proof out there that he stole Girl Scout cookies, steals from clubhouse attendants or refuses to turn his music down, but where is the proof that this guy is a cancer to a team. I just haven’t read it, seen it or heard it from fellow players.
He will be wearing a Cub uniform for a long time, better get used to it.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on May 17, 2008 11:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

Proof above

Read my proof above :)

by ak123 on May 17, 2008 11:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

And

Because of our experience with Soriano, we no longer will work with the Cubs (my company) when it comes to touring in Chicago. Which is a real shame because I’d be the person to get to interview them.

by ak123 on May 17, 2008 11:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Final Note

Obviously my situation will be different from all other Cubs fans but when a person (athlete or anyone in that nature) gives you such a bad impression it doesn’t matter what they do for my favorite team, I cannot cheer for them.

by ak123 on May 18, 2008 12:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

A-rod

From all accounts he isn’t someone I would want to associate with in my free time.
But if he was a Cub I would cheer for him.

Yeah that’d be great to be able to meet some of the Cubs thru employment but I’d rather have them win….. and not meet them. Then not be as good and meet them.

by Madison Cub Fan on May 18, 2008 8:21 AM CDT up 0 recs

Thats fair

However one example does not make an individual. Maybe Soriano was uncomfortable at this particluar event, who knows. How is the guys English? That to can be a barrier.
I don’t know, I just give him the benefit of the doubt. I just don’t think it is fair to judge him on one appearance.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on May 18, 2008 8:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Good Point

Heard him today in the Leadoff Man, and realized I had never really heard him talk much. His english is around Sammy’s level, and his accent a tad thicker. He seemed really shya nd uncomfortable though. Avoided looking at the camera or even at Len. Was polite and said the right things. But really uncomfortable.

by californiachicagoan on May 18, 2008 8:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

As I said

This obviously is something that impacts me and nobody else and it can’t change my opinion. However, I’m not one who will preach about it telling others to hate him.

Basically, if I’m going to a Cubs game I’m paying to see other players over him.

by ak123 on May 18, 2008 8:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

Wait a minute...

you won’t cheer for him? I said that I would have trouble cheering for Jim Edmonds and have since come around a bit (thanks to Big Z’s mature reaction to his signing) and he has done nothing for this team.

If you plan not to cheer for Soriano because he didn’t want to sign autographs at a WWE event, that is ridiculous.

It sounds like your company is a bit over sensitive. You gave them the passes for them AND for WWE. To have celebs at ringside is good for the sport. You know this and therefore, your company benefitted too…whether he signed autographs or not.

He may have seemed selfish to you, but you really don’t know what was going on with him. Talk to me when he has displayed a decade’s worth of selfish, a-hole behavior like Barry Bonds.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on May 19, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Soriano,

but as a fan I am not as interested in a personal meeting with atheletes. I know that many people are disappointed if an athelets does not sign an autograph or converse with them, I don’t take these types of occurances into consideration when deciding whether I like a player. I am not privy to a players personal life and there may be many reasons for his behavior.

I am more concerned with how a player performs on the field and whether he is interested in helping his team win. As I fan, I care if a player does his job and supports his teammates and so far, I have seen nothing that tells me that he is not interested in the team winning.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 18, 2008 12:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

As I said

This was beyond a personal meeting. It was more of a professional one where he was not very much of a professional. And if that’s how he’s going to act above everyone then fine, he has no respect from me.

There are other players who I respect on and off the field. While I may respect him on the field, I don’t off and can’t find a reason to want to cheer for him.

by ak123 on May 18, 2008 1:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

Sori

I wasn’t a fan of his coming into this year. But after reading so many of blue mikes hatred of him… I realize how silly it is to dislike someone on the Cubs that much.
Thats not saying I won’t complain about a player. Do I think he is too much of a free swinger… yep. Do I like him in lead off position.. normally no.

by Madison Cub Fan on May 17, 2008 10:59 PM CDT 0 recs

I think if you are going to make comments about a player,

at least give the appearance of being objective. It is obvious that blue mike has other issue with Sori because his rants don’t even make much sense. I’m not saying a fan should fall in love with every player on the team, but your comments should at least be grounded in fact.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 17, 2008 11:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

He can be maddening

While Soriano will make you pull your hair out, sometimes out of pure frustration and others out of elation, his stats will be there at the end of the year. There are very few people capable of carrying a team for a few weeks at a time, but he is one of them. That being said, he is a very streaky player and will an ice cold streak for every smoking hot stretch. The good news is, the Cubs have already proved that they can win with him struggling, so when he’s on the Cubs are going to be tough to beat.

by cubswinagain on May 17, 2008 11:07 PM CDT 0 recs

That is the key. Most players are streaky. The

only difference is that the really good ones stay in hot streaks a lot longer than cold streaks.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 17, 2008 11:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

paging MDBNIU . . .

Cubs w/o Edmonds: 24-16, .600. Cubs w/ Edmonds: 2-0, 1.000 (updated May 16)

by joeschmitt on May 17, 2008 11:08 PM CDT 0 recs

Oh, you won't hear from him about Soriano...

... until he goes cold again.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 18, 2008 4:04 AM CDT up 0 recs

It's ridiculous

To base your judgement on a ballplayer simply on one incident. I take that back, it’s ridiculous to judge any human being based on one incident. That isn’t to say that Soriano couldn’t be a bad person, or full of himself, but simply because he refused to do some press junket doesn’t mean he’s someone you shouldn’t cheer for. We all have our bad moments.

Personally I have no experience with Soriano, but as long as he’s a Cub I’ll cheer for him no matter what. I honestly believe that the whole “the name on the front is far more important than the name on the back” thing applies both ways.

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on May 18, 2008 3:35 AM CDT 0 recs

My apologies to the Fonz

............he is definitely a maddening player. No in between…......either bad or unbelievably great. Sorry Fonz…......keep it up!

I’ll try to lay off when the next cold streak comes..

by plenz on May 18, 2008 11:02 AM CDT 0 recs

No apologies here

I didn’t trash him when he was struggling. I noted flaws in his game. He got villified when he was going poorly – now the pendulum has swung the other way.

Soriano is an above-average major league baseball player and will contribute to the 2008 Cubs – a lot. The fact that he’s hitting everything in sight now doesn’t invalidate any lineup arguments or make his defense better. Just as it’s unfair to rip all aspects of his game when he is struggling, it’s inaccurate to overlook them when he’s hot.

by Shanghai Badger on May 18, 2008 1:01 PM CDT 0 recs

Two questions.

1) Who do you consider to be a (roughly) average defensive left fielder?

2) How many runners would you figure reach base against Soriano that wouldn’t against that reference fielder?

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 18, 2008 1:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

without looking at stats

Byrnes?

Not sure about the second point – just saw this while checking to see if the overflow thread was up. I’m not saying Sori allows more than he produces, just saying that I’ve seen a lot of extreme commentary on him.

by Shanghai Badger on May 18, 2008 3:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Doubt that Sori is a bad fielder.

He has an above average arm and above average range with a below average glove. That’s still an above average left fielder.

by californiachicagoan on May 18, 2008 8:28 PM CDT up 0 recs

Please read my above again

I was not criticizing Soriano.

I also disagree on the above average range, and without looking I believe that the stats would bear that out. (Strat-O-Matic does, FWIW. He’s a ‘4’ this year.)

by Shanghai Badger on May 18, 2008 8:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'd say Byrnes is an above-average defensive LF...

I think this is a big part of the problem with the debate regarding Soriano’s defense. Soriano is definitely below average compared to all OF. But it’s much more debatable when you consider that LF comprise probably the worst of starting MLB OF.

by SouthernCub on May 19, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

My opinion....

The killer has been his leg problems. If he was even a 30/30 guy I could live with his play. Now, with bad wheels, he’s Dave Kingman, except he’s got a better arm. And I don’t think he will match Kingman’s 48 HR’s. I don’t think he will ever be the speed threat as advertised.

I really had no idea how unbelievably streaky at the plate he was until he got here.

by Peoria Matt on May 18, 2008 4:09 PM CDT 0 recs