"Rudy Jaramillo didn't want to be separated from Alfonso Soriano in the first place. The longtime hitting coach was surprised and more than a little bit disappointed when the Rangers traded Soriano to the Nationals after the 2005 season.

He believed the Rangers were going to stick with Soriano, even though he was one year from free agency and arguably in line for a break-the-budget contract.

For Jaramillo, the chance to work with Soriano again was among the perks that came with the Cubs' offer to make him the highest-paid hitting coach in the majors. And look at Soriano now.

Dropped from leadoff to the middle of the lineup, reunited with Jaramillo and smart enough to tune out the criticism that comes with his flaws, Soriano is among the most dangerous hitters in the National League. He is the best hope the Cubs have of seriously chasing the Cardinals or — more likely — a wild-card spot into the playoffs.

Didn't see that coming, did you?

Soriano's fall-off from 2008 to '09, a trend Cubs general manager Jim Hendry always attributed to an aching knee and additional health problems, had as much to do with the Cubs' 14-win slide than any other factor, including those centered on Milton Bradley, Carlos Zambrano and Aramis Ramirez's left shoulder. A return to form by the 34-year-old Soriano would figure to be huge but in the first weeks of the season it was hard to see beyond Soriano's dropped pops and his failure to hustle out of the batter's box."