YOUTHFUL EXHUBERANCE OR BAD HABIT?

Alfonso Soriano is a very exciting player to watch. In only his third full season you can just see the oodles of potential this kid has. He came up through the Yankees minor league system as a shortstop, but with Derek Jeter already occupying that position chances were slim to none that Soriano would ever play that position full-time. And as we all know, slim left town.

The kid was the most sought after player in the Yankees' minor league system. It seemed that any potential trade had Soriano's name pop up. Other teams could also see the raw talent Alfonso had. Many teams had shortstop needs and Soriano would have filled those needs admirably. But the Yankees, to their credit, kept Sori. They asked him to try second base. If you know anything about baseball there is a world of difference in how about you go playing shortstop and how you play second base.

Two years ago Soriano played his first full season at second base. It was definitely a learning experience. He made 19 errors in 156 games. He had a FTCP of .973. Not too bad for a guy who had never played the position. Alfonso had incredible rookie numbers. He hit .268 with 18 home runs and 73 RBI. His SLG% was .432. His OBP was a passable .304. His numbers were good enough to earn him 2nd runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Ichiro Suzuki and C.C. Sabathia.

Last year, Alfonso improved in every area accept for his FTCP. He made 23 errors for an FTCP of .968. However, that was totally overshadowed by his offensive numbers. Soriano batted .300 with 39 home runs and 41 stolen bases. He was one home run shy of becoming only the 4th player to become a member of the 40-40 club. Jose Canseco, Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds are the other exclusive members. Soriano also knocked in 102 RBI. He improved both his SLG% and OBP. ( .547 & .332 respectively) He had over 200 hits and all of a sudden Soriano looked like the second coming of Superman. He made the Yankees' braintrust look like geniuses.

In 2003, Soriano started like a house on fire. In his first month he was batting .370 with 8 home runs and 21 RBI. He sported a lofty 1.066 OPS (.436 OBP and .630 SLG%). The Yankees 2B looked as if no one could stop him. However, in May the bottom fell out of Soriano's boat. He batted .229 with 7 home runs and 14 RBI. His OPS dropped to .756. Still not bad numbers as he had 15 homers and 35 RBI. Since that time Alfonso has gone up and down on the power numbers. Currently he has 32 home runs and 80 RBI. His OPS stands at .844 (.336 OBP & .508 SLG%). On the field Sori has made 18 errors in 702 total chances. His FTCP is currently .974, which is his best number yet. All of these positives would make most managers giggle with delight. If Alfonso keeps these numbers up he could very well end up in the Hall of Fame.

Okay! Here's the rub. I prefaced what I'm about to say, because I wanted to show that Alfonso Soriano is no fluke. He's a bona fide all-star second baseman. He is fast becoming one of the best offensive second basemen ever in the history of major league baseball. I want to show that I love this kid. I want nothing, but the best for him. But I want him to stop showboating at the plate.

Last night, Soriano, did what he always does when he hits a long fly ball. He flips his bat, stares at the trajectory of the shot and then begins his home run trot around the bases. In the fifth inning against Jason Johnson of the Orioles Soriano got hold of one of Johnson's offerings and sent it out over the right centerfield wall to put the Yankees ahead 1-0. He flipped his bat, watched the flight of the ball and then began trotting slowly down toward first base. Fortunately, Johnson didn't see that little display. But someone did. Johnson apparently got a signal from someone on the Orioles that Soriano had shown him up. The next batter for the Yankees, Nick Johnson, almost ended up paying for Soriano's transgression. With Nick at the plate Jason Johnson threw a fastball behind the hitter's back prompting home plate umpire Dan Iassogna to issue warnings to both benches. Had the Orioles pitcher been a little more wild with that pitch Nick Johnson could have been on his way to the hospital.

Manager Joe Torre has spoken many times to Alfonso about his lack of hustle down the first base line when he hits a long ball and most assuredly Soriano got chewed out for his latest little stunt. Many have felt that his flipping of the bat, staring at the flight of his ball and his slow trot down the first baseline are part of his exuberance. Part of his learning curve. Part of his emotion. He will grow out of it. When? After one of his teammates really gets drilled with a fastball? Going back to the dugout and high-fiving with your teammates or coming out of the dugout for a curtain call is showing emotion and exhuberance. Everyone can get into that. But pulling a Barry Bonds like schtick is not exhuberance, it's bad taste.

Everyone likes to do his best and everyone will tip their hat when their bested in a mano y mano situation. Pitcher vs batter. Sometimes the pitcher gets the K and sometimes the hitter gets the home run. There is absolutely no reason to purposely flip your bat, like I showed you, watch the ball leave the yard and then slowly trot down the line. That's showing up your collegue Alfonso. I'm sure you wouldn't like it if everytime a pitcher struck you out he threw his glove on the ground, turned his back to you and watch you striking out all over again on the jumbo-tron. Stop doing it. Go up there, do your business and if you knock one out, drop the bat, put your head down, run the bases, touch home plate and go into the dugout where you can celebrate with your boys. Don't stand there like a freaking marble statue at the plate admiring your handiwork. All that's going to do is get one of your teammates thrown at. Ask Nick Johnson how fun that was. You've got so much talent you don't need to do these sideshow antics. It pisses people off. People know you're good. You don't have to show anyone how good you are. People know it. I want people and players to remember you for class, not for tastelessness. That's all I've got to say on the matter.

PLAY BALL!