Soriano refuses to play outfield - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

habernac · 03-21-2006, 10:53 AM

And may be in violation of his contract

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=159437&hubname=

CaramonLS · 03-21-2006, 11:10 AM

What a terrible trade to make with the Rangers.

Soriano's numbers were so inflated because of Arligton (check out the home/road splits)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/...5&type=Batting

Not playing 2nd Base makes him makes him a league average OF... Wilkerson is a better player regardless. Not to mention Soriano is a complete tool defensively.

habernac · 03-21-2006, 11:18 AM

went to a few games in Arlington last year and one of the fans I sat with was absolutely heckling him. Not real popular even in Dallas. One of those guys who shows up in the blowout games, but not in the close ones.

Pagal4321 · 03-21-2006, 12:08 PM

This guy is such a prima dona.....he's not even THAT GOOD AT 2nd.
Hopefully the Nats stick it to him and do place him on the disqualaifed list.

Although we all know he'll get traded soon enough and word is that the MEts are a possible candidate.

Resolute 14 · 03-21-2006, 12:28 PM

I can't see the Nationals doing that. Why trade him within the division so that Soriano can burn them 18 times a year?

Trojan97 · 03-22-2006, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

This guy is such a prima dona.....he's not even THAT GOOD AT 2nd.
Hopefully the Nats stick it to him and do place him on the disqualaifed list.

Although we all know he'll get traded soon enough and word is that the MEts are a possible candidate.

Guy led the league in errors and had the worst fielding % of all second basemen in the AL.

It was an absolutely ridiculous trade on the part of the Nats because everyone and their mother saw this coming. Doesn't excuse Soriano's actions though. What a plug.

Dogbert · 03-22-2006, 06:38 AM

Ha ha! Stupid Nationals...

RedHot25 · 03-22-2006, 11:20 AM

It appears that he's now changed his mind...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2379788

fredr123 · 03-22-2006, 12:05 PM

A take on the story with a legal perspective: http://sports-law.blogspot.com/2006/...eft-field.html

I kind of agree with the blogger, Rosen's, point of view on this. If the Flames picked up Marty Turco in the offseason and then asked him to play left wing, I don't think Marty would be out of line if he complained. Or what if Roger Millions joined TSN and instead of continuing to cover hockey, they told him that he would be their new beat reporter following the dog show circuit? Before you jump all over me, I realize the situation with Soriano and my examples are somewhat different. The Nationals made a stupid personnel move and Soriano is sticking to his guns.

It would have been a different story if, at the time they acquired Soriano, the Nationals asked him if he would be willing to switch positions. Players should be able to reasonably assume that they are being acquired to do the same job they are currently doing, at least when a change of position or role isn't brought up at the time of signing the contract. Interesting soap opera but I doubt anything major will come out of it.

CaramonLS · 03-22-2006, 04:58 PM

Not the same thing.

Now if they asked Soriano to pitch... that might be akin to asking a goalie to play the wing.

Pagal4321 · 03-22-2006, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

A take on the story with a legal perspective: http://sports-law.blogspot.com/2006/...eft-field.html

I kind of agree with the blogger, Rosen's, point of view on this. If the Flames picked up Marty Turco in the offseason and then asked him to play left wing, I don't think Marty would be out of line if he complained. Or what if Roger Millions joined TSN and instead of continuing to cover hockey, they told him that he would be their new beat reporter following the dog show circuit? Before you jump all over me, I realize the situation with Soriano and my examples are somewhat different. The Nationals made a stupid personnel move and Soriano is sticking to his guns.

It would have been a different story if, at the time they acquired Soriano, the Nationals asked him if he would be willing to switch positions. Players should be able to reasonably assume that they are being acquired to do the same job they are currently doing, at least when a change of position or role isn't brought up at the time of signing the contract. Interesting soap opera but I doubt anything major will come out of it.

I think that's a HIGHLY inaccurate comparison of the situation....
If you want to use that Turco example it should be compared to trading for a pitcher and telling him to play at outfielder.
Asking Soriano to move to OF from 2B (a WISE MOVE, by the way) is like trading for Patrick Stefan and asking him to play defense.

fredr123 · 03-22-2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

I think that's a HIGHLY inaccurate comparison of the situation....
If you want to use that Turco example it should be compared to trading for a pitcher and telling him to play at outfielder.
Asking Soriano to move to OF from 2B (a WISE MOVE, by the way) is like trading for Patrick Stefan and asking him to play defense.

I disagree that the comparison is "HIGHLY inaccurate." Nonetheless, taking your Stefan example, would you support him if he refused to switch to defence? Would it make a difference in your mind if the positional change was discussed before acquiring the player?

fredr123 · 03-22-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Not the same thing.

Now if they asked Soriano to pitch... that might be akin to asking a goalie to play the wing.

What about the Roger Millions analogy?

fredr123 · 03-22-2006, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

Interesting soap opera but I doubt anything major will come out of it.

http://sports-law.blogspot.com/2006/...play-left.html

So he's decided to play LF anyway. Bummer. Could have been an extremely interesting battle.

fredr123 · 03-22-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trojan97

Guy led the league in errors and had the worst fielding % of all second basemen in the AL.

... and was an All-Star four years in a row (2002-2005).

RedHot25 · 03-22-2006, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

... and was an All-Star four years in a row (2002-2005).

WEll, definately not because of his fielding ability....

CaramonLS · 03-22-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

What about the Roger Millions analogy?

Roger didn't cover hockey exclusively during the NHL lockout, in fact there were a ton of Hockey reporters doing a lot of other beats during the lockout.

Also, I'm not exactly sure what goes into a Media contract regarding job specifics. I know some can get very specific.

However, a baseball contract? You do whatever they tell you to with regards to position, UNLESS you make specific requests ALA Troy Glaus with Toronto who wouldn't waive his NTC (or Free agents can do this as well) unless he was promised to be the starting 3B. To be honest, I wouldn't care if they told Soriano to pitch, because if I was in the same position, you are getting paid to toss 70 MPH softballs to hitters and let them tee off on you for 10 million bucks.

The only reason Soriano is a 4 time allstar is the same Reason Jeff Kent will soon be headed to the HOF. Defense isn't considered in the proper context for all star voting. Generally Hitters are given a huge preference for All-Star selections.

Resolute 14 · 03-23-2006, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

What about the Roger Millions analogy?

Given Millions covers far more than hockey already, I'm not sure how valid that analogy is either.

fredr123 · 03-23-2006, 11:37 AM

Obviously my point of view isn't shared with the vocal majority in this thread. I don't condone the form of protest Soriano employed. I do, however, enjoy seeing these kind of dramas played out in public. It ought to be recognized that, while Soriano may be a whiny tool, the management of the Nationals definitely has blood all over their collective hands in how the drama unfolded. Soriano should also kick his agent in the nuts for not ensuring his contract guaranteed he play second base if it is so important to him.