News
Slumping Soriano aims to clear mind
Chicago (41-42) vs. St. Louis (48-40), 3:10 p.m. CT
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
07/10/09 7:50 PM ET
CHICAGO -- Sometimes, you can think too much. Alfonso Soriano says that may be what's happening to him lately. The Cubs' left fielder is trying to deal with a slump that has lasted longer than he's ever experienced. The problem isn't his left knee, even though he admits it isn't 100 percent healthy. He's working with hitting coach Von Joshua on improving his timing, which he ignites with a tap step with his left foot. "Sometimes when you're struggling, you try to put [the foot] down but you forget to see the ball," Soriano said. "You have to get a combination -- put the foot down, but don't forget the pitcher has the ball." Other players have gone through slumps. Saturday's game will be broadcast by FOX, and even though he'd probably rather not admit it, Tim McCarver has probably had a few bad stretches himself. Maybe Joe Buck can get McCarver to discuss that. "Sometimes when you're struggling, people say something, and another person says something else, and you think too much," Soriano said. "It can be too many things." Soriano is looking forward to getting the All-Star break off. He was vying for his eighth straight selection, but instead will skip the festivities in St. Louis. "It feels weird," Soriano said about not going. "The last seven years, I've gone to the All-Star Game. I'm happy I'm not going. I didn't have a good first half, and I think those three days will help me." What he needs to do, Soriano said, is "clean" his mind. He's never struggled this long. His .198 June was his worst full month in the big leagues. "I worry," Soriano said, "but I try not to think too much because the hitting coach says that happens to every player. I'm not happy about it, but [knowing that] makes me feel better." He's looked at video but says his swing looks the same now as it did last year and two years ago. He isn't changing his bat, or switching routines, or trying to find the right pregame egg salad sandwich. One good thing is that Soriano is healthy physically. "I've been working hard to not get hurt this year," Soriano said. "I'm not hurt physically, but I'm hurt mentally because I'm not hitting well." He was upset at not playing Wednesday but knows manager Lou Piniella wanted to give Soriano an extra day off. "That's my job," Soriano said. "I like to play the game. If they say play basketball, I don't know how to play basketball. Play baseball, that's what I like to do. I'm very upset when I get a day off because I prefer to play every day. I understand when Lou wants to give me a day off to rest." Soriano still flashes his smile, is still optimistic. The Cubs are still within striking distance in the National League Central. "We didn't play good enough in the first half and we're only 3 1/2 games out," Soriano said before Friday's 8-3 loss to the first-place Cardinals. "I have some good feelings. I think we'll be fine in the second half." Pitching matchupCHC: LHP Ted Lilly (8-6, 3.32 ERA)
The left-hander, who will be the Cubs' lone All-Star representative, picked up his 13th quality start in his last outing. Lilly held the Brewers to two runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings, while striking out nine. He's now 5-1 at Wrigley with a sub 2.00 ERA. He lost to the Cardinals on May 19 in St. Louis, giving up three runs on four hits over seven innings. STL: RHP Brad Thompson (2-5, 4.92 ERA)
This may well be Thompson's last stand. It's expected that Kyle Lohse will return to the St. Louis rotation over the weekend, and if he does, Thompson is probably the odd man out. He has gone several starts without a particularly good one, though he also hasn't been particularly bad. Thompson needs to keep the ball low, because he doesn't have the stuff to get away with mistakes up in the strike zone. Tidbits
Kevin Hart will start on Monday for Class A Peoria. Hart was optioned to Triple-A Iowa after Wednesday's game, his first Major League start, and the Cubs want to keep him on track for the second half. He will be eligible to come back with the big league team on July 19. ... Aramis Ramirez has hit safely in his last three games. ... Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach was at Wrigley Field prior to Friday's game. ... Jeff Stevens was called up from Iowa for the weekend series and made his Major League debut Friday, pitching one inning in relief. Brendan Ryan lined a ball off Stevens' back, but the pitcher said he was fine. Everyone at Iowa is aware they could be the next one to get the call to the show. "Pretty much everybody is ready because you don't know who will get called next," Stevens said. "You're not expecting that call, but everybody is ready and willing." ... Steve Clevenger had three hits and two RBIs in Iowa's 6-5 loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday. Bobby Scales had three hits and one RBI and has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. ... Andrew Cashner, the Cubs' No. 1 pick in 2008, gave up three runs, all unearned, on three hits over 4 2/3 innings in Double-A Tennessee's 6-3 loss to Montgomery. ... Kyler Burke had three hits and a walk in Peoria's 4-2 win over Great Lakes. Aaron Shafer picked up the win. Tickets
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• Sunday: Cubs (Randy Wells, 4-3, 2.48) vs. Cardinals (Kyle Lohse, 4-4, 3.99), 12:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Cubs (Carlos Zambrano, 4-4, 3.47) vs. Cardinals (Adam Wainwright, 9-5, 3.09), 7:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off-day
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
