Where to hit Soriano is becoming Chicago's debate

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Rosenthal: Where to hit Soriano is becoming Chicago’s debate
Published 5/2/2008 at BBTF's Baseball Primer Newsblog
Rosenthal: Where to hit Soriano is becoming Chicago’s debate Missing some motor-unipolar steps? Robothal is here to help. The Cubs, ninth in the NL with a .333 on-base percentage last season, currently rank first at .375, with six regulars above .400. Their walk rate ranks third in the NL; last season it was next-to-last. The speed of Fukudome and Johnson also produces intangible benefits, forcing pitchers to use slide steps and throw more fastballs. Theriot, in particular, welcomes the change. The Cubs’ hitters last season were so undisciplined, Theriot says he often made it ...

More Rosenthal's Latest
Published 5/4/2008 by Nat Boyle at MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com
... Slow day for rumors, and yet Ken Rosenthal gets two posts!  No surprise there.  This time from his nifty sidebar Notes of Importance: ...

Braves to Explore Starting Pitching Trade Market
Published 5/4/2008 by Old Navy King at MLB Fleece Factor
... According to Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports, the Atlanta Braves were somewhat surprised at how enthusiastically starter John Smoltz embraced the idea of returning as the team’s closer when he returns from injury. Apparently, he had initially been pretty reluctant to make the switch back again from starting pitcher to closer, but I’m sure he feels it’s best for his agin shoulder. ...

The Week In Quotes: April 28-May 4 by Alex Carnevale
Published 5/5/2008 at Baseball Prospectus
... , on batting first. (Ken Rosenthal, FoxSports.com ) "The expectations of who I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to do finally got to me. I made an irrational decision. Maybe it was immaturity, inexperience or just that I didn’t know how to handle what was happening. I just kept thinking I am not producing the way I should be, and maybe I didn’t belong here." --Yankees prospect ...