Cabrera Is Turning Into A Legitimate Third Baseman
Try for just a moment to block out all the noise.
Forget what you saw Miguel Cabrera do at third base back in 2008. Forget what all the pundits told you about the proposed move when Jim Leyland first announced that Cabrera was going to be the Tigers everyday third baseman. And forget the guy who used to play third base for the Tigers whose name escapes me at this moment.
If you only look at Cabrera for what he's done this season at third base – you'd reach the same conclusion that I would. He can play that position. And he can play that position pretty well.
Opening Day was bad. I'm not defending that. He did a reverse somersault a la Tommy Lasorda on a foul pop-up in the sixth inning. And he completely whiffed on the hot smash off the bat of Dustin Pedroia one batter later. But since then, he's been borderline flawless. Some have said that he should have gotten to Evan Longoria's game-tying single in the ninth on Wednesday. But even the best third baseman in the game would have made a magnificent play to get that and would have had zero chance of turning a game-ending double play.
In Thursday's win over the Rays, Cabrera again made three flawless plays that showed confidence, athleticism and common sense. Including one on an awkward bunt in the second inning. We knew he had all of those attributes. We just didn't know if he'd have them on full display at third base. So far, he has.
I'm not advising Miggy to start dusting off a spot on his mantle for a Gold Glove. And I know there will be some ugly moments in the long season ahead. I'm just saying that Cabrera has earned the right to be judged on how he plays the position. Not how he might play the position. Not how he did play the position. He should be judged on what he does on the field. And so far, those results have been much better than anyone, probably even Cabrera himself, could have expected.
