Post by TestSubjekt on Aug 19, 2006 14:03:35 GMT -5
mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060818&content_id=1616788&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
I really didn't expect this from Soriano. It looked like he was a whiner and wanted out because they wanted him to play left, but in the end, he did what was needed for the team.
Alfonso Soriano became the first member of the Nationals to reach 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season on Friday night.
It's the fourth time in his career he's reached the 30-30 plateau, leaving him one shy of the Major League record. Bobby Bonds and his son, Barry, have done it five times each.
Soriano also became the second player in Nationals/Expos history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases. The last one to do it was Vladimir Guerrero, who hit 39 home runs and stole 40 bases for the Expos in 2002.
Soriano already had 38 home runs entering Friday's action, but he added to it by hitting a monster home run over the left-center-field wall leading off the game against Phillies right-hander Brett Myers. The 39 home runs match a career high.
In the second inning, Soriano blooped a single to right field, then stole his 30th base of the season off Myers. He would later score on a double by Ryan Zimmerman.
"We are his biggest fans right now. There's nothing better than to see him do what he does every day," catcher Brian Schneider said about Soriano. "He is a special player. He works hard. Every day he comes here to play. He never complains. He is always in a good mood."
Soriano downplayed his accomplishment, pointing out that the Nationals are not a winning team. They are 54-68 entering Saturday's action.
"It's good, but we are in last place," he said. "It's a good number personally, but I'm working hard to get better on the field and make my team better. Whatever numbers that I put up this year, maybe I'll enjoy it after the season, but not now. The most important thing is to win and make the team better."
Soriano said reaching 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases would be special because not many players have reached that plateau. Only Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996) and Alex Rodriguez (1998) have reached that feat in baseball history.
"If he accomplishes that, he'll be in the record books for a long time," said Jose Vidro, who also played with Guerrero. "We haven't had a guy like him since Vladimir. He is very special."
It's the fourth time in his career he's reached the 30-30 plateau, leaving him one shy of the Major League record. Bobby Bonds and his son, Barry, have done it five times each.
Soriano also became the second player in Nationals/Expos history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases. The last one to do it was Vladimir Guerrero, who hit 39 home runs and stole 40 bases for the Expos in 2002.
Soriano already had 38 home runs entering Friday's action, but he added to it by hitting a monster home run over the left-center-field wall leading off the game against Phillies right-hander Brett Myers. The 39 home runs match a career high.
In the second inning, Soriano blooped a single to right field, then stole his 30th base of the season off Myers. He would later score on a double by Ryan Zimmerman.
"We are his biggest fans right now. There's nothing better than to see him do what he does every day," catcher Brian Schneider said about Soriano. "He is a special player. He works hard. Every day he comes here to play. He never complains. He is always in a good mood."
Soriano downplayed his accomplishment, pointing out that the Nationals are not a winning team. They are 54-68 entering Saturday's action.
"It's good, but we are in last place," he said. "It's a good number personally, but I'm working hard to get better on the field and make my team better. Whatever numbers that I put up this year, maybe I'll enjoy it after the season, but not now. The most important thing is to win and make the team better."
Soriano said reaching 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases would be special because not many players have reached that plateau. Only Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996) and Alex Rodriguez (1998) have reached that feat in baseball history.
"If he accomplishes that, he'll be in the record books for a long time," said Jose Vidro, who also played with Guerrero. "We haven't had a guy like him since Vladimir. He is very special."
I really didn't expect this from Soriano. It looked like he was a whiner and wanted out because they wanted him to play left, but in the end, he did what was needed for the team.