On Thursday night, a Chase Utley base hit fell safely into left field, in front of Alfonso Soriano. I was livid. No, not at Soriano. I was livid because I could hear a smattering of boos through my television speakers. I mean, what? I thought we were over this crap from earlier in the season.

Then, Friday in the Chicago Tribune I see this headline: "Soriano gets defensive about his fielding." I figured he must have gone off on the fans about booing, so I was excited. Instead, here is Soriano getting "defensive."

"Those [last] two were mistakes I made by myself, no lights or anything," he said. "I just took my eyes off the ball too quickly.

"I feel very comfortable in left field," he said. "I just made a couple of mistakes, I know. But it's not like I don't feel comfortable."

Man, I don't know how he didn't scare everyone in the press room away from him. How defensive! Look, I understand the cool-writer thing with a play on words in the title (ooh, we are talking about his defense and he's defending himself -- sort of -- that's gold!), but all this does is add fuel to the fire for the buffoons that take to booing him in left field.

What do you want him to say? He was accountable, and explained that he feels comfortable. You can't boo him for that.

I'll openly admit that I understand and sometimes condone booing if it's done for the right reasons, like failing to meet expectations.

Let's check it out. What did the Cubs expect when they signed Soriano? It sure as hell wasn't studly glove-work, as he was awful in LF for the Nats in '06. He's provided everything else, so he should be good with the Wrigley Field patrons. He's even rocking a near career-high OBP of .349 presently, thus quelling the cries to move him down in the batting order. He's even driven 63 runs home in only 86 games. The legs are getting healthier and providing more action on the bases, and he's hosed several runners at home in game-changing fashion.

Simply put, he's doing what the Cubs are paying him to do.

Now, let's examine from the perspective of someone in attendance ... you have all of what I wrote above about Soriano. You have a team that sits atop Major League Baseball with a 85-50 record ... and you're booing? Relax, dude.

In the upcoming month, Cubs fans, we're going to hear everything bad everyone's ever thought about the Cubs and their fans in response to the impending -- and already a bit underway -- love affair by the national media and us fans. Giving these "haters" material or turning on our own player does nothing to help.

Sit back and enjoy the team. Stop booing like short-sighted reactionaries on every little minute mistake. If you really must boo someone, at least make it someone failing to meet expectations. I'll give you a name: Bob Howry.

Go nuts. Just leave Soriano alone.