It's starting up again. Where will left fielder Alfonso Soriano bat in the Cubs' lineup?
Soriano has spent most of the last two seasons as the leadoff man, but the Cubs have always faced questions about whether he'd be more effective lower in the order, where his power potential would lead to more RBIs. For his part, Soriano has said he'll bat anywhere, even though he's clearly more comfortable batting first. This time around, he said all he asks is for the Cubs to tell him ahead of time where they want him to bat.
"I want to take time because I have to learn how they want to pitch me in different (lineup) positions," Soriano said. "I'd like to know, if they want to change me, do that in spring training, and I can learn my new batting position in the lineup, and I can be ready for the season."
When it's all said and done, Soriano is likely to bat leadoff again. Both GM Jim Hendry and field manager Lou Piniella point out that the Cubs won 97 games last year and have won two straight division titles with Soriano as their leadoff guy.
"Streaky-type players like that, you get hot, you get cold," Hendry said.
Soriano hit 29 homers last year and drove in 75 runs in 109 games, despite having two stints on the disabled list. In 2007, he hit 33 homers and drove in 70 runs in 135 games.
