[bears9]

MESA, Ariz. -- Let the leadoff-hitter debates begin again. Alfonso Soriano is in camp.

The Cubs' left fielder and lack-of-a-better-option leadoff man says he's more comfortable and relaxed entering his second season with the team, but he's still not sure how well he'll be able to run more than six months after suffering a quadriceps tear that sidelined him for a month.


''We'll get into that soon enough,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''Everybody's a manager. Am I right?''

They will be, it seems, as long as a power-hitting base-stealer without a top-of-the-order on-base percentage and with -- for now at least -- suspect base-stealing ability stays penciled into the top slot in the order.

Soriano has been running at 75 percent speed, on orders from the Cubs' medical staff, as part of his conditioning program leading up to camp. And when asked Sunday whether he thought he could get back to stealing 40 bases a season, he said, ''I don't know yet. I have to see maybe in a couple weeks, see how I feel in my legs.

Soriano checks in as question mark :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Cubs

[Lefty Noob]

Sorry, Lou, but no way should he be hitting leadoff. You need him deeper in the order than that, especially with the quad still being an issue.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Sorry, Lou, but no way should he be hitting leadoff. You need him deeper in the order than that, especially with the quad still being an issue.

Yep Agreed, bat him 2nd or 3rd, he strikeout to much.