At Home Plate - Kat's Contemplations: Alfonso Soriano

At Home Plate

Written by Katherina DiChristina (Contact & Archive) on May 27, 2003

I'd like to take a moment of silence to appreciate what Alfonso Soriano is bringing to the game of baseball...........
Thank you.

I'm not a Yankees fan nor will I ever claim to be, but I am an Alfonso Soriano fan. How can you not be? He is absolutely amazing and by far the most spectacular player that I have seen in a while regarding the whole package. Yes, there are players who can hit more home runs. Yes, there are some that can steal more bases. Yes, there are more players that can play a better second base. But are there more that can hit more home runs, be a great lead off hitter, steal more bases, AND play a great second base? If there are, I haven’t seen them.

Going into June 17th, he has 18 home runs. (E-I-G-H-T-E-E-N) and 43 ribbis (I swear I am not kidding). You may think, "Oh well he's got those great offensive Yankees surrounding him." Well you can't say that much anymore given the way these great offensive Yankees have been playing so far. (By the way, did you see that no-hitter against them last week?) A lead off hitter with 18 home runs and 43 rbis is good enough to call the season right now and say it was spectacular.

I don't think he belongs in the lead off spot. He is more of a 2, 3, 4 guy. The only problem is, he can do everything. When he has runners in scoring position he's like Rafael Furcal and Ichiro, who are great lead off hitters with runners in scoring position. That fits the role for a 4 or 5 spot. Then again, he has spectacular power and is a catalyst. That fits the 2 or 3 spot. He also has amazing speed. That refers to the lead off spot. I think all of these qualities make him all the more valuable and make me feel all the more special to be witnessing his growth and maturation.

In a recent article by Jeff Bradley (ESPN the Magazine) Soriano was called a freak. I agree completely. Sure there more flattering words to use to describe him, but the things that Señor Peligroso (Mister Dangerous – as dubbed by Roger Clemens), is accomplishing, are plain freaky! Plus, he's fun to watch. That is one of the biggest compliments that I can pay him because not many of the superstars today are that much fun to watch. I personally don't think Barry Bonds is fun to watch. Or Jim Edmonds or Sammy Sosa and the list goes on. Soriano brings something very special to the table and reminds us what baseball is all about.

Soriano says that his hands were given to him by God and that is why he's so successful. I don't think that is all God has blessed Señor Peligroso with and I can't wait to see what the finished product comes out to be when all those blessings are developed.

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