04-14-2010, 01:23 PM
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Piniella denies Cubs threatened to sit Soriano
April 14, 2010 11:44 AM | 3 Comments
By Paul Sullivan
Lou Piniella denied a report the Cubs have told Alfonso Soriano to produce or get benched, and launched into an impassioned defense of his defensively challenged left-fielder.
"It's not true," Piniella said of the Daily Herald report. "It couldn't be further from the truth. They're all going to play. I've got five good outfielders. I can't sit two of them and just play three. That we're not going to do. But at the same time, all I said, basically was be patient with me and I'm going to have to take one of them out of the lineup occasionally to get somebody some at-bats."
"Now, down the road, when we get into this thing, obviously, the guys that are doing the best are the guys that should get more at-bats. When I played, that's the way it was. I think it'll be that way 20 years from now."
Few believe Piniella would sit Soriano for any extended period because of Soriano's $136 million contract, which runs through 2014.
"Guys that are making money are making that money because they've had really, really nice careers and they've been successful," Piniella said. "But I don't like living in the past. And I don't like living in the future. I like living in the present."
Soriano has acknowledged his fear of running into outfield walls, which causes him to be tentative with fly balls near the wall or the line. He's also hitting only .200, though the team itself is batting only .233, so he's not alone.
Still, Soriano is getting hit hard by the fans at Wrigley Field, and is trying not to be affected by the criticism.
"This young man takes a lot of pride in what he does," Piniella said. "I mean, he works hard, he wants to do good. Nobody wants to drop a fly ball, believe me. (Mike) Quade works with him every day.
"Look at him -- he's working. That's all you can expect. He'll get better. Look, I love this guy to death. I really do. I still take him out for defense with leads, but I want to see 'Sori' do good. He's a good young man, he works hard. He's had such a great career, and you want to see that continue."
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April 14, 2010 11:44 AM | 3 Comments
By Paul Sullivan
Lou Piniella denied a report the Cubs have told Alfonso Soriano to produce or get benched, and launched into an impassioned defense of his defensively challenged left-fielder.
"It's not true," Piniella said of the Daily Herald report. "It couldn't be further from the truth. They're all going to play. I've got five good outfielders. I can't sit two of them and just play three. That we're not going to do. But at the same time, all I said, basically was be patient with me and I'm going to have to take one of them out of the lineup occasionally to get somebody some at-bats."
"Now, down the road, when we get into this thing, obviously, the guys that are doing the best are the guys that should get more at-bats. When I played, that's the way it was. I think it'll be that way 20 years from now."
Few believe Piniella would sit Soriano for any extended period because of Soriano's $136 million contract, which runs through 2014.
"Guys that are making money are making that money because they've had really, really nice careers and they've been successful," Piniella said. "But I don't like living in the past. And I don't like living in the future. I like living in the present."
Soriano has acknowledged his fear of running into outfield walls, which causes him to be tentative with fly balls near the wall or the line. He's also hitting only .200, though the team itself is batting only .233, so he's not alone.
Still, Soriano is getting hit hard by the fans at Wrigley Field, and is trying not to be affected by the criticism.
"This young man takes a lot of pride in what he does," Piniella said. "I mean, he works hard, he wants to do good. Nobody wants to drop a fly ball, believe me. (Mike) Quade works with him every day.
"Look at him -- he's working. That's all you can expect. He'll get better. Look, I love this guy to death. I really do. I still take him out for defense with leads, but I want to see 'Sori' do good. He's a good young man, he works hard. He's had such a great career, and you want to see that continue."
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