Sorry. Ah, No!

"Put me in coach. I'm ready to play, (clap clap) today."
Something tells me that Alfonso Soriano isn't signing that tune. The ex-Yankee second-sacker is refusing to play the OF for the Washington Nationals. Soriano was put in the lineup for Monday's spring training game against in LF, but refused to play, and instead sat out. I like Alfonso but come on, where does he get the nerve? I understand he's in a contract year and stands to lose a lot of $$ if he totally tanks in LF. But, that still is no reason to act like a 4-year old that doesn't want to eat his veggies. The Nationals can place Soriano on a "disqualified list," which means he doesn't get paid and loses his service time, and quite frankly I hope they do that. Why does Soriano think he's above the ballclub? The answer, he's looking out for number 1.
The Nationals had to know what they were getting when they traded for him. He's made it clear in the past that he doesn't want to play the OF. That's part of the reason why he was traded from NY and from Texas. Apparently, Texas wouldn't allow the Nats to speak to Soriano until after the deal was done. If true, how does Nats GM Jim Bowden still have a job? Oh yeah, nobody owns the Nats. If this situation doesn't get better, meaning Soriano doesn't play, Bowden might as well pack up his things now because he's going to get canned as soon as the Nats have an owner. If he doesn't, the Nats won't survive in DC because the franchise is being run by a monkey, and that only works in Beantown.
This is basically going to be a no-win situation for everyone. Soriano looks bad if he continues to pout, which will put a damper on his bargaining position next year because no team will want to put up with that. He also loses if he plays the OF and totally tanks. Any guy in his contract year wants to have the best year possible and Soriano doesn't think that's possible in the OF. The Nationals of course lose if they get stuck with Soriano and he decides to sit out, or if he becomes impossible to trade due to the current situation.
It makes no sense that Soriano doesn't want to play the OF. It is entirely possible that he has a good defensive year out there. Let's face it, he's not exactly a gold-glove caliber 2b, how much worse can he do in the OF? If Tony Womack can do it, Soriano should be able to, wouldn't you think? Perhaps Soriano's biggest worry isn't playing in the OF, but it's playing in Washington. His power numbers will certainly drop due to the size of the park, which will also likely decrease his batting average with those long fly outs, making him of course less valuable in the free agent market come bargaining time.
In the end, Soriano will probably end up filing some sort of grievance with the Player's Union, and then who knows what will happen?? Soriano needs to ask himself a simple question: Do I want to play baseball? If the answer is yes, then take the field, and shut up. If you're as good as you think are, it doesn't matter where you play, whether it be in Washington or in the OF. You're talent should speak for you you.
Soriano needs to take the field when his name is on the lineup card. Especially when your manager is a Hall of Famer. Show some respect. If only I could choose to sit out when the wife asks me to clean the bathroom or my boss asks me to work on something. Too bad real life doesn't work that way.
J