Slugging Soriano

Alfonso Soriano bashed his National-League-leading fourth home run into the night to leadoff the Cubs 8-5 win over Milwaukee at Miller Park. It's Soriano's second leadoff home run this season. He has just seven RBI, thanks to batting leadoff. MLB home run leader Evan Longoria (5 HR) owns 10 RBI.

Fantasy Impact: Soriano might be an ideal No. 5 hitter. He's got pop, and while his on base percentage lacks, he can steal a base once he gets on. That's an ideal type of player for the role in the National League, where a power guy can knock himself in or get himself from first to second in time for the lower order to bring him home before the pitcher's turn. Soriano desires to bat first, though, so his RBI numbers will continue to take a hit.

Not so Sori about his defense

Sabernomics.com, in a short review of John Dewan's The Fielding Bible II, lists the top defensive players at each position with regard to "runs saved."

Pos. - Player - Runs Saved
1B - Albert Pujols = 61
2B - Chase Utley = 63
3B - Pedro Feliz = 50
SS - Adam Everett = 48
LF - Alfonso Soriano = 42
CF - Carlos Beltran = 44
RF - Alex Rios = 49
C - Jason Kendall = 27
P - Kenny Rogers = 27

The shocker? Alfonso Soriano in left field. He's been ripped repeatedly for his defense at Wrigley Field. There is, however, merit to his high standing here. Soriano does have the ability to throw from left, recording the fourth-most assists from left field (10) in MLB. His five double plays from the outfield led the majors.

Is he an adventure in left? Yes, but it's traditionally the weakest defensive position in baseball. Maybe he's not so bad in terms of his peers.

On Manny being a Cub

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune ponders what it might take the Cubs to land Manny Ramirez.

Manny Ramirez won't be going to Boston for the World Series. No one knows where he will wind up in 2009, including Ramirez or his agent, Scott Boras, both of whom are the cleanup hitters of their businesses.

Despite unprecedented production under the brightest lights, the baggage Ramirez carries is so heavy that it's unclear if the Los Angeles Dodgers will pay to bring him back. His fit elsewhere is equally unclear, as is the outlook for improving a Cubs team that has gone 0-6 the last two Octobers.

...

If there's a fan base ripe for that pitch, it's the fans in the bars in Wrigleyville. They have watched Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez go a combined 5-for-51 in the crushing first-round losses to the Dodgers and Arizona and are hungrier than ever for the full ride, not just the big tease.

There's no way the Cubs can play two left fielders, so Soriano would have to go for Ramirez to come. Soriano seems to be essentially an immovable object with six years and $106 million left on his contract, but the Dodgers will need two things if they don't re-sign Ramirez—power hitting and another buzz guy.

Could Soriano soften the blow of losing Ramirez?

Up until this rumorville article all the talk was of the Cubs going after a left-handed bat like Adam Dunn. That, and the potential devaluation of the Cubs franchise as it is sold should make it pretty tough to pay Manny. He's 36, and if he wants a five- or six-year contract, he'll be well past his prime by the end of the deal.