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When he signed all the talk was, awful signing, too much money.
Now, as the season approaches, the Cubs hype is beginning again. How long until we hear Cub fans blasting the signing. My guess is August.
I see Soriano putting up a line of:

.270 Avg. 45 HR 95 RBI .315 OBP. Which would not be a bad year for him.
But worth $16 million a year for 7?

I think his worth will depend on what the market is in a few years.

right now he's grossly overpaid. in 3 years he may actually be appropriate, if things continue to rocket uncontrollably as they have the last 2 offseasons.

I wonder why teams keep hitting him leadoff with that kind of obp.

if soriano hits 45 homers and manages 95 RBI out of the leadoff spot, he will have an OBP >>>> 315

i'm thinking 270/340/540 with 40 home runs and 90 RBI sounds right. but no, one year will not be worth the length of the contract (barring a WS win, in which case I'll want another after tasting it once, and it still won't be good enough).

Fat_Bulldog wrote:I wonder why teams keep hitting him leadoff with that kind of obp.

because he's decidedly more comfortable there, or that's what his splits indicate.

If you're a Cards fan, and you KNOW that what happens with a particular salary will affect the choices the team has for other players, the how much the guy gets matters.

That set aside, whether Soriano is overpaid or not has no bearing on whether he will help the Cubs in 2007, and whether they are better now with him then they were before without him. And clearly, whatever money they gave him and whether it constitutes "too much" or not, it did not stop them from keeping key Cubs and signing other players.

Does anybody here think that if Soriano hits .270 with 45 homers and 95 RBI, he will not be helping the Cubs???

Fat_Bulldog wrote:I wonder why teams keep hitting him leadoff with that kind of obp.

I don't get it either. Just because I guy can steal bases, does that make him leadoff worthy?
Why not bat Soriano 5th. That way he can drive in the big bats, and if he gets a single can get himself into scroing position for the bottom of the order?
I know he sucks w/ runners in scoring position, but I'd bat him 5th.

The Soriano signing sucks, but it's the length and the dollar amount, not his ability. He hits leadoff because he hits significantly better(and gets on base significantly better) from that spot. I don't know if all those walks he added last year will stay(Gerald Perry gives me hope, but I won't hold my breath), but I think getting away from RFK will add some XBH's. I hate making predictions, but I guess his career line from the leadoff spot(.291/.340/.544/.884) wouldn't be a huge stretch.

robbotis wrote:

Fat_Bulldog wrote:I wonder why teams keep hitting him leadoff with that kind of obp.

I don't get it either. Just because I guy can steal bases, does that make him leadoff worthy?
Why not bat Soriano 5th. That way he can drive in the big bats, and if he gets a single can get himself into scroing position for the bottom of the order?
I know he sucks w/ runners in scoring position, but I'd bat him 5th.

All of his numbers are better at leadoff (including OBP). I can't say I'd be disappointed with 45 homeruns and 95+ RBI.

98navigator wrote:

robbotis wrote:

Fat_Bulldog wrote:I wonder why teams keep hitting him leadoff with that kind of obp.

I don't get it either. Just because I guy can steal bases, does that make him leadoff worthy?
Why not bat Soriano 5th. That way he can drive in the big bats, and if he gets a single can get himself into scroing position for the bottom of the order?
I know he sucks w/ runners in scoring position, but I'd bat him 5th.

All of his numbers are better at leadoff (including OBP). I can't say I'd be disappointed with 45 homeruns and 95+ RBI.

But at that huge $$ figure, low .OBP, and poor defense?