Where Is Soriano More Valuable?

[DoubleX]

Is Soriano more valuable at 2B, where he is among the premiere offensive 2Bman in the game but quite possibly the worst defensive 2Bman in the game (and at an important defensive position too boot), OR....

Is Soriano more valuable in LF where his doesn't hurt his team nearly as much defensively, but his offensive output is more pedestrian (but still pretty good)?

So what we got is great offense and bad defense at important defensive position versuses good offense and decent defense at a not so important defensive position.

Now talk amongst yourselves.

[Tigerfan1974]

Designated Hitter, but since the Nationals don't use one, probably at his more 'natural (?)' position at 2d base.

[Astro]

This is easy...

The outfield, he is a horrible 2nd baseman... in limited time in the outfield thru his career he has been much better defensively than what he does at 2nd... You could go get David Ortiz and stick him at 2nd if you want good offense from that position and no defense....

That said, Soriano is just an average offensive player and is EXTREMLY overrated

[Mike D.]

This is easy...
That said, Soriano is just an average offensive player and is EXTREMLY overrated

Based on what scale? Not saying the guys a future hall of famer or anything, but 30+ homers, a .270-.300 average, 30+ doubles, and 30+ steals is average? Even when you figure in his lousy BB and K numbers, he's got to be considered above average. Top tier, not even close, but average?

[Brian McKenna]

soriano is a spark plug at bat and on the basepaths - i don't see his game as just average there - i find him to be a wholly impressive and a great addition to any team - if he plays where they tell him

[Astro]

Based on what scale? Not saying the guys a future hall of famer or anything, but 30+ homers, a .270-.300 average, 30+ doubles, and 30+ steals is average? Even when you figure in his lousy BB and K numbers, he's got to be considered above average. Top tier, not even close, but average?

He was greatly helped my his hitter friendly ballpark, he is horrible at selecting pitches to hit... sure he can hit a ball off the ground 400 feet out of the park... but why is he swinging at a ball just above the ground... he hits home runs, his average will plummet once he gets out of hitter friendly parks and he will turn into a faster version of Tony Batista

[Bob Hannah]

Where is he more valuable? In Texas.

[Mattingly]

Where is he more valuable? In a tiny bandbox, as a DH and in the 5-hole, since his awful OBP isn't worthy of a leadoff hitter.

I'd have to see some games, but if he's even an average LFer, then I sometimes feel he should forget about how much money he'll make at 2B and just stick there. Only so much offense he's going to create that he'll give back with his glove.

From his Yankee years, pitchers couldn't figure out how to get to him, then one guy started pitching low and away. Sori chased, whiffed, so the handbook must've been circulated amongst opposing pitchers.

[Mike D.]

He was greatly helped my his hitter friendly ballpark, he is horrible at selecting pitches to hit... sure he can hit a ball off the ground 400 feet out of the park... but why is he swinging at a ball just above the ground... he hits home runs, his average will plummet once he gets out of hitter friendly parks and he will turn into a faster version of Tony Batista

Texas is certainly a hitter-friendly park, but is Yankee stadium for a righty?

I know his home/away splits were ugly in 2005, but what about before that? Washington isn't a hitters park by any stetch, so I guess time will tell. I can't see him being Bautisa-like, especially in that Bautista was done at age 30. His average could take a bit of a dip, though, certainly.

But still, it takes a pretty low average/obp to call someone with 30+ homer power "average".

[DoubleX]

Texas is certainly a hitter-friendly park, but is Yankee stadium for a righty?

I know his home/away splits were ugly in 2005, but what about before that? Washington isn't a hitters park by any stetch, so I guess time will tell. I can't see him being Bautisa-like, especially in that Bautista was done at age 30. His average could take a bit of a dip, though, certainly.

But still, it takes a pretty low average/obp to call someone with 30+ homer power "average".

My thoughts exactly. Soriano's two best seasons came as a Yankee and playing in a stadium that is tough on right-handed hitters.

The biggest problem in Soriano's game is his discipline. He strikeouts far too often and he doesn't walk much. But he can definitely hit and he can definitely run. He's probably had the best combination of power and speed in the game since 2001.

[Mattingly]

Texas is certainly a hitter-friendly park, but is Yankee stadium for a righty?

Yankee Stadium is a lefty hitter's paradise. Lore has it that it was designed with Ruth in mind. Still, looking at Ruth, Gehrig, Yogi, Reggie, Mattingly and now Giambi, who can argue this.

Still, in 2002, he was 1 HR away from 40/40 as a Yankee, but his almost 700 AB must've made him pooped at the end.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Where Is Soriano More Valuable?


Why isn't "on another team" an option? I want no part of a horrible defensive, low OB%, strikout king in the making, clubhouse problem on my team. Even if he does pop 30 homers a year.

[BadKarma]

The best spot would be on an American League league team in the DH slot. Barring that, I would say LF. His defense won't hurt them as much out there. I don't see how he would be only average there though. How many other guys were 30/30 men last year?

[Astro]

his OBP was .309 last season........... his slugging was barely above .500

Like I said, he is going to end up like a fast Tony Batista... and will always be overrated because he hits homeruns

[KCGHOST]

Soriano a has been an above average hitter for his career, but has shown signs of decline the last two years in Texas. The Nats only prayer is that he has a hot first half and they can unload him for something worthwhile.