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Alfonso Soriano News & Rumors

Alfonso Soriano is Cubs' best bet for cleanup spot
January 13
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"They shipped out troublesome former ace Carlos Zambrano, let top hitter Aramis Ramirez leave in free agency and decided against bringing back power hitter Carlos Pena. So what do the Cubs do with the big-ticket holdover they couldn't move this winter? They bat Alfonso Soriano cleanup, of course. This could be where the Cubs' winter of disconnect-from-the-past takes them as the new front office heads to the Chicago Hilton and Towers this weekend to face the fans at Cubs Convention — just five weeks before spring training."
Could Soriano be the next Cubs player to go?
January 7
Chicago Tribune
 
"Is an Alfonso Soriano trade realistic for the Cubs? It seems unlikely but there is a chance Theo Epstein will follow Wednesday's deal for Carlos Zambrano with one for the left fielder, who is owed $54 million. The Tribune reported at the winter meetings last month the Cubs had targeted the Orioles as a possible landing spot for Alfonso Soriano, and those talks have been ongoing. MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko reports that the sides have had talks. Given the amount of money Soriano is owed, it's hard to imagine him being traded without the Cubs taking a bad contract in return. The intriguing Oriole is second baseman Brian Roberts, who like the Twins' Justin Morneau has been dogged by"
Alfonso Soriano next Cub to go?
January 6
ESPN.com
 
"Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein emphasized on Thursday that Alfonso Soriano remains a valuable offensive asset, but Epstein also left the door open to the type of move that led to Carlos Zambrano being shipped to the Miami Marlins earlier in the day. Hours after the Cubs announced the Zambrano move -- a transaction that included the Cubs absorbing $15 million of the $18 million owed Zambrano in 2012, according to a source -- Epstein said he would pursue another trade if it made sense moving forward. Part of that equation could be how much of Soriano's contract the Cubs would be willing to pay. Soriano, who turns 36 on Saturday, is owed $54 million over the next"
Source: Orioles talked to Cubs about Soriano
January 6
MASNsports.com
 
"Another day passed without any news from the warehouse, leaving me with little to do besides count the number of calls and text messages that went unreturned and sweeping up about 12 pounds of pine needles that fell off my Christmas tree as I carried it outside. At least some of my energy wasn't wasted. For what it's worth, I've heard from an industry source that the Orioles and Cubs discussed a trade involving Alfonso Soriano. It may not have gone far - FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweeted yesterday that the Cubs couldn't find a match for Soriano after talking to "a few teams" - but that's the scuttlebutt. ESPNChicago.com reported that the Cubs talked to "at least eight AL teams over the"
Hot stove about to get red hot
December 17
Foxsports.com
 
"Marlon Byrd, CF: There hasn't been much trade buzz surrounding Byrd, which is hard to figure. Byrd is entering the last year of his contract, and prospect Brett Jackson should be ready to start in center field for the Cubs in 2013. The Nationals, looking far and wide for an everyday center fielder, could be a fit; Washington has good organizational pitching depth, which is precisely what the Cubs need. The Marlins are an intriguing possibility, if they trade Hanley Ramirez and move Emilio Bonifacio to third base. The Reds, Giants, Cardinals and Mariners could upgrade in center field this offseason. Matt Garza, RHP: Few available pitchers can match Garza's track record in the American"
Cubs' Epstein on Soriano: 'There's more in there'
October 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"New Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein says he has been given the authority to eat bad contracts, and that would seem to put outfielder Alfonso Soriano's status in jeopardy. Epstein was asked about Soriano, who in 2006 signed an eight-year, $136 million contract, during a Wednesday appearance on "The Waddle and Silvy Show" on WMVP-AM 1000."
Soriano will not opt out
October 27
New York Post
 
"If CC Sabathia opts out of his contract following the World Series he won't have company on the way through the door. According to Scott Boras, who represents reliever Rafael Soriano, his client isn't going to exercise the opt out clause in his three-year deal. "He adjusted to the [seventh- eighth-inning] role, liked being there with Mariano [Rivera] and he adjusted to New York City," Boras said of Soriano, who pitched much better after returning from an extended stay on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation. "The player is happy there.""
Cubs' Alfonso Soriano on HR binge, but doesn't see himself as DH
September 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Alfonso Soriano showed Tuesday night he still has power, hitting what some locals called the longest home run to left field in the 11-year history of AT&T Park. ''That's the best one I hit this year,'' said Soriano, who also hit one the night before against two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum — and who is tied for the Cubs' lead with 24. He said he can maintain his power into next season, as he turns 36, and even as the speed in his once-swift legs have long abandoned him, and even if his on-base percentage is a career-low since he became a full-time player. ''My hands are there — quick hands — and I feel strong,'' he said. ''It's not like I lose my power.'' But who can use that power"
Before Zambrano left, Soriano told him what he did was wrong
August 15
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"As baseball's legal process takes over in the Carlos Zambrano saga Monday, the overriding question still unanswered since Friday is what the guy was thinking when he packed up and left during the game — what made him tell clubhouse personnel he was retiring? Those closest to him among staff and teammates say he has not returned calls or texts since the incident. His agent, Barry Praver, is in full damage-control mode, handpicking media perceived as sympathetic to deliver the Zambrano camp's spin, even changing details as new facts are discovered and reported. Praver, who told ESPN a formal players-union grievance will be filed Monday to fight Zambrano's 30-day suspension without pay, has"
Will Alfonso Soriano be a fit with the Cubs in 2012?
August 11
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Hack Wilson. Andre Dawson. .??.??. Alfonso Soriano. They are the only players in Cubs history to hit at least 20 home runs in each of their first five seasons with the team. Two are in the Hall of Fame. The other — well, he's still waiting to find out if there will be a sixth season as a Cub, despite 54 million reasons suggesting few palatable alternatives. Welcome to your Cubs 2011 season, which, coincidentally, has only picked up on the field as it has begun to count down into the final 20 days before a possible prospect watch for 2012. Three more home runs Wednesday — including Soriano's 20th —gave the Cubs their eighth victory in 10 games, 4-2 over the Washington Nationals, and a"
Cubs' Alfonso Soriano: No truth to Yankees trade story
August 4
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Contrary to an SI.com report Wednesday, Alfonso Soriano never gave his consent to the Cubs to trade him to the New York Yankees, in part because he was never asked. He said friends in New York told him they read and heard he might be headed back to his original big-league team by the trading deadline last Sunday, but Soriano said no one from the Cubs raised the subject with him. Neither the Yankees nor any other team had interest in the 35-year-old left fielder, even with the Cubs willing to eat most of the remaining $60 million on his contract. But the issue doesn't appear to be going away soon, and Soriano doesn't even seem sure whether he expects to be back next season. ''It's like"
Don't expect Cubs to bench struggling Soriano
July 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"While White Sox general manager Ken Williams gave manager Ozzie Guillen the backing to bench high-priced center fielder Alex Rios, the Cubs aren't likely to sit struggling left-fielder Alfonso Soriano for an extended period. Soriano came into Wednesday's game hitting .171 in July and .111 (4-for-36) since the All-Star break. Manager Mike Quade gave him a "mental day off" Wednesday night against Brewers ace Zack Greinke, but he is expected in the lineup Thursday afternoon against Shaun Marcum."
Report: Cubs would pay 'high percentage' of Soriano contract
July 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"ESPNChicago reports: The Cubs would be willing to pay off a high percentage of Alfonso Soriano's contract if the right deal could be made, a source familiar with the situation told ESPNChicago.com. Soriano has more than $60 million left on an eight-year, $136 million deal signed in November, 2006."
Cubs willing to absorb high percentage of Alfonso Soriano's contract if right trade offer comes along
July 22
ESPN.com
 
"The Chicago Cubs would be willing to absorb a high percentage of left fielder Alfonso Soriano's contract if the right trade offer came along, a source familiar with the situation told ESPNChicago.com. Soriano has more than $60 million remaining on an eight-year, $136 million deal he signed in November 2006. There is a full no-trade clause in his contract, but Soriano told ESPNChicago.com two months ago that if the Cubs approached him about a trade, he most likely would agree to one. He reaffirmed that recently to multiple outlets. Major League Baseball's non-waiver trading deadline is July 31. American League teams could consider Soriano as a possibility at designated hitter for the"
Alfonso Soriano says he's open to waiving no-trade rights
July 20
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"No-trade clauses are of so little concern to Alfonso Soriano that he doesn't even know he has one. ''I do?'' said the Cubs left fielder, who has had a full no-trade clause since the day he signed his eight-year, $136 million contract before the 2007 season. ''I have to talk to my agent.'' Point is, unlike Derrek Lee at this time last year or Aramis Ramirez now, Soriano won't stand in the way if the Cubs decide that trading him helps achieve their long-term plans — and if they find a way to eat enough of the $61 million left on his contract to make it work. ''If it was a contender, yes,'' Soriano said of waiving the no-trade. ''Of course, I want to win. I want to win here. But if not here,"
Soriano not concerned about non-existent trade talk
July 20
Chicago Tribune
 
"Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano hasn't been rumored to be on the trading block because his eight-year contract still has three years and $54 million remaining on it. Any talk about teams being interested is purely speculation at this point. There aren't many teams that would take on that kind of financial commitment, especially from an aging power hitter who hasn't homered since June 19 and is 1-for-18 (.056) to start the second half. Soriano said before Tuesday's game that he doesn't think at all about being traded. "I'm not worried, because I don't have control of the situation," he said."
Soriano: Chicago fans can be tough, but it's because they care
June 23
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Before running up the stairs from the dugout for pregame work Wednesday night, Alfonso Soriano paused long enough to notice the storm clouds and rain spitting down — then called out to a group of fans at the dugout rail: "You let me have your umbrella?" he said, smiling. "Huh?'' said one. "Your umbrella — you let me have it?" At which point the still-confused fan started to hand his umbrella to Soriano. "Naw," Soriano said, smiling bigger, and bounded up the stairs to find the batting cage. Let's make one thing clear right now: For all the flap over the Cub left fielder's comments to the Sun-Times about Chicago fans, and all the flak he took over it Wednesday, this guy is anything but a"
Soriano tries to soothe fans
June 23
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Phil Rogers
"Alfonso Soriano isn't Albert Belle, who thrived on criticism. He's also not Milton Bradley or Todd Hundley, who couldn't get critics out of their heads. Fans can boo him all they want. "His (ability to tune out fans) is probably the best of all the people I've been around,'' Cubs manager Mike Quade said. "He shows up every day the same — 'Today's the day.' … There are times when he's on fire, and times when he's struggling. But being around him you wouldn't know how he's doing.'' This could be a very good thing for Soriano. He has been wearing a target on his back since signing his $136 million contract, and it got a lot larger when he told the Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer that the booing"
Soriano says comment on Chicago fans was 'misinterpreted'
June 23
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alfonso Soriano was upset on Wednesday that comments he made about booing were misinterpreted as his saying Chicago fans are the worst. "I think I was misunderstood," he said. "The fans here are good. At the same time, when you're doing bad, they boo. But if you're doing good, they clap for you. It's nothing like I said they are bad fans. Here, everywhere -- Cincinnati, St. Louis -- any ballpark you go to and you're doing good, what are they going to do? They're going to boo you. if you're doing good, they're happy. So it's not like they're the worst fans in the world." Soriano said he was asked about the booing of Adam Dunn, and said he felt sorry for Dunn "because he's a great player.""
Cubs' Alfonso Soriano headed to DL
June 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It may not be official or intentional, but the Cubs' youth movement is in full gear just two months into the season. On Tuesday, when left fielder Alfonso Soriano (quadriceps) became the fifth Cub in 10 days to go on the disabled list, it left Kosuke Fukudome as the only outfielder on the active roster who hasn't spent time in the minors this year. The Cubs recalled Tyler Colvin from Class AAA Iowa, and he'll start today, manager Mike Quade said. Colvin played all three outfield spots and first in 12 games for Iowa. Meanwhile, Tony Campana started his sixth straight game in center in place of the injured Reed Johnson, who had replaced the injured Marlon Byrd. Infielder Blake DeWitt, who"
Soriano to miss time with left quad strain
May 31
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alfonso Soriano will miss some time with a left quad strain he suffered while running to first base in the first inning of Monday's 12-7 loss to the Astros. Soriano had an MRI on the quad, but there was no word on whether he'd go on the 15-day disabled list. If so, Tyler Colvin and Brett Jackson are available for call-ups, though manager Mike Quade said he'd leave Blake DeWitt in left for now. DeWitt went 3-for-4 Monday after replacing Soriano, and has made one start in left field. Quade said the Cubs needed DeWitt's bat in the lineup. "It's unfortunate to see Sori go down like that," DeWitt said. "He's a big part of this team, and it was a tough loss today." DeWitt lost his footing on one"
Soriano out with quad injury
May 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs are taking on last-place Houston on Monday in search of their second straight win, and new infielder DJ LeMahieu is on the roster after being called up from Double-A Tennessee to replace Jeff Baker. The Cubs may need yet another outfielder after Alfonso Soriano went down with a left quad injury while running out a grounder in the first. He's going to get an MRI, but it's doubtful he'll be back in a few days from the looks of it. After newcomer Rodrigo Lopez spotted the Astros a pair in the first, the Cubs scored three in their half on Darwin Barney's triple, an RBI single by Starlin Castro and Carlos Pena's two-run homer. Tony Campana scored in the second after beating out a"
Soriano proves he can handle Monster
May 21
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs insist there's no such thing as monsters, even at Fenway Park. Just a tall, green, harmless wall. Never mind that Alfonso Soriano seems to have repressed his memories of his first experience playing left field at Fenway Park five years ago, a three-game series with the Washington Nationals that included an error. Or that he turned a Jacoby Ellsbury single into a double when he overran a liner to left Friday. Fear struck out when it came to the Cubs left fielder with wall and glove issues. ''No, I have no fear,'' manager Mike Quade said of opening a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox with Soriano standing in the menacing shadow of the famed Green Monster. ''I don't worry"
Soriano, Fenway might not fit
May 20
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs plan to spend a lot of pregame practice time today trying to keep from being devoured by the Green Monster on their first trip to Boston's Fenway Park since the 1918 World Series. What that means for glove-challenged left fielder Alfonso Soriano might not be clear until manager Mike Quade walks the outfield before finalizing his lineup for the opener of a hyped interleague series between the Cubs and the Red Sox. The designated-hitter spot looms large for Soriano. On the other hand, ''Left field's the easy one,'' said outfielder Reed Johnson, who has more time in Fenway's left field than any other Cub after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays."
Soriano vs. Green Monster might be a scratch
May 20
Chicago Tribune
 
"As the Cubs head to Fenway Park this weekend, manager Mike Quade is contemplating whether to let Alfonso Soriano battle the Green Monster in left field Friday or serve as the designated hitter instead. The 36-foot-high wall at Fenway can be difficult for even the best outfielders, and Soriano is in no danger of winning a Gold Glove. "Sometimes I wonder if we make too much of that," Quade said. "The fact is, there's not a lot of ground to cover there, and as long as you understand (you're) having to play a hard-hit ball, carom-wise, and (not) getting wrapped up in getting to the ball too late … literally, the shortstop can play the carom on a hard-hit ball to left a lot of times. "I'll"
Cubs and Soriano working hard on fielding
May 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alfonso Soriano didn't make any errors in Tuesday night's game against the Cardinals and made a couple of nice catches. But Soriano also had three defensive miscues that made most fans wince, including one play in which he fell on his rear and watched a ball soar over his head for a triple. "Soriano made two of the best plays I've seen him make," manager Mike Quade said Wednesday. "And then he slips and falls." Quade had a talk with Soriano in Los Angeles about not running hard on a pop-up that wound up a single instead of a double. He liked the effort on the ball he fell down on Tuesday, if not the result."
Cubs expecting more power from Soriano
March 18
Chicago Tribune
 
"While going through all the positive possibilities for the Cubs, manager manager Mike Quade included, "Can 'Sori' have a comeback year that wows us all?" While anything is possible, it is more likely 35-year-old Alfonso Soriano is at the point where "what you have seen is what you will get," despite his $18 million salary. His days — like in 2006 with the Nationals when he stole 41 bases and hit 46 homers — appear to be far behind. His days — like his last four seasons with the Cubs when he averaged 15 stolen bases and 27 homers — appear the new normal."
Alfonso Soriano eyeing big 2nd half of his contract with Cubs
March 7
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Alfonso Soriano walked into the clubhouse during a game late last week, and as soon as he spotted a group of reporters, he feigned a look of surprise and dread. "Fight? Fight?'' he said before breaking into a wide smile. "No? OK. .?.?.'' OK? It has been a lot more than OK this spring for Soriano, who not only avoided being anywhere near that Carlos Silva-Aramis Ramirez scrap last week, but who said he's rediscovered a sense of youth and joy at 35 that has him envisioning the kind of season that will stop all the whining about his big contract. That's some serious vision, considering he's only halfway through the eight-year, $136 million deal (which included an $8 million signing bonus)"
Soriano in great shape, enjoying great start
March 7
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alfonso Soriano is having his best spring since becoming a Cub after working out all winter in the Dominican Republic and working with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo this spring. "He's cut, he's in great shape, he's ready to go from Day One," manager Mike Quade said. "We had to push him to really get into working out (in left). I ran him into the wall and hurt him once. That was not good." That happened in the spring of 2008, and Soriano missed a few Cactus League games. Quade said playing the wall is "one of the difficult things for outfielders — and Wrigley's walls are close, so you spend a lot of time near them — and I just decided we're going to do some wall work. I ran him into the darn"
Baseball helps, hurts grieving Soriano
February 24
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Most of Alfonso Soriano's four kids are still so young they didn't know enough to say anything. ''The other one, she's 8,'' the Cubs left fielder said. And when she looked at him and asked how her grandmother could be so healthy and happy one day and gone the next, it was Soriano who didn't know what to say. ''I had to explain that nobody knows,'' he said quietly. ''It took everybody by surprise.'' It was barely a month ago, one day after the family returned home to the Dominican Republic from a trip to Disney World in Florida, when Soriano got the call that turned his world upside-down. ''She was feeling good in the afternoon when I talked to her,'' he said. ''And three hours later, my"
Quade open to pulling Soriano late
February 18
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Cubs manager Mike Quade, who plans to make improved fielding a focus of camp this spring, said benching $18 million left fielder Alfonso Soriano in the late innings of close games could be a possibility this season, as it was early last season. ''Look, he's not running the way he did [earlier in his career], and it's a thought,'' said Quade, who stressed it's not an issue he plans to consider this early in camp. ''There's a lot of stuff that goes into that. Let's see how he comes in this year.'' For now, Quade says, ''I want him to come in here expecting to play nine innings every day and to get better and continue to work and be as good as he can defensively. Stay healthy and do that."
Alfonso Soriano's mother dies
January 19
ESPN.com
 
"Andrea Soriano, the mother of Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano, died on Tuesday night in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, after suffering what appears to be a heart attack, the player told ESPNdeportes.com. A funeral service will be held Wednesday afternoon at the Quisqueya community of San Pedro de Macoris. "Mom was fine, happy and healthy," Soriano said. "Even last week I took her to Disney World in Orlando and she was super excited. It was her first time at Disney.""
Soriano isn't hurting, just resting
August 16
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alfonso Soriano found himself on the bench for a second straight day on Sunday, a rarity for someone who wants to play every day. Manager Lou Piniella cited the cross-country trip and the weather for giving Soriano another day off, while pointing at Derrek Lee's resurgence since his four-day stint on the bereavement list. "Two day games, too hot," Soriano said. "So he decided to give me two days off. … it's nothing bothering me in my body right now." Soriano said his knees are feeling good and his goal of not being on the disabled list all season is within reach. "I'm very happy with myself because I said to myself in spring training I don't want to go back on the DL this year," he said."
Soriano standing strong
August 4
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"For all the talk about the big contracts the Cubs want to move before next season, the biggest one of all isn't going anywhere. And for the first time in more than two years, the size and scope of outfielder Alfonso Soriano's contract -- eight years, $136 million -- don't seem to be enraging the Cubs' faithful. Maybe that's because Cubs fans have so many more topical affairs to be enraged about. Maybe it's because Soriano can't be blamed for the Cubs' problems this season. Maybe it even has something to do with his strong and healthy comeback season, which has included his most inspired, if still imperfect, play in the field. Regardless, Soriano is poised to be the last man standing from"
Soriano hits the ground running in the outfield
July 17
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It might not be a play you see on ''Web Gems,'' but left fielder Alfonso Soriano's running grab of a short fly by Jimmy Rollins to start the Cubs' 4-3 victory Friday certainly got his teammates' attention. ''That was the kind of catch I was working very hard to make, and I want to keep making more of those plays,'' Soriano said. ''When I hit the ground, my mouth hit the ground. Last year, I would not have made that play. I have been working so much with [first-base coach] Ivan DeJesus on that extra step to make plays like that.'' ''What I am really happy about is [pitcher Ted] Lilly. Everybody is happy for him. And when he batted with the bases loaded and walked, I was very impressed with"
Soriano's defense coming around
July 17
Chicago Tribune
 
"After making a diving catch for the first out of Friday's 4-3 victory over the Phillies, Alfonso Soriano said he was "trying to be like Marlon Byrd." But when he hit the grass hard with his face, Soriano said he had second thoughts. "Now I don't want to be like him," he said with a grin. Soriano's defense has improved over the last two months after manager Lou Piniella began lifting him for defensive purposes at the end of games. He won't win any Gold Glove awards in left field, but he's not hurting the team as he did at the beginning of the season. "He's trying to be like me on defense, and I'm trying to be like him on offense," Byrd said. "We're doing the trade-off. He has been working"
Soriano's homers sink Pirates
June 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 
"Everyone will fret about the two home runs Jeff Karstens served up Tuesday night to Alfonso Soriano. Karstens, however, was more upset about a pitch that never left the infield but still played a huge role in the Pirates' 3-1 loss against the Chicago Cubs. "The fastball that I jerked that got away from Doumit was a big one," Karstens said. With one out in the second inning, Koyie Hill doubled to left. Hill went to third on what was scored a passed ball - Doumit set up down and away, but the pitch veered well out of the strike zone and ticked off Doumit's glove. "It's on me," Karstens said. "It was supposed to be down and away. I threw it too far." Starlin Castro flied out to left field."
Two Soriano homers sink Pirates, 3-1
June 30
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The road winning streak ended at one. The night after they snapped their skid at 17 consecutive games away from home -- the second-longest since the start of Divisional Play some 40-plus years ago -- the Pirates saw Alfonso Soriano club home runs on consecutive at-bats tonight to power the Cubs to a 3-1 victory before 36,914 at Wrigley Field. So much for the Pirates using the Cubs as a pinata, as one Chicago wag put it: They had won eight of 10 this season from Chicago before tonight. Thus, they tied their most recent road winning streak, the one game they won May 25 after losing that series opener and before they lost 17 in succession, the franchise's second-longest since 1890. The 1985"
Soriano inspired by Castro, Byrd
June 21
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Alfonso Soriano has been receptive to the days off manager Lou Piniella is giving him this season. Piniella is mindful that it can help his outfielder stay productive. ''Especially with the day games here,'' Soriano said. But he admitted watching from the bench Saturday, when the Cubs had one of their worst losses of the season, was difficult. ''I don't like to watch, and that game was very tough,'' he said of the 12-0 defeat. ''We know we can play better; that's the problem. We have so many good players here. What's going on? It's not the team I saw in spring training. ''We're not consistent at all. One day we're good, then two days bad. We play like we're in rookie ball, like we've never"
Rare sacrifice bunt from Soriano leads to key run
June 17
Chicago Tribune
 
"It was the bunt heard around Wrigleyville, and it came from the most unlikely of Cubs. With two men on and no outs in the fourth inning of Wednesday night's 6-2 victory over the A's, Alfonso Soriano laid down his first sacrifice bunt since June 25, 2006 at Baltimore, when he played for Washington. "That was one of his sneak attacks," manager Lou Piniella said. The crowd of 36,244 gave Soriano a nice ovation, and why not? It's such a rare thing that there have been three perfect games in the majors since Soriano's last sacrifice, and there would have been four if not for an umpire's bad call. "Everybody was surprised," he said. "Everybody was happy. … I think they know baseball more than we"
300 is a magic number for Soriano
June 12
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Alfonso Soriano's wife can talk about it all she wants now that No. 300 finally cleared the center-field basket in the second inning Friday. ''I think about it, but a lot of people think about it more than I do,'' Soriano said the day before joining Derrek Lee as the second Cub to reach 300 career home runs in the last three days. ''My family, my friends, my wife. She calls me and says, 'When are you going to get 300?' I say, 'Don't say that. After I do it, say that. But before, you put a lot of pressure on me.''' Soriano admits that after hitting No. 298 on May 22 and No. 299 the next day, he was thinking about hitting the big one quickly and getting it out of the way. After it didn't"
Resurgent message
May 25
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano walked across the clubhouse when he saw the lineup posted before Sunday's game in Texas. ''Where today?'' he said. He peered at it for a second, then shook his head, smiling, as he headed back to his locker. Soriano was in the third different spot in as many days -- batting fourth, sixth and fifth during the three-game series. ''It's good,'' he said. ''I just want to be in the lineup.'' In fact, it's very good. That's part of the reason for all the juggling. While Derrek Lee fights his way out of a deep early slump and Aramis Ramirez takes time off to get his head and thumb right, Soriano is the team's hottest hitter -- the only power bat in the lineup"
Piniella hopes hot Soriano can clean up
May 22
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Coming off a rough 2009 season and a worse first week of this season, it would have been hard to imagine Alfonso Soriano's year looking like this barely a month later. But there he was Friday, hitting so well, playing with so much more life, that manager Lou Piniella made him his cleanup hitter on Friday for the opener of a three-game series in Texas. ''I'm living the dream that I want to live,'' said Soriano, who hit well in Philadelphia this week and overall was batting .362 in May with four homers and 12 RBI. ''I'm staying healthy and playing hard like I want. Running good -- running the bases good and playing defense.'' While the scoring part of the Cubs' hitting this season has been"
Piniella rolls the dice on Soriano
May 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alfonso Soriano may have had to look twice at the lineup posted on the clubhouse wall. The long-time leadoff hitter was placed in the cleanup spot for the opener of a three-game series against the Rangers. "He's swinging the bat as consistent as anybody we have,'' manager Lou Piniella said. "Put him in the 4-hole, try it, see how he does with it.'' Soriano is batting .323 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 39 games. He had never batted cleanup for the Cubs, doing it last for one game with Washington in 2006."
Cubs try Soriano at cleanup
May 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alfonso Soriano's standing appears to be growing, along with his batting average. Manager Lou Piniella batted Soriano in the cleanup spot Friday night against the Rangers, something he never had done. "He's swinging the bat as consistently as anybody we have,'' Piniella said. "Put him in the 4-hole, try it, see how he does with it.'' Soriano, who was hitting .215 on April 15, entered Friday night batting .323 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 39 games."
Soriano rejuvenated at plate with help of Jaramillo
May 6
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Phil Rogers
"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"
Soriano could tie Cubs' record
May 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"Alfonso Soriano homered for the fourth straight game Tuesday night at PNC Park and could tie the all-time franchise record if he hits one Wednesday. Hack Wilson, Ryne Sandberg and Sammy Sosa are the only Cubs with home runs in five consecutive games, giving Soriano something to shoot for. Is Soriano's resurgence a byproduct of his work with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, or does he just have more confidence at the plate? "I would think you get yourself in bad habits, bad habits allow you not to be too successful, not being too successful makes you lose confidence, so they're all inner-related," manager Lou Piniella said. "But I think it all starts with the mechanics and escalates from"
Alfonso Soriano heats up for Cubs
May 4
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"As Alfonso Soriano walked to the plate in the sixth inning of the Cubs' 10-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, the crowd rose as one to give the left fielder a rousing standing ovation. This, of course, was in stark contrast to the treatment he received last homestand when the Wrigley Field faithful serenaded him with a chorus of boos. An offensive explosion will do that to a crowd. With his two-homer, four-RBI day in the series finale, Soriano continued his recent torrid hitting streak that has seen him go from public enemy No. 1 at Clark and Addison to seemingly everyone's favorite Cub. "What a nice day he had," said manager Lou Piniella, whose team reached .500 after taking"
Soriano, Cubs continue hot streak
May 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs hitters had just finished winning three straight games with a total of 28 runs and 40 hits, but watching the Diamondbacks pitching staff leave town wasn't all that depressing for them. That's because the Cubs go to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. And while it may not seem possible, the Pirates are the only team in all of baseball with a worse pitching staff than Arizona's. Having reached .500 with their 10-5 victory Sunday, the Cubs would like to get to the positive side for the first time this season on a six-game trip that ends in Cincinnati, which has the NL's third-worst pitching staff. "Win series after series," Cubs center fielder Marlon Byrd said. "When you do that, you're doing the"