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Friday, February 23, 2007
Soriano a pitcher, not a charmer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dan Kolb was too sensitive and lacked the fastball to be intimidating. Chris Reitsma seemed too polite and engaging to flick a switch and become a convincing mound menace.
Those won’t be issues with Rafael Soriano.
You want your relievers nasty, seething, with icy glares? You’ve got one.
Soriano may have cracked a smile since he reported to camp Thursday afternoon, but no one I’ve talked to has seen it.
He may have said something like, “I’m just glad to be here,” but no one I’ve talked to has heard it.
That’s fine by me. And I’m betting it’ll be just fine by Braves fans, long as he keeps doing what he did in Seattle. Dominate hitters in a setup role.
Atlanta’s new right-hander acts like he couldn’t care less about much except pitching. He’ll answer your questions, but it’s pretty clear he’d rather be doing something else, like blowing away hitters, for instance. Or chewing tobacco. Does that a lot.
“He’s a good kid,” manager Bobby Cox said after talking to him Friday morning and briefly explaning his role to the receptive pitcher. “I guess he’s a little cocky.”
That’s fine with Cox. Cocky can be good, long as one backs it up and doesn’t rub everybody the wrong way. Soriano doesn’t seem to rub anybody the wrong way, or any way, at least not yet.
He’s probably talked to several Braves since he’s been here, but I didn’t see it.
I saw him come out of his meeting with Cox and go to his locker, where he put on his Ipod and began a regimen of throwing motions and toe taps, in full uniform and spikes, while dozens of other roster and non-roster players sat at nearby lockers, sneaking glances.
Soriano appears to be all business. He spits in his cup, exchanges handshakes when approached, then continues doing what he’s doing. I might ask him what’s on his Ipod someday. Or not.
Here’s what’s important: He throws hard (96-98 mph) and has a good breaking ball. Right-handers have little chance against him (.173 career opponents’ average and puny .533 OPS by righties), and lefties don’t exactly dig in (.258 career average, .315 on-base percentage).
And for those who think he might be afraid since getting creamed in the right side of his head by that Vladimir Guerrero line drive last Aug. 29, the one that ended Soriano’s season and left him groggy into November? Well, ask him about it. But watch the tone.
“I’m not scared of that, I’m no little kid,” he said, and said it convincingly.
Shortly after it happened, he said he asked to see the videotape of the incident (“I wanted to see what happened”) and watched it more than once.
He said he was still woozy or tired or whatever in his first couple of winter-ball appearances, but after he took a couple weeks off per doctor’s orders, he came back and said he felt great in his remaining five or six appearances in winter ball.
“I’m 100 percent, ready to go,” said Soriano, who’ll team with lefty Mike Gonzalez to give the Braves what should be the most overpowering pair of setup men in the National League and perhaps the majors.
Gonzalez is friendly, engaging, smiles a lot, and throws heat that wilts hitters, particularly lefty hitters. He converted 24 of 24 saves last season for Pittsburgh, and was always pleasant and outgoing with reporters, fans, others.
Soriano, I’m not expecting that from. And that’s fine by me. And by you, I bet. He and Wickman, they couldn’t care less about the media or creating a good image.
Soriano’s career stats: 108 relief appearances, 2.17 ERA, .196 opponents’ average, 128-2/3 innings, 91 hits, eight homers, 37 waliks, 151 strikeouts.
That’ll be enough for most fans, I’m guessing. But don’t pencil him in to speak at the Rotary Club luncheon just yet.
You guys good with that?
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