The Chicago Cubs and those of us who own Alfonso Soriano in fantasy leagues are on Cloud 9 right now, and for good reason. He’s 20-for-36 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs over his last nine games, and the Cubs have gone 7-2 over that stretch. Rejoice, if you will, but we should all consider this atonement for a year and a half of injury and underachievement.

Not that Soriano’s struggles have been entirely his fault. He has battled through quad and calf injuries in each of the last two seasons, strains that have prevented him from stringing together consistent at-bats and reaching his full potential. Last year, when he finally got healthy, he was just as hot in September as he is right now with 14 home runs, 11 doubles and 27 RBIs in 29 games.

With that late push, Soriano salvaged a .299 average, 33 home runs and 19 stolen bases in 2007, but fell considerably short of preseason expectations, especially on the basepaths. The quad injury limited him to just one steal over his final 56 games, but did nothing to zap his power, as he tied a career-best with a .560 slugging percentage.

In 2008, expectations should have changed. Rather than garnering a top-five selection in fantasy drafts like he did in 2007, Soriano was going in the mid-to-late second round. And instead of holding him to the impossible standards set forth by his 46-homer, 41-steal campaign with Washington in 2006, we began to realize that 40 steals were likely a thing of the past.

Even so, Soriano still left a bad taste in our mouths with a .175 average through 13 games and another stint on the disabled list with a strained right calf. It wasn’t until the Cubs began a May homestand that he heated up and got his season back on track. Now that he’s picked up the pace, it would be nice for Soriano to sustain the momentum and exceed our expectations for the first time in two seasons.

More notes about Soriano’s hot streak …
Soriano leads the majors with 20 RBIs in May, and only Florida’s Dan Uggla has more home runs this month (nine) than his eight.

In his career, May has proved to be Soriano’s most powerful month. His 54 home runs, 137 RBIs, 149 runs, .539 slugging percentage and .861 OPS are all Soriano’s best monthly marks.

Soriano is head and shoulders above the rest of major league leadoff hitters with his 10 homers, 25 RBIs and .652 slugging percentage. Pittsburgh’s Nate McLouth and Hanley Ramirez have both rivaled the production, but have since moved out of their teams’ leadoff positions.

Between his lack of walks and higher number of plate appearances, Soriano doesn’t figure to slow down with power anytime soon. His 162-game averages as a leadoff man: 707 at-bats, .296 avg., 43 HRs, 98 RBIs, 123 runs scored and 36 stolen bases.

Other thoughts on Soriano …
Serious Sports Network points out that expectations should be tempered for both Soriano and the Cubs.

Chicago Sports Teams wonders how much damage Soriano’s solo homers are really doing.

Turning Two sends a heartfelt apology for questioning Soriano.

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.