Alfonso Soriano Rips Teammate Carlos Marmol, Says ‘He Used To Be Good’

Alfonso Soriano isn’t holding back his feeling about teammate Carlos Marmol.

Marmol this weekend blew a save to the lowly New York Mets, giving up four runs in the ninth inning to lose the game 4-3. Afterward, Soriano did not hide his displeasure.

“When we have a 99 (percent) chance to win the game, it’s very tough the last inning,” Soriano told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. “Three outs left and we lost the game. It’s unacceptable, especially when we’re winning 3-0 and (Matt) Garza’s pitching a very good game.

“It’s hard to swallow. We thought we swept those guys and had some momentum going to St. Louis. … It’s not a good feeling.”

Alfonso Soriano was particularly hard on Carlos Marmol, saying “he used to be good.”

“I don’t know,” he said. “It depends on him. He used to be good. I think he’s good, but he’s lost a little bit of his confidence, and this game is all about confidence. … I hope he gets it back and becomes the Marmol I know.”

Sullivan points out that Soriano isn’t exactly at the peak of his career. After signing a $136 million contract at the end of the 2007 season, he’s struggled with injuries and defensive issues.

But he also notes that Soriano appears to be taking a leadership role and has been good with taking criticism himself, so it’s not exactly a cheap shot against Carlos Marmol.

The loss against the Mets was particularly stinging. The Cubs had dominated the game and kept the Mets bats silent through eight innings. But the Mets strung together hits and walks in the inning, capped off by a three-run homer by Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

Things could get testier for Alfonso Soriano as the season goes on. The team stands last in the NL Central, already 16 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals.