Quangormo
12-30-05, 10:04 AM
http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20051229-083622-4354r.htm
Actual current Yankee content right at the end.
The problem, it turns out, is Soriano's attitude: He's making a bid to be the team's first genuine prima donna. Almost immediately, Soriano spoke sourly. He suggested he'd bolt after 2006, and told the Associated Press he wouldn't consider switching from second base to left field in deference to three-time All Star Jose Vidro -- even though Bowden had indicated he would. "I don't want to change," Soriano told the AP. "If I haven't done it before, I won't do it now." Soriano said he was saddened to leave Texas -- not exactly ingratiating in a new city -- and made noises about having to re-learn defense for hundreds of unfamiliar National League hitters.
In some respects it was inevitable that Washington would get a taste of the prima-donna stardom prevalent these days in Major League Baseball. It's still possible that this is a false alarm: Maybe Soriano simply misspoke in a time of surprise, or maybe he is just trying to increase his bargaining power in the event of another trade. (He reportedly had a better private meeting than the sorry words suggest.)
The options don't need to be a smackdown or a trade. Soriano just needs to think about things: If perennial All Star Alex Rodriguez can switch positions -- as he did it in 2004 to accommodate New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter -- Soriano can do it for Vidro.
Does anyone else remember when Sori was in AAA and he told the New York Post that he would only play SS? I'm trying to locate that article. Any help would be appreciated.
Of course, we all know what happened, don't we? He went to LF, then to 2B when Knobbie's throwing problems became incurable.
And Sori, if you're thinking of returning to The Bronx after your contract expires, you're not going to play 2B here either.
The guy's one of my favorite players, especially since he was a Yankee, but he has to get off his high horse.
Actual current Yankee content right at the end.
The problem, it turns out, is Soriano's attitude: He's making a bid to be the team's first genuine prima donna. Almost immediately, Soriano spoke sourly. He suggested he'd bolt after 2006, and told the Associated Press he wouldn't consider switching from second base to left field in deference to three-time All Star Jose Vidro -- even though Bowden had indicated he would. "I don't want to change," Soriano told the AP. "If I haven't done it before, I won't do it now." Soriano said he was saddened to leave Texas -- not exactly ingratiating in a new city -- and made noises about having to re-learn defense for hundreds of unfamiliar National League hitters.
In some respects it was inevitable that Washington would get a taste of the prima-donna stardom prevalent these days in Major League Baseball. It's still possible that this is a false alarm: Maybe Soriano simply misspoke in a time of surprise, or maybe he is just trying to increase his bargaining power in the event of another trade. (He reportedly had a better private meeting than the sorry words suggest.)
The options don't need to be a smackdown or a trade. Soriano just needs to think about things: If perennial All Star Alex Rodriguez can switch positions -- as he did it in 2004 to accommodate New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter -- Soriano can do it for Vidro.
Does anyone else remember when Sori was in AAA and he told the New York Post that he would only play SS? I'm trying to locate that article. Any help would be appreciated.
Of course, we all know what happened, don't we? He went to LF, then to 2B when Knobbie's throwing problems became incurable.
And Sori, if you're thinking of returning to The Bronx after your contract expires, you're not going to play 2B here either.
The guy's one of my favorite players, especially since he was a Yankee, but he has to get off his high horse.