Soriano's July woes: I was hurt
Says he had pain in both wrists before quad injury and didn't tell trainers
ST. LOUIS -- Alfonso Soriano, the Cubs' $136 million left fielder, finally revealed Thursday the reason for his struggles at the plate since his monster June: He was playing hurt and didn't tell the team trainers.
Soriano, the National League Player of the Month for June, followed that by hitting just .236 with three homers in July. He tore his quadriceps in early August and went on the disabled list for most of the month.
Soriano, the National League Player of the Month for June, followed that by hitting just .236 with three homers in July. He tore his quadriceps in early August and went on the disabled list for most of the month.
Until the quad injury, he was dealing with pain in both wrists -- but in particular the left one, near the hamate bone -- that developed in early July. He quietly began heavily taping both wrists before each game for about a month to help him cope.
Until the quad injury, he was dealing with pain in both wrists -- but in particular the left one, near the hamate bone -- that developed in early July. He quietly began heavily taping both wrists before each game for about a month to help him cope.
''I couldn't even do this,'' he said, taking his bat by the handle and lifting the barrel in a semicircle with his left wrist.
But the three weeks on the disabled list allowed the wrist pain to subside enough that when he came back 2½ weeks ago, he no longer taped.
And his power came back. He had seven home runs in 16 games since his return entering play Friday night, and said it's because his wrists feel better and stronger.
''I know I'm swinging a little bit harder now because my grip feels good,'' he said.
Of course, that doesn't explain his 7-for-38 slump heading into Friday -- albeit five of the seven hits being homers. "That just happens because it happens,'' he said. "I see the ball good. Sometimes you feel good and can't hit good, and sometimes you don't feel good and you hit good. That's the game.
''But I feel good [at the plate].''
''I didn't want to get Wally Pipped,'' Lee joked after watching his replacement, Daryle Ward, hit a home run Thursday night. ''It's good to go [Friday].''
Lee was hurt fouling a pitch off it in Wednesday night's fifth inning.
''He told me he couldn't steal a base,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''I said, 'We don't need you to steal a base. We need your presence in the lineup.' I'm appreciative he can play. He's a gamer.''
Obviously, Soriano's rediscovered strength has been a big part of that, but five different players hit the six homers in the just completed Houston series, including two by Cliff Floyd.
''They're coming at the right time,'' Piniella said. "Let's just keep them coming now, and we'll go from there.''
