Alfonso Soriano

Infobox MLB player
name = Alfonso Alfansacio Soriano


width = 200
caption =
team = Chicago Cubs
number = 12
position = Left fielder
birthdate = birth date and age|1976|1|7
birthplace = San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = September 14
debutyear = 1999
debutteam = New York Yankees
statyear = 2008 season
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .282
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 270
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 705
teams =
* Hiroshima Toyo Carp (by|1997)
* New York Yankees (by|1999-by|2003)
* Texas Rangers (by|2004-by|2005)
* Washington Nationals (by|2006)
* Chicago Cubs (by|2007-present)
awards =
*4x Silver Slugger Award winner (by|2002, by|2004, by|2005, by|2006)
*7x All-Star selection (by|2002, by|2003, by|2004, by|2005, by|2006, by|2007, by|2008)
*Led AL in runs in by|2002
*Led AL in hits in by|2002
*Led AL in stolen bases in by|2002

Alfonso Guilleard Soriano (born January 7, 1976 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic) is a professional Major League Baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs. He has previously played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Nippon Professional Baseball), New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals. He played primarily as a second baseman for the Yankees and Rangers. He bats right-handed and has batted as a lead-off hitter for most of his career.

Professional career

1997: Japan

Soriano began his professional baseball career in Japan with the Hiroshima Carp, training at their Carp Academy for Dominican players. In by|1997, he was promoted briefly to the varsity team, and, wearing uniform number 74, he appeared in nine games, batting .118 (2 for 17) with two walks. In 1997, Soriano earned a salary of $40,000. [cite web |first=Bob |last=Nightengale |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/bbw/2002-05-15/special.htm |title=Soriano makes difficult game seem easy |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=May 14, 2002 |publisher=USA Today Baseball Weekly] Soriano finished his career in Japan by retiring from his contract and signing as a free agent with the New York Yankees, using a loophole that had previously been used by Hideo Nomo.

1998-2003:The New York Yankees

Soriano signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees in by|1998, starting his career as an infield player, and played in New York for five seasons. His first hit in the MLB came in 1999 when for the Yankees he hit a walk-off home run against Norm Charlton of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In by|2002, Soriano led the American League with 696 at bats, 209 hits, 92 extra base hits, 41 stolen bases, 128 runs and set a New York Yankees team record for most at bats (696) and most strikeouts (157) in a season. He finished in third place for Rookie of the Year honors in 2001.

In by|2003, Soriano set the record for most home runs to lead off a game in a season with 13, and for the second straight year, led the league in at bats, and finished in the top five for hits, doubles, home runs, stolen bases, and strikeouts.

2004-05: Texas Rangers

In by|2004, the Yankees traded Soriano to the Texas Rangers (along with minor leaguer Joaquin Arias) for Alex Rodriguez and cash amounting to $67 million of the $179 million remaining on Rodríguez's contract. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1735937 |title=Selig gives blessing to mega-merger |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=February 17, 2004 |publisher=ESPN.com] [cite web |first=Jesse |last=Sanchez |url=http://yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040216&content_id=637375&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex |title=A-Rod-for-Soriano trade completed |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=February 16, 2004 |publisher=MLB.com]

On May 8, 2004, Soriano had six hits in nine innings -- the first Texas Ranger to do so -- in a 16-15, 10-inning victory over the Detroit Tigers. The game featured a bizarre, hour-long fifth inning, where Detroit scored eight runs in the top half of the inning to take a 10-run lead over the Rangers, only to see Texas score 10 runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game, the largest deficit ever overcome by the Rangers and tying an MLB record for most runs in an inning by two teams. [cite web |author=Associated Press |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/4933772/ |title=Rangers, Tigers combine for 18-run inning |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=May 8, 2004 |publisher=NBC Sports] That same year, Soriano was elected to the All-Star Game as the starting second baseman. He hit a three-run home run off Roger Clemens in the first inning and was named the MVP of the game. [cite web |first=Mark |last=Newman |url=http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040714&content_id=799783&vkey=allstar2004&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Soriano all smiles as All-Star MVP |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=July 14, 2004 |publisher=MLB.com]

In by|2005 he finished sixth in the AL for stolen bases, and third for extra base hits (as well as eighth for strike-outs).

2006: Washington Nationals

On December 7, 2005, Soriano was traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge, and minor league pitcher Armando Galarraga. [cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2251887 |title=Rangers trade Soriano to Nationals for three players |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=December 8, 2005 |publisher=ESPN.com] On February 10, by|2006, Soriano set a record for the highest salary ever awarded in arbitration, receiving $10 million, even though he lost his request of $12 million. [cite web |first=Bill |last=Ladson |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060210&content_id=1309573&vkey=hotstove2005&fext=.jsp |title=Soriano loses arbitration case |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=February 10, 2006 |publisher=MLB.com] (The previous high had been set in 2001 by Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves when he earned $8.2 million.) The Nationals offered Soriano a five-year, $50-million extension, but Soriano rejected the offer. [cite web |first=Bill |last=Ladson |url=http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060723&content_id=1571998&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |title=Kasten wants Soriano to stay |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=July 23, 2006 |publisher=MLB.com]

Soriano and his agent Diego Bentz instead opted to open contract negotiations during the off-season, so that he would become a free agent and would be capable of earning a greater salary.

On March 20, 2006, Nationals manager Frank Robinson wrote Soriano in the lineup to play left field. Soriano, who since 2001 had played exclusively at second base, refused to take the field, and the Nationals organization threatened him with disqualification, which would have meant forfeiture of his salary, and he would not have received credit for service time in fulfillment of the obligations of his contract. With his contract's service terms officially still unfulfilled, he would then "not" have been eligible for free agency at season's end.

Two days later, Soriano relented and played in left field for the Nationals in their exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Robinson indicated that he considered Soriano's move to left field to be permanent and would not consider moving Soriano back to second base at any point during the season. In his comments following that game, Soriano indicated that he would accept his new position without further argument. As the season got underway, however, Soriano began to enjoy his new position, and by the All-Star break, he led the league in outfield assists and became one of the few players ever to start the All-Star game at two different positions.

Soriano has enjoyed the greatest season in his career in 2006. He shattered his previous career high in walks with 67 (previously 38). He also reached a career high in home runs with 46 (previously 39). He also had 41 stolen bases. On August 25, a week after reaching 30-30, he became the fastest man in baseball history to reach 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases, reaching the mark in 929 games (breaking the previous record of 1,053 games held by Eric Davis. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2561864 ESPN - Elias Says ... - ESPN ] ] . In September, he completed his 20th outfield assist, becoming the only player in baseball history with 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases, and 20 assists. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/11/AR2006091101253.html Offensive Production Masks Solid Defense - washingtonpost.com ] ]

On September 16, 2006, Soriano stole second base in the 1st inning to become the fourth player to join the 40-40 Club, joining José Canseco, Barry Bonds, and Alex Rodriguez in this exclusive club. Six days later he became the first person ever to reach 40 home runs, 40 stolen bases and 40 doubles in one season, making him the only member of the 40-40-40 club. [cite web|title=Soriano first ever to reach 40-40-40 mark|publisher=Associated press|author=|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14961469/|accessdate=2007-07-31]

Soriano, making his fifth consecutive All-Star team, became only the third man to start All-Star games for both leagues at two different positions.

Possible trade

As the trading deadline of July 31 approached, the Nationals were in a dilemma. On one hand, Soriano had initially expressed his distaste for playing left field, and he was in the last year of his contract, which would grant him free agency at the end of the season. If the Nationals lost Soriano at the end of the season, they would receive a first or second round draft pick and a "sandwich" pick in between the first and second round as compensation. Further, Soriano did not want to engage in contract negotiations during the season. On the other hand, as the deadline approached, Soriano expressed his enjoyment with left field, and his strong desire to stay with the team. [ [http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060706&content_id=1542509&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was The Official Site of The Washington Nationals: News: Washington Nationals News ] ] Both fans and players began to be more vocal in their support to keep Soriano. Manager Frank Robinson praised Soriano's leadership in the clubhouse, and further suggested that Soriano should be considered for MVP of the National League. There were plenty of suitors, including sending Soriano back to the Yankees, and the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers were also interested. In the end, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden felt that what he was offered was not worth trading him. The "non-trade" was a risk for the Nationals and made headlines across the country. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060731&content_id=1585922&vkey=trade2006&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News ] ] . The Nationals hoped to sign him to a long term deal before the season ended but on October 12, 2006 he rejected a $70 million deal. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/31/AR2006073101378.html The Left Fielder Stays in the Picture ] ]

Chicago Cubs

2007 - present

.Yahoo! Sports, [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6154/gamelog;_ylt=AlilHdtoI1coKYbBKXFco6mFCLcF Alfonso Soriano - Chicago Cubs - Game Log (2007)] , Retrieved on August 6, 2007.] He managed to hit his first home run during the Cubs' first game in May, and gradually increased his batting average throughout the month.

Soriano was extremely productive in June. During a single game against the Atlanta Braves, Soriano hit three home runs off Lance Cormier. [Odum, Charles, [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270608115 Chi Cubs 9, Atlanta 1] (June 8, 2007), Yahoo! Sports, Retrieved on August 6, 2007.] Soriano had accomplished the same feat in his past, coincidentally, also against the Atlanta Braves. [ESPN.com, [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270608115 Cubs' Soriano smashes 3 homers in first four innings] (June 8, 2007), Retrieved on August 6, 2007.] During the subsequent game, Braves pitcher Tim Hudson hit him with a wild pitch.Odum, Charles, [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270609115 Atlanta 9, Chi Cubs 5] (June 9, 2007), Yahoo! Sports, Retrieved on August 6, 2007.] The home plate umpire deemed Hudson's actions to be unintentional, and warned both teams. Soriano also played an integral part in the Cubs' offense during the team's annual Cross-town Classic with the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field. He hit home runs in three consecutive games, [Gano, Rick, [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=270624104 Chi Cubs 3, Chi White Sox 0] (June 24, 2007), Yahoo! Sports, Retrieved on August 6, 2007.] and single-handedly out scored the entire White Sox's offense. [Crawly's Cub Kingdom, [http://crawlyscubs.mlblogs.com/crawlys_cub_kingdom/2007/06/gotta_love_it.html Gotta Love it - Sunday-Cubs 3 White Sox 0] (June 24, 2007), Retrieved on August 6, 2007.]

His efforts merited the 'National League's Player of the Month' title for June. [Schwartz, Michael, [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070702&content_id=2062989&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc Soriano named Player of the Month] (July 2, 2007), MLB.com, Retrieved on August 6, 2007.] He was later selected as a reserve outfielder in the 2007 MLB All-Star Game, [MLB.com, [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2007/roster_league.jsp Rosters: By League] , Retrieved on August 6, 2007.] where he hit a two-run home run for the National League in the bottom of the ninth inning. [ESPN.com, [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270710132 MVP Ichiro hits All-Star Game's first inside-the-park homer] (July 10, 2007), Retrieved on August 6, 2007.] Soriano led the Cubs in home runs during their National League Central chase in June and July, during which they erased the Milwaukee Brewers' eight game lead over the division. [Muskat, Carrie, [http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070728&content_id=2115038&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc Soriano homers twice as Cubs win] (July 28, 2007), MLB.com, Retrieved on August 6, 2007.] After losing the tie for first in early August, Soriano tore his right quadriceps during a game against the New York Mets on August 5.Gano, Rick. [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AjS9hjSFxdVrgVe.jXJN1yMRvLYF?slug=ap-cubs-sorianohurt&prov=ap&type=lgns Cubs' Alfonso Soriano out up to a month weeks after injuring quad running the bases against the Mets] (August 5, 2007), Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved on August 5, 2007.] The Cubs placed him on the fifteen day disable list, and expected him to miss several weeks while recovering from the injury.

, among all regular starters. [Yahoo! Sports, [http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/chc/stats/bycategory?cat=Batting&type=0&year=season_2007&qualified=0&sort=24 2007 Chicago Cubs Statistics] . Retrieved on October 27, 2007.]

2008

During the first few weeks of the 2008 season with the Cubs, Soriano struggled. He was only hitting .190 at the time he was put on the DL with a bad leg. After being activated, Soriano got off to a quick start, raising his average to .280 and increasing his home run total. In a one week stretch in May, he hit 7 home runs in just 6 games, hitting nearly .500 during that stretch. At the end of May he had 12 home runs and 33 RBIs. However, his defense was extremely poor, after being placed on the DL early in the season, Soriano was encouraged to stop hopping as he caught fly balls. This seemed to affect his play in the field as he misjudged two balls in St. Louis on May 2nd, shortly after being activated. It appeared that Soriano was talking to fans up until moments before the ball was pitched to the batter. After being severely booed by Cub fans who had traveled to St. Louis in that particular game,Fact|date=August 2008 he homered in the ninth to send the game to extra innings. [cite web |first=Carrie |last=Muskat |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080502&content_id=2627472&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc |title=Cubs' comeback comes up short |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=May 3, 2008 |publisher=MLB.com] Later that month, he dropped the what would have been the games final out in the 9th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing Jason Bay to reach safely and eventually costing the Cubs a win. [cite web |first=Carrie |last=Muskat |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080525&content_id=2767415&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc |title=Cubs have Sun-day blues vs. Bucs |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=May 25, 2008 |publisher=MLB.com] On numerous occasions, Soriano, true to his friendly nature, has chatted with fans during an inning, and the apparent lack of concentration is one reason he has been known for such poor defense.Fact|date=August 2008

On June 11, 2008, Soriano was hit by a pitch and broke a bone just under the ring finger in his left hand. [cite web |author=Associated Press |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-06-11-cubs-braves_N.htm |title=Cubs lose Soriano to broken left hand in 7-2 win over Braves |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=June 12, 2008 |publisher=USA Today] On July 7, 2008, Soriano was voted a starter in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game. However, due to the injury, he was replaced in the starting lineup by Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies. [cite web |author=Associated Press |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar08/news/story?id=3481665 |title=Holliday to replace Soriano in NL All-Star lineup |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=July 10, 2008 |publisher=ESPN.com]

As poor as Alfonso's defense is, his arm has been just as much as asset to the Northsiders, and he is one of the league's leaders in outfield assists. Soriano also currently leads the team in home runs, but his power has also let to his being criticized. On August 13, during a game with the Braves, Soriano hit what he thought was a home run, and started to trot to first, carrying the bat halfway, when he realized that the ball had hit off the wall and he was eventually held to a very long single. After the game, Soriano apologized to Lou Piniella and his teammates for not hustling and vowed that it would never happen again. [cite web |first=Carrie |last=Muskat |url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080813&content_id=3300943&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc |title=Soriano apologizes for not hustling |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=August 13, 2008 |publisher=MLB.com] On August 22nd, Soriano accomplished one of baseball's rarest feats, as he stole home plate in a loss to his old team, the Washington Nationals. [cite web |first=Carrie |last=Muskat |url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080822&content_id=3349132&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc |title=Cubs stunned by Nats' late rallies |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=August 22, 2008 |publisher=MLB.com]

In early September, Soriano helped end the Cubs six-game losing streak by slugging out three home runs with five RBI against the Cincinnati Reds. It marked the third three-home run game of his career. However, as the Cubs went into the playoffs against the Dodgers, Soriano, who has been criticized for his terrible offensive play in the post-season, went 1-14 against Los Angeles with four strikeouts, and he failed to score, nor did he drive any runs in. Manager Lou Pinella didn't mention him by name, but scoffed at the lack of consistancy at the top of the Cubs' lineup, citing Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome indirectly. The Cubs were swept out by the Dodgers in that 2008 NLDS, causing another winter of frustration for both the Northsiders and Soriano. [cite web |first=Carrie |last=Muskat He is second to only Wily Mo Pena at being the worst breaking ball hitter ever.|url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080906&content_id=3429253&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc |title=Nothing like a slugfest to shatter a skid |accessdate=2008-09-06 |date=September 6, 2008 |publisher=MLB.com]

Career statistics

The following is a collection of Soriano's career batting and fielding statistics as of July 15, 2008.The Official Site of Major League Baseball, [http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?playerID=150093&statType=1 Individual Player Stats: - Alfonso Soriano] , mlb.com, Retrieved on July 15, 2008.]

Batting

Fielding

Soriano led all major league second basemen in errors every year from 2001 to 2005 (19 (tied), 23, 19, 23, and 21). In 2006 he was second in the major leagues of all left fielders in errors, with 11, but led all left fielders with 22 assists, 9 double plays, and a 2.29 range factor.

ee also

* 30-30 club
* 40-40 club
* Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
* List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
* Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game

References

External links

* [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/dt/soriaal01.shtml Baseball Prospectus: Alfonso Soriano]
* [http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-080828-alfonso-soriano-chicago-cubs,0,4804002.story Soriano gets defensive about his fielding - Chicago Tribune]

succession box | before = Bret Boone | title = American League Silver Slugger Award (2B)| years = by|2004 - by|2005 | after = Robinson Canó
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