OT: Cabby is prepared to field the hot corner
According to ESPN, Cabrera says he is prepared to play third for the Tigers:
"It was something we were talking (about at the Tigers') fan fest (last week). Return to third base, that is my natural position," Cabrera told Lider en Deportes. "Fielder's arrival will benefit us."
Also, BYB posted this picture of Cabby earlier today:
Not lookin' too bad. Maybe he's decided to take conditioning seriously?
January 25th, 2012 at 5:15 PM ^
We better score a lotta runs.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
That's great and all, but really not necessary until 2013. Cabby and Prince can share 1B/DH this year.
Note: I just remembered interleague play. Miggy should probably start practicing and conditioning for going back for at least those games.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
Porcello is crying
January 25th, 2012 at 5:43 PM ^
Why? Leyland can, and will, work matchups so Fielder can DH, Cabrera can play 1st and someone else can play 3b when Porcello is pitching. But when Justin is pitching, do you really need a lot of range in the infield?
January 25th, 2012 at 5:18 PM ^
What they gain in runs scored they're going to lose in runs allowed from crummy defense.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:23 PM ^
Good thing they have stellar pitching then, negative Nancy
January 25th, 2012 at 5:31 PM ^
In my estimation, swapping in Fielder for Cabrera at 1B is net neutral or at worse slightly negative but swapping Cabrera for Inge at 3B is a huge net positive. Cabrera is a pretty good Fielder though he certainly doesn't have the range of Inge. What he lacks in range he makes up for times ten by batting .100 better...with power.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
Worst Fred Jackson impression ever
January 25th, 2012 at 6:06 PM ^
The only stat that matters in on base percentage. Didn't you see Moneyball? /s
January 25th, 2012 at 6:36 PM ^
Try .150 better, and that was due to a late season run by Inge.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:28 PM ^
He had 5 errors in the last 13 games he started at 3rd. I hope that gets better.
January 25th, 2012 at 7:07 PM ^
And that was also four years ago when Miguel wasn't in the best of shape. I'd say he's in better shape now and actually played a halfway decent first base over the past two seasons.
And really, he can't be worse than Betemit was at 3rd.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:49 PM ^
If Illitch is willing to pony up a little more, we could possibly get a shortstop with decent range (even one with a relatively microscopic BA, because you have a lineup where you can hide this) and make up for the sacrifice in range with Cabrera at 3B, and that lets you move Peralta to 2B potentially. I like the idea of having him available to play there, at the very least.
The larger point is that acquiring Fielder and, for the time being, still having Martinez in 2013 has given them options, of if nothing else, a year to resolve other things and do so well, if they choose. Clearly, they're willing to go Yankees on baseball, something that I think many people probably didn't expect from Illitch, and I like that.
January 26th, 2012 at 6:53 AM ^
I don't know that i'd say Ilitch went Yankees. There was, iirc, $23M coming off the payroll with the departures of Ordonez and Guillen. (There may have been more shed from old contracts too.) They gave Valverde and probably Young moderate raises in arbitration.
There was always the assumption that they'd spend. With no outstanding 3B FA's out there that were no brainers, the conventional wisdom was that they'd probably spend on a veteran starter with a short contract. The Tigers will probably end up fielding this team for roughly the same payroll as last year's team which was, iirc, somewhere around the 8th highest. Less than the White Sox.
Peralta really likes SS, though i agree with you and would simply play Santiago as the everyday SS and Peralta at 2B. Ramon's a fine ball player with excellent defensive skills.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:36 PM ^
In 2008 I saw Cabrera a few times in street clothes and it was obvious that
January 25th, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
Cabrera looked a lot less fat and bloated in street clothes than his uni. Apologies for accidentally hitting the button.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
That is Hanley next to Cabrera, btw. Hanley is a big dude, but Cabrera's arms are just huge.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:49 PM ^
I am drawing a blank on where I read this but the article was reporting that career wise Inge has a 960 fielding percentage at third and Cabby has a 951. So while it is a drop off it is not huge. Inge also has a a lot more games at third than Cabby so you have to factor that in.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:07 PM ^
Defensive ability should not be judged by fielding percentage alone. Also, most of Cabrera's 3B opportunities were long ago, when he was much different physically.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:27 PM ^
Your right fielding percentage is not the entire picture. But it is part of it. While Cabrera is bigger and that's a major concern he has been improving his defence at first. The one big problem with him at first base has been him trying to range to far from the base and not being able to cover the bag. Hopefully he can turn this into a asset at third where he wont be responsable for covering the bag as at first.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:27 PM ^
Something about sample size, etc.
January 25th, 2012 at 5:53 PM ^
made some really big stops at first this year. This was the first year in a long time I watched a lot of Tigers game's and I remember him being really agile for a big man. Some people were suggesting we put Inge over at SS - I'm not totally opposed but his bat is horrendous. Personally, I'm excited for this year - but REALLY juiced for 2013 - get V mart back in the lineup and maybe add someone strong up at the top of the order? Whooooaaa nellie!
January 25th, 2012 at 6:33 PM ^
Where do you put Peralta if Inge would play SS? Inge can have a nice spot on the bench and have fun with the 5mil or whatever number it is.
January 25th, 2012 at 8:38 PM ^
the same guy who recommended to play Inge at SS suggested Peralta move over to 2nd.
Not saying I agree with it 100% - but - it's a thought.
January 25th, 2012 at 10:17 PM ^
Why not just play Inge at second base? Peralta's range is not stellar, but he handles most everything inside of it, so I'm not upset with his fielding. Inge's athleticism would be better than Peralta's for turning DPs, and his hitting can't be worse than Raburn's April/May offerings.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:59 AM ^
winner-winner-chicken-dinner.
moving inge to 2nd would be the smartest move. i know he can't hit his way out of a papper bag, but he came through in the playoffs, again. besides the skipper will probably be having inge on sunday day games following sat night games to give avila a rest.
what is the before/after on when irrational fan calls-in, emails, posts to have the skipper fired because the tigers are not in 1st or when they have their first losing streak?
January 26th, 2012 at 9:57 AM ^
Moving Inge to the mud hens would be the smartest move.
January 26th, 2012 at 6:57 AM ^
I like the guy and all, but i'd play Santiago every day at either SS or 2B and spell him with Inge. Switch hitter, decent power and an excellent defensive ball player. Tigers management worries that he can't handle everday play without a drop-off at the plate, but they've never tried it.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:09 PM ^
made some really big stops at first this year. This was the first year in a long time I watched a lot of Tigers game's and I remember him being really agile for a big man. Some people were suggesting we put Inge over at SS - I'm not totally opposed but his bat is horrendous. Personally, I'm excited for this year - but REALLY juiced for 2013 - get V mart back in the lineup and maybe add someone strong up at the top of the order? Whooooaaa nellie!
(Gah, stupid internet explorer at work - sorry for double post)
January 25th, 2012 at 5:56 PM ^
suprisingly sober
January 25th, 2012 at 6:00 PM ^
The issue is range. Cabrera is fine for first because at first you aren't asked to do much. People who think 3rd is similar need to go pick up a mit, try playing the game, and drop the fantasy teams. It is going to be epically bad down there and just know that other teams are laughing at the notion Cabrera will play third regularly. He won't. Bank on that.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:40 PM ^
Your right the only things that first and third have in common is they are on the corners. But Cabrera has played there not amazingly but played. If you don't put him at third what is your solution to the log jam at dh?
January 25th, 2012 at 7:10 PM ^
I doubt they are laughing, but thanks for the Negative Nancy report.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:04 PM ^
I think it is likely that Victor Martinez plays a little 3b as well.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:10 PM ^
Victor tore his acl.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:11 PM ^
Not sure why this would be likely. He has never played a lick of 3B during his career. At least Miggy has some experience over there.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:39 PM ^
I wouldn't be surprised if VMart plays third because I think Cabby is just too damn big too play the hot corner. I don't like the idea of either of them at 3rd, but I suspect Victor might be as capable as Miggy.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:46 PM ^
Martinez has never played 3rd(!!!). Older players that have never played a position before usually don't work out when switching positions.
January 25th, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^
Joe Torre moved from catcher to third when traded to the Cards at age 29 and a few years later won a batting title with a .363 ave. I am not saying it is ideal. I think it is worth considering.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:57 PM ^
Victor will not play 3B. Fielder was signed with the promise he will be the primary 1st baseman. So at this moment, MC will play 3B, PF will play 1B, and VM will be the primary DH in 2013. That's just the way it is
January 25th, 2012 at 7:02 PM ^
An aging vet who just tore his ACL and has never played anywhere besides first base/catcher is about the last guy I am putting at third base. At least Cabrera has youth, health and experience on his side.
January 25th, 2012 at 7:07 PM ^
See Joe Torre and others for precedent. Have you seen Cabrera? He probably weighs 270, I don't see him as any more feasible at third than Martinez. Both ideas are probably a pipe dream.
January 25th, 2012 at 7:22 PM ^
Have YOU seen Cabrera? If not, there is a picture of him on the top of the thread. He has lost a lot of weight this off season. Kevin Youkilis isn't the most slender guy out there and his weight is comparable to Cabrera's, if you consider the fact that Cabrera has ~4 inches of height on Youkilis.
Cabrera was asked about playing third before Fielder was signed and agreed to it, according to reports. This isn't a pipe dream gordie bell.
January 25th, 2012 at 7:26 PM ^
I am a doubting Thomas. I will believe Cabrera is a long term solution at third when he is in fact a long term solution at third. Cabrera has an ASS that rivals Mattison and Hoke, would you want Mattison or Hoke playing 3b for you? Didn't think so.
January 26th, 2012 at 5:04 AM ^
dumb.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:28 PM ^
to put an old player at a position he's never played before.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:43 PM ^
I was actually thinking why not try VMart at first when he's back and let Fielder DH with Miggy at 3rd? That's assuming he's still good at third and VMart can play first, but that's generally where catchers go at the end of their careers. Fielder should not be in the field. Which brings up another point- If Fielder ends up being a DH, he has 4-5 at bats a game, and thus is making 200 mil to essentially do 10 minutes of work a day (maybe less than 5 some days) for the next 9 years... wow.
January 25th, 2012 at 6:48 PM ^
aren't really the best but they do put Prince and Cabby pretty much equal at first FWIW
January 25th, 2012 at 7:11 PM ^
Apparently noone on here saw moneyball. It doesn't matter how they field. Just ask Scott Hatteberg.......
January 25th, 2012 at 7:19 PM ^
Moneyball is a book first, a movie second... and it is clear that you didn't read it or have any idea what you are talking about.