Alfonso Soriano's D

by californiachicagoan on May 19, 2008 2:37 PM CDT Comment 35 comments

I have seen the assertion that Alfonso Soriano is a bad left fielder a number of times, and I don't see it. In my opinion on the plus side he has a great arm and above average speed. On the minus, he doesn't get good jumps, and is overly cautious at the wall. This adds up to a decent defender to me. Note that the bunny hop that bugs many people doesn't bother me in the least. I have never seen it cause an error. So I published this poll to see what the general populace of BCB thought.

Poll

What do you think of Alfonso Soriano's defense?

He is an asset

24 votes

He is adequate

85 votes

He is a liability

20 votes

129 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Any fielder's...

...number one responsibility is to catch the ball first and foremost. In this area, Soriano is below average because of his poor jumps and his tentativeness around the wall. When you factor in his arm, his defense becomes acceptable only because his offensive numbers will be there.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on May 19, 2008 2:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice Assessment

Soriano is a converted 2nd baseman. He wasn’t exactly wonderful at 2B with the glove. He’s got to work on getting better jumps. To echo the point, how able you are to catch the ball is more important than how well you can throw the ball. Soriano will be replaced late in games defensively a lot this season.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on May 19, 2008 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, I'll be surprised if Soriano is replaced a lot...

though not because of his defense. He’s likely to stay in the game because of his bat and because Piniella doesn’t want to mess with the psyche of one of his star players.

by SouthernCub on May 19, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You May Be Right

If the Cubs are ahead in the 9th, I’d love to see Soriano pulled. If the Cubs are ahead in the 8th and Soriano is not one of the first six hitters due up in the next inning, I’d love to see Soriano lifted. Lou’s the manager, and I’m not. I assure you that’s a good thing. I do agree Lou is hesitant to take Soriano out of games, upon further review.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on May 19, 2008 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But then

Why did he pinch-run for Lee earlier this year?

I think it’s more psyche than bat.

(Please note—nowhere in the preceeding sentences does the word “selfish” or any variation thereof appear. I am neither stating that he is nor stating that he is not selfish.)

by Shanghai Badger on May 19, 2008 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

okay

Then who do you put in for defense? Johnson in left and Edmonds in Center? It worked a lot better when Pie wasn’t in AAA. As is, I don’t see much of an improvement on the bench.

by KingDave on May 19, 2008 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Although I am against it

Dero in right, Cedeno at 2nd.

by californiachicagoan on May 19, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Left not right.

by californiachicagoan on May 19, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That 3 Outfielders Thing

The math doesn’t work out. Does it? You need 3 outfielders, and we’ve got 2, who might be above average defensively. Dome is great in RF. Johnson is not a gold glover, but is very capable in CF and LF. DeRosa does not have enough experience in LF to put him in for defensive purposes. Hoffpauir is really a 1B. I guess we are stuck with Sori in LF late in games. That’s a scary thought. Bring back Pie!

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on May 19, 2008 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mean, personally I think he’s good in comparison to the other LFs in the game….although this doesn’t really say a whole lot. Especially look at the guys on the other NL Central teams.

by Canseco's Roid Party on May 19, 2008 3:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I remember bad Cubs LFers, and Sori doesnt seem like one to me.

by californiachicagoan on May 19, 2008 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last season he was about average even with....

.....the poor routes and bad jumps. Here is a link to defensive stats that are based on the actual play by play data for every left fielder in baseball. The raw numbers Dave Pinto uses comes from either STATS or BIS who have guys who watch tape of every game and chart where every ball is hit and the outcome of the play. It shows Soriano made two plays more than the average LF last season.
As a converted infielder, I think the transition he’s made is impressive. His speed helped him out run the route problems, etc. With diminished speed he will be more exposed in that regard. Factor in the arm and he probably becomes above average.

"Baseball is like church- many attend, few understand." ~ Leo Durocher

by The Lip on May 19, 2008 3:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This makes sense...

LF is the position where you can put the worst fielder on the team. Thus, there are probably a LOT of really bad LF in MLB. As such, I’d say Soriano might not actually be that bad for a LF. That’s faint praise, for sure.

Compared to the average OF, he’s definitely below average. But teams tend to put their better defensive OF in CF and RF, so that’s not surprising.

by SouthernCub on May 19, 2008 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, those of you who bought a copy of...

...Wrigley Season Ticket should go back and (re)read cwyers chapter on Soriano. He gives a very thorough statistical analysis of Alfonso’s defensive performance in left field, and Soriano comes out as an above-average left fielder. I know this might initially be hard to accept, given some of Alfonso’s forehead-slapping mistakes out there, but he is an asset in left field.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

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

by dat cubfan daver on May 19, 2008 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think his routes will get better

as he gets used to the position, which will help once he loses some of his speed.

by inukjim on May 19, 2008 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unconventional Asset

I believe Soriano is an asset, but not because of any traits he possesses. It’s because for some reason third base coaches and runners think he can’t throw the ball accurately or hit a cutoff man.

Bottom Line: Because of his reputation as a former infielder, he gets run on a lot and racks up the outfield assists, which turn him into an asset.

"Winning is the greatest marketing idea of all time." --Cubs President John McDonough

by cubbieblue on May 19, 2008 3:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well a good arm is a trait he posses.

In addition, others underestimate him, but he does have a good arm, a great one for a left fielder. And causing runners to be afraid to take the extra base is valuable as well.

Top NL LF Assists:
2006
Soriano 22
Bay 10
Holliday/Burrell/Ethier 8

2007
Soriano 19
Bay 13
Willingham/Byrnes 9

by californiachicagoan on May 19, 2008 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed.

He’s below average….maybe just bad at simply fielding the ball. But he is unbelievably good at throwing it. Overall…I’d say he’s around or just slightly better than your average LF. There are some real butchers in left around the league so as long as he hits he’s fine

by plenz on May 19, 2008 4:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ok, lemme ask something here.

Those of you who think that Soriano is bad/below average at fielding out in left – who do you consider to be an average defensive left fielder?

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 19, 2008 4:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

...there are some brutal left fielders in both leagues, but I think the question was whether he was a liability in the field. It just so happens a lot of teams have liabilities (defensively) in LF as well.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on May 19, 2008 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a matter of your frame of reference.

When someone says Soriano is costing the team plays/runs defensively, you’re comparing him to some abstract/idealized left fielder. Soriano is only a “liability” to the extent that some other left fielder would have caught more balls than him. I don’t think that’s objectively true – okay, so SOME other left fielder (Carl Crawford and Matt Holiday are the ones that come to mind) would have caught more balls than Soriano, given the same chances.

But Soriano makes more plays on fly balls hit in his direction than the average left fielder. And so calling him a “liability” or even “below average” as you did doesn’t strike me as representing the facts very well.

So I’m curious – when you call him below average, who do you consider to be average?

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 19, 2008 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not comparing...

...him to other left fielders, I am looking at his pure defensive abilities as a major league outfielder. I have already said, there are some brutal left fielders in both leagues who would be classified as a “liability” defensively. It just so happens LF is where most teams put the big hitters, who aren’t real good with the glove.

As left fielders go, he is fine, but I still cringe when a ball is hit out there that he needs to chase down to catch.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on May 20, 2008 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

when

was the last time soriano laid out for a ball? dont worry ill wait….

by china423 on May 19, 2008 6:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Gimme a break.

Because laying out for a ball = good defense, right? With all due respect, that’s pretty superficial. You’ll have to do better than that. But don’t worry, I’ll wait.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

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

by dat cubfan daver on May 19, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i never said

laying ou for a ball = good defense. all im saying is it would be nice if he hustled out there. like last night he should of caught that ball that dropped in or at least tried for it.

by china423 on May 20, 2008 7:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs