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Soriano / Nationals To Resume Dispute Over Position

Submitted by cubsnet on Mon, 2006-03-20 15:29.

USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt points to this Washington Post article, which opens: "When second baseman Alfonso Soriano departed the Washington Nationals' spring training camp on March 2 to join the Dominican Republic team for the World Baseball Classic, he left with a seven-word message that was less a threat than a statement of optimism: 'They have three weeks to fix it.' On Saturday, after his team was eliminated in the WBC semifinals, Soriano walked out of Petco Park to begin the journey back to Viera, Fla., and if he did not know already, he will find out when he arrives: The Nationals did not fix it."

Fun times. If Soriano persists in his demand to play second base, he could make himself the most selfish player ever.

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More Fun With Soriano

Submitted by cubsnet on Mon, 2006-03-20 20:58.

The AP reports:

Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition will 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.

Soriano, a four-time All-Star second baseman, was listed as batting leadoff and playing left field on a lineup sheet posted in the Nationals' clubhouse before Monday night's 11-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But when the Nationals took the field in the top of the first, Soriano wasn't out there. With play just about ready to start, left field was empty.

You have to believe the Nationals will do what they can to trade Soriano, if they can get any value for him. I just hope the Cubs don't bite.

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Soriano Will Play!

Submitted by cubsnet on Wed, 2006-03-22 12:00.

"Alfonso Soriano has indicated to Nationals manager Frank Robinson that he will play left field Wednesday in a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals, dropping his refusal to go to the outfield as he held out for his traditional position at second base, according to a club official and a teammate," reports the AP.

And there goes all our fun with this story.

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Jose Cardenal & Alfonso Soriano

Submitted by diana on Thu, 2007-02-22 18:22.


An update in regards to the above discussion...

Feb. 22, 2007
Cubs' outfield still work in progress

Quote:
Soriano, of course, is free to proceed at his own pace and let the Cubs know where he feels most comfortable. When the Nationals tried to shift him from second base to left field last spring, Soriano initially raised a fuss. But he embraced instruction from coach Jose Cardenal, let his athleticism take over, and turned himself into a functional left fielder, with a major league-high 22 assists to help offset his 11 errors.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2007/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=2774939

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