Another Washington Scandal

Alfonso Soriano doesn't want to play left field. Soriano, traded by the Rangers to the Nationals over the winter, wants to stay at second base, his position throughout his career.

The problem is that the Nationals already have a second baseman, Jose Vidro. Vidro was a pretty damned good player a few years ago, but injuries have diminished him considerably. That said, he still is the player that Washington management wants at the top of the second base depth chart.

Soriano, apparently, thinks that he deserves to stay where he wants to stay. Two problems with this. First, when I look at the Nationals coaching staff and front office staff, I don't see Soriano's name listed anywhere. Second, Soriano is a really, really crappy secondbaseman. I mean, really really bad.

Factor in the probable result of Soriano moving from an extreme hitters park in Texas to an extreme pitchers park in Washington, and what I expect to have is a .246 hitter with a .292 on base percentage, slugging somewhere around .424 and either whinning about his defensive position or playing badly at the one he wants to play. What a bargain.

The Nationals should try to find another sucker to take this guy off their hands quickly.