Alfonso Soriano is a multi-talented player. He has surprising power for a guy who is of a moderate build (rather thin actually). He has a very good arm and has been a leader in outfield assists. But he has got to have one of the LOWEST baseball IQ's of any player around. On the play Monday, where Ramirez hit the sac fly, Theriot tagged up and scored. Great, but the throw home went way over the cutoff man. In fact, the catcher had to reach high over his head to catch the throw, himself. Soriano (on second base) should have tagged up and advanced as well, when he saw the throw was going to go well over the cut off.But he remained at second. Also, how many times already this season, has Fonzi failed to advance a runner from first to second, or second to third, in a situation where a bunt or a ball hit to the right side is called for? Twice in Mondays game-again.... This guy is wonderfully talented, but really NOT a team player. I hope a guy like Fukudome who bunts for a hit, even when not called on by the manager to do so-can rub off on guys like Soriano and Ramirez, who seem to always want to swing for the fences, even with 2 strikes in a situation where just a weak grounder to the right side, would get the job done nicely. I thought Pinella was a tough guy, who would demand players play the game right. I guess that's not the case. If the Cub's are going to win the world series, they all have to play smart, team ball. Playing selfish and stupid can be overcome now and then, but eventually it costs you.

he is talented, but there is just nowhere to put him in the lineup. he is killing them up top. he will come around though. im not too worried, he is a streak hitter, and he will catch fire.

he is a hack in the field, who is lucky enough to have a strong arm to make up for it. did you see him throw out that houston runner at the plate on that tag-up play this past weekend? it was a medium-depth fly ball, and it was houstons speedy lead-off man on 3rd, and he threw him out by a MILE. it was awesome. when a ball is hit to him, especially balls he has to play on a bounce or off a wall, it is cross-your-fingers time.

they signed him for a long time, they want to keep him happy. he doesnt want to bat 5th or lower. he wants to be at the top of the order. i hate it, but it is what it is. i like him leading off more than i like him batting 2nd, because you KNOW he will never sacrifice or go to the right side, or be ASKED to, because of his power. i think he is less harmful as a leadoff man, because he can just hack away, and not have to worry about stranding guys or moving them along.

To paraphrase Da Coach, Soriano has a baseball IQ of a grapefruit.

It has been said before, but when a player puts on a Cub uniform they seem to lose the ability to think on the field. Even Derrek Lee in Monday's game took three called strikes with a man on third and less than two outs in extra innings. Swing the bat.

This leads me to my beef with the print media in this town. Maybe it's just me but I would have loved to know Piniella's reactions on these game situations but after reading both the Sun times and Tribune game notes I have no idea what Piniella's thoughts were. Who knows if Lou was even asked any questions about these situations. Was Lou dissapointed, angry, were any instructions given to Soriano?