Alfonso Soriano News: Pro Sports Daily

Soriano among the stars making spring debut

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March 6

USA Today

"Alfonso Soriano can take his first step today toward wiping out the memory of his miserable 2009 season, from both his mind and the collective consciousness of the increasingly impatient Cubs fans. The $136 million left fielder, who averaged 155 games played in the six full seasons before arriving in Chicago, has missed a total of 98 games the last two years. He has yet to play more than 135 in his three seasons with the Cubs. Soriano is making his spring debut against the visiting White Sox in Mesa, Ariz., after recovering from surgery on his left knee. He'll be batting sixth in the lineup regularly this year as manager Lou Piniella seeks to take advantage of his power - Soriano's 20 home ..."

Healthy starts for Soriano, Ramirez

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March 6

Chicago Sun-Times

"Though the pitching staff continues to raise questions, the Cubs are finding all the right answers with two key players in their plans for a rebound season. Left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who makes his spring-game debut today against the White Sox, has passed every test of the spring with his surgically repaired left knee and looks close to full strength. And cleanup hitter Aramis Ramirez, whose badly dislocated left shoulder last May torpedoed the Cubs' lineup, quietly had his first pain-free game action in 10 months when he played the first three innings of the exhibition opener Thursday. ''I felt great [Thursday]. And it feels great right now,'' Ramirez said Friday. ''I'm back to normal, ..."

Soriano optimistic again

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March 4

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"One after another Wednesday at HoHoKam Park, the line drives exploded off the bat of Alfonso Soriano during Cubs batting practice. Behind the cage hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo didn't see a single one land, his eyes focused intently on Soriano's hips and his words aimed specifically for his ears. "Espidad, espidad!'' Jaramillo repeated. Asked later for a translation, Jaramillo explained the command reminds the free-swinging Soriano to slow down his breathing, which slows down his mind and thus his approach to the ball. Jaramillo doesn't necessarily have to speak the same language to connect with a hitter he mentored for two seasons with the Rangers. But, in Soriano's case, it improves his ..."

Piniella thinking big (numbers) with Soriano hitting 6th

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March 1

Chicago Tribune

"Alfonso Soriano is slated to hit in the No. 6 hole this season, the same spot where he wound up last year. "I'd like to keep him there, unless he swings the bat exceedingly well here in the spring and we'll sneak him into the fifth hole," manager Lou Piniella said. "If not, the sixth hole is a good place for him, a good RBI spot." Soriano hit .268 batting sixth last year, with a .446 slugging percentage. The last time he hit fifth regularly was in 2005 in Texas, under Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, when he batted .270 with 30 home runs, 93 RBIs and a .523 slugging percentage. Piniella said Soriano should hit 30-plus homers and drive in 80-plus runs if he stays healthy. "Batting average ..."

Cubs' Soriano says knee is stronger

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February 26

ESPN.com

"Chicago Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano said his surgically repaired left knee is feeling more powerful. "Yesterday I was doing my running [up to] 85 percent, and I didn't feel anything at all," Soriano said Thursday. "I think I'm building something, because I'm feeling more and more power in my knee. "I think the work I did in the winter is paying off. I started running, hitting and doing a lot of stuff, and I don't feel any pain at all." Soriano said he hasn't tried to fully test the leg yet, but he will soon. He said Tuesday the knee was only 75 to 80 percent healthy. "The only thing I'm doing 100 percent is fielding," he said. "I don't feel any pain at all. "I think I need to trust ..."

Bit of disorder in Cubs' court

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February 24

Chicago Sun-Times

"Could Alfonso Soriano wind up back in the leadoff spot for the Cubs? Soriano seems to think it's possible, and the left fielder says he's open to a move back to the top spot if the team's plans with Ryan Theriot and Kosuke Fukudome don't work out. ''I'd be open if I feel good,'' said Soriano, whose surgically repaired left knee fared well during his first day of spring training drills Tuesday. ''I feel very comfortable batting leadoff. If they don't do the job like I didn't do the job last year, maybe they put me back batting leadoff, if I feel good. So it depends on how I feel and depends what they do, too, batting leadoff.'' Not exactly, Lou Piniella says. At least the way it looks now."

Soriano hopes to be at full strength by Opening Day

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February 23

Chicago Tribune

"More than five months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, Alfonso Soriano said he's almost good to go. "It feels like about 80-85 percent," Soriano said Monday. "I have five or six weeks here working now, and I'm hoping it feels much better and I'm ready for Opening Day." Soriano said he has been working this offseason in the Dominican Republic but has not tested the knee yet by running hard or playing any outfield. He doesn't feel pain when taking batting practice and is not worried about being ready for the season. Soriano was told by the coaching staff to take it easy at the outset of spring training, and the Cubs didn't expect him to be at 100 percent at this point. ..."

Cubs' Soriano unsure of knee

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February 23

Chicago Sun-Times

"Alfonso Soriano made his much anticipated arrival today at the end of another day of soggy workouts, and raised more than a few questions when he said his surgically repaired left knee is ``maybe 80 percent or 85 percent'' strength. As he continued to speak it became apparent he meant he's had no problems with the knee at that level of activity over the winter but won't be sure he's 100 percent until he tests the knee fully in fielding and base running this spring. ``Mentally I don't feel 100 percent,'' he said. ``But we'll see in how my knee is running in the field and doing some stuff I didn't do in the Dominican.'' He had the arthroscopic procedure in mid-September, giving him more than ..."

Braves agree to trade Soriano to Rays for reliever

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December 11

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Less than 48 hours after Rafael Soriano accepted arbitration from the Braves, they agreed to a trade that would send him to Tampa Bay for right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez. But nothing has been simple for the Braves and Soriano this week and neither was the final steps of the trade, which won't be announced before Friday. But nothing has been simple for the Braves and Soriano this week and neither was the final steps of the trade, which won't be announced before Friday. But nothing has been simple for the Braves and Soriano this week and neither was the final steps of the trade, which won't be announced before Friday. Though the teams agreed to terms late Wednesday, an expected Thursday ..."

Large contracts limiting Cubs strategy

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November 20

Chicago Tribune

"The Cubs changed the course of franchise history three years ago Friday when they signed Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $136 million deal. With one move, the Cubs shocked the baseball world and proved they were willing to spend their considerable resources to win a World Series. It didn't work out as planned, however, and three years later new Chairman Tom Ricketts enters the scene with the same challenge as Tribune Co. and a decidedly new game plan of fiscal restraint. General manager Jim Hendry conceded Thursday that money was a factor in the decision to trade veteran reliever Aaron Heilman to the Diamondbacks for a pair of minor-league prospects. Heilman stood to earn around $2 ..."

Cubs' Alfonso Soriano not looking forward to 1st knee surgery

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September 15

Chicago Tribune

"Alfonso Soriano isn't looking forward to his first surgery on Tuesday, though the arthroscopic procedure on his left knee is fairly routine. "I never have had one before," he said. "They said it's a little one, so I hope I can feel some progress in two or three weeks." Cubs physician Stephen Gryzlo will perform the surgery, which is being done now so the Cubs can monitor Soriano over the next few weeks before he returns home to the Dominican Republic for the off-season. "It gives us about a month or so of working with our team of specialists," manager Lou Piniella said. Soriano is done for the season, ending 2009 with a .241 average, 20 home runs, 55 RBIs and 11 errors in left field. He ..."

Soriano's surgery slated for Tuesday

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September 14

Chicago Sun-Times

"Alfonso Soriano will undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his left knee, giving him the last weeks of the season to begin rehabbing with the Cubs' training staff before he goes home to the Dominican Republic. Cubs orthopedic specialist Stephen Gryzlo will perform the procedure. Soriano injured the knee early in the season. The latest MRI exam taken a week ago showed inflammation. From the left Left-hander John Grabow gave up two runs in the ninth Sunday, the first runs he allowed at Wrigley Field since coming from Pittsburgh on July 30. Grabow is a free agent after the season, but his 1.96 ERA and .172 batting average against in his last 47 outings since May 24 have put him on manager ..."

Soriano should be OK for 2010, Piniella says

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September 12

Chicago Sun-Times

"Alfonso Soriano will get a second medical evaluation of his ailing left knee as he weighs whether to have arthroscopic surgery before the season ends. Soriano will be seen by his personal physician, with a decision on surgery perhaps coming in a few days. He underwent an MRI exam Aug. 29 that showed inflammation. He hasn't played in a week, though the soreness and inflammation has been chronic almost all season. Manager Lou Piniella repeated Friday it is ''doubtful'' the right fielder will play again this season. ''I think if he has a procedure done before the end of the [season], it will be to clean it out -- that's all,'' Piniella said. ''When he left spring training, he was fine. Half ..."

Soriano likely done for the season

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September 11

ESPN.com

"Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano said he wants to get an operation on his left knee "sooner than later," which likely means he's done for the season. "I'm very disappointed, but I have to do what I have to do," Soriano told ESPN 1000's Bryan Dolgin on Friday. "I'm battling. Now I think I want to get an operation sooner than later ... to get ready for next year. I have to play with one leg now." Soriano has played in just two games since Aug. 29."

Cubs' Alfonso Soriano to have surgery

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September 6

Chicago Tribune

"Alfonso Soriano said he will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee later this month after manager Lou Piniella shut him down Friday. "Lou said it's not good to play on one leg," said Soriano, who had cortisone shot in the knee Sunday. "I was 80 percent, but now I'm down to 50 or 60 percent. I play with my knee on my mind, and I'm scared to get hurt. If we're out [of it], it's better to do the surgery before we go to the Dominican [for the off-season]." The cleanup surgery would sideline Soriano for two weeks, so depending on when he undergoes the procedure, he could miss the rest of the season. "I had a talk with him before the game and the crux of it is his knee is not strong," ..."

Knee sidelines Soriano

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September 5

Chicago Sun-Times

"Alfonso Soriano, who was benched indefinitely Friday because of his tender left knee, said he may have played his last game of 2009 and could face minor surgery on the knee even before the end of the season. ''It depends,'' he said after manager Lou Piniella met with him and told him to rehab the knee before trying to play again. ''I like to play. I want to play right now. But they decided to give me a break because my knee is in my mind right now. ''I want to keep working and see [about returning] maybe before one week or before two weeks.'' But if he's not ready to play within a week or two and the Cubs slide further out of the National League wild-card race, Soriano said that could mean ..."

Cubs resting Alfonso Soriano's knee; Derrek Lee out vs. Mets

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September 4

Chicago Tribune

"Lou Piniella and the Cubs are shutting down outfielder Alfonso Soriano until his gimpy knee show signs of improvement. "The crux of it is his knee is not strong," Piniella said. "He's having trouble playing on it. In fairness to him, we're going to have him continue to do his exercises with the trainer and re-visit it down the road. "There's no timetable. ... This is not a rest." Could Soriano be shut down the rest of the year? "I'm not going to go that far," Piniella said. Piniella said Soriano was agreeable with the decision."

Chicago Cubs find frustration all around them

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September 4

Chicago Tribune

"Cubs fans have been restless at Wrigley Field all summer, and with the offense and defense going south again Thursday in a 5-0 loss to the White Sox, they showered their displeasure on players. One fan threw a white towel with a Cubs logo onto the field after Alfonso Soriano's error in the eighth, perhaps suggesting the team had surrendered. After Soriano botched the fly ball off A.J. Pierzynski's bat that gave the Sox a 2-0 lead, he calmly picked up the towel and tossed it to a nearby security guard. "It's not Soriano's fault," Aramis Ramirez said. "... Even if he makes that play, we lose 1-0. So it's not his fault. It's everybody's fault." Manager Lou Piniella said Soriano overran the ..."

Picking on wrong guy

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September 4

Chicago Sun-Times

"I'm going to go out on a limb with this one: The Cubs should keep Alfonso Soriano. That's right, I'm saying don't trade the .241 hitter with five years and $90 million left on his contract. Of course, they won't. Of course, they couldn't if they wanted to. But consider this: What if they could (without eating $50 million-$70 million)? Would Cubs fans still want him gone, still vilify him, still boo him unmercifully? Because that scenario assumes that the top-dollar money Soriano got during that winter spending spree after 2006 is a non-issue. Obviously, he'd still get his share of boos when he slips and falls under a fly ball and turns an out into two runs, as he did in the eighth inning ..."

Soriano gets a shot in the leg

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August 31

Chicago Sun-Times

"Alfonso Soriano will miss several games after getting a cortisone injection to ease inflammation in his left knee. With no other serious problems found, the hope is the discomfort he has been feeling will subside with the medication. ''I'm thankful it's nothing serious. I'll take two days and see how it feels,'' Soriano said. ''I hope [the cortisone] works. It's the first time I've ever had that. But guys who had it say it works.'' Soriano said the knee has hampered him taking first steps in the outfield and then trying to slow down. ''That's when I feel the pain, but not too much when I'm batting,'' he said. Jake Fox will be Soriano's replacement. ''We like the offense Fox provides, and ..."

Soriano back in lineup, awaits MRI on knee

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August 27

Chicago Sun-Times

"Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano successfully lobbied to remain in the lineup as long as his ailing left knee doesn't get any worse. He reported the knee felt better Wednesday after Tuesday's exam and more treatment. Soriano plans to have an MRI exam on the Cubs' next day off, Sept. 10, unless the knee gets significantly worse before then, and he could seek a cortisone shot to get through the last few weeks of the season. ''I want to play because the team needs me,'' Soriano said, ''and I want to play for my fans and my team. I played with this for four months. We have [38] games left -- why can't I play the rest of the way?'' Soriano initially hurt the knee when he banged it against the ..."

Sore left knee sidelines Cubs' Soriano

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August 23

MLB.com

"Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano was not in Sunday's lineup because of a sore left knee that he said bothers him when he runs. Sam Fuld, who made a spectacular catch Saturday in left field, slamming into the gate face-first, started in left in Soriano's spot. Soriano also has been struggling at the plate, batting .116 (5-for-43) in his past 12 games but said Sunday the knee hasn't been a factor. "Running is a problem," Soriano said Sunday. Reed Johnson, on the disabled list since July 30 with a fractured left foot, apparently won't be back until early September. X-rays taken late last week showed that the bone had not fused as well as hoped."

No taunting, just a wave from Soriano

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July 29

Chicago Sun-Times

"Talk radio and blogs buzzed Tuesday over Alfonso Soriano supposedly showing up the Houston Astros by pointing and gesturing while running out his walkoff grand slam Monday night. Some suggested he would be targeted by Houston pitcher Roy Oswalt on Tuesday night. Others said he should be. But Soriano said the focus of his gesturing were the eight family members sitting in the first row near home plate, including his 6-year-old daughter, who asks him daily to hit a home run for her. ''He was just waving to his family,'' manager Lou Piniella said when asked if he had a problem with Soriano's actions. Said Soriano of the on-air critics: ''They always will look [for] something negative. I never ..."

Cubs' Soriano can't recall a season this streaky

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July 27

Chicago Tribune

"Alfonso Soriano always has been a streaky hitter, but he never has experienced as many highs and lows as this year. "I remember with the Yankees and Texas, I was also [streaky]," he said. "But what's happened this season never happened to me before. I've cooled off for two to three weeks before, but never for a month and a half. That's the first time in my life." Soriano went 2-for-4 on Sunday with an RBI double in the third, improving to .444 since the All-Star break. He has raised his average from .233 to .253. Having Aramis Ramirez back takes some pressure off Soriano, who foresees a more consistent second half for the entire Cubs offense."

Soriano smacks go-ahead HR in sixth to dispatch lowly Nats

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July 19

ESPN.com

"Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella has a remedy ready for the next time Alfonso Soriano's power stroke inexplicably disappears. "We'll dislocate a finger a week if it gives us a three-run homer," Piniella wisecracked. Soriano hit a go-ahead three-run shot in the sixth, connecting for the first time in almost six weeks, and the Cubs held on for a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night. Soriano sent a first-pitch slider from rookie right-hander Jordan Zimmermann over the wall in right-center, erasing a 4-2 Washington lead. It was the 15th homer -- and first since June 7, a span of 121 at-bats, the second-longest dry spell of his career -- for Soriano. The outfielder ..."

Soriano, Lilly scratched

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July 18

Chicago Sun-Times

"So much for the Cubs' second-half health kick. Two days into their post-break schedule, the Cubs scratched Alfonso Soriano from Friday's lineup because of a jammed right pinkie he hurt in Thursday's game. Then they scratched left-hander Ted Lilly from his scheduled start tonight because of knee inflammation. ''We talked about getting healthy and staying healthy,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''It's been a problem. But maybe signing this [B.J.] Ryan might be a good-timing thing for us. We'll see.'' The Cubs signed former Blue Jays closer Ryan to a minor-league deal Thursday, a week after he was released by Toronto after seasonlong struggles with velocity and command. But the left-hander, who ..."

Alfonso Soriano and Ted Lilly latest of Chicago Cubs injury woes

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July 18

Chicago Tribune

"Before he joined the Cubs, Alfonso Soriano went seven years in the major leagues without being placed on the disabled list. Since then, he has suffered hamstring and calf injuries, a broken hand, sore knees and now a dislocated right pinkie. All of a sudden, Soriano is beginning to wonder if there's really something to this "Cubbie occurrence" stuff. "I don't want to say it," he said, laughing. "But I played seven years before and nothing happened. How many more months left? Two and a half? That's my goal this year. My first two years with the Cubs, I've been on the DL twice each year. If I don't make it again this year, I'll be very happy, no matter whatever else happens." Soriano said ..."

Alfonso Soriano upset over latest benching

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July 9

Chicago Tribune

"Slumping left fielder Alfonso Soriano sat for the third time in eight games Wednesday and isn't happy about it. When manager Lou Piniella spoke to Soriano last week in Pittsburgh and told him he would be giving him a few more days off, Soriano said he understood. But Soriano was miffed when he learned his name wasn't in the starting lineup Wednesday after he had a pair of hits Tuesday night. "That's why I'm mad," Soriano said. "If he had told me yesterday, then I wouldn't come today ready to play." Piniella typically gives Soriano a heads-up when he will get a day off but declined to do so this time. "That's a surprise to me today," Soriano said. "I think he could have said to me last ..."

Soriano to go someplace else

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July 4

Chicago Sun-Times

"Alfonso Soriano's time in the leadoff spot is ending, at least for now. After Soriano returned to the lineup Friday following two days on the bench -- but went 0-for-5 again in the leadoff spot -- Cubs manager Lou Piniella is ready to concede the lineup has to change. ''We'll probably make some adjustments in our lineup [today],'' he said of Soriano's continuing struggles. ''We'll leave it at that. ''Soriano will start hitting. I have confidence in the young man and feel he'll hit. I have all the confidence in the world in him. We need to get him jump-started somehow.'' The expected route is dropping Soriano in the order and returning rookie Sam Fuld to the top, where he excelled in two ..."

Alfonso Soriano getting along fine with Milton Bradley

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June 29

Chicago Tribune

"So how are Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley getting along? Just fine, Soriano said Sunday, two days after he said Bradley's only problem is his "attitude," and that if Bradley is not 100 percent on board with the team concept, "we don't need him." "I wasn't just talking about him," Soriano said. "We have 25 players, and if you're available to play this game and help the team, you're welcome here. If not, then we need somebody else." Before his confrontation Friday with Piniella, Bradley spoke of feeling "like an island" in the Cubs' clubhouse. Soriano said he's never sure when Bradley is in the mood to talk. "I try to help him, and if I do something wrong, I want him to help me, because ..."

If Alfonso Soriano gets going, maybe Chicago Cubs will too

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June 19

Chicago Tribune

columnist Rick Morrissey

"As I was saying, Alfonso Soriano needs to bat last in the ninth inning so that he can drive in the game-winning run and save the season for the Cubs. But that's just me. Lots of us had been begging manager Lou Piniella to make changes to the lineup, and he chose to do nothing Thursday. Well, guess what? He lives to do nothing for another day, as the Cubs roared back to beat the White Sox 6-5, thanks in part to Soriano's single with two outs in the ninth. That's probably not how Piniella drew up this victory -- he might have gone for the 10-run first-inning approach -- but he can thank Derrek Lee, Geovany Soto and Soriano for giving the Cubs a much-needed boost. No one knows if this game ..."

Alfonso Soriano breaks out in big way vs. Reds

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June 8

Chicago Sun-Times

"Alfonso Soriano was as cold as any of the slumping Cubs hitters, as hot and weary as any from either team who had endured the 13 innings the Cubs and Cincinnati Reds already had slogged through at muggy Great American Ball Park. ''I don't know where Soriano mustered the strength to hit a ball into the center-field bleachers,'' manager Lou Piniella said. But after going hitless in his first six plate appearances, Soriano drilled Mike Lincoln's first pitch of the 14th inning an estimated 392 feet for the Cubs' first extra-base hit since the first inning and the game-breaker in a 6-3 extra-inning victory over the Reds. ''I was just trying to make a good swing, and I knew if I hit it good, I'd ..."

Alfonso Soriano's sudden knee scare gone in a flash

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June 5

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Cubs avoided another injury scare Wednesday when leadoff man Alfonso Soriano rounded first base hard after a first-inning single and felt a sharp pain in his bruised left knee. Soriano said he thought he might have to come out of the game, but was surprised when the knee just as suddenly felt great again. He finished the 11-inning game. ''It was the best I felt -- after the first inning -- since I first got hurt,'' said Soriano, who speculated he might have broken through some scar tissue. ''I hope it's over now, and I can steal some bases tomorrow.'' He had been bothered by the knee since banging it on the wall at Wrigley Field chasing a double off the wall April 22. Geo tracker ..."

Soriano's left knee remains a sore spot

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May 30

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Cubs' daily sick bay on Friday added shortstop Ryan Theriot, who is dealing with flu symptoms. But manager Lou Piniella also has concerns about Alfonso Soriano's sore left knee. The Cubs' leadoff man and RBI leader has been getting daily treatment on the knee, but said he's fine. ''It's getting better,'' Soriano said, adding he first felt a problem in late April during a series against Cincinnati. ''I can still play. We have a day off Monday. I'll be fine.'' But Piniella admitted he may have to be cautious in playing Soriano. ''The trainer hasn't told me he can't play, and Sori is a tough kid and he wants to play,'' Piniella said. ''If it persists, we'll have to get him out for a few ..."

Cubs could move Soriano to second base 'as last resort'

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May 22

Chicago Tribune

"Lou Piniella has a contingency plan in case Mike Fontenot's hitting slump continues -- and his name is Alfonso Soriano. Piniella said he could move Soriano to second base and stick Micah Hoffpauir in left field. "Hopefully it doesn't get to that," he said. "But that's a measure of last resort." Piniella wouldn't elaborate as to what has to happen for the plan to be put in place. "We'll explore all our other options," he said. "I feel very comfortable with our outfield, but we've got to score some runs too." Piniella put Fontenot back at second base Thursday in hopes that his hitting would improve by returning to his old position. "You ask a guy to move over to a different position, and ..."

Alfonso Soriano moved to third in lineup

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April 25

Chicago Tribune

"Lou Piniella finally made the change everyone had been waiting more than two years to see when he moved Alfonso Soriano down to the No. 3 hole Friday night and inserted Ryan Theriot in the leadoff spot. While it may be too early to panic, the Cubs came into their game against the Cardinals ranked 11th in the National League in hitting and seventh in runs scored. "Take a look at it and see how it works," Piniella said. "We've struggled a little bit scoring runs." Piniella's lack of patience is well known, but this move surprised almost everyone, including Soriano. The left fielder laughed when he saw a reporter approaching him in the clubhouse before the game. "What's up?" he said ..."

Soriano steals way into exclusive club

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April 13

MLB.com

"Alfonso Soriano became the 19th player in Major League history with 250 steals and 250 home runs when he swiped second base in the third inning Sunday night. Soriano now has 250 career stolen bases and 274 home runs, notching No. 274 in the first inning Sunday when he hit the first pitch from Milwaukee's Jeff Suppan over the center-field fence. It was Soriano's 51st career leadoff homer and second this year. In the third, Soriano walked with one out and then stole second, his second steal of the season. He joins former Cubs Andre Dawson (438 home runs, 314 steals) and Ryne Sandberg (282 home runs, 344 steals) on the list."

Cubs rally for 6-5 victory over Brewers

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April 12

Chicago Tribune

"Lou Piniella revealed a little-known secret Saturday night after watching his Cubs rally in the ninth for a 6-5 victory over the Brewers at Miller Park. Believe it or not, Sweet Lou is just another karma chameleon. Saying he was looking for a "change in karma," Piniella sent beleaguered pitching coach Larry Rothschild out to the mound to yank Neal Cotts in the seventh inning of a 3-3 game after Angel Guzman and Cotts had walked three straight batters to load the bases. "My handoff wasn't good," Piniella said. "I said, 'Larry, go change the karma.' " Aaron Heilman promptly gave up a two-run single to J.J. Hardy that gave Milwaukee the lead, but Alfonso Soriano's two-run homer off Carlos ..."

Soriano takes mound for first time this spring

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March 11

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"I've got the press box to myself at the moment, as I get a head start on my blog from the Astros camp in Kissimmee. This is a place we've come so much over the years it almost feels like home. I can look out over the field - great view here, from the press box, you're really low; it might be an old park but they've renovated it nicely - and lots of spring training memories come to mind. I remember when Greg Maddux got hit on the toe here the last start before the season started. Pitched through it somehow and I think he got on a serious roll to start the season despite it. Think I recall watching Mark Wohlers try to do his thing here, when things were wobbly. Seeing Billy Wagner ..."

Cox pleased with reliever Soriano

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March 11

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Rafael Soriano threw his first inning of spring on Tuesday, and for the first time in a long time, the Braves can feel some promise about their former closer. He threw 11 pitches in a scoreless inning against Houston, and eight of them were strikes. He gave up a single to Jason Smith but retired the other three batters he faced including Carlos Lee on a groundout and Hunter Pence by strikeout. The Braves beat the Astros 7-4 in the Grapefruit League game. "Not bad for the first time," said Soriano, who pitched only 14 innings last season because of elbow problems. "For being gone a long time, not doing that, to me everything did fine." Manager Bobby Cox took it further than that."

Soriano plans to return to the steal business

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February 25

Chicago Sun-Times

"Alfonso Soriano says his body feels so much better than it usually does this early in spring training that he finally might become the leadoff hitter the Cubs thought they were getting when they signed him to a $136 million deal two years ago. In fact, that early vigor might have something to do with the quick reversal last week on Soriano's spot in the order by manager Lou Piniella, who talked again Tuesday about how fit and spry the 32-year-old Soriano looks. Don't be misled: Soriano's plans have nothing to do with striking out less, walking more or making Cubs fans forget about those yearlong Brian Roberts fantasies. But he does plan to run more, an element of the former 40-40 man's ..."

Piniella thinks Soriano can steal 30 bases

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February 25

Chicago Tribune

"Alfonso Soriano's running game is back in gear after an off-season conditioning program in the Dominican Republic. "He actually worked hard before coming to camp, and it shows," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He's catching the ball with a half-hop only in the outfield." Piniella was kidding. Asked if he had asked Soriano to stop doing the hop while catching flies, he replied, "No, we didn't." Piniella thinks Soriano can steal 30-plus bases again, though he has managed only 38 combined over the last two seasons. Dempster watch: Piniella said Ryan Dempster was "a little behind schedule" because of a stiff neck, though Dempster disagreed. "I'm on schedule," he said. "We just happen to be ..."

No tainted trainer for Soriano

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February 23

Chicago Sun-Times

"Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano said friends urged him after the 2007 season to seek the services of Dominican trainer Angel Presinal, who has been linked to steroids and Alex Rodriguez. Soriano declined, he said, because he trusted the diagnosis and program recommended by the Cubs' medical staff, and that conflicted with what friends said Presinal could do for the injury. ''They said go there and he'll run with you and fix it,'' Soriano said, referring to a tear in his right quadriceps that can't be ''fixed,'' only protected by strengthening the surrounding area. ''I said no because the trainer here said this is forever.'' Soriano said Presinal -- who runs what Soriano called an ..."

Piniella Pulling Rug Out On Switching Soriano In Lineup

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February 22

Chicago Tribune

"Don't do it, Lou. Don't offer us hope and then cruelly snatch it away. You said it, Lou Piniella. I have the quote right here. You were talking about what you might do with the middle of the Cubs' order: "You know, I'm not going to [rule] out the possibility of throwing Soriano in on that mix either. We'll see how it works out." That's Alfonso Soriano. He's the bad fit for the leadoff spot who, nonetheless, has led off for the Cubs the last two seasons. The team keeps trying to force the square Soriano into the round hole. So when Piniella said last week he would consider moving Soriano down in the lineup—oh, sweet hope!—it set off celebrations among those of us who believe the Cubs would ..."

Soriano No. 1 in Lou's heart

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February 20

Chicago Sun-Times

"So much for the idea of Alfonso Soriano moving from the leadoff spot this season. Cubs manager Lou Piniella distanced himself Thursday from his unsolicited pronouncement three days earlier that he would consider Soriano for a middle-order spot, calling such a move ''improbable.'' ''I never said that we were going to move him out of there,'' Piniella said. ''I said that we were going to take a look at the 'possibility of.' ''What I said was basically we're going to take a look at it and see how it's working. But I also said that if we were opening the season in Houston tomorrow, he would be our leadoff guy. I'm comfortable with him there.'' Piniella said Monday he wouldn't rule out moving ..."

Cub Alfonso Soriano tours lineup without ever playing a game

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February 20

Chicago Tribune

"In what may be the Cubs' version of circular logic, Alfonso Soriano went from leadoff man to middle-of-the-order hitter to leadoff man without even playing a game. And as the sun set on Thursday, Soriano was still the leadoff man, but check here for overnight developments. So how does Soriano feel about the switch back to the spot he never left? "We'll see what he says tomorrow," Soriano said with a grin. "He" is manager Lou Piniella, who said Monday he would not "throw out the possibility" of moving Soriano down in the order. Piniella said he could try Ryan Theriot, Aaron Miles, Mike Fontenot and Kosuke Fukudome as leadoff men in Cactus League games. Piniella later added that if the ..."

Soriano feeling fit, ready for fast start

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February 19

Chicago Sun-Times

"So Alfonso Soriano might move out of the leadoff spot for the Cubs. So he might bat fourth, fifth, sixth -- or maybe not move anywhere. So what? For the Cubs and Soriano, where he hits might not be nearly as important as when he hits. And this side of October, that's all about how fast he starts the season. April has been Soriano's lost month in the regular season since he signed with the Cubs. In 2007, he hit no home runs in April after hitting 46 the year before for the Washington Nationals, and he missed five games with a hamstring injury. He got off to a .175 start last year before a calf injury put him on the disabled list in mid-April. This time around? ''A hundred percent ..."

Cubs' Lou Piniella Addresses Dreaded Leadoff Question but Doesn't Answer It

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February 17

Chicago Tribune

"Lou Piniella accused Chicago reporters of "fantasizing" about Cubs lineups last year and complained that they beat the question of who bats leadoff into the ground. So when the inevitable question about where to bat Alfonso Soriano was raised last month at the Cubs Convention, Piniella simply raised his eyebrows and smiled. "If I didn't get asked that question, I wouldn't think I was in Chicago," he said. Piniella then launched into his well-worn speech about Soriano's attributes in the leadoff spot, a variation of the answer he has repeated several times over the last two years. But while discussing the middle of his batting order Monday afternoon at Fitch Park, Piniella abruptly changed ..."

Soriano could be moved from top spot

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February 16

MLB.com

"It was an innocent question about how the 3-4-5 hitters will line up this season, but Cubs manager Lou Piniella's answer Monday had a slight surprise: Alfonso Soriano may not be the leadoff man. "We've got a combination of Derrek [Lee], [Milton] Bradley and [Aramis] Ramirez," Piniella said. "You know what -- I'm not going to throw out the possibility of throwing Soriano into that mix. We can play around a little bit with that this spring." Piniella has stood by Soriano as his No. 1 guy for the last two seasons, but is now considering a change. The two talked about such a move during the Cubs Convention in January. Soriano is expected in camp on Tuesday, when position players must report. ..."