NEW YORK -- Cubs TV analyst Bob Brenly ripped into Alfonso Soriano during an interview Tuesday on WSCR-AM 670, saying the left fielder displayed a "selfish attitude" and suggesting Soriano should've been yanked from Monday night's game after admiring a long fly ball instead of running hard out of the box.
It all began while discussing Ted Lilly's attempted steal during a rehab start in Peoria. Brenly then interjected: "Wouldn't it be refreshing if we could get our left-fielder to run as hard as Ted Lilly does?"
That remark led to a discussion on Soriano's second-inning at-bat, in which he turned a possible triple into a double by watching the ball at home plate before jogging toward first. Asked if he would've pulled Soriano if he were the Cubs' manager, Brenly said: "I wouldn't hesitate to do something like that. I think it sets a bad precedent to the team... and a bad message to the younger players."
As for Soriano's comment that the "important thing was I made a very good swing at the ball," Brenly said: "That's all true, but that's a very selfish attitude to take. This is about winning ballgames. It's not about how I can pile up my numbers or how cool I look when I hit a ball hard."
Brenly added that "for some reason, (Soriano) doesn't totally grasp that theory."
Soriano said Tuesday he heard about the comments from Brenly, but shrugged them off.
"I don't listen to the radio, I don't read the papers, so whatever they say, it means nothing to me," he said. "Maybe to some other guys it means something, but it doesn't mean anything to me."
Asked about the criticism that he was being "selfish," Soriano said he didn't care.
"You know what? I don't pay attention because I know that's not me," he said. "If he says something that I know would bother me, I would talk to him. But I know that's not me, so that means nothing to me. I'm not selfish. I'm working hard. I try to win. So if he says something different that (bothers me) than I can talk to him. But in my heart, to me, and to every one of these guys, if you ask that question, they'll say I'm totally different than what he says. So that means nothing to me."
Soriano also said it will take him a little time to fully get rid of the "hop" in the outfield because it's just a reaction.
"I just want him to catch it," manager Lou Piniella said.
"He called me because some media asked the question, 'Why didn't I run?'" Soriano said. "But I explained to him why. I could've made third, but I don't want to make the second out at third either."
Piniella said he told Soriano: "'When you hit the ball, even if you might think it's a home run, leave the box, and when you recognize it is a home run for sure, then you can go into your trot."
Piniella added that he was watching the flight of the ball and didn't see Soriano watching his shot.
"But I have talked to Alfonso about it," he said. "And you know what? At times, habits are hard to break."
Could Soriano have had a triple?
"Look, a really fast player would've had a triple for sure," he said. "In Alfonso's case, I'm not going to say he should've or not because I didn't see it. But look, it's a long way out there (to center) and he obviously thought it was a home run when he hit it., But it didn't go out. It hit the wall. But we've talked to him about it, and we'll see if it works. I think it will."
Asked on WSCR if he would've benched Soriano, Brenly said he's not in the clubhouse, but added: "From what I've seen from the press box, I think it should've been done a long time ago."
The problem with Soriano is that this has been his attitude ever since he went to the Cubs, he doesn't care if they do well, he's got enough money to take care of himself. Lou needs to wake him up by benching him!
Soriano's was easily the worst deal in baseball history. Do you guys pick GM's out of a hat? Even worse than the Cubs giving us Lou Brock. Can't wait till we get to beat up the Cubs all year, what an awful team. Go Cards!
So Soriano has a few problems right now. At least he's not whining about it and blaming everyone else for his problems. Milton Bradley was far, far worse than everybody including Soriano. Good riddance! Bob Brenley should get on the pitiful bullpen instead of Soriano. Also, I truly agree with Dick Jauron. Fire Jim Hendry immediately. If it wasn't for him and all his bad choices, the Cubs wouldn't have been as horrible as they are right now.
Steve Stone was not fired. He left when Chip Caray balked at his salary offering during he re-up. He went to Atlanta and Stevie got a case of the goos when his boy left. They were both getting increasingingly snarkier in their commentary which isn't always bad, but they were getting to be arrogant and insufferable. Not that the organization or Dusty helped matters.
All of this is Hendry's fault, including sleepy Lou. Sorryano, Bradly and this pathetic bullpen. I hope the Rickets are going to make some moves after this year because this team and its management SUCK! FIRE JIM HENDRY NOW!!!
Yosh: right on the money! The comments about Sorry-ano's attitude are correct, but why does hardly anyone mention his total lack of fielding ability? I'm really getting sick of the "Wave as it passes by" method of playing LF. My mother-in-law could play better LF than he can, and she's been dead for 2 years. Meanwhile, Lou just appears happy to have a job, same with Hendry. Anyone who's screwed up as many deals & contracts as Hendry should be grateful to just not be arrested. If the Cubs keep this up all year, the Bears won't be the most messed up team in Chicago anymore. And for all this, they expect us to pay the most $$ in MLB to watch? Sorry, I have better things to do. Wouldn't pay 1959 prices to see this bunch of clowns.
Put me down for 66 wins this year.
The headline says it all...he's selfish..Todd Hundley w o a brain.
Did anyone notice that KROD faced 5 batters in the 9th inning and he threw a first pitch fastball to everyone except for Alphonso? D Lee, Ramirez, and Fontenot all took a called strike right down the middle of the plate.
Ramirez and Fontonet took good 1st pitch fastballs and struck out of pitches that were horrible. At least we paid top dollar for that hitting coach and how come Larry Rothschild can't get guys to throw strikes? Stop walking the pitcher. The bullpen is horrible excpet for Marmol and Marshall. Maybe we can trade Fukadome at the break and play Colvin. Soriano isn't going anywhere with that contract. You want me to pay top dollar to watch this product? Fire Lou right now and bring in Sandberg or Brenly!
At least they will challenge a guy and have the team play the RIGHT WAY!
Jay....can you translate your post into English please?
Jay, you lost all credibility when you're calling Brenly, "Brently." Especially with his name mentioned several times in the article.
Anyway, I love Bob. If the Cubs deserve criticism, the analysts should be the first to criticize. It shows that they care about the team and not about kissing the team's butt and collecting their paycheck. When Stone did it back in 2004, it was deserved and just because the Cubs players egos were hurt, he gets fired. Give me a break. At least Soriano is acting professional about it and not putting up a big temper tantrum like Mercker and Alou.
Bob Brenly has one more World Series ring the past 100 years than the Cubs do...
John Kruck on ESPN ripped Sorry also for the same lack of hustle.
who Brently think he is do your job and leave lou's job alone thats why the best free agents will never sign the cubs people like brently and most of the you fans turn on players and you same people be the first ones to cheer when they make a play. brently you are not so hot at the job you do in the booth either
I think Brenley is right. Soriano cannot get on base, run, break up double plays, hit behind a runner. I would wager he does not even know what a sacrifice is. His idea of contributing is "doing my work", whatever that means. Where he once was a physical specimen with a peanut brain, he now is merely a specimen (doctor's orders) with a peanut brain. The most annoying Chicago athlete by a mile.
he won't change his ways... and as it stands - about 80 HR and 200 RBI through 3 years/FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS - he's surely one of the biggest busts in chicago sports history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_Soriano#2008
"Soriano had an embarrassing moment in a day-night double header on Wednesday, August 13, 2008, where he hit a long ball which he thought was a home run. He watched it, and slowly trotted down to 1st, yet the ball never left the park. He wound up with only a single. Between games, he apologized to his team and promised that it would never happen again."
The Cubs finished first two years in a row, and as such, there is no logic, other than it being the Cubs, behind anticipating that they would go 0 for during those series.
Hendry produced a winner. The team choked or whatever.
I would like to see and hear people boo the players, who stand and admire the ball after hitting it, off of the field. Things change, and tradition will always be reinvented...but that [stuff] needs to go.
This Cubs team stinks.. and it starts with soriano. Half the players on this team are happy just showing up and getting paid and the worst part is that they are the 9 guys that start the game. I would trade any player on this team if you could find someone who would take them and the contract that comes with them. Wait no team wants ANY of these guys bc they arent very good and make way more than they should.
There you go soriano a complete professional response show no emotion because you know its not true, bob brenly is a NOBODY who cares what he thinks he's nothing.
I love how everyone wants brenly as a manager now.He won a World Series 9 years ago the next year got swept then the d backs got worse.They were 40 games under .500 when the fired brenly in the middle of the 04 season.The cubs passed on brenly in 06 and the brewers passed on him in 08.Again None of you know what you're talking about.Its easy to sound like an expert in the booth just like piniella did in 06 when he announced games.Brenly and sandberg are not the answers
Face it. This is a mediocre team that will be fortunate to win 81 games. You can't contend in the Majors with guys who can't hit. You can't make the playoffs without a bullpen. And for the Soriano trade talk...It was much easier to trade Bradley than it will be to trade Soriano with his bloated contract and all around bad play.
Why is everyone saying trade him to an AL team so he can DH? He's not even good enough to DH! His days as a premier slugger are gone. He's 36 years old (some people actually think he's older.) I know he's probably a nice guy and at one time was on track to be one of the greats, but for any of us to expect him to lead this club into the promised land makes us delusional.
Theirot is sitting because...he's Theirot. Meanwhile, SS of the future, Sterling Castro, is tearing the ball off the cover in Tennessee. He is hitting .380 with a .620 slugging percentage, and Baker is at short. Discuss.
Rickett's should trade Soriano to the AL as a DH and pay half of the contract to team willing to take Soriano.
" I could've made third, but I don't want to make the second out at third either.""
Glad to see that he decided that he would settle for a double while he was still in the batter's box. At least he could have run hard and waited until he reached 2B before deciding to stay put.
This guy is a complete bozo. Hey, we all make mistakes, but not only does this clown make one, he makes 15 excuses why he made one. Oh, "I coulnd't have made it to third anyway"??? What a dingdong. Ok to make a mistake, but for gosh sakes, REALIZE YOU MADE ONE AND OWN UP TO IT! Soraino thinks justifying it with everything but the dog ate my homework is the right thing to do. LOU, QUIT CODDLING THIS GUY AND KNOCK HIM INTO NEXT WEEK. SIT HIM for 3,4 games and tell him not only to hit, but play the game THE RIGHT WAY. While you're at it LOU, please light a little fire under yourself- please show some passion to the team, the game, and maybe an ump once in a while. It would do WONDERS for this team in desperate need of a "pick me up"...
"In Alfonso's case, I'm not going to say he should've or not because I didn't see it. But look, it's a long way out there (to center) and he obviously thought it was a home run when he hit it"
Goodbye Lou. That's all your last defender....Me....needed to hear. Did you maybe not hear the part about a horrible example to the young players?
Jeesh.
Quote from Bob Brenly: "You could probably throw a dart into the dugout and hit a better fielder than Alfonso Soriano". Brenly is the only honest person remotely associated with the Cubs.
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You could throw a dart, but Alfonso Soriano could throw it better.
As long as Soriano continues to take a full swing at curveballs over the outside corner with two strikes on him while using the heaviest bat in the league I'll continue to exercise my right as a Cub fan to boo when and where (from my living room - I refuse to pay good money to watch these sleepwalkers) I choose....at least he swings the bat when he's got 2 strikes on him....how many Cubs went down looking last night with men on base and then gave the Ump a dirty look when they were thumbed out? When I was a kid in Little League and went down looking, instead of getting sympathy and understanding from my old man I got yelled at, deservedly so: "If you got two strikes on you and the ball is anywhere the plate, SWING THE DAMN BAT!"
HEY STEVE YOU FRIGGIN MAJOR LEAGUE IDIOT. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRENLY AND RIGGLEMAN IS THE FREAKIN 2001 WORLD SERIES WIN YOU MORON TO TOP ALL MORONS!! thank you.
HEY STEVE YOU FRIGGIN MAJOR LEAGUE IDIOT. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRENLY AND RIGGLEMAN IS THE FREAKIN 2001 WORLD SERIES WIN YOU MORON TO TOP ALL MORONS!! thank you.
Long time Cub fan (34 years+) fully support BB's comments, just as I did Stone's a few years ago. It's not just his attitude at the plate that is selfish, but his attitude in the field (afraid to hurt himself) is also selfish. Eventually, he will be bought out, but we have to live with Hendry's mess til then. I appreciate that his teammates came to his defense on the one misplayed ball off the wall the other day, and I could give him the benefit of the doubt in that isolated instance, but we are looking at a body of work here and not just one stain. He did help us win division titles in '07 and '08, but every sign points to him being over the hill. Time to recognize that fact and put players out in the field who will do everything to win, or this is Lou's farewell year, and bring in Sandberg or Brenly to do what needs to be done.
Go Bob! Your managing skills would be very welcome in the dugout . . .
I hope it doesn't take as long as a month to get Sorry-ano out of the field and onto the bench. Perhaps do the same with most of the bullpen as well.
The Ricketts knew that there was nothing they could do about the bad contracts (Zambrano, Fukudome, Soriano specifically) for this year. So, they focused on improving the ballpark and considered this year a lost cause. In a couple years, or perhaps after this year, the Ricketts will re-focus on the talent and clean house.
If I were them, in a year or two I'd either keep Brenly in the booth or offer him an Alan Trammel type position alongside Ryne Sandberg, who I believe will be the next Cubs manager. They'll probably ride out Fukudome and Zambrano, but Soriano they will have to bid adieu one way or another. It will go down as the worst contract in Chicago sports history, and unfortunately we're still right in the middle of it.
I don't think Soriano is a bad character ala M. Bradley. He's just over the hill physically and trying to hang on. Clearly he was overpaid in years and money and now the Cubs must eat the salary. For my money, I would bench him in favor of Colvin. I would also take the Big Z out of the rotation when Lilly returns, and make him my 7th inning/mop up guy until he turns it around or is traded.
As usual, Brenly is right on the $$$$$$$$$ (Soriano's contract).
Again, three things :
Smardzija should be on a bus to Iowa, if not released outright.
Soriano should be offered to anyone, and the Cubs should be more than willing to pay half his salary, and if that doesn't work - - HE should be bought out.
And Zambrano, should be offered in trade to the Red Sox or Angels while they are struggling. they might bite. That would free money to BUY Soriano out!
Bob, I've been lobbying for you to become the next REAL manager since the end of 2008...but I guess only the posters here and you see it the RIGHT way! This is hoping you don't get pushed out for you honesty and actual knowledge of the game. Here's hoping that you become the next manager, maybe as soon as May and may you make this team competitive, even with some of the garbage on this team. Bob Brenly for Manager!
Mike: I totally agree with you....I'm just saying that's Lou's/Hendry's thinking. If you don't play a guy you paid all that money to, you look like an idiot in the eyes of the new owner!
GreenEggsandSpam on April 20, 2010 4:00 PM
I can remember Bobby Cox yanking Anruw Jones in the middle of an inning once because he was lazy going after a fly ball. Soriano should have been yanked for admiring his double!!
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Andruw Jones has 10 gold gloves. If he was lying down in a coma he would be 10 times the fielder Soriano is on his best day.
Well "The Sea of Red" has a latin player that does not fit that mold runs hard at all times and wants to win. Stop making excuses for this guy he's a spoiled overpaid waste of roster space. I did not watch Monday's at bat as I was busy watching another Bull's loss and later Cardinals win but I remember Bobby Cox taking a certain Sox centerfielder out. Why because he did not hustle bench his butt he needs to know it won't be tolerated.
Lay off the Latin players will ya? Soriano has his own idiosyncrasies. People want to run this guy out of town because he doesn't fit a certain mold. Let him play. He's got pride, and will eventually do what it takes to win.
Knock off the dang race card would ya? Idiosyncrasies. Ridiculous. IT IS ABOUT PLAYING THE GAME AT THE MAJOR LEAGUE LEVEL THE RIGHT WAY. Get a clue. Soriano sure does not have one.
Way to go Bob Brenly! - From Pat
Pat, you stole my words. Why bring up the Race Card?? We're talking baseball. B.A.S.E.B.A.L.L. GET IT RIGHT PEOPLE!
eastmesabill, no, you play whoever is playing the best, regarldess of salary. How does it make sense to play them just because they're paid a lot? That's a bit like the "sunk cost fallacy" (look it up). It makes NO snese.
Lay off the Latin players will ya? Soriano has his own idiosyncrasies. People want to run this guy out of town because he doesn't fit a certain mold. Let him play. He's got pride, and will eventually do what it takes to win.
Knock off the dang race card would ya? Idiosyncrasies. Ridiculous. IT IS ABOUT PLAYING THE GAME AT THE MAJOR LEAGUE LEVEL THE RIGHT WAY. Get a clue. Soriano sure does not have one.
Way to go Bob Brenly!
This has nothing to do with 12 being latin, although 2 years ago I did foolishly declare him the best latin player to play MLB after 3 straight HRs in ATL but lastnight if his double was a triple we just may have taken a 1-0 and maybe Wells gets the W. I agree our 8th innings have been a nightmare, the bullpen alone has cost us 7 games and Lou was yawning before the first pitch was even tossed... a lot needs to change!
Aramis is just as bad. Basically any high paid player except for Jeter does this. It's not only with the Cubs or in baseball but every professonal sport. All these players, all star or not are getting paid way too much making them too comfortable. Another reason I don't believeing in franchising a player anymore. I honnestly think we should trade Armis while we can still get something for him.
Jim Hendry is more concerned about adding big name players to boost his status as a GM. The Cubs are only concerened with quick money via hype and jersey sales. They don't need a Toyota sign, or any other endorsements to aquire players.
The outcome of more signage going up is simple, you will never see half that money for it is all being pocketed. A defaced Wrigley Field, higher ticket prices and a richer owner are the only results that will occur. If this should come as a suprise,then wake up people, for the past 102 years the Cubs have been a vehicle for making money.
@Sam. I could care less about his pride or his race. He's a baseball player, paid to be part of a team, if he wants to pat himself on the back he should have taken up golf or bowling.
Bench him until he does do what it takes to win.
Brenly is exactly right! I predict that Colvin will be starting in left field within one month. Soriano can set on the bench for 4+ years!
Unfortunately, it's all about money. With what they're paying that bum, he's gotta play to justify the gigantic spending blunder.
I can remember Bobby Cox yanking Anruw Jones in the middle of an inning once because he was lazy going after a fly ball. Soriano should have been yanked for admiring his double!!
I can't believe he didn't comment on Soriano's 2-blunder game from last week, where he said he dropped a fly ball because he was looking at the wall to make sure he didn't run into it. It wasn't that he blew the play, although that's getting pretty darn old, it's that he shows no remorse whatsoever in his decision-making. In his mind, it's more important to avoid any possible collision with the wall, than it is to actually field a ball in play.
I see guys on other teams routinely jump into the stands to catch foul balls in crucial games, and this guy doesn't even think it's his job to focus on catching the balls that are batted right at him.
I know that it's poor etiquette to criticize the players and the managing, but Lou has let the Fonzie Show go on 2 years too long, with no accountability. If he's not going to step up and run this clubhouse, then he deserves to have members of the media, even those who are part of the organization, questioning his lack of action and leadership. By doing nothing, in a sense you're saying "we're not concerned about winning, so much as we are concerned about not hurting anyone's feelings".
I hate to say this, but Lou, Hendry, Fonzi, and the new-and-not-at-all-improved Zambrano all need to go. It's hard to believe that the most consistent Cub pitcher named Carlos is the guy that Seattle couldn't wait to get rid of.
Fire 'em all, and fire Brenly from the booth...so that he can manage this team instead.
Lay off the Latin players will ya? Soriano has his own idiosyncrasies. People want to run this guy out of town because he doesn't fit a certain mold. Let him play. He's got pride, and will eventually do what it takes to win.
We saw this movie before it's when steve stone ripped the cubs in 04 then was let go.I dont agree with brenly and I think the media is now focusing too much on soriano instead of talking about piniella's lackluster managing style and the cubs horrible 8th innings.If the cubs dont blow 5 games this season in the 8th they have a nice record but Again all the focus is on soriano.People can say what they want but the media can destroy certain players by the way they report stories,everyday its soriano's defense struggles,lack of hitting,no more hop when he fields,his contract.They ignore theriot and ramirez and the 8th inning issues.
Sounds like Brenly's angling for Lou's job.
Uh-oh, another Cubs analyst speaking his mind. Better fire him a al Stoney.
Way to go Brenly.. I love your comments and knowledge.. I f we could only wake up LOUSY lou to do something , which he wont.. I would really love to see LOU fired and Brenly the manger and Hendry firted and Madux made GM.. I believe a lot of changes for the better would be made instantly. GO BOB BRENLY--- your my man .If only the sports writer would get ohn LOU and hendry as they should.. I know you ( BOB) cant say everything you would like, BUT keep it comin!!!
Quote from Bob Brenly: "You could probably throw a dart into the dugout and hit a better fielder than Alfonso Soriano". Brenly is the only honest person remotely associated with the Cubs.
Right on Bob! Hopefully we can get rid of this guy at all costs. It's just time to blow the whole thing up and start new. We need to start acting like those good Florida Ballclubs/Organizations do.~ Concerned Cub fan~
"Cubs TV analyst who?"
Might want to put his name in the lede there, big guy.