Alfonzo Soriano

Despite the efforts of Felix Pie to be noticed by Manager Lou Piniella, Alfonzo Soriano will be the Cubs new centerfielder. This is not a surprise; just a confirmation.

Soriano has the largest contract the Cubs have ever offered any player. Hendry’s original idea was to dump Jones and use Soriano in right field. Then Juan Pierre left Chicago. Since Pie is still a year away from starting, Soriano became the man.

Still, Piniella and Hendry were careful not to christen him too early. If he had flopped in spring training, there would still be time for plan B. Fortunately for everyone but Pie, Soriano has been decent defensively, and everything you could ask for offensively. Hitting .333, the young man was three for three today including a triple, a stolen base and two runs scored. It is just what you want from a leadoff man.

Pie, hitting .364, stealing bases and throwing out runners at the plate, will get his chance. Maybe it will be later this year, if the Cubs are out of the running by July. Maybe they will send Jones elsewhere and turn centerfield over to Pie in an effort to prepare for the 2008 season. If the Cubs are in the running, maybe they will just wait until spring.

Either way, Pie and Soriano will play together in the Cubs outfield soon. With Murton in left, we may be seeing an outfield trio that will play together for many years to come. It just is not going to happen in the early going of 2007.