Alfonso Soriano

The Chicago Cubs need offense. Their top prospect, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, has a .351 batting average with 16 home runs and a .415 on-base percentage (OBP) in 174 at-bats for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in 2012. Rizzo has a 1.116 on-base plus slugging ...  

He is due to make somewhere around $50 million over the remainder of his contract. The Cubs are currently paying Carlos Zambrano and Marlon Byrd to play elsewhere. They are paying over $20 million for those two to play for Miami and Boston, respectively.  

Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano still has enough pain every day that he might wind up with a second surgery on his left knee depending on what it feels like the rest of the season, he said Saturday. But Soriano, 36, refuses to sit, refuses to ...  

MILWAUKEE — Cubs manager Dale Sveum recently persuaded Alfonso Soriano to switch to a lighter bat. And as the at-bats pile up without ... Sveum said he understands ‘‘those are harder things to get over than people think.’’  

On the play, Tony Campana advances to third. Runner on third and Bryan LaHair due up. Out Bryan LaHair struck out swinging. Runner on third with two outs and Alfonso Soriano due up. Out Alfonso Soriano flied out to right to end the inning.  

316/.419/.527). He's worth a mixed-league flier. Seriously. Alfonso Soriano, OF, Cubs. Soriano finally hit a home run last Tuesday -- then he added two more. He finished the week with a .345 average and seven RBIs, which would make owners ...  

So yesterday was a pretty insane day of baseball, eh? Baltimore Orioles infielder/DH Chris Davis had a day to remember, and a day to forget, yesterday against the Red Sox. He went 0-8 with five strikeouts, but he also pitched two scoreless innings, struck out Adrian Gonzalez, and picked up a win. The O's/Red Sox tilt went 17 innings, and, by the end, each team was using a position player to pitch. Davis got the better of...  

Buster Olney tweeted this earlier today: GMs say there are no perfect defensive metrics. Some evidence: No. 4-ranked player in UZR/150 is Alfonso Soriano. fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?p… — Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 24, 2012 Superficially, Olney appears to have a point. Soriano is a bad defender. This would appear to present a flaw in the UZR mechanism. But what if Olney had tweeted this? GMs say there are no...  

CHICAGO - Alfonso Soriano, right, hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning Tuesday, and Chicago ended St. Louis' run of winning series in the regular season at 13. Tony Campana sparked the winning rally with a...  

Small!: Reverend Gadgite. When Hanley Ramirez hit his game-winning three-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday, it set off the multi-colored $2.5 million home-run sculpture in left-center field. Cubs manager Dale Sveum didn’t see the leaping fish or the flamingos at all. “I didn’t even look at it, to tell you the truth,” Sveum said Wednesday. “I saw the ball leave the bat and said, ‘Oh God.’” Alfonso Soriano said he anticipates the Marlins...  

Alfonso Soriano still has enough pain in his left knee every day that he might wind up ... Kerry Wood singled out Soriano for that behind-the-scenes toughness as he looked back on the trials and travails of his own career. ``I've got respect for guys ...  

ST. LOUIS – Alfonso Soriano rediscovered his power stroke. Off hard-throwing Jason Motte, too. The Chicago Cubs hope to see a few more long balls in the near future. Soriano’s first home run of the season ended a 119 at-bat drought and tied ...  

For as many complaints as we have all had about Alfonso Soriano continuing to play on what is obviously a bad leg -- and it hurt the Cubs again defensively Tuesday -- I'm sure every Cubs fan was happy he was in the lineup in the ninth inning, when he hit his first home run of the season. Yes, at last, Soriano has as many home runs as Albert Pujols! It didn't matter, as Rafael Dolis couldn't hold the tie score in the ninth inning and...  

This is what Soriano will come to recognize as his improved effort creates greater applause than his old nonchalant attitude produced jeers. It is easy to be lazy in workouts and preparation when a player still has “it”, but when a player no longer ...  

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - David DeJesus fell a home run shy of the cycle and Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-3 ... Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - David DeJesus fell a home run shy of the cycle and Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-3 with two RBI as Chicago ...  

After Starlin Castro struck out, Bryan LaHair was walked intentionally before Soriano hit a full-count pitch off second baseman Tyler Greene and into the outfield. Campana scored easily to give the Cubs their second consecutive dramatic victory ...  

Washington Nationals Game 34 Review: Votto slams Nats with walk-off homer ...District Sports PageThe game was delayed for over three hours due to a steady rain that fell in the Cincinnati area overnight, continued into the morning, and just kept on falling throughout the game. Maybe now the Nats wish they went ahead and called it.Joey Votto hits 3 HRs, including 9th-inning grand slam that gives Reds 9-6 win ...Washington Postall 3 news...  

CHICAGO -- Maybe Alfonso Soriano can teach Albert Pujols a thing or two. [+] Enlarge Jerry Lai/US PresswireAlfonso Soriano hit his second home run in as many games on Wednesday. Yes, that Soriano. And yes, that Pujols. After finally delivering ...  

Philadelphia took a 3-2 lead in the eighth on Carlos Ruiz's solo home run off reliever Shawn Camp. Garza gave up a second inning run on an RBI double by second baseman Freddy Galvis, but Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run shot off Kyle Kendrick in ...  

CHC@STL: Soriano plates go-ahead run in the eighth ST. LOUIS -- This time, the Chicago offense rescued ace Ryan Dempster. Alfonso Soriano broke a tie with an RBI single in the eighth to lead ...  

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Alfonso Soriano rediscovered his power stroke. Off hard-throwing Jason Motte, too. The Chicago Cubs hope to see a few more longballs in the near future. Soriano’s first home run of the season ended a 119 at-bat drought and ...  

ST. LOUIS – Alfonso Soriano rediscovered his power stroke. Off hard-throwing Jason Motte, too. The Cubs hope to see a few more longballs in the near future. Soriano’s first home run of the season ended a 119 at-bat drought and tied the score ...  

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg hit his first major league homer Sunday, connecting in the fourth inning against Baltimore left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.  

Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano, right, is congratulated by third base coach Pat Listach while rounding the bases after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday, May 15, 2012, in St. Louis.  

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bryce Harper is as sentimental about his first big league homer as he is about the rest of the many milestones in his baseball career. The ball's headed for a cardboard box. The 19-year-old rookie became the youngest major leaguer to homer since 1998 with a solo shot in the third inning of the Washington Nationals' 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night. After the game, the ball was sitting in his locker with...  

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg hit his first major league homer Sunday, connecting in the fourth inning against Baltimore left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.  

ST. LOUIS – Alfonso Soriano rediscovered his power stroke. Off hard-throwing Jason Motte, too. The Cubs hope to see a few more long balls in the near future. Soriano’s first home run of the season ended a 119 at-bat drought and tied it in ...  

LOUIS — Manager Dale Sveum said Monday he's not considering lowering No. 5 hitter Alfonso Soriano in the batting order, despite his lack of power. Soriano ... the top of the order gets on base." If Ian Stewart were more consistent, he would ...  

ST. LOUIS Alfonso Soriano rediscovered his power stroke. Off hard-throwing Jason Motte, too. The Chicago Cubs hope to see a few more long balls in the near future. Soriano’s first home run of the season ended a 119 at-bat drought and tied it in the ninth Tuesday.  

LF Alfonso Soriano hit his first home run of the season to tie ... He joined Phil Cavarretta (1945), Bill Buckner (1981) and Derrek Lee (2007) as Cubs first baseman since World War II with on-base streaks of 32 games. --RHP Mike MacDougal signed a minor ...  

Stephen Strasburg hit his first major league home run and struck out eight in five innings to carry the Washington Nationals past the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 Sunday. At Washington, Strasburg sent an 0-2 pitch from Wei-Yin Chen into the Baltimore bullpen in ...  

ST. LOUIS - Alfonso Soriano rediscovered his power stroke. Off hard-throwing Jason Motte, too. The Chicago Cubs hope to see a few more longballs in the near future. Soriano's first home run of the season ended a 119 at-bat drought and tied it in ...  

Cubs hopeful 36-year-old slugger can recapture youthful abilityLeft unsaid was that Alfonso Soriano wasn't the happiest of Cubs campers as he was first dropped out of the leadoff spot and then down toward the end of the order. Now, Dale Sveum has talked about giving him a shot at a big RBI spot in the middle of the order.  

CHICAGO - Alfonso Soriano hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning and the Chicago Cubs beat St. Louis 3-2 on Tuesday night, ending the Cardinals' run of 13 consecutive winning series.  

ST. LOUIS – Alfonso Soriano rediscovered his power stroke. Off hard-throwing Jason Motte, too. The Cubs hope to see a few more longballs in the near future. Soriano's first home run of the season ended a 119 at-bat drought and tied it in the ...  

Cody Ross and Mike Sweeney are manning the corners and neither of ... dumping tens of millions in contract obligations in the off-season. Current outfielders Alex Rios and Dayan Viciedo are disasters in the early going so the team may want Soriano's ...  

Alfonso Soriano’s future will be the story of the Cubs’ 2012 season! He is the link between the Cubs’ past and their future, both a productive player and the last bad contract Chicago’s new management needs to shed before they can build a new ...  

WASHINGTON - Stephen Strasburg hit his first major league home run and struck out eight in five innings to carry the Washington Nationals past the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 Sunday. Strasburg sent an 0-2 pitch from Wei-Yin Chen into the Baltimore ...  

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg hit his first major league homer Sunday, connecting in the fourth inning against Baltimore left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. Strasburg drove a 0-2 pitch into the Orioles bullpen.  

Alfonso Soriano rediscovered his power stroke. Off hard-throwing Jason Motte, too.  

Alfonso Soriano rediscovered his power stroke. Off hard-throwing Jason Motte, too.  

MILWAUKEE -- Jeff Samardzija took the mound in the finale of the Cubs ... Sveum said the Cubs need more power out of Soriano. "Whatever it is, it's a strange phenomenon that (Brewers rookie) Edwin Maysonet has more home runs than Alfonso Soriano ...  

Bryce Harper hit his first big league home run and Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady each connected in the eighth inning, leading the Washington Nationals to an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.  

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jeff Samardzija nearly finished the game while Alfonso Soriano added two RBI as ... Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Jeff Samardzija nearly finished the game while Alfonso Soriano added two RBI as the Chicago Cubs avoided the ...  

He became a fan in 1984 when Ryne Sandberg hit the two famous game-tying home runs off Cardinals closer and former Cub Bruce Sutter. Raymond then solidified his team loyalty when the Cubs won the division later that season and has been a fan ever since.  

It probably would have been easier had the Washington Nationals just given in Monday night. Easier if they had succumbed to the rain, or the fatigue from a draining Sunday, or the latest devastating injury dealt them. The “good” parts, of ...  

Freeman was particularly unlucky ... He moved up on Bryan LaHair's bouncer to second and scored on Alfonso Soriano's two-out double. Soriano was the last batter for the 22-year-old Delgado, who struck out five and walked three. "I work in my bullpen ...  

WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg hit his first major league homer Sunday, connecting in the fourth inning against Baltimore left-hander Wei-Yin Chen.  

Tony Campana led off with a single to left for Chicago's second hit of the game. He moved up on Bryan LaHair's bouncer to second and scored on Alfonso Soriano's two-out double off Randall Delgado. Delgado left after Soriano's hit, posting his ...  

David DeJesus fell a home run shy of the cycle and Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-3 with two RBI as Chicago slipped by Los Angeles, 5-4. in the opener of a three-game weekend set from Wrigley Field. DeJesus finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored ...  

Bryce Harper hit his first big league home run and Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady each connected in the eighth inning, leading the Washington Nationals to an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres last night. Harper became the youngest major leaguer to homer ...  

The Washington Nationals were one inning away from a six-game losing streak, but Ian Desmond had other plans.With the team down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bryce Harper led the inning off with a double. Desmond came to bat later in the inning and deposited the ball into the seats against right-hander J.J. Putz.It was a solid game all around for the Nats, with contributions coming from nearly everybody in...  

The Cubs seek their first win of the new era Sunday at Wrigley Field with Jeff Samardzija taking the mound against the Nationals. Alfonso Soriano's sacrifice fly in the fourth gave the Cubs an early lead, after Starlin Castro singled and then ...  

Goodyear, AZ (Sports Network) - Alfonso Soriano crushed a two-run home run and finished with three RBI as the ... Goodyear, AZ (Sports Network) - Alfonso Soriano crushed a two-run home run and finished with three RBI as the Chicago Cubs dropped the ...  

WASHINGTON -- Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper, the person pegged as the LeBron James of baseball, hit his first Major League home run in an 8-5 victory over the Padres on Monday night. The Nationals were leading, 3-1, in the third inning ...  

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper hit his first major league home run Monday night, connecting with a 2-1 pitch from San Diego's Tim Stauffer and sending it to the grass batter's eye at Nationals Park. It took Harper 62 major league ...  

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto hit a grand slam in the ninth inning for his third home run of the game, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a rain-delayed 9-6 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Votto hit solo homers in his first two at-bats ...  

Alfonso Soriano hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning ... The Cubs outrighted RHP Rodrigo Lopez to Triple-A Iowa. Lopez was designated for assignment when RHP Michael Bowden was added to the 25-man roster on Monday. ... Bowden made his Cubs ...  

Alfonso Soriano batted .237 with no homers and two doubles in April. Told that Soriano was hopeful he'd start hitting once the calendar changed, Sveum said, "The calendar?" He wasn't thinking about the monthly calendar, but the 2012 calendar.  

Josh Johnson allowed two runs in a seven-inning start on Tuesday, Steve Cishek (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth for the win and Heath Bell picked up his first save of the season in the opener of this three-game series. Alfonso Soriano and Bryan LaHair had ...  

CHICAGO – Perhaps it’s not a bad thing that Alfonso Soriano has turned into a singles hitter after all. If he can smoke a ball like he did in the 10th inning Tuesday night and blast it through Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker to win a ...  

Instead of holding onto Rodriguez, the Rangers traded him to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano, who had two mediocre seasons in Texas, and then they traded Soriano for the package of Armando Galarraga, Termell Sledge and Brad Wilkerson, none of whom did much ...  

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson moved 19-year-old outfielder Bryce ... Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson moved 19-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper up from No. 7 in the ...  

SURPRISE, Ariz. - Alfonso Soriano and Ian Stewart each homered to power the Chicago Cubs past a Texas Rangers split squad 11-4 Thursday. Joe Mather and Brett Jackson also connected for the Cubs, who amassed 15 hits against five Texas pitchers. Matt Garza ...  

ST. LOUIS -- Alfonso Soriano, David DeJesus and Bryan LaHair were all given a day off on Sunday, with manager Dale Sveum shaking up his lineup for the finale of the Cardinals series. Sveum said he wanted to give Soriano two days off, including ...  

Ross Detwiler and three relievers combined on a four-hitter and Rick Ankiel homered and had three hits as the host Washington Nationals defeated the Florida Marlins, 2-0, on Friday. Detwiler (2-0) allowed three hits in six innings and struck out ...  

Alfonso Soriano and Ian Stewart each homered to power the Chicago Cubs past a Texas Rangers split squad 11-4 Thursday. Joe Mather and Brett Jackson also connected for the Cubs, who amassed 15 hits against five Texas pitchers. Matt Garza, one of two ...  

The Cubs scored two more runs in the sixth on RBIs by Alfonso Soriano and Ian Stewart. Chicago went ahead 2-0 on Soriano ... on Reed Johnson’s RBI triple that got past a diving Hunter Pence in right. Johnson scored on David DeJesus’ single.  

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Alfonso Soriano hit his Cactus League-leading fifth home run, this one off of Rangers starter Colby Lewis, to help lead the Cubs to an 11-4 victory at Surprise Stadium on Thursday afternoon. Lewis, expected to be the Rangers ...  

Alfonso Soriano gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth with two outs, just after Reds starter Mat Latos departed the game early because of a strained left calf. Soriano hit his single to right field off of Minor Leaguer Justin Freeman ...  

ST. LOUIS -- Alfonso Soriano, David DeJesus and Bryan LaHair were all given a day off on Sunday, with manager Dale Sveum shaking up his lineup for the finale of the Cardinals series. Sveum said he wasnted to give Soriano two days off ...  

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Steve Lombardozzi went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Washington Nationals past the Houston Astros, 6-3, in the opener of a four-game set. Ryan Zimmerman also knocked in a pair of runs, while Wilson ...  

Garcia struck out three and, walked none and, for the most part, twisted the Washington Nationals' natural last-day aggressiveness against them. Garcia needed only 74 pitches (49 strikes) to get 18 outs from Washington. The only run he allowed came on a homer.  

Jeff Samardzija never was shy about his desire to be a starting ... You look like a genius with plays like [third baseman Ian] Stewart and [left fielder Alfonso] Soriano made, and the clutch runs.’’ Soriano robbed LaRoche in the fourth ...  

Greene's HR keys five-run fourth  JUPITER, Fla. • Second baseman Tyler Greene's two-run homer highlighted a five-run fourth inning as the Cardinals rolled to an 8-0 lead over the Washington Nationals today. Greene hit his first homer of the spring off ...  

'); } CHICAGO -- Alfonso Soriano has been playing so well in the field that Cubs manager Dale Sveum didn't lift him in the late innings on Sunday. Soriano made a nice running catch of ...  

'); } GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Alfonso Soriano launched a home run and drove in three to help lead the Cubs to a 6-2 Cactus League victory over the Indians on Sunday afternoon at Goodyear ...  

VIERA, Fla. (AP) — Ian Desmond, Jayson Werth and Roger Bernadina hit first-inning home runs off Matt Harvey to back Stephen Strasburg, and the Washington Nationals routed the New York Mets 12-0 Sunday to stop an 11-game winless streak.Desmond ...  

Alfonso Soriano hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning and the Chicago Cubs beat St. Louis 3-2 on Wednesday night, ending the Cardinals' run of 13 consecutive winning series.  

SB NationCincinnati Reds Vs. Washington Nationals 5/11/12: Tyrone's Free MLB Baseball PickSports Chat PlaceThe 19-14 Washington Nationals won the only game on the National League card today at the 14-17 Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2. Not much time to celebrate for Washington who must turn around to play the 16-14 Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park Friday ...Cincinnati Reds Play Washington NationalsRant SportsNationals Vs. Reds: Washington...  

Washington Nationals - PlayerWatchChicago TribuneRHP Craig Stammen finally struggled a little. He gave up a solo homer and now has allowed two earned runs in 16 2/3 innings this season -- an ERA of 1.08. 2B Danny Espinosa's early-season problems continued. He went 1-for-4 but struck out twice and now ...  

W*USA 9Washington Nationals - TeamReportChicago TribuneMLB Team Report - Washington Nationals - INSIDE PITCH The Nationals have been looking for offense all season. They still haven't been able to find it. The team's been getting outstanding pitching and did so again in Wednesday's 4-2 loss in the middle ...Washington Nationals' Outfielders Roger Bernadina, Xavier Nady And Tyler Moore ...Federal BaseballWashington Nationals Have Unsuccessfully...  

The Province (blog)Washington Nationals' Mark DeRosa re-injures his oblique with high-fiveSportingNews.comIn arguably the most bizarre injury of the 2012 season, Washington Nationals utilityman Mark DeRosa re-aggravated his left oblique injury Sunday while high-fiving teammate Bryce Harper, according to The Washington Post. Harper had just stolen home ...Washington Nationals veteran Mark DeRosa suffers injury setback with hearty ...The...  

Globe and MailFact or fiction: Beckett's future, Nationals' needs, A's success, moreSportingNews.comThe Washington Nationals need to make a trade for an outfielder. FACT. Trying to get by without starting left fielder Mike Morse (lat strain) for at least the first six weeks of the season was one thing. Pushing their luck by trying to survive for ...Beckett continues woes of Red Sox startersThe Virginian-Pilotall 1,042 news articles »  

Giants PipelineWashington Nationals - TeamReportChicago TribuneMLB Team Report - Washington Nationals - INSIDE PITCH It's official: Washington has fallen in love with rookie Bryce Harper. And why not? The kid's been with the Nationals for only eight games, but he already has caught the District's attention.Washington Nationals Look to Sweep Phillies After Improving to 18-9: A Fan's ...Yahoo! SportsIntimidation part of game; Frank Robinson hit...  

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Cleveland’s Jeanmar Gomez gave up his first runs of spring training as the Chicago Cubs beat the Indians 6-2 Sunday. Alfonso Soriano had three RBIs, including a ...  

Washington Nationals' teen-aged phenom Bryce Harper belted his first big-league home run Monday -- well over the center-field fence.  

CHICAGO - Alfonso Soriano threw up his hands in joy as the ball caromed ... The Cubs outrighted RHP Rodrigo Lopez to Triple-A Iowa. ... Beltran turned 35 on Tuesday.  

CHICAGO -- Alfonso Soriano hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning and the Chicago Cubs beat St. Louis 3-2 on Wednesday night, ending...  

Alfonso Soriano and Ian Stewart each homered to power the Chicago Cubs past ... Lewis struck out three. Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth for Texas.  

Alfonso Soriano and Ian Stewart each homered to power the Chicago Cubs past a Texas Rangers split squad 11-4 Thursday.