NATIONALS NOTEBOOK
Good Fielding Has Quieted Soriano Critics
Saturday, July 29, 2006; Page E07
LOS ANGELES, July 28 -- With all the discussion surrounding Alfonso Soriano's future, there has been surprisingly little talk about his destination on a nightly basis -- left field.
In the offseason, after the Washington Nationals acquired Soriano from Texas in a four-player deal, the buzz around the five-time all-star concerned only where he would play on the field, not in the majors. Now, with trade talk dominating the Nationals' clubhouse, very few people discuss how Soriano has made the transition from second base to left.
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"I'd say he's adequate now, probably better than adequate," said first base coach Davey Lopes, the man in charge of helping Soriano make the transition to left. "He's an athlete, and he makes plays on his athletic ability. But you can tell he's gotten more comfortable out there."
Entering play Friday, Soriano led the majors in outfield assists with 13, a fact due at least in part to the fact that teams have tested his arm, which had been more accustomed to making throws from second base. He had eight errors, second in the majors behind Cincinnati's Adam Dunn, who had nine. But his last error came June 27, and he is starting to make plays on balls that would have eluded him a month ago -- such as snaring a ball to the gap off the bat of San Francisco's Barry Bonds earlier in the week.
"I prove to myself I could do it," Soriano said.
Though scouts still consider Soriano a substandard left fielder, none of the trade discussions surrounding him involve teams moving him back to second base.
"The bottom line is, he's going to provide you a lot more runs at the plate than he's going to cost you in left," Lopes said.
Stanton Leaves a Special Gap
The trade of veteran left-hander Mike Stanton to the San Francisco Giants not only leaves the Nationals with only Micah Bowie as a lefty out of the bullpen, but it will have a greater impact on clubhouse chemistry.
"His influence in the clubhouse is special," General Manager Jim Bowden said. "His help in developing young relievers is remarkable. . . . From that perspective, it was really hard."
