Soriano Leaving the Cubs More Unlikely
Soriano has made it pretty clear that he will invoke his NTC for a team like the Orioles, who seemed like the only team we had hope for him being traded to, even though that talk had diminished. I offer one more team as a last ditch effort, the Yankees. They just traded away their DH to the Mariners. Odds are that we keep him, but hopefully the Yankees would want to take a shot. Some believe the trade deadline, some believe next year, some believe never, while some think we should outright release his massive contract. I believe the last one to be a little much considering he can provide some offense. Thoughts?
4 months ago
KJ24
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I think he would waive his NTC for the Orioles
He’s not likely playing for another contract, he doesn’t really get a lot of endorsements in Chicago, and the Cubs aren’t contenders either. I think if the Cubs tell him they don’t want him, he’ll go, as long as it isn’t to a terrible place to live. If he’s playing in Baltimore, there are plenty of nice places to live within a couple hours.
I hope you're right,
but it’s seeming more likely that he’s going to stay a Cub…excuse me while I hold back my excitement..
In Theo and Jed I Trust
Doubtful
He’s said that he’ll only waive his NTC for a trade to a contender. Unless he’s bluffing, Baltimore doesn’t meet the contender qualification.
I can't figure Soriano's mindset
He gets roundly booed In Chicago and I don’t expect that to change. I also expect to see his playing time diminish significantly—with the Cubs FINALLY placing more emphasis on defense—the loss of PT should be obvious to him.
Why would you want to stay here under those condidtions and of what use is it to say you’ll only play for a contender? Ok—so he’s older and would like a ring—that’s possible, but I don’t see where that stance gains anyone any leverage on this whole thing.
"God, I always said I would never bother you about baseball, but if you could make this pain in my shoulder stop for ten minutes, I would really appreciate it."
Billy Chapel
And those boos
will get more emphatic if news came out that the Cubs did/do have a deal worked out with Baltimore and Soriano invoked his NTC.
I can’t see our fans, who are already rather hard on Soriano (and justifiably so, for the most part) would lighten up if Sori refused to leave if the opportunity presented itself.
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
Man..
to think… this guy was going to play CF for us 4-5 years ago.
I hate to see him get boo’d because he just did what we all would of done, take the most money. We all knew the contract was going to be horrible by year five – but it seems like Soriano’s regression has been even more dramatic than I anticipated.
'Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'
His body
really betrayed him. His legs were a big part of his game, and once they went, he did also.
by zoltarian1114 on Jan 14, 2012 1:45 PM CST up reply actions
Whoops
He shouldn’t be booed. He gives max effort, other than going into the walls. He is reportedly a great teammate and hard worker.
There is free will of course, so people can do what they want, but I really don’t get booing players who don’t play well. It seems incredibly counter-productive and immature. I am all for booing laziness or bad attitude. Just not poor performance that the guy can’t help.
by tomas21 on Jan 14, 2012 2:10 PM CST up reply actions 6 recs
I agree
with everything you posted. I’ve been to plenty of games where I have felt am am the only one cheering a player while the rest of the stadium boos. Booing a player for being bad isn’t going to help and can only make things worse. As for Soriano, I hate when people say he is lazy and lacks effort. From the articles I have read, he gives his all. It only looks like he is lacking effort because his legs are just that bad.
by zoltarian1114 on Jan 14, 2012 2:18 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, I wouldn't boo him either
You never really know any of these players, but he seems like a great guy, and more importantly a fantastic teammate. Personality-wise he’s one of my favorites.
I actually think he’s a great role model in that, no matter how hard he gets booed, or people hate on him, he always comes back with a smile, and doesn’t have any anger towards the fans. I really love that about him. Unfortunately, I’m not a very big fan of Soriano, the baseball player
Sadly, my self worth is almost entirely based upon the outcome of the previous night's Bulls game.
by Juiceboxjerry on Jan 14, 2012 2:38 PM CST up reply actions
I don't boo him when I go
but I understand some instances.
I generally feel like he does indeed give good effort most of the time. That said, when he has some of his defensive misadventures, it can appear that part of the gaffe was due to a lack of effort (or at least concentration).
So I get it at those times… but I don’t really get the serial booing.
I’m sure some of the booing is also due to not living up to the contract.
The posing after HRs also rubs some people the wrong way (though he’s obviously not the only offender on that).
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
And much like Corey Patterson
the chasing of balls three feet off the plate is such an obvious boner that it occasions lots of boos. Soriano may be a friendly guy and great teammate—he seems like a stubborn diva in his approach at the plate. I don’t boo Cubs, but I don’t blame people for booing if he strikes out in a key situation and looks horrible doing so.
Ah yes
how could I forget to mention swinging at 58 foot sliders in the LH batters’ box??
"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."
by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST
Now, THAT deserves some boos
Just because it happens so damned often. Booing him for failing to learn from experience seems justified.
I think people
who boo in situations like that are assholes.
Nope
I don’t think home teams should boo their players very often. I certainly don’t think they should boo in cases of human error.
I think excessive booing is revealing of a character flaw in people. I obviously have pretty strong feelings on the subject.
by tomas21 on Jan 15, 2012 10:45 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
I think
… that the booing we’ve heard in recent years is due to perceived lack of effort, not due to failure.
If the team is perceived as giving maximum effort and hustling, I think you’ll hear the booing of Cubs players diminish.
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I'm not sure I agree
Cubs fans have become some of the quickest to boo a player in baseball. And most of the booing is for performance. I don’t think people are booing Soriano at the plate because they think he wasn’t trying to hit a slider.
It has become an often hostile place for home players to play if they are in a rough patch. I don’t like it, I think it is short-sighted and low-class. But as I said, my feelings on the subject are stronger than most.
I think a lot of it
… stems from the anger that has come to a certain part of the fanbase after 2003.
I understand it, even if I don’t condone it.
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I'd rec this 1000 times...
if I could.
I was disgusted last time I went to Wrigley Field.
D98 mistaken, a hyperbole as in a funny or revisionism as in trying to make a new fact to confirm a prejudice
I have no problem ...
with fans booing a player who continues to make the same mental mistakes. But there clearly has to be a pattern.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I really, really got turned off by the guy when he complained about where he was batting in September
DUMP GARZA. CORRECT THE COSMIC WRONG.
by shoemile on Jan 14, 2012 2:57 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I didn't like when he complained
about not getting enough notice about days off.
♪ He held me very tight under stars so bright and whispered darlin' "Who do you love tonight?" I told him "baseball, baseball...." ♫
Yup.
I found that to be quite annoying. The lineup stuff placed me firmly on the “do not like” side.
DUMP GARZA. CORRECT THE COSMIC WRONG.
Agreed on the boos
Watching the introductions to the convention last night, the boos really bothered me. Don’t cheer him, thats fine. But man, the boos were ridiculous at an event like this. When he was walking out to some clear boos, he went to his place and whomever was next to him had made some comments to him. Perhaps it had nothing to do with the booing, but here are all these new Cub players and I can imagine that it didn’t go unnoticed.
Soriano didn’t need to come to the event… he could’ve stayed home. Instead he was a big boy, knowing he was not popular and he faced it like a man. The guy does try hard but, as a batter he is what he is, and as someone who is getting older, his body is breaking down. It would’ve been nice to have seen him treated with a bit more respect. Say what you will about his overall performance and it isn’t good, but, at least yesterday, he didn’t deserve the boos.
by dmlichte on Jan 14, 2012 3:08 PM CST up reply actions 5 recs
I missed that.
Seems really out of line to be booing him at the Convention.
♪ He held me very tight under stars so bright and whispered darlin' "Who do you love tonight?" I told him "baseball, baseball...." ♫
Thats bullshit
Boo Soriano at the convention? That is a lack of class from the fans that did. We all can’t stand the strikeouts on pitches 12 inches off the plate and the poor outfield play. But to boo him in January. That is really is low, shame on the ones that did.
Total BS
the convention is to share the love, it’s not like he K’d with the bases loaded to end the game 10 minutes ago. Wow, some fans are classless.
I am not Soriano’s biggest supporter, but no one held a gun to Hendry’s head to sign him, and when he’s hitting mistake fastballs out to the bleachers in left, everyone loves him. Plus, the people that are booing him have to PAY to boo him at the games. I’m sure Sori can withstand that while cashing his checks. lol
"IN THEO WE TRUST"
agree, no call for that whatsoever...horrible
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Jan 14, 2012 9:30 PM CST up reply actions
I used to think he'd be traded, but now that's looking like a pipe dream
Fifty milion simoleons is probably too high an amount to write off as a ‘sunk cost’. So, hopefully Soriano will be seeing more bench time to rest. It’s almost painful to watch him run anymore on what appears to be osteoarthritic knees/hips.
I enjoy this website because it's so interesting to see folks pole vaulting over mouse turds.
Soriano still has value.
Anyone who can hit 25 or more HR a year, certainly has enough value to generate some interest. Now, the Cubs will probably have to eat 75% or alittle more of the contract, but I’d like to imagine Soriano might have some suitors now and especially near the trading deadline.
'Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'
I'd rather see him go but,
I’m not too unhappy about keeping him on. Who knows, a suitor may come along during the season.
I hope that Dale plays him sparingly though. Interleague game DH, pinch hitter, starts vs lefties perhaps. This does bring a risk of reducing his perceived trade value though.
I just don’t want to see him play LF everyday. Booed everyday. I realize that his contract is way too high for a role player, but it is what it is. He just shouldn’t start that often for an NL club.
Hey! I caught the 3rd Castro thread!!
You just can't afford to have him play the field
I was in Atlanta 2 years ago for opening day. There was a routine softly hit ball hit to left (may have been with a man on) Z was on the mound. Sori essentially looked like a 9th grader and broke wrong and th en had the ball fall in.
If I recall—Z sort of stole a glance back in Sori’s direction—but he was trying to ge the seasom off on the right foot with no explosions. But I swear there was a palpable deflating of the rest of the Cub defenders. Inferior defense crushes a team’s spirit and I’m pretty sure Theo/Jed will figure out a way to get him to the AL.
"God, I always said I would never bother you about baseball, but if you could make this pain in my shoulder stop for ten minutes, I would really appreciate it."
Billy Chapel
Indeed.
I am a fan of ~25HR and ~80RBI, but not at the expense of shoddy play. And, I think he brings out the worst in our fanbase.
C’mon BAL. Read my post and do what I say. Those other guys… those aren’t the droids you’re looking for.
Hey! I caught the 3rd Castro thread!!
Can't wait to see what happens
the 1st time Hanley ole’s a screamin’ one-hopper to 3rd with Z on the hill…
The sun is up. They sky is blue. It's beautiful, and so are you. Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play? ~Lennon & McCartney
by SouthWabashSoul on Jan 16, 2012 1:22 PM CST up reply actions
I'd almost consider.......
Benching him. He’ll get tired of that pretty quick. Perhaps demand a trade, which we don’t have to meet, and maybe he’ll retire or something. I realize this may hurt his “value”-but, really, he doesn’t have much to begin with, and while 25 HR and 70 RBI are nice, it’s not going to make a difference to the outcomes of the Cubs records in the next few years. His defense is also atrocious…..allows us to bring up Jackson and move Byrd to LF.
The Yankees aren't taking him.
Their DH will probably be A-Rod and Andruw Jones (.286 /.384 / .540 vs. LH last year) and someone like Carlos Pena on a one year deal vs. LH. That is better and cheaper than Soriano.
Everyone keeps saying the Yankees but they have shown no interest.
John Grabow - Who will pay you $4.8 million in 2012?
They didn't like him the first time they had him.
Soriano is legendarily terrible in the playoffs. Soriano is not, and will not be, a True Yankee. They don’t want him.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
You mean Pena against RH?
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
I'm just going
to accept the fact that Soriano will be here this year and next. If he gets moved, gravy, it’ll be an exciting surprise. But I’m not going to attach any hope to that thought. I think they’ll eat the contract for the final year.
Every time I see Soriano struggle all I can think of is Jim Hendry. It’s tough to blame a player for a ridiculous contract, especially when injuries played such a huge part of his decline.
D98 mistaken, a hyperbole as in a funny or revisionism as in trying to make a new fact to confirm a prejudice
The only way i see this happening
Is a Swap for AJ Burnett. They have a ton of 5th starter options now.
It seems like Yankee fans dislike him more than Soriano is disliked.
I don't think I'd want him to have a spot over Volstad or Wood.
Not a very likeable guy and isn’t even a very good pitcher these days.
I agree somewhat
Nobody likes him but he still has the ability to strike out batters. He would improve significantly away from the East and not pitching in the 2nd best home run park. 3.86 XFIP, 8.18 k/9, 49% GB, but he has an awful 3.92 bb/9.
I could see a move like this happening if Garza was traded.
I posted something similar in another thread ...
but I think Soriano is back in 2012 and our starting left fielder. I can’t see an AL contender taking him, and the Cubs actually could use a right-handed power bat to hit fifth.
My guess is the Cubs hope he has a good first half and an AL contender needs a DH in July or August. If not, he sits a lot in the second half and we see some of the younger OFs get time.
And then, after the season, he’s released (assuming he hasn’t been traded). If the Cubs are willing to eat $45 million or so now, I bet they’ll just eat $36 million after the season.
It’s still outrageous to boo Soriano at the Cubs Convention. I’m fine booing him if he doesn’t give max effort or if he makes repeated mental mistakes. But at a pre-season promotional event? Disgusting.
Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
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