Cabrera hoping to have successful season at third base – MLB featured
Without any doubts, Miguel Cabrera is one of the most dynamic hitters in Major League Baseball right now. The hard hitting striker made the most of available opportunities in 2011 to post yet another 30-plus home runs and 10-plus RBI‘s season. Playing the
first base, he displayed some high quality hitting skills to help Detroit Tigers win the American League Central title.
While Cabrera continued his excellent form in the playoffs, the Tigers failed to live up to the expectations. During the offseason, Tigers’ General Manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland spent considerable amount of Mike Ilitch’s fortune to strengthen
Tigers’ pitching and hitting attack.
With the addition of Prince Fielder, the battling lineup is looking stronger than ever before. Fielder, who was outstanding for Milwaukee Brewers last season, signed on a nine year $214 million contract with the Tigers earlier this year and he will be looking
to cement his place in the team. Addition of Fielder as a first baseman will also move Cabrera to the third base this season, a position he hasn’t played that much in last few years.
Most of National baseball writers and analysts believe that Tigers’ move to try Cabrera at third base is unlikely to pay off as he has gained great amount of weight in the last few years.
While Cabrera may not be the best fielder in the world, he can certainly make up for that with his extra ordinary hitting abilities. He is not the most agile and athletic in Tigers’ squad and he might make an error or two in every game.
However, the Tigers are not considering him form a defensive prospective. If Cabrera can hit the way he did in 2011, the Tigers will not mind his errors at third base. Cabrera will be looking to take his impressive hitting form into the 2012 regular season
and also improve his defensive game play to shut his critics.
"People are not going to talk about us, right off the bat, as a great defensive team," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I don't disagree with that,
"What I like, however, is that we have guys who'll make the routine plays on a consistent basis, day in and day out. I'm not talking about the great stuff, but the fly balls you're supposed to catch, the ground balls you're supposed to throw somebody out
on and the double plays you're supposed to make. If we do all that, along with our pitching and defense, we'll be fine."
So far in the 2012 Major League Baseball Spring Training sessions, Cabrera has made some good plays at third base. He is one of those players who are always motivated by a challenging situation. Pressure brings the best out of him as we have witnessed in
the past. Earlier this week, the 28 year failed to make a fifth inning play in a 7-7 tie against New York Mets as we know he is not a quick runner.
However, what we certainly know about Cabrera is that he always sees room for improvement in his game play. According to sources, Cabrera is working extremely hard to become a better defensive player. Leyland is also convinced that Cabrera can perform third
base duties effectively. Cabrera himself will be hoping to shut his critics with a successful season at third base.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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