Soriano literally refuses to play left field

by Scott Christ on Mar 21, 2006 3:47 PM EST in News & Rumors

Alfonso Soriano doesn't want to play left field. He really, really doesn't want to play left field. The Expos played the Dodgers last night, and Soriano was penciled in to start in left. The team headed out, and Soriano wasn't there. Frank Robinson came out of the dugout to make a lineup change, moving Ryan Church from center to left and putting Brandon Watson in center.

So now we've got a serious situation brewing over there.

General manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition could go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week.

"The player refused to take the field, which we believe is a violation of his contract," Bowden said.

...

"We told him if we get to Thursday, and he refuses to play left field, we told him at that point we will request that the commissioner's office place him on the disqualified list, at that time -- no pay, no service time," Bowden said.

"If he refuses to play and goes home, and the commissioner's office accepts our request to place him on the disqualified list, then at that point, if he were to sit out this year, he would not be a free agent, he would stay our property because his service time would stay the same."

Soriano is going to kill his reputation with this if he doesn't just make a go of it. They clearly aren't going to trade him, they're going to try to make him just lose this season.

This is something to watch, at least.

In other news, Tampa Bay's projected closer, Shinji Mori, tore his labrum and is out for the season. Chad Orvella and Dan Miceli are now in the running for save opportunities.

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bowden is a dumbass

this is both Soriano's fault and the Nat's fault. Why did you trade for a player who voiced his desire to not play outfield in the past? Its an unfair situation for Soriano, but he should stop being a baby and play the outfield. what a selfish little prick. he will get really screwed over if he gets on the disqualified list though.

by dtran2k3 @ Camden Chat on Mar 21, 2006 5:14 PM EST reply actions

Soriano

Soriano basically has two options if he wants to play second base. I imagine his agent will try to file a grievance to see if an arbitrator will fix Soriano's situation. I'm not sure about the success rate of this strategy but I think he does have one more option after this if he loses to an arbitrator. He can sit on the DQ list and wait until the Nats are sold and then hope a new GM fixes his situation to his liking. Obviously this an enormously risky move and his agent will advise against it. He might have the same problem with a new GM, he loses pay, he doesn't become a free agent at the end of the season, and he diminishes his own FA value once he hits the market because he'll be a year older. On the upside, he may get a play second and he gets to stick it to Bowden. If he's pissed and feels slighted (a reasonable possibility), this option could be more appealing than you think. I don't think it's uncommon for person to say to hell with the money when their dignity has been slighted. Soriano came from a rich family, money is something that has been a given his entire life. It'll be real interesting to see if Soriano takes the field tomorrow in left field. I think he will, but I wouldn't be surprised if lands on the DQ list.

by birdman on Mar 21, 2006 5:47 PM EST reply actions

He's not a good 2B

I'm sure this is endearing him to Frank.

Soriano is a poor second baseman, which makes this all the more pathetic. Here's an article about his play and pay: Soriano deserves no love for his glove

Soriano, who came up as a shortstop but was moved to second base by the Yankees, has committed 106 errors in 762 career games at second. That comes out to about one error every seven games, or close to an error a week.
With a .971 fielding percentage, he is the worst-fielding second baseman in the last 50 years among players who have played a minimum of 650 games at the position, tied with Joey Cora and Gary Sutherland. If he continues to play second base, Soriano surely will leave those two behind and have the bottom spot all to himself.
What is astounding, though, is he is also tied for the highest-paid second baseman in the history of baseball. That's right, the lowly Washington Nationals, baseball's 12-step program, are right at the top when it comes to paying second basemen.

"I'd love to see the team be much better." Peter Angelos

by drj on Mar 21, 2006 7:36 PM EST reply actions

Actually, I think he may have

a worse arm than good ol Chucky Knoblauch, if that's possible.
And he plays his grounders thru his five hole like he's a croquet wicket!

"What's my secret for winning? That's easy. Pitching, defense, and three run homers" Earl Weaver

by elktonfan on Mar 21, 2006 7:47 PM EST up reply actions

Alos the guy

NEVER can take a walk. He had a paltry 303 OBP last year, in my view, take away Arlington and most 2B are better than him, true he'll have a little more pop and steal some bases but 1. No defense 2. Low avg 3. Extremely low OBP

"We're so bad right now that for us back-to-back home runs means one today and another one tomorrow" Earl Weaver

by Larry Bigbie3 on Mar 21, 2006 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

Don't ya think

That management would have cleared this up before the first game the guy was supposed to play?
You trade your best offensive payer in Wilkerson for this knucklehead, and now he refuses to play in the position you traded for him?
Now Alfonso has painted himself into a corner, and there is very little upside. I remember reading about the trade in December when it went down, and I think Bowden said then he had to "sell" the idea of playing outfield to Soriano after they had struck the deal with the Rangers.
So here they are in late March, obviously the sales job didn't pan out as expected (if it was even tried), and they have a nasty terrible mess on their hands.
Boy, it sure is nice to see a front office more dysfunctional than ours, huh?

"What's my secret for winning? That's easy. Pitching, defense, and three run homers" Earl Weaver

by elktonfan on Mar 21, 2006 7:45 PM EST reply actions

It WOULD but

they aren't as messed up as us. The Tigers might, Tampa Bay too, but Tampa has a big future will their FO screw that up?

"We're so bad right now that for us back-to-back home runs means one today and another one tomorrow" Earl Weaver

by Larry Bigbie3 on Mar 21, 2006 9:35 PM EST up reply actions

re:

That management would have cleared this up before the first game the guy was supposed to play?

He was busy in the WBC, to be fair.

You trade your best offensive payer in Wilkerson for this knucklehead, and now he refuses to play in the position you traded for him?

Not only that, but you traded him basically knowing he's a one-year rental that is not going to stay with you past that. It was a garbage baseball move by the Nationals to try to get press in the first place, and now it's even worse.

"My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.'" - Earl Weaver

by Scott Christ on Mar 21, 2006 9:39 PM EST up reply actions

Once an Expo

always an Expo!

PLay like you want it, Live like you need it

by merdon1332000 on Mar 22, 2006 12:32 AM EST up reply actions

Don't ya think...

Don't you think that Bowden would have run playing the outfield pass Soriano before trading for him??? I'm not saying that Soriano isn't being an ass; but come on, you are trading away one of your best players and just hoping that the guy is going to play a new position??? From what I read, Bowden actually requested to talk Soriano before the trade and the Rangers refused. Now wouldn't that be a huge red flag to you???

by BirdFanInPhilly on Mar 22, 2006 8:28 AM EST up reply actions

Hmm

Soriano is being a jerk....but on the other hand he made it very clear before he was traded that he wasn't going to play outfield. The Nats heard that and said to themselves "Hmm...we're betting his just joking." and traded for him anyway.

To me that's like going to a used car lot, seeing a rusted out junker with no tires, buying it anyway, then looking confused when it doesn't drive.

by Mike Boehm on Mar 22, 2006 9:32 AM EST reply actions

Tampa Bay closer

Orvella was always going to be the Rays' closer. No change there.

by 3RunHomer on Mar 22, 2006 9:54 AM EST reply actions

re:

Oh, was he? Rotowire seemed certain Mori was going to close. I haven't kept up with the Tampa Bay closing situation though.

"My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.'" - Earl Weaver

by Scott Christ on Mar 22, 2006 4:56 PM EST up reply actions

Soriano

decides to play left. I guess his agent realized he had no legal recourse or at least a viable one. I kind of think he'll be back at 2nd next season. Some team will overlook his awful defense for his bat and overpay (e.g. Mets). Although Olney mentioned that Soriano look great in his short stint as an outfielder for the Yanks, I can't see him earning more a hitting OF than a hitting 2nd (unless he maybe plays CF).

by birdman on Mar 22, 2006 3:12 PM EST reply actions