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Former Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo is poised to sign an $800,000 a year offer with the Chicago Cubs for the same position, and to become the highest paid coach in Major League Baseball, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated.
Our View: His likely first order of business in the Windy City? Getting Alfonso Soriano not to stink again. It won't be easy. The soon to be 34-year-old liability in the outfield is coming off his third straight season of reduced average and power production, and has missed 125 games with injury the past three seasons. Then again, if Jaramillo can revive Andruw Jones, he can probably do the same to Soriano. |
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According to ESPN.com, the Chicago Cubs have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to speed up the sale of the team. This move was expected for the team, as it will protect the new owners from debtor claims.
Our View: This might have been expected, but it still looks bad for the Cubbies. Still, this is just procedural and it should help the team and the city put this whole sale behind them. |
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ESPN Chicago reports that after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, Alfonso Soriano will begin rehab exercises on Monday.
Our View: Soriano stopped into the clubhouse on Wednesday and plans to meet the team in Milwaukee mid-road trip on Monday. His rehab is expected to take six weeks and he should be healthy to start next season. Whether he'll be effective remains a mystery and he should slip considerably on draft day next year. |
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Alfonso Soriano has been placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to September 4 after undergoing season-ending knee surgery.
Our View: This may surprise some Soriano owners who thought he had been out since mid-May, since that's when he stopped hitting. Becoming increasingly creaky at age 33, and increasingly less productive, Soriano will be someone to gamble on, not build around, in next year's drafts. |
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The Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports that Cubs' outfielder Alfonso Soriano will have surgery on his left knee on Tuesday. Soriano will miss the rest of the season with the injury.
Our View: Soriano has been dealing with the knee issue for most of the season, so it is a good idea for him to get it fixed now. He should be fine for next season, but there is no use having him now. |
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According to the Chicago Tribune, Cubs' manager Lou Pinella will not use outfielder Alfonso Soriano in the leadoff position next season. "No, if we stay the way we are, we have the option of [Kosuke] Fukudome or [Ryan] Theriot. If we add a speed player to the mix, that would change, obviously," Pinella said.
Our View: People in Chicago have been saying this all season, and it looks like Sweet Lou finally realized that Soriano is not a leadoff hitter. He isn't a high on-base guy, and the speed isn't what it used to be. He is a better fit for the real and fantasy lineup if he hits in the middle of the order. |
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Cubs manager Lou Piniella has told the Arlington Daily Herald that it is "doubtful" left-fielder Alfonso Soriano (knee) will return in 2009.
Our View: He is likely to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his balky left knee sometime this month. 2009 has been a season to forget for the high-salaried 33 year old, as he has hit just .241 with 20 home runs and 55 RBI in 117 games. |
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Alfonso Soriano indicated that he will undergo arthroscopic surgery this month on his bothersome left knee, according to The Sporting News.
Our View: A date is yet to be scheduled, and Soriano will need at least two weeks of recovery time following the procedure. The elite outfielder had been playing with the knee at about 80 percent, but admitted that it is at 50 or 60 percent right now. Sam Fuld will replace him in the Cubs' outfield. |
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According to the Twitter page of baseball writer Ed Price, the Cubs are shutting down outfielder Alfonso Soriano indefinitely due to a knee injury. Manage Lou Pinella told the media that the team will revisit the situation at some point down the road.
Our View: Soriano has been in and out of the lineup because of the knee injury for most of the second half, and with the Cubs pretty much out of it this seems like a good move. Soriano might not be done for the year, but don't expect him to play any time soon. |
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Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Theriot are all out of the Cubs lineup vs. the Astros on Wednesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View: Jake Fox, Jeff Baker and Andres Blanco, respectively, took their places. |
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According to the Twitter page of TheScore.com, Cubs' outfielder Alfonso Soriano received a cortisone shot for his ailing left knee on Monday. Soriano is expected to miss several games due to the injury.
Our View: Soriano has been dealing with knee issues almost all season, and with the team falling quickly out of contention it might be time to give the knee a little more rest. The shot should help, but don't expect to see him in the lineup for the next several games. |
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An MRI taken on Alfonso Soriano's ailing left knee on Saturday revelaed no structural damage, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our View: So it looks like Soriano's recent struggles cannot be explained away by injury. The 33-year-old left fielder is batting just .185 with only one home run in the month of August. |
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Alfonso Soriano has been slated for an MRI today on his left knee, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The Cubs are trying to determine what is causing the star outfielder pain when he runs but not hits. He may consider a cortisone injection if it would alleviate the pain. |
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Alfonso Soriano had only his second multi-hit game of the month on Friday, going 3-for-3 with a three-run homer, as the Cubs beat the Mets 5-2 at Wrigley Field.
Our View: Even after his big day on Friday, Soriano has still been one of the worst players in the game this month, batting just .185 with one home run. Maybe he'll get it going now, but we've seen plenty of false slump-busters from Alfonso this season. |
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After missing the team's past three games with a sore right knee, Alfonso Soriano is back in the Cubs lineup tonight and batting sixth, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View: Odds are, if Soriano had not been batting .157 this month, the team probably would have played him through the pain. If you own him in one of your leagues, you sadly have no choice. |
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The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Cubs' outfielder Alfonso Soriano may have an MRI on his sore right knee, with surgery being an outside possibility. Soriano is scheduled to meet with doctors on Wednesday concerning the knee.
Our View: Surgery is still being considered a long-shot at this point, but it has become a reality. Soriano has been dealing with the soreness in his knee since late April, and the Cubs may shut him down soon if they feel they are out of the playoff race. At nine back right now, it looks like that time is near. We will keep you updated on his status going forward. |
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Alfonso Soriano wasa late scratch from the Cubs' lineup on Tuesday with knee soreness. Jake Fox will replace him in left field.
Our View: Soriano was a bit sore today when he got to the ballpark, so Lou Pinella decided to give him the night off. He should be back soon, possibly tomorrow, but it will depend on how the knee feels. |
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With top-shelf right-hander Chad Billingsley on the mound for the Dodgers on Sunday, Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley are both out of the Cubs lineup, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View: Apparently $25 million - the two players' combined 2009 salaries - doesn't hit right-handers the way it used to. |
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The struggling Alfonso Soriano could get benched, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our View: In August, Soriano is batting an abysmal .162 with no home runs and four RBI. When asked by a reporter if he would ever consider benching Soriano, Cubs manager Lou Piniella responded, "you ask tough questions." Looking at those numbers, it doesn't sound too tough. |
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Alfonso Soriano collected the Cubs only RBI in the team's 6-2 loss to the Rockies on Friday night, as their only other run scored on a first inning Derrek Lee double play.
Our View: After springing back to life in late July, Soriano finds himself in another mini-slump, with only five hits in six August games. He has no home runs and just one RBI this month. |
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Two days after ending a game with a grand slam, Alfonso Soriano decided to set the tone instead, clubbing a three-run first inning home run, as the Cubs went on to clobber Houston 12-0.
Our View: Soriano's two homers two weekends ago could be written off because they came against the Nationals--his three homers and 10 RBI since can't, however. After seeing his average dip as low as .223 on the Fourth of July, he is back up to .251, and has been reinvigorated by being dropped in the lineup. If you benched him during his epic slump, it's definitely time to be starting him without hesitation every day again. |
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Alfonso Soriano carried the Cubs in tonight's 5-1 victory over the Astros at Wrigley Field, as he went 1-for-6 with a grand slam in the bottom of the 13th inning.
Our View: Soriano launched his 18th homer of 2009, and is 12 away from 300 for his career. He is riding a 10-game hitting streak, with 12 RBI over the span. |
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Alfonso Soriano had a three-hit day for the Cubs on Saturday in their 5-3 win over the Reds. Soriano went 3-for-4 with a home run, a run scored, and an RBI in the game.
Our View: Soriano may be starting to heat up a bit, and the Cubs desperately need him to do so if they are going to stay in the playoff hunt. It may be too early to say he is back, but Soriano owners at least have a reason to be optimistic at this point. |
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Alfonso Soriano homered for the second straight game on Sunday, as the Cubs routed the Nationals 11-3.
Our View: Signs of life, or signs of playing the Nationals? Soriano owners would surely like to know. Unfortunately, it might be the latter, as he has looked completely lost at the plate lately, and the Nationals have one of the worst pitching staffs in recent memory. Don't declare him out of his slump until you see him produce against some better teams. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer off Jordan Zimmermann in tonight's 6-5 win at Washington.
Our View: Soriano collected his first homer of July, and his 15th of the season. His ailing right pinkie did not seem to bother him tonight, evidenced by his solid performance. |
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As expected, Alfonso Soriano is in the Cubs' lineup for tonight's game at Washington, according to the Chicago Tribune. He will start in his regular spot in left field.
Our View: The swelling on his ailing right pinkie has gone down enough for him to get the green light to return. Soriano noted that the pain is almost gone and he should be fine to pencil into fantasy lineups. |
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Alfonso Soriano does not have a dislocated right finger, according to ESPN Chicago.
Our View: Soriano jammed his finger diving into first base on Thursday night. He missed the team's game against the Nationals on Friday when it was too swollen to grip a bat, but he is expected to be in the lineup tonight and Sunday. |
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The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Cubs' outfielder Alfonso Soriano is not in the team's lineup for their Friday night game against the Nationals due to a jammed finger. He will be replaced in the outfield by Micah Hoffpauir.
Our View: Soriano jammed his finger last night while diving into first base, but it doesn't look serious. The team is just being cautious tonight, so fantasy owners should get him out if you can tonight and check back for his status for the weekend. NL-only leaguers who have Hoffpauir should also get him in tonight if possible. |
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The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Cubs' outfielder Alfonso Soriano is not in the team's lineup for their Wednesday afternoon game against the Braves. Soriano is getting the day off in preparation for the big weekend series against the division-leading Cardinals.
Our View: No injury here, just a day off so Soriano is well rested for the Cards' series. He had a nice night on Tuesday, and with the day game today it was an intelligent move by Pinella. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-4 on Tuesday night, raising his average to .230, but the Cubs fell to the Braves 2-1.
Our View: Soriano was again batting in the six spot on Tuesday, but the move didn't pay off since no other Cubs could get a hit off Javier Vazquez. The return of Aramis Ramirez could help wake up Soriano's bat, and there is no way he could be as bad in the second half of the season as he was in the first. He is a good candidate to buy-low right now. |
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According to MLB.com, Cubs' manager Lou Pinella has decided to move Alfonso Soriano down from his leadoff spot in the order. Soriano is hitting sixth on Saturday, while Kosuke Fukudome takes over the leadoff duties.
Our View: Soriano has been mired is a season-long slump, and his average is at .226. The Cubs finally decided they can't have a leadoff hitter who doesn't get on base, so the move was made. Maybe this will light a fire under Soriano, and he should have more RBI opportunities hitting in the six-hole. |
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Alfonso Soriano returned to action for the Cubs on Friday and promptly went 0-for-5.
Our View: Soriano was given a couple days off due to his recent struggles. The former fantasy stalwart has been miserable lately. He's zero for his last 12 and hasn't homered since June 7th. |
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The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Cubs' outfielder Alfonso Soriano is back in the team's lineup Friday after being benched for two games to clear his head. He will replace Sam Fuld, who started in his place for the last two games.
Our View: Maybe the rest will do Soriano some good, but it seems unlikely. If you have another option in the outfield, it would probably be wise to sit Soriano until he shows he can contribute. He is hittng only .230 on the year. |
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Alfonso Soriano is not in the Cubs starting lineup for the second straight game on Thursday, according to the Chicago Tribune. Sam Fuld is starting in left field and leading off in his place.
Our View: Soriano has been woeful is 2009, hitting just .230 and striking out more than once a game. He has homered just twice since June 1, and driven in only nine runs in that time. He is not a great option for your starting lineup right now if you have someone on your bench to start in his place. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, a double and a walk against the White Sox on Saturday.
Our View: He's now gone 16 games without leaving the yard and has just one stolen base over the same period. He has picked up two hits in three of his last four games, so continue to plug him into your lineup and hope the power and speed come back around. |
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Cubs manager Lou Piniella said on Wednesday that he plans on resting Alfonso Soriano more as the season goes along, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our View: So far, Soriano has missed only three of the Cubs 67 games. His statistics certainly indicate he could use some more rest, as he is batting just .224 this season, 55 points off his career average. |
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Alfonso Soriano has been given Monday off, and Jake Fox will roam left field in his place against Atlanta, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our View: Soriano is not nursing an ailment, and skipper Lou Piniella is merely giving him a day off to rest. |
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A day after manager Lou Piniella challenged Alfonso Soriano to start hitting better, he drove in the game winning run against the White Sox on Thursday with a ninth inning single. The Cubs won 6-5 after trailing 5-1.
Our View: Soriano finished the day with two hits, a run scored and a RBI. It was his first multi-hit game since May 17. |
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The AP reports that Cubs manager Lou Piniella says he is "ready to make some tough decisions." He added that, "( Alfonso Soriano) has to do something because we're doing nothing offensively." He was 0-for-4 and his average fell to .225.
Our View: Soriano is only 14-for-his-last-99 at-bats. He also made his sixth error of the season on Wednesday. It's uncertain what moves will be made, but Soriano has to remain in the lineup...we think. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in the Cubs 7-4 loss to the Twins on Friday. It was his 19th multi-strikeout game of the season.
Our View: It's never good news when going 1-for-4 actually raises your average, but that was the case for Soriano on Friday, who is now hitting .237 after his eighth inning single. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-5 in the Cubs 13-inning loss to the Astros on Thursday, and has now seen his average drop to .236 on the season.
Our View: Soriano has had a baffling 2009, striking out at a career high rate, while driving in runs near a career low rate. He is now more than ever the master of either the solo home run or the called third strike. There seems to be little in between. His owners desperately need him to turn it around once the Cubs offense gets things going again. |
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Alfonso Soriano hit a solo home run in top of the 14th inning en route to a 6-3 Cub victory over the Reds. It was his only hit in six at-bats.
Our View: Soriano now has 14 homers this season, but his hitting just .241. It's nice that he's knocking the ball out of the park, but too often it's his only hit on the day. The Cubs' leadoff man has an OBP hovering around .300. |
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The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Alfonso Soriano is dealing with a lingering knee injury, but is confident he can play though it.
Our View: Despite Soriano's 13 homers this season he's hitting just .244 and has a mere six hits in his last 48 at-bats. He insists the knee issue isn't the reason for his struggles and says he's just been undisciplined at the plate. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-6 with a solo homer in Tuesday's 6-5 loss at Atlanta. The battle took 12 innings to declare a winner.
Our View: Soriano collected his team-leading 13th homer. He has a hit in six of his last seven games as well. |
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The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Alfonso Soriano may sit on Tuesday to give his ailing knee an extra day of rest. Soriano has played in 47 of the team's 49 games this season.
Our View: Soriano is struggling right now, and it seems to be in small part due to his knee. Two days off would be very beneficial, so fantasy owners may want to be ready to sit him on Tuesday. Check back for updates on his status. |
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The Chicago Tribune reports that Alfonso Soriano's knee remained sore through Friday night's game. He has previously claimed the knee has bothered him for most of May. Manager Lou Pineilla suggested that if the injury continues to linger, he will look to get him a few days off.
Our View: The Cubs have decent depth in their outfield, making the likelihood of this happening a decent possibility. As a result, he is a fairly risky play for next week. |
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Alfonso Soriano revealed that he has been dealing with a sore left knee throughout May, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View: He noted that the ailment is not serious, and he is just sore. Soriano has been getting treatment, and is expected to be fine. |
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The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Cubs' manager Lou Piniella is considering moving Alfonso Soriano to second base if Mike Fontenot continues to slump. Soriano is a former second baseman who converted to the outfield.
Our View: This move makes sense for the Cubs. Soriano is not a great defensive outfielder, and the move would allow the Cubs to bolster their lineup by playing Micah Hoffpauir in left. Soriano's fantasy value won't change, but Hoffpauir could become a decent fantasy candidate if he plays every day. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, and an RBI in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Astros.
Our View: Soriano has five home runs over the last nine games. He is slugging .580 on the season and remains one of the most feared leadoff hitters in the game. |
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Alfonso Soriano was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI in the Cubs' 6-2 win over the Padres on Tuesday.
Our View: Soriano hasn't had a lot of help this season with Derrek Lee and Milton Bradley struggling and Aramis Ramirez battling injuries, but has carried the Cubs' offense. He has 22 RBI in the leadoff spot. Just think what he could do in a higher spot in the order. |
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Alfonso Soriano launched two home runs on Thursday, helping the Cubs to an 8-5 victory over the Astros. Soriano finished the game with two runs scored and three RBI.
Our View: Soriano has been outstanding this season, and he pushed him home run total up to nine with tonight's showing. His average is at .276, and he is starting to look like he is back to being an elite fantasy outfielder. |
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Alfonso Soriano is one of a handful of big name Cubs that will take a seat on the bench on Tuesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Other Cubs out of the lineup include Ryan Theriot, Milton Bradley and Aramis Ramirez.
Our View: Does Lou Pinella have money on the Giants today? Considering that they are facing arguably the toughest pitcher in baseball in Tim Lincecum, it seems rather odd that Pinella would be sitting half his lineup in the matchup. Maybe he knows something the rest of us don't. |
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Alfonso Soriano crushed his seventh home run of the season and drove in four with a 2-for-4 performance on Tuesday. His Cubbies brutalized Arizona to the tune of an 11-3 win.
Our View: Soriano is the most dangerous hitter in Chicago's lineup right now and has been picking up the slack with Aramis Ramirez and Milton Bradley missing time to injury and Derrek Lee struggling. He's driven in 14 runs in the lead off spot this season. Too bad he didn't get to stay in the third spot. |
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Outfielder Alfonso Soriano will be back in the leadoff spot on Sunday. He hit third on Friday and Saturday. "I think he likes to try some things," Soriano tells the Chicago Tribune of manager Lou Piniella. "If it works, it stays. If it doesn't work, back to normal." Soriano went 1-for-8 over the last two games.
Our View: Way to give this experiment some time, Mr. Piniella. Moving Soriano down in the lineup would increase his RBI potential, but he'd also see fewer at-bats in the long haul. Anyway, Soriano will be a fantasy stud as long as he is healthy, no matter where he appears in the batting order. |
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According to the Chicago Tribune, Alfonso Soriano will hit third in the order for the Cubs Friday in their game against St. Louis. He will be replaced by Ryan Theriot in the lead off spot.
Our View: Perhaps Sweet Lou has been listening. We've been begging for Soriano to move down in the order and increase his run production. He has hit well against the Cardinals this year, so the move may be temporary, but it's a start. If he sticks there his fantasy value will no doubt increase. |
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Alfonso Soriano was the only Cub with multiple hits on Thursday as he went 2-for-4 in Chicago's 7-1 loss to the Reds. He's now hitting .317 at the top of the Cubs' lineup.
Our View: Soriano is having a fine 2009 campaign and is a spark plug with considerable pop in the lead off spot. He has five homers already, but only nine RBI. A move down in the order would certainly increase his fantasy value, but we'll let someone else try and convince Sweet Lou. |
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Alfonso Soriano struggled at the plate on Friday until the eighth inning, when he hit the game winning two-run homer to lift the Cubs over the Cards 8-7.
Our View: Soriano had struck out three times before that at-bat, but he is such a dangerous hitter that it doesn't matter what he did in his previous trips to the plate. He now has five homers on the young season and is hitting .295. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-3 with a home run, two walks, a stolen base, two RBI, and a run scored in Sunday's 8-5 win over the Brewers.
Our View: The stolen base makes Soriano the 19th player in history to record at least 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases. His days of being a 40-40 threat are long gone, and his stolen bases have dropped since coming to Chicago. He's still a very good play in the outfield and he's off to a hot start with four home runs in his first six games. |
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Alfonso Soriano needs one more steal to become the 19th player in MLB history to have 250 homers and 250 stolen bases, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our View: Soriano has 273 career home runs, with three coming this season over the first five games. |
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Alfonso Soriano hit a game winning two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning Saturday to give the Cubs a 6-5 win in dramatic fashion. He was 2-for-5 on the day with three RBI.
Our View: Soriano has been showing off the power stroke early this season, with three home runs in his first five games. We still believe he'd be a more valuable asset lower in the order, but Lou Pinella disagrees. We'd rather not argue with Sweet Lou. |
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Alfonso Soriano was 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 4-2 win over the Astros.
Our View: Soriano continued his good hitting from the spring right into the regular season. He's back at the top of a powerful Cubs batting order, and should continue to be a strong fantasy option in the outfield. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Yankees. He hit a homer and two singles.
Our View: He raised his spring average to .325 with six homers and 15 RBI. As a former member of the 40/40 club, Soriano should provide enough speed and power to satisfy fantasy owners as a top-15 outfielder, even if his RBI totals will be compromised while batting in the leadoff spot. |
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Alfonso Soriano was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI on Saturday. The homer was his fourth of the spring and his average snuck over the .300 mark for the first time.
Our View: Soriano continues to knock the ball out of the park this spring. He's a solid fantasy option in the outfield for power and speed, but his average is on the decline and his RBI will continue to suffer as long as Lou Pinella continues to insist on batting him in the lead off spot. |
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Alfonso Soriano was 2-for-4 Wednesday and hit his third home run of the spring.
Our View: He appears to be pulling out of his spring funk, and is producing with some regularity now. He's shown his power stroke is still there with three bombs this spring and he's a safe bet for 15-20 steals, but he still isn't the first round draft choice and potential 40-40 man he once was. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run on Monday.
Our View: Soriano is still batting just .167 this spring, but he should be expected to pick it up soon as he's a .282 career hitter. |
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Left fielder Alfonso Soriano hit his first spring home run Tuesday in the Cubs' 6-4 win over the A's.
Our View: It will be interesting to see if the Cubs take advantage of Soriano's speed and newcomer Milton Bradley's ability to hit the ball in the gaps by batting the two back-to-back at the top of the order. |
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Alfonso Soriano will not be moved out of the leadoff spot by the Cubs, according to MLB.com.
Our View: The Cubs like the power he brings at the top of the order and feel like he can steal over 30 bases this season. He still might be moved out of the top spot later in the season but it looks like he is staying put for now. |
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The Chicago Tribune reports the Cubs are interested in bringing in a prototypical leadoff man such as Brian Roberts or Rafael Furcal so that Alfonso Soriano can move down in the batting order.
Our View: Ryan Theriot is not mentioned as a possibility to move up in the batting order, which is unfortunate considering his speed and high on-base percentage. Soriano would likely lose some plate appearances and steal chances if he moved down in the order, but he has missed time with injuries over the last two seasons anyway. |
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The Chicago Cubs will likely sign GM Jim Hendry to a contract extension of three years, according to the Chicago Daily Herald.
Our View: Hendry was denied permission to talk with the Seattle, and the Cubs clearly don't want to lose their 53-year-old GM. |
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Alfonso Soriano was one of several Cubs who struggled against some excellent Phillies pitching on Wednesday. He was 0-for-5 for the day.
Our View: Soriano might be feeling the pressure of playing on a Cubs team that is expected to win. He is a streaky hitter and the Cubs' faithful are likely praying he can turn it on starting in Game 2. |
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Alfonso Soriano and the Cubs take on the Mets and pitcher Pedro Martinez Thursday, which has historically been a bad thing for Soriano. In his career, he his hitting a lowly .163 (7-for-43) with no walks and 15 strikeouts against the wiry right-hander.
Our View: Granted, a lot of this took place when Martinez was with Boston and Soriano was with the Rangers or Yankees, but the numbers are startling nonetheless. |
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Alfonso Soriano led the Cubs to a 5-4 win over the Cardinals Saturday as he went 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Our View: He remains one homer away from 30 and one steal away from 20 with eight games to go. |
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Alfonso Soriano went deep for the 28th time this season on Sunday as he went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Cubs.
Our View: Soriano is still one steal short of yet another 20/20 season, and he is just two home runs from another 30 home run campaign, a total he has reached in each of the past three seasons and five of the past six seasons. |
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Soriano went 0-for-3 but continued his onslaught for fantasy owners by swiping two bases on Sunday.
Our View: Three home runs and two stolen bases in two days. That's a nice weekend for Soriano and fantasy owners. |
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Alfonso Soriano hit three home runs for the Cubs against the Reds on Saturday night. He finished the night 4-for-5 with four runs and five RBI.
Our View: We should all know by now that Soriano is a streaky hitter and this is just the type of game to get him going. Look for a strong September from the left fielder. Remember, last September he launched 14 dingers. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's close 3-2 win over the Phillies at Wrigley Field. He also drew a walk and stole a base, his 17th of the season.
Our View: He snapped a 13-game drought without a homer, and also ended a five-game skid without an RBI. |
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Recently the Cubs have had not much to worry about, but if there is one thing it has been the spotty defense of Alfonso Soriano. In the last week Soriano has made two errors on fairly-routine plays. According to the Chicago Sun-Times Lou Piniella has repeatedly said that he will not replace Soriano late in games for defensive purpose.
Our View: Unless you are in a fantasy league with defensive stats there is no way Soriano should not be in your starting line-up. |
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Coming into the ball game against Zach Duke, Alfonso Soriano held an outstanding average of .571 against the lefty and today was much of the same. Soriano went 2-4 with a double.
Our View: During this most recent three-game sweep of the Pirates, Soriano went 8-15 at the plate and also scored four runs. |
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Alfonso Soriano has a great match-up in Wednesday's game against the Pirates, as he goes up against lefty Zach Duke. In his career, Soriano has obliterated Duke to the tune of a .571 average (12-for-21) with two home runs.
Our View: It would be a good idea to go ahead and double check to make sure Soriano is in your fantasy team's lineup. |
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Alfonso Soriano and the Cubs beat the Pirates 12-3, and the Chicago outfielder had a hand in it by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Our View: The stolen bases are starting to come around, as Soriano now has four in his last four games, which is what fantasy owners have been wanting to see. |
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After engaging in a beanball war for the past couple seasons with the Cubs, the Atlanta Braves threw another pitch that got close to Alfonso Soriano in today's game, and he is not particularly pleased about it, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. `Yeah, they like to do that. It’s part of the game. We can’t do anything about it. But we’ve got some pitchers who can throw at hitters, too," Soriano said.
Our View: The incident happened in today's game, which the Cubs won 10-2 and which also happened to be the first part of a double header. We'll see if there is any extra-curricular business tonight, and it sounds like if it were up to Soriano, there would be. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-5 with a double, homer, two runs, and four RBI in the Tuesday afternoon win over the Astros. He is hitting .344-5-12-13-4 in 14 games since the All-Star break.
Our View: Soriano is in the process of reminding everyone why he is a fantasy superstar when healthy. |
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Alfonso Soriano went hitless in four at-bats against Houston as his team fell 2-0. He struck out twice on the evening.
Our View: Soriano is a fantasy stalwart, although owners wouldn't complain if he decided to steal a few more bases. |
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Alfonso Soriano went deep for the 19th time on Sunday amidst a day of three hits and a stolen base for the Cubs. Geovany Soto also had two hits, RBI and runs scored for the club.
Our View: Soriano is hitting a robust .346 with four home runs and four stolen bases in 12 games since the All-Star break as he is once again proving that, even with injuries, he is still a top fantasy draw. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-4 on Wednesday to lead a trio of Cubs hitters with three hits (the others were Reed Johnson and Ryan Theriot).
Our View: Soriano also stole his 10th SB of the year on the night. With a little bit of work, Soriano could still end up as a 20/20 performer this year since he also has 17 home runs, something he failed to do last season when he had 33 home runs and 19 stolen bases. |
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Alfonso Soriano came thru for the Cubs off of CC Sabathia on Monday in a 6-4 victory. He was 2-for-4 and hit his second home run in as many games. He scored three times and also stole a base.
Our View: Soriano might be on the verge of one of his customary hot streaks and it couldn't come at a better time as the Cubs are just one game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. The steal was just his eighth of the season. |
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Alfonso Soriano's three-run homer on Sunday tied the game at five. He also scored twice in the 9-6 come from behind victory against the Marlins.
Our View: The home run was his first since June 7 and it appears he is fully recovered from a broken left hand. We all know Soriano can be a very streaky hitter and he may be tuning up for a red hot August. |
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Alfonso Soriano was activated from the DL on Wednesday, and batting in his traditional leadoff spot he went 1-for-5 with an RBI for the Cubs.
Our View: Soriano, who had been out of action since June 12th because of a broken finger in his hand, didn't do much on this night but the fact that he was back on the field should make his owners excited. Still, hand injuries have a tendency to sap a hitters power, so keep an eye on how Soriano does before thinking he is all the way back. |
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Alfonso Soriano is scheduled to come off the DL Wednesday following his recovery from a broken left ring finger, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View: He is expected to return to the Cubs' lineup tonight against Arizona, and Lou Piniella is hoping he can spark the offense. He may need a game or two to shake off the rust, but is too talented to leave on your bench while he is active. |
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Alfonso Soriano fared well in Monday's minor league rehab assignment with Rookie-A Mesa, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He said, "I made a couple of hard swings, hit a couple of balls off the end of the bat and had a couple close to my hands. And I felt nothing in my fingers. It worked out perfect." He also stated that he is ready to be activated whenever the team needs him.
Our View: He is assigned for one more rehab game tonight. Manager Lou Piniella will then determine if he will return Wednesday, or if he needs another day of rehab. |
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As hopes and desired by fans and fantasy owners alike, Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano will begin a rehab assignment on Monday with Chicago's rookie league team in Arizona and is expected to come off the disabled list on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: Soriano has been on the DL since June 12 because of a broken left hand. He took batting practice in Houston on Friday and felt good enough afterward to target a return this week. If all goes well in Mesa on Monday, Soriano will play with Triple-A Iowa in Tucson on Tuesday and could rejoin the Cubs for their four-game series against Florida, beginning Thursday at Wrigley Field. |
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The Daily Herald reports that Alfonso Soriano took batting practice Friday and said his broken left hand is feeling "great." If all goes well, Soriano could join Class AAA Iowa Tuesday and Wednesday in Tucson and play in two games before rejoining the Cubs on Thursday at Wrigley Field for the game against Florida.
Our View: Expect Soriano to pick up right where he left off in a potent Cubs lineup. |
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Alfonso Soriano took batting practice before tonight's game and reaffirmed his earlier prognostication that he will return next week, according to Cubs.com. "I think I'm looking to come back next Thursday. My hand feels great, like nothing happened before," he said.
Our View: Soriano will begin an abbreviated rehab assignment soon and fantasy owners can expect to put him right back in their lineup Thursday when the Cubs take on the Marlins. |
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Alfonso Soriano has circled July 24 on his calendar as his desired return date, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He will go on a rehab assignment before returning from his broken hand. "I think I need it," Soriano said of the rehab assignment. "It's different than with my legs. It's my hands, so I have to test my hands and be confident with that. I have to go one or two games; three would be the most. I have to see some pitches and feel confident."
Our View: Soriano will hit in the cage this weekend with the Cubs, and if all goes well will begin a rehab on Monday. |
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Alfonso Soriano is expected to return to the Cubs' lineup either July 25 or 26 during a weekend series against the Marlins, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He is expected to take batting practice Friday in Houston, and will go on at least a short rehab assignment when he is ready to play.
Our View: The Cubs will need him big time in the second half of the season as they attempt to finally reach the World Series. |
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According to the Cubs team website manager Lou Piniella said Alfonso Soriano will not be ready in time for next week's game at Yankee Stadium.
Our View: Soriano and teammate Kosuke Fukudome were named to the National League All-Star outfield, and while Fukudome will play, Soriano will be a spectator. |
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Alfonso Soriano won't be able to participate in the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He said his left hand still felt weak during a batting-practice session Saturday that left him a little sore.
Our View: Soriano has been selected to seven-straight All-Star Games, which is the fourth longest active streak. |
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The NL starters for the All-Star game have been announced, according to ESPN. The starters for the NL squad will be Geovany Soto (catcher), Lance Berkman (first base), Chase Utley (second base), Chipper Jones (third base), Hanley Ramirez (shortstop), and outfielders Ryan Braun, Alfonso Soriano, and Kosuke Fukudome.
Our View: The Cubs lead with three starters, and it remains to be seen if Alfonso Soriano will participate in the game. The Phillies' Chase Utley led the squad with 3,889,602 votes.
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Alfonso Soriano took batting practice on Saturday for the first time since fracturing his left ring finger on June 11. "The most important thing is I feel good and there's no pain at all in my hand," he explains to MLB.com. Soriano admits that his left hand is still a little weak, but he hopes to be ready for the All-Star game on July 15.
Our View: We'd be a little surprised if the Cubs allowed Soriano to actually play in the All-Star game. Fantasy owners can tentatively plan on using the superstar when the break ends on July 18. |
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Alfonso Soriano was cleared to begin swinging a bat on Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times notes. The outfielder has been out since June 11 due to a broken left ring finger. He could take batting practice this weekend.
Our View: Soriano is still at least a couple weeks away, as we don't expect him back before the All-Star game. July 18 seems like the best shot at a return date, provided he doesn't snag a setback. |
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Alfonso Soriano, sidelined with a broken hand, was re-examined in Chicago on Thursday and is set to rejoin the team Friday in St. Louis, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Our View: The Cubs outfielder could return after the All Star break, June 18th, at Houston. |
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Alfonso Soriano will have the last round of x-rays on his broken hand on Friday, and if the results are positive he could take batting practice this weekend, according to the Chicago Sun Times. ''I'm bored...I just eat and run and sleep.''
Our View: Soriano's Friday exam will be 23 days after the injury occurred putting him on pace to beat the outside timeline of six weeks that was placed on the injury when it occurred. |
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Alfonso Soriano has been cleared to do strengthening work without a splint, and he said he talked to trainers about starting to take batting practice at some point this week but was told to wait until possibly the St. Louis series next weekend, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Soriano said, "The doctors keep saying they want to be careful, that we're in first place and we have a whole second half." He is recovering from a broken left ring finger.
Our View: Soriano is still trying to get back in time for the All-Star game. |
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Rumors of a quick return for Chicago outfielder Alfonso Soriano appear to be leaning towards reality, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Our View: After another X-ray Friday on Soriano's injured left hand, the Cubs said doctors are ''very pleased'' with how quickly he's healing, and he's expected to return from the disabled list sooner than the original six-week prognosis. The Cubs' leadoff hitter has been cleared to start range-of-motion and strengthening work without a splint, the team said. Soriano has stated he wants to return to batting practice this week and has every intention of representing his team in the All-Star game. This timeline could help him reach those goals. |
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Alfonso Soriano (broken hand)and manager Lou Pinella believe that the star outfielder will indeed be able to return to action quicker than the original six week estimate, according to MLB.com. "I would think, just looking at it, it won't be six weeks," Piniella said. "If we get him back right after the All-Star break, I think we'd feel really good about it...He heals really quick."
Our View: Let's hope that all this positive thinking does indeed result in Soriano returning to action earlier than originally believed. Our fingers are crossed (or is that a jinx?). |
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Alfonso Soriano will undergo an X-ray on his injured hand on Friday to get a more accurate idea as to when he may return to the diamond, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He is still targeting Monday to take batting practice for the first time since sustaining the injury on June 11. He said, "That's what I say. It feels good. We'll see." He will need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated, and the original estimate was six weeks from the injury.
Our View: He is also aiming for a quick enough recovery to participate in the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, where he used to call home. |
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Chicago outfielder Alfonso Soriano will have his broken left hand re-examined on Friday, according to the AP. Soriano was hurt when he was hit by a pitch from Atlanta's Jeff Bennett in the second inning of a game on June 11.
Our View: Soriano hopes to hear a better prognosis for return and believes he could be back before the All-Star break. He will go out on a minor league rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day disabled list. |
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Alfonso Soriano is optimistic he can return from the DL sooner than the Cubs' projected six weeks, according to the Boston Globe. He is on the shelf with a broken left ring finger and stated, "We'll see how it is in two weeks. They say it's a little broke. They said six weeks, but we'll see what happens. I'm going to do treatment every day, hopefully I'm back soon."
Our View: The team will get a more accurate idea of when he can return when he has his splint removed in three weeks. |
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Alfonso Soriano has been officially placed on the 15-day DL due to his broken left ring finger, according to the AP. The team recalled Eric Patterson from Triple-A.
Our View: He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks of action, but the team will know for sure when he has his splint removed in three weeks. Reed Johnson and Jim Edmonds should both play regularly now while he is out. |
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Alfonso Soriano could miss up to six weeks after learning that his left hand was broken by a pitch from Jeff Bennett, according to the Associated Press. Soriano will wear a splint for three weeks, and then build strength back in the hand before rejoining the lineup.
Our View: Given that Soriano's game is predicated on the strength in his wrists and hands, this could be a potentially devastating injury. Look for Reed Johnson and Jim Edmonds to both play on a daily basis now. |
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Alfonso Soriano was hit by a pitch square on the left hand, and he is currently en route to the hospital for x-rays, according to the Associated Press.
Our View: This did not look good. It would be awfully surprising if Soriano didn't break some bone in his hand as he took the pitch right off it. It would help if Soriano learned to turn his back to the inside pitch to shield his hands, but most major leaguers have forgotten that is how you take inside pitches, which is why so many end up with injured hands. |
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Chicago leadoff man Alfonso Soriano continues to shine as the Cubs beat the Padres 9-6. Soriano went 2-for-4 with a walk at the dish, including his 10th double of the season and his 14th home run of the year.
Our View: Soriano also added a stolen base with three total RBIs and two runs scored. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and the Chicago Cubs, best home team in baseball, defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Sunday afternoon. The victory was the Cubs seventh straight.
Our View: Soriano homered and drove in three runs Saturday to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies 5-4 for their sixth straight win. |
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Chicago leadoff man Alfonso Soriano wasted no time in getting his Cubs on track for the 5-4 win against the Colorado Rockies today. Soriano garnered two of the 11 total hits the Cubs would post, going 2-for-4 with is 12th home run of the season as well as his fourth stolen base, finishing with three RBIs and the one run scored.
Our View: Soriano was on his usual pace to gather excruciating strikeout totals, touting 23 strikeouts versus just eight walks coming into today. However, he failed to take a K today and has gone 9-for-23 with four home runs over his last five games. |
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Alfonso Soriano had two hits which led to two RBI for the Cubs leadoff hitter on Thursday against the Rockies.
Our View: This was the third straight game that Soriano has put up two hits which has helped him to improve his batting average to .287 after a down couple of games. Still not running with only three steal attempts, Soriano continues to underperform despite his incredible week in mid-May. |
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The Cubs and Dodgers went into extra innings this evening as the teams' top hurlers went head-to-head, and in the 10th it was the Cubs pulling away, 2-1. Chicago it was leadoff man Alfonso Soriano doing work as the primary weapon of choice, going 2-for-5 with one RBI.
Our View: Soriano is hitting .343 for the month of May with nine home runs, 25 RBIs, and 70 total bases. It's safe to say he is in a groove. |
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Alfonso Soriano is back in the lineup Saturday after having to leave Friday's game in the seventh inning with what appeared to be leg problems.
Our View: Soriano says that he isn't having any issues with his legs, but if you observed his mobility on Friday, you would suggest otherwise. You should certainly continue to play him, just be aware that his numbers could be affected - especially his stolen base totals. |
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Alfonso Soriano continues to move gingerly on the bases and in the field causing many followers of the club to believe his legs just aren't healthy, according to the Chicago Tribune. Asked about his reluctance to push himself, Soriano had this to say. "My body is feeling good. I was a little scared because I didn't do anything the last two days. I lost my confidence. Tomorrow I think I'll be good."
Our View: Huh? Since when does confidence play a role in the health of a body part? With the way he has been hitting of late we just want Soriano on the field, so if that means he has to run the bases like Bengie Molina for a while, then so be it. |
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Alfonso Soriano is getting a day off tonight, and manager Lou Pinella said that he plans on giving his outfielder a day off once every 12 or 13 games, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our View: Soriano is coming off Player of the Week honors, but with the ailments he's had since joining the Cubbies, it's a good decision by Pinella to not overuse him. |
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Alfonso Soriano was named the NL Player of the Week after putting up 16 hits leading to seven home runs, 14 RBI and a 1.258 SLG for the week, according to MLB.com. "I have my confidence back," Soriano said.
Our View: Soriano is as hot as anyone on the planet not named Lance Berkman, so it's only fitting that the Cubs and the Astros play each other at the start of the this week. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 1-for-3 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to seven games during which time he has seven home runs, 14 RBI and a .516 average.
Our View: Who says that Lance Berkman is the hottest bat in the league? Soriano has used the last week to vault his numbers back to the top of the charts in the outfield after a very sluggish start to the season. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 5-for-5 with three RBI and blasted a pair of homers in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
Our View: Soriano has impressively hit two home runs in back-to-back games, and has hit one in five of his last six games, with 13 RBI over the span. |
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Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs on Friday on his way to four RBI in the Cubs 7-4 victory over the Pirates.
Our View: Soriano has really been stroking it of late with five straight games of two hits and 14 hits in his last seven games. Look for the mashing to continue as he brings up his numbers to his previously established level of excellence. |
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The Chicago Cubs put eight runs on the board against Jake Peavy and the San Diego Padres tonight, an effort largely led by leadoff man LF Alfonso Soriano . Soriano went 2-for-5 at the dish with his sixth home run of the year, totaling three RBIs.
Our View: Soriano has been red hot this month, going 17-of-51 at the plate with 13 RBIs. |
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Alfonso Soriano went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the Cubs 4-3 loss to the Padres.
Our View: Soriano is now eight for his last 14 (.571) to help push his season long mark up to .243. Beyond that, it's nice to see him hitting the ball with authority once again. |
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Alfonso Soriano is still hesitant to go full-out on the basepaths, as was apparent during Saturday's contest. "It's more I'm scared because I was running a lot today and it was a little cold out," Soriano explains to the Chicago Sun-Times. "I think I'm OK. I have to play a little more and feel confident about my leg." Soriano went 4-for-5 in the game.
Our View: Soriano has hit better since coming back on May 1, but fantasy owners have to wonder when (or if) Alfonso will get back to stealing bases on a regular basis. |
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The Cubs had to wait for the relief pitching to enter the game, but once they did, the offensive surge began as the Cubbies ran up a 7-2 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Leadoff man LF Alfonso Soriano enjoyed the day more than any other Cub, going 4-for-5 at the dish with his fifth double of the season. Soriano picked up one RBI and two runs scored on the day.
Our View: Soriano is putting the wood on the ball each day he goes out, sporting hits in 14 of his last 17 games. However, he has multiple hits in just four of those games. |
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Alfonso Soriano returned to the top of the lineup on Thursday but he went 0-for-4 in his first game back from a calf injury dropping his average to .164.
Our View: Soriano didn't hit a single home run last year in April and still finished with 33 long balls, so he has clearly shown he can rebound from slow starts. Hopefully he can do the same thing this year as well. |
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Alfonso Soriano has been activated from the DL, and is batting leadoff against the Brewers today, according to ESPN. Manager Lou Piniella said, "We'd like for Soriano to come in nice and hot and give us a lift. We'll see." To make room on the roster, the team optioned outfielder Matt Murton back to Triple-A Iowa.
Our View: Soriano's right calf has reportedly healed favorably, but he still needs to find his swing, as he was only hitting .175 before landing on the DL. |
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Alfonso Soriano hopes to steal 30 bases upon his return from the DL on Thursday, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. He said, "If I play the rest of the season healthy, 100 percent, I can steal 30 bases. I feel more comfortable in my quad. My speed is there."
Our View: His statement lends encouragement that his right calf strain has healed favorably, but he still needs to find his swing, as he was only hitting .175 before landing on the DL. |
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Alfonso Soriano will stay in left field and bat leadoff when he returns from the disabled list Thursday, according to the AP. “He’s been swinging the bat very well in batting practice,” manager Lou Piniella said. “The ball’s jumping off his bat. Let’s hope that on Thursday when we get him in there, he gets nice and hot for us.” Soriano is coming back from a calf injury.
Our View: Hopefully Alfonso found his swing over the layoff. |
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Alfonso Soriano promises to be ready to play at close to full speed by Thursday when he is set to come of the DL, according to The Chicago Sun Times. Today Soriano had his best, most vigorous workout since injuring his right calf on April 15, and he has another big day of on-field work lined up for Tuesday.
Our View: It remains to be seen how much running Soriano will do when he comes back, but he can still make an impact with his bat. |
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Alfonso Soriano tested his right calf on Friday, notes the team website, and said he expects to be ready when he's scheduled to come off the disabled list on May 1.
"It was a very good workout, and I'm very happy," Soriano said. "Today was the best day, and I feel good. That's the most workout I've done in 10 days."
Our View: The Cubs had an early batting-practice session at Nationals Park, primarily to give Soriano time to work and he run the bases. |
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Alfonso Soriano will bat leadoff upon his return from the DL on May 1, according to the Chicago Tribune. Manager Lou Piniella stated, "Yeah, we'll put him back in left field and lead him off. We want to make sure he can do all the things a leadoff hitter needs to do. We don't really want to take any chances here early in the year of bringing him back too soon, and all of a sudden we have another problem on our hands. He's going to go through a full agenda of outfield play and running the bases and hitting and those sort of things to ensure that we can keep him as healthy as possible."
Our View: Soriano will return to the leadoff spot, but he will need to raise his average, which currently stands at .175 over 57 at-bats, if he wants to stay there. He also needs to cut down on his strikeouts, as he has 11 over 13 games played. |
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Alfonso Soriano should reportedly come off the DL after his 15 days expire on May 1, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Soriano commented, "I was supposed to go jogging on Wednesday, but I couldn't wait. I got outside today and walked a little and jogged a little. For hitting, it's not a problem. I hit off the tee Sunday, and it wasn't a problem. It's more for running. I want to start hitting Wednesday in Colorado." Soriano will travel with the Cubs on their trip to Colorado and Washington and should return in time for a series finale against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field.
Our View: This is good news, and Mark DeRosa would move back to his post at second base when he returns. |
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Alfonso Soriano (calf strain) was back on the Cubs bench on Monday in uniform, though he still did not take part in batting practice, this according to MLB.com.
Our View: The team still expects Soriano to be activated the first day he is eligible to play which would put his return in the first week of May. |
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Alfonso Soriano could begin running on Wednesday, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. He is on the DL due to a strained right calf.
Our View: Soriano is already due to miss the rest of this month, as he suffered the injury on April 15. If he begins running on Wednesday, he'll have a week to test the calf before being eligible to return. |
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Alfonso Soriano is expected to be fully recovered from his calf strain when he comes off the DL, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The team does not think his ailment will linger, or be a problem when he returns.
Our View: This is favorable news, and Mark DeRosa will spend time in left field until he returns. |
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Alfonso Soriano was placed on the DL on Wednesday with a right calf strain, and to take his spot on the roster the Cubs recalled Eric Patterson, this according to MLB.com.
Our View: The club doesn't seem overly concerned that his is a long term issue, but Soriano has been suffering injuries to his legs for a while now, so even when he returns the team might limit his SB opportunities to ensure he his healthy. Patterson was hitting .222 in 11 games this season at Iowa and figures to have minimal value as the club will likely go with Mark DeRosa and Reed Johnson to help to pick up the slack. |
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Left fielder Alfonso Soriano has suffered an undisclosed leg injury while fielding a fly ball against the Cincinnati Reds this evening, according to ChicagoSports.com. Soriano was making his traditional hop while catching a fly off the bat of Ken Griffey Jr. and came up limping after an awkward landing.
Our View: Soriano missed five games last May with hamstring problems and was on the 15-day DL earlier this year with a quad strain. Now it appears he will miss more time with additional leg issues. The extent of the injury is not known at this time and we will update when more news become available. |
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| Alfonso Soriano was productive in Thursday night's win over the Pirates. The Cubs left fielder singled and doubled and scored two runs. Soriano came into the game hitting .132 with one home run and three RBI, far from what's expected of the All Star. |
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| Alfonso Soriano has a good track record against Matt Morris, today's opposing pitcher for Pittsburgh, according to MLB.com. Soriano is 5-for-9 lifetime, with one homer against Morris. This is good for Soriano as he needs to break out of a slump with a current batting average of .132 over 38 at-bats. |
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| Alfonso Soriano hit his first home run of the season on Sunday off Astros right-hander Brandon Backe. Soriano was again hitting out of the leadoff hole Sunday after hitting second on Friday. |
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| Alfonso Soriano returned to his familiar leadoff role on Wednesday as the Cubs moved Ryan Theriot back into the second hole, this according to a report on MLB.com. "It's something I've been thinking about since the end of spring training, and we'll go with it," manager Lou Piniella said. "Soriano is running better. We'll put him in the leadoff hole, where he's more comfortable, and let him hit there." Soriano will hit no matter where he is in the lineup, you can be sure of that, the question is how healthy are his legs and will they allow him to run like he has in the past? |
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| Alfonso Soriano blasted his third homer of the spring as he went 2-for-2 with three RBI against Milwaukee on Thursday. He also scored two runs. He will play a large part in the Cubs' chances to reach the playoffs (and beyond) this season. |
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| According to Greg Fieg's MLB Rumors Blog, Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano looked uncomfortable and out of form Saturday as he struggled to make contact in the batting cage at spring camp. He also failed to make the trip to Tucson for a much anticipated contest with the crosstown rival White Sox. The report noted that Soriano was unable to make clean contact, fouling off coach Gerald Perry's soft batting-practice lobs into the overhead netting or behind the plate. "Though Alfonso may have gotten past a broken finger tip earlier in camp, it appeared clear that he continues to baby his sore quadricep, in which he has diminished confidence since tearing it last season." The Cubs outfielder is hitting .320 in 25 appearances this spring, but he has only one home run and no stolen bases. |
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| Alfonso Soriano went 0-for-4 against Oakland on Wednesday. His spring average remains fine at .306 (11-for-36). |
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| Alfonso Soriano will hit in the second spot for the Cubs Friday, with Ryan Theriot sliding into the leadoff spot and Kosuke Fukudome in the five hole, according to the Chicago Tribune. "We want to keep Soriano nice and healthy and strong all year," manager Lou Pinella said. "It seems to me, out of the leadoff spot, he'll want to do too much, run too soon. We'll see, just take a look at it. Last year he was out a few times with the leg pulls. If you talk to him, [he says] he's 80-85 percent. Put it this way: Out of the two hole it might be easier for him not to have to run as much... I don't think we'd ask him to bunt. My point of this is it's for his own good. And for the team's good, because having him in that lineup is important to us." Soriano might drive in a few more runs in the two spot, but it sounds like he won't run as much, so this isn't good news for him fantasy-wise. We'll see if this lineup setup sticks. |
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| Alfonso Soriano picked up two hits in his Saturday return from a fractured finger. But while he said the finger was "perfect," he admitted that he only ran at about 85 percent, because he has a mental block about pushing last year's torn quadriceps at top force, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "I'm still a little scared because today's only my second game," said Soriano. "I think after I start playing every day, I'll feel more comfortable and can run 100 percent." Let's hope he gets over the mental hurdle and that his quadriceps, which he tore seven months ago, holds up when he does test it at full speed. |
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| Alfonso Soriano is expected to take part in Saturday's spring exhibition game, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. That's a pretty quick return, considering he fractured the bone on the tip of his right middle finger on Sunday. If he can play with the ailment, he should be fine going forward. |
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| Alfonso Soriano, out with a non-displaced fracture in his right hand, was able to throw on Wednesday and hopes to be able to hit at some point this weekend, this according to MLB.com. Progress is progress, and it seems like that is what is occurring here, but until he returns to the plate we will withhold pronouncing him fit. |
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| Alfonso Soriano was originally supposed to be back from his fractured finger in 3-5 days, but it now appears that it will be longer than that until we see him on the field again. "His finger was really swollen [Monday], so I don't know -- maybe a week or so," manager Lou Piniella said in the Chicago Sun-Times. "He'll have to tell us, but it's going to be a while. It's not going to be a matter of three or four days." The Cubs should take it slow with Soriano this early in the spring. At this point you don't need to worry about him. |
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| Alfonso Soriano missed Sunday's game after sustaining a non-displaced fracture of the tip of his right middle finger during a pre-game drill, according to MLB.com. At this point, the Cubs expect him to be limited for 3-5 days and not throw or swing a bat. Luckily this happened early enough in spring training that it shouldn't affect his regular-season status. |
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| Alfonso Soriano, not the best fielder anyway, is afraid of the walls at Wrigley, this according to Sports Illustrated. "I have no problems running from side to side or running to make a catch in front of me," he said. "The only problem I have sometimes is running backward because I'm scared of hitting the wall. But I'm working very hard in spring training to get better." Maybe he should spend a little more time getting his legs in shape as we are much more concerned about his ability to steal bases rather than rob hits in the gaps. |
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| The Chicago Sun Times makes a solid point when reporting about all of the Alfonso Soriano talk concerning a 40-steal season; even with a full season of good health, Soriano is 32 and has stolen 40 bases only once since he was 26 -- and that was during his walk year for last-place Washington in 2006, when games and situations meant little. He also was caught stealing a career-high 17 times that year. Expecting Soriano to be a 40/40 player this year is ridiculous. Considering him to be a member of the 30/30 club is reaching. To project the Cubs left fielder to steal 20 bases and hit 30 dingers is reasonable. |
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| Alfonso Soriano reported early to camp for the Cubs, but all attention is on his wheels which let him down last season, specifically a strained let hamstring that has been slow to heal. "I've run (at) 75 percent, so I think my legs are good. We'll see now how I feel," Soriano said in an AP report. No matter how he feels, the team will take it slow. "We're going to watch him," manager Lou Piniella said. "With Soriano, it's just a question of letting him get in shape and not pushing him and getting him ready for the season. We want to get his legs nice and healthy and strong. If we can do that here in spring training, he'll run once the season starts." Soriano still stole 19 bases last season, but for a guy who has gone 25/25 four of the past six years, it was a disappointing total. It goes without saying that you need to monitor his spring very closely before investing an early pick on him this season. |
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Alfonso Soriano was given the night off on Friday. He hasn't been 100 percent since returning from a torn quad muscle. Matt Murton started in his place in left field.
Our View: He'll likely get a few more days off until the leg is fully healed so the Cubs don't lose him for the rest of the season by re-injuring it. |
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| Alfonso Soriano said his right leg has felt fine since returning Tuesday from a torn quad muscle. He has looked a little tentative on the basepaths, but Soriano said it's a mental thing more than anything else. "It's not physical. It's up here," he told the Chicago Sun-Times as he tapped the side of his head. "I know it's OK. But it's the mental [part] that's the difficult part. I hope it's just a few more games. But my hamstring [in April] took me like a couple weeks. That's the hard thing when you get hurt. Your body feels good, but mentally you have to play to be careful, so that's difficult." Soriano will get the day off today. |
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| Alfonso Soriano hit leadoff for the Cubs in his return to the lineup Tuesday, with Ryan Theriot moving to the No. 2 spot. That's where he'll hit the rest of the season, but manager Lou Pinella has left open the possibility that Soriano will hit lower in the order next season, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
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| Alfonso Soriano was activated from the disabled list on Tuesday. He had been out with a small tear in his right quadriceps muscle. Soriano was back in left field for the Cubs on Tuesday night against the Brewers, batting leadoff. |
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| Alfonso Soriano should be back with the team for their big series against the Brewers starting on Tuesday. "He's going to play unless he slips coming off the airplane," manager Lou Piniella told MLB.com. "He's ready to go. He's worked hard, and we could wait another week, but he's not going to get any better than he is." Fantasy owners can begin using Soriano again as soon as this period because it appears he will be able to play all week. |
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| Alfonso Soriano continues to make fast progress in his rehab and Lou Piniella admits he has a shot to play in the series with Milwaukee in the middle of next week, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "I'm not going to rule it out," Piniella said Thursday, a day after watching the surprisingly agile Soriano hit and run the bases for the first time since tearing his right quadriceps Aug. 5. "But let's see what happens over in Arizona because we're going to start -- I'm not saying push him -- but he's going to get a lot of steady work, and we'll see how he feels." The Cubs had originally set a Labor Day return date for Soriano. |
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| After completing his first day of running in the outfield since he was injured on August 5, Alfonso Soriano thinks that he'll be ready to return from the disabled list this weekend. Don't get too excited, though, because the Cubs are sticking with their original plan of activating the outfielder around Labor Day. "No, he's not ready," Piniella said in the Chicago Sun-Times. "The fact that he's been taking batting practice has got his blood flowing a little bit, but we've got to be careful. One more setback, and the whole season's gone." |
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| Alfonso Soriano, recovering from a quad injury, had hoped to take batting practice Sunday or Monday, but the weather canceled plans both days. "He's doing well and not having problems, and [trainer Mark O'Neal] will probably step it up with him on the road trip," general manager Jim Hendry said in the Chicago Sun-Times. |
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| Alfonso Soriano took batting practice on Friday. Soriano, who is recovering from a quadriceps injury believes he's recovering much quicker than expected, according to the Chicago Tribune. Although Soriano hopes to begin testing the injured muscle by running next week, the Cubs still don't expect him to come off the DL until September. |
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| Alfonso Soriano says the pain in his quad has subsided but he still has not started running, the AP reports. Soriano hopes to begin running next week and plans to be activated in early September. |
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| Alfonso Soriano, sidelined with a quad injury, feels as if he could be ready to return in two weeks, which would be one week ahead of schedule, according to the Chicago Tribune. "I said to myself, maybe two weeks," Soriano. "I feel OK walking, but I haven't put any [weight] on my leg because I don't want to feel the pain. I'll just get some good treatment, work hard and come back soon." That said, manager Lou Piniella thinks Soriano's projection is optimistic, and he still doesn't expect the slugger to return until early September. |
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| Alfonso Soriano is expected to join the team in Denver today to continue his rehab work. Close friend Felix Pie said Soriano is already showing improvement, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "He told me he can walk normal now," said Pie, who talks daily by phone with Soriano. "He's not in as much pain." |
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| Alfonso Soriano was officially placed on the disabled list Monday with his right quadriceps injury, according to the AP. "The latest from the MRI was that there is a small tear in the quad," manager Lou Piniella said before Monday night's game against Houston. "It's about one centimeter. We think he'll be out four to six weeks. We think it will be around Labor Day. We were expecting this. It could have been worse." Soriano is expected to be sidelined 2-4 weeks with the injury. |
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| Alfonso Soriano will be sidelined 2-4 weeks with the right quadriceps injury he suffered on Sunday, according to the AP. "How devastating. I mean, leadoff hitter, valuable guy, leads my team in home runs, he's got a lot of energy," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "It's going to be a tough loss." Piniella said he didn't know what the Cubs would do to fill the hole and would discuss potential moves with general manager Jim Hendry. |
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| Alfonso Soriano left Sunday's game against the Mets after straining his right quadriceps while running from first to third on a single, according to the AP. It's unclear if the slugger will be forced to miss any time with the injury. |
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| Alfonso Soriano homered in his first three at-bats on Friday and finished the night going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI. He now has six homers in his last seven games. |
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| Alfonso Soriano will bat second when first baseman Derrek Lee returns to the starting lineup on Tuesday. Infielder Ryan Theriot will hit leadoff, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. |
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| Alfonso Soriano admitted that his strained hamstring remains only about 85-90 percent healed, according to the Daily Southtown. He felt a twinge in the muscle while trying to steal second base on Saturday. While he doesn't expect the muscle to keep him from missing any games, it's obviously still a concern. |
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| Alfonso Soriano hit his first home run of the season on Tuesday night against the Pirates. He also cracked his 10th double in a game that was suspended during the seventh inning due to rain. "It's good that (April) is over," Soriano told the team's official web site. |
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| Alfonso Soriano was not in Wednesday's starting lineup as a precautionary measure because of the wet grass from the overnight rain, the Cubs official site reports. He looked a little tentative when he was running the bases Tuesday after hitting a double.
"Actually, when we get to St. Louis on Friday, he's ready to go," Lou Piniella said. "I'm sure he's still feeling himself out for a few days. I think we can expect him to steal bases and do everything else he's done in the past." |
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| As expected, Alfonso Soriano returned to the starting lineup for the Cubs on Monday. Coming back from a hamstring injury, Soriano moved to left field and was 2-for-6 in the extra-inning contest. |
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| Alfonso Soriano doubled as a pinch hitter Sunday before being removed for a pinch runner, according to the AP. Soriano, who has been out with a hamstring injury, is expected to return to the lineup Monday, and he will be in left field. |
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| When he returns to the lineup, Alfonso Soriano will shift from center field to left field, according to the AP. Manager Lou Piniella said putting Soriano in left would take some of the strain off his sore hamstring. "It will be less running. It will be much better for him, said Piniella. "He's OK with that, I talked to him about it. He understands." Soriano said his he is ready to return to action but trainer Mark O'Neal said he needs another day or two of rest. |
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| Although Alfonso Soriano feels he could play at some point this weekend, Lou Piniella is aiming for a Monday or Tuesday return, the Cubs official site reports. Soriano has a sore hamstring. "He ran (Thursday) and he was about 75 percent," said Piniella. "Mark O'Neal, our trainer, feels that by Monday or Tuesday, he'll be ready to play. He'll run again on Saturday in Chicago, in cooler weather, see how he feels, maybe even a little bit on Sunday and then be ready to play by Monday or Tuesday. That's the scenario we have for Soriano."
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| Alfonso Soriano took batting practice yesterday and said he would be ready to return from his strained hamstring tomorrow, according to the Chicago Tribune. However, you can safely assume the Cubs will be extra cautious with his return, so it may not happen that quickly. |
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| Alfonso Soriano is expected to miss about a week of action with a strained hamstring, but the Cubs elected not to place him on the DL, instead optioning pitcher Angel Guzman to Triple-A, according to the AP. "I'm upset right now because I like to play everyday," Soriano said Tuesday. "I think I want to be there for them in a week." Felix Pie will start in center field while Soriano is out. |
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| Alfonso Soriano will have an MRI on his strained hamstring Tuesday, but he doesn't think the injury is severe and hopes to be back in 5-7 days, according to the Chicago Tribune. Soriano injured himself when he tried to make a sliding catch in Monday night's game. |
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| Alfonso Soriano was forced to exit Monday's game with a strained hamstring, according to the AP. He was attempting a diving catch in the fifth inning when he sustained the injury. He walked off the field under his own power and is considered to be day-to-day. |
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| It appears that Alfonso Soriano has played well enough in center field that he will stay there, according to the Chicago Tribune. "The Soriano situation has taken care of itself in center field," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. With Soriano sticking in center, that means top prospect Felix Pie, who is hitting .344 this spring, will begin the year at Triple-A. |
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| The Sun-Times reports that Alfonso Soriano has agreed to try playing center field for the Cubs. "It's something we've talked about," manager Lou Piniella said. "We're looking to get our best combination of hitters on the field. If Soriano [can play center], that would help." |
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| Cubs GM Jim Hendry plans to talk to Alfonso Soriano in person before making a public comment about whether his new star should play in the Dominican winter league, the Chicago Tribune reports. It is believed the Cubs would rather not have him participate, for fear of injury. |
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| Chicago radio station ESPN 1000 reports that the Cubs have inked Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year deal worth $136 million. The Cubs have yet to announce what they plan to do with Soriano, but it's possible that they'll try him out in center field. |
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| The Astros have offered Alfonso Soriano a multi-year contract, according to the Houston Chronicle. Terms of the offer aren't known, and club officials have not confirmed the offer, but Soriano is reportedly looking at a seven-year deal in the $120 million range. Soriano hit .277 with 46 homers, 41 stolen bases and 95 RBI for the Washington last season. |
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| Alfonso Soriano is scheduled to meet with the Phillies on Wednesday, according to the Washington Post. His representatives already have told one suitor that it could take a deal similar to the seven-year, $119 million contract Carlos Beltran inked with the Mets two years ago to secure Soriano's services. |
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| The LA Times reports that the Angels may have already submitted a six-year offer to Alfonso Soriano worth about $80 million. The Phillies are reportedly going to offer a similar contract to the slugger. |
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| The Phillies are expected to make a strong run at Alfonso Soriano, according to the AP. New Phillies first-base coach Davey Lopes, who held the same position with the Nationals last year, has raved about Soriano. "They said he wouldn't hit that many homers in D.C. because of the ballpark, but he made that a small ballpark," Lopes said. "Pound for pound, nobody hits the ball as far as this guy. He has so many pluses it's ridiculous. He's an even better person off the field."
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| Alfonso Soriano, who became a free agent on Sunday, is reportedly looking for a deal that resembles the contract that Carlos Beltran signed with the Mets - seven years, $119 million, according to the Washington Post. Soriano is coming off the fourth 40/40 season in MLB history. |
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| Alfonso Soriano officially declared himself to be a free agent on Sunday, according to the Washington Post. Soriano, who became only the fourth player in MLB history to reach the 40-homer/40-steal mark last season, will receive attention from many suitors, though the Nats still have a chance to bring him back. |
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| There have been several reports stating that Alfonso Soriano recently rejected a five-year, $70 million contract offer from the Nationals, but the Nats are denying the reports, according to ESPN.com. Soriano, who became the fourth player in history to go 40-40 this year, is set to become a free agent once the season ends. |
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| Alfonso Soriano joined Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco and Alex Rodriquez as the only players in baseball's history to record 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season Saturday night, according to the AP. Soriano led off the first with a single then stole his 40th base on a 2-0 count to the next batter, Felipe Lopez. Soriano has 45 home runs to go with his 40 steals. |
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| The Yankees are still interested in acquiring Alfonso Soriano from the Nationals, and the team is hoping that Soriano's price tag will be lowered now that Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada are reportedly on the market, according to Newsday. However, with the Yankees unwilling to part with pitching prospect Phillip Hughes, a deal isn't very likely. |
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| Alfonso Soriano, who has publicly stated that he would like to stay with the Nationals, said that he would not resign with Washington in the offseason if they trade him, according to the Baltimore Sun. "To be honest, it's tough to say I'd come back if they trade me because you know if they trade me I'm going to think that I cannot be good for this team, because they traded me, because they [do] not need me anymore," Soriano said. |
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| ESPN.com is reporting that the White Sox are "extremely close" to acquiring Alfonso Soriano from the Nationals. Any deal would likely include Brandon McCarthy, as well as a prospect or two, possibly Brian Anderson. |
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| Alfonso Soriano said that he wants to remain with the Nationals but doubts that he'll come to an agreement on a contract extension before next Monday's trade deadline. Without an extension, the Nats will probably trade Soriano. |
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