Tigers' Miguel Cabrera begins his preparation for position change – MLB News
Detroit Tigers are looking to practice hard these days to make the most of available opportunities during Spring Training. The Tigers have only six weeks to form the right pitching and hitting combinations before 2012 regular season begins.
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers’ most reliable and durable hitter, has also started to practice at the Tigers’ training facility. The hard hitting Cabrera has been asked to perform third base duties this season, which of course will be a test of his skills. Training
with Tigers’ infield coach Rafael Belliard, Cabrera looked extremely focused. Belliard is working hard to prepare Cabrera to play third base effectively during Spring Training. For the first time officially, Cabrera took guard at third base under the eye of
Tigers’ coaching staff.
"The first thing we have to do is get his legs in shape," Belliard said in an interview. "You don't want to take a chance by doing too much too early. You have six weeks. He hasn't played third base for a few years, so I'll start off by hitting the ball
softly to him so he can read the ball off the bat. Then we'll work on side-to-side."
"There are a lot of hitters we want to bunt," Belliard further added. “Those would be the middle-of-the-order hitters, for whom a bunt amounts to a surrender of their extra-base power.”
Cabrera changed his position to third base during Tigers’ first full squad workout that took place yesterday. The striker was asked to change his position after the Tigers signed Prince Fielder on $214 million contract for first base. The move also caused
the Tigers make several changes on their roster.
Fans will also be waiting desperately to watch one of their favourite players perform at his newly assigned position. Cabrera is convinced that he will prove to be an asset at 3B as well and reports have surfaced that he has become noticeably slimmer. It
will be interesting to see if he can live up to the expectations. The Tigers, on the other hand, will be hoping him to improve his defensive skills to shut his critics.
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