Nationals playing hardball with Soriano?

[SSH2005]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6022801342.html

Soriano Won't Play -- for Now

New National to Be Held Out of Exhibitions Until After WBC

 

By Dave Sheinin

Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 1, 2006; Page E01

 

VIERA, Fla., Feb. 28 -- Washington Nationals Manager Frank Robinson said he will not play newly acquired second baseman Alfonso Soriano in either of the team's first two exhibition games, raising the question of whether Soriano -- who departs on Thursday to join the Dominican Republic team for the upcoming World Baseball Classic -- will ever appear in a game in a Nationals uniform.

 

"He's not playing," Robinson said curtly when asked about Soriano, "because I didn't put him in the lineup."

 

The Nationals open their exhibition season Wednesday at Space Coast Stadium against the Kia Tigers, a Korean touring team, then face their first Grapefruit League game Thursday against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Soriano, along with six Nationals teammates, is expected to depart by Thursday night as players join their national teams for the WBC.

 

The Nationals decided last week to put off a decision about Soriano -- who has resisted the team's request that he move to left field -- until after the 16-nation tournament, which will give them more time to evaluate the condition of incumbent second baseman Jose Vidro's knee. Soriano could be gone until March 21 if the Dominican team advances to the WBC championship game. If Vidro's knee is still fine at that point, the team is expected to pursue a trade of either Vidro or Soriano.

 

Robinson's lineup for Wednesday's spring opener also did not include Vidro -- veteran Damian Jackson will play instead -- although Robinson said Vidro could be in the lineup Thursday.

 

"We have other people to look at this early in the spring," Robinson said. "We don't have to back up Vidro with Soriano, or Soriano with Vidro."

 

Pressed further, Robinson said the decision to keep Soriano on the bench was his own and was not influenced by the front office. General Manager Jim Bowden backed up that assertion when asked about Soriano's absence from the lineup, saying: "That's up to the manager. That's his decision."

 

Rather than singling out Soriano, Robinson appears to be keeping all of the Nationals' WBC participants out of action before they leave. Starting catcher Brian Schneider, who will be playing for the U.S. team, also said he will not play for the Nationals before departing.

 

Still, every decision involving Soriano this spring is freighted with intrigue. In his 10 days in camp, he has worked out exclusively as a second baseman and has been part of the same batting practice group as Vidro.

[R.J.]

Soriano is going to be a nice offensive pick-up for some contender with $$$ to spend.

 

Probably the most that Bowden can hope for out of this situation is for some big name second baseman to go down with an injury early in camp so he can sell Soriano as the answer.

[RockRaines]

Soriano is going to be a nice offensive pick-up for some contender with $$$ to spend.

 

 

Disagree, he is worthless outside of the ballpark in arlington.

[Balta1701]

Disagree, he is worthless outside of the ballpark in arlington.

He put up good numbers when he was @ Yankee stadium too.

[WilliamTell]

I don't blame the Nationals one bit. He comes in and says where he is and isn't playing, the team is more important than he is.

[SSH2005]

I read an article that said that Soriano has been the worst defensive second baseman in baseball over the past three seasons. I can see why the Nationals want to move him to left field. Soriano's OBP is downright pathetic but he wouldn't be bad as a #5 hitter. But the Nationals knew that Soriano didn't want to move from second base before they traded for him and they did anyways. Bowden is a horrible GM.

[Balta1701]

I read an article that said that Soriano has been the worst defensive second baseman in baseball over the past three seasons.  I can see why the Nationals want to move him to left field.  Soriano's OBP is downright pathetic but he wouldn't be bad as a #5 hitter.  But the Nationals knew that Soriano didn't want to move from second base before they traded for him and they did anyways.  Bowden is a horrible GM.

That was the big reason why Texas had trouble getting anything for Soriano before the trade...even Texas wanted to move him away from 2nd, but Soriano always refused.

[toasty]

the Mets now have an opening

[aboz56]

They are going to regret giving up Wilkerson for an idiot like Soriano.

[Phuck the Cubs]

Alfonso Soriano left the Washington Nationals to join the Dominican Republic team for the World Baseball Classic with his position unresolved.

 

Soriano doesn't want to move from second base to the outfield as the Nationals, who have Jose Vidro at second, have asked.

 

"They have three weeks to fix it," Soriano told The Washington Post before leaving town. He told the paper he didn't know what would happen if the issue remains unresolved.

 

Manager Frank Robinson, who didn't have either second baseman in the Nationals' lineup for the first two exhibition games, expects the next move to come from Soriano.

 

"Hopefully [he will] come to us when he comes back -- or while he's there, maybe have his agent call us and say, 'OK, Alfonso said this is what he's going to do,' " Robinson told the Post. "That's what we're hoping for."

 

A two-hour meeting with team officials last week failed to produce a breakthrough, and the parties essentially agreed to put off the problem.

 

"We've been pretty clear about being unclear," general manager Jim Bowden said Feb. 23.

 

Soriano worked out at second base with the Nationals for the first few days of spring training because that is the position he will play for the Dominican Republic. Soriano reported to the Dominican team Friday and could return as late as March 21.

 

The Nationals acquired Soriano, a four-time All-Star second baseman, from Texas in a December trade that sent outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge and pitcher Armando Galarraga to the Rangers.

 

With three-time All-Star Vidro already on the roster, Washington made it clear that Vidro will not be moved and that Soriano would be asked to play left field. Soriano made it clear that he wasn't happy about it.

 

Robinson told the Post that he hasn't had an in-depth conversation since the meeting last week with Soriano, his agent and Bowden to sit down. The team had limited contact with Soriano in the offseason because he was going through arbitration -- the panel chose the team's $10 million offer over his $12 million request.

 

Robinson has dismissed the notion of moving Vidro to another position. Vidro has been bothered by knee problems for 2½ seasons, but said he "100 percent" and ready to play a full season when he reported to camp. He announced he would not play for Puerto Rico in the WBC in order to focus on the Nationals.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2352752

[SSH2005]

They are going to regret giving up Wilkerson for an idiot like Soriano.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Indeed. With Jose Guillen out for 3 more months with injury, what do they need now? A right fielder. What do they currently have two of? Second basemen (Soriano & Vidro). Bowden is a retard.

Edited March 3, 2006 by SSH2005

[Phuck the Cubs]

Indeed.  With Jose Guillen out for 3 more months with injury, what do they need now?  A right fielder.  What do they currently have two of?  Second basemen (Soriano & Vidro).  Bowden is a retard.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you think now, he'll offer So-So a guarenteed MLB deal?

[knightni]

Hmmmm....

 

Who needs a speedy 2b...?

 

 

 

:fthecubs

 

[SSH2005]

This is getting ugly...

 

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/NASApp...t=.jsp&c_id=was

Soriano, Nats at impasse over outfield

 

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

 

VIERA, Fla. -- Second baseman Alfonso Soriano informed the Nationals on Monday afternoon that he will not play outfield for them, while the team told him that he could be placed on the disqualified list if he failed to do so.

 

Soriano, who played most of March representing the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic, was set to hit leadoff and play the outfield for the Nationals against the Dodgers on Monday night. But when the players went out on the field, only eight players were present.

 

Manager Frank Robinson then went to home plate umpire Mike Estabrook and told him that a lineup change was going to be made. Brandon Watson, who was supposed to sit out the game, went to center field, while Ryan Church switched from center to left field.

 

A few minutes later, general manager Jim Bowden indicated that Soriano will be given a second chance to play the outfield on Wednesday afternoon against the Cardinals. If Soriano refused to play the outfield that day, the team most likely will put him on the disqualified list without pay.

 

"He made it pretty clear that he was not going to play," Bowden said. "We hope that when he reflects on it, we hope that he changes his mind and plays left field."

 

Soriano was acquired from the Rangers this offseason for outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge and right-hander Armando Galarraga.

[G&T]

Since I have never seen the Disqualified List used, I figure I'd throw this out for anyone else who might be wondering about it:

 

Disqualified List:

A player who violates a player contract or reservation may be placed on this list. There is no minimum number of days the player must remain on the Disqualified List before the player can be reinstated to the Active List. A player on the Disqualified List does not count against a Club's Active List limits or its Reserve List limits.

[CWSGuy406]

Meh -- Bowden dug his own grave... Would've been a bad trade even if Soriano agreed to the move. This just makes the trade all the more laughable.

[Whitewashed in '05]

I am sure the only thing he is worried about is getting that check. Texas robbed the Nats...

[southsider2k5]

What a selfish SOB. Hopefully this flushes his value as a free agent down the toilet, and he gets hit big time in the checkbook.

[Heads22]

What a selfish SOB.  Hopefully this flushes his value as a free agent down the toilet, and he gets hit big time in the checkbook.

 

Do you think Gage will react the same way when he comes back and finds he's been demoted?

[southsider2k5]

Do you think Gage will react the same way when he comes back and finds he's been demoted?   

 

If he was a team player, he would have accepted his new position as Soxtalk's b****... But no, he had to want to run the site :headshake

[bjm676]

This is pure Little League s***. Put his ass on the DQ list and when the checks stop coming, then let's see how he feels. Besides, can we seriously call him a legit second baseman anyway? The guys a butcher to begin with.

[RME JICO]

Now this is embarrassing:

 

"Excuse me Mr. Umpire, my Leftfielder refuses to play in the Outfield like a little baby,

and by the way, the Rangers screwed us"

[AirScott]

This is pure Little League s***.  Put his ass on the DQ list and when the checks stop coming, then let's see how he feels.  Besides, can we seriously call him a legit second baseman anyway?  The guys a butcher to begin with.

now that's my major problem with this. Soriano is a TERRIBLE second baseman, yet he refuses to try his hand at a new position on a team that already has a good second baseman. ridiculous.

[jackie hayes]

now that's my major problem with this.  Soriano is a TERRIBLE second baseman, yet he refuses to try his hand at a new position on a team that already has a good second baseman.  ridiculous.

It's funny to think that Soriano was traded for ARod -- someone MUCH more talented, both with the bat and in the field, who immediately said he'd change positions because the Yankees already had a fixture at ss. Even though ARod was a bettter ss. But Soriano is such a brat he won't move even when the position's occupied by a much better player.

 

I don't see why he'd be eager to torpedo his fa value so early, but it makes for good television.

[jackie hayes]

What a selfish SOB.  Hopefully this flushes his value as a free agent down the toilet, and he gets hit big time in the checkbook.

Interesting. Bowden weighs in on Soriano going on the dq list. Basically, if he sits out the year, obviously he doesn't get paid. But moreover, his service time does not increase, so he remains ineligible for free agency after this season. Bowden:

If he refuses to play and goes home, and the commissioner's office accepts our request to place him on the disqualified list, then at that point, if he were to sit out this year, he would not be a free agent, he would stay our property because his service time would stay the same.

So Alfonso, do you ever want to play baseball again?