Alfonso Soriano - Fantasy News & Updates
Alfonso Soriano - Fantasy News & Updates
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An inconsistent tenure in Chicago took a turn for the worse this season for Soriano, who missed a lot of time down the stretch with inflammation in his right knee. Between the injury and a general lack of productivity, Soriano suffered through the worst campaign of his nine-year career. Considering the veteran left fielder will turn 34 in January, it’s safe to say his days as a blue-chipper are in the past.
The veteran outfielder had a disappointing third season in the Windy City, batting .241 with 20 homers and 55 RBIs, but should be ready to go by Spring Training after undergoing successful surgery on his balky left knee on Tuesday. Taguchi's most recent Major League action came last season with the Phillies. The 40-year-old hit .248 with four taters and 29 ribbies in 85 contests for Iowa before being recalled.
Soriano underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, and the team reported that orthopedic specialist Stephen Gryzlo found acute inflammation and expected cartilage degeneration, and did a debridement. Soriano is expected to join the Cubs in Milwaukee next week to begin his rehab. He will spend three weeks with the team, then work out another three weeks at the Cubs' academy in the Dominican Republic when he returns home for the offseason. "According to the reports I had, [the surgery] was very successful and he should be ready to go full bore by next spring," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said.
Soriano, who last played Sept. 3, has been hampered by pain and inflammation in the knee joint for much of the season. Team orthopedist Dr. Stephen Gryzlo will perform the surgery to clean out the knee, and Soriano will then have three weeks to rehab with the Cubs training staff before he goes home to the Dominican Republic for the offseason. He finishes his campaign with a .241 batting average, 20 home runs and 55 RBIs.
Soriano has not played since Sept. 3 because of inflammation in his left knee, and he likely will miss the rest of the year. "I'm very disappointed, but I have to do what I have to do," Soriano told ESPN 1000 before Friday's game against the Reds. "I'm battling. Now I think I want to get an operation sooner than later ... to get ready for next year. I have to play with one leg now." The good news is that if Soriano has surgery, it will not be serious. He would be ready for Spring Training. Soriano is hitting .241 with 20 home runs this season after spending a significant portion of the year playing hurt.
Soriano, who has not played since Sept. 3, said Tuesday he wouldn't mind having the arthroscopic procedure done on his knee before the regular season ends so he can begin his rehab with the Cubs medical staff before heading home for the offseason. Cubs skipper Lou Piniella said it was "very doubtful" Soriano would play in the upcoming seven-game homestand against Cincinnati and Milwaukee, which begins Friday, Sept. 11. But Soriano is not officially shut down.
It looked as though Soriano would be able to cope with the discomfort he had experienced for several months when he received a cortisone shot in the knee on Aug. 30. Alas, the manager Lou Piniella felt it was in the best interest of Soriano's future health to shut him down, with the possibility that he could be finished for the season. The Cubs will let Soriano sit before reassessing his status at an undisclosed time. Sam Fuld and Jake Fox are poised to replace Soriano in left field during his absence.
Soriano received a cortisone shot for the knee on Aug. 30 and needed an extra day to recover from the soreness of the shot before returning to play. It's not inconceivable that he might need a periodic day of rest between now and the end of the season, so keep an outfielder in reserve. Jake Fox, who had started in left field while Soriano was out, returned to the bench on Tuesday.
An MRI taken Saturday revealed inflammation in the joint, which wasn't surprising considering Soriano has complained about the knee bothering him since May. The left fielder will be out of the lineup until at least Sept. 1 as he recuperates from the shot. "I hope it works and takes the pain out of my knee," Soriano said. Jake Fox will likely start in place of Soriano on Monday.
Soriano has earlier stated that he's experienced discomfort in the knee since May. "There's no sense delaying it," manager Lou Piniella said of the MRI which was originally scheduled for Sept. 10. "We'll have him do it today, and once we get the results, then we'll know exactly what to do." Soriano still might accept a cortisone shot in the knee if he's assured it would alleviate the pain, although that might not be decided until after the MRI results are known.
A sorely-needed blast from Soriano, who ended a 22-game power drought that was his second power outage of at least 20 contests this season. Considering he entered Friday’s contest batting a miserable .154 in August, maybe the big day can serve as a precursor to a strong final leg for the veteran left fielder. He’s currently in the midst of the poorest campaign of his career, as he’s hitting .243 with 55 RBIs and nine steals.
He's back in the fold after missing two games with a sore left knee. Soriano had stated after being scratched just before Tuesday's game that he wanted an MRI, but Cubs doctors resisted the notion that he needed more pictures on his knee. Instead, they prescribed applying more medication and rest for the knee and it turns that's just what the outfielder needed to get back in the batting order. He returned to the No. 6 spot, knocking Jake Fox back to the bench.
Soriano had been planning to return to the Cubs batting order after missing their Aug. 23 game, but his knee still doesn't feel right. "It's been tight for three or four days," Soriano said. Soriano will receive treatment in the meantime, and if the injury doesn't subside, then he might receive an MRI. Jake Fox has been starting in left field during his absence, but Soriano could be back in the lineup for Wednesday's game.
Soriano, who has a sore left knee that he said bothers him when he runs, has been struggling at the plate, batting .116 (5-for-43) in his past 12 games. However, he said Sunday the knee hasn't been a factor. "Running is a problem," he said. Before the injury, it was Soriano's hitting that was frustrating owners, as he's logged a paltry .240 average with 19 homers and 52 RBIs this season.
Manager Lou Piniella has gone out of his way to praise Soriano's hard work as he attempts to break out of this slump, but given Piniella's predilection for the hot hand, owners have to wonder whether Soriano might lose some time in left field to Jake Fox or Sam Fuld in the near term. The speedy Fuld is hitting .307 and reaching base at a .407 clip in 46 at-bats; Fox is slugging .521 and has a .288-8-32 line in 146 at-bats.
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