The Honest Truth

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I was watching the Bulls the other night (mainly because D-Rose was finally back) and I got to thinking about a few "What If's" such as: What if Joakim Noah didn't have this foot problem? What if we kept John Salmons and played him at the small forward position he was accustomed to, instead of moving him to the shooting guard spot? What if Luol Deng actually could finish a season?

Suddenly a commercial played promoting the upcoming Chicago Cub season. Cub fans should know the one I'm talking about (if you've watched CSN at all recently). It's the one where Len Kasper calls the Walk Off Grand Slam by Alfonso Soriano.

Now as you all know (and for new readers that have yet to stumble upon this site) I am a die hard White Sox fan. But as a hopeful sports writer, I want it to be known that I'm not your typical Sox fan.

I'm not arrogant about the 2005 World Series win. I do not bring it up to the many Cub fans that walks past me on the streets of Iowa City. I do not call Cub fans derogatory names because of the gay scene around the stadium. I do think there are true baseball fans that fill up Wrigley field, not just drunken idiots that want the opportunity to "Boo" Soriano, or yell "JUICER" when Albert Pujols comes to the dish.

I like to consider myself unique.

But back to my original thoughts. After seeing this commercial the Bulls game came back on and the camera flashed to the injured Luol Deng. Luol, who is nursing a strained right calf, may be back with five games left in the season, but I'm not counting on it.

If he doesn't come back, this would mark the second straight season Luol has rode the bench through the end of the year. Not a good sign for a guy that signed a six year extension in 2008 for $71 million.

Since the 04-05 season when Deng joined the Bulls, he has missed 85 games to date (more than a full season) and that number is going to keep going up. Luol is only 24 years old, yet has only played a full season once for Chicago. How could we have payed a guy that much money (more than $10 million this year) and have him only play one whole season so far? This stat hurts even more considering John Salmons had similar numbers here in Chicago, is leading a Bucks team that is 15-2 since his acquisition, and he cost the Bulls millions less.

Now don't get me wrong, I really like Luol. I think he can be a tremendous player for the Bulls and his length and ability to get to the rim could put him up there with some of the elite small forwards in the NBA. The only problem is, he will never get there if he doesn't stay healthy.

So what does this have to do with the Cubs? Well I think there is a certain guy on the north side that is in a similar situation. Alfonso Soriano.

Lets get the age out of the way right now. I understand that Alfonso is 10 years older than Luol. So that argument is now moot. Baseball age and Basketball age are completely different. You can last longer in baseball depending on the position. So now that that argument is out of the way....

In 2007 Soriano signed a eight-year contract with the Cubs worth almost $136 million, which adds up to about $17 million a year. Which wasn't a bad sign at the time. Soriano was coming off a season where he scored 119 runs, had 179 hits, 46 home runs, 95 RBI's and an astounding 41 stolen bases. His fielding was a little sketchy, but his unique mash up of power and speed is what made him one of the most sought out free agents during that off season.

The Cubs had to over pay him to see him dressed in the Cubby blue.

In his first season with the Cubs Soriano started off extremely hot, but he came to a halt in early August when he went on the disabled list with a torn quadriceps. He came back and had a pretty productive September. During this season he had a batting average of .299 which was second best in his career, with 173 hits, 42 doubles, and 33 homeruns. Totally worth the money and the injury seemed like it was nothing to worry about.

In his second season Soriano only played in 109 games and had one of the worst defensive seasons to date. He again spent time on the disabled list and his legs seemed to be crumbling fast. He hit a respectable .280, but his hits, doubles, and home runs went down (127, 27, 29).

In both of these seasons he had only 38 stolen bases combined which was three less than he had in 2006 with the Nationals.

Then in 2009 Soriano went on a roller coaster ride that consisted of him being dropped in the line up and ended with a season ending knee surgery. He hit .241 in 117 games with 115 hits, 25 doubles, and 20 home runs. Once again, his stats went down dramatically, and he couldn't stay on the field.

Both Soriano and Deng have a bad case of the injury bug and if the Bulls and Cubs want to win, they need these guys to perform and stay on the field/court. These two are making $27 million dollars combined per season which is more than Lebron James and Matt Kemp make combined (together they make about $17 million).

Some of you may claim that this comparison is a bit of a cop out because Matt Kemp has yet to make the big money Soriano has. So how about this, Soriano and Deng make more than Lebron James, Matt Kemp, and Carl Crawford and I would still have a little over $2 million left to spend.

I know the Cubs and the Bulls could not for see this happening to these players. I know that both of them had looked tremendous and deserved the money they are receiving. I'm just calling them out, and hoping they begin to earn their money.

I know as a Bulls fan that if Paxson lands a big free agent (Lebron James!) and Luol stays healthy all of next year his "what if" would trickle down the drain (especially if the Bulls get anywhere near a three seed or better in the East).

I also know that Cub fans would be happy if Soriano stayed on the field, limited his fielding mistakes, stole 10 bases, hit 30 home runs, had 90 hits, with a batting average of .280 again.

But it is truly sad that we as fans have to settle for a minimum with guys that are making more money in a season than some of us will see in a lifetime.