The Psychology of Soriano

By: Jon Kerr

It’s time to frame the endless Alfonso Soriano debate a little bit differently. If you frame the argument based on where Soriano’s natural hitting abilities are best utilized - where most of the debate is centralized - hands down, he is better in the 4, 5 or even 6 spot. Not selective enough to hit 2 or 3, the Cubs already have a good cleanup hitter in Aramis Ramirez, so 5 or 6 is best suited for a free-swinging, home run hitter who has lost about two steps. Agreed?

But the reason Soriano’s spot in the lineup continues to baffle all of us with the lone exception of the man responsible, Lou Piniella, has nothing to do with Soriano’s hitting acumen.

It has more to do with psychology and nothing to do with statistics.

It is undeniable athletes can be fragile, moody individuals (Cedric Benson?) They say team accomplishments are the driving force behind why they play, but it is an argument fraught with flaws. I remember speaking to a baseball scout who told me the number one attribute he looks for in ballplayers, even more important that the five tools - hitting, power, speed, catching, throwing - is competitiveness. Not as easily taught or developed as say, throwing, baseball fields all over the country are littered with “can’t miss” prospects who simply never cared enough about baseball to sustain major league careers. Former Cub manager Jim Riggleman used the term “dead ass” when I asked him why Kevin Orie never made it. Remember Kevin Orie? He was the starting third baseman for the Cubs 10 years ago when Kerry Wood struck out 20 Astros.

This competitiveness doesn’t necessarily have to be about winning, it can be about a player’s position in the lineup. No one understands this identification better than Lou Piniella. A master psychologist, who as a player, learned this skill from his manager at the time, Billy Martin. So, when Pinella says he bats Soriano leadoff because he wants to get the “most out of his player,” that’s exactly what he means. Soriano identifies with himself as a ballplayer at the leadoff position. His competitiveness is reflected through this designation. If Pinella bats him 5th or 6th, where his current skills are best suited, he might lose an edge, a level of competitiveness. It sounds silly to us, but Pinella gets paid a lot of money to understand this.

While the psychology might be a bit transparent, statistics never are. With two hits Tuesday night against the Reds, Soriano is hitting a robust .190, with an on-base percentage of .242. If you are a stat brat - just Google “Alfonso Soriano leadoff stats” and you’ll find plenty of evidence as to why he’s miscast at the top of the order (and speaking of miscasting, did I see Ashton Kutcher starring in a movie with Cameron Diaz? I know the movie is not “Juno”, but how is this guy starring in anything other than a “That 70’s Show” reunion?). Yes, the Cubs average more runs with Ryan Theriot leading off. Yes, Reed Johnson’s OBP is almost 60 points higher. Yes, Soriano swings too much. Yes, the leg injuries the past two years have him running a step or two slow.

But it’s not about statistics. It runs deeper than that. It’s about catering to a high-salaried, high-profile player. It’s about making him comfortable; it’s about making him identify with who he is as a player. For Soriano, that’s at the leadoff spot.

Sure, that may not be a thought process grounded in unselfishness, but how do you think Soriano got a contract paying him 18 million a season? Because of all those World Series rings? No, guys get ridiculous contracts based on personal achievements. Yet, we complain the Cubs would be a better team if he hit fifth or sixth. So, what do we want? As fans, we always want it both ways.

But reality is always a bit more complicated and not as easily understood.

Tags: Alfonso Soriano, Billy Martin, Chicago Cubs, Kevin Orie, leadoff hitter, Lou Piniella

Jon Kerr is a freelance writer. A graduate of Michigan State University, he is a former sportscaster at CLTV. He is also a Cubs season ticket holder and lifelong Chicagoan. Jon can be reached at jkerr1970@hotmail.com. He's got a blog, too.

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3 Comments

1. Catering to a guy who has value is one thing. Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez…these are great players. Soriano has little value and never has had. Why do you think the Yanks, Texas, and Washington ditched him? He produces nothing at the top of the order, and he’s a disaster in the clubhouse, on the bases and in the field. How much worse could he be at the sixth spot? The real question is whether to release him. Notice the Cubs hot streak has suddenly disappeared with him back in the lineup. Soriano’s leverage is with the GM, who paid him all that money, and won’t admit how stupid it was.

   Comment by seesdifferent on May 8, 2008

2. Cubs have three pitchers with higher OBP than their leadoff man.
   http://alfonsosoriano.wordpress.com

   Comment by seesdifferent on May 8, 2008

3. I hope my post didn’t inspire you to start your own blog! It’s hard to respond to your comments as they are in the tone of what I call the left-wing, extremist Huffington Post faction of the Cubbie party. To say the Cubs should release Soriano is so ridiculous, it doesn’t deserve response. You are right about Soriano having leverage with the GM. Most superstar, big money players do. The Cubs are powerless to do anything because contracts are guaranteed. What they need is Soriano to start playing better. His body of work over the past decade proves he will.

   Comment by Jon Kerr on May 8, 2008

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