Alfonso Soriano is a bad defensive left-fielder. That's part of the reason he's in left field, and not in center -- left field is where the dregs of defensive outfield play. It's where they feel at home. It's where they can become the goofy 10-year-old in Little League, more content to pick dandelions than throw the ball to the cutoff man. Soriano is no different. What is different about Alfonso, though, is that he openly admits something professional athletes are not supposed to openly admit: fear:
"I have no problems running from side to side or running to make a catch in front of me," he said. "The only problem I have sometimes is running backward because I'm scared of hitting the wall. But I'm working very hard in spring training to get better. ... That's one of the only places that has [bricks] in the back [instead of padding]," Soriano said. "But the work in spring training will help me there and in different ballparks. I just have to work to make myself more comfortable."For so brazenly admitting that he's scared of a wall, Soriano is no doubt going to be pummeled today and throughout the season every time he lets a ball drop on the warning track or so much as slows his gait as he approaches the ivy. What most of these antagonists will fail to recognize, however, is that it's patently dumb to force Soriano to play the wall hard if he's not comfortable with it. He sucks at defense anyway; why jeopardize his offensive ability too?
Alfonso will get made fun of for this. Repeatedly. But the notion that Soriano is somehow going to drastically increase his defensive value by Aaron Rowand-ing a brick wall or two is just as silly as Soriano's fear is funny.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Hilarious. He fears a wall. OMG, that is funny! His career is over. Be prepared to be pwned by that wall, Alfonso. You're acting like he said he feared Santana, Peavy or Harang. Who cares? He's talking about how he's trying to become a better outfielder.
Tying the league lead with 19 outfield assists is pretty funny too.
What does this even mean?
"Alfonso will get made fun of for this. Repeatedly. But the notion that Soriano is somehow going to drastically increase his defensive value by Aaron Rowand-ing a brick wall or two is just as silly as Soriano's fear is funny."
Do you think he's going to practice diving into the wall or something? I'm confused.
Posted at 1:23PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Sean
2. I agree with Sean. I don't understand the intent of this post at all. Isn't it natural for a player like Alfonso Soriano, who played in the infield most of his life, to be deficient in some areas of the outfield? It seems like your posts typically try to find the negatives.
Posted at 2:57PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Beowulf
3. Peeps:
I'm not making fun of Soriano; I'm saying that those who do miss the point, that it's natural for him to be uncomfortable with the wall, and that rather than start barreling into it to prove he's not afraid or something, I'd prefer he was more careful. So I think we're on the same side, I just don't think you guys are reading me right.
Posted at 3:05PM on Feb 27th 2008 by PostmanE
4. I wouldn't think anyone would actually make fun of him for this--NO ONE plays the wall hard at Wrigley, and the few people who do, from time to time, are idiots, and usually lay on the field helpless as a result. I don't think Soriano is going to start running into the wall, but I think he will try to keep hemself from pulling up when he's still not to the warning track like I remember him doing last year.
Posted at 3:59PM on Feb 27th 2008 by Troy (Gainesville, FL)
5. this post is as stupid as its writer the guy led the league in throwing guys out not bad for a second basement also volunteered to play center until they find someone and did a pretty good job for a trained second basement and i think it hurt his hitting thinking about the outfield so much. you morons who only see a couple of games or watch espn should not post anything your ignorance of the game really shows.
Posted at 11:31AM on Feb 29th 2008 by ken