In hindsight, Phillies lucky they didn't get Soriano

Baseball notes column from the head baseball writer for the Philadelphia Daily News. He also chimes in on Zambrano.

over 2 years ago PhillyCub 13 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Hagen writes the same old tired stuff that we'd blast Chicago writers for bleating.

Well, it hasn’t turned out that way. He’s been hurt. He’s become a defensive liability. He seems comfortable only batting leadoff. In short, he hasn’t come close to living up to the gigantic expectations that his equally gigantic contract created.

Defensive liability? Not in 2007, when he led the league in outfield assists.

Comfortable batting leadoff? Nope, he agreed to move down in the order when it was clear he wasn’t helping.

Living up to expectations? How about leading the Cubs to two division titles?

About the only thing Hagen got right there was “hurt”.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Sep 18, 2009 2:42 PM CDT reply actions

I don't get people that say he's been a debacle. I've heard it numerous times...

Up until this season, even with his up and down play, it’s VERY EASY to say that he’s helped more than he’s hurt. He’s been a dynamic player and he still very well could be one.

Maybe it’s my optimism but I strongly believe that Soriano will have a bounce back year next season provided he does adequate conditioning and stays healthy in the Dominican.

His play will be a pivotal part of the Cubs success next season.

"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry

by EJThunder on Sep 18, 2009 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely correct.

There’s no doubt that having the surgery was the right thing to do, and as long as he does his rehab he should be ready for spring training.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Sep 18, 2009 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

+ 12

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Sep 18, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Never heard this regarding Z...

Spotted playing softball while still on the DL. ???

by TeddyThunder on Sep 18, 2009 2:58 PM CDT reply actions

Meh, I'm not reading too much into it.

Even if he really was it’s not like he was seen playing soccer and doing bicycle kicks.

"It's hard to win 97 games, it's hard to win the division. Our attitude is if you get in every year, you get in most of the time, sooner or later you are going to knock that door down." -- Jim Hendry

by EJThunder on Sep 18, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions

That's spinning words

If I recall he was playing softball with his kids? Big deal, he’s a family man.

And has there still been any confirmation that Hendry wants to trade Z or is it still speculation that came from one article?

by ak123 on Sep 18, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

As has been said many times

sometimes the best deals are the ones you didn’t make.

The reason the Phillies are fortunate they didn’t sign Soriano is that if they had, they would now be hamstrung salary wise the way the Cubs are. Soriano’s contract really limits what you can do to improve a mediocre ball club that clearly needs some re-tooling.

by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 4:26 PM CDT reply actions

Well...

…The Cubs are lucky they didn’t get Philadelphia.

by TheHawkRules on Sep 18, 2009 10:55 PM CDT reply actions

Nice comment

but focusing on baseball, being a Phillies fan has been a pretty good ride lately.

by azjazzman on Sep 18, 2009 11:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Hindsight is 20-20

If Soriano was dominating, would the Phillies feel lucky they didn’t get him. Obviously not. You can’t say that if Philadelphia had him he’d have the exact same stats, it doesn’t work like that. Looking in retrospect, it’s easy to right these articles, but its pretty lame really

by apett8 on Sep 19, 2009 8:51 AM CDT reply actions

Seems to me like there's a decent chance that in 2010 Soriano returns to the OPS+ of 120 or so he has been since 2002.

But he’s 33. He’ll be 34 before spring training. There’s at least a chance that Soriano’s numbers might recover to some degree, but that his best days are behind him. The Cubs are on the hook to pay him 98 million over the next 4 years. That’s a horrible contract. The author this article was right on his conclusion. He just got his premise wrong. Assuming the new owner doesn’t plan on shrinking the payroll (which seems wildly unlikely), the Cubs are in a position to still acquire players as needed no matter how bad Soriano’s contract is, but that doesn’t make the author of the article wrong.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Sep 19, 2009 6:13 PM CDT reply actions