Cincinnati Reds
Cabrera seeks stability, consistency
By Scott Priestle, CNATI.com Posted April 6, 2010 10:00 AM ET
Reds infielders Orlando Cabrera and Brandon Phillips made their acquaintances on the first day of spring training by playing catch. Because ballplayers are creatures of habit, they played catch on the second day, as well. And the third day, and every day after.
They also took batting practice in the same group, which meant Phillips heard nearly every word his new teammate spoke, and Cabrera is not afraid to talk.
Orlando Cabrera
"I get tired of him sometimes," Phillips said with a hint of a smile.
In truth, both players would like to spend the next six months together in the middle of the Reds infield.
Phillips has been the team's regular second baseman for the past four seasons, and in that time 14 different players have started at shortstop, including Orlando Cabrera and his brother, Jolbert. No player has started more than 101 games there in a season.
Cabrera is playing for his seventh franchise in the past seven seasons. During the past three seasons, he played regularly alongside six second basemen and eight third basemen.
"I've always had a lot of guys moving around," he said.
The Reds signed Cabrera and extended the contract of third baseman Scott Rolen in the hopes of stabilizing the left side of the infield and the clubhouse. Cabrera, 35, has won two Gold Glove Awards and reached the postseason five times. Rolen, also 35, has won seven Gold Gloves and reached the postseason three times.
It was a notable departure from the franchise's recent trend toward youth and potential. In each case, team officials believed the veteran offered a short-term upgrade on the field and an infusion of leadership off the field.
"Having both of those guys on our club, along with the young guys we have, will make a significant difference on our club," general manager Walt Jocketty said.
The veterans showed Monday they can help each other. Cabrera is waiting on a new glove from Mizuno, so Rolen gave one of his extras for Cabrera to try in the interim.
Scott Rolen
Cabrera expects Rolen to help in other ways, too. Specifically, Cabrera said he is able to play closer to second base, which should allow him to reach more balls hit up the middle.
"I don't have to worry that much about that ball between third base and shortstop, because I know he's going to get it," Cabrera said. "His reactions are unbelievable. His first step is as good as anybody in the big leagues right now, still. That makes me so comfortable that I don't have to worry about that."
He said it took only "a couple practices" to get comfortable turning a double play with Phillips. Like Cabrera, Phillips is a former Gold Glove Award winner.
Cabrera said he believes consistency is his best attribute, which made his defensive struggles last season so frustrating. He committed 25 errors -- almost as many as the previous two seasons combined -- and advanced metrics such as Ultimate Zone Rating had him among the worst defensive shortstops in the league, after being among the best over the previous four seasons.
It is possible his range has suffered dramatically due to age. It did not help that he played on a notoriously uneven field in Oakland and a quick turf infield in Minnesota. Cabrera attributed the lapse to signing with the A's two weeks into spring training, which forced him to alter his preparation.
"I wasn't ready at the beginning of the season," he said. "I'd like to think I was, but looking back, I started playing really good ball after April. I missed too long. That's not an excuse, but it could affect things a little bit."
Cabrera has been with the Reds since Day One of spring training this year, playing between Phillips and Rolen. It is no guarantee they will be in the lineup together in July, August or September, but it cannot hurt, especially considering the turnover Cabrera has endured in recent years.
"That could be important," he said. "We'll just have to wait and see."
Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, Profiles
Tags: Brandon Phillips, Orlando Cabrera, Reds, Scott Rolen
Comments (1)
Great article.
All this doom and gloom is exhausting from the fans. Please don't let it infect your writing though, I can't stand it.
Win tomorrow and keep going. I look at the season like a roulette wheel, you'll win some and you'll lose some but you gotta win more than you lose (talking from experience here!). I just don't think people accept losing 40% of the time, even if it means they'll win 60% of the time. I watch sports for fun, so if they keep winning that would be awesome. If they don't though, there is always next year.
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