By Mark La Monica
In regard to this Alfonso Soriano situation, take a look at this brilliant quote from Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden in Tuesday's Washington Post:
". . . We're in a position for this ballclub that if we can't make a trade that makes sense, we're not going to give him away."
That's an interesting take on the situation there, Mr. Bowden. When you said "a trade that makes sense," did you mean trading away one of your most popular and rather productive players for an elite second baseman when you already have an All-Star second baseman and then thinking the elite second baseman you just traded for will move to the outfield because you want him to even though he has refused to make such a switch when he was with two other teams?
Is that what you meant?
Let me ask another question: What did you expect? You traded for Soriano when you already had Jose Vidro on your team. Granted, Vidro missed much of last season with a right knee injury. If you were so worried about that knee, you shouldn't have traded for a $10 million second baseman who has continually fought a move to the outfield before coming to the Nationals.
This issue should have been resolved at the time of the trade. When the Yankees traded Soriano to the Texas Rangers for Alex Rodriguez in 2004, they made sure A-Rod understood he would be playing third base and third base only. And this is Alex Rodriguez, the best all-around talent in the game. Sure, he may be more agreeable to a change than Soriano, but the Yankees left no doubt.
Bowden said he would put Soriano in Wednesday's lineup as an outfielder. If Soriano refuses to play again, Bowden said he would place Soriano on the disqualified list, which I don't think any baseball fan knew even existed.
Soriano has great power and great stubborness. Bowden has great power, albeit of a different variety, and great stubborness. This is shaping up for an epic battle the likes of which we haven't seen since Lincoln Hawk faced off against Bull in "Over The Top."
If you happen to come across any current photos of Soriano with his hat turned around, guess who the new starting second baseman for the Nationals is.
Comments (8)
Alfonso, stick to your guns. You ar an All-Star,A real one; especially when the term All-Star is used indiscriminately.
A talent like yours should not be wasted on nonsense and ego. ****REMEMBER CURT FLOOD*****
Alfonso, stick to your guns. You ar an All-Star,A real one; especially when the term All-Star is used indiscriminately.
A talent like yours should not be wasted on nonsense and ego. ****REMEMBER CURT FLOOD*****
THE OWNERS DESERVE WHAT THEY GET, LET THEM PLAY FAIR.
I REALIZE THAT BASEBALL IS A BUSINESS. SORIANO IS A KID AT HEART. AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING, I BET HE WOULD PROBABLY TURN AWAY FROM THE GAME THAT HE LOVES THAN HAVE SOMEONE MAKE HIM EAT CROW
Let him sit the year and collect nothing, then we will see how fast he shows up in left. Im tired of crying ball players. 10 million , hell i would clean teh stands after each game for that
the guy signed for $10M. he's not the best fielding 2nd baseman, and certainly lacks some patience at the plate. what ever happened to being a team player? isn't $10M enough?
Replace all the crying million dollar babies with any number of players from Japan, Mexico Canada or even Cuba. They WANT to play the game! Prima-donna's are ruining the game and making a mockery of US sports......in all arena's.
Soriano should just try playing the outfield for just 1 season and be a team player. Don't know why he's stubborn. He's the worst defensive second baseman in the National League right now.
Trade him to the METS. See you in October. Soriano can complain and moan all he wants on my team while hitting 30 plus homers and 30 plus steals and 100 plus RBI's!
Soriano an elite second basemen? Give me a break, to be elite you need to play on both sides of the field and Soriano clearly is butcher in the field. I say let him sit if he will not do what is best for the team. As for trading him to the Mets, I hope not!