Taking Off the Cubbie Blue-Colored Glasses
I understand that it's too little, too late, but the recent Cubs surge has been a pleasant change of pace from the constant drumbeat of losing that we Cubs fans have been subjected to for most of the season. But I admit that I may have gotten carried away during a recent post when I wrote that Alfonso Soriano could bounce back and produce a 30-homer, 100-RBI season next year.
Joel Reese, editor-in-chief of the Cubs Fan Report (one of my favorite Cubs Web sites other than my own), wacked the Cubbie blue-colored glasses right off my face.
Joel wrote to tell me he envisions a 24/67 season from Soriano and predicts that the $136 million man will be waived by 2012.
To support his predictions, Joel pointed out Soriano's monthly splits this season:
June: .234
July: .225
August: .245
Sept & Oct: .214 (entering Wednesday)
I have no explanation for having such high expectations regarding Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Cubs minor-league prospects, etc. Chalk it up to wishful thinking, very wishful thinking.
Joel also rightly identifies Soriano as a guy who "can't steal, fields like Mr. Magoo, and whiffs a lot (to say nothing of his postseason performance in '07 and '08)."
That's the most accurate scouting report I've ever read regarding Soriano.
And despite all of this contrary evidence, I continue to be hopeful regarding next season. It defies logic, but so does being a Cubs fan.
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Well, I didn't mean to totally rain on your parade. I have high hopes for Castro and Colvin, as well as promising minor leaguers like Brett Jackson, Hak-Ju Lee, and Chris Archer.
But Soriano... for some reason, it's like people don't even see him anymore. I guess we've just accepted that he's here for the duration, and there's nothing we can do about it. But I wonder why he even plays -- he brings almost nothing to the table. Why not see what Brad Snyder can do? Or maybe a little shame would motivate Soriano to close the Buick-sized hole in his swing.
The one caveat about Soriano is this: I've heard that he wasn't a Jim Hendry signing, that the Cubs' GM was ordered to get him, costs be damned. So while there's a strong case to be made against Hendry (although I'm not a hater), I don't think you can add Soriano to the mix.
Barry Rozner, in his column today, notes that Quade has been tough with the younger players, but has been softer with the team's veterans. He speculates that perhaps Quade, who is still the interim manager, feels he lacks the authority to lower the boom on the likes of Soriano and Ramirez. But that could change next year if he's still the manager.