Friday, April 17, 2009

ESPN Sunday Night Basball -- The Great Soriano Debate



On Sunday Night ESPN commentators Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips almost came to blows carrying on a heated debate with no clear resolution.
 
The two former major leaguers pitted themselves on opposite side of what has now become an age old debate.
 
Which is the better method to utilize Cub's outfielder Alfonso Soriano? Batting at the top of the line-up in the lead-off spot, where the Cub's spoiled former MVP prefers to be stationed or in the middle of the line-up, where Cub's management could take full advantage of Soriano's significant pop with runners actually on base in front of him.
 
Soriano at his best can launch forty plus home-runs in a single season, many of those solo shot due to his spot at the top of the Cub's batting order.
 
The argument as Mr. Phillips sees it is by putting Sorinao in the three or four position in the batting order rather then his traditional lead-off spot you would give Soriano a chance to see pitches with runners on base and perhaps even in scoring position....It make sense if you think about it. Why bat Soriano, who has adequate big league speed in a position that demand a high engine speed-ball. Soriano belongs in a position where he can utilize quite possibly the only skill that has not deteriorated since his MVP days. His Power.
 
Hall of famer Joe Morgan doesn't see things in the same light. In fact he made a point to inform Steve Phillips on Sunday's broadcast that he had indeed spoken to Cub's manager Lou Piniella regarding Soriano's position in the Cub's batting order and that Lou happened to agree with Joe and felt that the best place for Sorinao in the Cubs line-up is front and center, right at the top, leading things off.
 
It strike me as a little but unusual that Lou Piniella would care enough about not ruffling feathers to say anything to protect the emotions of one of his fragile, volatile daisies. The truth is...if Lou said it, it's probably true. 
 
There was a third voice in the booth on Sunday Night, play by play announcer Jon Miller whose comments quite frankly were more up this reports alley "I just like saying Miller Park" said the incomparable Mr. Miller, truly incomparable. 



Zoltan Black




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