Soriano in position to say thanks
''I have to say thank you to Jim,'' Soriano said Thursday while discussing his new role as the Cubs' center fielder. ''He saw that I could be a very good outfielder. He believed that I could do it. He pushed me very hard, but I think he [made] a very good move.''
It was almost exactly a year ago -- March 20 -- when Soriano was first listed as the Nats' left fielder. The Nationals took the field, except left field was vacant. Soriano was pulling out of Space Coast Stadium in Melbourne, Fla., about the time fuming manager Frank Robinson was scrambling to put a body in left field.
The next day was a scheduled day off for the Nats, and Bowden issued a series of threats, including putting Soriano on the disqualified list. Soriano became a national poster boy for selfish ballplayers everywhere.
And now Soriano is thanking Bowden?
''Yeah, it's weird,'' Soriano said, ''because the first time, I didn't want to move -- not because I didn't want to play the outfield, but because I didn't believe myself to be athletic enough to play the outfield. I believed the outfielders have to have a lot of talent to play the outfield, and I had never played the outfield.''
The controversy -- and the national outrage -- shocked Soriano.
''The day that happened, we talked at 3 o'clock,'' he said. ''That was a night game, and they said, 'We want to put you in left field today.' And I said, 'If you want to play me in left field, take me out of the lineup because I don't want to play the outfield.' And they say, 'OK, we'll take him out of the lineup.' And I go home.
''The next day, all of my teammates say that I [was supposed to] play left field yesterday. And I was surprised because they told me to my face that they were going to take me out of the lineup. If I knew that would happen and keep me in the lineup, I would have played left field.
''I got surprised because people think that I am not a good teammate. People have to understand that at that time, I was worried about me because I had made two or three All-Star Games at second base, and I don't feel very comfortable [in the outfield]. But sometimes you have to look at little bit [farther down the road].''
Down the road is now, and Soriano, who had a triple and two singles Thursday, said he will have no complaints about where manager Lou Piniella uses him -- all three outfield spots, second base or shortstop.
''Now, I am open to doing whatever Lou wants because now I feel more comfortable playing the outfield,'' he said. ''And now I have the talent to play any position. Now I want to make my team better, so if you want to move me around, that's OK with me.
''The most important thing is I feel comfortable. Last year, I played the outfield because I didn't have a choice. But this year is different.''
PICTURE PERFECT: As for posing with Piniella on the cover of Sports Illustrated for its baseball preview edition, Soriano has a message for his new manager.
''I think I am better looking than him in the picture,'' Soriano said with a laugh. ''I have to talk to him about that later because I don't want him to take that personally and take me out of the lineup. Who knows? If he takes it personally, maybe he will send me down to the minor leagues.''
ON THE REBOUND: Left-hander Sean Marshall, who arrived at camp with shoulder pain that had been lingering since September, reported an increase in his velocity after a 32-pitch session during a Class AAA scrimmage Wednesday.
Marshall, 24, who went 6-9 with a 5.59 ERA in 24 Cubs starts last year, seems to be a candidate for extended spring training, though he believes he can help the Cubs this season.
''I know I can compete as good as any of these guys on the field, and hopefully, within the next week, I'll get to show them just like last year,'' he said.