Cabrera Promoted
Posted July 29th, 2007 by Stephanie Storm
After going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored in the Aeros 6-3 win over Altoona Sunday afternoon, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo.
Ironically, Cabrera started at second base Sunday for the first time all season, fueling immediate talk that it was likely his last game for the Aeros.
Sure enough, the sudden position switch after he’d played 95 games at short signaled preparation had begun to advance Cabrera to the next level - where he’s expected to split time with veteran Luis Rivas at both second base and shortstop. Aeros manager Tim Bogar even suggested Cabrera could see some time at third base.
“He plays everywhere in Winter Ball, so he can play anywhere (at Buffalo),” Bogar said. “Selfishly, you don’t want to see him go because he is such a great player and a big part of our offense. Guys respect him and watch how hard he works. But development-wise,
he’s ready.”
Arguably the team’s first-half MVP, Cabrera batted .310 (114-for-368) with 78 runs scored, 54 RBI, 23 doubles and stolen bases and eight home runs for the Aeros this season.
July 29th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Going to Buffalo to play 2B, SS, and 3B after starting at 2B for (at least in my memory) the first time this season in his final game at Akron… Are they looking at seeing if Cabrera might not be able to replace Rouse if there is a playoff run on the major league squad? Or was this the plan all along to suddenly have him playing multiple positions at the higher level?
July 29th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
The problem is, is that there are no immediate glaring needs on the major league roster. Had Casey Blake not been a formidable back-up plan at third, or had Jhonny Peralta continued to struggle, we might have seen Shapiro switch Cabrera primarily to either position. But with no real position awaiting his imminent arrival in Cleveland, he might as well make himself as useful as he possibly can by learning how to play the utility position. I would not be surprised if Cabrera gets the call-up to the big leagues once Buffalo’s season is over (I hate how they don’t wait till the minor league team’s end the playoffs,) and put into a position where he can compete (along with Rouse, Rivas, and whomever else might be there) for the utility spot should the Indians advance to the playoffs.
Whatever they do with Cabrera, it is absolutely fantastic news to hear about his four months in Akron, and about how far he has come since Buffalo last season. Now, finally back in Triple-A for good, he will be able to work on shoring up his hitting prowess he established in Akron. At age 21, he is looking up to be an incredible steal for the price (we traded one of either Eduardo Perez or Ben Broussard to Seattle for him, the other for Shin Soo-Choo).
July 30th, 2007 at 7:46 am
I think Cabrera gives the Indians a little more flexibility down the road. If he continues to develop and Barfield flops, there’s your 2nd baseman. If Marte flops, move Peralta, and Cabrera becomes your shortstop. If Peralta reincarnates his 2006 season over the next couple years, you have your shortstop. If none of them flop, you have your utility player.
This organization is all about flexibility, don’t you think?
July 30th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Kevin makes some real good points about the flexibility of the organization. Nobody can read the Tribe’s mind but it sure looks to me as if Cabrera is being groomed as the 2 spot in the order. His plate discipline seems ideally suited for the spot if he continues to hit. Barfield was a great pickup but he is represented by Boras and does not fit in the 2 spot. Moving Peralta to 3B only seems to delay the inevitable with Marte, Hodges and Mills all available. I could see the Tribe bringing him up before the close of this season since he probably cannot hit worse than Rouse and filelds better. There is no doubt he is superior defensively to Peralta but SSs that hit 25-30 HRs and 80-100 RBIs don’t come along that often.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:35 pm
If he’s a more athletic fielder than Peralta I’d like to see Cabrera stay at shortstop and get fast-tracked to the big leagues as the starter, maybe next spring.
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:39 am
I don’t care if this guy has no talent whatsoever, any dude who’s named “Asdrubal” has already earned my total admiration and respect. He’s got my full endorsement for the majors. What’s his nickname? “As?” “Drub?” “Al?”
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:39 am
Actually, Aeros manager Tim Bogar refers to Asdrubal all the time as “Cabby”, a short form of Cabrera.
Over the 12 years I’ve covered minor league baseball, I’ve come to lern that Rule No. 1 of the sport is that any player worth his salt must have a nickname that ends in a “y” or “ie” such as Raffey (Rafeal Betancout), Wedgie (Eric Wedge), etc.
I guess Grady Sizemore’s parents had him destined to be a baseball player before he could pick up a ball.
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:44 am
Kevin - You’re right on with the opiniont that Cabrera could be being groomed for any of those positions.
The fact that he wasn’t asked to play another position (2nd base) until 3/4 of the season were over, however, gives me the impression the Tribe is suddenly leaning toward having a back up plan at second behind Barfield for all the reasons Norman pointed out, or else they would have had Cabrera rotate positions more during the season.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I like A-Drub.
August 6th, 2007 at 12:05 am
That “y” thing is kinda catchy, but I’m guessing it’s really because Bogar didn’t have a clue what his name actually is. I mean, you’ve got to admit it’s not exactly “Bob.” Bogar probably tried to say it once, it came out as “Drubasshole,” and he thought he’d better play it safe from now on and just go with “Cabby.”